Chapter 7
Thor kicked up sand in his wake, clutching his trusty hammer, Mjölnir, in his outstretched hand. He stared down the snowy, dragon-like bird resembling a Snallygaster as he pushed off into the sky. He brought both of his hands forward on the hilt as he called upon the power of Mother Storm. Lightning sparked as the sky darkened further. He had lived to twenty-five and this was to be his last battle of the day. He was confident he could handle the monster; he just needed the right timing. The monster opened up her beak, brandishing her razor-sharp teeth and icy blue tentacles. Ah! There! Now!
A lightning bolt shot out of Mjölnir and landed in the monster’s mouth, stunning her momentarily.
“Crash!” A blinding yellow light erupted throughout the arena.
Thor quickly shielded his eyes with his arm, coming to a screeching halt in midair.
A loud roar rang out.
Thor lifted his arm just in time to see a large green Titan squaring up against his previously stunned opponent. Thor glanced at the stands full of shock and awe. He had to get back in the fight. He had his honor to defend, and he didn’t want to deal with the consequences of someone fighting his battle for him.
The snowy dragon-like bird scratched and shot a load of icicles flying at the green Titan. The Titan roared in pain as his heavily muscled arms-crossed in an x in front of his face-became flayed with icy cuts dripping dark green blood.
Thor quickly surveyed his surroundings, eyes landing strategically on the caged door ingrained in the wall of the arena floor where the snowy beast had been released. He rushed forward with renewed gusto, calling upon Mother Storm once again. He used the Titan as a second wall as he flew in from the right, setting off warning bursts of lightning at the blue monster's feet. The blue monster backed away from the two in a calculated retreat to her cage, seeing that the lightning was only angering the green Titan more.
Thor was momentarily relieved to see the strong iron bars slam down and trap the blue monster inside her cage but was still wary of the green Titan’s growing rage. The Titan swung at him, causing him to duck to the ground. He felt a big gust of wind rush over him as the Titan swiped at the space he previously occupied. He knelt on the sandy ground and pointed his hammer at the Titans robust legs just below the torn ends of his large purple shorts, fully prepared to blast his new opponent off his feet. What he didn’t expect was the Titan’s movements to be so sharp and quick. The very hand he had just dodged was too quickly brought back in a backhand slap knocking him sideways and sending him crashing into the wall next to the blue monster's cage. He felt the wind get knocked out of his lungs at the impact. “Ugh!” Thor groaned as every muscle in his back screamed in pain at the same time.
The Titan roared at Thor while he smashed his fists against his chest.
Thor glared at the Titan though slightly tear-blurred eyes blazing with determination. He grit his teeth and forced himself to fly out of the creator he created and charged at the Titan. Dust once again kicked up at his blinding speed. Once he was close enough, he spread his arms wide and crashed into the Titan’s waist, attempting to tackle him to the ground.
The Titan wrapped his large hand around Thor's body like it was nothing and spun on the spot, clawing Thor off of him with the momentum of the sudden turn and sending Thor, once again, flying into the arena wall.
Thor crumpled to the sandy floor and spat out a mouthful of blood vaguely aware of the crowd's gasps.
“Please, forgive me, brother.” Loki’s voice magically came from his side like the whisper of an invisible ghost standing beside him. “I can’t sit idly by and watch you die!” His voice was shaky. “If all I can do is cheer you on, then you have to listen to me!” He snapped his invisible fingers in Thor’s ear. “Listen! You have to get up!”
A loud roar came from the green Titan. It could’ve been the multiple hits to the head, but Thor could’ve sworn the Titan had at one point covered his ears and had a momentary fight with himself.
“Come on! You have to get up!”
Memories of his teachers saying exactly that flashed through Thor’s head, suddenly very thankful that Loki had watched him train. I have to get up! Thor punched his fist out of the wall. I have to get up! His other arm was now free as well, while he powered up Mjölnir.
“That’s it!”
The Titan turned his attention on them and let out another roar.
“Come on! Before he tears your heart out!” Loki desperately urged.
Thor took a deep breath as he felt his healing power wipe away the small cuts of rubble from his arms and legs, now fully free from the wall. He stood his ground, letting the sand lap at the tall leather army boots covering his feet as he stared the green Titan down. Without warning, he raised his hammer high above his head and struck the ground hard, sending a thunderous shockwave of sand permeating through the arena, heading straight towards its giant green mark.
Thor could’ve sworn he saw a quick calculation flash through the Titan’s eye before he raised his giant fists above his head and slammed the ground, sending a similar shockwave rumbling back at him.
Their shockwaves collided in a spectacular geyser-like show between them causing the sand to spew high into the air and the ground to intensify its shaking.
Thor’s eyes widened, momentarily surprised and if he was being honest with himself; a little impressed. It seemed he had somehow found a worthy opponent that was equally matched to himself.
Using the sand geyser as a distraction, Thor charged forward, lifting off the ground and soaring towards what he hoped was the Titan’s arm. If he couldn’t tackle him, maybe he could use one of his tricks against him by grabbing him and spinning him into the wall.
Thor caught the Titan off-guard as he suddenly appeared, crashing through the cascading sand. Lightning shot through his arm as he made contact with the warm green flesh, mysteriously appearing to be completely healed. Thor focused his power, trying to use his lightning to stun the Titan or at least numb his arm, while he wrapped his arms around the beefy green one and attempted to pull the Titan into a spin.
Unexpectedly, as if he had calculated what Thor wanted to do, the Titan leaned into the turn and brought his other hand around Thor’s body, sending them both tumbling to the ground.
The Titan’s hand padded Thor’s thunderous descent, but the Titan’s more-than-iron grip squeezed the breath out of his lungs. In a desperate attempt for his life, he poured enough power into Mjölnir to sear the Titan’s hand, exploding it in a fit of lightning as the backlash of the explosion sent him, once again, hurtling uncontrollably towards the arena wall.
Thor barely registered the wounded howl as he made yet another crater sized indent in the wall.
The old colosseum couldn’t take such a beating. The structural integrity was no more. Quickly, screams rang out all around as the arena began to collapse.
The most curious, unexplainable thing Thor had ever seen, second to only Loki’s illusions, was a large green hand paired with a gushing stub working together to desperately hold the stands up in a last-ditch effort to prevent the arena’s further collapse.
Is-is he helping!? That was the last thought that flashed through Thor’s head just before it was hit with a large boulder, knocking him out.