283

Grandmaster

Forseti recognized at once the towering Eredar as Archimonde the Defiler, a prominent lieutenant of the dark titan Sargeras and one of the commanders of the Burning Legion.

Damn, he had actually triggered such a formidable boss battle.

Unexpectedly, upon seeing Archimonde, Brian Bronzebeard brandished his warhammer, his beard and hair bristling, and charged forward with a battle cry.

"For Azeroth!"

The dwarf's recklessness stood in stark contrast to Zhou Zhuo, who had fled upon encountering Hogg, but Brian met Archimonde head-on.

Of course, Brian Bronzebeard's actions were also a testament to his own strength—a fearless adventurer and powerful warrior.

However, it was clear that Archimonde the Defiler, a potent demon of unparalleled might across the universe, vastly outclassed Brian.

Archimonde could crush the strongest demigod's neck or level a city with a single hand, whereas Brian, despite his prowess, remained a mortal.

Seeing Brian charge, Archimonde sneered and extended his hand.

*Kaboom!*

A burst of crimson lightning struck, instantly felling Brian.

Then Archimonde turned his gaze on Forseti.

Forseti's heart raced, and he hurriedly exited the experience space.

*Phew...*

He had initially thought he was done with the Flame King's challenge in the Triad Experience Space, only to face Archimonde. He wondered if Sargeras was next.

How could he possibly contend with this?

Forseti estimated that Archimonde's strength surpassed even the Flame King in his prime, requiring him to attain at least Odin's peak power to stand a chance.

Brian hadn't seemed to call for reinforcements.

Would he ever reach Odin's zenith?

The Experience Book offered little aid in the current predicament.

After pondering for a while, Forseti closed the Holy Deed and decided to rest.

The next morning, Forseti summoned Venom and let it out to feed.

"What's this?" Venom poked its head out, eyeing the mound of broken mushrooms before it.

"A specialty of Sakaar, help yourself." Forseti chuckled.

The mushrooms tasted awful, and Forseti had no desire for seconds. He planned to let Venom finish them and absorb some of their energy directly.

"Can't you eat them yourself?" Venom inquired.

Forseti replied, "I mainly wanted you to experience Sakaar's unique flavor. Enjoy, it's quite a delicacy."

Venom: "..."

Fortunately, Venom lacked a discerning palate and didn't mind the taste of these mushrooms, gobbling them down greedily without issue.

After breakfast, Forseti piloted the spacecraft toward Sakaar City.

In no time, the ship transported him to his destination—the eccentric and vibrant city of Sakaar.

As an elder nearing a century old, Forseti had never set foot in any of the Nine Realms' countries, making Sakaar City his first exposure to such an urban spectacle.

To describe Sakaar City's architectural style in a few words: abstract, absurd, circus-like.

Vivid hues, bizarre structures, towering, contorted edifices, and inhabitants of all shapes and sizes clad in outlandish attire gave the city a carnival-like atmosphere.

Strolling the streets, one could hear a cacophony of music, with passersby often dancing along, akin to an Indian movie scene.

"Are you a gladiator?" A passerby scrutinized Forseti, eyeing him up and down.

"No," Forseti replied.

The passerby remained skeptical, pointing to the sword at Forseti's waist, "Then why dress in leather armor with a sword?"

Surveying his surroundings, Forseti realized his attire was indeed unusual in Saka City, drawing curious glances from many passersby.

Swiftly, he sought out a clothing vendor in Saka City, exchanging gold for local attire and stowing Rivendell's sword in the Sanctuary space.

Opting for a mask—a preference among Sakaar's denizens—he donned one.

This time, Forseti blended in more seamlessly while navigating Saka's streets.

Notably, Sakaar's currency held substantial value, with several gold bars securing a single garment. Fortunately, Forseti's Asgardian heritage left him lacking for nothing, even in gold.

After a brief exploration of Saka City, Forseti's gaze fell upon its tallest structure.

Like many in the city, this building featured twisted shapes, vibrant hues, and two colossal busts.

One, Forseti couldn't discern its species, while the other resembled a typical humanoid warrior adorned with a helmet, reminiscent of an Asgardian.

Presumably, these statues commemorated championship gladiators.

Forseti arrived at the ticket counter for the arena and inquired, "What events are scheduled?"

"We have several free bouts today. In three days, reigning champion Axe of Brutality will face his challenger, Boulder Warrior. That same day marks the arena debut of a new contender, the Horse-faced Man," the genderless, soft-featured attendant informed.

"Horse-faced Man?"

The attendant nodded, producing a card. "Purchased by Mr. Carlo not long ago, this gladiator shows promise. Care to place a wager?"

Forseti examined the card depicting a horse-faced warrior wielding a warhammer—Beta Ray Bill.

Details of his abilities, Grandmaster's evaluation, and the odds were listed.

Sentient beings, regardless of race, often enjoyed gambling—a trend not exclusive to humans and pervasive in competitive sports like championship fighting.

"Interested in placing a bet?" the attendant pressed.

"No," Forseti declined.

He recalled from the movies that Grandmaster was a notorious cheat. Thor and Hulk's match ended in Thor's defeat due to Grandmaster's interference.

It was clear Grandmaster exploited such tactics to manipulate gamblers and reap enormous profits.

"If you find the Horse-faced Man too risky, consider betting on Axe of Brutality. He's the mightiest of all gladiators..." the attendant continued to pitch.

"I'll take a ticket for three days from now," Forseti said, purchasing his ticket.

Three days later.

The monthly Championship Fight transformed Saka City into a bustling hub, streets teeming with crowds converging on the arena since morning.

Forseti entered the arena with his ticket, taking a seat in the third row of the auditorium near the competition arena—an advantageous position.

Just as the auditorium neared capacity, lights flickered within the arena, projecting an image of a grey-haired man in resplendent attire—a whimsical figure.

"Hello, I am your Grandmaster, and it's that exciting time again."

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