The Silent Hour

The arena was silent, as if the world was holding its breath before the next battle. Ares' body had been taken away, but his absence weighed heavily on the gods. This tournament was not supposed to see a god die, and yet the unthinkable had happened. On the human side, Spartacus had proved that a mortal could challenge the immortal, giving his people a glimmer of hope. But this victory came at a price: Spartacus was seriously injured and could no longer compete. The burden of the next battle now fell on Leonidas.

In an improvised tent, Leonidas sat silently, polishing his spear. His thoughts turned to Greece, to Sparta, and to his men. The faces of his 300 soldiers flashed through his mind. He remembered their courage in the face of the Persian army, their oath never to back down. He had survived the battle thanks to divine intervention, but he had lost so many comrades. This memory fuelled his rage and determination.

Spartacus entered the tent, supported by Miyamoto Musashi. The gladiator seemed weakened, but his eyes shone with a bright gleam.

"Leonidas," he said hoarsely, "you are our next champion. Take this spear. Athena gave it to me before the tournament. It's imbued with a divine power that will protect you from lightning.

Leonidas took the weapon with respect. It was light but strong, and an energy pulsed through it.

"Thank you, Spartacus," he replied. "I won't let you down."

Miyamoto approached, observing the spear with calm interest.

"A weapon is only as strong as the hand that wields it," he murmured. "You are a king, but in the arena, you are a warrior. Remember that."

Leonidas nodded, feeling the weight of his comrades' expectations.

In the heavens, in Valhalla, Thor was getting ready. He stood in a hall decorated with ancient runes, his hammer, Mjöllnir, poised before him. Loki, his brother, was leaning against a pillar, a mocking smile on his lips.

"So, you're going to take on a mere human?" said Loki. "A fallen king with no kingdom and no army. It's almost insulting, isn't it?"

Thor didn't answer immediately. He stared at Mjöllnir, feeling the weight of his responsibilities. After a moment, he turned to Loki.

"Leonidas is no mere human. He challenged an empire with just 300 men. It's not a question of strength, but of courage."

Loki raised an eyebrow, amused by the answer.

"You're too serious, brother. If you carry on like this, you'll lose your head like Ares."

Odin entered the room, imposing and silent. Both turned to him.

"Thor," said Odin, "this battle is not just to avenge Ares. It is to remind mortals of their place in the scheme of things. They must not forget that they are inferior to us."

Thor nodded, but in his heart he knew that this battle would be a test not only for humans, but for himself.

The atmosphere in both camps was electric. Among the gods, murmurs ran through the hall. The death of Ares had shaken their confidence, but many remained convinced that Thor would restore the balance. Zeus, standing in the centre, imposed his authority.

"This tournament is a reminder of our power," he declared. "Ares was reckless. Thor is a perfect weapon. He will not fail.

Loki, ever the provocateur, intervened:

"What if Thor loses?

There was an icy silence. Zeus glared at him.

"He won't lose.

On the human side, the discussions were just as intense. Alexander the Great, surrounded by Simo Häyhä and Gilgamesh, was analysing the situation.

"Thor is a force of nature," said Alexander. "But Leonidas is cunning. He won't fight Thor directly. He will use the arena to his advantage."

Einstein, working on a small device in the corner, looked up.

"Even with a perfect strategy, there will have to be a certain amount of luck involved. Thor is a god, after all."

Spartacus, though wounded, intervened.

"Leonidas doesn't need luck. He has something the gods underestimate: the human will."

These words echoed around the hall, reminding everyone that this tournament was not just a series of fights, but a battle to prove the worth of humanity.

The arena was transformed for this fight. The floor was a mosaic of ice and stone, and bolts of lightning danced across the sky, illuminating the place with an unearthly light. Each side had gathered to watch the duel.

Leonidas entered first, his divine spear in hand. His armour gleamed, and his gaze was fixed on the other end of the arena. He showed no fear, only cold determination.

Thor then appeared, Mjöllnir in hand. His imposing figure and electric aura made even the gods shudder. He looked at Leonidas and, to his surprise, gave him a respectful smile.

"You have courage, human. Few would dare challenge me.

Leonidas replied without flinching:

"I don't need courage to face an enemy. I need the will to defeat him.

Their eyes met and the arena seemed to vibrate with tension. The spectators held their breath, knowing that this fight would be monumental.

The chapter ended as the two warriors stood face to face. Thor raised Mjöllnir, and lightning flashed across the sky. Leonidas thrust his spear into the ground, ready to give his all.

The silence was broken by the sound of thunder, announcing that the battle was about to begin.