After Odin’s death, the entire Colosseum plunged into a deep, almost suffocating silence. Neither mortals nor gods could utter a word. What Odin had become left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who witnessed his confrontation with Alex.

The sight of a once-wise ruler, so consumed by madness that he was willing to sacrifice all mortals—and possibly even the gods—to summon an ancient deity, shook everyone to their core.

The mystery of which god Odin intended to summon remained unsolved. However, Odin’s final words were known only to Alex and Brunhilde. Gradually, the spectators averted their eyes from the spot where Odin had perished and turned their attention to Alex.

At that moment, Brunhilde was tenderly kissing him, completely ignoring the crowd. None of those present, mortal or divine, doubted for a second: Alex had saved them from certain doom.

The gods, however, felt conflicted. On one hand, Alex had been created for their destruction, and his hatred for them was evident. On the other hand, he had locked himself in the arena with Odin, risking his life to face the mad god. Although calling it a “battle” seemed inaccurate—Alex had toyed with Odin, killing him repeatedly, as if to demonstrate his superiority.

Alex paid no attention to the onlookers. His mind was elsewhere, focused on finishing what needed to be done. For now, however, he allowed himself to enjoy the softness of Brunhilde’s lips, refusing to let suspicion distract him.

He knew that a conversation with Heimdall awaited him—Heimdall, who had fled the moment the battle began. The god undoubtedly knew more than he let on, particularly about the essence and identities Alex used in his clones.

For Brunhilde, this moment marked the culmination of long-awaited vengeance. She had finally found someone who understood her better than anyone, who helped her achieve justice. Despite the whirlwind of emotions and the rapid development of their relationship, she had no intention of stepping back. Alex, for his part, remained cautious—even within their spiritual bond, he kept some of his memories hidden, anticipating possible risks.

But the idyll was interrupted by an irritated Rebecca.

“Hey, are you two going to keep kissing forever? What is this, a soap opera?” she shouted, throwing the first object she could find at Alex.

The projectile hit him square in the head. Alex turned to the troublemaker with undisguised annoyance. Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of spectators, he suddenly realized how much this moment resembled scenes from books where the hero defeats the villain and earns a kiss as his reward. Clearing his throat lightly, he tried to maintain his composure.

Brunhilde, in contrast, relished the moment, caring little for the stares of the crowd. For her, the most important thing was that both Odin and Loki had received their just punishment and that Ragnarok had ended in victory. Yet, deep down, she worried that the gods might attempt to challenge the outcome, using Odin’s interference as leverage. But looking at Alex, she felt reassured—this man would leave the gods no chance.

Under countless gazes, Alex suddenly turned his attention to where Rebecca and her trio of mischief-makers stood. Noticing him call his robo-dog, Brunhilde was slightly surprised.

“G.I.R, come here!” Alex called loudly.

Hearing the summons, G.I.R leapt down from the railing and began trotting toward Alex on his short mechanical legs. All eyes turned to the little robo-dog, who moved toward his master with remarkable determination. Now, those gathered in the hall could finally get a clear view of what was hidden beneath the armor. What they saw was an oddly shaped dog with green fur and a comically goofy expression on its face.

GIR approached Alex and stopped next to him. Without wasting time, Alex took a microphone from his inventory and connected it to a special port on the robo-dog’s neck. After finishing the setup, he squeezed the microphone in his hand and glanced at the spectators in the stands.

“Test, test. Can you hear me?” Alex said, tapping the microphone to check its functionality.

The crowd in the stands, consisting of both gods and mortals, looked at Alex with doubt, not understanding what he was up to. Even Rebecca and Brunhilde, used to his unexpected antics, couldn’t hide their surprise.

“Perfect,” Alex continued, clearly satisfied with the check. “Ladies and gentlemen, gods and mortals, I would like to announce that Ragnarok has come to an end. Humanity has won this battle. If anyone has objections, feel free to come down here. I will gladly help you come to the right decision.”

His words echoed through the Colosseum, causing a wave of murmurs. No one dared to argue, especially after the obvious hint that Alex was prepared to resolve any disagreements in his own way. None of those present—neither gods nor mortals—dared to step onto the arena and face him head-on. Odin’s death, with his terrifying power, still left an indelible impression. Even those who believed that all the gods combined couldn’t defeat Odin now doubted their certainty.

The chief gods of the pantheons remained silent, meeting Alex’s gaze with pride, but none attempted to dispute his words. Seeing that there were no objections, Alex decided to continue.

“Well, since no one wants to speak up, I have a request for you,” he began in an intentionally calm tone. “I ask all the representatives of the pantheons to gather in one place for the discussion of Ragnarok’s conclusion.”

The chief gods, seated in their VIP spots, exchanged wary glances. Only Zeus, having foreseen Alex’s intentions, broke the silence. His loud sigh drew everyone’s attention.

“Voldigoad,” Zeus addressed him calmly, rising from his seat. “And what do you suggest if a pantheon has no representative, or if they are unavailable?”

Alex nodded, understanding the fairness of the question. In the battle of Ragnarok, great gods like Poseidon, Hades, and Shiva had fallen, not to mention Odin, who had tried to destroy everyone.

“If your pantheon’s chief god is dead and there is no official representative, simply choose the nearest worthy successor,” Alex responded confidently. “You have one hour while I finish my business. Then we will gather to discuss over tea.”

Having finished speaking, Alex scanned the gathered crowd, as if expecting questions or objections, but none came.

Once he was done, Alex disconnected the microphone from the robo-dog and stored it in his inventory. GIR immediately clung to Alex’s leg, clearly deciding that a walk on his short paws wasn’t for him. Alex turned to Brunhilde and, unexpectedly for her, lifted her into his arms like a princess. Brunhilde was taken aback by the gesture but quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Hold on tight, both of you,” Alex said, warning them to stay secure.

Brunhilde pressed herself closer to him, afraid of losing her balance. GIR, in turn, tightened his grip on Alex’s pant leg, recalling past failed “flights” from Night City.

Jumping onto the railing, Alex found himself in front of Rebecca, who greeted him with her wide, slightly mischievous smile. Without hesitation, Rebecca gracefully jumped onto his back, wrapping her legs around his waist. MIMI immediately joined, hanging from Alex’s other leg. As if that wasn’t enough, Stitch skillfully climbed onto Rebecca’s back like a backpack.

Now, Alex looked like a mother koala, weighed down by her “children.” The spectators watching the scene couldn’t hide their astonishment and laughter. Just moments ago, Alex had demonstrated terrifying power, killing Odin several times, and now he looked completely comical.

But Alex paid no attention to it. With another leap, he landed on the balcony railing where they had been standing earlier.

“A-chan,” Buddha said with a smile, eyeing Alex, “you look damn funny. Just like the mother of a big family.”

“Well, that’s the fate of someone with a big family,” Alex smirked, gently lowering Brunhilde to the ground.

Rebecca hopped off Alex’s back, but Stitch showed no signs of getting down—instead, he settled comfortably on Rebecca’s shoulders, as content as a cat. GIR and MIMI also refused to let go of Alex, firmly clinging to his legs.

“A-chan,” Buddha continued, slightly frowning, “what were those plans you mentioned? What other business do you have left?”

“First, I need to visit someone. Then I’ll drop by a few places, and lastly, I’ll meet with the gods to discuss the new system. You should attend too,” Alex said, lighting another cigarette.

Buddha just shrugged, deciding not to press for details. Alex, in turn, directed his eclectic group to the rest room to begin working on his plans.

When they arrived, the Valkyries were already waiting. Without wasting time, Brunhilde led her sisters aside to speak with them privately. She wanted to find out why they had kept silent about their spiritual connection with Alex for so long.

Alex glanced at the Valkyries, his eyes meeting Göndul’s stern gaze. Her expression suggested that she blamed him. As if to confirm this, her eyes said: You owe me.

Raising his hands in a gesture of surrender, Alex tried to smooth things over. Approaching Brunhilde, he gently placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Listen, Bri, I asked them to stay silent. Maybe you won’t pressure them too much?” he said in a conciliatory tone.

Brunhilde looked at him with cold resolve.

“Don’t worry, Alex. I’m not done yet. After them, it’s your turn,” she replied curtly, staring him down.

Alex sighed, glancing at the Valkyries, clearly showing that he had done everything he could. In response, they all rolled their eyes in unison, deciding that if Brunhilde started asking questions, they could easily blame him. Alex mentally smirked, fully aware of their maneuver, and wondered how best to calm Brunhilde down. The only thing that came to mind was to free Siegfried as quickly as possible. Although he had initially planned to visit Heimdall, that visit would have to be postponed.

Alex knew that Siegfried was somewhere in Tartarus, but he couldn’t remember the exact location. He summoned Yamato and immediately unsheathed the sword to open a portal. His actions immediately caught the attention of the others.

“Where are you going?” Rebecca asked, noticing the gleam of the blade.

“Just kidnapping someone… and maybe stealing something too,” Alex replied honestly, without a hint of embarrassment.

At the mention of kidnapping and stealing, Rebecca’s eyes instantly lit up with excitement. Alex noticed her reaction but had no intention of taking this “gremlin” with him. He knew perfectly well that if Rebecca came along, Tartarus would surely be blown to bits, and all the prisoners would escape.

“Can I come with you?” Rebecca asked, grabbing his hand and looking at him with puppy eyes.

“No, I’ll be in and out quickly. I don’t want that place turned into rubble,” Alex replied, trying to ignore her pleading look.

“Please! I’ll behave, I promise!” Rebecca insisted, not letting go of his hand.

“Maybe next time. For now, be a good girl. I’ll be back soon,” Alex said, leaning in to give her a quick peck on the nose.

Without waiting for her response, he swung Yamato, and a portal opened in front of him. These actions caught the attention of Brunhilde, who had been sternly reprimanding her sisters for lying. She wanted to ask Alex where he was going but didn’t have time— the portal had already closed behind him.

Brunhilde frowned, puzzled, not understanding what Alex was planning. She could no longer read his thoughts through their spiritual connection, nor could the other Valkyries. Turning to Rebecca, she saw that the girl was standing with a pout, looking like a child who had been scolded.

After passing through the portal, Alex found himself at the massive gates leading into Tartarus. He looked up, studying their majestic and ominous appearance. The huge doors were adorned with the jaws of a monster, and they were bound with heavy chains, as if reinforcing security measures.

“Not a bad idea, but they could have made something more pleasing to the eye instead of monster fashion shows,” Alex muttered, lighting a cigarette.

Glancing at the gates one more time, he walked closer, contemplating the best way to get inside. The simplest option would be to kick them down, but he quickly dismissed that thought. Such an action could lead to all the prisoners escaping.

“Alright, let’s do it the old-fashioned way,” Alex muttered, stroking his chin.

Using one of his abilities, reminiscent of Alucard’s power, Alex passed through the massive doors as if they didn’t exist. On the other side, he was greeted by gloomy corridors filled with rows of cells stretching into the endless distance.

“A prison is a prison, no matter the dimension. Only the quality of the prisoners differs,” Alex commented, exhaling smoke through his nose as he continued on his way.

Looking around, Alex decided to move forward to find the cell where Siegfried was held. His arrival caught the attention of all the prisoners, who watched him with interest. To them, Alex was a new visitor, someone they hadn’t seen before. He walked confidently through the corridors of Tartarus, ignoring the prisoners’ stares.

However, soon Alex realized that Tartarus was a massive dungeon, and finding someone specific was like searching for a needle in a haystack. He stopped, thinking about the situation. The only solution that came to his mind was to find the guards and “ask” them for directions to Siegfried’s cell. Deciding to act, Alex quickened his pace, intending to find those who could help him navigate.

As he continued, he briefly considered that he should have extracted the memories from Odin or another god who knew Siegfried’s exact location. After several minutes of aimless wandering, two figures appeared in the distance, walking slowly. Alex immediately guessed they were guards. A light smile appeared on his face, and he quickened his pace to catch up with them.

“Hey, you two, stop!” he called loudly.

Hearing the unfamiliar voice, both guards turned in sync. Their gazes immediately locked on Alex. Recognizing him as Alexander Voldigoad, the one who had caused a stir during Ragnarok, the guards were flooded with fear. They knew about his massacre of Poseidon and the killing of Odin. Threatening such a person was akin to suicide.

Alex saw that the guards had stopped, and he sped up even more. At that moment, the guards were contemplating whether to start running — and run very fast. But Alex approached them faster than they could execute their escape plan.

“Thanks for waiting. I’ve been wandering for about twenty minutes and still can’t find the right place,” he said, stepping closer.

Stopping in front of the guards, Alex studied them carefully. One was an anthropomorphic leopard, and the other was a raven. Alex briefly thought that he had made the right decision not to bring GIR or MIMI with him; those two would have certainly started a “crusade” to eliminate the xenos.

Meanwhile, the guards, though trying to maintain their composure, trembled under his gaze. They quickly concluded that escaping was impossible, and their only option was to help, hoping that Alex wouldn’t harm them.

“How can we assist you, Mr. Voldigoad? What place are you looking for in Tartarus?” the leopard asked cautiously.

“I’m looking for the cell where Siegfried is held. Can you show me the way?” Alex asked with a friendly smile.

The guards exchanged glances, not understanding why Alex needed Siegfried. In fact, none of the guards knew that Siegfried was Brunhilde’s adopted son, as this information had been kept secret. Only older guards who had been working in Tartarus for a long time were aware of this. And these two certainly didn’t know such details.

“If I may ask, Mr. Voldigoad, why do you need Siegfried?” the raven inquired cautiously.

“Brunhilde is a bit mad at me, and I don’t want to listen to her lectures. I want to free Siegfried to distract her,” Alex replied calmly, maintaining a friendly tone.

Both guards nodded in unison, as they had seen the Ragnarok broadcasts and knew that Alex and Brunhilde were close. So they decided to show him the way, avoiding any unnecessary questions.

“Then follow us, Mr. Voldigoad,” the Leopard guard said, gesturing for Alex to follow him.

Alex nodded and walked alongside the guards. Along the way, he asked questions about their work in Tartarus to better understand their everyday lives. He also learned their names to avoid addressing them by their race — it would have been impolite. The Leopard’s name was Flaurros, and the raven’s name was Andras.

Gradually, both guards began to notice that Alex wasn’t as frightening as he might have seemed at first. His friendliness and openness made him an unexpectedly pleasant conversationalist.

“And how much do they pay you for working here?” Alex asked with genuine curiosity.

He was genuinely interested in how much someone working in a place like Tartarus — a massive dungeon holding the most dangerous criminals, whose names had become taboo — could be paid. The guards exchanged looks, considering who would answer.

“Actually, not much, Mr. Voldigoad,” Andras finally said.

Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“You must be joking? This job is clearly dangerous, in case someone escapes. Not to mention it must be pretty stressful.”

Flaurros gave a slight smirk.

“Mr. Voldigoad, it’s not about the salary, it’s about the privileges we get. Actually, the work is not as difficult as it seems. We do a few patrols every couple of hours and then rest. Each level of Tartarus has its own guards. The lower the level, the higher the pay and more privileges.”

Alex nodded, understanding the logic. The lower the level, the more dangerous the prisoners. Since Siegfried was on this floor, they must not consider him that dangerous, despite the fact that he was a demigod who killed a dragon.

As they walked, Alex continued asking questions about the structure of Tartarus to expand his knowledge. As he had suspected, in this version of the world, Tartarus was used as a prison for dangerous prisoners or those who had become inconvenient for the gods.

Alex wondered who might be on the deeper levels. Most likely, there were Titans, Cronus — the father of the Olympian brothers, such as Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, and Adamus, who was the fourth brother in this universe.

“Mr. Voldigoad, we’re almost there. Siegfried is in the next cell,” Andras said, pointing ahead.

“Thank you for your company. I’ll take it from here. Have a good day and a smooth shift, Andras, Flaurros,” Alex responded, stopping.

The guards also stopped, exchanging glances. After their casual conversation with Alex, they were even more convinced that he was not only not frightening but also quite a friendly person. He managed to create a sense of ease even in such a grim place as Tartarus.

“Have a good day, Mr. Voldigoad,” they said almost simultaneously before bidding him farewell.

Alex waved goodbye to the guards and calmly headed toward the cell where Siegfried was kept. As he approached, he peered inside and couldn’t help but frown. The cell was filled with massive chains hanging from the ceiling, secured to the walls and floor. It looked as though they were keeping not a man, but a real monster here. Alex surveyed the complex setup and simply shook his head with slight disappointment.

Forgetting about the chains, he focused on the prisoner inside. A half-naked man sat in the cell, covered in numerous wounds and scars, with long, curly, light-colored hair. His eyes were closed, as if he were either dozing off or simply ignoring what was happening around him.

Alex silently entered the cell, disturbing Siegfried, and made his way to the chains, examining them carefully. At first glance, they seemed to be just regular chains made from an especially durable metal. Alex didn’t know the name of the metal, nor did he consider it important.

When his fingers brushed against the chains, a characteristic metallic sound echoed, and Siegfried slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the stranger standing in his cell. Intrigued, Siegfried began to study the stranger intently, assessing him from head to toe. Dark trousers, a dark shirt with rolled-up sleeves, black hair combed back, and most notably — eyes that shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow, as if they were piercing straight through him.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had guests in this dreary place. Who are you, Mr. Stranger?” Siegfried asked, maintaining a calm tone and offering a slight smile.

Upon hearing the question, Alex broke his gaze from the chains and turned to face Siegfried. His attention was drawn to the man’s emerald eyes, just like Brunhilde’s. Alex and Siegfried locked eyes, sizing each other up. In reality, only Siegfried was trying to figure out who was standing before him, while Alex was already thinking about how to introduce himself. An idea popped into his head, one that had worked well for him in the past. Alex decided to take the same approach he used when he first met David.

“I’m your father,” Alex said calmly, looking Siegfried straight in the eyes.

For a few seconds, confusion filled Siegfried’s mind. His thoughts were tangled: what did he just hear? Father? How was that possible? Why did he know nothing about this? Questions popped up one after another in his mind as he tried to comprehend Alex’s words.

Ignoring the stunned expression on Siegfried’s face, Alex decided it was time to leave this place. Other matters awaited him, including the pursuit of Heimdall. Summoning Yamato, he gave a slight wave of the blade, and all the chains and shackles holding Siegfried were immediately severed. The man fell to the floor, stunned, looking up and meeting Alex’s gaze.

“Why are you saying you’re my father? And when did you become one?” Siegfried asked in confusion.

“All the questions go to your mother,” Alex replied calmly. “If you want to know something, talk to Brunhilde. I don’t have time to explain everything here. Now, be a good boy and step into the portal.”

With these words, Alex opened a portal using Yamato. Siegfried continued to watch him suspiciously. However, upon hearing Brunhilde’s name, he started to get an idea of what was going on. Still, he remained doubtful.

Why had Brunhilde never mentioned this person? When had she gotten a partner? The last time she was here, she hadn’t said a word about it. And because of this, Siegfried began to suspect that Alex was lying.

“Even if you mentioned Hilda’s name, I don’t believe you,” Siegfried said firmly, refusing to go toward the portal.

Alex glanced at Siegfried, frowning. His eyes twitched slightly, betraying his irritation. Patience was not a trait he could boast about, especially when dealing with young men who needed something explained. If it had been a girl in Siegfried’s place, Alex might have gladly laid everything out with some proof. But since it was a guy, he decided to take a simpler and harsher approach.

“I said, get in the portal,” Alex said coldly, disappearing from his spot.

Siegfried didn’t even have time to blink before Alex was already behind him. Without wasting a second, Alex kicked him hard, sending the boy straight into the portal. With a whistle, Siegfried was sent flying into the portal, disappearing as Alex calmly followed, stepping through as though strolling through a park.

Meanwhile, in the break room, where his group had stayed, there was a calm confusion. No one knew where Alex had gone, not even the Valkyries connected to him through the spiritual bond. Brunhilde, who had just been reprimanding her sisters, now found herself staring at the spot where Alex had left through the portal, wondering where he was headed and what was happening.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the portal suddenly opened, and Siegfried flew out of it. Surprise was reflected on Brunhilde’s face, as well as on her sisters’ faces, who were watching in shock as the boy landed face-first on the floor with a loud thud.

“Oh, that’s rude,” Siegfried muttered, sitting up and rubbing his reddened forehead.

Looking around, he noticed Brunhilde, who stood there, seemingly struck by lightning. A wide grin spread across Siegfried’s face.

“Sister Hilda! Long time no see!” he said cheerfully, waving his hand.

Her shock was replaced by confusion, but Siegfried’s words quickly brought her back to reality.

“How did you get here?” she asked, unable to hide her bewilderment.

Although she had seen Siegfried appear from the portal, comprehending what was happening took some effort. The only thing that came to mind was that Alex had somehow entered Tartarus and pulled him out.

“A strange guy appeared, said he was my father, and then kicked me into the portal,” Siegfried shrugged, trying to explain the situation in a way that didn’t sound completely insane.

He expected shock or disbelief, but the reaction from those around him was oddly calm, which made him slightly uncomfortable. As he mulled this over, Alex stepped out of the portal. His expression was clearly satisfied.

“Well, I’ve kidnapped your son from Tartarus. So, am I forgiven? Are you no longer angry with me?” Alex asked with a smirk, meeting Brunhilde’s gaze.

Brunhilde noticed Alex, his face beaming with a pleased smile, as if he had just successfully completed something important. She walked toward him and stopped directly in front of him, looking him in the eyes. Alex raised an eyebrow, waiting to see what she would say or do.

Brunhilde leaned in a little closer, her movements slow and almost cautious. Then, she lightly brushed her lips against his. The kiss was brief but sincere.

The scene caught Siegfried’s attention. He stared in surprise at his usually strict, always composed older sister. Such behavior from her was so unexpected that he could barely express his feelings in words.

“I’ll think about it,” Brunhilde said softly, a gentle smile lighting up her face.

Alex rolled his eyes and sighed, realizing she had forgiven him for the deception.

“Alright, you two go ahead and chat and all that. Meanwhile, I’m going to take care of a few other things before we go talk to the gods,” he said, turning toward the door.

“Where are you going again?” Rebecca asked, frowning.

“I’m going to catch one idiot for a little chat,” Alex replied, opening the door. “He knows too much and ran off first. Need to have a word with him.”

Without waiting for further questions, Alex stepped into the hallway and focused, trying to locate Heimdall. There was something strange about this god. Even if Heimdall had the ability to see the nine worlds, as the legends said, that didn’t explain how he could know so much about characters from other universes.

Once Heimdall’s location became clear, Alex opened a portal and, stepping through it, found himself right where he needed to be. He emerged cautiously, so as not to attract unnecessary attention, and made his way toward Heimdall with the demeanor of someone determined to get answers.

To be continued…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep