"So long as you understand. Still, I've got to say those gods in your world are seriously low-rent. I mean, other than being more powerful than regular people, their personalities? Just a mess. Not a single one of them feels remotely sane."
"…They are the gods, after all," Brunhilde replied. "They dwell far above the mortal world."
"True enough. But you know, while I was watching the anime, I noticed something odd. Your world's gods… don't include any deities from the East. No Chinese gods at all. Is that really the case?"
"Eastern deities… no, they're not represented," Brunhilde admitted.
"Why not?"
"…I don't know." Brunhilde looked genuinely uncomfortable. She herself had wondered that. If Eastern gods were part of the pantheon gods like Nüwa, who mended the heavens there was no way they'd agree to exterminate humanity. But for some reason, it had simply never occurred to her until now. As if her mind had glossed over that absence from the very beginning, without even realizing it.
She raised her fist to her lips and bit down on her curled index finger, confused and unsettled. Why hadn't she ever considered the Eastern gods? Could it be they were merely myths? Her body shivered inexplicably, and she found herself afraid to think any deeper.
(The author didn't come up with a good explanation yet, so let's leave it at that for now.)
"Well, whatever. Just something I was curious about," Kevin Cross said lightly. "Anyway, Lü Bu and Adam both lost in the first two rounds. You thinking of switching anyone out? And if so, who?"
"I don't know…" Brunhilde rubbed her temple. "Lü Bu is already the strongest human warrior. I can't think of anyone who could take his place against the God of Thunder. As for Adam, if he hadn't faced Zeus, he might not have lost. But against Zeus? No matter who it is, the odds are slim to none. He is the King of the Gods, after all."
"That design though… yikes," Kevin muttered. "Lü Bu barely looks human, and don't even get me started on Guan Yu. That guy looks more like a monster than a man. What was the author thinking?"
"…," Brunhilde had no response.
"Oh, and one more thing why don't you go ahead and use your real name? 'The Valkyrie Ready to Sacrifice Herself' might be accurate, but it's not exactly convenient to say."
"Mm." With that, the Valkyrie officially changed her display name to Brunhilde.
"You know, fighting gods sounds like a hell of a thrill," said Saeko Busujima with a hint of longing. "Too bad I'm not strong enough yet. If I were, I'd probably want to join in."
Brunhilde glanced over at Saeko, shaking her head. In the anime, Saeko had certainly shined, but she was still just a teenager. Her strength didn't come close to matching the gods. Still, now that she'd become involved with the group's leader, Kevin, who knew how much stronger she had become?
The members of the chat group came from different worlds, each with their own power levels. Aside from Brunhilde, a demigod by nature, the strongest member so far was Uchiha Izuna from the Naruto universe, followed by Kumoko the spider. Saeko came next. As for the demon slayer and Izumi from Demon Slayer their strength wasn't quite at the same level, at least for now.
But Saeko's comment had sparked an idea.
Perhaps she could use the chat group to find more powerful humans across the multiverse. Humans strong enough to stand against the gods. Right now, the group was small, and only Izuna and maybe the group leader were even remotely strong enough to join the war.
"Leader, how often does the chat group pull in new members?" Brunhilde asked.
"About once a month, give or take," Kevin replied. He had already figured out the pattern.
"Once a month… that means we've still got twelve chances before the final battle." Brunhilde quickly ran the numbers in her head. "Leader, will the group pull in powerful individuals from other worlds?"
"Probably. I mean, you're a Valkyrie and you got pulled in, right? And it's likely even stronger people will join later. Why, are you thinking of recruiting group members to fight against the gods?"
Kevin saw right through her intentions.
"Yes, I am," Brunhilde said honestly. "Defeating gods as a mere human is nearly impossible. Even warriors like Lü Bu wouldn't stand a chance without us Valkyries. We make sacrifices fusing our souls and bodies with theirs, transforming into weapons, and enhancing them with divine power. It's not just humans fighting the gods. It's humans and Valkyries. Honestly, in these battles, the Valkyrie's power accounts for at least two-thirds of the total strength."
She paused. "If Uchiha Izuna were to wield a Valkyrie-forged weapon, she'd surpass Lü Bu easily."
Izuna had already unlocked the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, making her incredibly powerful. If she fused with a Valkyrie, she'd be on an entirely different level. And who knew how far her strength might grow? In the Naruto world, characters eventually gained world-destroying power.
"Me? Sorry, not interested," Izuna said flatly. "I'd rather focus on my revenge than worry about saving other worlds."
"…I see. That's a shame," Brunhilde said, clearly disappointed.
"To bring someone into your world, there's one condition," Kumoko interjected. "You have to become one of Kevin's women. So, Brunhilde, are you ready to make that commitment?"
"If that's what it takes to defeat the gods, then I don't mind," she answered without hesitation. "From the start, I've been prepared to give everything."
There were thirteen Valkyries, and thirteen battles each Valkyrie had long accepted they'd sacrifice themselves to become weapons, to give humanity a fighting chance against the divine.
"Another one like Izuna," Kumoko sighed. "They always come with some grand, noble reason. Don't even care about being a woman, or anything like that. Ugh. Sometimes I really wish I wasn't just a spider."
Kevin's eyes lit up as he read Brunhilde's words. Another member added to the harem.
"I don't mind becoming your woman," Brunhilde added, her tone steady. "But at the very least, I need one member who can truly fight at my side. Only then will I give you my final answer."
____________________
NEXT CHAPTER : Chat Group Upgrade
(Kevin realizes he needs allies strong enough to fight gods if he wants Brunhilde's heart. As Izumi's feelings deepen, the chat group suddenly begins upgrading in response. Meanwhile, Saeko grows restless zombies bore her. She craves divine battle.
Next: What powers will the upgrade unlock and who will rise to challenge the gods?)
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