“Ladies and gentlemen, the great citizens of Astoria, we have reached the end of the gala. Only one student remains. For the last challenger, let’s usher her into the arena! Valerie Nordin… show us what you’re made of!” The host’s voice echoed dramatically across the arena, the crowd roaring in anticipation.
“It’s finally your turn, Val,” Fiona said, nudging her friend with a grin. “Remember, don’t just blast the tunnel. Recognize the pattern, okay?”
Valerie took a deep breath, brushing her silver hair behind her ear as she stepped forward. “Yeah, yeah, sure. I’ll ‘analyze’ or whatever.”
“Good luck, Miss Dragon,” Kian said, offering her a fist bump.
“Sure, thanks. Icy boy,” she quipped, bumping his fist lightly before stepping onto the platform.
---
“Thor will surely love her,” the Dean murmured to Professor Kohn, his tone brimming with excitement.
“What do you mean, sir?” Kohn asked, her brows furrowing.
The Dean chuckled knowingly. “Her power is—just watch and enjoy it.”
The cryptic response made Kohn uneasy. She glanced around the arena nervously, her hand brushing against the sleek device on her wrist. Discreetly, she pressed a series of buttons, her lips tightening into a thin line.
---
“What are you gonna show us, pervert dragon? A strip show?” Anderson’s voice rang out from the stands, dripping with mockery.
A few scattered snickers followed his crude comment, but most of the audience remained focused on Valerie as she stepped into the arena.
She paused mid-step, turning slightly to glance back at Anderson. Her expression was calm—too calm—but her lips curled into a wicked smile, the kind that sent shivers down the spines of those who knew her well.
“Oh, you wish. Don’t get too comfortable now, baby!” she said softly, her voice carrying just enough venom to silence the laughter around him.
"Are you ready?" the host shouted, his voice reverberating through the excited crowd.
The audience erupted into cheers.
"Go!" the host continued, and Valerie was off.
The stadium shook as a deafening sonic boom echoed through the air, a powerful shockwave rippling outward. By the time anyone could blink, she was already at the end of the 100-meter dash, standing casually at the entrance of the trapping tunnel.
The entire arena fell into stunned silence.
“What just happened? Was that… not even a second? 0.4 seconds?” the host bellowed in disbelief, his hand gripping the mic as though to steady himself.
The camera panned to the students in the stands. Mouths hung open in shock. Fiona and Kian shot to their feet, staring at Valerie as though she had just rewritten the laws of physics.
"Did she just break the sound barrier in an obstacle course?" Kian murmured, dumbfounded.
"Yes, I think so," Fiona replied, eyes wide with awe.
Valerie, completely unfazed by the reaction, cracked her knuckles and muttered, "Easy-peasy. Time for the tricky part."
---
At the trapping tunnel, Valerie stepped inside, only to have a giant hammer drop squarely on her head.
She didn’t flinch.
Instead, she frowned and muttered, "Okay, let’s try this pattern thing Fiona keeps talking about. How hard can it be?"
She took a cautious step forward, her eyes darting to the mechanisms around her. A flurry of darts shot toward her.
"Whoa!" she exclaimed, bracing herself. The darts hit her skin, only to bounce off harmlessly. She inspected her arm. "Huh. Well, that’s convenient."
Encouraged, she advanced, muttering to herself, "If this gear moves left, then the next one should—"
A sudden jet of flames roared up from the ground, engulfing her.
"Ahhh—oh wait, I’m fine. No biggie," she said, waving away the smoke as if it were an annoying fly.
“Let’s try again. If this thing goes that way…”
She stepped forward with exaggerated caution. Suddenly, another flames erupted from the floor, engulfing her.
“...then that thing will go—OH, COME ON!” she yelled, her hair slightly singed but otherwise untouched.
The audience howled with laughter, the host practically wheezing. “Ladies and gentlemen, her brain may be working at half speed, but her strength is working overtime!”
Frustration mounting, Valerie pressed on. “Okay, forth time’s the charm, maybe, actually the third time was supposed to be the charm… whatever! calm down! If I just… Nope, that’s lava. That’s actual lava. Who designs these things?!”
By the halfway point, her patience evaporated entirely. “You know what? Screw this stupid tunnel. Time to redecorate!”
She took a deep breath, opened her mouth and unleashed a torrent of fire, melting the entire tunnel in one go.
The host could barely contain himself. “Well, folks, we’ve learned one thing today—why think your way through a problem when you can burn it down instead? Valerie Nordin, everyone! A true role model for overachieving pyromaniacs everywhere!”
She walked out, dusting off her hands as the crowd erupted into a mix of cheers and hysterical laughter.
The crowd howled in delight. Fiona collapsed into her seat, shaking her head and laughing uncontrollably.
"She really tried, though!" Fiona said between giggles.
"Yeah," Kian replied, smirking. "That was… something."
---
Next up was the punching wall.
Valerie squared her shoulders, rolled her neck, and grinned. "Time to shine."
She pulled her fist back and punched the wall with all her strength. The stadium fell into stunned silence for a moment, and then—boom! The force of her punch echoed through the arena. The impact cracked the wall, leaving a massive crater in its center. The machine struggled to calculate her score before shutting down completely.
The crowd erupted into cheers, their roars deafening as they realized the sheer magnitude of Valerie’s strength.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“That’s… that’s not possible! What a Godlike strength!” the host exclaimed, his voice barely able to contain his shock. “She just cracked the punching wall like it was made of paper!”
For a moment, the arena was so loud that it seemed to shake with the intensity of the applause. Valerie stood in the middle of the arena, a wide grin spread across her face.
“I’d say that’s pretty impressive,” she said, flexing her hand with a dramatic flourish, raising both arms triumphantly as they chanted her name.
"Val-er-ie! Val-er-ie!"
Fiona and Kian exchanged an impressed look, still recovering from the chaos that was Valerie’s performance. “Well, that was something,” Fiona said, her face flushed with excitement. “I think that’s the reason why they wouldn’t kick—yep. Got it!”
“Of course!” Kian laughed.
—
In the shadows of the grand stadium, the tension was thick as the two shadowy figures observed Valerie’s display of raw power. Her speed, her strength, her overwhelming fire—all of it had set their plans teetering on the edge of ruin.
"Boss, we should abort the mission," the woman hissed, her voice laced with urgency. Her sharp eyes darted nervously toward the arena where Valerie basked in the audience's adoration. "It's too risky. We can't deal with the Gods, and that girl? She's dangerous. I can smell it—her bloodlust."
The man beside her, their leader, clenched his jaw, his hands trembling slightly. But his resolve remained firm. "No! We proceed as planned. This is our biggest chance. Kohn will handle the Gods, just as we discussed. And as for that girl..." He turned, his gaze hardening. "I'll take care of her myself."
The woman gripped his arm. "You can't! Boss, listen to me! There’s still another day—we can regroup and—"
She froze mid-sentence as shadows coiled around them like serpents, binding their limbs and pinning them in place. A chill crept through the air as a voice, dripping with amusement, broke the silence.
"Up to no good, I see. Tsk, tsk. What are you planning, hmm? Come on, let me in on your 'evil' master plan. I do love a bit of drama."
The two figures turned their heads with difficulty, and there he was—Loki. Or rather, something that looked like him. The illusion's grin stretched wide, its sharp features bathed in an eerie, shimmering light.
The woman’s voice quivered as she snapped, "How did you find us, you creepy devil?!"
Loki tilted his head in mock offense. "Creepy devil? Oh, darling, you've mistaken me for another god entirely. Creepy is kind of his thing, though, now that you mention it. But I am Loki, the God of Mischief! Surely you’ve heard of me? No? Oh, my fragile heart, shattered!" He placed a hand dramatically over his chest, pouting.
The pair glared at him in silence, refusing to answer.
"Ah, the silent treatment," Loki sighed theatrically. "Fine, be that way. But don't say I didn't warn you."
The illusion extended a hand, placing it on the shadowy man’s head. A low hum filled the air, followed by a gut-wrenching scream as Loki’s power invaded the man’s mind. His body writhed against the bindings, but there was no escape.
Moments later, Loki withdrew his hand, smiling as if he had just solved a particularly amusing puzzle. "Oh my, now that was enlightening. Your little plan... it’s cute. Desperate, but cute."
The shadows released their grip, and the pair collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
"Why don’t you just kill us and be done with it?" the man growled through gritted teeth.
Loki chuckled, his laughter both chilling and infectious. "Kill you? Now, where’s the fun in that? No, no. I’m actually rather intrigued. Go on with your little scheme. But here’s a bit of advice from me to you..."
The illusion leaned closer, its face mere inches from theirs. "Catch that mortal, Drexlers, before the not-so-mortal Nordin gets to him. Because once she does? Well..." He straightened, grinning maliciously. "Let’s just say you’ll never touch him again with your filthy little hands."
The two figures exchanged a glance, their faces pale with realization.
The woman managed a shaky, "Thanks...?"
"You're very welcome!" Loki quipped, bowing theatrically. "Now, run along. Mischief awaits!"
From the VIP section, the real Loki waved cheerfully at them, his grin as infuriating as ever. The pair looked back at the illusion only to find the shadows dissolving into the darkness, leaving no trace.
The woman rubbed her wrists where the shadows had gripped her. "We’re doomed..."
"Not yet, you heard the god." the man said, his voice shaking slightly but still resolute. "We stick to the plan. We have to."
The woman swallowed hard, her eyes narrowing. "And if Nordin interferes?"
The man’s expression darkened. "The beasts, we’ll use them."
—
“Why are you smiling like a twisted harpy, brother?” Thor’s booming voice cut through the arena’s roar, his earlier excitement replaced with suspicion as he glared at Loki.
“Oh, nothing, dear brother,” Loki replied, his smirk growing wider. “I was merely marveling at the mortal girl’s... impressive talents. Truly amazing, wouldn’t you agree?”
Thor’s frown melted into a grin as he stood up, cheering once more. “Ah, indeed! Valerie is incredible! I’d take her as my disciple in a heartbeat. Her talent is wasted in this petty college.”
Loki’s smirk twisted into something more mischievous. “Congratulations, brother. You’ve finally found someone who acts and talks just like you!” He leaned closer, adding in a conspiratorial whisper, “Less brain and more muscle.”
“I heard that, Loki,” Thor growled, his voice tinged with annoyance. “For once, you’re wrong. What she did was actually smart! Why dance around a problem when you have the power to crush it outright?”
“Ah, yes, such wisdom, brother,” Loki said, rolling his eyes. “Why bother with the challenge’s intended purpose when brute force will suffice? It’s not like rules or strategy matter.”
Thor huffed, crossing his arms. “Rules are for the weak! Power solves everything.”
"Ah, yes. Of course, You’d say that," Loki said, rolling his eyes. "But don’t you find her... unusual?" He leaned closer, lowering his voice.
Thor stroked his beard thoughtfully. "She is unusual, but I see no reason to doubt her humanity."
Loki arched an eyebrow. "No? Not even a smidge of Asgardian blood running through her veins? She certainly doesn’t feel entirely mortal. Is she your daughter by any chance?”
Thor stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Hmm. I did have a fling with a mortal once. But that was 500 years ago, and she wasn’t even from this realm. Hmm... no, no, it couldn’t be. She’s definitely not my daughter.”
Loki chuckled. “Of course not, brother. Let’s leave it at that. For now.” He leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting to Valerie. “The show isn’t over yet, Thor. Two more challenges await. Let’s see if she surprises us further.”
---
“To the next challenge, Thunder Cannon!” the host announced, his voice brimming with excitement.
Valerie approached the enormous device with a casual stride, her silver hair shimmering under the stadium lights. The audience buzzed with anticipation.
The cannon roared to life, unleashing a blinding bolt of electricity. The thunderbolt struck Valerie square in the chest. She stood motionless, blinking.
"Is that it?" she said with a smirk. "I was expecting... more." She rubbed her arm playfully. "Kinda tickled, though.”
The crowd erupted into cheers and laughter, their initial shock replaced by roaring amusement.
Thor leaned forward in his seat, his booming laughter echoing across the VIP section. "Kind of tickled! By the stars, I like this girl! A true warrior spirit, unshaken even in the face of lightning!"
Loki smirked, lounging back in his chair. "Yes, she does seem to have inherited your flair for dramatic one-liners, brother. A match made in Valhalla, truly.”
Thor waved him off, his eyes glued to Valerie. "Enough with your jests, Loki. She’s incredible! I haven’t seen a mortal take on challenges like this before!”
—
The host chuckled, playing into the excitement. “Tickles, huh? Well, that’s... humbling. I’d be crying for my mother right about now! Folks, this girl is something else! Onward to the final challenge!”
Valerie stepped forward, her red eyes glowing faintly. The host turned to her, curiosity in his voice. “So, Valerie, do you have anything else in that bag of tricks? Or are fire breath and super strength your entire arsenal?”
Valerie didn’t answer with words. Instead, her glowing red eyes intensified, and twin beams of searing laser energy shot out. They weren’t ordinary lasers—they were massive, like fiery pillars of wrath.
The beams struck the black stone target at the center of the arena, causing it to sear red-hot, glowing ominously. A low hum reverberated through the stadium as the impact sent shockwaves rippling across the ground.
“Score: 100 out of 100!” the host announced.
The audience roared in approval, some students leaping from their seats in excitement. Fiona practically screamed, "Did you see that?! Val, you’re insane!"
Kian, though stunned, managed a grin. "Insane doesn’t even cover it. She’s unstoppable.”
Thor stood again, raising his arms as if to declare a victory. “Look at her! Perfect in every way! She truly is a warrior deserving of my tutelage!”
Loki chuckled, his tone laced with intrigue. "Oh, brother, I think we’ve just witnessed the beginning of something far more interesting than a mere competition."
Thor frowned, his excitement briefly dampened. "What are you scheming, Loki?"
"Me?" Loki feigned innocence, placing a hand on his chest. "Nothing at all. Just admiring the show... and the possibilities."
Thor turned his attention back to Valerie, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Possibilities? What are you on about?"
Loki’s smirk returned, but he said nothing, letting the rising energy of the crowd fill the silence. Loki leaned back, his expression unreadable as his eyes flickered with hidden thoughts. "Perfect indeed," he murmured under his breath. "But even stars burn out if someone knows where to strike.”
—
“Valerie Nordin!” Thor’s booming voice echoed through the arena, silencing the roaring crowd. “Be my disciple!”
Valerie tilted her head, her silver hair shimmering as she smirked. “Only if you beat me in a fight!” she shouted back, her crimson eyes glinting with excitement.
Thor roared with laughter, the sound shaking the very foundation of the stadium. “That’s my girl! Challenge accepted!”
The audience erupted, their cheers a chaotic symphony of anticipation. Valerie flexed her fingers, her fiery aura beginning to shimmer as the thought of facing a god thrilled her. But just as Thor rose, ready to leap into the arena, the force field surrounding the stadium flickered.
A crackling sound filled the air, followed by three monstrous figures dropping from the sky.
The creatures were grotesque—a terrifying fusion of genetic mutation and cybernetic enhancement. Their towering frames, easily three times the size of a man, bristled with jagged metal implants and glowing red eyes. They moved with unnatural precision, each one immediately locking its gaze on Valerie.
The crowd gasped in unison.
Thor’s face darkened, his hand instinctively gripping Mjolnir. “What’s the meaning of this?!” he roared, turning to glare at the Professors.
Professor Kohn stiffened but quickly masked her unease. “It is... part of the show, my lord,” she said, her voice even but her eyes darting nervously toward the creatures.
“Is it now?” Loki interjected, his grin widening. His sharp gaze flickered with amusement, though his tone carried a knowing edge. “Come now, brother. Let’s not ruin the fun. Let’s just enjoy the fight!”
Thor hesitated, his knuckles whitening around Mjolnir’s handle. But Loki’s words softened his resolve, and he reluctantly sat back down. “Fine, but if any harm comes to her, I’ll destroy whoever is responsible.”
Loki leaned in with a sly smirk. “Oh, I don’t doubt it, brother. Let’s see how your ‘disciple’ fares.”