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The prison was packed with hardened criminals, men who had long lost their freedom and now, given this rare opportunity, had no intention of quietly returning to their cells just because Arthur said so.
Arthur knew this well. So while he spoke, his actions were ruthless, showing no mercy.
With a flick of his left palm, a stream of white-hot fire coiled forward like a serpent, searing through the air. The temperature was intense— one touch was enough to scorch flesh to the bone, leaving behind nothing but charred remains.
Fortunately, after extensive training, Arthur had honed his energy control to near perfection. Despite the large-scale destruction, not a single ally was harmed. Instead, their morale soared. Fueled by adrenaline, they became even more reckless, throwing themselves into battle with wild abandon.
Arthur felt a headache coming on.
Their reckless enthusiasm turned the battlefield into even greater chaos, making it difficult for him to unleash wide-range attacks effectively.
Among the four abilities derived from the Mandarin's rings, Flame of Faltine was proving to be a liability in this situation.
Unleashing the Shadow of Darkness would only amplify the chaos, which was the last thing he needed.
As for the Frost of Niflheim and the Gravity of Gaea, while incredibly effective, they were better suited for one-on-one combat rather than a full-scale riot.
With pure energy attacks proving too cumbersome, Arthur opted for a different approach.
He infused his longsword with the Frost of Niflheim, and a chilling mist instantly enveloped the blade. Each strike froze his opponents solid, turning them into ice sculptures on the spot.
Even those who weren't completely frozen found their movements sluggish, leaving them vulnerable. The Asgardian warriors seized the opportunity, swiftly subduing or, when necessary, cutting them down.
For Arthur, this was a completely new experience.
In the past, he had always fought alone, carving a path through enemies with sheer skill, taking down commanders with precise, deadly efficiency.
Leading a charge? Fighting side by side with an entire squadron? That was something new.
Yet, as the battle raged on, he found himself reveling in it.
He didn't even need to kill— merely immobilize— and his allies would handle the rest.
At first, he found their presence cumbersome, an obstacle rather than an advantage.
But as he adapted, he realized their efficiency was unmatched. The prisoners stood no chance. Under relentless assault, they were forced back step by step.
The momentum had shifted— one side gaining strength, the other crumbling.
Arthur had always understood the power of morale in war, but experiencing it firsthand in a raw, brawling prison riot was something else entirely.
And he had to admit— it was exhilarating.
Just as he was getting into the rhythm of the battle, a furious roar cut through the chaos.
From the far end of the prison, a monstrous figure barreled forward, hurling prisoners aside like ragdolls, clearing a direct path toward Arthur.
If not for the murderous intent in his eyes, Arthur might have mistaken him for an ally.
Before Arthur could react, a massive gray form stepped in front of him.
The man was brutal and menacing, with a body built like a fortress. Though he was much shorter than the Abomination, his sheer presence was overwhelming. Without hesitation, he swung his fists, aiming straight for Arthur.
The Abomination let out a thunderous roar and met the attack head-on. Their fists collided with an explosive impact, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. The sheer force of their clash forced combatants on both sides to instinctively back away, unwilling to step into the dangerous blast zone.
At that moment, Arthur vanished, reappearing in the air above the brawl. With a single gesture, he pressed his palm downward, unleashing an immense gravitational field.
The pressure was instantaneous.
Many prisoners dropped to their knees, some even coughing up blood from the sheer force. But the monstrous warrior in front of them merely bowed his head slightly.
That was all Arthur needed.
He twisted his longsword, its icy edge glinting ominously.
In that instant, the Abomination moved. He grabbed the black-armored brute by his horns and wrenched him forward, exposing the back of his neck.
The blade struck true.
Blood erupted as Arthur's sword pierced through the giant's throat, the crimson spray painting the battlefield. Arthur stepped on his head, pinning the lifeless body to the ground before wrenching his blade free.
"Suppress them!" He commanded.
The prison erupted with an explosion of sound— cheers from Asgardian warriors and screams from terrified prisoners.
When the black-armored brute had first appeared, his sheer strength had nearly thrown the battlefield into chaos. No one had been able to stand against him. Even the shockwaves from his blows had been enough to kill weaker fighters.
But in less than three seconds, Arthur had cut him down.
The Asgardians were electrified by the display. The prisoners? They were utterly demoralized.
Arthur's gaze was cold as he adjusted his grip on his sword. He took a deep breath before calling out:
"Earthquake Wave Sword!"
A freezing gust roared forth from his blade, ice spreading across the battlefield like creeping vines. Anyone caught in its path was instantly encased in ice, unable to move.
"Go!"
With a single motion, Arthur signaled the charge. The Asgardian warriors surged forward, roaring as they finished the job, subduing the last remnants of resistance.
Arthur exhaled, eyeing his sword with a trace of dissatisfaction.
"What a shame... the Earthquake Wave Sword is still an imitation."
His gaze shifted to the fallen giant, then to the battlefield around him. His brow furrowed slightly.
"Damn elf," he muttered. "Died too quickly. But this works too. With him gone, Frigga should be fine. Even if the Dark Elf leader is still out there, he won't be much of a match for her."
His focus returned to the prison.
The fight was over. The remaining prisoners were subdued, too broken to offer any more resistance. The Asgardians had shifted to securing captives rather than killing.
Arthur casually struck down a few lingering stragglers as he walked forward, his steps steady.
Then, he saw Loki.
Leaning against a wall, book in hand, utterly indifferent to the battle raging around him.
Arthur smirked.
"Hey," he greeted. "Looks like you held up your end of the bargain."
(End of Chapter)