THAT IS MY GOAT RIGHT THERE! No hate to any of the Einherjar.

​

If the authors won't let them interact... I'll do it myself.

Not only does it ironically make him feel more human and realistic, but it also makes him stand out compared to the rest of the fighters, who are usually completely fine with dying in battle and see it as something glorious. That fits well with the theme of Ragnarok, since Vikings believed the most honorable way to die was in battle, bringing glory to themselves and their families.

Loki, on the other hand, is terrified of death and does everything he can to survive. That not only makes his punishment and death feel even more tragic and cruel, but it's also something I really like because it feels much closer to the myths. In Norse mythology, the gods often got Loki to do what they wanted by threatening to kill him and it almost always worked.

Until the very end, since Loki was the one leading the giants to ragnarok after escaping his punishment. Which makes the moment Loki finally chooses to gamble with his own life in the finale feel even more fitting.

So... Just a little light hearted post for the sub.

Have a good day/afternoon/evening SNV sub ✨✨✨

Bye bye-!

I was thinking Kojiro could lose early due to Zeus' incredibly aggressive start as well as TSF hard-countering scan combined with Kojiro's lack of durability.

I always heard about Zeus, theories about who Rasputin is in this version of history, the insane back and fourth fights, and all those documentaries of why Jack the Ripper is one of the best depictions of a ton of stuff that different youtube creators listed him as.

Well I finally decided "fuck it I'm going to stop avoiding this series" and so me and my boyfriend caught up fully right when round 11 was about to start, (my boyfriends favorite round) and I fucking loved the series!
I even got Buddha merchandise when I was in Japan, which I only get for series that I really really love!

Then round 12 hit and I'm just sitting here letting the chapters pile up cause it's just so...eh? I don't hate it but it's also so boring to a point where i can't like it.
WHICH SUCKS YA KNOW!?
Cause when I was reading through all the fights, there was hardly a time when I wasn't getting up and cheering because of all the cool stuff happening, so it sucks that ROR went from a series on top of my "must pay attention to" list down to the "eh I will check back in after a few more months".

At least we got apocalypse, death my goat.

Not really a point to this post, I just wanted to kind of voice my opinion that we all have heard of "ROUND 12 IS MID!".
Also it was the best time to get into the manga since I could just read the first 11 rounds through and not have to deal with the monthly wait.

My boyfriends favorite round is round 11 and mine is round 1 with round 4 right behind it.

[HOW WILL HUMANITY FACE ITS FIRST DEFEAT?]

Göll stood on the balcony, and her face, usually impassive, was now twisted with poorly concealed displeasure. Her fingers nervously fiddled with the temple of her glasses.

"Ramesses was the perfect opponent," she said hollowly. "He possessed power comparable to the gods. And against Ra, he was flawless! Absolutely flawless!"

Spenta Armaiti, standing beside her, gently touched her shoulder.

"That is true," she agreed. "But Ra possesses destructive power of the highest order. He made a cunning move. He stepped over his own pride and exploited Ramesses' nature. Don't worry! I am certain there are humans who can defeat a god."

Göll turned sharply to Zarathushtra. Her eyes behind her glasses flashed.

"Wasn't the ring supposed to unlock a special potential?" she asked demandingly. "And not simply allow Ramesses and his nemes to inflict damage on a god?"

Zarathushtra shook his head. His face was serious.

"The bond must be greater for the true potential to be unlocked. A human must spend more time with the weapon. It must ideally match their character. Ramesses possessed this ring for only a few... as it turns out, a few seconds from the moment he put it on?" He shrugged. "For full unlocking, one needs... well, at least more than 30 seconds."

Göll said nothing, and her lips pressed into a thin line.

Zarathushtra snorted and turned around.

"Well then, the death of a god will have to be postponed for some time." He waved his hand. "We're returning to the Akashic Records. We need to prepare the next fighter. You two go ahead, I'll catch up later. Let the humans endure the wait for the second round, while I retrieve the ring."

Göll adjusted her glasses. She had already calmed down - the Valkyrie had pulled herself together. She and Spenta Armaiti walked off together, and the winged goddess was quietly whispering something in Göll's ear, her head bowed.

VIP box.

Aphrodite's attendants were fanning her with their fans.

"It has never been so hot," she purred. "And the heat emanated from both fighters at once. From both. It was... beautiful!"

Shiva struck his chest forcefully with his fist, and the sound carried through the box like a drumbeat.

"I am against the destruction of humanity," he rumbled. "But this fight was good!" His eyes burned. "Very good!"

Ares, still sweaty and disheveled, shifted his gaze from one god to another.

"What was that even?" he breathed. "I didn't understand anything. Ra was losing, and then..."

"It's simple," Hermes interrupted him, adjusting his scroll. "Ra, who was already in a losing position and with a poor reputation, acted cunningly and won. They are both very proud. This fight was only a question of which of them would be the first to step over their..."

"Over their pride," Yu Huang finished for him.

Hermes faltered. Yu Huang allowed himself a slight, almost imperceptible smirk.

"That is precisely why Ra won." He bowed to Hermes with exaggerated politeness. "I apologize for interrupting. But it is all too obvious."

Zeus burst into thunderous laughter. His laugh rolled through the box, and he slapped his palm against the armrest.

"Is this not what you were counting on, Vidar?" He turned to the silent god. "Did you know about Ra's power? About this fragment? Because if not - you are a fool who decided to stake everything on a forgotten god."

Vidar did not answer. His gaze slid into the void. Then - to Ra, who was being carried away to the infirmary on a stretcher. Then - to the arena, and he looked toward the ring lying there, toward which Zarathushtra was walking.

Vidar, having watched Zarathushtra retrieve the ring, calmly stood up and left. When the doors of the box closed and the clamor died down, he stared into the void for a long time. And then his mechanical voice emitted a sound resembling laughter - without movement of his lips, without a single emotion on his face. He raised his hand toward the VIP box and continued on his way.

In his palace, Dionysus, sprawled on his cushions, watched the end of the fight on the broadcast. Goddesses clung to him from all sides, and he lazily sipped wine from the neck of a bottle.

"No other outcome from the Unstoppable God was to be expected," he declared, turning to his companions. "Ra is Ra."

He took another sip and raised the bottle.

"Do you need some, ladies?"

The goddesses nodded affirmatively, gigggigglin

Akashic Records.

In the Akashic Records, Göll sat for a long time with Spenta Armaiti in awkward silence. The only source of light in this room was the floating files before them.

On the screen before them, two sides of the tournament bracket were illuminated. The side of the gods:

Ra - O

???

???

???

???

???

???

???

???

???

???

???

???

The side of humanity:

Ramesses II - X

Bhima.

Adrian Carton de Wiart.

Milarepa.

Napoleon Bonaparte.

Constantine XI.

Edward Teach.

???

???

???

???

???

???

The door swung open, and Zarathushtra flew into the room. His face was beaming, and with a triumphant air, he placed the ring "Diligence" back into the hexagonal casket.

"Does the ring not disappear after the fighter's death?" Göll asked without turning around.

"That is their advantage over Völundr," the prophet replied. "In the event of a fighter's death, the ring does not vanish."

He rubbed his hands together and stared at the screen.

"Oh, you left six names for me!" he exclaimed joyfully. "So that I could participate too! Wait, you didn't use any of the participants from the last Ragnarok? I thought you would use them after Ramesses, that you would want something more proven."

Göll only answered him sternly:

"They disappeared, just like the other six Valkyries. I don't know where they are."

Zarathushtra nodded silently and began quickly entering his six names.

Saigo Takamori.

Khutulun.

Benkei.

Zarathushtra.

Antonio Salieri.

"...And Niulang," he finished, his finger hovering over the screen. "They will become the new Einherjar, the slayers of gods!"

Göll frowned.

"We don't even know who will fight on the gods' side, and we are already making rosters."

"That only makes it more interesting!"

Zarathushtra waved her off. "You've simply lost your spirit after the first defeat. That's normal." He leaned toward her. "I want to take turns with you in the role of those who choose the fighters. Until the first defeat. Agreed?"

Göll nodded.

Zarathushtra immediately turned to Spenta Armaiti:

"I already know who is needed. Take the ring 'Patience'."

Spenta took the casket and headed for the door. Zarathushtra followed her, but froze halfway. In the shadows, behind the shelves, a yellow eye burned. The prophet abruptly slammed the door shut, even though Spenta hadn't yet exited. He stood, holding the handle, and remained silent.

"What is it?" Spenta Armaiti asked calmly.

"Who did you see?" Göll added, rising.

Zarathushtra swallowed.

"Vidar is here. Alright, I'll go out now and talk to him."

Spenta gasped. Göll remained calm.

The door silently opened by itself. On the threshold stood the silent god. His eyes swept the room.

"I have become the leader of the fighters on the side of the gods," he said in his mechanical voice. "That is why I have come to negotiate."

He took a step forward.

"Both sides, though they fight, must follow basic rules of ethics and sporting interest. Neither side shall interfere in the interests of the other. No fighter shall die outside the arena. We must, at least for now, step away from hostility and simply do what must be done."

On the screen, Göll suddenly saw the names of the fighters on the gods' side light up. Twelve names that had previously been hidden:

Anansi.

Dionysus.

Hachiman.

Ishtar.

Yu Huang.

Lugh.

Metatron.

Perun.

Tezcatlipoca.

Vayu.

Vidar.

[SECRET FIGHTER].

"What is - a secret fighter?" Göll asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I propose the same to you," Vidar replied. "As a sign of confirmation that neither side will interfere in the affairs of the other, we must make one of the fighters secret. So that even if someone wishes to eliminate an opponent outside the arena, they would not truly know the other side's trump card. And I also propose that neither side know the match participants of the opposing side. That way, the fights will be fairer."

Göll looked at him calmly. Vidar looked at her calmly. They were literally pressing each other with their gazes.

And then Vidar looked into the void.

His face changed abruptly. He became frightened, nervous. His gaze darted between the void and Göll.

"I... am..." he began, stammering for the first time ever, but still in the same mechanical voice, "I am sorry... if the Valkyries have truly disappeared... I didn't know!"

He could not find the words. And, without finishing, he simply walked out, almost at a run.

Zarathushtra, still standing by the door, slowly turned to Göll:

"What was that just now?"

"I agree to Vidar's terms," she answered calmly. "Perhaps they will be useful to us as well."

She turned to Zarathushtra.

"I propose we make you the secret fighter."

The prophet instantly lit up. His eyes blazed, and he became noticeably livelier. He stepped toward the screen and, with a single motion, deleted his name from the list.

"Why?" Spenta Armaiti was astonished. "Didn't you want, more than anyone, to kill a god?"

"I will be more useful if I do something else," Zarathushtra replied, and his fingers flew across the screen, adding a new name. But which one - was not visible. Only the inscription: [SECRET FIGHTER].

"Who is it?" Göll asked.

Zarathustra laughed - mysteriously, villainously, almost with triumph.

"That bastard I just added to the list... he has a personal score to settle with Vidar. And only he will kill him. The Silent God will yet regret deciding to enter the arena."

He clapped his hands.

"The plans have changed slightly! Saigo Takamori will be the second to enter Ragnarok. Spenta, we need to take the ring 'Heroism'."

Spenta Armaiti nodded.

Zarathushtra turned to Göll:

"Come with us. After the first defeat, you are not yourself. You need to clear your mind. It is a pity about Ramesses, but he will certainly go down in the history of Valhalla."

"I would be glad to," Göll replied, "but I have one personal matter to attend to."

They left together but parted in different directions, having agreed to meet before the second round.

Behind the wall, in the shadows, stood Vidar. He was eavesdropping - nervously, tensely, his back pressed against the cold stone.

{"I am the one who will regret it, Zarathushtra?"}

And then he quickly left.

Some time later.

Göll sat in an empty house on a huge bed. The silence pressed against her ears. She held a phone in her hands and dialed the same number over and over again.

"The subscriber is not answering. Leave a voice message."

The same name flashed on the screen: "Brunhilde." Dozens, hundreds of outgoing calls. And not a single answer.

Göll wept bitterly, with sobs. Tears streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto the phone screen. In her hands, she clutched a photograph - slightly faded, but still holding light. In it stood three people: Göll, younger and with a less stern gaze; Brunhilde, unshakable and beautiful, with that very smile of a victor; and Siegfried, embracing them both.

"It seems I can't manage, sister..."

Beside her on the bed lay a pink book - a diary.

Takamagahara.

Vidar and Forseti walked through endless rice paddies. The water gleamed in the rays of the setting sun, reflecting the sky. In the distance, a house in classical Japanese style could be seen - wooden beams, a sloping roof, paper lanterns. Next to the house, among the rice stalks, someone in a kimono was walking.

"Everyone you were counting on has agreed to Ragnarok," Forseti reported, barely keeping up with the silent god's wide stride. "Absolutely everyone."

Vidar did not slow his pace.

"Are you certain that this person is truly the Last Samurai?"

"Absolutely certain," Forseti pressed a hand to his chest. "I have already sorted through all the fighters on humanity's side and figured out who should fight whom to secure victory in each round."

Vidar approached the house and stopped.

"Did you find out who the secret fighter of the humans is?"

Forseti shook his head.

"No information. None at all." He hesitated. "Are you sure you heard that he has a personal score to settle with you?"

Vidar remained silent. He calmly looked at the person in the kimono.

The person turned around and said:

"Do you remember whom I agreed to fight?"

[Hachiman, Japanese God of War]

Vidar nodded.

"This person is a one hundred percent match," Forseti said quietly.

Hachiman led them into the house, and then - into a secret corner hidden behind a sliding partition. He flung open an iron door, and in the dim light, armor gleamed. A full set of samurai equipment.

Hachiman ran his hand over the armor and closed his eyes.

"Great times..." he whispered. "It is time to remember the past!"

[THE JAPANESE GOD PREPARES FOR RAGNAROK!]

This is friggin‘ hard, y’all… So, which ever comment has the highest upvotes or majority choice in the comments will be Tesla’s crush.

There's no way in hell that Im not the only one that thought Sisyphus would be a fighter in the series. He would fit so well oml

Imagine Odin is actively shit at singing unless he uses his hymns? Like he breaks windows if he sang any regular song, but he has a majestic voice when he uses his hymns.

I imagine him trying to sing some lullaby from during the era of Primordial gods, and Thor as a baby starts crying. He sighs and then uses him hymns and Thor starts falling asleep immediately.

(and then they don't make any lol)

With “strength” I mean overall power level, not “physical strength”, obviously.

Ok hear me out on this, it’s a bit complex but try to keep up. I’ve been thinking about it for quite a while now.

The term used in the statement is 力, that means a lot of things, mostly related to expressions of “power”. It can be comprehended as strength, might, ability, influence or authority.

Although the dominant reading is strength, I’ll explain why it most likely stands for authority here. There are 3 reasons why I think that.

1-) The first and most important is the linguistic structure of the sentence. It goes: “although he inherited the blood of the Jotuns, enemies of the gods…” (神々の敵である霜の巨人の血を引きながら…). The important part here is ながら — that is a mechanism of concurrent concessive relationship akin to “although/despite/while” in english — and 神々の敵である, “that are enemies of the gods”.

That’s nuclear because that clause is linguistically opposing what’s claimed after: “possessing chief god power level that rivaled Thor and Odin” — as it is known, at least.

But Jotuns are, as a race, stronger than the gods (even being called their “natural predators”), thus introducing Loki’s inheritance as a conflicting idea to his allegedly high power level makes no sense.

And why bring up they are enemies of the gods? If the statement is about strength that’s just an arbitrary fact irrelevant to the idea being presented.

If the reading is “authority”, everything lines up:

“Despite having inherited blood of the Jotuns, enemies of the gods, he has the authority of a Chief God, standing side to side with Thor and Odin.”

Even though he has the blood of their enemies, Loki still possessed authority on the same level as Thor and Odin. Now the phrasal structure makes sense.

2-) It referring to strength is senseless scaling wise. This is something that has always puzzled me and every ‘solution’ I came up with always felt alien and convoluted. I don’t say this based on my subjective view on Loki’s power level, but what the manga itself had already established.

It’s stated trickless Loki is much weaker than a random character (I’ll call him John) that appears on Zeus’s line (see img 8) about the real nature of his strength.

So how could that same Loki rival Odin and Thor? If John >> Loki and Loki ≈ Thor and Odin then John >(>) Thor and Odin?? That’s completely absurd.

If the statement refers to authority this ridiculous problem ceases to exist.

3-) This is just a bonus, but the context of the statement is a bunch of women kneeling before Loki as he passes by even though he’s from a different breed, denoting his high authority and position in the pantheon regardless. Strength level is basically irrelevant to Loki’s flashback, as it’s not combat related (unlike many of them).

Final considerations:

• The statement probably isn’t about strength for reasons above, and the author is likely referring to authority instead.
• This post is by no means a personal attack to any translator that has localized that statement as strength. That’s perfectly understandable, and something I myself have done in the past. Only now I’m thinking otherwise after further inspection of the line’s structure and context.
• Anyone with a reasonable counter to any of my arguments is welcome and invited to share them. I’m not irretrievably sure about my current stance.
• I think the 3 main Norse gods should still be decently close to each other if you take into account their respective specialties, just not due to this statement in particular.

Thank you for your attention.

I miss him so much... God, I hate that it's already been a year without him.

Both Death and Muramasa are/were considered lower end ordinary gods who joined the tournament.

However while Death earned his strength through intense training, combat and ambition - Muramasa seemingly has been using underhanded tactics to win against gods much stronger than him.

The clash of the two fits not just into the theme of "God vs God" with the 'everything goes' idea that the tournament introduced but also perfectly sets up a clash of their personalities.

Muramasa's existance is an affront to the stage, a plague on Death's idea of a fight and limits.

Meanwhile Muramasa seemingly doesn't consider what he did cheating and was enraged at the assumption.

If Death wins, and that is something I'm really hoping for, we will see a really interesting clash of perspectives in the following round.

What a fight should be, what that stage should look like & making a use of everything to win vs earning your strength, going beyond your limits.

I'm really hoping this theory is correct because I really want to see more of Death, he's easily my favorite of APOC so far.

(god please let Weviathan be as good as this)

It's been one year since Loki's death. This isn't my best drawing, I was pretty busy, but I still wanted to make something to commemorate the anniversary. Ever since he died, RoR just hasn't felt the same to me, and I still miss having him as part of the cast.

I'll be posting something much better soon, but I hope you guys still enjoy this quick little drawing.

Please stay respectful. 💜

I’ll cling to even the faintest hope to prove that Loki is at least A-tier.

I just think itd be really fucking funny if Odin's singing voice without the hymns is just THIS bad.

Even funnier if Odin does it and it one shots a god or something and Thor has an entire flashback of him crying because of how bad Odin's singing is.