Apollo/Plot

## Past

### Gigantomachy

Along with all the other Greek Gods, Apollo took part in the Gigantomachy against Gaia and the Giants. It is noted by Hermes that this war was the last time Apollo shined greatly before the ninth round of Ragnarok. Zeus has stated that Apollo used his golden bow against the Giants during this war and that the Giants could do nothing against his arrows of light.

### Know Thyself

During the time of Ancient Greece on Earth, a serpent-like monster called Python was driven out of Valhalla for his hideous appearance. Shunned by the Humans as well, Python took out his frustration on them by constantly terrorizing the village of Delphi. During one of his rampages, Ares sent his Divine Honor Guard to stop him but Python easily dealt with them. After hearing of this, the next day, Apollo went down to Earth and confronted Python at his hideout, wanting to meet Ares' expectations by defeating Python by himself, though Ares never asked him to.

Python was excited to see Apollo as he perceived the God to be the complete opposite of himself. Thus, Python wanted to rip his face to shreds. Python charged forward but Apollo leapt in and punched Python squarely in the face. Apollo decided this was his win and Python found himself unable to get up, from just one punch. Not wanting to give up, Python shouted about how he hasn't lost yet and Apollo found that attitude great, telling Python that they shall continue their fight tomorrow. Apollo went to sleep in Python's bed and ordered him to find somewhere else to sleep.

For the next several days, Apollo fought Python, defeating him in one punch every time. During one rainy day, Apollo got curious and asked Python why he continued to fight him. Python divulged to Apollo how he was despised and oppressed because of an appearance he didn't even ask for. The serpent cried and insisted that he couldn't stomach the thought of losing to Apollo, who seemed to have been blessed with everything from birth. When Python expressed his unwillingness to give up, Apollo said he was beautiful. Python thought Apollo was making fun of him but Apollo clarified that he wasn't referring to Python's appearance; rather he found Python's soul beautiful.

He explained to Python that he could understand him because he was the same. Apollo was originally a mediocre God but he worked hard and became recognized through effort alone, to the point where he was able to join the ranks of the Twelve Gods of Olympus. Apollo told Python that the ones who aren't beautiful to him are those who are satisfied with where they are while those who are beautiful, are those who know they aren't enough and don't fear changing themselves for the better. Finally understanding, Python then began crying over how he'd hurt so many people, but Apollo didn't hold it against him as he was just defending himself. Apollo decided to go back to Valhalla and Python shouted about how he still hasn't lost, causing Apollo to remark on how that's beauty.

After Apollo left, Python stopped terrorizing Delphi and instead, built a temple dedicated to Apollo, engraving it with the words, "Know Thyself."

## Ragnarok

Following the proclamation of Ragnarok, the challenge between Gods and Humans for the salvation of Humanity, Apollo is included among the 13 fighters of the Gods.

### Ninth Round

After the ending of Round 8, Zeus, Hermes and Ares visited Apollo. Finding him bathing in an elaborate pool beneath a statue of himself, along with a group of beautiful goddesses, Zeus laughed, asking the god if he was having fun. Ares fumed over Apollo's nonchalance, getting the god's attention. Apollo rose from the water and greeted Ares, immediately trying to get him into the water so they could bathe together. Ares resisted, and tried to swipe at Apollo, who dodged and caused Ares to trip over himself, falling into the pool. Apollo laughed and jumped back in with him, asking Zeus why he'd come. Zeus told him that he was fighting next in Ragnarok, causing Apollo to express surprise that it was still going on. Zeus further explained that their score was 4-4 and they were tied, having lost Poseidon, Heracles and Hades. Apollo was saddened by this news, lamenting that he wasn't there to see them die.

Ares furiously asked him if he felt even an ounce of sorrow for their losses. Apollo clarified that there was nothing to be sorrowful over if they gave their souls to fight, calling them all beautiful. Apollo asked the gathering of goddesses whether they wanted to see him fight, to which they all enthusiastically cheered for. Ready to meet the expectations of his fans, Apollo decided to fight.

Apollo made his elaborate entrance at the start of Round 9, a stark contrast to his opponent: King Leonidas I. As Apollo soaked in the cheers from his supporters, Heimdall called for the round to start, immediately after which Leonidas tried to slam him with his shield. Apollo dodged, remarking that such an attack was unsightly. He further commented on it, calling it cowardly and animalistic, accusing Leonidas of disrespecting him him by being insolent and arrogant. Leonidas simply retorted that he hadn't changed at all, confusing Apollo, who had no idea who he was. He again commented on Leonidas' word choice, and told him that if he continued to refer to Apollo like that, he was courting divine punishment.

Leonidas explained his past, and how Apollo's decree of peace was taken as words from the Oracle, and nearly led to Sparta's destruction. Apollo fails to see any wrongdoing, seeing his decree as a myth of pacifism, and told Leonidas that if he wished to talk to him in such a way, he first had to kneel. This enraged Leonidas, who proclaimed that he was the one who'd make Apollo kneel and used **Phalanx Enchos**, turning his **Aspis** shield into a saw and flinging it at the sun god. Apollo caught it, but was unable to stop it and was sent flying. He was able to mitigate the damage using the **Threads of Artemis**. He recovered midair, backflipping and landing on his feet, prompting Leonidas to use **Phalanx Enchos: Prodevo**.

Apollo sidestepped the attack, gracefully flipping out of the way and posing. He transformed his threads into gloves, forming **Phoebus' Lyre (The Shimmering Harp)**. Apollo once against posed for his supporters, asking them to watch him. His glimmering form enraged Leonidas, who used **Phalanx Asanatos**. Apollo dodged Leonidas' repetitive attacks, before getting in close and landing a powerful punch on the human. Leonidas swung his leg around the chain of his shield and tried to swing the shield back at Apollo, but the god merely ducked and remarked at how Leonidas was surprisingly tough for a human. Leonidas told him to be more humble before using **Phalanx Asanatos** again, which Apollo dodged, responding that it wouldn't be beautiful if he was. Apollo continued to use his skilled footwork and speed to weave through Leonidas' attacks, landing numerous hits on the king.

As he pummeled the human, Apollo overheard the Spartans complain about his fighting style, lamenting that Leonidas would win if he could just get Apollo to stop dodging. Apollo began to pay more attention to the audience's cries, He ceased his attack as the Spartans yelled at him to fight head on, while the other gods told him not to take the bait as Leonidas was too strong to engage up close. Apollo then created two parallel lines across the floor using his threads, creating a much smaller area for them to fight in. He gleefully told Leonidas that the arena was too big previously, to which Leonidas furiously asked him what he's planning. Apollo told him that he wasn't planning anything, and that his goal was simply to beat Leonidas in the way the human excels at, as it's the job of the sun god to meet everyone's expectations. His supporters cheers empowered Apollo as he began to glow, entering his 'battle mode': **The Sun Shall Never Set on Me (Embrace of the Eternal Midnight Sun)**. Leonidas in turn transformed his shield into a spherical mace and a smaller shield, both connected by a chain.

Both fighters approached each other, with Leonidas growing angrier after seeing Apollo's smug expression and using **Phalanx Nemesis (God of Destruction's Iron Hammer)**, slamming his weapon down and creating an enormous explosion. However, Apollo avoided it, getting in close. He leaned in closer to Leonidas' face, taunting him, before slamming his fist into the human's abdomen. Leonidas staggered back, his foot nearly touching the boundary Apollo created, and tried to swipe at him with his shield, which Apollo deflected. Before Leonidas could swing his mace, Apollo used **Artemis Elenchos (Shining Domination)** to restrain Leonidas with his threads. The human tried to retaliate, but Apollo pulled him towards himself and landed a powerful punch to Leonidas' face, drawing blood. Apollo then gathered all his threads onto one hand, wrapping it in numerous layers. He told Leonidas to recognize his own humanity and bow his head, before striking him with his strongest punch yet, causing a small burst of light as the threads tore apart. Just when Apollo thought Leonidas was knocked out, the human pulled Apollo towards him and slammed him with a headbutt, breaking the god's nose and causing his threads to come loose, freeing Leonidas. The king of Sparta reiterated his previous statement, that the only one who'd kneel would be the sun god, hammering the stunned Apollo with **Phalanx Nemesis (God of Destruction's Iron Hammer)** with Geirölul's help and sending him flying.

Apollo landed in a disheveled heap on the floor in front of Leonidas, resembling kneeling as Leonidas asked him how it felt to be inferior. As Apollo shakily got to his feet, a massive scar across his face, Leonidas told him not to stand against Sparta and to go back to sleep, lest he look ungraceful. Apollo told him he was wrong and the he wouldn't understand, as the current version of him that was burning his soul to beat Leonidas, was the most beautiful. He continued, saying that he would continue to burn his soul to become more beautiful. Leonidas was surprised by this, expressing his liking towards it and also proclaimed that he was going to kill the god with everything he had. Apollo told Leonidas that he didn't like the way he spoke, but his attack was beautiful. He praised Leonidas as someone who knew themselves, and said that the two would fight until their souls burned to the ground.

Apollo pulled his threads back into his gloves, putting his fists together. He kissed his gauntlets, before asking Artemis to come out. His gloves emitted a blinding light before disappearing, and a large shadow formed behind him. From it rose a giant automaton which resembled the goddess Artemis. The technique, named **Moonlight of Artemis**, now equipped with his divine weapon, used the threads to create a large bow. Apollo grabbed the massive weapon, before nocking an arrow of light and firing it at Leonidas. The attack pierced through Leonidas and through a wall on the other side of the arena at blazing speed. Leonidas turned his weapon back into its shield form, and managed to block one of the arrows. Apollo then attacked with **Apollo Epicurious (Golden Arrows of the Shining Meteor)**, firing a barrage of light arrows at Leonidas and piercing him numerous times, riddling the human with holes. After the barrage, Leonidas doubled over, remarking that he almost fell asleep. Apollo commended him for having done so well, and stated that he'll put an end to his suffering, which enraged the human. Leonidas angrily deflected Apollo's shot back at him, destroying his right hand and rendering him unable to use the bow. Leonidas angrily chastised Apollo for pitying him, telling him that he wasn't thankful for a god taking mercy on him, before asking him who he thought he was dealing with. Apollo smiled, responding to Leonidas by telling him that he was perverse and that he too hated him, earning a grin from the king. Apollo remarked that it made him slightly more beautiful, and Leonidas remarked that Apollo had gotten more manly. Apollo asked the man why he was fighting, to which Leonidas lit a cigar and explained that humans couldn't choose how or where they were born, but could choose how they lived and died. He said that now was the time for fighting, and so he had to fight. He stated that he followed his own soul, his own selfish desires and wished for Sparta to do the same.

Leonidas transformed his shield into **Aletheia Sparta (Shield of Truth)**. Apollo smiled, saying that he'd burnt his soul fighting Leonidas and had become even more beautiful in the process. The Artemis statue formed a slingshot out of the the threads, and Apollo backed into it, ready to fire himself at Leonidas. The two leapt at each other, Apollo using the slingshot to launch himself at Leonidas, turning his injured arm into an arrowhead in an attack known as **Argyrotoxos (Soul-Piercing Silver Arrow)**. Leonidas responded with his own strongest attack: **Phalanx Lambda**, his shield catching on fire. The two clashed, and while Leonidas' shield was able to destroy the arrowhead encasing Apollo's arm, the god managed to punch through Leonidas' shield, the sheer force of the attack blowing a hole in the human's right side. The attack killed both Leonidas and Geirölul, but the human tried for a last ditch attack. Leonidas' punch landed, but was too weak to do any meaningful damage to the sun god. Apollo watched as Leonidas died, remarking at how annoying he was. Apollo hugged Leonidas and held Geirölul's hand as the two disintegrated, calling them the most beautiful people he'd ever met.

After the round ended, Apollo blew a kiss to his supporters, thanking them all for his support. One of the goddesses asked him to head to the medical room and get his scar fixed, but he assured them that he was fine, confusing them. He noted that his scar was proof that he'd burnt his soul to fight Leonidas, before heading backstage.

## References

1. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 62 (Page 7).
2. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 81 (Page 11).
3. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 83 (Page 18).
4. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 82 (Page 17).
5. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 82 (Page 18).
6. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 82 (Page 20-21).
7. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 82 (Page 22).
8. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 82 (Page 24).
9. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 82 (Page 29).
10. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 82 (Page 31-32).
11. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 82 (Page 37).
12. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 82 (Page 37-38).
13. ↑ *Shuumatsu no Valkyrie* Manga: Chapter 4 (Page 26 - 27).