Chapter 83

## Chapter Chronology

**Clashing Souls** is the 83rd chapter of the "*Shuumatsu no Valkyrie: Record of Ragnarok*" manga series.

## Summary

As Leonidas and Apollo stand off against each other, the latter takes in a deep breath and the threads making up **Phoebus’ Lyre** untangle. Cautious, Leonidas jumps back and Apollo is left with the original form of the **Threads of Artemis**. Apollo puts his fists together and Gӧll questions what he’s planning. Sweating, Brunhilde can’t believe Apollo is about to use “that” technique.

After kissing his fists, Apollo encourages “Artemis” to come on out, causing the **Threads of Artemis** to begin shining brightly. Heimdall announces that Apollo’s gauntlets have released a light stronger than anything they have so far before noticing they’ve vanished from Apollo’s hands. A very thick shadow extends from Apollo’s feet and something starts to come out of it. It reveals itself to be a gigantic statue of the Goddess, Artemis, equipped with the Threads of Artemis. It is called the **Moonlight of Artemis**.

As Apollo stands proud, Ares involuntarily mutters he’s beautiful. Catching that, Hermes asks Ares what he said and Ares repeats his words about Apollo being beautiful. Realizing what he’s been saying, Ares is embarrassed while Hermes teases him for being so honest, much to Zeus’ amusement. Zeus remarks on how it’s been a while since he saw the Divine Weapon, **Moonlight of Artemis**, and Hermes brings up how the last time Apollo used it was during the Gigantomachy. Raising his left hand, Apollo says let’s go and giant threads of light come out of the **Moonlight of Artemis**’ fingertips. As the threads weave together, Heimdall questions what the Goddess is creating.

According to Greek mythology, the twin Gods, Apollo and Artemis used a golden bow to slay the Giants. The **Moonlight of Artemis** drops what it has created and Apollo catches it with his left hand, showing off a golden bow that is twice as long as Apollo is tall. As a few Humans wonder if he’ll be able to use that, Apollo creates a small orb of light and lines it up on the bowstring. Apollo dares Leonidas to try this as he pulls back the bowstring, causing the orb to turn into a slender arrow and become physical. Apollo warns Leonidas that this is his most supreme technique.

Smiling, Leonidas mocks Apollo’s words about this being his “supreme” and dares him to fire the arrow at him, holding up his shrunken shield. Brunhilde yells at Leonidas for being an idiot, insisting he can’t take that head-on. Apollo lets go and the arrow disappears with a flash of light. Suddenly, something grazes the right ear of a God in the stands and makes a hole in the wall behind him. As he and the God next to him question what just happened, it’s shown there’s now a small hole through Leonidas’ right pectoral. As Leonidas coughs up blood and as blood sprays out of the hole through his chest, Heimdall recounts how there was a bright flash when Apollo’s arrow disappeared and in the next moment, a hole appeared in Leonidas’ chest and in the arena wall. Ares calls that the full, unbridled power of the sun and considers it a terrifying technique, even for the divine. Hermes agrees and says, “If Apollo’s golden arrows, as swift as the dawn rays, were to ever pierce a Human, they’d perish in an instant, without even time to feel pain.”

Hence, Apollo’s arrows are known as the fastest attack in Valhalla. Recalling how the Giants could do nothing about the arrows, Zeus admits, even in Valhalla, only he may be able to defend against them. Zeus guesses this may be checkmate for Leonidas. With his blood spilling on the ground, Leonidas wipes the blood that came out of his mouth and complains about how that hurt. Worried, Geirӧlul asserts to Leonidas that those arrows are too dangerous so she’ll go back into shield form, recommending he focus on defense. Leonidas’ hammer and shield turn back into the normal form of his shield, and Apollo is impressed that he was able to endure it. He comments on how this isn’t something that Leonidas should say just “hurts” and while Leonidas raises his shield in front of himself, Apollo draws back another arrow and says he’s quite durable. After Leonidas deflects the arrow, which causes his arm to shake, Apollo initiates **Apollo Epicurious** and launches a wave of arrows. Two go through the left side of Leonidas’ abdomen and left leg, and as he changes position, the arrows that ricochet off the shield go into the Gods’ side of the crowd, causing many to flee from their seats.

After Leonidas deflects another arrow, Apollo takes this chance to fire five at once, which go through different parts of Leonidas’ body. Leonidas falls to his right knee, spewing blood, much to Geirӧlul’s panic. Comparing Apollo’s barrage to a meteor shower, Heimdall says Leonidas can do nothing but take it. Slowly getting back up, Leonidas smiles about how he was so relaxed, he almost dozed off. Relieved, Geirӧlul asks what they’ll do about the invisible arrows as she can’t think of anything. Even if they’re invisible, Leonidas asserts to Geirӧlul that they are still arrows and he’ll send them flying. Drawing back an arrow, Apollo praises Leonidas for lasting this long so he’ll end his suffering. Apollo fires the arrow, aiming at Leonidas’ head, but Leonidas is able to parry it back with his shield, causing the arrow to rip through Apollo’s right arm and pierce through the **Moonlight of Artemis**.

With Heimdall surprised he bounced it back, Ares questions if Leonidas can see Apollo’s arrows. Zeus denies that and attributes Leonidas’ deflection to instinct. Leonidas has gone through countless Hells, due to his lifetime on the battlefield, and that experience honed his warrior instincts to the pinnacle, which allowed Leonidas to even repel the arrow of a God. Ares can’t believe he accomplished a feat like that due to “feeling.” Zeus points out that, regardless, Leonidas is at his limit as he’s taken too many arrows. As Hagis worries for his king, Zeus guesses the same can be said for Apollo. As Apollo sets down his bow and grits his teeth, his supporters exclaim he can’t draw back his bow with his right hand anymore. Angered by Apollo’s words about praising him and ending his suffering, Leonidas yells about how he wouldn’t be happy to hear that and reminds him of who he’s facing: King Leonidas. In response, Apollo smiles and calls Leonidas a stick-in-the-mud, which is why he can’t stand him, prompting Leonidas to grin as well.

Apollo says Leonidas has become a bit more beautiful and Leonidas says Apollo has become a bit more manly. Curious, Apollo asks Leonidas why he fights him with such vigor, questioning if it’s for the sake of revenge against him or for Humanity itself. Taking out one last cigar and his lighter, Leonidas reveals it’s neither. Lighting his cigar, Leonidas explains he’s fighting this hard because this is when he needs to fight. They don’t get to choose how they’re born so Leonidas believes they can at least choose how they live and die. As Jack the Ripper, Hlӧkk, Kojiro Sasaki, Hrist and Soji Okita listen to his words, Leonidas points at his chest and proclaims their choices are dictated by their own soul. Insisting they are the most selfish, stubborn men in the world, Leonidas says this is what he’s always wanted for his Sparta, which Apollo thinks is fantastic. Getting Leonidas’ attention, Hagis and other Spartan soldiers lay down their shields. With tears streaming down his face, Hagis assures Leonidas that they stand with him.

Leonidas sighs about how they’re all dumbasses, just like him, before he and Geirӧlul decide to go. As Leonidas’ shield shines, Heimdall says his shield is transforming yet again. The metallic covering of Leonidas’ shield breaks apart, revealing a basic aspis shield called **Aletheia Sparta**. Gӧll wonders what he’ll do with that and Brunhilde assumes Leonidas is returning to the “essence of Sparta.” When one thinks of Sparta, they think about the phalanx. The essence of it is not actually defense but an unceasing, unrelenting offensive charge. It pierces straight ahead like a spear, leaving the enemy lines completely annihilated. As Leonidas holds **Aletheia Sparta** up, a dark and heavy aura emanates from him. Apollo calls that a dreadful pressure before expressing how grateful he is to the king. As his bow turns back into threads, Apollo believes he will grow more beautiful by fighting with Leonidas’ blazing soul. The threads return to the **Moonlight of Artemis**’ hands, where they bunch up together and are weaved into a thick rope that connects the Goddess’ hands. The **Moonlight of Artemis**’ hands drops to the ground and as Ares questions what that is, Apollo leans back on the rope.

There is more to the mythology of Apollo. At the moment when Phoebus Apollo shines as beautifully as the sun, he will take his place in Artemis’ bow and become the silver arrow that crumbled the walls of Argos. Drawing himself back on the rope like an arrow, Apollo digs his feet really hard into the ground and pulls back his right fist. Ares can’t believe Apollo wants to smash that shield head-on. Heimdall declares the strongest arrow in Valhalla and Humanity’s strongest spear will now clash against one another. Everyone looks on with anticipation. The moment a bit of ash from Leonidas’ cigar hits the ground at the same time as a bead of sweat from Apollo’s face, Leonidas charges forward and Apollo lifts his feet from the ground, flying towards his opponent. As Apollo punches forward, the light energy surrounding his right arm hardens into an oversized arrowhead. At the same time, a dark flame-like aura surrounds Leonidas’ shield like a typhoon. As the two get closer, each of their supporters cheer for them.

Causing shockwaves as they move towards each other, Leonidas’ **Phalanx Lambda** clashes with Apollo’s **Argyrotoxos**. As soon as the arrowhead makes impact with the shield, it shatters and blood sprays from Apollo’s right arm, surprising Brunhilde, Gӧll, Kojiro, Hrist, Soji, Isami Kondo and Ares. Leonidas’ cigar flies out of his mouth and Hagis looks on with despair as he witnesses Apollo’s punch break through **Aletheia Sparta** regardless and create a large hole through his abdomen. After shattering, **Aletheia Sparta** turns back into Geirӧlul, who falls to the ground. The Valkyrie shouts at Leonidas to do it now. Grabbing Apollo with his left hand, Leonidas throws his right fist at him as both he and Geirӧlul resolve to give his face another smack.

However, when Leonidas’ fist makes contact, he is only able to leave a bruised mark on Apollo’s left cheek. Looking at Apollo’s eyes, Leonidas smiles and sighs about how he still has such a punchable face as his body starts to crumble into pieces. That man’s back was admired by everyone. That man’s back was chased after by everyone. As Hagis, the Spartan soldiers and members of the Gerousia cry, Leonidas asks if they took a good look. Hagis assures his king that, from the moment they met him, he has always been the absolute coolest in the history of Sparta. Glad to hear that, Leonidas confirms Sparta is the strongest. When Leonidas falls forward, Apollo catches him and goes to his knees.

Patting Leonidas on the back and holding Geirӧlul’s hand, Apollo addresses them as “Beauties” and tells them they were the most beautiful. Leonidas, the man who rebelled against destiny, was the most selfish man in existence and his back was praised by everyone. With a time of 9 minutes and 30 seconds, with Leonidas and Geirӧlul vanishing, the winner of Round 9 of Ragnarok is Apollo, earning the Gods another point and finally putting them back in the lead.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Leonidas
* Apollo
* Brunhilde
* Göll
* Heimdall
* Ares
* Hermes
* Zeus
* Geirölul
* Jack the Ripper (No lines)
* Hlökk (No lines)
* Hrist (No lines)
* Kojiro Sasaki (No lines)
* Soji Okita (No lines)
* Hagis
* Isami Kondo (No lines)