Chapter 10: Chapter 10 : Train And Bets
"HA..."
"Ha..."
"Whoa..."
"How long is he going to continue that?" someone asked.
"Don't know, he's been at it since morning," another replied.
I just tuned out their murmurings. At first, it was disturbing, seeing them all looking at me like I was an animal in a zoo, but after four hours of nonstop practicing, I no longer had the energy to think about them anymore.
Last night, I tried my best to use lightning without the hammer, but all I could get out was a single spark—and that was only when I was getting angry at my useless attempts. And though anger has always been a source of power for Norse and Greek gods, I do not consider it an improvement.
I can't always rely on anger to use lightning like that, and power-driven by anger is often uncontrollable and destructive. I felt like banging my head against a wall when my stomach started protesting harder, and sleep was making me dizzy amidst nothing but failure.
So, after that one spark of lightning caused by my anger, I just fell back onto the bed, deciding to leave the matter of lightning for the time being. If possible, I'd allocate daily training time for that—it could be a good pastime and definitely a necessary one in this godforsaken era of no entertainment.
First thing in the morning, I attacked the Winterfell kitchen, grabbed whatever they gave me, then took my dear hammer and rushed out to train. Last time, Thor's fighting experience and muscle memory saved me. It was good, but only against an unintelligent zombie.
Against real seasoned knights and skilled swordsmen, I wouldn't stand a chance even though I'm physically strong than most. Just having raw power won't do me much good if I don't have the skills to wield it properly.
So, training was necessary. I'm lucky in this regard as well—Thor has a lot of memories of fighting, and he has developed a distinct style of combat that suits this body very well. I just have to replicate it with his memories. The fact that these muscles are already accustomed to those movements is just the cherry on top.
It actually wasn't the body that was the problem—it was the mind. My mind is not used to making battle decisions on the fly. That is one skill I lack right now, and only Thor's battle instincts saved me when I fought the zombie.
Thus, I have to iron out both my body and mind before I find myself in another battle. So, here I was, going at it for four hours straight, swinging my hammer just as Thor did in his memories.
And I have to say, it's all coming very naturally to me. From every swing to the shift in balance, I was getting better—I could visibly see the difference before my eyes.
I started with some standard training—running, push-ups, and sit-ups. This alone was eye-catching for others; people here don't train like that. Then, I switched to swinging my hammer and refining the movements until I got used to them.
That last part was pretty normal—if not for the fact that I was swinging a completely unconventional and impractical hammer due to its size and mass. If that wasn't enough, I was swinging that exceptionally well-made yet horrid weapon for four hours straight. Of course, people were going to talk.
"Huff... Huff... Huff... again... once again," I muttered to myself, letting the cold northern breeze cool me down while I caught my breath.
Clap Clap Clap Clap...
"Fabulous. Never saw someone swinging a club with such enthusiasm. Do men often train like this on the Wall?"
I looked up to see a golden-haired boy—smugly watching me. Behind him stood a man clad entirely in black armour, his helmet shaped like a dog's head.
"Prince Joffrey." I had been trying to avoid the Lannisters, but it seemed that was a fool's errand while living in Winterfell alongside them. So, maybe I have to give them a reason to void me.
"I'm not from the wall." I replied offhandedly, not giving him much attention, the joker will demand more of it if I give even a grain worth of it.
"Not from the Wall? Interesting. So, where are you from?"
"Certainly not from the wall."
"Huh... Tell me, do people often use this kind of toy to play around in from where you're from, calling themselves warriors?" Joffrey asked with a gleam in his eyes. I could see from miles away that he was looking for trouble.
Sigh...
"No... none except me."
"Aye... Its shows." Joffrey laugh while looking at me, I have seen this, characters often tries to do this in Game of Thrones, it's like they are born with a prick in their ass.
"None except, because there is no one like me," I replied, now getting a little serious as I got closer to him and easily flip my hammer in the air, something very hard with an object with its weight and yet I did it effortlessly, making both Clegane and Joffrey shocked, especially Joffrey who was so close to me now.
"I got the hammer when I was a child, it was indeed a toy to me, until I learned that if I swing it hard enough, it's a toy no more." I slowly got closer to him and glared at him, being significantly taller and more muscular than him definitely helped me what I was going for here.
The bastard slowly stepped back, losing that smirk on his face. But I wasn't done. I slowly lower my head to his level.
"Only I swing it because only I could, many tied to lift the hammer, very few could, and none live to tell the tale. Do you know why." I said with a heavy voice, not even Clegane on the side getting anxious seeing how his hands were almost on his sword.
"Wh...Why."
"haha...Becuase none were worthy." I slowly slip the words into his ears and turn around. I don't like bullying but that was damn satisfying. Me turning back also seemed to relax Clegane who was clenching on his sword handle.
However, just as I was going back in to fill this raging fire my belly, I heard someone shove his own foot on on top of the hammer.
"I'll do it."
"Huh ?"
"The Hammer, I'll lift it. You think that damn piece of junk can tell whether I'm worthy. Give the hammer here." Joffrey all but Order.
"You sure royal ass... I mean highness. People are watching, you can still take back your words, but once I put the hammer down..." I trailed off.
Joffrey glared at me, though looking uncertain he opened his mouth finally.
"I'll lift that hammer, if I lift it, then it's mine and you would be punished for spreading falsehood in this kingdom and for lying and deceiving." Joffrey shot back, maybe thinking I would be afraid.
Unfortunately for him, he wasn't the first person who tried to lift the hammer, the entirety of Castle Black had failed before I came here. None were able to and none shall. If this was some other fantasy like Tolkien then maybe but finding a worthy one in G.R.R. Martins's work, I have better chances of finding peace here than that.
"Haha... Excellent suggestion. Very Well Then... agree but what do I get in return If you can't lift the hammer. Certainly, a prince of your calibre and honour with amass reputation would put something equal to this wager." Now I was grinning, I wasn't looking to scam people but if they themselves wants to be scam then whom I'm to say no in the face of a gifted horse.
"Huh... that will never happen."
"Sure sure... but just in case, let's put something on the table, how about 1000 gold dragons? Surely it's nothing for the Crown Prince and the next King of the Seven Kingdoms...or it's too much, should I lower the amount ?"
Clegane on the side looked at me with narrowed eyes, he wasn't getting what was going on, yes the hammer should be heavy by the look of it but not so much that the prince can't lift it, and a 1000 gold dragon. Where did this guy got the balls to asked for something like that.
"Fine, just toss the damn hammer already." Joffrey was getting annoyed now, seeing I wasn't playing his game he now was just looking a way to punish me.
"Fair enough." I shrugged and Tossed the hammer at the ground, had two thoughts of directly tossing it at him though.
What followed was a show of a whiny child making a fuss. Joffrey bend down and tug the hammer only for drag himself immediately down at the sudden jerk. He fell down to the ground while I kept on looking at Clegane.
Joffrey then went to use two hands and with all his power he attempted to lift the hammer only for the Hammer to not budge an inch.
Even The Hound was surprise at this. People around us started to murmur.
"This... why it won't move ?" Joffrey shouted, not finally fussing about the situation.
"Don't worry, You're not the first one who has tried to move it, and certainly you're not the last one who will fail..." I shrugged and bent down just to easily pick up the hammer in front of him, making him confused and looking at me like I was a ghost.
"1000 Gold Dragon." I reminded him as I waved my have and was ready to take my leave. However, the horrid creature once again started making noise.
"You... what did you do. It's not possible. You cheated." Joffrey shouted. Looking around I realized that we have gathered quite a bit of audience here. Sigh.
"Cheated! How?, I already told you that none can lift it beside me. As you see I didn't lie. So how do I cheat?
"You... you did something, I there is no way I couldn't lift the..." Joffrey started to get frustrated, the usual response when things are not going his way.
"And just I said you can't lift it, no one can. I didn't lie. I don't see how I cheated. So ?" I shrugged, seeing Joffrey not having much to say I was ready to take my depart when finally he said something which stopped me.
"Stop... this ain't over yet..." He glares at me.
"You want coins right, fine You'll get your coins. Fight him. If you beat him then you get to take you coin." He said with irritation as he pointed at Clegane beside him.
"Hmm Another wager I see..." I looked at Clegane and pondered. Though I don't wanna do what this spoiled brat tells me but it's a chance to test out my current level.
Thor Level 1 is good and all but how much is that Level one exactly. 10% of Thor ? if base thor was state to be Level 10 ?
My assumptions are good and all but they don't account to much without testing out my real strength.
"Fine, I'll fight. But the wager should be equal, I lose and you pay me nothing. But what If I win? What then... ?" I asked.
"I'll double the coin." Joffrey didn't care, he just wanted to see the man in front of him beaten.
"Nay, 1000 will suffice, but I could use a little chat with his Grace, King Robert." Grinning I put forth my condition.