Chapter 4: Welcome to Valhalla (2)

(Have I gone crazy? I'm sure I'm hearing some kind of voice in my head.) Skeptical of what he hears, Martyn decides to close his eyes.

[First test]

[Help the children]

[Reward: 10 experience]

(Shit, it seems like that dream wasn't as unreal as I thought. But how the hell do you want me to help the kids? I don't have enough strength.) Martyn knew more than anyone what his limit was. When he got two marks at age 10, he tried to fight the other children, but their blessed abilities were too much for him.

[Warning]

[If you fail the test, the Norse gods will not lend you their power.]

(Holy shit, are you serious? I don't seem to have any other choice.) Somewhat hesitantly, Martyn decides to approach to help the children.

"Hey, mister, what's going on?" With his typical fake smile, Martyn approaches the center of the scene.

(I just have to calm him down and give him some money. That's enough to accomplish this mission.) Thinking his plan in his mind, Martyn prepares to fulfill his first test.

"What's going on? These impure fucks were stealing from my store, that's what's going on!" The man was looking angrily at the kids.

"I see, but I don't think you should make a fuss in town, sir. People are watching you." Intending to calm the man down, Martyn gives him a choice.

"Hey, you're defending these kids a lot. Who are you? Are you even a hunter? From your physical build, it's obvious you're not." The man notices Martyn's tricks and decides to ask.

"No, I was just passing by and..." Martyn was taking several steps backward due to nerves, but to his bad luck, a tall man stopped him in his tracks.

"Hey, do you think you can fool us? This guy here is an impure and not just any kind of impure—he's of the lowest category. He has no talent at all," spoke the man. Apparently, he was also an impure but of a different level than Martyn.

"No, I just want them to leave the children. That's all." Martyn was getting defensive, but it was too late. The store owner was preparing an attack.

"I was blessed by the Roman gods. I'm not going to be fooled by an impure." The man's eyes began to glow, showing that he was ready to use his powers.

(Shit, those Norse gods are crazy. They just want me to get my ass kicked.) Martyn took a combat stance. He was used to this kind of situation—he just had to hit him first and run away.

"Sorry, but I won't stay." Martyn threw a punch at the man, but it was stopped by a wall of water. The man was using his abilities.

(Shit, he has defensive abilities. This is the end of me.) Nervously, Martyn tried to move away but got hit in the stomach by a water-formed punch.

"Hahaha, this imp really thought of beating me? Don't make me laugh." The man was preparing more of his power to punish Martyn.

(Shit, where are the kids?) Martyn, still on his knees on the ground, noticed that the kids had fled during the commotion.

[First test: Hero]

[Completed]

[Claiming reward]

[You have gained 10 experience points]

[You have leveled up]

(Is the voice in my head telling me I leveled up? Is this some kind of Norse gods joke game?) Martyn angrily listened to the voice in his mind.

[You have earned two additional rewards for leveling up.]

[You've unlocked stat points]

[You have earned an item: Lucky Coin].

"Prepare to receive my fury, impure shit." The store owner was changing the water wall into a giant fist, ready to punish Martyn. No one did anything; some even enjoyed the scene.

[Looks like the rep is in trouble. Want to use the Lucky Coin?]

(What the fuck? Is this for real? Yes, I want to use it.) As a last resort, Martyn decided to trust the voice in his head for the first time.

[You have used the item: Lucky Coin.]

"Hey, what's going on here? You know that fights are not allowed in the cities." As soon as Martyn used the item, a guard hunter arrived.

"Excuse me, sir guard, it's just that this imp was challenging me." The man decided to stop using his powers, while glaring at Martyn.

"I see. Hey, you impure piece of shit, get up, get your stuff, and leave." The guard slapped Martyn, who instantly got up and left.

(Shit, what was that all about? Was it really the work of that miracle coin or just a coincidence?) Unable to believe it himself, Martyn went back to his work.

The day went by as usual. Martyn worked until late only to receive five miserable bronze coins. During the day, he tried to call or listen to the voice, but it didn't appear again.

"Looks like earlier was just a coincidence. I was hoping I could use the voice again." With a regretful expression, Martyn returned home, ready for dinner and sleep.

(Thanks to today's coins, I was able to buy more food. It looks like I'll be able to have breakfast tomorrow.) Happy for his small achievement, the boy got ready and went to sleep. He just wanted to rest after such a hard day.

[Welcome, representative]

[Welcome to Valhalla]

"Uh, am I here again?" But just like the night before, upon closing his eyes, Martyn woke up in a beautiful garden with various flowers. "What's wrong? You don't seem very happy about being here."

Just like last time, Martyn was surprised by Odin, who was up in a tree enjoying the apples of the kingdom.

"Hello, Odin. No, it's just that I find these things hard to believe," Martyn replied to the god while looking at the landscape intently.

"What can't you believe, young man? Can't you trust us to lend you our power like we did today?"

"Wait a second, how do you know that?" After hearing the god's words, Martyn instantly got defensive.

"Hahaha, did you seriously think we wouldn't know what our representative does?" With a mocking laugh, the god spoke to Martyn. It seemed that his good luck from before was not pure chance.

"I see, but what does that whole leveling up system have to do with this? And especially, what is that voice in my head?" Martyn asked the god, still confused. He was intrigued by that voice all day.

"That voice is a gift from the Norse gods to you. But you are not supposed to listen to it; you must see it." Odin came down from the tree, and as his words spoke, it seemed it was time to go.

(See the voice? This is getting weirder and weirder.) Martyn decided to follow the god until they both reached a large door.

"Hey, you could have just used teleportation like the other time. I don't see the need for so much walking," Martyn complained as he wiped away his sweat. Even though his soul was the one in Valhalla, he could still feel the exhaustion.

"A good exercise never hurts, my young Martyn. Instead of complaining, you should open the door and see the reward for such a hard walk." The one-eyed man invited Martyn to open the doors.

"Wow, it's beautiful. Is this what big cities look like?" Opening the gates of the city, the young man was amazed. The scenery was even better than that of the garden.

"Welcome to Valhalla, boy. In this place, you will become stronger. Let's go inside." Odin, with a smile, guided Martyn through the whole city.

(It seems that all this is not a joke. Really, the gods have chosen me. Someone notices my abilities.) Martyn walked with a smile, seeing everything with great curiosity.

"Hey, where are we going?" Martyn asked the god.

"We are going to a place where you can train. You must become stronger. You still have a long way to go, but for that, we must prepare you to meet the challenges we will give you." A few seconds after starting the walk, Odin stopped at a place with a great structure.

"This is the temple where you will have your second test. You must become stronger, and I think this is the best way." Listening to the man's words, Martyn entered the place as fast as he could. (If I am going to become stronger, I must do it right.)

Excited to become someone better, Martyn failed to notice the doors of the place closing.

(Well, what am I supposed to do here?) Martyn asked, but since he received no answer, he realized he was alone.

[Second test]

Martyn heard the voice again, the one that had guided him before. He knew that it only appeared when there was trouble.

[Test number two: Clean the temple]

[Defeat the four spirits tormenting the temple]

[Reward: 20 experience points, random skill]

"Finishing off spirits? That's a hunter's job." Martyn sighed, but he knew there was no turning back now.