Chapter 2: Talk with Odin

"Wait, wait, are you Odin?" After hearing the man's words, Martyn couldn't help but be shocked. Maybe he had gone crazy from suffering so much and was imagining things, but this dream felt too real.

"Yes, just as you heard, I am Odin, the supreme god of the Norse faction. I believe you have heard of us in your city," the one-eyed man replied to Martyn with a smile.

"Yes, of course, I've heard of you. The Norse gods, a group of gods with so much power that they can rival the Greek gods. But when humanity went through the 'First Great Ascension,' you abandoned humanity. From that moment on, talking about Norse gods has been a crime in Neo Tyran."

Martyn's words did not leave a great impression on Odin, who seemed to have known what the boy was going to say. "Yes, young man, it is just as you say. We Norse gods thought there would be no salvation for humanity, but the other gods did not think the same and must have given abilities to mankind in exchange for honor. You must have seen many abilities."

"No, actually, I've seen few skills other than ordinary ones for living." Martyn exposed his situation with a look of embarrassment. It was rare for an impure to see high-level abilities since they are only seen in places close to the city center. "But there's no way I'm facing a god. From what I've heard, the pressure they emanate is brutal for an ordinary human like me."

"That's easy to explain. You are here in soul, but not in body. We just have to lower our power so you can stand in front of us," Odin explained to Martyn without hesitation.

"I see, but why am I here?" Determined to cut the conversation short, the boy wanted to get to the end of the mystery.

"Sure, of course, I haven't yet explained what you are doing in my kingdom. That is simple to explain: the Norse gods have chosen you." The god was clear and concise with Martyn after hearing his question.

"You've chosen me? Don't give me that bullshit. No faction of gods would be interested in an impure like me." Contrary to what he might expect, the boy got defensive instead of happy about the man's words.

"Yes, that's a fact. If you are an impure, you have no considerable talent. But what if I told you that we have a way to give you the talent you don't have?" The one-eyed man said those words with a mischievous smile.

(Become stronger? The only people who can become stronger are the hunters of Olympus because of the prizes they get in battle. A normal person like me can't do that.) Although the man's words were tempting, Martyn didn't fall for them completely.

"I sense doubt in your heart, boy. Don't you trust my words?" asked the god after seeing the boy's doubt. "No, I don't trust what you say. It is very strange that gods who abandoned humanity would want me to join them."

Martyn took a few steps away from Odin after realizing this. He had heard of some famous dark gods, with whom you should never affiliate yourself. "Yes, that is a fact. We Norsemen abandoned humanity at its worst, but that can change."

"But of all people, why an impure one like me? There are more talented people in Neo Tyran." Martyn was trying to get to the bottom of all this. It was quite rare for a god to be interested in an impure.

"Two reasons. The first, being an impure, you are an empty canvas on which we can work. You will become stronger, and the world will see the power of the Norse. And the second," after saying those words, Odin took out a staff which hit the ground, transforming into a figure that Martyn already knew.

"Wait a second, you were the old man?" Martyn was shocked to see that the man he helped before was a powerful god. "No, actually, we gods need a lot of energy to go out into the world. That's why I used this old man I found over there," Odin explained to avoid confusing Martyn.

"I see, so you chose me just to give you money?" Martyn asked the god.

"You ask too many questions and take too few actions. Come on, trust us. It's time to change your life." Odin was returning to his original form while Martyn looked thoughtful.

(Shit, I'm so confused. I can't understand what he's really up to. But at the same time, this may be my last chance. Ever since I got this damn mark at age 10, my life has been one hell after another.)

"Okay, I'm going to accept. What should I do?" Somewhat hesitantly, Martyn decided to accept the man's proposal. "Good, I knew you would accept. Then let's start with your initiation test."

As soon as he finished speaking, Odin's staff hit the ground again, changing the nice and elegant garden to a smaller and dirtier one.

"Wow, you used teleportation?" Martyn asked upon seeing the god's demonstration of power.

"Welcome to Valhalla's training area," Odin explained to Martyn as he assimilated the change of space.

"Training area? What am I supposed to do here, go through a workout?" After hearing Odin's words, Martyn felt better. When he heard the word test, he thought it would be something dangerous.

"Hahaha, something like that. But this test won't be given to you by me, it will be given to you by him." Odin pointed back, causing Martyn to turn his gaze around and see another god.

"This is the guy who is going to represent us? Don't make me laugh. You could have at least brought someone with some muscle." The god walked up to Martyn, watching him closely.

(Who the hell is this guy? Just by appearing, my body feels a huge pressure. Odin did too, but he knew how to control himself. This is going to kill me.) Martyn thought as his body felt heavy. The man's arrival was too much for him.

"Hey, calm down. You're going to make him faint." Odin corrected his partner, who instantly lowered his power to the point that Martyn felt comfortable.

"Shit, was that necessary?" Martyn, fatigued, asked the man who was still glaring at him, but he was used to such looks by now.

"Let me introduce you. Martyn, this is the god who will test you. His name is Tyran, and he is in charge of this training camp," Odin explained to the young man, who still had a little trouble breathing.

"Less complaining and more action. Follow me, boy," Tyran didn't seem very happy with Odin's presentation and decided to pass him. Following him, Martyn started to follow until they reached a place with several aiming targets.

"What will I do, practice with arrows or something?" Somewhat doubtful, Martyn asked the man in charge. "Shoot arrows? Don't make me laugh, kid. Here," showing a smile for the first time, Tyran handed an object to Martyn which appeared to be a knife.

"A knife? Am I going to throw it or something?" Still not knowing what to do, Martyn asked again. "Do you like throwing things or something? No, kid, your test will be simpler than that."

After speaking, the man snapped his fingers, making a wolf appear, a little bigger than Martyn. "You are so weak you are at level zero. You must earn the right to start so we can lend you our power."

"Wait, you're not going to want me to face that thing, are you?" Martyn asked as he saw the wolf in front of him.

"Face you? No, you must kill it."