Chapter 15: Vengeful Valkyrie’s Core.
Adam POV
----------------------------------------
As she approached, her hand extended slowly, until finally… She gently patted my head.
Her touch was impossibly gentle, like the faintest breeze or the caress of moonlight. I blinked, bewildered, unsure whether to feel honored, amused, or even more confused by the surreal encounter. The celestial woman—no, the being—tilted her head again, this time with a faint smile curving her lips, as if amused by my stunned reaction.
Before I could utter a coherent word, a glowing screen materialized in front of me.
Blessing of the Astral Nymphs:
* The entities residing in Nocturnal Grooves will no longer be hostile to you unless provoked.
* Health and NEP regeneration increased by 30% while in any Nocturnal Groove biome at night.
“Woah…” I breathed, my eyes glued to the screen as my brain processed the implications. Slowly, she withdrew her hand, leaving behind a faint sparkle of stardust. She offered me a serene smile before turning away, her movements as graceful as the butterfly she had followed. With a wave of her hand, she disappeared into the glowing expanse of the forest.
I instinctively touched my head where her hand had been, and a soft, sparkling dust fell from my hair like fragments of a starry sky. “That was... amazing,” I muttered, unable to fully grasp the magnitude of what had just happened. The blessing itself was incredible, but the experience… it was the kind of moment people wrote ballads about.
Nove’s voice chimed in my head, bringing me back to reality. “That was likely an Astral Nymph. They’re exceedingly rare, and not much is known about them. They are believed to protect celestial butterflies and other nocturnal creatures in their biomes. The prevailing theory is that they reveal themselves only to those with pure hearts or to children.”
“Pure hearts, huh? Sounds a bit far-fetched,” I mumbled, trying to downplay my awe. But let’s be honest, that was probably one of the coolest things to ever happen to me.
Before I could bask in the afterglow of my celestial encounter, something in the forest caught my attention. A pair of silvery, glowing eyes emerged from the darkness, watching me intently. Then another pair. And another. My heart skipped a beat as I realized the forest, for all its beauty, was far from empty.
Sure, the plants and glowing creatures had lulled me into a sense of peace, but the shadows still held secrets, and those secrets were now staring directly at me.
“Nove… those things aren’t hostile to me, right?” I asked, doing my best to sound casual, even as unease prickled at the back of my neck.
"Hypothesis: they could be Moonshroud Spectators," Nove replied, her voice calm and analytical as always. "They're considered protectors of the Nocturnal Groove."
"Okay, but any idea why they’re, uh… staring at me?" My eyes flicked back to the numerous silvery orbs dotting the shadows, each one unblinking and fixed on me.
"Typically, Moonshroud Spectators are non-hostile. They guide or repel strangers from their territory," she explained. "It's possible they’re drawn to you because of your recent blessing."
Oh great, just what I needed—magical entities who might or might not be cool with me depending on how they interpret some cosmic butterfly’s approval.
Suddenly, one of the figures decided to step—or float—into the light. A ghostly figure draped in a billowing white veil emerged, its presence both eerie and majestic. Beneath the veil, the glowing silver eyes burned like twin moons, and as it moved closer, I caught a glimpse of its hand. The hand was blackened, gnarled like dried tree branches, its skeletal fingers curling inward.
Instinctively, I took a step back. The ghostly figure paused, tilting its veiled head as though gauging my reaction. Then, as if trying to avoid scaring me further, it slowly knelt and rolled something toward me.
My gaze dropped to the object, and my brows furrowed in confusion. “An… orange?”
“It’s a fruit, Alper,” Nove chimed in, her voice carrying a faint trace of amusement. “Specifically, a cream orange. You’ve eaten them before.”
I looked from the orange to the veiled figure, who now sat back and waited, her ghostly presence almost… patient.
And then it clicked.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.” I couldn’t stop the chuckle that escaped my lips. “They’re treating me like a stray cat.”
The absurdity of the situation hit me like a truck. I crouched down, picked up the orange, and gave the ghostly figure an amused nod of thanks. Then, taking out the dagger strapped to my hip, I carefully sliced it open.
The inside was nothing like the oranges I remembered from Earth. The texture was bread-like, almost creamy, and the taste was surprisingly sweet. Each bite melted in my mouth like a heavenly mix of fruit and pastry. “Okay, I’ll admit it… this is amazing.”
Not entirely sure what to make of the situation, I decided to roll with it. I settled onto the glowing grass and focused on finishing the orange—or cream orange, as Nove called it. Its sweet, creamy taste was oddly comforting, even as the ghostly figure inched closer.
Now, under normal circumstances, having a spectral figure approach me would have my fight-or-flight instincts screaming. But after the encounter with the Astral Nymph, I had a gut feeling they weren’t hostile. The specter, as if testing the waters, extended her gnarled hand cautiously. It was a deliberate, almost hesitant gesture, mirroring what the Astral Nymph had done earlier.
Was I about to get another blessing? Nope. She started patting my head as well.
For reasons beyond me, the inhabitants of the Nocturnal Groove seemed to have an affinity for head-patting children—or people they assumed to be children. And you know what? I just let it happen. Why fight the inexplicable when it wasn’t hurting anyone?
The ghostly widow’s head-pat seemed to bring her an inexplicable amount of joy. She began bouncing lightly, the motion creating a soft, chiming noise like distant bells. Before I could fully process this surreal scene, the other silvery-eyed specters emerged from the shadows. One by one, they tiptoed closer, their movements hesitant, as though I might bolt at any sudden motion. It was like being surrounded by well-meaning babysitters treating me like a spooked kitten.
“It might be because the Astral Nymph touched your head earlier. They may be mimicking her actions,” Nove chimed in, sounding both amused and genuinely curious.
I nodded slightly, careful not to disrupt the ongoing patting frenzy. Another specter, seemingly emboldened by her predecessor’s success, reached out her skeletal hand toward mine. She didn’t say anything, but the gesture was clear. Shrugging, I extended my hand. Her rough, bark-like skin felt strange but not unpleasant, like holding onto a tree that wasn’t entirely dead.
Soon enough, I found myself guided through the ethereal forest by a veritable parade of ghostly widows. They moved with an almost reverent care, their chiming noises blending with the soft hum of the nocturnal biome. It was both eerie and oddly comforting.
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
Normally, being surrounded by 20 or so spectral beings would warrant a full-blown panic attack. But let’s be real—if they wanted to harm me, I’d have been toast long ago. For now, I let myself be led, curiosity overriding caution. Besides, what could possibly go wrong in this enchanted forest where even the monsters seemed to abide by their own serene, magical rules?
... Right?
The Moonshroud specters guided me to a small clearing where I was met with an unsettling sight—a human corpse. What remained was nothing more than a skeletal frame clad in worn, battered armor, resting beneath a solitary tree. Wildflowers and glowing moss had begun to reclaim the area, wrapping the scene in a surreal mix of serenity and decay. The body had clearly been there for over a decade, if not longer.
The specters looked at me expectantly, their silvery eyes filled with a quiet intensity. It was as if they were asking for something, though their ghostly forms made it impossible to discern what.
Nove’s voice broke the silence. "They might want you to bury the body, Alper."
I swallowed hard. "I see..." Kneeling beside the skeleton, I whispered a simple prayer. "May you forever rest in peace." Then, I instructed Nove to help bury the body, just as she had buried the bike earlier. The earth shifted under her direction, a hole forming seamlessly beneath the remains. The skeleton slid gently into the pit.
Before the grave could be sealed, something caught my eye—a faint sparkle within the ribcage of the skeleton. Nestled there was a dark purple, four-sided crystal, gleaming faintly in the dim light of the clearing.
The moment I focused on it, a strange, glitchy window popped up in my vision:
H̶a̷r̷n̸e̸s̵s̷ ̸t̶h̷e̸ e̵n̷e̶r̶g̶y̶ ̴o̶f̸ ̴t̷h̸e̶ ̵n̴e̶x̸u̵s̶ ̶c̵o̶r̶e̶ ̷b̸y̶ ̴t̸a̵k̷i̵n̵g̴ ̴t̷h̵e̸ ̴N̷e̸x̶u̸s̵ ̷c̷r̵y̴s̸t̸a̷l̷.
I froze. That… was definitely my Soul Frame Nexus Core talking. The glitched text was unmistakable.
“Nove,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady, “do you see this window?”
“What window?” she replied, clearly confused.
Oh, great. This was officially one of those situations.
Not wanting to leave the crystal behind—or risk losing it—I asked, “Nove, can you store the nexus crystal in my inventory?”
There was a slight pause before Nove responded, “Affirmative.” With her usual efficiency, she moved the crystal into my inventory. Surprisingly, there was no resistance, no scolding about grave robbery or anything… It felt a bit weird.
Once the grave was closed, I lowered myself onto the ground. The specters followed suit, mirroring my actions as if they were drawn to my presence. I wasn’t sure if it was respect or some deeper connection, but for now, I had more pressing concerns. Sitting cross-legged, I closed my eyes and focused on my other Nexus Core.
Closing my eyes, I descended into the realm of my Soul Frame Nexus Core. The familiar, surreal space greeted me: an infinite ocean below, reflecting an empty sky that stretched endlessly above. At the heart of this vast void floated the iridescent orb—my Soul Frame Core—surrounded by smaller orbs, each glimmering faintly as they orbited the central sphere.
With a mental command, I summoned the Nexus crystal, and it appeared in my hand, materializing like a hologram brought to life. The dark purple, four-sided crystal sparkled faintly, as if holding secrets yet to be unraveled.
"Now… what am I supposed to do with this?" I muttered, inspecting the crystal.
As if in response, a window popped up in front of me, its text clearer than before:
Feeding the crystal to the core no longer allows it to be equipped in any frame. However, it will grant the ability to equip and unequip the core's abilities to any frame at will.
I tilted my head, considering the implications. "So, it’s permanent if I feed it, but the abilities will be flexible across frames… Interesting."
I had no idea what kind of Nexus Core this crystal originated from, but curiosity got the better of me. Taking a deep breath, I decided to equip it to the Soul Frame. I approached one of the smaller orbs floating around the central core, placed the crystal within it, and watched as it began to pulse with life.
The orb absorbed the crystal in a brilliant flash of light. The faint glow it once carried intensified, transforming into a radiant golden hue that illuminated the entire nexus area. The once-passive orb now exuded a commanding presence, as if declaring its newfound power.
Equipped core: Vengeful Valkyrie’s core (1/6 Star Tier)
Passive Attributes:
* Divine Wrath (Lvl: 1): Strength +10, Endurance +15, Agility +10
* ???????
* ???????
Special Abilities:
* Valorous Echoes (Lvl: 1): Activating Valorous Echoes gives the user and their allies receive a temporary Increases damage dealt by 20% and reduces damage received by 20%, Removes Fear Debuff
Duration: 1 minute.
NEP Cost: 20
Cooldown: 1 minute (After duration ends.)
* ???????
* ???????
* ???????
* ???????
Note: Upgrade this core to unlock more abilities.
Vengeful Valkyrie… This… This was cool.
This was the real deal—a battle-type Nexus Core that practically screamed power and versatility. The details alone sent a shiver of excitement down my spine. With this kind of armor, my survival odds had just skyrocketed.
As I skimmed through the specifics of the core, one pressing question bubbled to the surface. "How do I upgrade these core nodes or their abilities?" I muttered, hoping for guidance. Sure enough, the system responded with another glowing window:
Core nodes or their abilities can be upgraded by using a Nexus crystal of a similar star tier and performing the necessary alchemical circle and techniques.
"Wait a second... you're telling me it's that simple?" I said, blinking in disbelief. The idea of upgrading this core just by acquiring Nexus crystals and having the right setup was thrilling. With monsters lurking around every corner, collecting crystals seemed like a manageable task—and the prospect of enhancing the Vengeful Valkyrie core had my blood pumping.
Visions of battle scenarios and the potential combinations of abilities danced in my head. If I could hunt down the right Nexus crystals, I'd be unstoppable—or at least, far more prepared than I was now. The excitement was enough to momentarily drown out my surroundings. "Man, I can't wait to experiment with this stuff," I murmured.
When I exited the core area, Nove's voice returned in my mind. "Alper, my connection with you has been restored. As suspected, it was briefly disrupted while you interacted with your secondary core."
"Good to have you back, Nove," I said with a grin. I’d been so engrossed in the Valkyrie core that I’d almost forgotten about the eerie Moonshroud specters encircling me.
Stretching, I stood up, only to notice the specters mimicking my movement with their slow, almost comical grace. They remained silent but attentive, their silvery eyes locked on me as if waiting for a command.
I clapped my hands together and beamed at them. "Alright, let’s roll!" I declared, motioning forward with all the confidence of a makeshift leader.
The response was… surprising. The specters tilted their heads, then moved in sync, forming an orderly procession as if they’d been waiting for that exact moment. Their silent compliance was somehow endearing and unsettling at the same time.
"Okay," I muttered under my breath, stifling a laugh. "Guess I’ve got my own spooky entourage now."