Closing in on the blue sky, Dream arrived at a corner of the gray wasteland where colors other than gray appeared. Verdant trees sprouted here and there across the once-gray ground. The further south he went, the more trees there were. Eventually, Dream reached a corner where a clearly delimited boundary marked the transition between the gray wasteland and the next area.
Stepping past that boundary, Dream walked into a verdant meadow, a refreshing sight compared to the gray, ashy, and dusty ground he had left behind. He took a deep breath, a smile forming as he gazed at the blue sky above, now tinged with the hues of dusk. The shattered moon was distinctively higher above his head than it used to be farther south. Looking ahead, he saw a lush, life-bearing valley bathed in the last rays of sunlight for the day. A gentle layer of fog covered the valley, and large airborne creatures flew above.
Whether these creatures were awakened beasts, enlightened beasts, or perhaps hybrids like the Nagadread, Dream didn't care at that moment. He was simply happy to have made it out alive from the gray wasteland.
“I was right, I’m fine. This is just what I needed, a change of scenery.”
With a final glance behind him, Dream pushed forward into the verdant valley sprawling before him, anticipation and curiosity guiding his steps.
***
Dream walked further into the verdant valley, marveling at the vibrant hues of green that surrounded him. The air felt fresher and cleaner, and the ground beneath his feet was soft and grassy. It was a stark contrast to the desolate wasteland he had left behind. The sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves filled the air, creating a symphony of nature that was a welcome change from the silence of the gray expanse.
Having spent only God knows how much time in the gray expanse, he couldn't help but appreciate everything that wasn't gray and lifeless.
As he ventured deeper into the valley, Dream took his time to relax and take in the beauty of what was around him. He encountered various types of flora, some of which he had never seen before, each contributing to the vibrant landscape. The gentle babbling of a nearby stream drew his attention, and he approached to quench his inexistent thirst.
Dream's self-sufficient constitution meant that he didn't require food and drink to sustain himself. However, when presented with the opportunity to drink, he didn't find it within himself to turn down the chance.
The sky above was transitioning into a canvas of warm colors as the sun began its descent. The golden hues of dusk bathed the valley in a soft, ethereal glow, casting long shadows from the trees. Dream found a comfortable spot to sit beneath a tall tree, leaning against its sturdy trunk. He closed his eyes, letting the sounds of nature wash over him.
It had been a long journey, filled with battles and challenges, and now he could finally take a moment to rest and rejuvenate. Not that he was particularly old.
Dream spent the remainder of the day in the valley, exploring its corners and reveling in the newfound sense of peace. He didn't stop, not out of fear or urgency, but rather out of a desire to immerse himself in this sanctuary of life after the barren wasteland. The day gradually transitioned into evening, and as the stars began to twinkle in the now-darkening sky, Dream felt a sense of contentment that he hadn't experienced in a long time.
As he lay on the soft grass, gazing up at the stars, he couldn't help but think about his journey so far, the challenges that lay ahead, and the one following him from behind. But for now, in this tranquil valley illuminated by the soft light of dusk, he allowed himself to simply enjoy the moment, grateful for the respite that nature had provided him.
Despite the creatures hovering in the sky above, the verdant valley seemed to lack many dangerous monsters, and Dream hadn't encountered any that ambushed him. As his eyes settled on the lush landscape, a thought crossed his mind: aside from being grateful for escaping the perpetual gray, he couldn't deny that he wouldn't be bored here for a while. However, he had yet to come across any Behemoth-ranked or even Abomination-ranked monsters, as he had expected.
“It's only the first day, so this is normal," he mused to himself, though he quickly questioned his own words. “Why does everything always have to revolve around battling monsters? Can't I go a single day without it being the focus?”
With no one to respond, his words hung silently in the air. “I guess not.”
“That's what this journey is going to be about—defeating stronger and stronger opponents. That's where the excitement is, Men'ma?” He declared, before sighed once again, finally deciding to address the elephant in the room.
Making the thread spread out of him visible, Dream turned around to look at a lone golden thread that had caught his attention since he entered the verdant valley. He had been followed from a distance by a valkyrie.
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“Again,” he sighed upon realizing it. Since there was some distance between them, he decided to continue as if he hadn't noticed her presence. She wouldn't be able to track his location, and unless he engaged in a major battle that attracted attention, he should be able to stay off her radar. And that's exactly what he did. However, after some time of him moving forward, he noticed that she was advancing as well. It became clear to Dream that the valkyrie had managed to track him down. Unlike the valkyries he had encountered before, who approached him without hesitation, this one remained at a distance, making no movements except to match his pace.
“Is she afraid?” he wondered as the day passed without her making any further attempts to approach him. “Well, after all, she is all alone. But still a thinking valkyrie, huh? That's rare. What's next? An arcane-wielding valkyrie, haha.”
With the valkyrie maintaining her distance and only observing Dream throughout the night, he found himself growing increasingly perplexed about what to do with her presence. He knew he couldn't ignore her, especially now, since he made up his mind on seeking new and stronger monsters to defeat. Dream was bold but not stupidly bold enough to battle a monster with a valkyrie lurking nearby; he could clearly see her coming at him with an unexpected attack at an opportunistic moment of weakness. That would be something Dream could see himself pulling off. So it was imperative to him to address the problem that her existence posed; in other words, he had to deal with her.
However, rather than rushing to confront her immediately, Dream chose to stand his ground and simply stare in her general direction. There were two main reasons for his decision to do so. Firstly, his pride didn’t allow him to rush at her. Secondly, he recognized that if she were to flee, he might have a difficult time catching up to her, rendering the efforts he would spend futile. Instead, he opted to wait, presenting her with a couple of distinct choices.
While the last option wasn't entirely improbable and was in fact quite probable and local, it felt quite awkward, even to just think about, so Dream preferred not to entertain the thought as a valid possibility. Anticipating the valkyrie's response, Dream believed there were two likely scenarios: she would either choose to flee or challenge him to a battle.
Given his understanding of the valkyrie's nature, he leaned more towards the latter possibility. Despite his expectations, when the valkyrie did indeed choose the course he had foreseen, he felt a mixture of mild surprise and perhaps a touch of disappointment, as her decision was exactly as he had predicted.
However, he was taken aback when the valkyrie actually chose the option he had anticipated.
“I bet you’re laughing at how stupid I’m looking right now for expecting better from a fellow valkyrie of yours, Men’ma,” Dream sneered self-deprecatingly.
The valkyrie was, much like all valkyries, a tall young woman, just as tall as that towering valkyrie, but unlike this one, she was slim. She was perhaps just a little older than the usual valkyrie, suggesting that she most likely had once been what Odoe and the maiden valkyrie call an eldest. She, like Menma, wore a Valkyrie crown made of a magnificent display of golden flowers on her head. Her ebony hair was neatly tied into a practical ponytail, and she was dressed in a form-fitting ensemble comprising a sleek tunic and snug pants. Twin swords were elegantly secured at her waist, each encased in intricately adorned leather scabbards, positioned strategically for swift access.
On her back, wings flapped rhythmically in the wind, creating a cascade of golden dust with each beat, and a symphony of metallic resonance accompanied her wing movements. The valkyrie drew nearer, maintaining a hovering position several dozen meters above the ground, her gaze hidden behind a black blindfold remained locked onto Dream.
Of all the things I find irritating —a swaying boat, a jolting carriage, or even a vast body of water capable of submerging me entirely —I think I just found something even more annoying: Flying opponents.
“A pain in the neck to look at,” Dream thought to himself, a silent grumble about the winged valkyrie.
It was then just as he voiced that silent complaint that almost as if she could pick up on his thoughts, the valkyrie gradually began to descend, her graceful descent bringing her closer to ground level.
Oh, if it isn’t a brave and considerate valkyrie that we have here? But still, what the hell are these stats?
Class
HP
O.P
O.M.P
A.P
Valkyrie lvl.90
260/263
9143▼/9718
1860
⥈
Upon assuming their role as valkyries, which, in their words, consists of tending to the Odo tree, which in truth consists of surrendering themselves to the Odo tree, the valkyries and their bodies undergo a transformative process. This merging with the Odo tree leads to complete assimilation and refinement, effectively making them an integral part of the ever-growing golden tree. This transformation triggers a change and adaptation in the Valkyries, possibly even an evolution, impacting attributes such as O.P., O.M.P., and H.P, raising them to a new height. While factors like O.M.P. are taken into account, upon merging with the Odo tree, the growth of O.P., O.M.P., and H.P. of the valkyrie follows an exponential trajectory similar to the other valkyries that merged with the Odo tree around the same period.
Consequently, there are consistently eight valkyries with nearly identical attributes. This pattern extends to the subsequent batches of Valkyries, as they undergo the same progression as the preceding eight did. This is also the case for the batch after them. This cycle forms the basis for the tiering classification used by the Nexus system to divide Valkyries into levels, each separated by a seven-year interval.
All that to say that the twentyish-looking young woman before Dream was at least awakened from a half-a-thousand years slumber to be sent after him.