The lesser aspect [photomorphism], which Dream had initially dismissed as excessively draining his AP reserves for minimal returns, had proven itself an unpredictable but potentially formidable tool in his arsenal. While it came at the cost of literally blowing his arm off, Dream discovered that the best and most compatible matter to apply [photomorphism] to was not a solid or liquid like it was with [aquamorphism] and [cryomorphism] but rather Odo—or, to be exact, solidified Odo. When applied to solidified Odo, it unleashed a volatile and highly unstable substance.
From the moment he discovered he was being followed by a valkyrie, Dream instantly realized that one way he could use his [photomorphism] was by applying it to a solidified Odo object, which he would then unleash at his opponent like he does with his hurled spears—in other words, a unique combination involving all three of his powers.
While he had no way to thoroughly confirm it since he didn't really get to actually put his idea into practice, Dream felt like it was achievable, which is why, from the outset of his confrontation with the valkyrie, he had planned on using this untested trick. But since he had no actual way to assert its would-be effectiveness, Dream had to first ensure that his opponent's H.P or O.P was reasonably low enough. This way, even if the test didn't meet his expectations, he'd still have a chance to defeat her should it result in failure, whether minor or complete.
As the blinding spectacle of the attack subsided, leaving behind a black electrified mushroom cloud, Dream muttered to himself, “Mmm, wasn't expecting it to blow up that much.”
The explosion had been far more powerful than he had anticipated, and had things gone awry, it could have easily spelled the end of him. He couldn't help but add a mix of relief and amusement in his voice, as he treaded toward the aftermath of the explosion to find the valkyrie, “For now let’s just be thankful this didn't blow up in my face.”
***
Dream couldn't help but marvel at the sheer power of the explosion and how close the valkyrie had been to it. Yet, even in the aftermath, he could sense from the fluctuating thread connecting him to her that his explosion hadn't been enough to kill her. Following the thread and the trail of golden dissipating dust, fallen golden feathers, and blood, Dream eventually arrived at a small cluster of trees where he found the valkyrie.
“Found you,” Dream said upon laying eyes upon her.
Name
HP
O.P
O.M.P
A.P
Class
Resi'ma
13▼/263
173▼/9718
1860
⥈
Valkyrie lvl.90
She was standing there, with only one of her blades in hands, battered and heavily breathing, burns covering her body, her wings completely falling apart, and blood seeping from most, if not every, orifice of her body. Despite her dire condition, there was still a fierce determination in her no-longer blindfolded eyes as she looked at Dream, refusing to yield.
As Dream advanced toward the injured valkyrie, he couldn't help but feel a strange mix of pity and curiosity. He began to speak, attempting to engage her in conversation. “Don't you think it's useless to cast such a gaze on me? No amount of determi-”
However, before he could finish his sentence, the valkyrie suddenly unleashed her whip-like blade in his direction. The blade was slower than before, and Dream easily intercepted it with his hand, pulling it towards himself and disarming her. The valkyrie fell forward onto the ground, but she quickly got back on her feet.
“In times like this, I think it's best to have a little chit-chat,” Dream continued, “It diverts the opponent's attention, and it's best for a last-ditch attack. It's low, but it usually gets the job done.”
The valkyrie, now sitting against a tree and with a bloodshot gaze, mumbled, “Is that... so?”
Dream scratched his head awkwardly and took a few steps closer. “Well, I'm saying that it's not like you're going to have the opportunity to apply that advice.”
“Rubbing salt in the wounds?”
Confused, Dream asked, "Hm?"
The valkyrie clarified, “I said, are you trying to hurt me more than I already am?”
Realization dawned on Dream, and he responded, “No, I was just... I was just trying to strike up a conversation. I don't really get many opportunities to have civilized chats as of late. Those don't hurt once in a while, so while it was awkwardly voiced, I just wanted to talk.”
The valkyrie stared at Dream blankly for a while before asking, “What's that supposed to mean? Feeling lonely?”
“Lonely, huh? Me?”
Now that I think of it, I've heard that before.
“This will be the second time I've been told that, but I guess you're right. Just like she was. I might be lonely.” Dream acknowledged her words with a subtle smile.
The valkyrie's expression twisted into another grimace. “You're weirder than I thought.”
“I've been told countless times. I'm used to hearing it.”
“Glad I didn't hurt your feelings,” she retorted. “But it's a shame for you, our chit-chat won't be a long one.”
“It's a shame.” Dream nodded.
“It sure is. Perhaps we should've talked more before we started killing each other.”
Dream pondered for a moment. “Perhaps we should have... but it's too late now.”
"Yes, too late," she concurred.
A heavy silence fell between them before Dream, wanting to ask before it was too late, posed a question. “May I ask a question?”
“At this point, just do it,”
“Do you regret it?”
“Regret what?”
“The choice that led you here, everything, from you becoming a valkyrie, attending your duty to tend to the Odo tree, leaving everything behind, the world, your freedom, your loved ones?” Dream clarified.
She hesitated for a moment before answering, “I do not.”
Dream pressed further, “Would you mind elaborating?”
“No. I'm tired.”
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Dream didn't press the matter further, just continued to stare at her with what he believed was called “puppy eyes”.
She sighed, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "What a heartless man you are, Dream, was it?"
Dream nodded, still wearing that hint of a smile. “I'm used to that as well.”
“Good to hear again,” she replied, her tone softening. Groaning, she struggled to shift herself into a more comfortable position, or perhaps just a less painful one. Then, she began to explain her perspective.
“When I woke up from my slumber inside the Odo tree, I, my duty aside, felt like I left too much behind. It took just a single glance at the new capital before me to realize that the city I saw was no longer the same city I was born in and grew up in. It was as if the day that felt like yesterday was now centuries behind me. And it was.”
Dream listened attentively, showing understanding in his eyes.
“Then,” she continued, “precisely because of that feeling of leaving everything behind, I don't regret it. I still vividly remember how proud I made my mother when I wore that crown of mine for the first time. How proud I was of myself to finally be of use to our beloved Matriarch. Even more so when I was awakened to this mission to bring her stolen blessing to her, a mission that it seems I've failed. But still... I don't regret it.”
She chuckled weakly. “I suppose I must really look like a lunatic to you, but... I've done my best, and I'm fine with that.”
Dream shook his head. “No, you're wrong. I’m not thinking that about you. I think I just understand what you mean. Better than you can imagine. After all, I too have something I believe in. So no, I don't think you're a lunatic, or at least not in the way you imagine it.”
“Huh?” She looked puzzled. She sighed again. “So, even if you have something you believe in... I would have loved to hear about that which you believe in, Dream,” she said, her voice growing softer, “but I don't think I have much time left. To think I would die here in the middle of nowhere... I guess I wasn't so regretless after all. If only I could have died there, by your side, Mom. Sorry…”
Dream watched as her eyes grew distant, her breathing slowing till it came to a complete silence. That was it. She’d reached the end of her duty.
Name
HP
O.P
O.M.P
A.P
Class
Resi'ma
0▼/263
13▼/9718
1860
⥈
Valkyrie lvl.90
Feeling like her words were still hanging in the air, Dream stepped forward, extending his hand toward her. “It wasn't a very long chit-chat indeed,” he muttered, his voice filled with a touch of sadness. “I wished we could've talked much more.” As his hand reached out, he activated [Blessing of the Guardian Dragon].
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Synergy initiated…
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Synergy completed.
The golden glow began to extend from his palm, reaching out to embrace the valkyrie.
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Absorption initiated…
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Absorption failed…
As the golden aura extended from Dream's palm, he initiated the second step of [Blessing of the Guardian Dragon], attempting to absorb the valkyrie's power. However, in the midst of the absorption process, Dream abruptly halted the skill, interrupting it mid-execution. He was left staring at his hand, a mix of confusion and realization clouding his expression.
“What am I even doing?” Dream muttered to himself, in confusion.
This was very different from what he usually did after defeating a valkyrie. Typically, he would absorb their O.P and O.M.P without a second thought, gaining their strength for himself. Yet today, something felt different, something was amiss.
Putting aside his confused thought,, Dream extended his hand once more, activating the skill.
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Synergy initiated…
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Synergy completed.
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Absorption initiated…
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Absorption failed…
Only to meet the same outcome. But this time around, something was different.
“No,” Dream muttered, his mind grappling with a newfound realization. “This isn’t what I want.”
It wasn't a matter of hesitation or remorse about absorbing the valkyrie's strength. Quite the opposite, he was still exhilarated at the prospect of becoming even more powerful through her. What stirred within him was a complex emotion, one that surpassed the simple thrill of victory and gain.
It was a potent mix of discontent and insatiable greed. Dream believed he deserved the valkyrie's stats, but today, that wasn't enough. He wanted more.
More.
More.
I want more.
Dream wanted more, but what was there for him to take?
It was as Dream stared at the valkyrie before him that he figured out the answer for himself.
“It’s just as you said, my heart is vacant and lonely. You guys made me realize how silent it can be on my own. Now it’s time you take responsibility.”
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Synergy initiated…
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Synergy completed.
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Absorption initiated…
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Absorption failed…
Feeling that the [Blessing of the Guardian Dragon] was following its usual pattern, Dream immediately put it to stop.
“No like that, then,” Dream mused upon realizing that his approach wasn’t the good one.
Summoning his system interface, Dream skimmed through his skills, trying to figure something out.
Skills
Draconic / Godling
Aspect
Blessing
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon
Nexus System
Golden Blessing
Odo Leveling
Morphogenesis [0.2]
Elemental Resonance [0.5]
Elemental Arcana [0.5]
There was only [Blessing of the Guardian Dragon] that he could think of at the moment, with it being a Draconic skill that allowed something that shouldn’t naturally be possible, but as his gaze set onto the less catchy [Golden Blessing], hope sprouted in his mind.
Aside from the time back then where he was made, through that gut-wrenching process, an Odo wielder and the few times he would see part of himself be replaced by Odo implements, Dream, even with the help of the system, wasn’t sure what that Golden Blessing could do aside from that.
Of course, Dream did know that it wasn’t just that, after all that, [Golden Blessing] was what the valkyries were so much after—it was the blessing the valkyries believed he’d stolen from their beloved matriarch.
Other than that, Dream knew something else, or, to be exact, he figured something else.
They called me Dream.
They said I was like them.
They said that I was the key to their quest for godhood, which meant that if I were to die or let that Odo Balancing reach 100%, I'd most likely turn into a golden tree like they did or something along those lines.
From how eager [Golden Blessing] was to replace part of his body with Odo, that much was easy to figure out.
That’s right I am like the twins, but unlike them, I’ve already attained what they couldn't before their deaths: true immortality, the reason for their obsession.
That being put aside, the main point was that I’m like them, meaning that I should be on par with them, even though I have yet to become a tree. But still, I have with me a few things they don't, which should put me ahead.
“So [Golden Blessing], [Blessing of the Guardian Dragon], Arcane, or whatever tool I have in my disposition, show me what you’re made of! Grant me my wish!”
With determination in his eyes, Dream extended his hand once more, activating his skills with a renewed and clearer purpose.