I woke up to a full moon at the top of a mountain.
“You are finally awake, William Eriksson.” Said Vali, his voice reverberating in my ribcage.
My hands went all over my chest, I could not find any traces of broken bones, I couldn’t feel the coppery taste of blood in my mouth, and my right hand was not broken, since I was staring at it like an idiot, opening it and closing it.
“I congratulate you, mortal, not even the Aesir were a match for the Lokison, but you came back unscathed,” Vali said with mirth.
“I thought I had died,” I answered in all honesty. “I pushed in Gungnir, while Vidar cracked his jaw, then the carcass crushed me.”
“Oh, what a fine tale, not to tell it over mead and meat is a shame indeed,” Vali said, in a grandfatherly tone.
“The Einherjar’s tales would always end with them dying over magnificent feats, but none of them could come close to dealing the finishing blow to Odin’s Bane,” he added.
“Be proud, William Hagen, son of Erik, for now, a little of my brother’s lineage lives on in you. And through his, all of the Aesir… now take stock of your bounty, and rest, you seem weakened, for good reason, and we need yet talk some more.”
With that, his eyes became forlorn, his demeanor strained, as if he was holding the weight of the world over his shoulders now, alone.
I bowed my head in reverence, Vali had been nothing but accommodating and forward with me. Plus he was ancient, and I was raised to be respectful. He also called me ‘son of Erik’, did he know Dad? or do the gods just know that kind of stuff by default? Maybe once they lay eyes on you, they can see that stuff, like an open book. I should ask him later.
My attention was now on the system messages.
*You have killed Fenrir Vanagandr, Odin’s Bane +2000xp
*Bonus XP given for Unarmed Combat modifier -1.5 times XP multiplier
*Congratulations! You have completed Vidar’s Divine Trial
*Bonus XP given for completing Vidar’s Trial -3 times XP multiplier
*The following have been awarded
* Received Divine Legacy ‘Vidar’s Lineage’
*Congratulations! Class Einheri has leveled up!
*Congratulations! Race Human has leveled up!
*Congratulations! Job Grunt has leveled up!
I had received 4 levels of each. Class was now 21, Race was 16 and the trash job was level 6 now. And the attributes had gotten better too.
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HP: 2270/2270
Stamina: 2220/2220
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Strength: 119 (+16)
Agility: 63 (+12)
Dexterity: 58 (+8)
Endurance: 111 (+20)
Vitality: 58 (+8)
Intellect: 60 (+12)
Class XP: 256/2100 (+7000)
Race XP: 122/1500 (+3500)
Job XP: 192/500 (+1750)
FP: 52 (+12)
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I have the feeling that I had left the realm of ‘peak’ humans and stepped a bit beyond what the human body was capable of. I’m stronger, faster, and sturdier than anyone in history, I was sure, especially where strength and endurance had to do. I wanted to test if I could lift a small car, something like a Fiat 500 maybe.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
But there was something else I was expectant to see, the last time I had gotten a legacy, it came with a cape that boosted my strength and allowed me to go invisible, and a magical sword of legends… with a sinking feeling I looked for Balmung in its strap on my cape, and to my relief, there it was, for a second there, I thought I had lost it inside the trial, but it seems like all your things return to you once you are out. Which I was grateful for.
The sword was not like a piece of equipment in a game, it did not give me any stats, nor did it have a lofty description saying it could cut through anything or that it was unbreakable.
It worked like a sword in real life, someone with a katana was far deadlier than someone with a knife, and someone with a knife could kill you without too much hassle compared to if you only had your own bare hands.
It was the same with Balmung. With it, my strength was far greater than without it, even if my stats were exactly the same. Tools are tools for a reason, and swords are tools for killing. Now, I am sure that in the future we will see weapons that grant something to the wearer other than its use. But I don’t think I would ever replace it. It was Balmung! To my knowledge, there are only a few magical swords in Earth’s history, that have been passed down through tradition, Kusanagi, Muramasa, Durandal, and Excalibur, are all fabled swords, Balmung was among them.
But enough of that, let’s see what the system considers a ‘Divine Legacy’.
Vidar's Lineage -Divine-
The god of vengeance, justice, and restraint.
Vidar survived Ragnarok after killing the main antagonist Fenrir, but only after it had killed Odin.
As Odin’s heir, he became Asgard’s ruler.
Vidar’s Saga
Vidar’s strength was second only to his brother Thor.
Adds +3 points to STR for every level at F Grade
Adds +1 points to DEX for every level at F Grade
Adds +1 points to VIT for every level at F Grade
Evolves with Grades, tied to Race.
Vidar’s Leather Shoes
Vidar would always pick scraps of leather and add them to his shoe, making it stronger.
Vidar used his Leather shoe to separate Fenrir’s lower jaw.
Boots that double strength to kicks.
Can absorb other shoes and acquire their strengths.
— Vidar’s job, Aesir Leatherworking, was suppressed since the recipient already has a Job —
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“Ho..ly..shit,” I said out loud.
I was prepared to receive a couple of items, and maybe a title or something. But this was way better, it was like having an extra class, from now on, every time my Race leveled, I will get those extra attribute stats on top of it. Plus, a magnificent, rugged-looking, pair of leather boots appeared in front of me, the craftsmanship was godly, yet humble, plain-looking rugged leather boots. You could tell those things would last beyond your years, and thinking about it, they had outlasted their rightful owner. Which was both sad and awesome at the same time.
I tried them on, and yes, I am going to say it, “I’m wearing magical shoes of legend now!” I said with a smug grin on my face.
Walking a bit, I noticed they were not as comfy nor did they keep away the cold, like the boots given by Sigrun, so an idea came to mind, I grabbed Sigrun’s boots and touched Vidar’s with them. The effect was instantaneous, a blue light enveloped the comfy pair of boots, dissolving them and gathering in front of me, to separate into motes of ethereal light that went into my current boots. I could feel how my feet were now comfier and warm.
‘This was amazing, these boots are awesome!’
I walked, jumped, and jogged around for a bit. They were just as comfy as my previous pair now, and a little coat of fur had appeared on their collar. The boots also changed appearance according to the ‘strengths’ it consumed. No wonder they were covered by what looked like iron greaves when I saw Vidar’s boots, back in the trial. I just needed to make them stronger by having them ‘eat’ other boots. One more thing for future William to worry about. Right now, I was already over the moon with them and seemed perfect to me.
Taking a deep breath, I once more walked in front of Vali and took a knee.
“I’m sorry for the wait, Vali Odinson, brother of Vidar, Ruler of Asgard,” I said trying to be as polite and ceremonious as possible.
“Worry not, Eriksson, we can dispense with the formalities, part of my brother yet lives in you, so we can talk more cordially,” he said, once more adopting a fatherly tone.
“You must return to Midgard, albeit for a short time, your endeavors in Asgard are far from over, but you need companions, fellow Einherjar only, our lands are forever to remain closed to the living now… bring your brother, the second born of Erik, for I can see that his Destiny is great, the both of you need grow stronger, for what is to come, I cannot defeat.”
“I am alone in keeping the Eternal Ice Wall standing now, even as the new Ruler of Asgard, having received my father’s mantle through my brother’s death, my strength is not equal to the task,” he added.
“Tell me, do you have questions for me? You might not be ready for some truths, as your mind is not yet strong enough to bear them, but what I can share, I gladly will. I have not spoken in Ages, my brother was known as the silent god even before Ragnarok, and after it, his mood soured.” He finished.
Taking the opportunity in stride, I asked “How do you know my father and brother?”
“Ho ho ho,” he laughed, incredibly close to a certain Saint of December we all know, “I do not know if it’s chance or deep insight, or just remarkable instinct that makes you ask me that, but that question I can only answer partially,” he continued, “We, the beings your kind know as gods, be it Aesir or Olympians, or any of the others, when we look at you mortals, our eyes can see your deeds and some of your fate, as written in the Book of Life. The past, being tangible, is seen clearly there, the future, still in flux, can only be discerned, or divined.”
“What is the Book of Life?” I asked at the first chance I had, maybe even cutting off the god’s train of thought.
“Do not be hasty, William Hagen, that is the knowledge you are not yet ready for.”
He sounded tired, his aura was stronger than before, but I could tell whatever it was the brothers were doing, he was now doing alone, and it taxed him greatly.
“My time grows short, Venerable Vali, my Lord, and I notice you grow tired, I better take my leave now, to burden you no longer.” I said, still on one knee, and taking Balmung out, resting its tip on the floor, “But I will part with this: by my honor and the hope of life after death, I will strife, sweat, and toil, I will know no repose until I have fulfilled your wish to see Midgard safe, so I swear, this is my Oath.”
Vali stood up, laughing a mighty laugh that resounded across Valhalla, the birds in the Odenwald took flight, and the howling of wolves could be heard in the distance. With one hand grabbing at his belt, and the other extended, pointing towards the horizon he exclaimed, with what I could only imagine was his voice from when he was young:
“Go then, William Hagen, make of Asgard your playground, conquer the nine realms, bring its occupants to heel, and save Midgard,” he laughed again, my chest pounding against the pressure, as I looked up, I could see Vali transfigured, younger, his beard shorter, his hair red as blood, his chest rotund and mighty.
“For I, Vali Odinson, Ruler of Asgard, have thus spoken,” and raising both his arms at shoulder height, as if he was getting ready to embrace the whole world he added, “And so it shall be.”
At one second, I was kneeling in front of the last of the Aesir, in the next, my body was enveloped by a warm light, and in the next, I was now kneeling in front of the three thrones at the Great Hall, in Valhalla, I had been transported back by Vali.
Vali took a look at his arms, younger, stronger, he then looked up at the sky, all the way to where the Eternal Ice Wall was, sighed, and sat back down, and as he did, his knees were pained, his arms losing strength, his beard growing, he was back to being an old man, and all of his might being siphoned again, to keep the Wall standing.
His eternal duty must go on, but just for a bit longer, then he could finally rest.
“Well, that was the most fun I have had in quite some time, ho ho ho.”