"Wait, you want me to kill that thing? Look at my body, I'm a wimp compared to that beast," Martyn instantly protested, feeling like his first test would be the end of his road.

"Come on, I gave you a knife. The hunters of the land kill beasts from the 'great uprisings' with them. This is just a normal wolf," Tyran responded, dismissing Martyn's complaints.

"Yes, but I'm not a hunter," Martyn continued to resist. The wolf hadn't moved since Tyran summoned it, likely because of the gods' presence.

"Come on, Martyn, it's just a wolf. If you don't defeat it, we won't be able to trust you to represent us," Odin added, seeing the boy's hesitation.

(Shit, I'd really hate to have to face this thing. I've never fought a beast in my life, but this is the only chance I have to change my life.) Still with doubts, the boy held his knife with determination while looking at the beast.

"Fine, I'll do it. I'll kill it," Martyn said, filled with conviction and ready for combat. "Perfect, then good luck, kid. Let's hope you don't die here."

After saying those words, both gods disappeared, leaving Martyn alone with the beast. "Well, I can't lose. Come at me, you bastard."

The young man invited the beast to fight, which, no longer afraid of the environment, showed its fangs. (Shit, they're pretty sharp. I really wish this was a dream, but I must do it.)

Still with doubts, Martyn lunged at the beast. He knew nothing about fighting, but he knew he had to slit its throat to kill it instantly. "Got you, motherfucker!" As fast as he approached, the young man tried to stab the wolf, but it responded by cutting Martyn's arm with its claws.

"Shit! Why does it hurt so much? This isn't my physical body," Martyn almost dropped the knife from the pain, but he took courage and tried to attack again, managing to graze the beast's fur.

(Come on, it's just a little blood. I can make it. No, I must make it.) Although Martyn's hand hurt, he didn't back down. The beast didn't back down either and pounced on Martyn this time.

"Damn, I must cut its throat now. I can't waste any time," Martyn thought with some hesitation as he tried to attack the wolf, but it bit him instantly. "Shit, my leg! This test sucks!"

In defense, Martyn picked up a stone from the ground and hit the beast in one of its eyes until he managed to break free, the wolf falling to the ground. "Fuck, I can't get up and that thing is coming towards me. I'm going to die for real." Martyn watched the wolf with fear as it slowly approached.

"No, I don't want to die. I had to live a miserable life because of some damn gods who gave me a damn mark, and now I have to die just when I'm going to change it? I don't think this shit is fair at all." Martyn grabbed more stones from the ground, held his knife with what little strength he had left, and watched as the beast slowly approached.

"Come on, you bastard, I'm waiting to kill you," Martyn said, standing up with all the strength he had left. He lunged at the wolf again, this time throwing the stones to distract it and preparing his cut.

"Well, I got you, damn dog. Get ready to die," Martyn said, stabbing the beast's neck with force. In defense, the wolf bit his shoulder.

(Hold on, hold on, you must hold on!) Although the pain was unbearable, Martyn didn't let go of the knife. Little by little, the wolf's bite lost power.

"I, even if I'm an impure, I'll show them what I'm made of!" Using the last of his strength, Martyn pushed the beast until it stopped breathing.

"Shit, I did it for real. I did it…" After confirming his victory, Martyn lost consciousness. Before he could fall to the ground, he was caught by Tyran, who had a grin on his face.

"Hahaha, I must admit it was fun watching you fight, kid. Even though it was a very easy wolf to beat, I never expected you to do it," the god laughed, apparently enjoying the show.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"I told you he could do it. After all, he is that man's son," Odin said as he appeared second, implying that choosing Martyn was not pure chance.

"Well, he's bleeding out. What should we do with him? Do you want to lose your only fighter?" Tyran sneered at Odin, who instantly healed Martyn completely.

"That's enough for now. He has proven himself worthy of us lending him our power," Odin said with a smile, ending Martyn's journey for the day.

"Well, all yours. Welcome to Valhalla, boy," Tyran said, welcoming Martyn, who wasn't hearing anything. Apparently, Martyn's life was about to change.

***

"Uh? Is it time to wake up already?" When Martyn opened his eyes, instead of encountering a magical world like last time, he found himself in his usual house with an alarm blaring incessantly.

"Shit, I had a crazy dream." After turning off the alarm, Martyn got up and got ready to go to work. Even though he worked early, he could only earn 5 bronze coins a day.

"Okay, time to go." As soon as he finished changing, Martyn headed towards his work. (Shit, I'm sure that dream was very real and I'm sure I won, but I don't feel any kind of power or anything.) Although the young man concluded that the dream wasn't real, he couldn't help but feel some hope of getting stronger.

"Good morning, sir. Good morning, Victor." As was customary, as soon as Martyn arrived, he greeted his companions. "Good morning, Martyn. We are going to sell a lot today."

Victor, as usual, flashed a smile at his friend as he carried a large box. "No good morning and greetings. Go to the market to get more vegetables and remember to put on your hood."

But to cut the good mood, the boss gave an order to Martyn, who instantly went to do it without protest.

(Shit, I hate having to go get vegetables. This field is too hot.) Because good quality vegetables are only sold in the market, Martyn must be hooded, since impure people are usually sold at a higher price or simply not sold to.

"Good morning, do you have any carrots?" After a few minutes of walking, Martyn arrived at the market. It seemed he was only supposed to buy carrots and tomatoes today.

"Yes, we have the carrots by the beech." The lady tending the store spoke warmly to Martyn. If she knew he was an impure, the treatment would be different.

(These people treat blessed people quite well. I wish I could always live like this, but I can't hide my mark forever.) Martyn thought with some sadness as he looked for the best foods.

"You pieces of shit, you think you can steal from me!" But Martyn's tranquility was interrupted when he heard a man shouting in the distance.

"You impure shits came to my place to rob me, didn't you?!" Apparently, the man was accusing three children with impure markings.

"That's not true, sir. We paid you!"

"Are you calling me a liar?!" One of the girls tried to explain, but her words were cut off by the man's fury.

(I would like to help, but what can a weakling like me do? He is a blessed one, he must have an ability, even a basic one.) Martyn ignored the situation. He didn't have the necessary power to help the children.

[First test]

(What was that?) To Martyn's surprise, a voice was heard in his head.

"Excuse me, did you say something to me?" Surprised, the young man asked a shopper near him. "I'm sorry, it seems you got confused."

[First test]

(Voice heard again. What's going on?)

[Welcome to Valhalla. Initiation test completed]

[Test number one: Hero]

[Stand up to the man and help the children]

[Reward: 10 experience points]

(Valhalla? The dream was real?) Martyn's mind raced with the realization. If the dream was real, this was his chance to prove himself. He clenched his fists and took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination.