The Call of the Valkyrie
"You're next," I said, my gaze shifting to the remaining assassin.
"You think I'm weak like him, you bastard?! I'll have your head!" he roared. "High-tier Skill: Slipher!"
He unleashed a powerful, long-range magic strike. The mana surged toward me like a tidal wave. He's got spirit, I'll give him that, I thought. A direct hit would be annoying, but it wouldn't break my innate defense. Still, no point in taking unnecessary risks in this frail body.
"Summon: Rina! Protect me!"
Just like the very first time I called her, Rina materialized in a flash of blinding light. But this time, she wasn't there to hunt; she was there to shield. She brandished her Adamantine Halberd—a massive weapon that functioned as both a spear and an axe. Clad in her noble, silver-trimmed armor, she looked every bit the legendary warrior.
"Half-sector Defense," Rina commanded. A shimmering barrier erupted in front of us, and the assassin's spell dissipated against it like mist against a mountain.
"You know, Rina," I smirked, "if you weren't here, I might have actually had to break a sweat."
Rina didn't even look back. "Is this a time for jokes? His strike wouldn't have scratched your soul anyway, Master."
"Alright, alright, no need to be so serious. You're impossible to compliment."
"Your orders?" she asked.
"Hit him in the stomach, just like I did. But don't kill him. I need him conscious."
"Understood."
In the blink of an eye, she vanished and reappeared directly in front of the assassin. Before he could even scream, her gauntleted fist buried itself in his midsection. He collapsed instantly, the air leaving his lungs in a ragged gasp.
Dark Secrets
With the enemies incapacitated, I used Memory Manifestation to sift through their minds. Images flashed before my eyes—gold, shadowy meetings, and a familiar face.
"Interesting," I muttered. "It seems I'm the son of a high-ranking noble in this world. And my own elder brother gave the order to have me executed. How cliché."
"A tragic fate," Rina remarked coldly.
"Or a golden opportunity. Let's use this to our advantage. Come on, let's scout the area."
I focused on manifesting wings. In the Spirit Realm, both Rina and I had evolved to a point where physical wings weren't necessary for flight, but in this world, defying gravity without a medium was like trying to eat without food—possible through pure magic, but fundamentally 'wrong.' I preferred the stability of spectral wings.
"Where to?" Rina asked, her own wings shimmering behind her.
"I sense a concentrated source of natural mana coming from that cave over there. Let's check it out."
The Slave Den
We touched down near the cave entrance and proceeded on foot. Despite the damp air and the crunch of gravel beneath my boots, I felt a disconnect. This body was only obeying me at about 10% capacity. Normally, soul transference takes a few hours to stabilize, but this vessel was so weak it was struggling to contain even a fraction of my true power.
I definitely picked the wrong 'me' to inhabit, I cursed inwardly.
As we went deeper, the sound of muffled voices reached us. We rounded a corner and stumbled upon a grim scene: a hidden slave camp. Roughly twenty bandits were guarding a group of captives—mostly Elves and Beastmen, bound in heavy chains.
"Hey, hey, boys. Am I interrupting something?" I called out.
The bandits reached for their swords, but I was already bored. "Rina, let's have some fun. Full assault!"
We charged. I channeled my spiritual energy into the shape of a blade, while Rina summoned her halberd from the Void. This wasn't a fight for survival; it was a training exercise. I needed to synchronize my soul with this body's muscles. Each strike, each parry was a step toward reclaiming my former glory.
Within minutes, the cave floor was littered with the fallen. We ignored the gold and headed straight for the back of the cave, where a high-value prisoner was kept.
It was an Elf girl. She was bound more securely than the others—chains on her wrists, ankles, and even a heavy collar around her neck. Her eyes were covered with a thick blindfold, as if they feared what she might see.
"Let's get you out of those," I whispered. I sent a pulse of refined Mana into the locks, shattering the enchantments and the cold iron alike.