The young woman, her eyes narrowed, was taken aback for a second as she stared at the young man. She then relaxed her posture and nodded, her ability to sense the outcome of the battle showing in her calm acceptance. "A draw."
After those words, Grey Hawk and Jormungandr exchanged a tense glance before walking away, the old Viking heading to Freya’s side while the small cat perched on Vlad’s shoulder. The tension between them was palpable, even as the fighting intent in their eyes faded.
"It seems we are both interested in Nagan Mountain. How about we talk over a meal?" Vlad smiled at the woman, his eyes radiating pure calmness and serenity.
Freya stared at Vlad for a moment before glancing at Grey Hawk. The duo exchanged a small glance before the woman approached the young man. "We could eat."
"Great!" Vlad wasted no time, conjuring a cauldron with a wave of his hand. He swiftly filled it with Demon Blood Elixir, a Rank 1 Alchemy Potion, an extravagant choice for a stew. Even if it sounded childish, Vlad wanted to show off in front of the young women.
After filling the pot with the red liquid, Vlad took the hearts of Monsters, cutting them into small pieces with flawless precision and throwing them inside. That was just the start; he also took out all sorts of spices from his space ring and began to season the stew, using the A.I. Chip to guide him in the perfect blend.
Freya and Grey Hawk approached Vlad before sitting around the cauldron. There was snow around them, but that sort of cold could not affect people with such powerful bodies as the duo. They were not just impressed by the young man’s culinary skills but also intrigued by the taste of the meals they would get.
Vlad moved with great skill and precision and, at a shocking speed, finished the stew preparation in less than five minutes. After that, he put his hand on the side of the cauldron, and the runes on his arm and hand began to glow, generating a wave of heat.
"It will take around five minutes for the food to be ready. In the meantime, we should get to know each other. You said your name was Freya, right?" Vlad spoke with a smile to the young woman, but he was immediately interrupted.
"Brat, you should be careful with your words when referring to Her Highness. She is a Princess of Valhalla!" Grey Hawk spoke in a harsh voice toward Vlad, making the young man frown, and he was not alone since the young woman was also annoyed.
"Hmph, old geezer, you are the one that should be careful. You are speaking with a King!" The one who shouted was not Vlad but Jormungandr. The small yellow cat sneered at the Viking, his eyes cold.
When Grey Hawk heard those words, he only sneered back as he stared at Vlad, "Calling yourself a King with such weak power. You are not even a Guardian. Using those titles is only a display of childish arrogance."
"Grey Hawk!" Freya shouted the next second, staring at the old Viking with anger, silencing him, before turning her eyes toward Vlad, focusing on the tattoo on the young man’s forehead. "Are you a World King’s Candidate?"
"What!" Before Vlad could even respond, Grey Hawk’s voice rang out in shock, his eyes widening as he focused on the rune on Vlad’s forehead. The revelation had caught the old viking off guard.
"Hahaha, girl, you have a good eye. Boss is indeed a World King’s Candidate, canonized by the Plane Will!" Jormungandr shouted with a smile, his voice eager to boast about Vlad’s abilities.
On the other hand, Vlad only shook his head at the small yellow cat. They did not even know what a World King’s Candidate truly meant, so there was no reason to go around boasting about it. However, the cat was already out of the bag, and it was not really a secret, so he shrugged his shoulders and nodded.
"How!?" Grey Hawk’s eyes were shocked as he saw Vlad nodding, and the runes on the young man’s forehead carried the aura of a World King. He was not just an old viking but also Princess Freya’s scholar, and he had done a lot of research about New Planes with the young woman before coming here, so he was aware of what a World King’s Candidate meant.
Freya was able to keep her composure, but her eyes were still full of awe as she glanced at the rune. After a moment, she turned to the small yellow cat, and a lovely smile appeared. "What kind of feats did your Boss achieve to obtain such glory?"
Vlad was shocked by that smile, and it was so beautiful that he was frozen for a second. However, his mind immediately began to work as he understood her angle. ’She is stunning, but Jormungandr will never fall...’
"Boss killed a Champion Knight angel, led the charge against a high demonic horde, and killed an Abyssal Champion. He is always rising higher, so the Plane Will would obviously notice him." Jormungandr had always displayed a scheming mind, yet the combination of the young woman and the thrill of praising Vlad got the best of him.
Vlad did not know whether to laugh or cry as he heard the small yellow cat shouting his prowess. Ultimately, he only smiled before turning toward the young woman and old Viking and seeing how the duo looked at him with awe.
"If I am honest, I have little information regarding the World King’s Candidate and its implications, but I can see you two have much more information. Care to share with me?" The duo was clearly wise, and Vlad would not lose the chance to shed some light on his current title.
Freya stared at Vlad for a few seconds before speaking. "The World King is the supreme ruler of a New Plane, chosen from the most promising individuals marked as candidates during the plane’s ascension. These candidates undergo significant enhancements during their progress, but the core and most significant is the Seed of Origin placed in their Soul Dimension. Upon becoming the World King, the Seed of Origin will evolve into a unique World Gift, granting you access to Plane Laws and control over the Plane’s Origin Force."