Altogether, three Valkyries appeared in Duncan’s tent. The Valkyrie with the bird-winged golden helmet reached out to lift Duncan, while the other two with bird-winged silver helmets supported his shoulders.
The next moment, his consciousness departed from his body, following the Valkyries into the sky.
—Soul Emergence (special state).
The projection screen in the Dimension Space split in two: one showing Duncan’s physical body, the other showing his soul. Led by the three Valkyries into the sky, a chariot drawn by six-legged warhorses appeared, with Duncan seated on it. The Valkyrie with the bird-winged golden helmet drove the chariot, while the other two Valkyries accompanied him, and soon they vanished from the real world.
"Is this Odin’s chariot driven by Valkyries?"
"Am I really this important now?!"
In the projection screen.
His soul remained in a dazed state, as the mist gradually cleared, a strange kingdom emerged before his eyes.
—Asgard (Aesir Divine Realm)!
This was not a completely formed kingdom, at least in Duncan’s projection, Asgard was incomplete, with many lands and structures yet to fully materialize. However, he could see the Rainbow Bridge, as the chariot traveled upon the vast Rainbow Bridge.
Asgard wasn’t very large, at least not as grand as Duncan had imagined. It was about the size of a normal human kingdom.
Yet it was indeed much, much larger than the mist-covered Avalon.
The Valkyries seemed to have a disagreement.
A beautiful and valiant female apparition whispered in the ear of the Valkyrie with the bird-winged golden helmet, and quickly disappeared.
Thus began the Valkyries’ debate over whether to send Duncan to Odin’s Valhalla or Freya’s Seslrumner.
In fact, there are two Heroic Spirit Halls—but Odin’s Valhalla is the more renowned. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel★fire.net
According to Norse mythology, Odin, the god of war, would command the Valkyrie to go to the mortal battlefield to select half of the fallen warriors to bring here, while the other half went to the goddess Freya’s Seslrumner, and those not killed in battle would go to Hel’s Netherworld.
Finally, Duncan was taken to a shimmering golden palace.
—Valhalla (Heroic Spirit Hall)!
In the Dimension Space.
The dizziness mark on Duncan’s soul vanished, with the bird-winged golden helmeted Valkyrie leading the way at the front. The two bird-winged silver helmeted Valkyries accompanied him on either side, taking Duncan directly into the magnificent palace courtyard.
As the soul state gradually became clear, the human form gazed at the Heroic Spirit Hall in front of him. From a distance, it seemed to float in the air, its roof beams adorned with spear shafts, roof tiles covered with shields, chain armors scattered across the benches, and large doors lined the sides of the palace, apparently to facilitate the ready surge of heroic spirits into battle.
A giant boar ’Sahrimnir’ was being slaughtered, only to revive each night.
The stag Ekxinir and goat Heidrun stood in the valley of the Heroic Spirit Hall. Heidrun’s milk was incomparable honey wine, which was being carted in barrels by many indistinct attendants into the hall.
"What is this place?"
The human form gradually awoke, with Duncan cooperatively posing the question.
"Welcome to the Heroic Spirit Hall."
The leading golden-helmeted Valkyrie respectfully turned and bowed, inviting Duncan onto the broad paved road. Inside the grandiose Heroic Spirit Hall, countless ethereal figures stood up, seemingly watching the ’living person’ who had entered.
Within the Heroic Spirit Hall.
Seated at a long table made of numerous spears and shields, Duncan calmly scanned the surroundings, sitting down boldly.
The bird-winged golden helmeted Valkyrie poured him wine!
The bird-winged silver helmeted Valkyrie cut meat for him!
With a heroic and upright figure seated on the chain armor, Duncan gave the Valkyries a carefree smile, then drank deep and ate heartily, reveling in the feast as though a voracious gustatory champion, devouring enough honey wine and roast meat for dozens, even to the astonishment of the attendant Valkyries around him.
—Hengist and Hosa (Lesser Heroic Spirits)!
As Duncan contentedly set down his honey wine, two ethereal figures gradually appeared opposite him, with the two brothers ceasing their ravenous dining and binge drinking, glaring at Duncan with hostile eyes, reaching directly for weapons and shields on the table.
"Delightful! Let us battle!"
Duncan threw back his head, howling skyward as he took a shield and battle axe from the Valkyrie’s hand, roaring aloud, stepping with pride into the hall of the Heroic Spirit Hall, gesturing challengingly at Hengist and Hosa, who were condensing into solid form.
A thunderous cheer and uproar erupted!
Under the watchful eyes of countless half-virtual, half-real heroic spirits, the brothers Hengist and Hosa too entered the hall of the Heroic Spirit Hall.
At some undetermined moment.
Suspended in the lavishly adorned skies of the Heroic Spirit Hall, twelve seats of the main gods appeared in succession, with Odin leading as a misty giant apparition, peacefully observing Duncan as he challenged the numerous heroic spirits in the hall.
There’s no denying it, the invitation from the Norse Pantheon was indeed more magnificent than the mist-covered Avalon!
Duncan knew the customs of the Heroic Spirit Hall.
Having savored the fine wines and delicacies reserved for those slain in battle, it was time for a bloody struggle!
how could he not make a name for himself in the Heroic Spirit Hall?!