Ken and Shyla were both falling out of the sky.
"STOP!" The husband shouted and both of them immediately stopped falling. As he wondered about how they were supposed to move in this position, their bodies automatically began flowing in the air like leaves. One thought later, and the couple was flying through the air.
The view to the horizon was unobstructed, allowing them to enjoy the beautiful blue color of the sky. Merely a gigantic Temple-like building stood out from the seemingly endless forest below. Keiren knew that this Realm was currently empty. Only the two of them were present, yet for some reason, he could actually feel how the world lived with every breath he took, making for an indescribable sensation.
The Eternal Realm resembled a continent.
North of the forest was an ocean that surrounded the landmass. South of it were countless plains, filled with meadows of green grass and flowers, interrupted by the occasional rivers and lakes. In the east was a mountain range, yet it was too far away from their position to make out even the shadow of the mountain. Strangely, two strange signals came from there.
Lastly, west of their current position was a swamp that was dark and sang the song of death. Keiren instinctively knew that it was poisonous from the edge to the center. From there, a massive amount of strange signals flooded into Keiren's mind. He had no clue what they meant, so he decided to ignore it until the time was more fitting to explore it.
"How beautiful," Shyla exclaimed in awe, after a few minutes of enjoying the scenery from mid-air. The air she breathed was so fresh and clean that it was unlike everything she had ever experienced. The young woman felt welcomed by this world, like she had returned to her home after a long journey.
# Congratulations, Wisdomseeker, you've discovered the Eternal Realm. Welcome home. Reward: 100 Multiverse Wisdom Points. #
"Welcome to the Eternal Realm. Again, I apologize for scaring you, but how was I to know that the System would knock me out, so it could connect it to my body," Ken apologized as he hugged his beautiful wife.
"Yeah, I know, thinking isn't your forte. We both know that you married me for my brains, and not just for my looks," Shyla teased as she enjoyed the embrace, especially with the surrounding scenery, "Why can we float in midair like this? Is it another Ability you got, like your Thunderfire-breath?"
"Not quite. I appear to have absolute control while in this Realm. I can actually SEE the Eternal Realm in its entirety if I concentrate, but it also gives me signals that I don't understand," Ken explained.
" 'Absolute Control'... should I call my husband a 'God' then?" Shyla giggled.
"Only if you want me to start calling you a Goddess," Ken replied with a smirk. "As nice as this Realm is, I still prefer living in the outside world. My System gave me some goals that I intend to accomplish, and that isn't possible from in here. We can come here every once in a while to enjoy the scenery, though… or if we need time alone." Ken added, and began to tickle Shyla who had nowhere to escape.
"Yes, that would be nice." Shyla pressed out while erupting in a bright and sonorous laughter, while trying to defend herself without falling into her death.
After a few minutes of fooling around, Shyla looked at the gigantic Temple-like building.
"What is this Temple in the distance?"
"That should be the Eternal Valhalla. I gained a so-called Divine Talent named Eternal Einherjar and that place is where those Eternal Einherjar will live. At least my System said that it is their home," Keiren shared all the information he had.
"Einherjar… like Odin's Einherjar? So, a bunch of Death Vikings?" Shyla asked in amazement.
"Well, yes and no. It selects the honorable and heroic. I don't know the exact scouting criteria that the Valkyries use, but they seem legit." Ken shrugged. There hadn't been time for him to analyze everything that happened today.
'System, where are the Eternal Einherjar at the moment, are they still in the outside world?'
# Summoner, all your summons are still in the courtyard where you collapsed. The only exception to that is Suran Tarnum who is currently on her way to your room after having received the message that you disappeared together with your wife. #
'Can you summon them in here?'
# One moment… All Eternal Einherjar are now in front of the Eternal Valhalla. #
Keiren teleported himself and his wife in front of Eternal Valhalla and the next moment they appeared above the 202 Einherjar. Rajansam flew up into the sky and greeted him: "My Emperor, I'm glad you've recovered."
"Rajansam, meet my wife, Shyla Kendrall." Keiren introduced his better half to the Demon Asura who hovered a little below them, his head the height of Keiren's kneecaps.
His appearance scared Shyla nonetheless, and she grabbed her husband tightly. Before she could say something, all Eternal Einherjar kneeled in unison and shouted: "We greet the Empress! May her beauty and justice shine over us all."
Meanwhile Rajansam got on one knee in the air and said: "My Empress, it is my pleasure to meet you. I am Rajansam Resemen, Destroyer of Hope and Commander of the Eternal Einherjar, your wish is my command."
"Rajansam, this is the Eternal Valhalla, make yourself at home here. Please train and cultivate those under your care. Remember, no matter how often you die here in the Eternal Realm or on the Eternal Summit, your body will regenerate in about an hour, so there's no need for you to hold back. I will call you if I need your help." Keiren instructed.
"As you command," Rajansam answered respectfully.
"There is a potential Valkyrie among you," he addressed the Eternal Einherjar, "Please come forward, so I can take a look at you."
A woman flew out of the group of Einherjar, while Rejansam instructed everyone else into the Temple. At the same time, four beautiful Valkyries appeared, led by the one with six wings.
"Greetings, Emperor and Empress, I've been told that I may have what it tak—" before she should speak any further, the Valkyrie leader interjected: "Your Majesty, my Divine Lord, I humbly request you to allow her to join me and my sisters. At the moment, we only number four, making it impossible for us to effectively cover every battle where the honorable die. Although not even 100,000 of us might be enough for that task, but at least with one additional pair of eyes and wings, we shall be able to find more to join your army."
"I trust your judgment completely in that regard. Henceforth, you're free to appoint anyone you deem worthy as one of your sisters. Just talk with Rajansam about it." Keiren decreed, not really understanding why they needed his permission to do that.
"Thank you, your Majesty, my Divine Lord." The Valkyrie recruit kowtowed, and the next moment a dark purple glow surrounded her. Chains emerged around her being which broke apart in a shimmer of light, which then gathered at the woman's back and formed a pair of wings.
# Congratulations, Summoner! You've achieved two new Milestones:
Summon an honorable and heroic soul and convince her to become your Valkyrie. 1/1
Appoint a total of five Valkyries. 5/5 #
# Rewards: Temple of Valkyries, Eternal Valhalla Valkyrie expansion pack, one Valkyrie Pack, Valkyrie Token of Honor. #
# Temple of Valkyries: Religious and Cultural Building for your City. Allows the recruitment and training of 'Mortal Valkyries' who have the potential to evolve into 'Divine Valkyries' after an honorable death. #
# Note: Valkyries are fearsome female warriors like the Amazonians.
Treat them with respect or die a horrible death. #
# Eternal Valhalla Valkyrie expansion pack: Adds a resting and living place for Valkyries who aren't away to gather the souls of the honorable and heroic. #
# Note: A Valkyrie is essential for your power to grow.
They deserve a place to relax once in a while. #
# Valkyrie Pack: Summons a group of 100 'Mortal Valkyries' to fight for you in battle. #
# Note: A Valkyrie will never bind herself to a single man. She will only accept the strong and the just as partners to honor those who deserve it. The children of Valkyries are treated like nobility, no matter who the father might be. The bloodline of a Valkyrie is regarded as sacred, and their children are destined to become warriors, with their daughters having a good chance to become Valkyries themselves. #
# Valkyrie Token of Honor: Summons %!@&
Error. Details can't be shared. #
Keiren grew more and more confused. He had no clue why, but he was certain his System was trolling him. First he got bonus rewards for Milestones, and now he had Errors. Either the System was a sadistic piece of shit or broken.
'System, open the Eternal Valhalla Valkyrie expansion pack.'
A choir of angelic voices echoed through the Eternal Realm, and a giant palace the size of a small city descended from the sky. Three giant Valkyrie statues rose from the ground. These statues were portrayed as kneeling down while facing each other in a triangular formation, giving them the appearance of someone praying.
The palace landed softly in the hands of the Valkyrie statues. It was a truly magnificent sight to behold.
"This place is for you and your sisters, so you can rest your wings every once in a while. As important subjects of mine, you deserve to be treated with respect!" Ken stated as he looked at the Valkyrie Commander, "I hope you like it and that your new future sisters will also like it."
"Divine Lord, we thank you for your kindness. May your blade always taste the blood of the honorable," The Valkyries shouted in unison and set out into the sky, transforming into streaks of divine light that vanished in the distance.
"I don't remember agreeing to be in any harem. I might grow jealous if you spend too much time with them," Shyla pouted, though Ken saw that she didn't really mean it. "Why would I need any other woman when I have you by my side? Let's head back before we cause mass panic in the Thunder-eagle Clan because we all disappeared without notice."