Andrew had a protracted dream that was so bizarre. It could only be described as out of this world.
In his dream, he transformed into a massive, feminine humanoid being with a stature so colossal that it could rival even giant planets and stars. His powers were beyond measure - he could rip the land apart, demolish the skies, and obliterate celestial bodies with a single wave.
But what really surprised him was the magnificence of his giant, feminine face. With eyes that shone like the brightest stars in the galaxy, his gaze was so intense that it could distort and shatter space-time itself.
Just by looking around, the sheer power of his sight would evoke eruptions of chaotic storms as his omniscience unraveled the universe's core secrets with his divine mind.
As his dream progressed, he found himself facing off against all sorts of powerful foes - from godly deities to demonic rulers and even mythical beasts that could strike fear into the bravest of hearts.
He stood his ground with unyielding determination, confident in his unparalleled ability to crush his enemies with a single, thunderous blow.
And crush them he did, devouring each vanquished foe and feeling his power grow mightier and more potent with each victory. He was the ultimate predator - a fierce and mighty warrior at the very apex of the food chain, ruling the universe with an iron fist.
It was then that Andrew felt a strange sensation taking over his mind.
Suddenly, he heard a series of eerie rhythmic mumblings that sounded like a spell or ritual incantations. Phrases like "Pita-ta-cha-ta-fa" echoed in his ears, growing louder, more baffling, and more sinister by the second. It was like a devilish force had taken over, and Andrew couldn't resist its call.
He struggled with all his might against the sinister force, feeling as if his consciousness was being pulled in different directions.
His mind was racing with thoughts and emotions he couldn't comprehend. But eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, he managed to open his eyes.
"So, that was a dream! It seems I have awakened successfully," he thought, his eyes shifting to observe the surroundings.
The room he was lying in appeared to be the same one where he had undergone the awakening ceremony. Its walls and ceiling were inscribed with intricate runic patterns that seemed to glow with a soft, pulsating light.
While gazing around the room, Andrew was struck with amazement, his eyes lighting up at the sights that greeted him.
Everything seemed to have become clearer and sharper than before—as if his eyesight had improved dramatically. He marveled at the details he could now see with ease, which he hadn't even noticed before.
Looking down, he noticed that the enormous bloodline awakening magic circle that had previously adorned a large part of the floor had already disappeared. However, faint traces of the circle still remained, and he could spot them with ease, thanks to his newfound clarity of vision. He also noticed the tiniest runic markings on the pagoda walls, which he had previously missed.
But there was more to it than just improved eyesight. Andrew experienced an unusual sensitivity in his skin as if he was acutely aware of every particle of mana floating around his body. The sensation was initially overwhelming, but he soon began to get used to it, and as he did, he realized the true extent of his newfound powers.
"You're awake!" a rich, mellow voice came beside Andrew.
Inclining his head to investigate, he saw Aeon's ghostly form hovering a few feet away. A gentle grin stretched across the ancient sorcerer's face as he regarded Andrew, his fingers stroking his beard.
"How are you feeling?" Aeon inquired.
Andrew was just about to reply when a sudden migraine hit him like a ton of bricks. He couldn't even form a single word as he groaned in agony and rolled on the floor. As if that wasn't bad enough, a deluge of foreign memories flooded his mind without warning, seemingly unending.
In the midst of his torment, he heard Aeon's voice asking, "Little friend! What's wrong?" But Andrew was too consumed by the pain to respond.
He gritted his teeth, clenching his fists as he endured the relentless barrage of memories. He fought to maintain his sanity, refusing to let go until the process finally ended after what felt like an eternity.
As his mind slowly regained clarity, he couldn't believe what had happened to him.
He had just acquired a bloodline inheritance of the primordial Valkyries. It included hand-to-hand and weapon combat techniques, sorcery rituals, and various bloodline spells that could push his powers to another level.
Andrew's inheritance journey didn't end there, though. The foreign memories he received also provided him with clarity on several fronts.
He now realized he had successfully undergone bloodline awakening, which granted him two Valkyrie bloodline abilities. The first was the [Valkyrie transcendent eyes], while the second was the [Valkyrie spirit body].
The Valkyrie spirit body was an innate ability that worked passively. It was akin to a superior version of Aeon's Blessing of Death spell, which enabled him to gain strength and augment his power by eliminating his foes and absorbing their intrinsic energy. It also bestowed upon him a heightened mana affinity, amplifying his ability to quickly absorb magical energy and unleash spells with remarkable rapidity.
As for the [Valkyrie transcendent eyes], it was an even more stupendously obscene ability.
Imagine having the power to see beyond human limitations and access an ancient library of knowledge passed down through generations of powerful beings through one's eyes. That was what the [Valkyrie transcendent eyes] bestowed upon Andrew.
He could now rely on the eye-ability to identify spells, strange objects, plant and animal species, rituals, and other treasures. But what was even more incredible was the source of this vast and mysterious knowledge. It was the bloodline library - an innate information bank passed down to all Valkyrie ancestry descendants after awakening their bloodline.
The bloodline library held the secrets and discoveries of the Primordial Valkyries, accumulated over what could be hundreds of millennia. Andrew couldn't even begin to comprehend its core functioning, but he knew that it held nearly everything ever chanced upon by his predecessors.
Thinking of the ability, Andrew slowly closed his eyes. He followed the instructions of the bloodline inheritance and activated the [Valkyrie transcendent eyes] with his intention.
Something incredible immediately happened, and he could see glowing blood-red text atop or before every object his eyes landed on.
Exclaiming with wonder, he suppressed his excitement and turned his gaze to a particular tiny runic marking lining a section of the pagoda wall.
[A runic linear formation of a defensive nature, classified as Rank-4 identified. This formation is an intricate combination of defensive earth runes, energy-absorbing mini-spell circles, and alternating mana-transmission circuits. It is believed to be a constituent part of a larger formation, likely intended to fortify a particular structure.]
Andrew grinned and turned his gaze to Aeon, who was still looking at him with both confusion and concern.
[Danger! Danger! Soul remnant with combat power infinitely close to rank-five metaphysical being identified. The soul remnant is the perfect way for the aged powerhouses specializing in the soul to prolong their lives. Great caution is advised as the remnant is the ideal tool for them to take over younger bodies.]
Andrew's eyes narrowed slightly after seeing the warning notification hovering atop Aeon's spiritual form.
"What happened?" asked Aeon after noticing the slight change in his expression.
"Quite a bit," Andrew replied, keeping his emotions in check. He decided not to delve into his newfound eye-ability and added, "I've successfully awakened my bloodline, which has made me stronger."
"Congratulations, my young friend!" said Aeon with a smile. He seemed genuinely happy for Andrew as he inquired, "Did you awaken any bloodline abilities? And did you obtain any bloodline inheritance memories?"
"Indeed, I obtained inheritance memories," he admitted, fully aware that the aged sorcerer must have detected this aspect of his awakening when the migraine hit him. "As for abilities, I'm uncertain. Allow me a moment to meditate and check."
"Go on," encouraged Aeon, flashing a smile. "You need to comprehend the changes that have taken place in your body first. Then, I'll pass on my inheritance to you. I'm really hoping that you've awakened some innate bloodline abilities. All my aspirations of gaining a new lease on life rely on you ascending to the immortal lands and bringing me back to life."
"Got it!" Andrew tried to hide his unease as he smiled back at Aeon.
Aeon's line of questioning made Andrew uneasy, especially after his Valkyrie transcendent eyes had identified the ancient sorcerer's spiritual form as dangerous.
Despite his doubts, he had already found himself in the tiger's lair with Aeon and knew he had to play along with the enigmatic figure, at least, until he could determine whether he was friend or foe.
Settling down on the floor cross-legged, he pushed the disturbing thoughts to the back of his mind and focused on the aspects he could control. He closed his eyes, regulated his breathing, and gradually felt a sense of tranquility wash over him.
He was determined to enter a meditative state and explore his soul space. But little did he know that what he was about to witness would leave him completely stunned.
He couldn't believe what he saw after opening his eyes and looking around his soul space. His once silver sea of consciousness had transformed into a deep shade of red, with the most vibrant circular ring of the color at the center.
But that wasn't all. Andrew's golden book totem had also undergone a remarkable transformation. Its cover was now a deeper shade of blood-red color, and its size had increased dramatically. What caught Andrew's attention, however, was the enormous golden eye that was plainly newly inscribed on its cover.
As he gazed at the golden eye, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was alive and watching him. 'Could this be the result of his bloodline awakening?' he wondered.
He was both curious and apprehensive about the changes he was experiencing.
His heart was pounding with unease, but he refused to let it get the best of him. He knew he had to focus on what he could control and let the rest take its course.
His pulse quickened as he eagerly flipped open the blood-red cover of the massive book-type totem, which stood as tall as a grown man. With bated breath, he scanned the first page, eager to see how much his attributes had changed.