"Brunok is in the camp led by Lord Odin."
Luo Wei accepted the shield with a nod. "Don't worry. I'll make sure he gets it myself."
He glanced at the interior of the shield and noticed a line engraved faintly into the steel: Brunok, go home.
Old Hadier, still covered in soot and sweat from the forge, asked, "When do you think you'll reach Vanaheim?"
Luo Wei pondered. "At most, a month from now."
After leaving Hadier's blacksmith shop, Rowe took the Scarlet Commander's Shield and placed it on the Sanctuary blueprint for evaluation.
[Completion: Perfect]
[Item Level: Tier 5]
Perfect craftsmanship.
Rowe was visibly surprised. He'd already sensed the shield was of fine quality, but he hadn't expected it to be flawless. It was more than just sturdy—it would endure through time and battle.
More than two weeks passed.
During this period, Rowe kept a low profile at home, trying to avoid the military recruiters. It wasn't because he was afraid of war. The real reason was that Shilute was still in deep sleep, and Rowe couldn't leave him behind unattended.
At last, Shilute awoke after nearly a month of slumber, blinking and looking around groggily. "Buzz… buzz…"
Rowe followed the sound, observed his companion, and nodded inwardly.
Shilute had grown significantly—almost twenty centimeters. Now, his height was comparable to that of an eight- or nine-year-old child.
"I'm Shilute," Rowe patiently encouraged him, attempting to get him to speak.
"Buzzing." Shilute scratched his head with a stony finger, unable to form words.
"Shilute," Rowe repeated slowly.
"Buzzing…"
"..."
Rowe sighed and shook his head. "Alright, you're just a buzzing rock monster. That's fine."
Now that Shilute was awake, Rowe went directly to the Military Affairs Hall, located near Valhalla Hall.
"Rowe Garrison?" A middle-aged official flipped open a large magical tome. A 3D image of Rowe—young, short, and much smaller—projected upward.
He scrutinized the portrait and then looked at the current Rowe, muscular and tall. Suspicion crept into his voice. "Honestly… you look more like Rowe's older brother."
Rowe produced the dagger given by Odin—the Blade of Rowe—and handed it over. "Lord Odin granted me the Blessing of Fate. Since then, I awakened my divine powers. Perhaps that altered my appearance."
The civil official examined the dagger and its rune: Odin's personal inscription. His demeanor instantly shifted to one of respect. "Ah, I see. As expected from a warrior favored by the All-Father."
He continued, "May I ask what divine power you awakened?"
Rowe summoned a flickering flame in his palm. "Fire."
The official's expression momentarily showed envy. "As per regulation, individuals who have awakened divine abilities are immediately promoted to a second-tier military rank—usually Deputy Captain. Your precise assignment, however, depends on the camp commander."
He then brought out another form. "We need your preference. There are three active camps in Vanaheim, led by Lord Odin, Lady Bella, and Lady Brunhilde. Which would you prefer to join?"
Rowe didn't hesitate. "Lord Odin's camp."
"Very well," the official replied, recording his answer. "A reinforcement unit will pass through the Bifrost tomorrow at noon. Be at the Bifrost Gate before then."
He added, "Since your divine power altered your physical form, we'll need to update your divine registration."
Asgard, with its relatively small population, didn't enforce bureaucracy too rigidly. The Military Affairs Hall quickly updated Rowe's divine identity. The Blade of Rowe made the process smoother—an enchanted dagger with Odin's runes opened doors easily.
The following day at noon, Rowe and Shilute arrived at the Rainbow Bridge Gate, where hundreds of warriors stood assembled in three distinct formations—each one destined for a different war camp.
Once all were accounted for, Uller activated the Bifrost. The soldiers, grouped into square formations, were beamed away in succession.
On the other side, Rowe arrived in a field of ruins. Shattered walls, scorched earth, and broken statues greeted him. Just ahead, a toppled stone statue of an ancient hero lay in the rubble. The arm holding a sword had snapped clean off.
Were it not for the bustling soldiers nearby, Rowe might have assumed something went wrong with the Bifrost transfer.
"This was once the royal city of the Vanir," a nearby soldier explained to the newcomers. "It was destroyed on the first day of the war. King Vanir and most of the royal family perished here."
"Divine-powered recruits, report to the commander," the soldier continued. "Everyone else, follow your squad captains."
Most departed quickly, leaving only two figures standing—Rowe and one other. Evidently, few were both recruits and divine-awakened.
The Bifrost left residual scorch marks upon arrival—evidence of its overwhelming energy. If not precisely managed, it could annihilate an entire region. Thanks to Uller's control and the spatial filters in the Teleportation Hall, only faint burn marks remained.
The two recruits stood amid the smoking marks, looking momentarily out of place.
"Hey there, I'm Fairwind," said the other—a lean, red-haired youth with sharp eyes and a lively demeanor.
"I'm Rowe," came the reply.
"Man, those are some impressive muscles! You gotta show me your training regimen sometime." Fairwind then noticed Shilute trailing Rowe. "Whoa! Is this your… pet?"
Rowe didn't indulge the chatter. "Let's go report in."
They asked for directions and made their way toward Odin's command post—a relatively intact three-story stone building at the edge of the ruined city. Several Einherjar warriors guarded its entrance.
Rowe and Fairwind presented their authorization documents. The guards nodded and granted entry but denied Shilute access. Rowe instructed him firmly to wait outside and not wander.
Inside, Rowe halted in surprise.
In the war room stood a woman clad in sleek light armor, facing a massive battle map.
She had her back turned, but Rowe instantly recognized her.
The curve of her body, her poise, the commanding aura—this could only be Hela.
She turned slowly, glancing over her shoulder. At first, she didn't recognize him.
"Divine-powered recruits?" she asked coolly.
Fairwind quickly handed over his documentation and, oddly, looked away, avoiding Hela's gaze.
She read the papers. "Fairwind. Power of clairvoyance?"
Still turned to the side, he answered, "Yes, Your Highness."
She moved on to Rowe's document and froze.
Her eyes widened. "Rowe… Luo Wei?"
She looked up and scrutinized his face, blinking in disbelief. Her crimson lips parted slightly.
He smiled calmly. "Your Highness. It's been a while."
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