Around 3:30 p.m., Kevin, Mallow, and Melk dragged their asses back to the Zone D camp. Clothes torn to hell, faces caked with blood, spirits deader than a walker’s.

  Rikk, fresh from cleaning Zone A, was already there, eyeballing ‘em. Doc, Sharn, and the greenhorns looked fine—no real damage.

  Razor Hawk clocked their sorry-ass state and let out a loud whistle, grinning like a jackass. He spun to a scrawny punk next to him and barked, “Yo, Bigfoot, wanna hear how I tore up Zone A today?”

  Bigfoot, ass-kisser supreme, jumped in, “Big bro, you’re a fuckin’ legend! Ain’t nobody close. Fixed that busted generator, smashed those five snitch bastards who screwed us, and jacked a shit-ton of food, meds, and water off ‘em. Storage’s bursting now—team points through the damn roof! Haha! When we cash in for loot, can I grab some of your gear cheap, big bro?”

  Razor Hawk laughed his ass off, smacking Bigfoot’s back, playing the big shot. “You punks know I always hook you up! Been eyeing Sharn’s badass Springfield pistol forever—gonna snag that shit soon.”

  Those cocky newbies were puffed up, strutting like kings. Look at Kevin and Mallow—bloody wrecks—and Melk, the last plot character standing. Zone C must’ve been a damn meat grinder. Mission’s toast for sure.

  Truth is, Kevin bitched to Mallow about losing everything—points, team stash, the works—but deep down, he had a hunch this rock he nabbed might be worth more than all that crap they burned.

  That one skill—Odin’s Summon—alone made it a steal.

  Picture it: mid-fight, some ancient demigod warrior pops up behind you. Game changer, right? Too bad it’s useless as hell right now.

  Meanwhile, Rikk and Melk swapped updates, hearing how T-Bone, Guilan, and the rest bought it. Hit ‘em like a truck.

  Kevin and Mallow couldn’t shake the gloom, staring at the Omnispace notice about Zone C’s botched mission. Total setup. Who’d have guessed they’d stumble into that nightmare hidden mission? They barely crawled out alive.

  Rikk dropped a hand on their shoulders, saying it wasn’t their fault. Kevin kept eyeballing Melk, hoping he’d spill some dirt on the apocalypse and Philip’s hand in it, but Melk clammed up tight.

  Felt like Omnispace was yanking the chains. Even when plot characters tripped over hidden shit, they’d rather choke on it than talk, keeping the story from flipping too hard. Plot stuck to the main track—little wobbles, sure, but it always swung back in line.

  Rikk waved ‘em off to crash, and Kevin and Mallow hauled ass to rest. Mallow, beat to hell, flopped on his cot and passed out cold.

  ***

  Kevin, though, nabbed the Eternal Soulstone. Gut was screaming this thing’d flip his whole life.

  The black stone hovered, sucking up every scrap of light, throwing an ink-black shadow all around it.

  An Omnispace prompt popped: “Worldhopper 4444, the Eternal Soulstone requires soul binding before use. Do you wish to bind it to your soul now?”

  Kevin didn’t blink—“Yes.”

  Like it heard him, the floating stone started spinning slow. The carved symbols lit up one by one, glowing soft gold. Next to that shine, every other color looked like cheap trash. The golden light pulsed with a godlike vibe—power, weight, warmth—shit no human could shrug off. You’d wanna drop to your knees, handing over all your respect and trust.

  This has gotta be a real Odin stone! Kevin thought, jaw half-open. A rock touched by a god for ages packing this kinda juice? If the god himself showed up, how’s a regular guy supposed to stand that kinda heat?

  A woman’s voice cut through his head: “Who has awakened this sacred stone?” Clear as a song, but cold as hell—pure power, no bending.

  This… Valkyrie Brynhild? Kevin’s brain spun with wild and ridiculous thoughts after catching that frosty tone. She’s supposed to be out cold forever, so how’s she stuck in this rock?

  “Mortal, how dare you speak my name so carelessly and consider harming a divine creation?” The voice rose, icy and sharp, firing a mental blast that smashed Kevin’s skull. It scrambled his thoughts into a wreck, pain tearing him apart.

  “Aaaaahhh…” Blood gushed from his nose, ears, mouth. He hit the dirt hard, strength gone, barely hanging on.

  “This is your sole reprieve,” the voice fell, hard and final. “Dare to think another disrespectful thought, even bound to this Eternal Soulstone, and I will erase your soul in an instant!”

  Kevin shook his head hard, blood spraying everywhere, fighting to ditch the wild dreams her voice stirred up in his busted mind.

  These daydreams included—well, not just—stuff like: goddess, long legs, nylons, training, dual cultivation (and a bunch more that’d make you blush… but let’s skip that mess).

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  “Mortal, you have awakened my spirit. Do you have any wish to express?” The voice held its regal chill, steady as hell despite the cold edge.

  “Well…” Kevin’s brain raced, scrambling for words. Could he shove this on Omnispace? He didn’t even know what Omnispace really was. “Uh… Miss, are you some kinda war goddess?”

  “Has Ragnarok come to pass? Did the realm of Asgard fall? I no longer sense Allfather Odin’s presence…” The goddess’s voice shook with a flicker of sorrow.

  Kevin went straight: “Goddess, looks like the giants are gone too. No real winner—both sides got wiped out.”

  Silence hung heavy. Just as Kevin started freaking out, the goddess spoke again: “I see. You seek the power of Odin’s Summon, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” Kevin said, doubts creeping up. Made sense the thing was Omnispace’s, some top-dog power. But then why’s Valkyrie Brynhild stuck inside? Omnispace hadn’t said shit, like it didn’t even know what was up.

  “The higher power has spoken to me. Its strength nears my father Odin’s peak, yet it lacks divinity. I have accepted its terms. You may wield the sacred Eternal Soulstone, but you will answer my call whenever I demand it!” The goddess’s voice stayed cold as hell, a rose wrapped in ice—pretty but untouchable.

  “Then can I ask a couple things before I sign up?” Kevin pushed, smelling a shot to haggle.

  “Speak fast,” the goddess snapped, her patience running low.

  “What’s in it for me if I serve you?” Kevin threw out, a little guts in his tone.

  “What?!” The goddess sounded like a cat that just got its tail stepped on, pure shock in her voice. “Mortal! Do you even grasp how many ancient demigod warriors would’ve killed for a chance to serve the great Valkyrie? And you dare—”

  “Then forget it,” Kevin shrugged, a smirk curling his lips. “Gods always dump the dangerous crap on mortals. I’m just a guy, and honestly, I don’t buy into gods anymore. When you big shots slug it out, us little folks get smashed in the mess. Valkyrie or goddess, whatever—I ain’t here for deals that don’t pay off. Nice talkin’.” He stood up, ready to bounce.

  “You… you don’t even know what Odin’s Summon can do! Demigod warriors, even minor gods, fighting at your side!” The goddess sputtered, nearly choking on her outrage. To her, this was a mortal’s wet dream, and this punk was spitting on it like it was nothing.

  “Look, I don’t need a history lesson,” Kevin said, arms crossed. “I don’t know how strong this thing is, and I don’t care—I might not even make it to tomorrow. What happens after I’m dead ain’t my problem.”

  The goddess went quiet, and after a long pause, her icy voice cut back in. “Very well, mortal. I see your situation. You couldn’t take down even a lowly Asgardian servant. I’m stunned you obtained this powerful stone at all. Still, I’ll grant you full fusion with the Eternal Soulstone—not just soul-binding. In exchange, you must swear loyalty to the gods and me.”

  Kevin parroted her like a smartass, “I swear…” then flashed a sly grin, eyes glinting. “But can I ask one more thing?”

  “What?!” The Valkyrie snapped, her cool cracking hard. She’d spent millennia as a Valkyrie, shieldmaiden, and top-tier goddess in the Norse crew, second only to Odin himself. Her power was off the charts, her name a true legend in the divine realm. Used to the straight-up respect of hardcore Norse warriors, this yapping little pest of a mortal was something else—driving her nuts in a way she’d never felt before.

  “It’s just…” Kevin scratched his head, playing sheepish, “Could I borrow a couple divine artifacts for a bit?”

  “Get lost!” The Valkyrie hit her limit with this shameless punk. Her icy front shattered as she barked, “You tiny pest! One look at a divine artifact would burn you to ash!”

  “Fine, if you ain’t got any, just say it. What’s the big deal? You’re supposed to be a badass goddess, right?” Kevin muttered, pulling an old-school knight act, like he couldn’t clap back at a lady.

  The Valkyrie was this close to losing it. With a pissed-off huff, she turned to storm off.

  “Hey, hold up!” Kevin’s voice buzzed after her like a damn fly that wouldn’t quit.

  “Talk,” the Valkyrie shot back, barely giving him a second. She was straight-up praying this mortal would just keel over already.

  “Wait a sec—are you even a real woman? Thousands of years old, still a ‘warrior maiden’? Ever wonder why you’re solo? Maybe try some online dating—Aaaaaaaargh!”

  The scream ripped through the prison, blasting out into the open sky. Even the walkers froze mid-shuffle, their dead eyes swinging toward the noise, rotting brains trying to figure out what kinda screwed-up mess could make a guy yell like that.

  The prison cell lit up like a spotlight as the divine stone spun fast as hell. A giant beam of godly light locked onto Kevin, and the stone turned into golden runes that shot straight into his body.

  Blood dripped down Kevin’s face, a souvenir from the goddess’s pissed-off smackdown. But he didn’t give a crap. He was too busy soaking in the high of sucking up that divine stone. He checked himself out, hunting for any boost in stats or skills, but came up dry.

  The blood-red Spatial Sigil on him got a fancy upgrade—now rocking a shiny gold trim, matching the stone’s runes. Looked like a red stamp with a gold edge, leaking raw power and some kingly vibe.

  The real kicker from eating the divine stone: summoning warrior souls got dirt cheap. No more messing with those Soul Crystals he used to need. Turns out, the Valkyrie—still fuming—said Soul Crystals were just the leftovers of dead stuff. Strong souls even turned into crystals after they bit it.

  Soul Crystals came in grades—broken, small, medium, large, epic, rare, even divine. In Omnispace, they were the big-time cash.

  When the “rich hottie” Valkyrie clocked how broke-ass Kevin was, she went dead quiet, too stunned to even yap. What kinda chump didn’t know jack about Soul Crystals, let alone own one?

  Since Kevin was flat-out busted, the Valkyrie had no choice. She figured she could tap some leftover divine juice in the stone to cut the summoning cost.

  Screw those fancy Soul Crystals—Kevin could use survival points instead.

  To call up a warrior soul in the story world, Kevin had to cough up 10,000 survival points and 2 skill points each time. Plus, he’d be stuck waiting 7 damn days before he could do it again. The catch? The warrior soul’d come in weaker than normal. Still, ditching Soul Crystals made the divine stone way cheaper for his broke ass, even if it was still a hell of a price.

  Right as Kevin opened his mouth to haggle, the goddess let out a cold huff and shut it down.

  She was done with this clown. One more second of his crap, and she’d lose it—maybe drop a Colossal Fist, level 99, and smash this annoying bug flat.