Persuading Scáthach-Skadi

Higashino Makoto stepped out of the spatial rift, his feet landing on the frozen snow, a blast of cold wind hitting his face.

He looked up at the sky. The sun was unusually large, almost occupying half of the sky, and dark red light flowed down from its surface, dyeing the entire earth a sickly orange-red.

The temperature was very low, but the light falling on the skin caused a burning, stinging sensation.

Yukino Fuyumi stood behind him, her long, pale blue hair fluttering in the wind. She squinted at the enormous sun.

"Surtr?"

"Yes, the fire giant sealed away as the sun."

He looked around and saw several silver-white figures sweeping across the distant mountain ridge at an astonishing speed, leaving long, thin trails in the sky.

Valkyries, or Valkyrie.

They were on patrol.

Yukino Fuyumi followed his gaze.

"Shall we take action?"

"No need, we don't need to worry about them unless the Unassailable."

Before long, the silvery-white figures began to converge and gather in his direction.

Three figures landed in front of him, leaving no footprints on the snow. They hovered about half a meter above the ground.

The leader was a woman dressed in silver-white armor, with her long hair tied in a single ponytail. She had a cold and stern face and held a long spear in her hand, the tip of which was pointed in his direction, but she did not thrust it out.

"Outsider, state your name."

"Higashino Makoto wants to meet Skadi."

The Valkyries frowned slightly.

"Lady Skadi is not someone anyone can meet."

Alas, has my reputation not spread throughout the world?

Do the Crypter not communicate with each other, or did Ophelia simply not tell Skadi?

"Take me to see her, or let me go find her myself; you can't stop me."

The Valkyries raised her spear half an inch, the tip about One Punch Man's distance from his throat.

Higashino Makoto frowned; he didn't like being pointed at like that.

"In that case, according to the original legend of Valkyrie, I will show you my might!"

Upon hearing Higashino Makoto's words, the Valkyrie did not hesitate and immediately took action.

The spear thrust out with astonishing speed, its tip whistling through the air, aiming straight for his throat.

He reached out and grabbed the spear.

The Valkyries tried to pull her spear back, but the Unassailable.

She strained her wrist, her knuckles turning white, but the spear the Unassailable, its tip firmly gripping his fingers like a nail driven into rock.

Her eyes widened slightly, a hint of wariness appearing in them.

Higashino Makoto struck her directly in the abdomen, sending her flying backward and crashing into the other Valkyrie.

Higashino Makoto released his grip and took a step back.

"I am not your enemy, and you cannot stop me. Besides, I have good news to tell Skadi, so don't be too nervous."

The Valkyries gripped their spears and ceased their attack.

She stood there, her breathing slightly rapid, then stood still, as if she had heard something.

A moment later, she put away her spear and turned to the side.

"Come with me, Lady Skadi is waiting for you in the castle."

Higashino Makoto nodded and stepped into the teleportation array.

After the light from the teleportation array faded, he found himself standing in the hall of a stone castle.

The dome is very high, and the Wall of Stone are covered with Runes.

At the far end of the hall stood a high-backed chair, its back covered with dark blue velvet.

A figure sat in a chair, wearing a long purple dress.

Her hair was purple, the ends reaching her waist, and her crimson eyes were looking at him.

Scáthach Skadi.

"Higashino Makoto, you've defeated many Lostbelt members. May I ask what brings you here?"

Her voice was soft, carrying a sense of compassion and ethereal beauty.

"You should also know the final fate of the Lostbelt, but I have brought another way out. I have several small worlds that are still empty. How about I take you and your people away from here?"

Skadi's brow twitched slightly.

"What's the meaning?"

"This, or rather all Lostbelt, are without a future. In your world, Surtr is sealed as the sun, but only temporarily. One day he will break free of the seal, and then everything on this land will be burned to ashes. You are sustaining the lives of these ten thousand people with Runes, but you know very well that this is not a long-term solution."

A complex glint flashed in Skadi's grey-blue eyes.

"You know quite a lot."

I know more than you think.

He took two steps forward.

"I have opened up a new space where there is enough food and space for your people to live normally. They can all come with me if you wish."

Skadi remained silent for a long time before rising from her throne.

Why? Why are you doing these things?

"Because I need manpower. Those worlds are just starting out and need people to build them. Although we can wait for them to evolve naturally, I personally don't have much patience. I'll provide a suitable space for you to survive, and you and your people will submit to me. Isn't that reasonable?"

"That's all?"

That's all.

Skadi looked at him for a while, then stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the land bathed in dark red sunlight.

She nodded, recalling the villages where people were confined to a hundred, and the humans who were sacrificed as soon as they turned 25.

"Good."

Higashino Makoto narrowed his eyes in satisfaction; the persuasion process went more smoothly than he had anticipated.

With Skadi and those Valkyrie's help, persuading them was easy.

He then opened up a small world and sent this Lostbelt to a small world belonging to Understanding.

With Skadi's submission, the Valkyries were also willing to follow.

Higashino Makoto also obtained the Valkyrie production technology from Skadi, so he could produce more Valkyrie as long as he had enough materials.

Higashino Makoto casually flipped through the pages; Runes, Spirit Origin Construction, physical shaping... every step was written out clearly.

He closed the blueprints and put them in his pocket.

Thanks.

With the entire Lostbelt away by Higashino Makoto, Skadi also went to the small world.

Before leaving, she turned around and faced the land she had protected for two thousand years. Her eyes revealed no emotion. She remained silent for a moment, then stepped into the rift.

Higashino Makoto stood on the grass in the small world, watching the borough people who were adapting to their new environment.

They stood on the grass with somewhat bewildered expressions, as if confirming whether the ground beneath their feet was real.

The children squatted down to touch the grass on the ground, crushed the soil, and smelled it. The wind blew from afar, carrying the scent of grass and soil.

Several young children began chasing and playing, their laughter carrying far across the open grassland.

Is this your world?

Higashino Makoto turned his head and saw Skadi standing beside him. Her long hair fluttered in the wind, and her eyes were looking at the people in the distance who were adapting to their new environment.

"Yes. It's still a bit rudimentary for now, but it will be improved gradually. I'll leave the specific arrangements to you; I'm too lazy to worry about it."

She turned to look at him, her lips twitching slightly, as if she were restraining herself.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. Overall, I've come out ahead."

He turned around and walked towards Novas Etier, with Yukino Fuyumi following behind him.

He recalled the method of "becoming an immortal" he had obtained from the Great Qin Lostbelt, the Valkyrie crafting technology here, and his remaining 350 NPC crafting points...

Well, if we refine it further and acquire other technologies, maybe we really could create an NPC that surpasses all limits.

The future looks promising!