'This should work.'

He pulled up the card again, watching as crimson energy pulsed more intensely now that he was committed to the summoning.

The image depicted on the card showed a woman who could only be described as terrifyingly impressive.

Wild crimson hair that cascaded past her shoulders in untamed waves.

A muscular, battle-scarred body that spoke of countless fights survived.

Work armor that covered the bare minimum while showcasing abs that could probably deflect bullets and arms that looked capable of bending steel.

A massive warhammer rested casually over one shoulder, the weapon so enormous it should have required both hands just to lift.

But what really stood out were her eyes.

Reptilian ember irises that burned with barely-contained violence and a manic grin that revealed razor-sharp teeth.

Everything about the image screamed "battle maniac."

The kind of person who solved problems by hitting them until they stopped being problems.

'Velraeth, the Blacksmith of Chaos.'

(PICTURE)

Nero studied the card with a mixture of anticipation and wariness.

His otaku blood immediately recognized the archetype.

The wild, combat-obsessed character who lived for the thrill of battle.

The type who'd probably punch you in greeting and consider it friendly.

[Master...]

Aria's usually cheerful voice carried unusual hesitation, her tone uncharacteristically serious.

[Aria has been thinking about this summon, and... well... Master should be a bit more careful with this one.]

'What's wrong? You sound worried.'

[Because Aria is a BIT worried… Velraeth is... she's known for her crazy temperament and chaotic nature. She's violent to people she likes and people she doesn't like. Her affectionate expression is a bit rough to say the least.]

The system assistant's concern was a bit palpable even through their mental connection.

[The system and soul binding guarantee that summons can't kill their master, but it doesn't restrict them from causing "unconscious" harm… And Velraeth's idea of "harmless rough housing" could easily break bones.]

'So you're saying she might accidentally hospitalize me while trying to be friendly?'

[Not accidentally… As a master of her strength she knows exactly how hard she's hitting… She just thinks it's normal. Like how some people pat their shoulders and make friends, she figured that people who couldn't even handle her normal strength aren't worth making connections with…]

"..."

The mental image of getting face-punched as a greeting made Nero do a double take.

But only for a moment.

Then he chuckled, his expression shifting to something between amusement and determination.

"Well, that just means I'll need to be tougher, won't it?"

His voice carried confidence that surprised even himself.

"If a waifu expresses affection through violence, then I better be able to handle it. What kind of master would I be if I couldn't take what my own summons dish out?"

Nero's grin then widened as he looked at the pulsing golden card.l,

"Besides, if she's really that strong and chaotic as you say she is… I might have a way on how to handle her."

[???]

Although Aria felt confused at what he meant by that and how he's getting that confidence and how he would handle her, that thought was immediately cut by Nero's words,

"Aria, you said the system guarantees she can't kill me, right?"

[...Yes?]

"Great. This could serve as my training then in the worst case scenario."

In the case she ever goes rogue and rough, this would be a good time to enhance his fighting and survival skills… by making himself a punching bag at the same time earning a great sparring partner.

"..."

With that in mind, he then held up the card, feeling the oppressive energy radiating from it like heat from a forge.

"Risk versus reward. I'll take those odds."

[I admire Master's daring courage! I'll make sure to help Master more in the future!]

"Hehe, thanks."

Feeling the excited admiration from the Aria's voice, Nero couldn't help but look forward to it.

*Buzzzz…*

The golden card buzzed more intensely in response to his determination, as if Velraeth herself could sense his resolve even before summoning.

The crimson undertones in the energy grew more pronounced, creating an aura that made the air feel heavy.

"Yes, yes, I'll summon you now."

Nero's casual words belied the tension coiling in his muscles as he prepared himself.

Whatever happens next, happens.

Without further ado, he then said the magic word,

"Summon."

*FLAAASH!!!*

Golden light exploded outward, but unlike Luna's ethereal glow or Celis's gentle radiance, this brilliance carried a hint of violent crimson undertones.

And the energy didn't just blindingly illuminate.

It erupted.

The pressure spiked so dramatically that the ground cracked beneath his feet.

The very air seemed to compress and expand simultaneously.

And then...

"Wait–"

*BOOOOOMMM!!!*

A catastrophic explosion detonated where the summoning circle had formed, the shockwave so powerful it sent Nero skidding backward several meters, his arms raised to shield his face from the debris.

The ground buckled and collapsed inward, creating a massive crater easily 10 meters wide.

Dust and smoke billowed outward like a volcanic eruption, obscuring everything in a thick haze.

A massive formation of crimson energy was heavily radiating from the center of the dust.

The sheer force of the summoning rattled the very foundations of Waifuria despite the distance.

***

Several minutes earlier, in Aurelia's room on the second floor...

The First Star Valkyrie lay on her bed, golden eyes fixed on the ceiling with an expression that could only be described as contemplatively mortified.

"..."

Her body still ached pleasantly from last night's activities, muscles protesting in ways that had nothing to do with combat training.

Her mind wandered through recent events, cataloging experiences that still felt surreal despite their reality.

She'd regained her memories.

Not all of them – some details about her death in the ancient war remained frustratingly vague – but enough to understand who and what she was.

One of the first creations of the Heavenly Father.

A divine weapon given form and purpose.

Her earliest memories were simple, clear, without complication or doubt.

Fulfill the mission.

Serve without question.

Exist as a sword for righteousness.

For eons, that had been enough.

She didn't need personality beyond competence.

Didn't require desires beyond duty.

Her identity was her purpose, and her purpose was absolute.

Even after being summoned into this world with fragmented memories… and even after her mysterious death that she still couldn't fully recall, none of that had mattered compared to serving her Lord Nero.

The one who'd miraculously revived her.

Who then gave her a new purpose when she's supposedly been erased from existence.

Before, in the Celestial Cradle and the other worlds she visited, she has heard other beings discuss concepts like "love" and "romance" throughout her whole life.

She had observed relationships form and dissolve across countless battles and peacetime interludes.

But those things had always felt... distant to her.

After all, it's a concept that is irrelevant to a weapon's existence and not that it mattered to her nor does she know what it feels like.

In short, everything else felt foreign to her, and was out of her necessity and interest.

Until the day that she died during the great war, she didn't have any thoughts or regrets of any sort.

And then… there came the time she'd been summoned by Nero Walker.

All those experiences and little things she had now come to appreciate.

All of that and the growing development of her "own ego" as a person in this short time that they had spent.

Everything had changed so dramatically it still made her head spin.

And now,

"..."

She was now her Lord… Nero's lover.

Her face immediately flushed red as recent memories assaulted her with vivid clarity.

And they'd done the "deed."

Multiple times.

In countless positions.

With multiple...

"Hnnngh..."

Aurelia buried her burning face into her pillow, wings wrapping around herself defensively.

The shameless sounds she'd made.

The embarrassing expressions that had probably looked completely undignified.

Those positions that had left her unable to think coherently, reduced to pure sensation and emotion.

The way she'd called his name without any honorific, just pure desperate need.

'What would my fellow Valkyries think if they knew?'

The thought made her want to disappear.

Her reputation as the prestigious and proud first captain of the Celestial Cradle.

The legend who'd never shown weakness or impropriety.

Now reduced to... to...

'A woman who moans his name and begs for more, like some common…!'

She couldn't even finish the thought without her face heating to temperatures that probably violated safety regulations.

And that nickname.

"... Aury."

Just thinking about how casually he called her that, how naturally it rolled off his tongue, made something warm and mortifying flutter in her chest.

So much for her pride and honor.

So much for divine dignity.

She'd become exactly the kind of person she'd once privately looked down on – beings who let romantic feelings compromise their purpose and mission.

"..."

But as she lay there, face buried in her pillow, trying to will away the embarrassment...

*BOOOOOMMM!!!*

"!!!"

The explosion rattled the entire villa, strong enough to shake the foundations despite Luna's magical reinforcement.

Aurelia's combat instincts activated instantly, her embarrassment forgotten as she shot to her feet.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.