The Sword Emperor Transmigrates

Sigrdrifa, meaning “the one who leads to victory” in the ancient tongue, was the Valkyrie Queen of the Celestials. She was a figure whose legitimacy had been recognized since ancient times. After the Aesir gods disappeared entirely from Asgard, there was no race superior to the Valkyries. Naturally, Sigrdrifa, who had ascended to the throne among them, became one of the Celestials’ representatives.

Unlike the Einherjar—mere mortals whose strength and bravery had been acknowledged on Earth—Valkyries were apostles of the Chief God, Odin. They were innately capable of high-speed flight and demonstrated exceptional skill with spears and shields, making them flawless warriors. Born with their bodies, minds, and souls perfectly unified, they could reach the Transcendence Tier with ease.

Even the most talented humans from Leonard’s past life paled in comparison to Celestials like the Valkyries.

Hesitating, Sigridrifa thought, I used to think that the inherently inferior mortals would eventually bow before us.

She sat calmly, bound in enchanted restraints. But when her eyes turned slightly, the knights surrounding her instantly raised their killing intent, ready to strike her down at a moment’s notice.

The restraints had been crafted by a Class 9 Grand Magus, and even though they couldn’t fully suppress the power of a demigod, Sigrdrifa knew that fighting the warriors—who’d reached the pinnacle of the Transcendence Tier—would leave her fate uncertain.

The knights encircling her were none other than the elite of the Order of the Blue Dragon, veterans who had fought the Celestials for decades.

The moment I summon my divine weapon or invoke my authority, I’ll be hit by at least four attacks.

Though wounds inflicted by those weaker than her were easier to recover from, sustaining four direct hits, even minor ones, would leave her gravely injured.

Unlike the Celestial Realm, where remnants of the old era’s power and laws persisted, the Middle Realm was devoid of divine traces. Though she could hold her ground against even commander-level foes near Celestial Gates, her strength while on Earth was less than half of what it was normally.

She had come to negotiate with words, not to fight her way out, but in this situation, even escape seemed impossible.

If an all-out war erupts between Celestials and mortals…

As one who wielded the Authority of Triumph, Sigrdrifa was acutely aware of the outcome. If the Arcadian Empire hadn’t divided its forces across multiple frontiers, the Celestials would have been trampled by the mortal armies flooding through the Celestial Gates.

The founder of the Cardenas, who was able to use the power of a god on a limited basis, was also a threat, but now, humanity had already surpassed the Celestials in raw strength even without resorting to their ultimate weapons.

It was then that Sigrdrifa noticed.

—They’re here.

After decades of battle, she instinctively reacted, even while restrained. At the same time, she caught sight of Grace approaching with an unusually tense demeanor.

Even someone like Grace, who was known for her blunt personality and lack of tact, couldn’t help but sense the gravity of the day’s meeting. Whatever unfolded would not only reshape the Cardenas family but potentially alter the course of the entire world.

“Follow me,” Grace said.

Despite being archenemies, Sigrdrifa softened her expression and chuckled at Grace.

—You seem unusually tense, Blade Dancer.

The Valkyries, as a rule, were a female-only race. In the past, some had been granted as wives to warriors recognized by Odin, but ever since the old era ended, the Valkyries had become completely independent. No longer mere gifts or attendants, they lived as warriors, and it was natural for them to feel camaraderie with female knights like Grace.

“Why do you Celestials always act like we’re friends? Do you even know how many Valkyries I’ve killed?” Grace retorted sharply.

Sigrdrifa smirked.

—Of course. Sixty-three had fallen to your hands, to be precise. That includes prominent great warriors like Hrist, Gondul, and Geiravor.

“What?! You know all that and still act so chummy?”

—The more glorious one’s battle record, the more valuable the warrior becomes. Those who were felled by your blade would’ve been content with their deaths. After all, Valkyries harbor no resentment over killing or being killed in battle.

It was a difference in their values, shaped by vast epochs of time.

—We come from a time when dying of disease or old age was seen as disgraceful. Even being slain by a family member to end one’s life was considered an honor. To die by the blade of another warrior? That was the ultimate glory. There’s no room for hard feelings in that.

“…Just follow me. Everyone’s waiting.”

Feeling the impenetrable wall of their differing worldviews, Grace simply turned on her heel and led Sigrdrifa forward.

Though Sigrdrifa found herself walking through the innermost depths of the Cardenas estate—the estate of her people’s historic nemesis—it mattered little now that the Celestials had decided to abandon this world.

Even the strategic advantage of knowing the estate’s layout was moot. They couldn’t even breach a single knightly order near the Celestial Gates. What could they possibly achieve here?

Rumble.

The Hall of Dragons opened with a deep rumble, the stone gate dragging across the ground.

As the restrained energy within was unleashed, even the Valkyrie Queen momentarily froze in place, her instincts screaming at her to halt.

Even in the old era, there were only a few places that exuded such an overwhelming aura of dread.

Seven Demigod Tier beings were within the hall. Two of them were even stronger than the others.

“What are you waiting for?” Grace’s voice broke the spell, urging Sigrdrifa forward.

Sigrdrifa’s legs finally moved again, and she entered the Hall of Dragons alongside Grace. The walk to the center of the chamber took seconds, yet each step felt like an eternity. When Sigrdrifa finally arrived, she saw them—the seven Demigod Tier beings clad in mortal forms.

Ugh.

The moment she entered their killing range, it felt as if her spine was being crushed under an invisible weight. Instinctively, she reached for her divine weapon, but she stopped herself just in time, narrowly avoiding a swift execution.

Facing just one would have been near hopeless. Facing all seven—or eight, including Grace—meant she would die in less than a second.

Declan, the Archduke of Sword, sensed her hesitation and narrowed his eyes, his gaze cold and sharp. “A Celestial, huh? I never thought such an arrogant race would send an envoy. It seems you’ve finally learned your place.”

—…I am Sigrdrifa, the Queen of Valkyries. You must be the Archduke of Sword.

“That’s correct.”

In that instant, the hierarchy between them was solidified. Despite Declan’s overt disdain, Sigrdrifa could only grit her teeth and force herself to speak through the tension. Cold sweat was trickling down her back.

—I assume my purpose here has already been conveyed.

Declan nodded. “The mass exodus of the Celestials, or more accurately, the separation of the Celestial Realm and the Middle Realm. You’re not just running away; you’re cutting yourselves off entirely.”

—Indeed. Our existence is now only stable within the Celestial Realm, where the remnants of the old era’s power remain. Without any foundation, we will be corrupted the instant we migrate to another dimension.

Declan smirked. “From our perspective, there’s no downside. The Celestial Realm was severed from this world after the God-Slaying War. Without the Celestial Realm—and with the Divine Throne vacant—our burden will lessen. We’ll also have more freedom to act on other frontiers. You must have realized this, which is why you’re offering a non-aggression pact.”

Acknowledging this, Sigrdrifa cautiously added:

—In exchange for this pact, we are prepared to offer you information about circumstances you are not yet aware of.

“Oh?” Declan’s interest was piqued.

—You will come to understand why the Celestial Realm abruptly decided to migrate and why we abandoned our efforts to reclaim the Middle Realm.

Declan briefly closed his eyes before opening them again. He nodded as he responded, “Very well, let us hear the information first.”

—That is…

Faced with Declan’s unilateral demand, Sigrdrifa showed an expression twisted with discomfort and reluctance.

“Offering it as a post-payment lacks credibility. We will take the information as a down payment and claim relics from the old era as the remainder of the deal. If you do not accept these terms, I will see to it that only your head is returned.”

—What!

“You won’t be able to wield those relics in an alternate dimension anyway. Unlike the Celestials, who are whole and complete entities, these relics are tied to the very laws of our world. They’ll likely disintegrate the moment they cross the dimensional rift.”

Declan’s oppressive proposal was not only ruthless but also logically irrefutable. Sigrdrifa bit her lip, cornered and unable to retort.

What he said was true. The relics of the divine era derived their power from the laws of this world. Once removed, not only would their power vanish, but their physical forms would also likely crumble into nothingness. Despite this, the Celestial Realm had planned to bring them along to preserve a semblance of their roots for the sake of their descendants.

Declan gave her no time to hesitate. “You have chosen to leave this world, whatever your reasons may be. That means anything belonging to this world should remain here.”

—Don’t you think you’re being greedy?

“We have no qualms about crossing the Celestial Gate to seize them as spoils of war. Unlike the Demoniacs and the Outer Gods, we can communicate with you, which is why we’re even offering these terms. By our rules, it would’ve been entirely appropriate for us to send your severed head back instead.”

This was no bluff or empty threat. The bloodlust radiating from Declan as he brushed the hilt of his sword carved through her resolve like a blade. Sigrdrifa realized instantly that should she refuse, her life would end then and there.

Death does not scare me. But if I am slaughtered in this chamber, my kin, who are already vulnerable as they prepare to migrate, will be unable to withstand the onslaught of these warriors!

Even in full defensive readiness, they might only prolong their survival by a few more moments. Losing a leader at such a critical juncture, however, would create an opening that could be exploited, leading to their swift collapse.

Though she had cautioned her people to prepare for any contingency, the Celestials would undoubtedly be unprepared for the true might of mortals.

As a higher species that could reach the Transcendence Tier from birth and live for hundreds and thousands of years, their innate superiority made it difficult to take a mortal race with a mere hundred-year lifespan seriously. Only those who had faced mortals on the front lines had come to understand that the once “inferior” race had surpassed even those from the Celestial Realm.

—…I accept.

“Good. Let’s begin the discussion in earnest.”

Though the conclusion was humiliating, Sigrdrifa had no choice but to concede. She began to divulge the information the Celestial Realm had painstakingly gathered.

———. ——. ——, ————.

“…What did you just say?”

Fortunately, the reaction was exactly as Sigrdrifa had hoped.

“Sigrdrifa, can you swear upon the Creator’s name?”

—Of course. I swear upon the name of Odin, the Chief God. I vow that there is no falsehood, omission, or exaggeration in what I have said.

For the Celestials, the name of their god, Odin, was more than just a title—it was a bond that tied their very existence to their words. For a Valkyrie, breaking an oath sworn upon Odin’s name would result in instant annihilation, even for their queen.

Her solemn oath lent credibility to her claims. After a moment of deliberation, Declan and the seven Demigod Tier beings exchanged a glance, coming to a unanimous decision.

“We accept the terms of the negotiation. Though we’ll need His Majesty’s approval, I doubt he will object. From this point forward, the territories within and outside the Celestial Gate will be mutually off-limits.”

It was a resolution that marked a complete severance between the Celestial Realm and the Middle Realm, between Celestials and mortals.

It was also the moment when the ancient conflict, which had raged since the dragons gave way to the banners of Arcadia, finally came to an end.

The Green Dragon Commander finally lifted his head after remaining silent throughout the meeting.

For Uluka, who had been assigned to the Spriggan frontier, most of the other frontiers were of little concern. But this matter was different.

With the end of the war against the Celestials, the Order of the Blue Dragon has been relieved of their duties and can now serve as reserves for any other frontier.

Barring sporadic Rift incursions, the inaccessible Corroded Realms, and the gates of the Demonic Realm which opened only at certain periods, the only place that could make full use of this newfound force was the Spriggan frontier, which was under the jurisdiction of the Order of the Green Dragon.

Of course, the Order of the Blue Dragon could help subjugate the Void Deities, but according to the information brought by Sigrdrifa, the Spriggan frontier was a higher priority.

…This is worth trying.

Though he regretted not being the first to make history, becoming the second to achieve such a monumental feat was still a worthy endeavor.

Armed with a sense of duty and ambition, the Green Dragon Commander Uluka lightly traced his fingers over the hilt of his sword.

A monumental battle unprecedented in scope was drawing near.

* * *

The very next day.

“Leonard, are you in there?”

“Huh? Commander Demian?”

Demian, having arrived at Leonard’s quarters within the Order of the Red Dragon’s barracks, called out to him.