The Valkyrie Returns and Slays (Raven) novel Chapter 164

Chapter 164

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The moment Raven spoke, it felt as if Caleb’s brain had been struck with a hammer.

His body stiffened, and for several long seconds, he just stood there–completely dumbfounded.

No way. No freaking way. The universe couldn’t be this cruel, could it?

Bot just as the crushing realization began to set in, voices filled with shock started echoing through the crowd.

“Lieutenant General Valor?”

“Lieutenant General Valor is actually here?”

“I thought I saw her earlier but didn’t dare go say hello…”

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Corey noticed how several family heads were now looking at Raven with subtle, but unmistakable respect–and his heart skipped a beat. That level of deference wasn’t normal. Not unless Raven came from some major power.

But then… why had he never heard of her?

How could someone so familiar to this many top–tier family heads be a complete mystery to him?

Onstage, Caleb’s expression had already twisted into something that looked more like a grimace than a smile. He stared at Raven, trying to force a friendly expression and stammered, “Lieutenant General Valor… I–uh–I wasn’t talking about you just now. You–you should go sit down…”

Raven glanced at him, a lazy smile curling her lips. “Oh? Whether you were or not… why don’t you ask Corey?”

Caleb froze.

His head slowly turned toward Corey, as if dreading what he would see. And sure enough, Corey gave him a short, deliberate nod.

In that instant, Caleb felt the sky collapse on top of him.

Still numb, he barely noticed Raven walking up the steps and stepping onto the stage–calm, graceful, lethal.

Now standing face to face, Raven radiated a pressure that she didn’t even try to suppress. Caleb felt his lungs tighten, the weight of it suffocating. Just standing across from her made his legs tremble. He wanted nothing more than to slap his own past self across the face.

What had he been thinking?

Had he seriously thought he’d surpass her?

Forget surpassing. Standing upright in front of her without collapsing might take him a few more years of training. As for overtaking her in this lifetime…. he could dream.

Below the stage, the audience whispered among themselves, eyes glued to the tense standoff above.

“I didn’t expect the person who clashed with Corey to be Lieutenant General Valor… this is about to get real.”

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“She looks even younger than Caleb… Who’s stronger between them?”

“Is it just me, or does Caleb seem a little… scared of her?”

The moment that last line was spoken, more and more eyes shifted to Caleb curious, questioning, watching.

And just then, Raven smiled again. Her tone was soft, but her words were sharp as a blade.

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11:01 Tue, 22 Apr BJ

Chapter 164

“Go on, tell me. How exactly were you planning to teach me how to behave?”

Caleb was speechless.

He nearly cried. ‘Teach Raven à lesson? Sure, I’ve dreamed about it. But even in my dreams, I was the one begging for mercy by the end.‘

And now, she was really making him say it out loud?

This was psychological warfare.

When he didn’t answer, Raven arched an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

The sound was faint, but it struck Caleb like thunder. He flinched, visibly, almost toppling over.

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Then, after a long pause, he looked at her with the expression of a man who’d just signed his will. The words squeezed out of his throat, low, humble, and deeply regretfut.

“I… was wrong.”

The three simple words echoed in the air–and again, silence fell.

But then came the murmurs, more shocked than before.

“Did Corey’s favored recruit just… fold that fast?”

“And it’s not even her title he’s afraid of–it’s her.”

“I mean, sure, Lieutenant General Valor’s got a crazy rank, but Caleb’s acting like he’s seen the grim reaper!”

Corey’s brow twitched.

This wasn’t what he signed up for.

Seeing Caleb falter like this, ready to surrender without even trying, he snapped, “Caleb. Think about the promise you made to me just moments ago.”

Caleb blinked.

Then, without another word, he reached up and yanked the military ring Corey had given him off his finger. He didn’t walk–he fled–down the steps and

shoved the ring back into Corey’s hand.

“Corey,” he said, voice hoarse, “thank you, but I… I can’t accept this.”

Yes, the ring was valuable.

But nothing was more valuable than his life.

Going up against Raven? That was suicide. He wasn’t about to die for a shiny token.

As Caleb retreated, Corey stared at the ring in his hand.

He felt like someone had slapped him across the face–in front of the entire city.

Just minutes ago, he’d been basking in Caleb’s brilliance. Now, the same man had turned his back on him, disgraced him in front of all these powerful

families.

His chest tightened with rage and humiliation.