All the warriors of the Einherjar were shocked, though they didn't show it. The new wave of Mogs was even larger than the first and these Mogs seemed different. They didn't fling themselves at the enemy line in a kamikaze fashion. They formed ranks and moved with unit tactics.
They were also larger and some were wielding some form of energy similar to the seidr used by the Einherjar.
Without thinking Tor moved rapidly toward the gate, he was running on instinct after seeing the change in the battle. It became obvious that the first wave of attack was there to soften them up in preparation for the larger more organized force.
This tactic had never been seen from the Mogs, at least not by Tor's people. These new Mogs were also far more troubling. They communicated with eachother and seemed to be able to form strategy.
What the Mogs didn't count on was the fact that every Einherjar was a warrior. They didn't turn and run or freeze in fear. They reorganized, formed ranks and got ready for the coming battle.
New orders were issued from Tor's side, his mother and father moved toward the front lines while sending his sisters to the rear. Though they were older than Tor they were still not as experienced in battle as most of the other warriors. This was obviously to protect them until they saw the abilities of these new Mogs.
The first clash was brutality violent. The Einherjar came out on top wiping out the entire enemy vanguard, but it wasn't without cost. Several warriors took serious injuries effectively taking them out of the fight till they could be healed.
Though there were still no deaths it was obvious they were fighting a much different enemy.
The gatemen were preventing Tor from joining the battle, apparently his parents knew him better than he thought as they had both issued orders forbidding him from exiting the city.
He was surprised at himself anyway considering he had decided not to fight anymore. However, when instinct kicks in there is little to control it.
As the large scale battle continued it wasnt clear which side had the upper hand, though the Einherjar were killing Mogs left and right, the wounded were piling up and the healers in the back could not keep up.
Seeing this Tor made a decision. He waited till the gatemen were focused on the battle and snuck around to the top of the gate. He stealthily climbed over the side and shimmied down the steel gate bars.
He appeared next to Folkvar and began healing along side him.
"You shouldn't be here Tor, Folkvar shouted, "Tarra and Erik specifically forbid it, you're too young."
" There are too many wounded for you all to keep up with." Tor responded, "I have the skills that are needed right now."
Folkvar let out a heavy sigh and gave a nod. "If you are going to be here, get to work stabilizing the worst injuries while the rest of us take care of the lesser wounded." Folkvar ordered.
Tor nodded and got to work. He was wholly focused on stopping any free bleeding and helping the warriors most in need. He moved from person to person quickly giving life saving aid while the rest of healers performed the more time consuming and intricate work.
Even with Tor's help the healers were woefully behind and fresh warriors were filtering out of the city to fill the gaps left by the injured.
Tor's sisters had been left no option but to move forward in the ranks and actively engage in the fight. He was keeping one eye on the wounded he was helping and the other on his family.
His parents were living up to their names. Erik was immovable in battle standing fast while slaughtering the Mogs with amazing power and precision. He fought with sword and shield mostly but also used the axe on his hip when necessary.
Tarra fought with shield and spear, moving like a phantom inside the Mogs ranks. She struck out with her spear and slammed with her shield. Her moves were fluent and lightning fast, she almost appeared to teleport from one place to the next.
Tor's sisters were working as a team with Astrid attacking with her speed while Brenna used powerful attacks to finish off any Mog still alive. For two young girls, with almost no practical experience, they fought like seasoned veterans.
Tor's concerns for his family members were finally starting to ease a bit after seeing their dominate fighting prowess. It was clear now why his family was held in such high regard in his city.
Just as he was about to focus his attention completely on healing he caught a glimmer on the battlefield. It was brief but it drew his attention immediately. Then he caught another, and another. There was something moving through the shadows on the battlefield, no there were some things moving.
Just as Tor was about to shout a warning the shadow stopped behind a warrior Tor wasn't familiar with. In an instant the warriors head rolled to the side and he fell to ground, unmoving.
"DAD, THERE ARE ASSASSINS!" Tor screamed, "THEY'RE HIDING IN THE SHADOWS!"
Tor's father Erik heard his sons warning in the nick of time, he didn't have time to process what his son was doing on the battlefield before he felt a chill creep up his spine warning him of the impending danger.
Erik dropped low while spinning with seidr enhanced speed, he swung out with his sword while covering himself with his shield. Though to anyone watching he appeared to be attacking thin air his blade struck solid flesh and blood sprayed out as the previously invisible attacker was cleaved in half just above the waist.
Erik issued orders to the warriors and they shifted to protect him while he inspected the assassin. He appeared to be human, his size and build were correct, his facial features were just a little off and he had the same scarred grey skin of the Mogs, this was a Mog slave but one unlike any they had seen before.
"Astrid, Brenna and Tor, back inside the city now!" Erik ordered. "No arguments GO!".
Tor's sisters moved to comply by finishing off their current enemies and moving to retreat through the ranks toward the city.
Tor however was focused on a space behind his sisters. He stared intently following their path toward the gate when he caught the glimmer again.
"Astrid, Brenna, DOWN!" he screamed.
They both immediately complied dropping onto their bellies as blue lightning crackled over their heads.
The lightning condensed into a singular bolt and struck the glimmer full on. The Mog assassin legs took two more steps but everything above the naval had been vaporized by the power of Tor's lightning.
"MOVE, NOW!" Erik shouted.
The girls regained their feet and charged toward the gate past Tor's position. As they moved past, Astrid grabbed Tor by his armor and lifted him off his feet to carry him with them as they retreated. Not out of fear for his safety but out of their duty to follow their father's orders.
Tor swatted her hand away and fell back to his feet. He looked at his sisters and told them with his eyes alone that he wasn't going anywhere. Typically they would have made a move to force him but there was something different about him at this moment. The look in his eyes was almost enough to frighten them and they subconsciously knew he would not be moved.
Astrid and Brenna turned and dashed inside the city gate as Tor turned back toward the battlefield. His mother and father were engaged in battle again but always aware of their surroundings.
Tor moved past the ever growing number of injured and now dead Einherjar warriors and onto the battlefield.
Lightening crackled around him as he moved toward the enemy. He grabbed two fighting axes from a fallen warrior on his way and both of those now sizzled with electricity as he struck out at the first Mog foolish enough to think him just a child.
The Mog was cut down and burned simultaneously while Tor moved past him as if he wasn't even there.
His training sessions with his father had not been seen by many people so very few outside his family knew what he was capable of. He was currently moving almost as fast as his mother and delivering axe blows with similar ferocity to his father. Every strike and movement was imbued with lightning making it look as if the god of thunder himself had sent a small ball of electrified anger into the battle.
He was quickly making his way toward his parents who had been separated from the rest of the battle and were under assault from a number of Mogs. Tor thought it strange that his family seemed to have been targeted specifically.
The Mogs were attacking all the warriors but the seemed to fixate on his family directly. Especially the stealthy assassins that still darted from shadow to shadow.
He made it to his parents side amid their looks of anger and frustration at his refusal to follow their wishes. They didn't have time to chastise him as he jumped into their battle and helped ease the onslaught.
After a few clashes and the majority of the encirclement being taken care of, Tor darted back into the battlefield along with Erik and Tarra.
Now back with the rest of the warriors Tor began to fall back to resume his duties with Folkvar. His completely unharmed presence was welcomed by his grandfather even though he told them briefly there would be hell to pay for him after the battle.
Tor began filtering through the wounded and dead and helping those most in need just as a triage doctor would do in his former life.
During Tor's brief period of combat the tide of the battle had turned again. It was back in favor of the Einherjar and the flow of Mogs from the forest had long subsided.
Though they were still outnumbered by these new Mogs they also outclassed them in battle.
Tor was drained, having used so much seidr both healing and fighting he found himself on the brink of exhaustion. He was struggling with basic life saving spells and Folkvar saw it instantly.
"Torbjorn," he spoke, "You have done more than enough. With your help we are more than capable of keeping up with the wounded now."
Tor stared at him blankly for a second and then through his exhaustion it registered what he had said. He nodded softly and headed toward the city gate to find his sisters.
Just as he was about to pass through the gate he turned to give the battlefield a last look. There moving quickly toward not only his parents but Folkvar as well, he saw a glimmer.