Baldur's fleet was under siege by powerful familiars, and they took shelter behind the shield aura as they bombarded the barrier. The river had a large wave forming behind the boats that helped pushed them forward to avoid the next barrage. Thyra took aim at the new batch causing them to detonate prematurely.
"Archers take aim, and those of you manning the shields watch for the ground forces!" Thyra shouted.
As Thyra launched her next attack she worked over towards Baldur meditating.
"He needs to hurry up," Thyra said in an irritated voice.
"Focus on the task at hand," Henrik told Thyra while taking aim with his bow.
Henrik's arrow danced through the sky striking down multiple familiars with precision. Traces of wind were swirling around his fingers as he made gestures to correct its course. Henrik directed it towards the center of the next batch as a violent storm kicked up filling the sky with explosions.
The wave pushing them along grew stronger as a mighty serpent took its place. Baldur opened his eyes extending his hand as the sea serpent sped onto the land. It moved across the wasteland dedicated to finding the origin of the spell, but with its departure, the water levels drastically lowered.
"I don't know who's maintaining this level of magic, but we need to find them quickly!" Baldur ordered.
Everyone retrieved their shields and stormed up the riverbank. With Henrik, and Thrya laying cover they were able to charge forward with confidence. As Baldur ran after the serpent Henrik had an uneasy feeling.
'This level of magic could only be one thing.'
Sitting in the center of an array chanting is Skade, and all along the formation runes were glowing, or shifting. Each rune that was illuminated was a single crow, and with her meditative state, she was drawing from the abundant mana in Eden. So long as her concentration wasn't broken Skade could control all the familiars without breaking a sweat.
"The rumbling is getting closer so be ready," Halfdan ordered.
With the serpent rapidly closing in Skade tried to slow its progress. They had little effect against the serpent given its nature. The runes surrounding Skade went blank as another pattern illuminated around her. As the next crow was diving down it flew into the earth erecting a wall, but after a slight delay, the serpent bulldozed through it.
'That familiar's strength is impressive, but its control is lacking.' Skade smirked.
In order to slow the speed of the serpent, Skade was forced to focus on it alone. This allowed Baldur's forces to start catching up. Henrik was still trying to support the serpent, but their change in nature made them more durable.
As Halfdan's men came into view the serpent accelerated as its form shattered. With a flood swarming their way maintaining a shield wall would be difficult. One raven after another soared into the earth, and when the waves were prepared to hit them a large pit rapidly opened diverting the attack.
Seeing their opponent within reach Baldur retrieved a set of spears from his ring. All the warriors grabbed one engulfing them in mana as they hurled them in unison. Halfdan's line braced for impact, but the force behind their weapons wasn't easy to shrug off.
The barrier protecting them was intact but the steel spears made it halfway through. Chanting in Norse was heard as the barrier began repairing. Thyra had other plans as an arc formed between her hands
"You won't be able to sit there carefree for long!" Thyra shouted.
Thyra's hands seemed to be gripping the air as storm clouds roared above the arena. The sound of thunder could be heard repetitively, but there was no attack in view. Lighting was coursing through the clouds when Thyra raised her hands. Bulky hammers began raining down through the battlefield. The hammers were falling at immense speed, and electricity was crackling around them.
Their soldiers formed a shield wall as Thyra began swinging her hands violently. The hammers sped up striking the back of the spears. A loud boom echoed through the arena as the barrier was shattered, and formation was sent into chaos as lightning surged around them.
Another hammer came crashing down from the sky straight towards Skade. The numbers may have decreased to one, but the power within was on par with the previous strike. Skade was still meditating unbothered as she battled against Henrik's arrows.
As the hammer cast a shadow over their forces Halfdan appeared swinging his Warhammer upwards. When the two forces collided a large flash obscured both sides. As the sounds of thunder came to a halt they saw Halfdan's hammer glowing red. As the heat faded Halfdan placed it over his shoulder with a smirk.
"Don't think that was a little much?" Halfdan asked.
"And the familiars weren't?" Thyra smirked.
With the confusion gone the warriors clashed, and Baldur was rapidly closing the distance to Halfdan. His ax was aiming for Halfdan's chest, but the Warhammer met his shield first sending him back. Baldur hurled his ax as it was blocked by Halfdan.
As the weapons collided the hammer rapidly began to freeze as Baldur recalled his ax. Before his hammer could be completely frozen Halfdan engulfed it in electricity. The heat being generated allowed it to ward off the frost, but Baldur was already on the attack again.
"I'll focus on him just stop her magic," Baldur told Thyra as the two clashed.
The familiars' onslaught was causing their forces to be on the losing end, and the culprit was sitting before them unbothered by the battle taking place. Observing the calm expression on Skade's face Thyra was determined to wipe it away. Lightning came roaring down towards Thrya, and two hammers appeared in her hands.
"Time to fight like the rest of us!" Thyra shouted at Skade.
An unkindness rapidly swarmed Thrya, but as she crossed the hammers lighting flooded the skies. She hurled one into the air to ensure the new familiars wouldn't be a hindrance as she charged Skade.
The runes making up the array began to glow in unison as they disappeared into the earth. As the hammer came crashing down Skade opened her eyes, and touched one of the tattoos on her arm as it began to glow.