Yandal opened his eyes wide with surprise as he caught falling Erik in his arms despite him being his enemy. The warm blood tainted his hands with its color, reminding him that this wasn't honor. It was a betrayal that caused him of his worthy death.
" You! HOW DARE YOU?"
Yandal grabbed Erik's axe from the ground, looking at the elder who betrayed his person. During their fight, this man who saw there was no chance of winning, decided to show his sincerity to Bjorn and Yandal but he underestimated Yandal who valued honor and battle.
As a warrior who despised betrayal throughout his life, Yandal didn't hesitate to slit his throat with his axe as the elder looked at him with confusion.
" Erik!"
He knelt next to dying Erik who didn't see that coming, his hand weakly touched his chest. This meant that Yandal had to honor his promise even if it was nullified by someone's intervention, but Erik trusted him.
" Promise me..."
His hand gently fell into the ground as Yandal roared with rage. His eyes turned bloodshot from losing a good friend and foe in the battle as he grabbed his axe.
" Yandal, are you alright?"
Bjorn who saw the bloodied Yandal came running to him after ditching his opponent. He saw the unknown man next to him, taking a gist of what was happening.
" I will kill them all and send them to Helheim by myself, Bjorn. Don't touch the kids and the women."
Yandal didn't trust anyone in this battle anymore after seeing such a man die here meaningless instead of making his name. His heart was filled with rage that couldn't be contained in mere flesh.
" Do as you wish, my friend. We have lost too many. Even he is our enemy if he earned your trust, I would honor it."
Bjorn wasn't a selfish man to his men, specifically if it came from one of his trusted people. Hence, he decided to let him set free by allowing his rampage.
" Good."
Yandal spat a single word, leaving a bloody trail behind his back as he walked toward the battlefield without fear. His hair gently blew in the wind, scattering the smell of blood from his armor and coat.
" Erik, boy!"
One of the elders noticed Erik who lying on the ground motionless. He tried to run toward him but Yandal stood before him with a cold face.
He took a deep breath, observing his coat to gauge his strength but Yandal didn't give him a chance.
" Your people have no honor among yourselves. I understand you even used traps, but killing your men is out of the question. You deserve death."
Yandal muttered coldly under his breath, clenching his axe tightly to show his determination.
The elder's face fell when he heard the words, guessing what happened to him in the battle. He bit his lips with frustration, blaming himself for being ignorant.
Meanwhile near the mountains.
Magnus and his men were running back to their home at full speed after blockading the cliffs with boulders even though it took a couple of hours for them.
" Hurry, we have to hurry."
Magnus felt uneasiness in his heart like something was happening in his home even though he left one of the best warriors there. The exhaustion of battle seemed to be replaced by the intense surge of strength as he ran with his all might.
" Magnus!"
Freyja's voice trembled when they saw the giant smoke from the distance as they got closer to the outer forest. Their hearts went up to their throats.
The coiling smoke looked like Ouroboros from the myth that devoured the entire world.
" Odin, please let my people be safe."
Magnus threw away all the heavy gears on his body as the rest followed him so because they left their families back there.
The once peaceful forest smelled like death from miles away, shrouding their minds with anxiety while stinging their hearts with the most poisonous thoughts.
" Freyja, can you see it from here? What is happening?"
Even though they were a few kilometers away from their village, Magnus knew Freyja had sharp eyes.
" It is burning, Magnus. Our home is burning. Our children are in danger."
Freyja choked on her words, seeing a faint line of smoke from the location of their village.