The battlefield was still, the drums silenced. Every eye, whether barbarian or Viking, was fixed on the center of the snowy expanse where two figures faced each other. On one side was Ragnar Bloodshade, the towering barbarian leader, his crimson eyes gleaming with malice. On the other stood Gabriel, radiant and calm, his four wings spread slightly as if the air itself bowed to his presence.
Despite Ragnar's immense size, Gabriel didn't look small or frail by comparison. He stood tall and composed, his alabaster skin glowing faintly in the dim light. His mere presence demanded attention, an unshakable authority that seemed to extend beyond the physical.
Ragnar took a step forward, his massive Warhammer resting against his shoulder. The black energy swirling around him flared faintly, rippling with each movement. He stared down at Gabriel, his expression a mix of fury and curiosity.
"You think you can stop me?" Ragnar's voice boomed, carrying across the battlefield.
Gabriel met his gaze, unflinching. His pale eyes seemed to pierce straight through Ragnar, as though seeing beyond his physical form. "I don't think," Gabriel replied, his tone calm but resolute. "I know."
Ragnar bared his teeth in a snarl. "You speak with arrogance. Do you know who I am?"
Gabriel tilted his head slightly. "I know what you are."
The words struck like a hammer, their simplicity cutting deeper than any insult. Ragnar's grip on his Warhammer tightened, and the black energy around him surged.
"I am Ragnar Bloodshade!" he roared. "The destroyer of villages, the scourge of the north! I command legions! I wield power no mortal can stand against!"
Gabriel's expression didn't change. If anything, he looked almost… bored. "And yet, here you are. Trying so hard to convince yourself."
Ragnar's crimson eyes burned with fury. "You mock me?"
Gabriel's wings shifted slightly, the faint hum of energy around him growing stronger. "I don't need to."
Ragnar's roar echoed across the battlefield as he raised his Warhammer high. The runes on the weapon glowed fiercely, and the ground beneath his feet cracked with the force of his energy. In one swift motion, he brought the hammer down, striking the earth with a deafening impact.
The ground shook violently, a massive shockwave of black energy rippling outward, tearing through the snow and ice as it surged toward Gabriel. The Vikings on the wall gripped the wooden beams, their eyes wide with fear as the destructive wave raced forward.
But Gabriel didn't move.
As the shockwave reached him, Gabriel raised a single hand, his palm glowing faintly. With a graceful wave, the energy dissipated, vanishing into nothingness as if it had never existed. The battlefield fell silent once more, the only sound the faint crackle of dying embers on the barbarian siege engines.
Ragnar's eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape. "What…?"
Gabriel lowered his hand, his calm gaze fixed on Ragnar. "Is that all?"
With a guttural growl, Ragnar charged, his massive frame thundering across the snow. He swung his Warhammer with brutal force, the air itself seeming to split as the weapon descended. Gabriel sidestepped effortlessly, his movements smooth and precise. The hammer struck the ground where he had stood, sending chunks of ice and earth flying.
Before Ragnar could recover, Gabriel stepped forward, his movements almost leisurely. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a pulse of light energy toward Ragnar, striking the barbarian in the chest. Ragnar staggered back, the force of the blow enough to make him lose his footing momentarily.
"Get up," Gabriel said, his tone devoid of malice. "Surely you can do better."
Ragnar roared in fury, swinging his hammer in a wide arc. Gabriel leaned back slightly, the weapon passing inches from his face. With a quick motion, he brought his hand up, catching the hammer's handle mid-swing. For a moment, Ragnar strained against him, his immense strength pitted against Gabriel's seemingly effortless grip.
Gabriel looked up at Ragnar, his expression unreadable. "You rely too much on your strength."
With a twist of his wrist, Gabriel ripped the hammer from Ragnar's grasp, tossing it aside as though it were a twig. The massive weapon landed with a thud several feet away, its runes dimming as it hit the snow.
The barbarian leader hesitated, his crimson eyes darting between Gabriel and his discarded weapon. The black energy around him flared violently, and with a guttural snarl, he lunged at Gabriel with his bare hands. His fists, crackling with dark power, swung toward Gabriel like twin sledgehammers.
Gabriel stepped into the attack, his movements a blur. He caught Ragnar's fists mid-swing, his hands glowing faintly as they held the barbarian in place. The sheer size difference between them was stark, but it didn't seem to matter. Gabriel stood firm, his grip unyielding.
"You fight with anger," Gabriel said, his voice calm. "It clouds your judgment."
With a sudden burst of strength, Gabriel pushed Ragnar back. The barbarian stumbled, his boots skidding against the icy ground. Gabriel followed, closing the distance in an instant. A quick strike to Ragnar's chest sent the massive man reeling, the force of the blow cracking the ice beneath him.
The Vikings on the walls watched in stunned silence. To see Ragnar, a figure of legend and terror, so easily overpowered was almost beyond comprehension.
Ragnar struggled to his feet, his breaths coming in heavy, ragged gasps. The black energy around him flickered, its once-imposing presence now faltering. Still, his crimson eyes burned with defiance.
"Why… won't you kill me?" Ragnar spat, his voice laced with both fury and desperation.
Gabriel tilted his head slightly, his pale eyes narrowing. "I wanted to see your strength. Now I have."
Ragnar roared, his voice breaking as he charged one final time. Gabriel sighed, stepping aside effortlessly. As Ragnar stumbled past him, Gabriel raised a hand, sending a pulse of light energy toward the barbarian's back. The impact sent Ragnar crashing to the ground, his massive frame carving a path through the snow.
Gabriel stood over Ragnar, his wings casting long shadows across the snow. The barbarian leader lay on his back, his armor dented and his face twisted in pain. The black energy around him had all but disappeared, leaving him vulnerable and broken.
"You're strong," Gabriel said, his voice quiet but firm. "But strength alone isn't enough."
Ragnar glared up at him, his crimson eyes filled with hatred. "I am Ragnar Bloodshade. I… will not bow…"
Gabriel sighed, his expression softening slightly. "Then rise. But know that next time, I won't hold back."
With that, Gabriel turned, his wings folding slightly as he walked away. The Vikings on the walls stared in awe, their cheers muted by the sheer gravity of what they had witnessed. Gabriel had faced a legend—and left him defeated without breaking a sweat.
As Gabriel returned to the center of the battlefield, his gaze lifted toward the horizon. His expression was calm, but there was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. "Is this all the darkness this world has to offer?"
The snow began to fall lightly as the battlefield remained silent, the warriors on both sides unsure of what would come next.