Fog of Betrayal
The rift between Rextar and OneTon didn't look friendly even on the surface, but Wendigo wasn't letting his guard down. Their clashing personalities had nothing to do with how well they might coordinate in battle. They knew each other's flaws all too well, after all—perhaps that would let them cooperate with deadly precision.
Wendigo filled his sword to the brim with mysticism, ready to swing at a moment's notice. Whoever lunged first would be cleaved in two.
But...
No matter how long he waited, neither made the first move.
"If you're making proposals, show us an example first!"
"You idiot. Is that thick skull of yours just for show? I can strike from afar, so you need to draw their eyes with your body!"
"......"
Wendigo could scarcely believe his eyes as they earnestly bickered over who should play meat shield for the other. It was beyond absurd—it was astonishing.
Even in a situation like this, neither wanted to take the slightest risk. Weren't they a match made in heaven?
Wendigo stared blankly at their squabbling, then snapped back to reality.
'The ancient tales weren't exaggerating about tactics that use stupid distractions to seize attention.'
Having enemies right in front of them yet eroding their own trust like this—it was that shocking. It even made him hesitate over who to take down first!
Thankfully, Wendigo's dilemma didn't last long. An unexpected turn rocked the battlefield.
As Rextar and OneTon glared at each other, the temperature plummeted. They flinched and scanned their surroundings.
Fog was rolling in from all directions, without warning from any one side.
"What the hell is this?"
"...Looks like we've fallen for the bastard's petty scheme. He wasn't alone from the start."
Whether Rextar had any right to call it "petty" was debatable, but a spirit was still a spirit. OneTon sensed presences beyond the eye-fog and clicked his tongue.
He'd assumed Wendigo would fight solo again, given how he'd handled things until now. Who could've guessed he'd use himself as bait?
Rextar bellowed skyward, realizing he'd been played once more. On reflection, it made perfect sense. No matter a spirit's schemes, it wouldn't toy with its own subordinates.
Rextar scanned his warriors, grinding his teeth. His elite followers stayed relatively calm, but most of the rest were panicking. They'd never come out of eye-fog unscathed before!
While Rextar fretted, Wendigo surveyed the fog with satisfaction. Just as Skadi had said, it spread wide without the slightest gap.
At this rate, it would swallow the warriors in seconds. And Wendigo's own fighters lurked within, eager to offer him glory. Loyal to a fault, they were probably panting with anticipation.
And sure enough—
"Arrows! Arrows incoming!"
"Shit, shields up! Shields! If you don't have one, hide behind a corpse... Gahk!"
Arrows whistled from the fog, and the warriors scrambled for cover. Trembling in terror, they dodged the volley. Getting attacked by invisible foes was a horror even the bravest couldn't easily endure.
Rextar deflected arrows with his sword, growling.
"Damn it... Retreating like this won't be easy."
Falling back under arrow fire was as good as begging to die. And Wendigo sure as hell wouldn't let them go easily.
The silver lining? The forest folk's arrows lacked skill—the tips were crude. Most bounced harmlessly off armor. If they'd had empire-issue crossbows, the warriors would've been turned into pincushions and died in vain.
Rextar swatted another arrow and glared at OneTon, who hadn't taken a single hit. It was infuriating.
"OneTon. I'll lead the charge with the warriors. You can exploit the spirit's openings, right?"
"...Of course."
OneTon replied from beyond the fog. Rextar sighed inwardly, raised his sword high. It blazed hot, drawing every eye.
"Warriors! I know your fear. I won't deny the fog terrifies you, or the forest spirit."
"So we're retreating, then?"
A warrior clustered around Rextar spoke up, and the others' eyes gleamed. Even the boldest wanted no part of battle in these conditions.
Rextar swallowed a curse at their pathetic display and pressed on.
"Unfortunately, no. I'd love to pull back right now, but we're already deep in the fog—and the spirit won't let us go. We have one way to survive."
His sword pointed through the fog. The warriors instinctively grasped his intent. Sever Wendigo's head, and the fog would lift. Without their spirit, the enemy would falter.
It made sense, but trust was the issue. Given Rextar's track record, it was a miracle they'd followed this far.
As they eyed him with doubt, Rextar itched to swing his sword. But he couldn't. He needed them to face the spirit.
OneTon approached from the sidelines.
"Pathetic. Can't even control your own men?"
"If you hadn't stirred shit, the tribe's loyalty would've been mine by now! It's all your fau—?!"
Ignoring him, OneTon awakened the mysticism in the warriors. They clutched their heads, writhing in agony. As they devolved into beasts, Rextar couldn't hold back—he swung at OneTon.
But the blade sliced only air, missing by a hair.
"OneTon!"
"You should've persuaded them properly from the start. Shut up and use these beasts to close in. Then we'll find a way."
OneTon's sly eyes flashed. Overwhelmed by the uncharacteristic intensity, Rextar clamped his mouth shut.
Swallowing his pride, he led the charge. Drooling like reasonless animals, but their strength would suffice.
"Charge!"
At his command, the beastmen roared and surged forward.
Wendigo raised his sword, watching. A decent number, but a bit of effort would wipe them out...
"Lord Wendigo! We'll handle this!"
"Skadi? Perfect timi—huh?"
Turning, Wendigo saw Skadi... and deer skull helmets. Over ten of them.
The skulls belonged to warriors in bone helms. Their garb was as unorthodox as the headgear—far from ordinary fighters. Runes like Skadi's covered the helmets, pulsing with shamanic power. No armor; just wolf or bear pelts draped like cloaks. Utterly barbaric.
"...Aren't they a bit too underdressed for battlefield warriors?"
"Hee hee! Don't worry. Their skin's tough enough to stop blades, and their strength rivals beasts'."
At Skadi's gesture, the warriors bellowed and snatched up spears.
"Javelin toss!"
One's shout unleashed a volley piercing the fog, intercepting the charging foes. No overwhelming might like Wendigo's, but the spears impaled cleanly.
Intrigued, Wendigo eyed the helms. Unlike crude spirit rituals, intricate shamanism infused them with mystical power.
'So that's what Skadi meant.'
Impressive craftsmanship. How had she made them?
"Incredible. If they're not too hard to produce, I'd love to equip all our warriors."
"Ah... Th-that might be tough."
"Why? Rare materials?"
As Wendigo stared, Skadi fidgeted with her fingers.
"I... used a tiny bit of Gikas's innards."
"......"
Precious, yes—but the danger made Wendigo gape at her. Not as potent as the heart, but those guts weren't benign.
Skadi had her defense, though. Rigorous testing had proven stability. Helms channeling Wendigo's essence into warriors—proof of her shamanic prowess.
...Had her skill faltered even slightly, Gikas's foul energy would've turned them into cursed madmen.
As she glanced up nervously, Wendigo turned to the warriors.
"Kill them! The blasphemers who dared strike at the spirit lord!"
"The spirit lord's blessing is with us. Only the faithful deserve it—fear not death!"
Setting fanatic worship aside, Skadi's creations were solid. The helms gave them the edge over the beastmen.
'Still, I'll have to scold her later.'
Making something so risky in secret was a problem. One mistake, and someone gets hurt.
"Well made, but tell me next time before crafting. And... pull our warriors back from that one. I'll handle him."
Wendigo pointed at Rextar, naturally.
Rextar burst through the beastmen, slamming his flaming sword down at Wendigo.
Such an attack stood no chance. Wendigo parried effortlessly.
Undeterred by the vast power gap, Rextar pressed on, swinging relentlessly for an opening. He knew stopping meant death.
Wendigo blocked indifferently, then raised his arm. In that instant—
"OneTon!!!"
Rextar screamed like a banshee. A bird dove from the sky at Wendigo's arm, bones crunching as it shifted—OneTon.
He clamped onto the arm, sinking teeth in. Rextar eyed the chance: strike while Wendigo was distracted!
"A clone. You really thought this would work on me?"
"...What?"
Rextar's heart plummeted at Wendigo's words. Forgetting to attack, he stared at OneTon.
Now that he thought about it, something was off. Why teeth over spells? He could strike from range!
"Don't fuck with me... Don't you dare fuck with me!"
"It's real."
Rextar wailed like the sky was falling. Wendigo seized the clone and slammed it down. It shattered on impact, revealing its true form: a pitiful dead bird, mysticism barely spent.
"OoooneToooon!!!"
"Should've picked your contractor more wisely."
Pity the scammed, but whose fault was it for taking the gains and plotting betrayal?
Rextar swung wildly, vomiting blood. His sword blazed, fueled by his life as kindling, scorching the world.
Wendigo countered. Their blades clashed—pure frost from the ice sword devoured the flames.
Rextar's mysticism shattered...
"I... I am of the Blue Mane Tribe... I must return to the plains..."
"Fool. Did you think a lifelong con artist would fall for such a cheap trick?"
The ice sword bisected Rextar. His regretful last words hung as his body crumbled. A shabby end for one who'd burned with ambition to rule the plains.
Wendigo glanced at the remains, then turned to sense OneTon. The clone had bought time—he'd fled far, surely.
'Why's he stopped moving?'
Against expectation, OneTon lingered nearby. Probing deeper, Wendigo sensed humans around him.
Whatever the reason, a perfect chance to pursue. Wendigo bolted at full speed.
"The forest spirit's here! To prove our innocence, stop that wolf!"
"Damn spirit bastard! You drove us to death—now you die too!"
"You rotten-brained fools! Think this'll save you from his wrath?!"
"?"
Blue Mane Tribe warriors blocked OneTon, staking their lives. They wouldn't yield even as claws severed limbs—pure venom.
Wendigo watched the desperate fray with unease. He'd expected betrayal, but...
'How many sins must he have racked up for them to fight this hard?'
Always peaceful with folk, Wendigo couldn't fathom it.
He formed an ice spear, hurling it at OneTon with eyes full of contempt.