Waiting Feels Endlessly Long, Preparation Fleeting
Loki crossed his arms, watching Kankun train in the forest one day before the deadline Aum Linia had proposed.
"Light Slash!"
With her shout, sturdy trees and rocks sliced cleanly apart. A thud echoed through the surroundings as they toppled.
"This should be good enough, right?" Kankun beamed at Loki.
"...No."
Loki shook his head. Kankun looked satisfied enough, but to him, it was utterly lacking.
"I-Is that so...."
Kankun had heard the news about the Linia tribe and the impending war with Kudan. The moment she learned of it, she'd begged him.
—Take me with you!
She'd heard from the elders that tensions had reached a boiling point. There was no putting out the flames of war now. Only if Loki or Aum fell would it end.
With Kudan under Aum's command, Kankun planned to stand with Loki and block him. And hear the truth from him herself.
"E-Even this isn't enough?"
"Far from it."
Kankun glanced around in bewilderment. The remnants of trees and rocks lay scattered everywhere—proof of her daily training, honing her skill enough to use it repeatedly. She'd worked hard. But compared to Kudan, in Loki's eyes, she fell woefully short.
Right, that man was strong.
Loki recalled the blow Kudan had landed. A tiny scratch on his armor. At that power level, Kankun stood no chance.
And come to think of it, that Kudan... he had inhuman, superhuman strength.
"...A little cheat should be fine, though."
"...?"
Loki snapped his fingers. An undead hauled over a massive wooden crate and set it down gently. At Loki's nod, the skeleton opened the lid and stepped back.
"What's this...?"
Kankun peered inside curiously. It held the item Reran had crafted for Loki just recently.
"Is this... armor?"
"A gift."
"Pardon?"
"Try it on. It should fit."
Kankun blinked in surprise, lifted the armor, then hesitated as she started changing, glancing at Loki.
"Um... this feels a bit much?"
Loki snapped his fingers again. Black mists swirled around Kankun, shielding her.
"Better?"
"...You have some unique magic."
"I didn't know I had this much talent either."
Loki was surprised himself at how he could improvise skills beyond what he'd set in his game.
With skill books, I can learn other spells too. No limit to my magic arsenal, then.
She emerged from the shadows, dressed. Kankun moved experimentally.
"...It's so light! And really warm!"
"Oh ho, that dwarf did good work."
The leather armor was covered in pristine white scales, tailored perfectly to her frame. The long skirt slit into three sections for easy movement. Her boots were wrapped in subtly gleaming turquoise plate.
"D-Does it look okay?" Kankun peeked at Loki shyly.
Loki gave his honest take.
"It suits you well."
"Really?"
She grinned brightly. Loki inspected the armor's properties.
Nidhogg's leather resists physical and magical attacks, so it'll deflect most weapons... Not quite legendary grade, but close enough in performance.
Still, Kankun was too green to face Kudan head-on.
Better than nothing. And...
Loki pulled out stamina recovery potions and mana recovery potions.
"With item boosts... even a monster will fall."
He felt a gamer's thrill, like raising a character.
"Move 'em all!"
"Uracha-cha-cha!"
Hundreds of Nords felled trees. They bound massive logs into pillars and hauled them over. The sheer size and weight strained even them. Meant for barricades.
Per watched the Nords straining before the war's eve, then shot Aum a puzzled look.
"Why move those?"
"Gotta build walls."
"...Planning a defense?"
"Yeah, that's the idea."
Aum waved it off casually. Defense? War started tomorrow—no, in hours. The Nords massed on the frozen lake would freeze all day. They needed rest to conserve strength... yet hauling barricades?
Per couldn't fathom it.
What is he thinking? And...
"Our formation's on the lake?"
"Yep."
"...Defending on a lake? Even if solid, it's unnerving."
"That's why we're prepping."
Just vague repeats, no explanation. Per sighed inwardly. Aum just smiled his usual smile, eyeing distant Kudan.
"Kudan's pumped!"
Kudan awaited the devil to come. He stared at the plain linked to the frozen lake, hammer plunged into the ground, standing heavy.
May that weapon smite the fraud!
At Aum's order, Nords erected barricades on the lake. They didn't get it either. But...
"Ain't these flimsy?"
Shoddy enough a push toppled them. Not paper-thin, but a few Nords with ropes could drop them in seconds.
"Yeah, on purpose."
"Bro, your answers lack effort lately."
Aum just grinned at Per's exasperated tone.
"Perfect! Flimsy just right—topple easy!"
"Bro..."
"Trust me, Per!"
Aum narrowed his eyes.
"Now... let's await the fraud's army."
Late into the night. Bitter cold swept the pitch-black ice, veiling vision. Nords, inured to it, rested and ate.
Five thousand strong. Barricades and weapons dotted the ice firm as stone—no cracks. Fire wouldn't melt it, proving the chill's might.
"Hmm...? Tougher than expected! Then again, ten years back, Ronia's army of a hundred thousand marched fine. Says it all."
Aum tapped the ice, smiling satisfied. Sunset brought the declared day. No exact hour, so they'd come today.
With the taunt, that arrogant type won't ignore the bait.
"Eat?"
Per approached Kudan, hours rooted. He offered warm soup. Kudan eyed it, shook his head bitterly.
"I'm fine."
"Eat for strength. Stiff all day, miss the moment?"
"...Thanks."
Kudan took it, sipped. Savory scent stirred forgotten hunger. As he lifted it...
A voice boomed across camp.
"...They're... here!"
"—The bastards are here!"
A sentry yelled; panic rippled. All bolted up, grabbing weapons, tense.
Far off, in shadowed land, crimson-glowing eyes advanced slowly.
"Hoo... night attack? Undead see well in dark, huh... bad for us."
Unlike others, Aum stayed relaxed. The undead column stretched on. About three hundred. Disciplined formation.
Vanguard: fifty skeleton cavalry on skeletal horses, lances extended.
Flanks: fifty shield-bearers with long spears and huge shields each.
Center: fifty greatsword skeletons.
Main: eighteen robed assassins with daggers and chains.
Two skeleton musicians with instruments.
Rear: eighty longbow skeletons.
Main held ornate torches; spare limbs shouldered a palanquin. Atop the lavish throne sat Loki, arrogant.
Aum muttered, dumbfounded.
"Three hundred? Against five thousand? ...Underestimating us much?"
Utter dismissal. Bold entrance, like stage star atop visible palanquin screaming come get me! Confidence incarnate.
"...That's terrifying."
"Seeing beats hearing..."
Nords murmured. The undead army intimidated visually. Hate-filled red eyes, massive unprecedented weapons. Heads bigger than average skeletons—like legendary death knights.
"That devil!!"
Kudan bellowed loudest. Gripped his warhammer, slung it over shoulder. As he stepped forward, Per blocked.
"Per, move!"
"...Kudan, you're so impulsive! I'm impatient, but you're worse."
"Then move."
"No. You move, bro's plan crumbles."
"Plan?"
"Don't know details. But bro needs you bad. Wants you to smite the devil in one blow. To win sure..."
Per gripped Kudan's shoulder.
"Follow orders."
"......"
As Nords stirred at the undead, Aum mounted his pre-made podium. Smiled at distant Loki, then roared to Nords.
"Silence!"
"......"
Motion halted. Mouths shut, they faced him, gripping gear firm. Chaos vanished; silence reigned.
"Good! One word, total quiet. Even the distant mutes'd jump!"
Aum joked. No laughs. They focused intently.
"Two sheep, you'd laugh. That's why Nords called boring! But... means this matters."
Aum grinned wide, drew sword, slammed into podium.
"They: three hundred! Us: five thousand! We outnumber. But think them cowardly? No, opposite. Undying wraiths, each death knight caliber!"
Nords flinched briefly. But knew the fight favored foes.
"They're the cowards! Few, but overwhelming might. We're weaklings! But..."
Aum struck hilt. Crack—sword sank deep.
"We're Nords! Fearless, proud warriors! Flee from mere ghosts?!"
"......!"
"Raiders! Bury 'em, loot all! Who are we?!"
"Nords! Nords! Nords!"
"Raiders, Nords!"
"Ooooooh—!"
"Fight! Conquer despair!"
Aum bellowed.
"We're Nords. Northern conquerors!"