The Light of Brurtgang
Kudan's swollen, muscular body, his face twisted savagely, his eyes bloodshot like an enraged bull. It was the very picture of the Nod tribe's mightiest warrior.
Kankun's body went rigid. The brave girl who had charged forward just moments ago was gone, replaced only by a trembling coward. As she staggered back, a voice rang out.
"Planning to run away again?"
Kankun flinched.
"Where'd that bold little spitfire go?"
The mocking tone dripped with ridicule. Loki sat casually on the icy ground, legs bent beneath him. At the sight, Kankun's trembling stopped as if by magic.
She took a deep breath.
Thud! With a resounding boom, a warhammer appeared right in front of her nose. Startled, Kankun jerked her head aside on reflex. The hammer whistled past, close enough to graze her skin, its gust whipping her face sharply.
She nearly toppled but quickly regained her balance. Swinging Brurtgang toward Kudan's neck—
Thwack!
Pain exploded across Kankun's face. Nothing more. Kudan's kick had slammed into her cheek. She flew back, skidding across the ice straight to Loki's side.
Spitting blood, she gritted her teeth.
"Need a hand?"
Loki's voice was infuriatingly playful.
"I'm fine!"
"Good. No potion for you, then."
"...W-Would you give me one?"
"Aren't you fighting fair and square?"
"...Since when is war fair and square?"
Loki burst out laughing. Kankun was just desperate to hold Kudan off, to earn his recognition. He held out a potion. She downed one in a gulp and caught her breath.
That's when Kudan charged. His eyes locked not on her, but on Loki cradling her in his arms. Teeth clenched, Kankun blocked the incoming warhammer with her sword, deflecting it.
"Blocked it? You're stronger than before?"
Only then did Kudan's gaze shift back to Kankun. She darted into his guard, slashing wildly. Pushed back step by step, he switched to defense over offense.
Watching, Loki chuckled.
"...Your attacks are speeding up. Not my imagination. Growing stronger mid-fight?"
Leveraging her small frame, Kankun burrowed deep into Kudan's reach. The bigger he loomed, the harder it was for him to strike without hitting himself.
Brurtgang flashed. Shallow cuts began blooming across Kudan's body.
She's fast?!
It had been months since he'd last seen her, but even so, this growth was unnatural.
What did that demon do to her?
In that instant, her blade grazed past his neck. A thin trickle of blood sprayed from his nape, and Kudan's eyes widened in shock.
"Not the time to get distracted!"
Brurtgang thrust right to his face. Horror filled Kudan's eyes.
Block? Too late!
Dodge? No chance...!
"Damn...!"
Too late...!
"I win...!"
A faint smile curved Kankun's lips. Brurtgang smashed into his face.
Her expression froze as she gripped the blade.
Grk!
"...!"
He caught it with his teeth?!
Kudan's jaws clamped the sword's edge. Veins bulged around his jaw from the strain, blood pooling in his gums. Even with teeth shattering, he held on.
He drew back his fist. Kankun's heart sank.
She yanked desperately at the blade, but it wouldn't budge from his maw.
His fist crashed into her.
Clang!
But golden light erupted from Kankun's body, repelling the blow.
"...!"
Her eyes bulged. Her gaze flicked to Loki as she recalled his words.
"That sword has three powers."
One of them.
"It can form a shield of protection."
The guardian light that saved Kankun! It enveloped her like armor, shielding her.
"Healing and purification abilities..."
The luminous armor seeped into her flesh. Every wound began to mend.
Shield of light and healing. Both blessings from the holy sword.
Yes—Lord Loki is protecting me!
He'd given her the sword. This wasn't her fight alone. A Constellation watched over her!
And Kankun remembered. The ultimate strike honed through countless drills.
"It can unleash a light slash."
The light slash Loki had taught her!
She opened her mouth. With a shout, she raised her sword high.
Golden radiance swirled around the blade. Holy energy infused it, bathing the surroundings in brilliant light.
Kudan gaped. Dazzling brilliance! The aura spread wide from the sword.
In its wake, wounds on nearby Nod warriors healed.
"G-God... My body...!?"
"It's healing!"
The light's waves converged again. Like a storm, it surged back into the blade.
"What—?!"
As far as Kudan knew, Kankun had no such power. Even if she'd trained in hatred for half a year, this growth was impossible.
Then...!
The demon had granted her this strength! But what of this noble, beautiful light?! Holy armor protected her, miraculous glow healed her. No evil force could produce such phenomena.
Yes, he is...
Loki was no demon. The Constellation of Sin, branded as such.
And his chosen shaman: Kankun Raguna.
"Now."
Kudan's eyes widened. They met Kankun's.
"Let's end this, Uncle."
She smiled softly and swung down.
The blade traced a path, exploding with light. A devouring light slash roared toward Kudan, threatening to engulf everything.
Kudan raised his warhammer, muscles bulging. Strength multiplied a thousandfold, he swung with all his might against the oncoming strike.
Boom—!!!!
The hammer vibrated under the onslaught. The light storm shredded it to particles.
Blood vessels burst in Kudan's arms, spraying crimson. Beyond the hammer, even his hands dissolved.
He couldn't block it. This blow would consume him!
Kudan sensed it instinctively.
I see.
Memories flooded him: his crimes. To protect Kankun, he'd slain his own brother—her father. Sparked a rebellion that ensnared elders and innocents alike. He'd borne that sin.
The Constellation of Sin governed sins. Choosing Kankun meant judgment.
His vision bleached white. Silence fell. No sounds. Peaceful quietude. Pain vanished, replaced by serene ease as strength ebbed from his limbs. Eyelids grew heavy, mind foggy.
The light devoured Kudan.
Ha... Haha... So this is death?
The glow faded. He dropped to his knees. Vision blurred.
Sleepy...
Truly, astonishingly peaceful. Kudan smiled bitterly.
Am I dying like this? Me?
He reached his vanishing hand toward the demon. No reply. The demon simply watched his end, like a god beholding a warrior's final glory.
Then he spotted the girl. She rushed to him, embracing, sobbing. No sound reached him, but her wails shook her frame.
Kudan turned to the demon. Lips moved.
-Well done. Kudan Raguna.
No lip-reading skill, yet the words etched into his mind.
And he understood. Not a demon beguiling Kankun—a Constellation.
Ha, haha...
Kankun approached, supporting him.
"Kankun... You've grown... well... my girl..."
Blood poured over her face as his body slumped.
His one beloved niece, cherished like a daughter. felled by Kankun's strike...
The valiant warrior Kudan Raguna fell.
"It's over."
Loki rose. Eyes curving in satisfaction at the fallen Kudan before him.
"Quite the character."
He drew a potion from his pocket.
"I've got something I want to hear from you. And it's a shame to waste talent like yours."
He poured it over Kudan's body. The liquid seeped in, wounds knitting closed.
Beside him, Kankun fidgeted anxiously, but Loki ignored her, gazing at the dazed Aum Linia slumped nearby.
"Broken already?"
"...He's still alive, that cheat!"
Thorns in his words, but terror laced his voice.
"Good. You've still got fight in you. Can you move? Follow me."
"F-Follow... you?"
"Yes."
"You're not killing me?"
"My goal's Kudan. Got questions for him. And didn't you say something recently?"
"...?"
"About wanting to trade."
"...!"
"I've been hooked on city-building games lately."
He called thriving Valhalla mere "play."
"Growing a city needs tons of exchange. Including with other tribes. I'd like you on my side."
"...If I run?"
"That curse I planted in you? You'd never even think it."
"..."
"Feel responsible for this mess? Come with me. I'll heal all these near-dead fools."
As Loki turned, undead tended the dying Nod with potions. Kankun followed.
In the heavy silence, Aum stood. A loser. He bore responsibility. Stumbling, he trailed Loki.
How many days passed? Kudan stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling.
"Where...?"
"An empty hut in Valhalla, they said."
He jolted, scanning around. A familiar voice. The one who'd crashed his chariot.
"Per!!"
Aum's brother Per shrugged.
"And that niece you've been hunting? Over there..."
Kudan followed his gesture. In the corner, Kankun slept under a blanket.
"...She's alive. Kankun."
"The one who killed you, too."
"Killed...? Wait—how am I alive? And you... Didn't your chariot flip and kill you?"
"Thought so... but I woke with a snapped neck."
Kudan eyed Per disgustedly.
"...Snapped neck and still breathing? Human?"
"I had my arms and chest ripped open, heart burst. And you say that?"
Per shook his head. Their vitality rivaled cockroaches anyway.
"Don't know details, but some 'miracle' potion close to god's blood saved us if we didn't croak. Beats me exactly."
"...The demon saved us?"
Kudan recalled the demon. Why spare him, the foe he'd hated enough to kill?
Or...
His gaze shifted to Kankun. Their chatter roused her; she stirred, eyes fluttering open. Meeting Kudan's stare, she widened them in shock.
"Kan... kun!"
"Eek?!"
At his call, she snatched the nearby sword, aiming it warily. Guarded eyes, yet flustered.
"Hey, little miss. Fight's done, right? You nursed him till now—now you're gunning to kill him?"
Kankun clamped her lips and lowered the blade. Avoiding Kudan's gaze, she murmured cautiously.
"...You just woke up. Three days out."
"Three days?"
"Yeah. I was down two?" Per shrugged.
"And when I was up, this girl stuck by your side."
"...Really?"
"...Get your own breakfast. Starving after three days, huh."
She headed out, opening the door.
"...Lord Loki's calling. Visit later. And... sorry for the misunderstanding. Uncle."
Door shut behind her.
"Looks like forgiveness."
"Huh?"
Per grinned, pointing.
"Kankun forgave you."
"No way..."
"No forgiveness, no 'sorry' or 'uncle.'"
"Even so... my sins don't vanish."
"But you can atone."
"..."
"Time to go."
"Where...?"
"To your brother. And that demon—no, Constellation who saved us."