Sacred Land (4): Wolves, Giants, and the Call to Arms
This time, we met the White Wolf Tribe. I hit it off right away with their Yarl, Riman—good ol' Riman. Just like Hakon said, there really was a demon trapped in his massive ice axe.
"Ma!! It's not a demon, it's a spirit!!"
"Yeah, yeah, a spirit. Sure."
Honestly, anyone could see it was a total stretch. But it wasn't the lame rune axe from the first king's boring legend, that much was clear. And seeing the demon suffering in there, I figured we could just leave it be—no skin off our backs.
"Jehahahaha! Look at that! See? The little guy's thrilled!"
"He really seems to like you, Riman."
"W-Well, honestly... it's a bit embarrassing..."
Suddenly, a blonde twintail tsundere loli started appearing from the spirit axe. Yeah, tastes vary—ten people, ten colors, as they say. Even spirits might not be straightforward.
"That's it!! That's exactly it!"
"More importantly, what do you think of Mjolnir?"
"Hmm... it's one hell of a treasure, that's for sure. No clue what kinda tech went into it."
"Wanna give it a touch?"
"Am I nuts? Thanks for letting me check it out, though."
"No big deal."
Riman and the White Wolf tribesmen around him must've gained some insights from Mjolnir. And as expected from a politically savvy Yarl, he issued a warning right away.
"There's these idiots from somewhere who'll try to steal your weapon no matter what it takes."
"I know all about 'em. But here's the thing."
Swish...
Thud!!!
"I'm pretty much assassination-proof right now, so no worries."
"Oho."
"Oho."
"Oho."
Showing off by jamming a greatsword straight into my heart without a scratch, Riman and the White Wolf crew burst into applause. We bonded even more after that, so to test each other's strength, we went and shredded some empire troops together.
Shraaaaa!!!
"Jehahahahaha!! Fighting alongside young warriors like this is the best!! Right?!"
"I agree, big bro!!"
"Truly reliable warriors, Drenggr!!"
"The enemy lines crumble in seconds!!"
On the battlefield, me and the Berserkrs acted as the anvil up front, even in small skirmishes. Riman and the White Wolf Tribe swung the hammer with their rune magic. Zero losses, total enemy wipeout—Riman was riding high.
"Now I get why you're so famous, Ulfrik!! Just need to deal with those shady bastards, and we're golden!"
"Riman, what's the deal with the Black Crow Tribe?"
"Ah... they don't join Thing gatherings, livin' on some remote island. Your generation might not know 'em."
To sum up Riman's explanation super simply—
"Like professional archers?!"
"That's what I'm sayin'!!"
What kinda elitist crap is that?! Suddenly, I didn't wanna meet the Black Crow Tribe. But you gotta ally in war to win clean!! And who knows, they might not be as bad up close.
With that, Riman and his warriors headed off to fetch the Black Crows.
"You know where our tribe is, right?"
"Of course~ If trouble hits, just ask the spirit. Right?"
Krooooonch!!
(Hmph! No choice! Trust only me!)
"Heh heh heh, reliable as hell."
"Jehahahaha!! See ya later!"
With promises to meet again, the hearty uncles bounded off through the snow with excited steps. We headed back to the tribe for the final showdown.
It was a long trek back since we'd come so far. Still, we restored most of the warriors' stamina from all the battles. The front lines had gone quiet anyway.
"Hitting the end of their offensive already?"
"Terrain and weather make it inevitable."
"Drenggr, the empire troops aren't like us—they hate the cold. Can't be helped."
We Nordics could stroll naked in this weather no problem. But if the empire tried matching us, they'd turn into ice statues—the land's famous landmarks—in hours. Our cold resistance is no joke.
Just as I marveled at our people's toughness, a warrior asked Hakon by the campfire.
"Hakon, is the third of the Nord big three over there?"
"Uh... are we even a tribe? People just flock to where Master and we live."
"Still huge-scale."
Helga Grandma's place is the tallest mountain. Her rep drew folks to settle at its base—scale rivaling the mega-tribes.
"Drenggr, they even got a name."
"Frost Giant Tribe, right?"
Helga turns into a 3m muscle giant in True Form, like Hakon. Rumors say she gets even bigger—hence the Frost Giant nickname becoming the tribe name. And with young shaman Hakon hitting 2m muscle mode, her other disciples probably pack True Form shaman tricks too.
"You've seen Master's gigantification spell, Ulfrik?"
"Pecs bulging like crazy? Childhood memory—put it on the back burner."
Wonder if we'll see Helga Grandma's True Form in the final battle. Fingers crossed.
Nights chatting with warriors built brotherhood. Mopping up stragglers along the way, we finally neared home—our patrol warriors in sight.
"Whoa?! Drenggr!!"
"You're back?!"
"Yeah. Tribe status?"
"Small empire raids—handled 'em all!"
"Volunteers overflowing inside!"
"Yarl's thrilled!"
Our supplies are bursting—enough to house all the volunteers easy.
Patrol guided us in; massive welcome.
"Ulfrik!! Ulfrik!! Ulfrik!!"
"Drenggr!! Let me join the glorious fight!!"
"Avenge our brothers' blood─!!!"
Our waiting warriors burned hot; volunteers fired up for revenge. Taking it in, Dad and the stay-behind Huscarls approached.
"Son, good work."
"You too, Dad. How's it going?"
"Heh heh... you had a blast, huh."
Dad grinned at the roaring volunteers.
"Absorb 'em after kicking the empire out, and Bear Claw becomes top-tier."
"Big three turns to big four."
"Hahaha! My boy's got balls!"
Boosted by parental props, I strode to the crowd and bellowed what they craved.
"All preparations complete!! Ready to repay our people's blood?!"
"Blood revenge on the enemy!! Death to the cowards!!!"
"Who'll drive invaders from this sacred land?!!!"
WAAAAAAAAAH!!!
Prepare to march now!!!
By the time Ulfrik rallied all survivors...
The empire invasion force across the North Sea was in deep shit.
"W-We lost all?"
"The barbarians are stronger than expected..."
"Even our weather mages are burned out."
Northern commander Rosian Marquis tore his hair. They'd scouted the pirates' strength before marching, but Nord power and the fabled wilds beyond were just the tip. Needed most of the empire's forces to hold.
This... we poked the hornet's nest.
Honor killings and blood feuds run deep with these savages. Post-war? Hordes invading the empire for revenge. Realizing they'd kicked a hornet's nest on steroids, Rosian and brass opted to retreat before too late.
"Th-The savages sealed the sea!"
"What?!"
Nords are all seasoned sailors. Forcing the sea meant massive losses.
As the empire scrambled to escape, a quiet blizzard swept one battlefield.
Thud!! Thud!!! Thud!!!
"Wh-What's that?"
"Gi... ants?"
Massive figures dwarfing humans appeared. Empire troops froze in unknown terror.
Tap tap tap.
"Hohoho, what brings young'uns here?"
"Wh-What the hell?! Where'd she─!"
"Kill her now!!!"
An old granny popped up amid the troops. They lunged to end her—big mistake.
BOOOOM!!
A massive power blast erupted; blood spray from nearby soldiers.
Mist cleared; shaky empire eyes beheld... it.
Enormous. Muscles ballooned like armor. Overwhelming presence beyond human.
The Frost Giant slowly raised an arm skyward. Back muscles twisted grotesquely; a hideous shape emerged.
Krooooonch!!
"Demon!!! It's a deeeeemon!!!"
"Ruuuun!!!"
"Omnipotent sky god! Sp-Spare us─!!"
Grand Shaman Helga Skolvdoti.
A demon lived on her back.
As Frost Giants tore empire troops apart on the field...
Riman led White Wolves to keep his promise to Ulfrik, charging the sacred land's darkest forest.
Predictably, arrows flew from intruders-repelling guardians.
Clang!!
"Ma!!! Forgot me already?!"
"Heh, the idiot's here."
"Tsk tsk tsk, while idiots band together all 'rah-rah', you're stuck here, Leidal."
Black Crow Tribe Yarl Leidal Crowson scowled at Riman.
Opposites in personality, Riman and Leidal were mortal enemies. But extremes attract—talk of Ulfrik flipped the script.
"Frankly, leave the empire; they'll self-destruct."
"But you know our snowflake gen's the problem."
"...Can't argue that."
Riman and Leidal both fretted over the MZ warriors. But join the final battle? Some deaths might toughen the stock.
"Perfect timing. Gotta see this Ulfrik the Grand Shaman mentioned myself."
"He's solid—you'll love him."
"Fine, hold up."
Leidal, curious about Ulfrik anyway, accepted. The sacred land's true warriors were gathering as one.