For the Motherland (1)
For the sake of the wars to come, we put to sea for reconnaissance. But what was this? Three imperial ships were attacking a lone longship. And those bastards were comrades? How the hell was I supposed to hold back!
"Ship Killing!!!"
BOOM!!!
I immediately ship-killed one of the three.
At my overwhelming kiheup, the frail imperial ships panicked—or maybe they were just trying to retreat fast.
"Where do you think you're running off to, leaving us behind?!"
"Sergeant Ulfrik!! The Fire Scale Tribe's kiheup must've kicked in—they've turned super aggressive!!"
"Dreng!! Next ship killing is ready!!!"
"Good!! Fire away!!"
"Raaagh!!!"
We ship-killed another imperial ship right away, then headed toward the sector the Fire Scale Tribe was handling.
And that's when we saw something truly astonishing.
WHOOSH!!
"Oh ho, that tribe really knows how to handle fire. Witchcraft, maybe?"
"Looks more like they're using some special oil or fuel to me."
"Probably... they didn't use it in the last big battle because it might've caught our own side too."
They were hurling flaming spears that exploded on impact? We'd hooked up with some seriously badass allies!
Thanks to those explosive spears crippling their mobility, we closed in for ship-to-ship combat.
"Bounce!!"
"Raaagh!"
Our signature tactic!! Using the Viking Trampoline, my Vikings and I boarded the imperial ship in a flash.
Did they not expect such a kiheup-charged tactic? The Fire Scale Tribe hooked their grapples onto the ship like they weren't about to be outdone.
We all got along great, slicing the imperial navy's throats to the last man.
"Gaaah!!"
"P-please, spare my life—!!"
"The afterlife's happier than this world—go on ahead without us!!"
CRUNCH!!!
Hahaha!! Saved a bunch more souls today!! And watching the Fire Scale Tribe fight alongside us? I was seriously impressed.
"Who'd have thought every last one of them wielded heavy weapons?!"
"And every swing sometimes triggers a mini-explosion!"
My Mjolnir had killer impact, but those guys looked no slouch either.
Ship combat ended, predictably, with zero losses on our side. But the non-berserk comrades had taken a fair beating.
"Hey, you alright?"
"D-don't worry about us, Dreng!!"
"We're sorry for showing such a disappointing display!"
"Nah, nah, it's fine. Hakon?"
"Healing spells are ready, Lord Ulfrik."
Our SSS-rank rookie knew just what to do, as always.
A soft green glow appeared over the wounded comrades' bodies, their injuries mending bit by bit.
They showered us with endless gratitude.
"Thank you so much!!!"
"We'll repay this grace with honor!!"
"Please accept our strength!!"
"We're comrades, aren't we? This is just what we do."
As I flashed my sparkling smile at the bearded uncles, someone who looked like their leader approached.
"Dreng!! I am Salmir Ignison! If I may ask—where are you headed this time?!"
"Hm? What's it to you?"
"The lives you saved today—we want to aid your journey, Dreng!"
"Sergeant Ulfrik, what'll it be?"
"Hmm..."
This was a first—tough call. But!! Their tech meshed perfectly with ours!
"Salmir, I won't pry into your tribe's secrets. Just tell me—can you keep using it in combat?"
"Each warrior can trigger about three small explosions per day!"
"Perfect!! You're in!!"
We berserks regenerated endlessly with enough kiheup anyway. Add in comrades who could burst from range and up close? Ka~ The beauty of a solid party comp!!
They got it right away, bonding with our warriors over drinks.
"Looking forward to fighting with you!"
"The pleasure's ours!!"
"Let's shine with honor that'll stun our ancestors!"
"Hahaha! You got it!!"
We split the spoils from the imperial ships amicably, then two kiheup-charged longships set off for the Empire Northwest.
Security was noticeably tighter right away. Smashing everything would've taken too long, and even landing risked exposing the longships. As I pondered...
Salmir bellowed from the ship beside us.
"Dreng Ulfrik!! We know a great spot!"
"For real?!"
Ancestors and spirits must've destined us!!
Salmir guided us to a coastal cave perfect for hiding both longships.
Not long after following the comrades, we reached a coastal cave so ideal it beggared belief.
"Salmir, how'd you even know about this place?"
"Our tribe surveys these coasts regularly. We know several such caves."
Damn, reliable comrades.
We made the cave our base camp and immediately planned reconnaissance.
Unrolling the map, Salmir spoke up as we huddled.
"Dreng, do you plan to raid Bellos?"
"That vassal kingdom under the Northern Duke? With summer wars ahead, they'll send reinforcements for sure—we gotta check it out."
"Hmm... yeah, raiding Bellos with warriors led by you sounds solid."
"Hakon, anything special there?"
"You'll like what you see, Lord Ulfrik—tough warriors. They even ride bears into battle."
"Oh."
That Northern Duke knew his stuff.
With Salmir and the comrades knowing the terrain inside out, we plotted recon routes fast.
"Skip the villages near base camp, hit the farther ones..."
"That minimizes risk of exposing the cave."
"And if we smash everything around here?"
"Hahaha! That'd be ideal!!"
"Good!! It's decided!! We'll wipe out any chance of detection!!"
"Woooaaah!!!"
Our forces: about 30 berserks, 30 comrades wielding fire and explosions. Enough to loot every minor imperial noble's territory.
Just in case, we posted guards.
"Go worry-free, Dreng!!"
"Sergeant Ulfrik!! We'll hold this place!!"
"We'll rotate you out next watch when we return—get ready."
"Raaagh!"
Guards set for safety now. Following Salmir and the comrades, we set foot on imperial soil via the cave.
Spring's beauty greeted us—birds chirping, flowers blooming.
"Beautiful day, huh, lads?"
"Time for the Empire to ascend to paradise!!!"
"This is blood revenge!!!"
"SIUUUUUUU!!"
"Kill!!!"
CRUNCH!!! WHOOSH!! BOOM!!!
Prime chance to test our camaraderie!! Razing every village in sight skyrocketed our teamwork!!
The Fire Scale Tribe, hit hard in some holy war on sacred soil, swung with vengeful fury.
"Heh heh, full of kiheup."
"As you said, Lord Ulfrik—quite passionate."
"They mesh great with us, Dreng!!"
"But... I'm a little worried."
"They might stray from the path of glory."
Our Bear Claw warriors treated imperials as investments—spared for info. The comrades? Slaughtering everyone.
To set them straight, I dropped a truth bomb.
"Salmir."
"Gah?! Sorry for the disgraceful show!"
"No, your revenge is totally justified. Didn't expect such zeal for salvation work, though."
"S-salvation? Dreng, what do you—"
"Most imperials worship the Heavenly God. Die to us heretics? Straight to paradise."
"What?!"
"So you're doing them a favor."
They hadn't realized—Salmir and his men wailed in anguish.
"Gaaah!! Then this isn't revenge!!"
"Damn it!! Don't die happy—suffer in this world!!"
"Eugh?! Graaah?!"
Truth hurts. They cursed the Heavenly God, shedding bloody tears.
Straightened out, Salmir and the comrades thanked me profusely.
"As expected of your wisdom, Dreng..."
"You really know imperial culture."
"Know your enemy, know yourself—hundred battles, no defeats. Remember that."
We were razing the area anyway; fleeing imperials couldn't mount a response. Hell, my Vikings and I wanted them blabbing to the guards.
"Heh heh heh, hope they figure out they're bait."
"Can't wait to see what big fish bites, Sergeant Ulfrik!"
"Ahh!! That's—!"
"Now I get your plan, Dreng!!"
Scatter weak imperials like chum, lure in the defenses!
"No need to hunt 'em—they'll come running!!"
"Damn!! Classic Sergeant Ulfrik!!"
"What a kiheup-charged scheme!"
"Glorious battles await!!"
We succeeded in turning the base camp area to ash. With the longships safe in the cave, we headed off to scout that Bellos place.