For the Motherland (3)
We'd pushed into the empire's northwestern vassal kingdom, Bellos, and wouldn't you know it—
"They got NTR'd again!!!"
"Take revenge for our blood!!!"
"You cowards dare—!!!"
The pure-hearted Vikings couldn't stomach the depraved acts of those Chaos Sun cultists. In the end, we smashed right into the backs of their heads and succeeded.
But there was one other bastard mixed in.
BOOM!!!SLASH!!CRACKLE-CRACKLE!!
"Hey!! Get lost!!"
"Can't you see we're busy with blood revenge!!"
"Barging in mid-battle with that bullshit!! You low-class scum!!"
"This is a matter of our honor!!"
"GRRRRR?!"
"SKREEEEEK!!"
It turned into a three-way brawl out of nowhere.
But who cares!! Those Bellos troops look like turtles hunkered in formation, just firing arrows—if we snag that Chaos Sun guy, we're golden. Gotta watch out for our comrades, though.
"Salmir!!!"
"You called, Dreng?"
"We can handle ourselves, but you lot be careful!!"
"Got it!"
I was just about to adjust formation to shield our non-berserk comrades from the arrow storm when I spotted something and couldn't help but freak out.
"Damn it!!! No choice!! Release the bears right now!!!"
"Open the formation!!"
"Bear chariots, charge!!"
"ROOOAAARRR!!"
Suddenly the massive shield wall split open, and two bears hauled out on sleds!! The bear-drawn chariots plowed straight through the Chaos followers, grinding them to dust. The warriors riding the sleds handled ranged attacks or slashed at monsters trying to latch on from the sides.
Watching that scene, inspiration hit me like a thunderbolt. I rounded up all the warriors and laid out the strategy.
"Ooooh! As expected of the Dreng!!"
"That's some serious kiheup!!"
"And that way, we won't even have to dodge arrows!!"
"Sergeant Ulfrik, let's do it right now!"
"Good!! Then, Hakon!!"
"Already on it!"
The moment I called for Hakon, he used his shaman magic to summon massive wooden platforms from the ground. Vines connected to those platforms started wrapping around warriors from our Bear Claw Tribe. Me and the Fire Scale Tribe hopped right on.
I bellowed at the top of my lungs.
"PULL!!"
"Yeah!!"
This was the Viking chariot!!! The ultimate ancient war machine, powered by berserks stronger than bears themselves!!!
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!!!
"Hahaha! Who can stop these infantry-shredding murder-chariots!!"
"KYYOOOOOOT!!"
"HAAAAA!!"
Dozens of Viking chariots, roaring with kiheup-fueled war cries, started tearing across the battlefield like maniacs. Our ancestors must've been impressed too—the berserks pulling the chariots erupted with even stronger kiheup than before. Empowered even further, they pulverized everything in front with their weapons.
And when our comrades lobbed explosive spears into the densely packed enemy clusters—
BOOOOM!!SPLOOOOSH!!
"This is herding for the hunt!!"
"Ahahaha! Following you was the best decision ever, Dreng!!"
"This is honor!! This is glorious battle!!"
"Fun's great, but watch those arrows, everyone!!"
"Yeah!!"
And so, with the bear sleds leading, Viking chariots carved high-speed highways through the battlefield.
No matter how many there were or how they refused to retreat without reason, Ulfrik and the Vikings' oddball kiheup strategy combined with Bellos troops' arrow barrages wiped out the Chaos followers completely.
Now only Vikings and Bellos forces remained on the field, eyeing each other warily.
But the Bellos troops stopped firing arrows, their formation cracked open, and a big burly guy strode forward with a scowl.
"You're too exposed, sir!"
"Commander Bart!! At least let us—"
"Enough!! I need to meet whoever's leading them right now!"
The commander of the Bellos forces, Bart Dracov, walked slowly into the field alone.
Seeing this, Ulfrik smirked and stepped forward himself. Face-to-face, Ulfrik and Bart growled like beasts.
"That battle victory was our glory for the motherland! You dared interrupt?!"
"Then drop your damn formation and charge like us!!"
"You barbaric Nords who know nothing of strategy!"
"You cowards hiding behind shields and arrows—!!"
The commanders from both sides were seconds from drawing weapons amid the nonstop insults. Of course, Bart had to say it, even if he hated it.
"Tch. For keeping our warriors from dying, I offer thanks."
"Huh, you say that to enemies?"
"I won't tarnish the motherland over something this trivial."
Were their personalities just too similar? They were bickering, but the conversation flowed.
"So... Nord, why are you here? Plundering?"
"Just scouting."
"Warriors as fierce as you came all this way... for scouting?"
Bart had seen Ulfrik's men in action with his own eyes. Warriors who could take on a hundred each, just for recon? A rumor flashed in his mind.
"...So the rumors of war in the empire's north are true."
"Good thing you know. Planning to join later?"
"Why would we help the empire?"
"What? Aren't you an imperial vassal?"
"Don't call our motherland that filthy name!!"
Ulfrik and the Vikings were baffled, but "vassal" hit a nerve—the mood shifted fast.
"Bellos is a proud independent nation. Don't believe the empire's lies."
"That's weird. I heard you got a duchy title..."
"Warning... don't push it."
"Think you can win a fight?"
"Wanna try?"
As Bart drew his frost-coated sword and shield, Ulfrik gripped Mjolnir. Vikings and Bellos troops tensed for battle in that hair-trigger moment.
BOOOOM!!
"Slaughter those vile creatures over there!!"
"SKREEEK!"
"GRRREEEK!"
A higher Chaos follower, realizing one of its hordes was gone, mindlessly charged both forces. Naturally, Bart and Ulfrik roared in fury.
"You butt out!!"
"You butt out!!"
The whales fought, and the shrimp got their backs crushed.
We were on the verge of a glorious clash with the Bellos troops!!! But those clueless cowards crashed the party!
Fine for us, but they were pissed too—their formation broke, and they charged. We ended up teaming up to crush the Chaos followers.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
"Cough!"
"Hey, everyone okay?"
"S-sorry, Sergeant Ulfrik!!"
Our Vikings were wiped from two massive battles.
"Urgh..."
"Damn Chaos bastards."
"Commander Bart! Arrows are all spent!"
"Tch, no choice. Everyone, rest up."
The Bellos troops paid the price for their aggressive tactics too.
With neither side fit for more fighting, we sighed and faced off again.
"……………"
The air was tense, but I signaled behind me. Hakon dragged forward a subdued higher Chaos follower, out cold.
The guy up front nodded silently.
"...Thanks for the cooperation."
"Next time, we're enemies."
"Wouldn't have it any other way. In return, our motherland won't move."
"You can decide that solo?"
Bellos' commander smirked at my question and crossed his arms.
"The king's no king."
"Huh, got it. Good luck ahead."
"Wait—one last thing. Your name?"
"Ulfrik Ragnarson of the Bear Claw Tribe. You?"
"Bart Dracov."
Exchanging names sealed the temporary truce. They'd handle the knocked-out Chaos boss. No loot from this fight, but we pitched camp in a decent spot anyway.
"What those Chaos sellouts said is horrifying."
"Sergeant Ulfrik, why'd they make that choice?"
"How should we know coward minds? Any casualties?"
"None!"
"But quite a few Fire Scale Tribe wounded."
"I can heal, but better do emergency here and finish at the safe coastal cave."
Honestly, with Bellos sitting it out confirmed, recon was done. But Salmir and his men were mortified.
"I-I'm so sorry! Dragging you down when we should've helped!!"
"Salmir, we got here easy thanks to you. Mission accomplished perfectly—don't sweat it."
My pep talk worked; the old-timers teared up.
That Bart guy we met today—something's off with Bellos. Gut feeling? I mentioned it, and the other warriors and comrades agreed big time. Hakon had a theory.
"Ulfrik, they're independence hardliners."
"Ah, that explains hating 'vassal' or 'duke'."
Giving a firm answer on the summer war? High rank for sure.
"Their king could get pulled down like ours."
"But the empire gonna let that slide?"
"If independence war pops, empire backs the duke for sure."
"And with factions split, it'll be a mess."
Damn tangled lives they lead. But one thing's clear.
"Summer war's a golden chance for those independence folks."
"Empire too busy with us to interfere—perfect."
"Hahaha! This is getting fun, Sergeant Ulfrik!"
What'll happen to this kingdom after the war? Really curious.