At the front rode Sigvar, his wounds from the last battle seemingly healed. He grinned, his greatsword resting across his back.

"Come then," he growled, his voice carrying across the field. "Let's finish what we started!"

On the Duke's side, tension ran through the ranks. Soldiers trembled, some whispering quiet prayers. Fear clung to them, but still they stood, gripping their weapons tightly.

At the front, Duke Hadric waited with calm eyes. He wore no armor this time; his once-proud emerald plate lay in ruins from the last fight. A simple cloak fluttered behind him, his body wrapped in bandages.

In his right hand, he held his sword steady. His left arm was gone, bruises and cuts marked his body, but his resolve burned brighter than ever.

Beside him stood Knight Corven, his expression firm despite the gloom. Around them, officials, cultivators, and elite martial artists took their positions. None looked afraid anymore, as if they had already accepted their fate to fight to the last breath.

The first war cry from the Vikings tore through the air, and the ground seemed to shake beneath the roar.

Hadric lowered his blade and whispered, "Let's make them remember our names."

Then, with one final shout, he raised his voice above the chaos: "Charge!"

The last battle had begun.

…..

The battle horn's echo cut through the gray sky, and with a thunderous roar, the two armies clashed once more.

The normal soldiers were the first to fall, crushed under the Viking warriors' strength.

But the martial artists held their ground. Every strike flowed with energy, their movements precise and fierce.

Fist strikes, kicks, palm blows, and weapon techniques flew in all directions as they tried to keep the line. Still, the Vikings pressed forward without pause, their brute strength and savage tactics breaking through any weakness.

The stronger warriors from both sides joined the fray. Knights and elite martial artists sought out their equals, moving with speed and skill, each looking for an opening. Energy clashed with energy, armor shattered, and the cries of pain mixed with the shouts of fury.

From a distance, Sigvar stood tall. Rain drizzled off his armor, but he seemed untouched by the chaos around him. He grinned widely, taunting Duke Hadric, who remained perfectly still in the center of the battlefield.

Hadric's eyes didn't waver. He didn't flinch, waiting calmly for the perfect moment to strike.

…..

The battlefield around them roared with chaos, the cries of the dying, and the thunder of hooves echoed through the stormy sky. Amid the carnage, a Rúnbringer Viking moved wildly, his tattoos glowing bright as he cut down soldiers easily.

But then, a sudden chill ran down his spine. Before he could turn, a spear shot from behind, piercing straight through his heart. His eyes widened in shock as he collapsed, blood spilling onto the ground.

Lumberling appeared behind him silently. "We'll do this in rotation, just like we agreed," he said calmly. "Aurelya, you'll be first."

In a flash, Aurelya was at his side, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips. "Heh, of course. I always come first," she said, letting out a soft giggle. Vaenyra and Liraeth shot her sharp looks, but she paid them no mind.

Lumberling turned to her. "As a high-rank mage, this will barely affect your mind so just let it flow. Ready?"

Aurelya gave him a smile. "Always ready."

He activated his Essence Weave, drawing the Viking's essence toward her. The essence shimmered, Aurelya closed her eyes as it flowed into her. Unlike many who trembled at their first taste of essence, she remained perfectly still, like a statue absorbing power.

Slowly, her golden eyes opened, glowing with a fierce new intensity. A wide grin spread across her face. "A divine's blessing? This feels… amazing. I feel like I could even beat Vaenyra when we spar!"

"Feeling cocky already?" Lumberling said with a small grin. "That's just a fraction of their so-called divine blessing. If you absorb more, you can stock the essence and make it stronger."

Aurelya's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Then let's go find the next one. I can't wait!"

Lumberling smirked. "We'll be taking turns, remember? Wait for your turn again."

"Tch." Aurelya clicked her tongue, before turning away with a flick of her golden hair. "Fine, but I'm not waiting too long."

She dashed off toward another part of the battlefield, her laughter echoing behind her.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Lumberling called after her, shaking his head with a sigh.

He turned to Liraeth, his expression settling back into calm focus. "We'll start with the lower stages first. If you can handle it, I'll let you try the stronger ones next."

Liraeth met his gaze and nodded gently. "Understood."

…..

The hunt began like a shadow moving through chaos. Lumberling, Liraeth, and Vaenyra slipped across the battlefield silently. One by one, the elite Vikings fell before they even realized what had struck them. Each kill ended with a faint hum as Lumberling drew out their essence, feeding it to himself and his companions.

A massive Viking warrior turned, sensing something amiss, just as Vaenyra leapt from the side. Her foot struck like a hammer, sending him sprawling into the mud. Before he could recover, Lumberling's spear flashed through the air, finding the gap between his armor. The man froze, eyes wide, as a soft glow drew his essence away.

Lumberling moved like smoke between the dying and wounded, his spear precise and silent. Another Viking charged blindly, and he sidestepped, letting the man stumble into the spike of a broken spear.

Vaenyra landed beside him, brushing mud from her cloak. "This is too easy," she murmured, already scanning for the next target.

Aurelya soon returned, dragging the massive body of a Viking warrior with one hand. "Found this one trying to run," she said, dropping him beside Lumberling with a thud.

Lumberling crouched beside the fallen warrior, finishing him without hesitation and weaving his essence toward Aurelya. The faint glow wrapped around her.

Liraeth watched quietly for a moment before speaking, her voice calm but full of awe. "So this is the Viking's path… a Divine blessing. It's incredible how we can grow stronger just by absorbing their essence."

Lumberling smiled softly. "We won't be able to advance our stage just by this. To truly walk the path of the Einherjar, we need to gain a spirit and survive divine trials. Only then can we move forward. But we can still grow our skills and strengthen our divine blessings by absorbing their essence."

Liraeth nodded, her eyes reflecting the flickering fires of the battlefield, as if she could see beyond the chaos.

Lumberling turned slightly and noticed Vaenyra staring at her hands, deep in thought. "To have the power to even devour from the divines…" she murmured, then met his gaze, her emerald eyes shining faintly. "How can you use something like this so easily?"

He smiled at her. "Do you like it?"

Her lips curved into a grin. "I love it. You keep giving me surprises."

"You're welcome," he replied, offering a small, gentlemanly bow.

Vaenyra chuckled softly. "Now I feel bad for Thessalia. She missed out on this."

"That won't be a problem. I'll save some for her."

Vaenyra's smile softened. "She's going to like it."

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