Ragnarok: Fallout of the gods

Months passed and the Vikings continued their stance against the onslaught of the corrupted Rune Walkers. Bestla led the charges against these beings, commanding the Vikings from the main ship as the fleets stationed across the sea battled against their common enemy. On top of the mountains of the Fjord, were cannons, weapons made up of special metal that was carved with runes. The runic cannons were enchanted to channel the Essence of the Vikings allowing them to attack from a long range. The cannon wielders assisted the warriors who fought close range, with the help of the Volur. The Volur were practitioners of magic, being able to conjure the Natural elemental forces of the world to aid them. These beings were known for their deadly power and the changes they bought to the battlefield. It was just a shame that there were few Volur among the humans. And that everything about them was so mysterious. Bestla wished she had more of them with her, but the more powerful ones were stationed in the village, maintaining the barrier that prevented raiders from Denland to invade them. The relationship between Norland and Denland was not the best, not even with Frodi's peace. As the protector of Kattegat, Bestla had to be considerate and smart with how she handled the forces available to her. She watched as some of her men fell, the ruthless Rune Walkers being so unrelenting. She didn't move her eyes away, watching as the Rune Walkers tore through their bodies. And then another squad of Vikings rushed to get rid of the Rune walkers. These was a seasonal occurrence so Bestla was used to loosing people from the Rune Walkers. They were so close to exterminating this batches of sea creatures that had become Rune Walkers and then they could rest and prepare for winter. A blast from one of the mountains incinerated a group of Rune Walkers, the sea boiling from the elemental attack. Bestla watched as in the distance, a being rose up from the water. The being was long, spindly, with a black inky skin that felt like a void that wanted to suck up the light around it. It's head was large with a row of serrated fang in it's forehead and where it's eyes and nose was suppose to be. And underneath it was a normal set of mouth. It had a large fin on it's back that looked like blades, it's long thin arm armed with claws that reeked of blood. This was the Walker responsible for corrupting the Rune beast within the sea, and now it could tell that its minions that it was using was about to be finished. As Bestla observed the creature from the upper deck of her ship, one of the ship crew turned away from the screen of the machineries within the ship.

"The Rune Walker is ranked to be around Semi Grade two," The Crew member said to Bestla. She nodded as she could already tell the full strength of the monster with her Internal sense. Bestla sighed knowing that none of her men could stand a chance against such a creature. Even though their levels might be similar, Rune Walkers were stronger than mortals of the same level as them, so Bestla had no choice but to get directly involved.

"I'm heading out," Bestla said. "Tell the men to retreat. I don't want them to become collateral," Her assistant nodded. And as the Vikings, moving and fighting on the surface of the sea started to finish up the dwindling Rune Walkers, a sound from the Main ship rang out. They all recognized what it meant, and like they had done so many times, the Vikings jumped off from the Sea's surface and back to their ships as it began to retreat. Within five minutes the fleet of ships were heading back to the port, leaving the remaining Rune Walkers that had not been killed.

Above the sea, floating in the air was Bestla Lothbrok, the most powerful Viking of Kattegat, and the third most powerful warrior in the Kingdom of Norland. To be able to fly was an advance skill that Vikings could only use when they reach a certain realm in their cultivation, and as someone with a high cultivation, Bestla could effortlessly levitate without much drain on her Essence. She took out her sword from her sheath, and began to channel a certain force within her blade. Sparks of blue lightning began to emerge as she raised her sword to the heavens and the clouds turned dark and stormy with lightning bolts.

[Mjolnir Lightning breaker]

Bolts of lightning fell from he dark clouds, the force of the blast pushing the sea apart from each other as the Rune Walkers were obliterated into dust. One could see the land that as under the sea as it was divided by the force of the Elemental attack. The Vikings watching all this from the harbor of the port area were all amazed at the feat of their leader. It was said that the Lothbroks were descendants of the gods, bearing the Aesir bloodline, and seeing Bestla have control over Nature's primal weapon, it was easy enough to believe the claim. As the sea settled down, and the smoke from the boiling of the sea, Bestla noticed that the main Rune Walker was still standing. All it's minions were gone, but this creature was still around. The creature noticing the power of Bestla roared, it's hunger for Bestla's power driving it insane. Bestla didn't seem bother as she drew her sword in one fluid vertical motion. Lightning fell down from her sword slash, the attack decimating the Rune Walker into dust particles. Bestla returned her sword back to it's sheath and flew back to the harbor, her mood finally changing as the fight against the Rune Walkers was over.

****

Cheers rang out among the celebrants, cups of mead and alcohol clashed against each others as the Winter Solstice was celebrated. The Fall season was over, winter had finally arrived long ago, and now the people of Kattegat were enjoying another season of safety and peace. Seated in the long hall, in front of the assembled villagers were Bestla and her family. Ragna was there, drinking the cider juice as he was not allowed alcohol. He was dressed in a green tunic shirt and dark brown pants with brown boots. Covering his body was a furred coat that was gotten from the body of Runebeasts. The coat was enchanted to provide warmth and protection. Ragna had grown taller, reaching five feet and three inches. It was quite obvious that Ragna was still growing, his muscles still developing. But his mind seemed to have reached full maturation, his Psychic energy having grown to the point that his will alone was enough to defeat any mortal being that could not cultivate. Ragna watched as the hearth, a circular platform filled with logs, was being burned, the ancient traditions of the Norse still at play. They had just returned from a Sacrificial ceremony where Rune Beasts had been sacrificed and given thanks to their Ancestors and the gods. Ragna wondered why on earth they were still worshipping and honoring the so called Aesir gods. They had abandoned not just humanity, but the other races too. They sacrificed the world just to save their skin, and as such, Ragna had no respect for them. But he understood why the Norsemen still honored the gods. It was part of their traditions. A tradition that was still kept alive thanks to how important the Volur and the gods' blessing was to their survival. Though Ragna had learned that it was only the ordinary folks who worshipped the gods. The Vikings did neither, as their love and gratitude was extended to their sovereign. As the celebration wore on, Ragna excused himself from the dining table, and proceeded to go outside. As Ragna stepped out of his home's gate, he was besieged by Torvi and Anders, the few friends he had managed to form a bond with.

"Prince Ragna," Anders said. Anders was a tall boy-not as tall as Ragna- with brown hair and a couple of freckles. Torvi- a short girl with black raven hair, and cute face with a little bits of baby fats- hit Ragna in his elbow as a form of greeting. Ragna nodded at them. Over the months that his mother had lead the charge against the Rune walkers, Ragna had invited Torvi and Anders to train with him. He did it because he wanted to test his mental power against them and as a result they had also benefited from it. Though they didn't awaken their Psychic energy, their mental processing had improved tremendously that they could resist Ragna's willpower for a while. They walked through the paved ground that had been cleared of the falling snow, every house and building around them were filled with celebrations. Ragna felt like walking around the village, something he used to do with his mother before he started his Viking training. As he walked, he listened to Torvi and Anders talk about the currents events that were happening in Norland and the other Kingdoms. Anders was talking about a Volva that seemed to be gaining recognition among the Volur community.

"They say she is the most talented Volva that has been born in centuries," Anders said as they walked through the port market that was closed for the season. "Prince Ragna if only you were born with a Natural Rune like the Volur, perhaps you might be the most talented one," A Natural Rune was the sign that marked the Volur, a blessing directly from the gods.

"His Highness doesn't need to be a Volva. Once he gets his first Rune, he'll become the most powerful Viking of our generation," Torvi said.

"hmm, I heard your cousin was the one rumored to be the most gifted of our generation," Anders said.

"Where did you hear that," Torvi said.

"My parents," Anders said. "The Volur community is small, and they like to talk a lot. They've heard news about the Prince and Princess that live in the capital," Yes, Ragna had cousins. His mother was the youngest sibling of the children of King Sigurd Lothbrok. And though she was the youngest, she had far surpassed her siblings when it came to Cultivation levels. Ragna had never met any of his extended family, nor had he been to the Capital to meet the King, so he had no idea of what they were like or not. But he was quite interested in meeting his Grandfather. Rumor had it that he was the most powerful being in all the known lands. He was interested in knowing what kind of Cultivator his Grandfather was.