Chapter 32: The Breaking Point

The air over the battlefield was thick with tension as Bjorn Thunderclaw's axe clashed against Ragnar Bloodshade's warhammer, sending shockwaves across the snowy plains. Warriors on both sides, Viking and barbarian alike, had ceased their fighting, drawn into the gravity of the titanic duel unfolding before them. This was no ordinary clash, the result would define the course of the war.

Bjorn took a step forward, his breath calm, his green eyes locked onto Ragnar's crimson glare. Every muscle in his body burned from exertion, yet he showed no sign of slowing. His axe glinted faintly with Gabriel's blessing, the divine energy pulsating through the blade, fueling his strikes. Across from him, Ragnar stood breathing heavily, his warhammer trembling in his grip. His once-commanding black aura flickered and wavered, as though his strength was finally beginning to wane.

Bjorn gripped his axe tightly and took another step forward, his voice steady and cutting. "Your darkness falters, Ragnar. Every step you take forward brings you closer to defeat."

Ragnar snarled, raising his warhammer high. "Do not mock me, Viking. My power is eternal!"

With a feral roar, Ragnar charged, his warhammer glowing with surging black energy. The sheer weight of the weapon promised destruction with every swing. But Bjorn met him with calm precision. The two weapons collided with a deafening crash, sending sparks and shockwaves rippling through the air.

Bjorn didn't back down. With a twist of his body, he deflected Ragnar's next strike and drove the butt of his axe into Ragnar's ribs, forcing a grunt of pain from the barbarian leader. Without missing a beat, Bjorn followed up with a powerful upward swing, slicing through the edge of Ragnar's warhammer and sending a burst of sparks flying.

Ragnar stumbled back, his breathing ragged. His crimson eyes burned with fury, but it was clear he was losing ground.

From the Viking lines, Astrid, Liv, and Eira stood together, their weapons ready but their eyes locked on the duel. The sight of their father steadily overpowering Ragnar filled them with both pride and anxiety.

Astrid's knuckles were white around the shaft of her spear. "He's winning, but Ragnar won't go down easily. He's too stubborn."

Liv, her bow slung across her back, nodded. "That black energy… it's like it's feeding him just enough to keep him standing. But it's faltering."

Eira, her twin axes resting at her sides, smirked. "Doesn't matter. Father's stronger. Ragnar's just a brute clinging to a power he doesn't deserve."

The Vikings around them murmured in agreement, their faith in Bjorn unperturbed. Even from the walls of Skjoldheim, the other Viking chiefs watched with a mix of awe and anticipation.

Far above the battlefield, Gabriel hovered silently, his wings folded as he observed the fight below. His pale eyes flickered between the two warriors, reading the energies that swirled around them.

Ragnar's black aura, once a storm of violent power, now sputtered unevenly. It was a force built on fear and hatred, and as those emotions began to fail him, so too did his strength. By contrast, Bjorn's presence burned brightly, his will and determination radiating outward like a beacon.

"They're opposites," Gabriel murmured, a faint smile on his lips. "Light and shadow. But light always endures."

His gaze drifted to the three sisters—Astrid, Liv, and Eira. Even in their father's absence from the line, they inspired the warriors around them, their courage and strength mirroring Bjorn's.

With a furious roar, Ragnar struck the ground with his warhammer, sending a wave of black energy surging toward Bjorn. The ground cracked and splintered, the force threatening to sweep Bjorn off his feet. But the Viking chief stood firm, raising his axe as Gabriel's blessing flared brightly around him. The golden energy absorbed the blow, dissipating the black wave in an instant.

"You fight like a man desperate to prove his strength," Bjorn said coldly. "But desperation won't save you."

Ragnar sneered, his teeth bared in frustration. "You speak as though you've already won."

Bjorn advanced, his axe sweeping in a wide arc. Ragnar barely managed to deflect the strike, the force of the blow sending him stumbling back.

"You're finished, Ragnar," Bjorn said, his voice calm and steady. "Yield."

Ragnar roared again, his warhammer rising for one last desperate swing. Bjorn stepped forward into the attack, his axe meeting the warhammer in a collision of light and shadow. With a powerful twist, Bjorn wrenched the warhammer from Ragnar's grasp, sending it flying across the battlefield.

Before Ragnar could react, Bjorn's axe struck him in the side, forcing him to his knees. The barbarian leader gasped, blood dripping from his lips as he glared up at Bjorn with unrelenting hatred.

The battlefield fell silent. Vikings and barbarians alike stared in stunned disbelief as Ragnar, the feared warlord, knelt before Bjorn. The Vikings erupted into cheers, their cries of triumph echoing across the snowy plains.

Astrid, Liv, and Eira exchanged relieved glances. Liv smiled, her voice soft. "He did it."

Astrid nodded, a proud grin spreading across her face. "Father always wins."

Eira raised her axes triumphantly, her voice ringing out. "That's our father!"

Even Gabriel, still watching from above, allowed himself a faint smile. "Bjorn," he murmured, "you truly are remarkable."

But the fight wasn't over yet. Ragnar gritted his teeth, his crimson eyes blazing with defiance. Despite the blood pouring from his wounds and the pain wracking his body, he refused to bow.

With a guttural growl, he forced himself back to his feet. The black energy around him flared weakly, flickering like a dying flame, but it was enough to reignite the tension on the battlefield.

"You think you've won, Viking?" Ragnar snarled, his voice venomous. "You think this is over?"

Bjorn raised his axe, his green eyes steady. "You're beaten, Ragnar. Don't make this harder than it has to be."

Ragnar sneered, his lips curling into a wicked grin. "I will never yield. You may break my body, but my will is eternal."

Bjorn sighed, his expression resolute. "Then I'll end this."