The Vikings' faces twisted in disbelief. "Ressok, impossible!" one of them shouted.

Without a second thought, they charged forward, but the Elders held their ground, blocking the path with precise, calculated movements. Qi radiated from them like waves. Elder Hanxu stopped his opponent dead in their tracks, and Grand Elder Tian did the same, forcing the Vikings back.

(You have devoured the Battle-Seiðr's essence. 3500 essence absorbed. Absorbing a portion of the Battle-Seiðr's memories and experiences.)

(Beginner Dual Wielding Axe Lv.3 → Lv.4 | Power +173)

Lumberling opened his eyes, feeling the surge of power from the absorption. "A whole skill advanced… good essence," he said calmly.

"Gain something?" Aurelya asked, her golden eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Jealous?" he replied with a small grin.

"Of course not," she said, smirking in return. "I'm going to absorb someone much higher level." Her gaze shifted toward Knight Corven, who was struggling against two Viking warriors, battered and on the verge of collapse.

"Sure," Lumberling said, nodding. "Then I'll handle the ones here." He turned back toward the Vikings clashing with the Elders, ready to continue their hunt.

He was about to rush toward the clashing Vikings when Aurelya grabbed his robe.

"Hm? What is it?" Lumberling asked, turning toward her.

"Won't you give me a good luck charm?" she said, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

"A good luck charm…? Oh, so you want a kiss too?" Lumberling chuckled, finally catching on. "Come here." He opened his arms.

Aurelya stepped closer, and he pressed a quick, gentle peck to her lips. "Always prioritize your safety, don't get reckless," he said softly.

"You too," she replied, nodding firmly.

Then Lumberling turned to Liraeth, standing just beside them. "How about you? Want a good luck charm?"

"Huh? N…no need," Liraeth stammered, shaking her head. "I won't be joining the battle anyway."

Lumberling walked up to her and lightly pecked her cheek. "Stay safe. Wait for us," he whispered. Liraeth nodded in acknowledgment.

With that, Lumberling surged forward toward the spear-wielding Viking, leaving Aurelya to rush toward Knight Corven's side, ready to tip the scales of battle.

…..

Lumberling's eyes narrowed as he surged forward. "Grand Elder Tian! I'm here to help you!" he shouted, his spear cutting through the air toward the Spear Viking from the side.

'Triple Fang,' he muttered, sending his spear into three rapid thrusts. Two hit their mark, but the Viking blocked them, and the last thrust was narrowly dodged.

"You bastard who killed Ressok! I'll tear you apart!" the Viking roared, spinning his spear in a deadly counterattack aimed straight at Lumberling.

"Lord Lumberling, I didn't expect you to join our fight," Grand Elder Tian said, appearing beside him. His dark, iron-like palm shot forward, intercepting the Viking's strike. In a blur, Tian followed with multiple palm strikes, forcing the Viking to stagger back several meters.

"It's part of Duke Hadric's plan. We'll work together and take him down," Lumberling replied, eyes locked on their target.

"I see… so the Duke had a plan all along. Then I'll be relying on your help, Lord Lumberling," Elder Tian said, clasping his palms. His dense Qi darkened further, spreading across his body like black iron. "I'll hold him, and you strike."

"Good," Lumberling replied, a grin forming. 'You tank it and I attack, just like I wanted.'

With a silent nod to each other, both surged forward, a coordinated force, Lumberling attacking from the right, Grand Elder Tian from the left, ready to crush their foe.

…..

On another part of the battlefield, Corven struggled to his feet, blood dripping from the wound along his side. His mangled shield hung uselessly in his left hand, dented and torn from the previous strike. His vision blurred, but his gaze stayed fixed on the two monstrous Vikings advancing relentlessly.

Skjarr, now a snarling wolf-like figure, lunged again, claws slicing downward and carving a deep wound across Corven's side. Ruld, transformed into a hulking boar-like figure with thick bristled hair, swung his massive axe toward him.

Corven barely raised the remains of his shield in time, absorbing the blow, but the force sent him skidding backward across the muddy ground.

He coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth, and staggered to stay upright as his vision blurred toward darkness. "Duke Hadric…" he muttered through gritted teeth, refusing to fall. He watched the two massive Vikings advancing, their eyes burning with deadly intent.

Just as his knees began to give out, a streak of golden light shot across the battlefield, a fireball racing toward Skjarr and Ruld. The explosion shook the ground, sending dust and debris flying. Both Vikings twisted just in time, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the attack, their faces twisted in fury.

Skjarr and Ruld's eyes snapped toward the source of the fireball. There, striding forward with calm purpose, was a woman of striking presence, Aurelya. The wind carried a faint crackle of power around her, and her golden hair shimmered even under the stormy sky.

She moved steadily, her boots making almost no sound on the cracked battlefield. Light seemed to gather around her rapier, golden flames licking the edge as if the weapon itself hungered for battle.

"What's with that ugly transformation? Is that what happens if I follow the Einherjar path?" Aurelya asked, her voice calm but sharp, laced with confidence.

Skjarr growled, his wolf-like features twisted in amusement. "An elf mage? So your race has come to join the fun."

Ruld snorted like a raging boar, spitting on the ground. "Perfect. Skjarr, let's grab her and bring her to our king. He'll be very pleased."

"To have one come to us willingly, and she's beautiful as hell. Thought elves only hid in their forests like cowards. This is a rare chance," Skjarr added, his claws flexing as he tightened his grip on the Spear-Glaive. With a roar, he charged at Aurelya, spear aimed straight for her.

Aurelya's eyes glinted, and a small, mocking smile curved her lips. "Funny, you all act the same whenever I meet your kind. Brutes who don't even know who they're messing with."

She raised her rapier, and light flared along its edge like a living thing, hungry to strike.

Then, in a blink, Aurelya vanished from her spot and reappeared beside Ruld. Her movements were impossibly fast, almost as if she were in several places at once. Strikes rained down from her rapier, each one precise, burning with golden light.

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