Chapter 34: The Destruction of the Norscans

The areas north of the Siren Sea and the Chaos Sea are generally the domain of the Chaos Wasteland and thoroughly twisted demon tribes. The people living in this range cannot fundamentally be called Human; they can only be called demons, or servants of demons.

Their thoughts and spirits have already been corroded by the Winds of Magic of the Chaos Wasteland; their behavior and thoughts are less like Humans and more like beasts approaching Human form.

While Norscans certainly have a tradition of self-destruction and pursuing a noble death, they are still relatively resistant to this state.

As for the Frozen Sea, at the edge of the Siren Sea, it is the so-called edge of the Human world.

Here, although the shadows of demons appear occasionally, they are not everywhere like in the Chaos Wasteland and the Chaos Snowfield. Furthermore, some fish schools and berries that are safe to eat appear in the land and sea areas. Although life is difficult, they can at least survive.

As for the area where Li Ang is located, it used to be called the Broken Lands. Aside from a group of Chaos Demons and various pirates, there were absolutely no living people there.

Therefore, sailing all the way to the nearest area with traces of civilization takes three days.

Even this is at maximum speed; under normal circumstances, it would likely take no less than ten days to reach the edge of the Frozen Sea. This is enough to highlight just how desperate Li Ang's location is.

By the way, heaven knows how the Chivalrous Expedition Fleet even got here.

Perhaps someone helped them along for a leg of the journey.

However, Wufuruike did not come to the Frozen Sea this time to snatch the last fruits from his poor brothers; he truly came to help his brothers find a good way out. The Landing Site where Li Ang is located, even without counting that Wonder city made entirely of steel, is rich enough in water, grass, and produce just from the land that has been reclaimed.

Although it cannot compare to the Southern Kingdoms or those regions specifically operating with Magic, for the dirt-poor Norscans, this place is as beautiful as heaven.

Wufuruike felt no resistance toward recruiting Norscans to reach the Landing Site.

But the moment he saw the black smoke of destruction rising from the location of that village, a feeling of sudden realization—or rather, of connecting all the clues together—arose in Wufuruike's heart.

Although he did not know exactly what his brain had understood, Wufuruike was very clear that he seemed to have understood some things.

That is, when one becomes involved with gods, even small matters can likely turn into disasters.

"…Move closer."

"Wufuruike! Let's send an advance team to take a look first! This situation is very unusual!"

"I said, move closer. This is likely a punishment."

"Punishment…?"

Under the confused gaze of the observer, Wufuruike shook his head in silence, explaining nothing.

The fleet's originally joyful atmosphere suddenly became oppressive; no one sang or danced anymore, and no one made noise. Under the magic-filled snowflakes in the sky, the fleet sailed silently past the fjord, witnessing the tragic state of that village at the very edge of civilization.

Just as Wufuruike said, that was a punishment.

As if a malicious god was venting its anger, a scene that made one feel cold and terrified from the bottom of their heart appeared before everyone.

It was the Blood Eagle.

One village, one hundred and forty-five people, including twenty-seven young children, seventeen elders, thirty-five women, and six pregnant women.

These people, along with the adult Norscan laborers, had been carved into individual Blood Eagles, standing at the edge of the coast, silently watching the returning Norscan Dragonship. Their low-temperature-frozen eyeballs were like glass, reflecting turbid light and shadows.

Even the infants in the pregnant women's wombs had been meticulously fashioned into small Blood Eagles and stuck below the women to show their relationship.

And behind this cruelty, a group of figures that Norscans once worshipped were jumping about joyfully in the center of the village. They had built a huge bonfire, hung with scattered Human organs, shrieking to express their reverence for the Dark Gods.

In the very center of the bonfire, a grotesque and twisted God Eagle sculpture was emitting that familiar blue light, looking at the Norscan fleet mockingly, as if satisfied with their shock.

"This, this is divine punishment, Wufuruike… This is the consequence of you not respecting the gods…"

Silently watching the terrifying and bloody scene, an old, trembling voice came from within the crowd.

Hearing that hoarse voice, Wufuruike turned around in surprise to look at the short figure who had emerged from the crowd at some point, holding a long staff and trembling all over.

"High Priest? When did you get on the ship?" Wufuruike said in surprise, looking at that thin, withered body.

At the beginning, the High Priest had fainted after examining Li Ang. It seemed to be because the backlash was too severe, so everyone had just put him in another room and thought nothing of it.

And when they relocated, the High Priest had not been able to wake up directly. But to be honest, such things were quite common in Norsca, and everyone had not thought much of it. After arranging for the High Priest to be well-protected at the Landing Site and leaving two people to report, the Norscans had set off along the coastline.

But now, the High Priest's appearance here made this incident seem somewhat ambiguous.

He had not chosen to stay at Li Ang's side; instead, after waking up long ago, he had secretly remained within the Norscan fleet, clearly intending to bypass Li Ang.

"I am not yet so old that you would notice when I board a ship."

The Norscan priest coughed, his deep eye sockets hiding his gaze.

"You have all been deceived by the evil gods. Have you not felt it yet? Your wisdom, your abilities, your strength—which of these was not granted to you by the God Eagle?"

'It seems that is indeed the case…'

'Yeah, isn't wisdom and all that from the God Eagle?'

'It can't be a liar, right? Haven't we all experienced it?'

Seeing the highly respected High Priest, many people's expressions began to waver.

And as the High Priest looked at the wavering people, the corners of his mouth curled up like an eagle, his hands spread out like wings, and he let out a dry, shrill scream.

"You have all been deceived!"

Pale blue flames burned in his pupils, and the shrieking echoed across the coast.

"Clearly, this is the God Eagle's wrath! They gave you wisdom and encouragement in your desperate straits, but you were deceived by that malicious god!"

"That despicable avatar, he must be an evil god of Bretonnia! He deceived you, using his power and language to make you create scars upon the world; they just want you to be the children of the God Eagle while blindly serving him!"

"Look! This is the punishment for our disloyalty to the God Eagle! Have you not awakened yet!"

"…"

The God Eagle's punishment…

Unrest had begun to spread among the crowd, and changes began to appear within the fleet.

Because it was a god's punishment, did it lead to the most miserable and painful deaths of hundreds of people, resulting in this outcome?

Looking at the ice-sculpted Blood Eagles on the coast, Wufuruike frowned tightly and gripped his axe; accompanied by a creaking sound, veins spread out from his palms until his entire arm became engorged with blood.

…Engorged with blood? Why did he feel a surge of hot blood, a fierce flame burning in his heart? 'Wufuruike.'

A calm voice rang out in Wufuruike's heart.

'I have already mastered the power of the God of Struggle. You do not need to worry about anything; follow your heart and act.'

"…"

Accompanied by those words full of trust, a layer of pale red light appeared in Wufuruike's palm.

It was a grotesque sigil, saturated with intense emotions of struggle, wanting to tear everything apart.

That was the Brand of the Hound of God, the Blood-Thirster, the God of Struggle.

Looking at the High Priest before him, who was glib-tongued and resembled a double-headed eagle spreading its wings, Wufuruike closed his eyes and let out a scoff.

"You are lying, Priest."

I talked to the editor, and it has already passed the first round! Thank you all for your support! I will spend the night proofreading and correcting the previous plot and text; I am truly grateful for everyone's support! So please keep following and reading! I really beg everyone to take a look every day! Thank you! (End of chapter)