Chapter 20

“Children of our blood, the Ancestors see you, and they remember every name that shaped our kind.” The Shaman intoned, voice heavy with implication, “Today you fight not for yourself but for the Ancestors and the Great One.”

He spread his arms wide out, his etchings glowing ever so faintly as a heavy pressure descended upon all of them. “Show them what our people are made of. What they died for. Make them proud. Shed the blood of your enemies in their names!”

The Shaman didn’t stop right there. However, his voice changed tune. The words coming out of his mouth could no longer be understood. They were a gibberish mess to the ears of all those around Hakon, yet they made his hair stand on end. His heart was racing, his excitement rising, and he was not the only one.

Hakon felt something brush against his skin and activated [Mana Sense]. Mana, pure and wild, flowed past him. It surged in all directions, its presence affecting all those it reached, yet it never stopped and moved outward. Seeking the source of the wild mana, Hakon redirected his focus to the Shaman. But while the Shaman was shrouded in wild mana, he was not its source. The origin of the wild mana was behind the Shaman, towering high and mighty.

The Monolith.

Lost in the beauty of pureness and the danger of the wild, he couldn’t cast his gaze aside. He was bewitched, wild mana pumping all over the Monolith’s golden etchings like life itself.

“Boring.” Björn’s voice came from the side, pulling Hakon back to his senses.

Only then did he realize that the Battle of Generation had already started. Two young warriors had already been called on to the stage, their bare chests pushed out in an imposing manner. Or so it should have been. Instead, they looked weird as they pumped their chests out way too much.

“What are they? Birds trying to impress potential mates?” Astrid shook her head in disgust.

Hakon remained silent, trying to analyze the young warriors for telltales of the 1st Ascension, Bloodbearer powers, as well as changes induced by newly acquired Skills. While it was difficult at first, he used [Combat Awareness] and [Inspection] when combat started. [Weakness Detection] triggered on its own, pinpointing a dozen areas both warriors didn’t bother guarding. Instead, they charged at each other.

They wielded swords of similar size, height, and quality, and neither bothered with protective gear. No warrior wore more than one piece of armor. Even that was oftentimes frowned upon.

Regardless, the warriors were not particularly powerful. Neither had reached the 1st Ascension. Their physical might was still admirable but considering both were Bloodbearers of Giant Blood, it was mediocre at best.

“Low bloodline potency.” Hakon muttered to himself before circulating mana into his eyes. He didn’t bother with [Circulation] but the traces of mana that lingered in his eyes improved his vision anyway.

A Skill to improve my vision would be useful. He mused and made a mental note.

“They’re still Bloodbearers. Unlike you, boarface!” Someone behind him grunted.

“So?” Hakon asked, not even bothering to turn around. He knew the voice’s owner, and it did not surprise him in the slightest. Ulfar’s friends. One of the clingy ones. His name was of no importance. ‘Fool 1’ was probably more fitting anyway.

“Their might is greater than yours, boarface!” Fool 1 growled, “They stronger than you ever will!”

Neither Astrid nor Björn seemed to like what they heard. Björn turned around with a red face, his large hands reaching for the oversized handaxes hanging by his side, but Astrid was faster. She was a flash, a river of blood and pain, as she lunged forward, her fist connecting with Fool 1’s face. A sickening crack rang out, quickly followed by a pained yelp.

Meanwhile, the battle on the stage continued as two brutes struck each other head-on. There was little tactic involved in their movements. They relied on their physical strength and the power granted by Levels to overpower their foe. Alas, it looked like they were both at the same Level. Even their [Sword Mastery] didn’t look much different.

It was almost ridiculous to watch as the warriors exchanged one cut with another. They wounded each other, though neither seemed to mind as their Bloodline attuned bodies regenerated rapidly.

“Did they only acquire [Sword Mastery]?” Hakon muttered, while the chaos behind him continued. Astrid had already returned to his side but Björn wasn’t done yet.

“You are not a boarface. I think you look good. Great. Much better than those brutes.” Her voice rang in his ears, low and…hesitant?

He turned to Astrid’s beet-red face, their eyes meeting for the faintest fraction of a second before she turned back to the battle, turning even redder than before.

“I’m happy to hear that.” Hakon’s waist bumped into Astrid’s, “But you look even better.”

Normally, he would have returned to watch the battle. Leave the situation as is. There were more important matters to take care off, after all. But somehow, Hakon couldn’t be bothered. His eyes lingered on Astrid, her abashed face stirring something that had been sealed deep in his heart for as long as he could remember.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

He leaned closer to her face, his heartbeat loud enough to swallow the world’s sounds and whispered gently into her ear, “You are the most beautiful woman in the tribe.”

Astrid froze for a moment. Then the corner of her lip curled up.

“Only beautiful?” She turned her face to meet his eyes before he could fully back up, a hint of temptation sparking within them.

“Of course, not.” Hakon laughed, “You are the strongest as well. Or you will be once you beat your mother.”

Astrid grunted something incomprehensible and flicked Hakon’s forehead, yet she looked mostly satisfied with the answer she received. Her waist brushed Hakon’s and she didn’t separate right away. Instead, Astrid leaned into him for a moment.

“You guys can mate later. Not now.” Björn appeared beside them, his fists covered in blood. A glimpse back showed Fool 1 on the ground, his face resembling a boar’s after one too many run-ins with massive trees.

His eyes were shining from his clash with Fool 1, but he tried – and failed – to look all gruff. Like he hadn’t been rooting for Astrid and Hakon for cycles.

Turning back to the stage, the winner of the first battle left the stage with a limp. He was covered in cuts and deeper gashes that were slowly healing, but the amount of blood spurting all around him was staggering. The Bloodbearer’s improved regeneration was likely the only reason he was still standing.