Chapter 57

The young warriors left the tribehold as a unit. Everyone was eager to push ahead and write new passages of their saga in monster blood. They thirsted for blood and the Ancestors’ approval, yet they were especially interested in the deeds and feats they were bound to accomplish. All they needed to do was follow Hakon.

He didn’t know what Teraq had told them, but everyone – even those who hadn’t fully recuperated from their first encounter with the Pearot Barbarians – arrived at dawn to depart with him. Even Ulfar was present, covered in blood, a large scar spreading from his collarbone to his left eye.

Ulfar’s arm was still missing, but that didn’t change his bloody presence in the slightest. If anything, he was stronger than ever, his presence swallowing those around him.

Hakon tried to speak with him once, to make sure Ulfar knew enough about their plan to help them, but the Behemoth Blood warrior only snorted, the fire of hatred and envy burning deep in his eyes. Leaving the angry warrior behind with a shrug, Hakon adjusted his plans.

He split his people into smaller groups, working from a rough understanding of everyone’s prowess. They may have grown since the fight with the Pearot Barbarian, but Hakon did not forget what he had witnessed. He now knew who worked well together and which Ancient Powers were better kept apart. He made sure Teraq wasn’t grouped with one of the more aggressive Bloodbearers, knowing they would only stand in each other’s way. Then he tried to pair Eren with Ulfar, which the former accepted reluctantly. Ulfar, however, refused.

“I fight alone. Just bring me to the Fracture and stay out of my sight,” he growled, which was fair enough.

Once the groups had been assigned, Hakon disappeared into the forest. He left behind a trail for the more experienced hunters to follow and wove his way through the dangers of the forest and the forbidden lands until he reached a quaint, familiar lake. A few Giant Ants and Acidic Beetles skittered around the lake and the small island at its center, but they were quickly taken care of. A few [Mana Bolt]s and a massive, descending Maulaxe Crusher were all it took to get rid of most of them.

“The Fracture disappeared,” he noted to himself.

It was expected; however, Hakon and his father needed confirmation to proceed.

Focusing on his memories, and utilizing [Aether Spiral] to recover the little mana he had used, Hakon materialized the image of the Pearot map in his mind. The mark on the map was not far from the lake, which was all the more reason to use this place as a gathering point. He rotated Crusher in his hand and struck the largest nearby tree with full force, embedding its bladed side deep into the trunk. Twisting the blade, he pulled it free after a moment.

“That should be enough.” It was a mark, albeit a poor one, but it would suffice for Astrid and Björn.

With that taken care of, Hakon used some of his least favorite skills. The moment he did, he moved more cautiously, his steps reduced to little more than muffled noise in the vibrating forest. He melded with his surroundings as much as possible and reeled in his mana until it was as if he no longer existed.

[Silent Steps] and [Stealth] were not bad skills. No matter how much he disliked the secrecy and intent behind them, he acknowledged their power and usefulness. If only they were bad skills. He chuckled inwardly and triggered [Tracking], augmented by [Sensory Expansion].

Once that was done, it was time to disappear into the forest and scout the surroundings.

The first task at hand was to ensure the safety of the immediate area. That didn’t take long, so he pushed deeper into the forbidden lands. Weaving around plant life that appeared dangerous even to him, Hakon located several monsters. Some were powerful enough to pose a threat to him, while others would be more suitable for the weaker Barbarians to handle. Noting their behavior, movement patterns, and the trails they left behind, Hakon moved past them. No matter how much his fingers itched for combat, he couldn’t be certain he was alone.

No, he knew he was not alone in there. That much was confirmed when he located one of his targets: a Fracture portal, guarded by none other than Pearot Barbarians.

Hakon didn’t strike immediately this time. He wanted to push forward, but he waited as several Barbarians stepped out of the Fracture portal, their hair ablaze, their bodies covered in burns, claw marks, and bite wounds. Their faces bore vibrant smiles, which only widened as they joked with their comrades.

Those comrades rose from a small campsite Hakon hadn’t noticed before and approached the wounded Barbarians. They slapped each other on the shoulders with equally bright smiles and excited roars, tightly clutching their weapons as they charged into the Fracture.

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The wounded stepped into the campsite. Some collapsed onto bedrolls, while others feasted on grilled meat with gusto.