ραпdα nᴏνɐ| сom Asmund accepted the challenge of Askild as the assault on the wall began, Askild knew that Asmund had the advantage and this reminded Asger of a familiar scene.
"I accept your challenge, King Askild," Asmund said and every single warrior on the battlefield fell speechless, Askild knew he was strong but he had also heard about what Asmund was like in his prime.
Askild was the one who challenged so he had no choice but the honor this sacred tradition but he was wondering why Asmund did not attempt to aid his son.
This was not arrogance, it was something else and Askild felt like he was playing right into the hand of Asmund.
The wall did not bulge and they were being overwhelmed, they could not even pick the ram back because of the rain of arrows, and Bjorn was well hidden beneath his raised shield.
"We need to get over the wall!" Ragnar shouted and this was something obvious but they could not. Something sizzling soon dropped from the top of the wall.
And what followed were screams of his allies, Bjorn look to his side and watched a multitude of people have their skin melt right off their bones.
"Fall back!" Asger shouted, oil was common in war defenses but there was nothing about hot oil because then there would be no need for fire. Vestfold used to set the floor ablaze and those that had it spilled on them. The ram they were using was a casualty so breaking the door proved impossible right now.
"This is bad!" Ragnar said and everyone now understood why Asmund did not perceive them to be a threat because he was confident that they could not breach the walls.
There was no way they could go near the wall because the floor was damped in oil and all it took to ignite it was one flaming bow.
"What do we do?" Skarde asked and Hagen shook his head as he realized that they were not prepared in the slightest for scaling that wall because they had no ladder or tools to do so.
There was no way they could climb it, it was impossible in their current state.
"We cannot climb the wall, I need time to make the necessary tools!" Hagen muttered as he had observed what they were lacking and knew exactly what they needed, this was his contribution to the war.
"We need to fall back or we will lose more men in vain," Skarde warned and everyone agreed. This resulted in roars from the enemies on the walls, these were roars of victory.
Asmund smiled upon hearing the cheers of his men as he dispersed the circle that had formed, he wasn't stupid enough to let the enemies behind their lines.
He was fine with Askild's men standing behind and his, standing behind him as that was enough.
The momentum was in the favor of Asmund and Askild knew that if he loses this battle then Kattegat will fall, but if he won, the war could be over today.
Aksild unsheathed his blade but Asmund left his sheathed, this was a blatant disrespect to the people of Kattegat as it showed that Asmund did not see Askild worthy enough to unsheathe his blade.
This made Askild chuckle, he found his confidence amusing considering he was not even in his prime. Askild knew that Asmund would be the one responsible for his downfall as he witnessed this when he did not kill Erik despite defeating him.
Askild began the battle as he raised his sword to the sky, before pointing it at Asmund. The tension in the air was indescribable because the anticipation and excitement were there despite them being enemies.
The day they would see the legendary Asmund fight the man said to be the strongest warrior in Kattegat was like a battle ordained by the gods.
The moment Askild's sword pointed at Asmund, he lunged at him attempting a vertical slash. This was to split his head down the middle but despite his age, Asmund showed he was still quick on his feet as he side-stepped the attack with relative ease before landing a blow right on the neck of Askild, all in a single motion.
Askild clutched his neck and dropped to his knees, this was a sight no warrior in Kattegat had ever seen. Asmund had brought their king to his knees in one blow.
"Askild, you were still a child during the war so I cannot blame you for not knowing just how strong I was as you only had stories to satisfy your mind…" Asmund said as he gestured for him to get back on his feet as he had no intentions of killing him, not yet at least.
"Asmund! You are a monster, you hide behind your benevolence but I know what you have done!" Birger shouted and Asmund looked at him from the corner of his eye.
"Birger, my dear brother. I did love you but there is something different about you…' Asmund said, his voice held no hatred as he still saw Birger as his brother despite his betrayal, he just did not love him.
Askild managed to regain himself as he got back to his feet, he understood the mistake he made and that was trying to go for the finishing blow in one strike, it left him open as he did not take into account the agility of an old man.
"Do you understand now, King Askild?" Asmund asked him as everyone looked stunned, Asmund planned to break Kattegat's spirit by breaking their pillar, Askild.
"I do Asmund, I have to fight you at 100% even if you do not brandish your weapon," Askild said, taking a deep breath to calm his thoughts and clear his mind.
"That is right…" Asmund muttered, as he waited for Askild to launch yet another attack. It came in a similar reckless fashion but Asmund barely avoided it not because he did not see the attack but rather, the sword technique that Askild used as it managed to cut the cloth of Asmund.
"Let's begin Asmund. Let's end this war!" Askild shouted and Asmund smiled in response to this.
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