Author's Note

Sorry for the late update I was planning on posting the next chapter on the 13th

Note:
Hello is for When the character speaks English

Runes

"Normal"

But I'm pretty sure you guys already had a good guess of it

Anyway criticize and enjoy!!

7. Progress final

Dvalinn and his army rode atop their beasts, having trudged for days as they passed by old caribou settlements that have been reduced to ashes.

Charred corpses having been exposed from under their snowy graves by the winds. As the army passed by these sights their anger built up more and more with each one.

Dvalinn remained stone faced but his tight grip on his sheathed sword spoke volumes of how he shared his thoughts with his army.

They finally made a stop to camp until they’ve reached the savagethaw forest. The place they made their camp was the remains of the Bravehoof settlement, Dvalinn’s former tribe.

They unpacked their things and got moving setting it up.

“I hope it’s true…” one of the stags growled as he and another stag were unloading some sacks from the back of their beasts whom snorted flames, “Hmm?” was the other stags response “I hope it’s true that the raiders are all doe, cause if I find them I’m going to fuck them, beat them and fuck them again until they break!!” he answers with a malicious smile and a vacant look, having paused to rub his nether.

The other stag snorted, carrying his sacks over his shoulders “Get in line brother, I’m pretty sure every single stag in our crusade has had that thought, we will make them pay together”

They walked with their loads to an empty spot between two half done tents “Plus if they’re not females, doesn’t mean we won’t have fun with them eventually” he smirked as they set them down, the formerly ‘daydreaming’ stag quirked a brow “Oh? What are you suggesting!? I don’t fuck fellow stags or males…”

The second stag smirked “You won’t that I assure you. You see God king Dainn has become quite annoyed by the male crows back at that kingdom of theirs making shit difficult with their stupidity” the first stag huffed “We give them the opportunity to free their minds from their females control and they thank us by causing chaos to protect their bitches honour!!?” The stag releases an annoyed huff “The only honour they can earn is between our legs!!! We should’ve been at the fox lands by now!”

His friend chuckled “Let me finish what I was about to say, I know you are frustrated by them, we all are, but that will no longer matter as I’ve heard that the runemasters and brightest minds of the caribou have been working on a machine…” he became giddy as his ally showed a clearly confused expression “What kind of ‘machine’?”

“One that will be used on the males who quite clearly don’t realize the truth about being male and thus can find that truth…by being female” he said with a laugh as his fellow stag’s jaw dropped.

“Wa-w-wait really-!?”

But the conversation was cut by their commander, Dvalinn who loudly exclaimed to get his armies attention.

“I demand your attention this instant!!” he cried as he stood at the centre of the camp being built, the stags stopped what they were doing and the three thousand stags gather in a disorganized manner around Dvalinn, who sat atop his mount “We are only hours away from reaching the savagethaw forest, all of you have heard of the many dangers that lie in it, this area like the Quacking mountains and the deep north is home to dangerous beasts not conquered by caribou might….for now!”

The army cheered, “The raiders hide themselves in that forest, believing it’s beasts will protect them for their cowardice!!” rage filled cries were heard.

“We are caribou, we do not falter, we do not run, we are destined to rule as is our right as the mightiest!” his voice reaching them all as they raised their weapons and cheered.

“Tomorrow we shall march, fight and drag them in chains for their crimes against us!” Dvalinn declared as his beast released a puff of black smoke.

“Don’t worry you won’t have to do the first and I doubt the last will happen….”

Their cheering stopping instantly, being caught offguard, their heads snapping in the direction of the one who uttered those last words.

A white-silver furred stag stood within the gathered group close to Dvalinn, he wore armor they couldn’t recognize and was leaning back on a metal pole sticking out the ground.

Dvalinn felt a cold shiver run down his spine as gazed at the odd silver stag, he demanded “Wha-aht is the meaning of this soldier! What are you saying! I demand it!”

The silver stag’s head turned to him but his eyes remained closed.

Only silence answered Dvalinn, his anger clouding growing weariness “Open your eyes and look at me, answer the damn question or be killed for insubordination…”

“No…” was the young adult stags response.

“…No?” was Dvalinn's barely restrained reply, his army looking at the mystery stag with varying degrees of murderous intent, they all reached for their weapons.

“No for the first, well, cause my instincts tell me I shouldn’t open them and no for the second cause fuck you with the cherry on top being I was never one of your soldiers”

Dvalinn's eyes widened as he registered his words, a quick realization struck him as he shouted “Ambush!! Ready yourselves stags!!”

The nearest caribou stags to Mannaz position tried to attack him but we’re immediately slain by winged bodies slamming into them from above, swords piercing their skulls. Dvalinn reeled his beast back as it started to panic as more winged figures attacked from the skies before engaging the remaining stags on the ground. Cutting them down like grass.

Dvalinn turned his sights away from the chaos and onto the silver stag who hasn’t made a single move.

With a Grunt he had his mount charge at him, the beast released a roar as it got closer to ramming Mannaz, the target simply held his palm right at the beast’s direction and uttered “Chain! Hagalaz(Hail)! Isa(Ice)!”

Projectiles of sharp icicles were launched with deadly accuracy, 3 gouged through the beast’s skull and two were stopped by Dvalinn who held up his shield of iron and runes.

Though the force behind the projectiles pushed him off his now dead mount and onto the snow, the impact forcing the air out of Dvalinn’s lungs.

Several rune masters tried to intervene but were blocked by a few winged doe, the runes masters arms glowed with sickly green runes …. as the thrust their arms at the blockade – the air simmered as a green wave traveled towards the valkyries.

With cry of Raidho they charged and smashed into the waves, causing the rune masters to stagger from the magical backlash before have the heads, torso and hearts cut and stabbed.

The valkyries moved onto their next prey. Mannaz walked towards his downed father as he hurriedly stood up, Mannaz’s spearhead was dragged on the snow as he proceeded to Dvalinn who with sword and shield began his attack.

“Die you traitorous bastard!!” he got ready to swing his blade to cleave the silver stags head, with a roar he swung-“This is goodbye old man.”-his attack never landed, as all that was left of his army was a blood gushing stump ‘…Huh...?’ was Dvalinn’s final thought “You will not be missed”, due to the speed of the attack he didn’t even see the spearhead about to pierce through his eye before darkness consumed him. For all eternity.

Mannaz pulled his spear out of his dead father’s skull with blood pooling below his body, he looked around him and saw dead caribou bodies around him pilling up, the valkyries were slaughtering them.

Many, realized how dire the situation was, opted to run but the doe warriors wouldn’t allow that whether it be an arrow or a superior show of flight they didn’t get far.

He looked to his left and saw Lena, who also utilized a spear, look at him. Mannaz nodded at her, she shook her head as well “Sisters!! Let’s take to skies! Our duty is not done until all of our enemies have fallen!” Lena spoke with a tone of authority. A single flap of her wings shot her into the sky, wind blowing from the force, the other valkyries followed suite. Mannaz smirked before activating the already inscribed combined runes for flight on his armor and followed them, catching up to them easily and joining the lead of the upside down “V” flight formation.

Within the border of the Zonai lands –

Olga gazed upon the small camp/village she and the former caribou prisoners have made, near a river and it is mostly made of sticks with the occasional fur tents, it’s been four years since she last saw a caribou and she is not nor will ever be in the mood to see any one of them.

After she woke up after that silver bastard knocked her out, a fact that got her blood boiling, she heard from the other escapees that the same caribou disappeared with his pets in a flash of white light. A cowardly trick was how she thought about it.

They were all concerned by the runes on their bodies as they traveled, the glowing white runes scared them believing the caribou were tracking them, some tried to remove them with drastic methods such as tearing off their skins but before they could they disappeared.

But they were still fearful, believing they’ll return.

They carried her as they ran from the caribou settlement, apparently all the caribou within it were killed. The only crow in their group, who couldn’t fly properly after the permanent damage her wings have suffered by the caribou, boasted about how it must have been a crow party that passed by and claimed she participated in killing a good chunk of caribou after her escape.

Olga the she-bear didn’t believe her, some of the female escapees did, but Olga and her own some didn’t. Most were not entirely sure about the female crow's claims.

One of the reasons for Olga’s firm disbelief was because of how the crow used her claims to gain a leadership position as they were still traveling and even went as far as to undermine Olga with her defeat at the hands of a caribou after her escape when the owls looked at her to lead, for obvious reasons, but the crow obviously wanted a position of superiority whether due to the typical crow mindset or a way to gain the lost control she had of her life.

Olga didn’t care, before her capture she would have challenged her for the position, but after her escape and loss once again against a caribou (a child from what remembered) she simply wanted to live in peace and quiet. The crow can the lead them for all she cared so long as it’s not to anymore danger.

And now they’ve settled, initially the crow wanted to travel to the black fythŕ kingdom but one of the owls, still capable of proper flight, came back to them with shrunk pupils spouting about how the crows have fallen to the caribou. The female crow, Lagara, initially didn’t believe her and still insisted they continue to their destination.

It was the groups reluctance to travel there and Lagara’s cold feet to travel there alone that got them to travel west to the Zonai lands, fox territory, and made their home near the border.

They made their new space livable, all thanks to the owls skills who were used to travelling and changing homes regularly.

What was Olga doing now? Chopping wood, using one of the many stolen weapons from the caribou settlement.

Other than fulfilling her other needs, she was also training as she doesn’t want to let the fate that befall her before get her again, she will find herself in that depraved environment again!

Releasing a puff of hot air she rested a bit after chopping a good amount of logs.

Four years of peace after ten years of humiliation.

Her thoughts going back to the silver white caribou….

Black fythŕ kingdom –

Dàinn looked down the row of forcefully kneeled male crows as he sat on the throne, his mighty physique making tower over them, “I have given you fools the position to finally see the world as it should be” he stood from his throne and walks towards them, they all were looking down in fear.

“But you spat upon my gift! A God’s gift!” he shouted, his voice causing the room to slightly shake further inducing fear into the kneeling crows, which caused the surrounding stags to chuckle.

“But no more. You don’t deserve to call yourselves males and we have prepared something to rid you of that privilege” Dàinn signals some stags, who in turn rushed over dragging a large metal cylinder which is covered with many runes both normal and corrupted.

The cylinder was big enough to fit a body into it.

“W-wha-what is that?” asked one of the frightened male crows, “Your future.” Said one of the older runemasters, Dàinn gazed upon the kneeling crows his presence pushing down on them.

“Any last words before having your status as males revoked? If your not going join our truth than you can serve it as a female” coldly said Dàinn, the crows panicked and started pleading for mercy , except for one of them which Dàinn noticed.

“Shut your beaks! All of you!” they did as commanded shaking like leaves, some of the stags around them snorted and whispered how they are already embodying their new roles.

Dàinn turned to the one who didn’t say a word, “You. Any last words before becoming our cocksleave”

The crow looked up to him, right his eyes, and uttered “Fuck you.” The room was silent, the stags prepared to pummel himbbut we’re stopped by Dàinn raising his hand. He looked at the crow who glared at him in defiance “This is close to what I expected a real male warrior would say about this situation, you truly represent your sex”

“But seeing this undeserved attitude on a female is all the more sweeter as I break them from their delusion” Dàinn set his sights on one of the runemasters and ordered “After turning this one send her to my room!”

“It will be arranged-“ (BOOM!)

A faint explosion was heard as the ground shook.

“What the fuck!”

Currently at the black gate –

Mannaz walked on the dirt roads of the crows kingdom, behind him were his valkyries, his spear held at his right - lazily leaning on his shoulder.

His destination being the looming castle ahead, he could sense his brother in it with many others.

Any stags that got close got immediately killed by one or two of his valkyries, with him sometimes engaging when a large group of armed stags approaches them, the results being quite explosive.

Those around them panicked, the doe and other females already submitted to caribou rule merely stayed on the hands and knees frozen in shock. The crows, male and female, ran off away from Mannaz’s group – the male crows either running away alone or helping the female crow’s too tired to walk by carrying them, the reason they didn’t fly was because all the wings have been bound by leather belts.

The younglings didn’t engage seeing how easily the adults were disposed off so stood still in shock.

Mannaz was aware of all the living beings in this kingdom and their states of mind and body, which made planning all the more easier, “Diana, Mary, Susan and Thrüd fly to the west side of this kingdom, you will see a couple of rectangular buildings and once you do kill all the caribou within them and free the prisoners from their…machines” Mannaz instructed they nodded and immediately flew into the sky to their mission destination.

What he could sense in those buildings made him internally shudder, and there was more “Amanda and Kara, head north past the castle and further over the wall, you will see a small farm land, burn it to the ground and leave no survivors” they nodded “You got it boss!” said Kara before taking off with her fellow valkyrie in the skies.

“Mannaz…” said Lena, “I know” replied the silver stag already sensing the large force of caribou heading towards them “Kill them all!” he commanded, and threw his spear which skewed tens of stags, it’s momentum not lost as it flew through the caribou in it’s path and pierced more of them – the runes engraved on it glowed as it was consumed by a yellow light and like a laser flew back to Mannaz hand after a few turns and sharp corners.

The caribous charge faltered “My God! What was-“ one of the stags ahead of the army was silenced by Lena running her spear through their skull, many of her warrior doe following her in their excursions of the stags blocking their path to the castle.

Back within the castle –

“What is happening out there!?” Dàinn demand now adorned with “armour” and wielding his great hammer, he kicked open the castle doors revealing the outside chaos, behind him several runemasters and stag warriors followed.

His gaze swept across the chaos seeing winged warriors kill the many caribou trying to fight in the streets, his rage boiled and in a burst of speed that left a dust behind he aimed to crush one of the winged invaders with his hammer.

Dàinn’s eyes widened as instead of a red paste he saw instead the face of a white silver stag who blocked his strike, with some effort judging by his strained expression, Dàinn jumped back in shock “How did you?!-“ he scowled “Who are you and what tribe did you come from!?” he held his hammer with a firm grip ready to attack.

The silver stag before twirled his spear before settling on a stance “Who I am doesn’t matter, I’m just an invader with a goal, surrender or join your father” Mannaz replied calmly, Dàinn did not like what he just heard “You!?-“ an aura of gold burst from Dàinn’s body, wrapping around him with eyes that looked like blazing suns “I’ll feed your corpse to our beasts!!”

And thus the two divine sons of Dvalinn clashed, around them thousands of caribou stags fought against the hundreds of valkyries, the stags to their horror were steadily losing.

Mannaz uttered “Chain! Thurizas alternate(defensive force)! Enhanced Isa alternate(Stop)! Laguz(water)!”

Creating a large translucent half bubble around with said connected runes on it surface, Mannaz spear tip met Dàinn’s swing which creates a shockwave that would have blown the ground and all those around them away, but the bubble Mannaz created absorbed it.

Dàinn’s eyes widened when Mannaz matched his attack with seemingly no issue, “How?!” Mannaz pushed with him and went for the attack not bothering to answer Dàinn’s confusion, he was nothing but a blur as with an astonishing display of speed his spear was hairs away from Dàinn’s neck-

Sparks flew as Dàinn’s smacked it’s blade of its mark with his forearm guards, now it was Mannaz turn to be confused ‘What?...he couldn’t have reacted to that!’ His thoughts were cut short as Dàinn swings his hammer to cave in Mannaz’s skull.

Mannaz used the moment from Dàinn’s earlier deflection to twirled his spear so that the blunt end of it could carry his strike.

Another shockwave was absorbed by the bubble.

They were nothing but blurred movement and sparks, the bubble protecting those outside from the storm it contained, both sides were relentless.

Dàinn released an angered cry as he swung his hammer in an upward arc, which Mannaz dodge with ease, the missed attack creating a powerful gust of wind.

Mannaz’s confusion continued to grow nearing frustration, ‘He maybe a bit stronger but I’m faster, much faster, how is he keeping up?! I can see and have exploited his openings yet still!” Mannaz was easily capable of detecting the many openings Dàinn’s attacks left, openings that would have resulted to Dàinn’s immediate death but every time he went for the killing strike it felt he was moving deep under water – his movement slowed just enough for Dàinn to catch up and parry his attack.

Despite the obvious foul play in Mannaz mind, his magic sense detected no abnormalities! His magical senses are telling him nothing is wrong, but at the same something is handicapping him and giving Dàinn an advantage!

Dàinn pushed Mannaz away “By the great winters how you keeping up with me!?” Dàinn asked perplexed ‘I should be asking you that!’ Mannaz thought “Is it possible you are another stag god? I felt a weird kinship when I laid my eyes on you!” continued Dàinn who then glared at the silver stag “So why?! Why be my enemy!”

“I wouldn’t mind no longer being enemies under the condition you stop making all the female species of this continent your sex slaves!” Mannaz respond?

Dàinn was caught offguard by that “Are you mad?! What your saying is nonsense! This is NATURE!! The males must rule over the females, as the females must service the males with their bodies!”

“The real nonsense is what this disgusting culture has been feeding your head!” said Mannaz enraged? Dàinn laughed and laughed “I meet a fellow stag god and they end up a foolish traitor!”

“Hear me soldiers witness our duel as my victory shall banish the mad god and fix the minds of all his whores to their true calling!!” Dàinn declared, Mannaz raised a brow ‘Is he serious? Does he think a loud announcement wou-!!’ they stopped fighting, all those outside the bubble, the stags and valkyries ceased their battle and all gazed at the occupants in magic half sphere.

Mannaz was shocked ‘What the girls doing!? They were winning!!’ now all of a sudden they looked at his battle with Dàinn, they gazed with a look that says they’ve placed their fates on will win the duel, further filling Mannaz with confused dread.

Dàinn’s runes on his body glowed a bright gold as they were further enhanced granting his greater strength.

“What are you doing!!” Mannaz voice boomed catch everyone’s attention, “W-what do mean sir?” asked on of his valkyries timidly, drawing a nasty scowl from him “Why are you not fighting!?!”

“Is it not obvious? They recognize that our battle will determine the victory of war without need of further bloodshed” said Dàinn as if it was obvious, but Mannaz won’t have it “Cease this foolishness valkyries! You were winning! With no loses on your side!!”

Mannaz words caused most of the doe to stagger as they furrowed they brows almost as if they’re facing a mental battle something Mannaz noticed ‘Something invaded their minds? And made them place all their cards on chance?!’

‘Wait…chance?’

In the middle of the frozen conflict Lena and a few others began to shake followed by the remaining valkyries, they ground their teeth and closed their eyes as if they were experiencing a battle of will.

Dàinn found Mannaz outburst ridiculous “Are you blind? Doe beating stags? Females can’t stand before the might of a-“ he couldn’t finish as the valkyries released a series of war cries as they once again begin their assault killing the caribou around, those they still lived panicked and tried to match their assault.

“What!!”/”Luck…” said both Dàinn and Mannaz at the same time.

Dàinn turned to Mannaz his anger clear, but Mannaz’s features were calm and relaxed ‘ I see now at least a part of it, his divine authority is luck, but luck alone shouldn’t…unless there was something else - something that ensures victory favour’s Dàinn like ones ability to find fortune.’

“Luck and Fortune! Algiz!” he said

Mannaz senses burst with new knowledge at his revelation, Dàinn’s core became even more clear to him as knowledge of his divine power enters his mind.

Even the area around him, his senses picked up the golden waves emitted by Dàinn, said waves tweaked the reality around him to ensure Dàinn comes out undefeated.

‘Holy shit!!!’

Dàinn’s bright glowing eyes of gold were on Mannaz as he charged at him ,unaware of how his divinity was helping him in his battle, as he is engulfed in golden power.

Mannaz dodged, he felt how Dàinn’s divine authority tried to slow him down or ensure a mistake was made by him ‘As the saying goes knowledge is power’ he used his magical talent to ‘borrow’ some of Dàinn’s authority, it felt like how he gained access of the sun's power, to loosen it’s affects on his performance and by doing so….

“Aaargh!!!” Dàinn released a cry pain as on his side a large gash was seen with large quantities of blood gushing out and painting the snow red “Dammit! Argh!” he tried to stop the copious bleeding by applying pressure with his left hand and tried to hit Mannaz who was behind him with a swing of his war hammer, but it was too late.

Mannaz blurred and Dàinn lost his right arm, the stags outside the bubble looked on with horror.

Mannaz continued to slash across Dàinn’s body showing a God-like display of speed and skill, Dàinn’s body was riddled with open gashes as he was on his knees, his entire fur matted red - only his divinity keeping him alive.

Dàinn’s breathing was hoarse , he was gravely injured and had no weapon on him, he howled in pain, struggling to turn his head and his bloodshot eyes at Mannaz “This c-cant be happening! No, no, no ,nooo!(He coughed out blood) I was destined to bring the caribou glory!! I won’t let you, I WON’T LET YOU BRING RUIN TO MY FUTURE!!!”

Proving his status as something above mortals he charged with renewed strength and with a crazed look in his eyes, Mannaz posed his spear to end him.

“Hraaaah” roared Dàinn uncaring of his injuries, and with a wet sound Mannaz spear pierced Dàinn’s chest stopping his charge.

Dàinn coughed blood, he looked down the spear that ran through him and then at Mannaz’s closed eyes “N-nh-no…”

“Sowilo”

Mannaz spear glowed an orange-red light as curving energy trails went out and in the spears surface like rings. The temperature rises significantly as even the ground melted and was a boiling yellow-white.

A bright light blinded all of those outside the bubble and with it a heat akin to the hottest summer washed all over them, then it stopped, the valkyries and few remaining caribou who have dropped their weapons in surrender looked on to the now gone magic bubble.

Mannaz stood with spear still stretched to a now empty space.

Dàinn was gone, completely incinerated.

End