Chapter 14- A Plunderer’s Second Life Pt.1

During my time I lived and breathed for battle. From my harsh and icy homeland to the bountiful shores of England. I shed blood for every step I took, and often I bled as well, I relished in it.

Pillaging and ravishing were commonplace during my time. More of a way of life than anything, at least for my people.

I was a rather simple man despite my standing, I just wanted to fight. 

Ivar Ragnarsson was what I was known and feared by before I found myself in this accursed place.

A life of running from one battlefield to the next was what I thought would be my ticket to see the gates of Valhalla. I wasn't invincible but I was a great warrior who took the heads of almost of handful of 'kings'. Even with my success I still strived for further violence and possibly even a legendary end. One so grand that songs would be made to tell the tales of my battles until the end of time.

In my later years, I finally met my match. In a glorious clash I tasted defeat, or so I wished that was the end of my story. As many of my people would wish, because only by dying in combat could one hope for the gates of Valhalla to open for them. The hall of warriors was truly a place I wished to see and I fought my whole life for that simple goal.

Of course, fate denied me such an end. In truth, I died of disease.

A pitiful end for a man who wished to die in the field of battle.

As I took my last breath I was prepared to be barred from the great halls, damned to eternal nothingness. 

That was when I found myself in this magical hellhole of endless paths and mongrel-sized rats, armed with nothing but a Warhammer that glowed in an ethereal green light and modest armor.

The war hammer was something I could only describe as divine. A weapon that turns a giant rat into either paste or a block of ice. An almost divine weapon that I would only expect a warrior of Asgard to wield.

Extremely powerful weapons aside there was another reward for coming here. I awoke in the prime of my life, the effects of my illness were gone but it came at a price.

I was stuck in a maze I could've sworn was forged by Loki himself. A damnable place that I spent three months either lost or searching. It was made me feel I was cursed. I didn't have food but I was never hungry. I never felt physically tired so I wouldn't sleep, I would've tried my best not to when considering the large rodents that infested this place, but the point still stands.

This maze was cursed and I was cursed ever to wander and hope to eventually find an exit or progress.

I was close to my mental breaking point after the third month began to end.

 But I eventually made it to a room that was rather spacious and adorned with tapestries. The entire room was lit by a golden flame that sat in the center, it breathed and pulsated once I crossed the room's threshold.

It was then that I had the greatest fight of my life.

A monster appeared. A green monster that wielded a small ax and an ethereal green glowing bow. An impressive piece of weaponry even from a distance. Made from a white fluorescent metal that was adorned with blue glowing letter-like shapes.

I realized quickly that the monster's bow and my war hammer were of the same variety. 

The green monster was obviously a range fighter and expected an easy battle based on its appearance. 

So I went in with my instincts and charged forward. Barely side-stepping an arrow that would've killed me. 

"A bow of thunder!" I said only moments after I luckily dodged the electric-charged shot that easily flew twice as fast as a normal arrow would.

As the monster grunted and cracked another arrow I made a desperate move. 

With a furious twist, I spun and flung my war hammer with every ounce of strength I possessed. It was a shot in the dark but it was my best option at this point, Odin be damned if I managed to dodge another lightning-infused arrow.

It flew true as just when the arrow began crackling with energy the green monster's head exploded. The hammer continued forward until it embedded into the stone wall, bits and pieces of the monstrosity's brain matter dripped from my hammer in a rhythmic pattern.

I fell to my knees as a red wisp entered my chest but that had the least of my attention. Looking down at my hands that shook I was surprised.

The last time I was like this was during my first raid as nothing but a boy. The ecstasy of a battle that I wasn't sure I would survive.

"The power of thunder at my fingertips..." I couldn't help but stare in awe as I picked up the monster's main weapon. It crackled slightly as I picked it up almost as if in greeting.