Jasper glanced out the window down onto the caravan, seeing Saga skulking about. He had half a mind to have Hallvar go see what the bothersome newcomer was doing, but chose not to. He already had a new angle of attack, he just needed to figure out exactly how to leverage it. He needed to be smart about it. If he were to set the Berserker off the wrong way then they might just take him down with them, even kill him. They were a Berserker after all, they could not be reasoned with. But they could be pushed into do rash things, and if you had the right leverage, the right piece to put in their path, then the Berserker would destroy themselves.

Jasper glanced at his companion, the silent Half-Giant had been awfully chummy with Saga. Maybe he could give Jasper some further insight.

“What do you think of Saga.”

“The Berserker? They have a warriors soul.”

“You are not having second thoughts are you.”

“No.” Hallvar assured him, his cold, flat tone made Jasper smile. A true professional indeed, in the end what matters was gold. And that was something Jasper understood and respected.

“Good”

The next morning, Olaf and the caravan leader wasted no time getting the wagons moving, and soon the were on the road south again. Saga sat in their usual crosslegged position ontop of Jaspers carriage. They were tense, much more so then they had ever been. They had a feeling, a terrible, sinking feeling. It had stuck with them since talking to Olaf about what Syv had told them. As the day progressed, the clouds began grow ever so much darker, and soon the once clear winter sky was blanketed in dark gray clouds. It was as if the day itself was mirroring Sagas mood. Suddenly they heard Olafs voice call out.

“Riders approaching!”

Saga craned their neck, standing up ontop of the carriage as it came to a stop. Trotting down the road, was four men on horseback. They wore armor similair to that of Torbjörn, and from this distance it seemed they carried a banner of some sorts.

“What is that banner?” Saga asked Hallvar. Hallvar didn’t say a word, he was suddenly utterly still. Looking at the approaching group. Saga glanced to down to Sasha. Sasha hopped off her seat at the wagon, moving to see better.

“It look like the Jarls banner.”

“False alarm?”

“No.” Hallvar said as he slowly got up from his seat. “Its a trick.” He said. They are using the banner and clothes to buy time to get closer.” He said as his hand moved to his side, where a wicked looking blade with serrated edges rested.

“How dou you know.”

“My path. It comes with the “sense intentions” ability. “

“What exactly is your path.”

“Brigand.” Hallvar said. “Now, Bersker. You never killed someone before, correct?”

“No. Hallvar, what are you saying.”

“You and the girl with the axes. You are the lowest levels here out of all the warriors. You also have the bad luck to be near the richest looking part of the caravan.” He said as he eyed the approaching group of people. “Jasper originally hired me to kill you if the opportunity arose. I am telling you this so you know what his plans were. And becouse I need you to understand that it is no longer my plan. If either of use want to get out of here alive, we need to fight together. As a unit. They do not know what you are. I ask that you keep calm and withhold your power as much as you can. We need that burst of at the right time.” As he said this, Jasper stuck his head out angrily.

“What are you doing! You betray me? Now?!” He began to yell only for Hallvar to deck him across the face, knocking him out cold and shoving him back into the carriage. Saga and Sasha stared in disbelief before Saga caught themselves.

“Alright. I trust you on this.” Saga said, as they tried to steel themselves, spear and shield at the ready. That’s when Sasha noticed something moving among the snow. Part of the foliage and snow seemed to be missplaced, and as they stared in disbelief, three people began to rise from ouf the snow, bows at the ready.

“We got people on the sides!” Sasha yelled as Saga Rushed to put their shield between Sasha and the archers. At the same time, the four horsemen who had been trotting towards the caravan set off into a full gallop while a crack as if lightning crashing into ground sounded behind the caravan.

“Its an Ambush!” Shouted someone from the back as the smell of ozone and burned flesh filled Sagas nostrils and all hell broke out.

–

Saga had only been in one battle before, and it had been one on one with a unthinking undead creautre. The second Ingrid called out, the snow on both sides of the Caravan explodes as three men and women on either side rose out of the snow. They had heat crystal strapped to their chests, having lay under a layer of snow and dead shrubbery. They all had bows, which they experty knock and let loose at the caravan at blistering speed. Three thumped in to Sagas shield, burying deep into the treated wood, one sailed past, snagging into the wagons cover as another hit the caravan.

“Berserker! You and Axe girl defend the carriag !” Hallvar called out has he drew his sword. It was curved like a saber, but the edge was strangely serrated. He flowed forward with a speed that Saga could never hope to match. He engaged all three arches as he sliced his weapon in a wide arch, firing ribbons of darkness that forced the archers to move. One tried to fire at while another drew his attentiom the third ditching their bow for two long curved knives.

Hallvar pushed forward, then suddenly flew back as he became incorpereal, arrows passing through him. Appeared infront of the one trying to take potsshots and tried to lop his head off but the bandit threw himself to the ground. Before he could press the advantage, he had to dodge to the side of another arrow.

Saga did not get to observe that fight for long however. The third bandit had decided that the other two could handle Hallvar. He rushed towards the carriage, leaping up in to the air. Saga met the attackers blade with their shield, the sword bouncing of the metal rim that ran around the wooden edges. The blow made Saga take a step back as the force of it reverberated down into their arm. And before they could react, the man pivoted, still in the air and kicked the shield hard.

{Snowland Bandit has Used Lashkick. You have blocked the kick. Your shield has taken light damage.}

Saga skidded back, grunting from the force. Suddenly some rushed past them and Saga saw Sasha dart in, arms lighting up as runes garthered Might magic. Her axe collided full bore into the bandits shield and actually lifted him of his feet. He was flung back, but rolled and found his footing.

By now, the battle was truly joined. Hallvar was tied up fighting the two archers, darting back and forth, causing little cuts here and there while dodging arrows at last second. Every so often, he ould lash out with dark waves of energy from his blade. But so far it didn’t seem like he was winning. It looked more like a deadlock.

Infront of the Caravan, Saga could glimpse Ordan conjust fire, with one bandit allready a smouldering corpse in the snow. But each time he flung a firespell at the remaining bandits it was blocked by thick walls of rock. One of the bandits on horse back was waving his hnads around, causing blocks of rock rise up and hinder the pyromancer from gaining the advantage. Both of the guard were tied up fight an attacker each as well. The half-giant was faring the best of the two, her massive hammer having caved int the skull of one attacker and fending off another. Sagas biggest concer was the tail of the caravan. Where Vetra and Ingrid was. There had been a crack of lightning, and they could still smell burning nad ozone.

Saga had little time to contemplate however, as Sasha darted back out of the bandit with the shield and sword leveled his hand and spoke simple incantation.

“Sickly flame, feed now on healthy flesh and have your fill.” A curling flame of red and purple swirled out and lashed out against Sasha who had to dodge backwards and keep out of its reach. The fire seemed to curl and seek her out, forcing the axe wielding fey-touch to stay on the defensive. Something that clearly wasn’t her strongsuit. Saga realized that the only way for them to beat this man was together. She dashed forward and to the side. The man still had his shield, using it to keep one side safe. But it also meant that directing his arm and fire that way meant he had to pivot. Saga moved along his shield side, in a large circle around him, he turned trying to keep an eye on Sasha and Saga both as Saga would dart in, poke at his flank with the spear and retreat. He tried to keep them both in his line of sight but every so often, a spear thrust whould hit his hip, Sashas axe would chip away at his shield with Might infused blows. The second he made a big overstep, trying to pivot to meet a spear Thrust and leaving himself entirely exposed to Sassha, Sasha took a leap forward and landed feet first onto his chest, flipping off him as he was driven backward in a stumble, his fire flickering out as he lost concentration and slipped in the snow.

Saga moved in with their spear as the man stumbled, jamming it into his back. He screamed in pain trying to twist away and lased out with a panic spell that went wide, ball of purple energy hitting nothing but a tree some ten meters away– He stared wild eyed at Saga who twisted and kicked him into the side of one of the wagons. The bandit twisted and manages to some how use the fac that spear was stuck in him to get i out of Sagas hands.

{You have struck Snowland Bandit. You have hit a critical hit. Snowland Bandit is badly wounded. Your [Northern Infantry Spear] is stuck in Snowland Bandit. Ongoing damage applied.}

The bandit stumbled, raising this palm to conjure up another flame when an axe embedded itself into the back of his skull. The bandit fell to his knees and collapsed into the snow, thoroughly dead. Saga stared, never having seen anyone die such a violent death before. Sasha shook them out of it, grabbing them by the arm. “YOu hurt?”

“ No. I am fine.” Saga grabbed their spear and pulled it out of he man as a prompt appeared.

{You have beaten; Snowland Bandit [Lvl 6]. You have been rewarded Experience: 400. You have leveled up. You are now level 3 }

“Good.” Sasha said as she watched Hallvar dart away from one of the archers who now looked worse for wear. As Saga nad Sasha watched, the half-giant mercenary danced up behind the archer and spun around, severing the now much slower archer at the waist.

“Holy fuck” Saga said, feeling a little sick to the stomach yet elated from the dopamine rush of leveling up while not passed out.. But they fought the urge to either puke or celebrate as they knew it was far from over. The bandits clearly had the numbers on them. As Saga turned back to the carriage, they swore as Jasper was looking out of the door, looking to bolt. HIs nose was crooked, clearly broken again and his eyes were wide with terror. But he was not aware of the lady standing onto of the carriage, aiming a bow right at the back of his head. With a snarl, Saga switched the grip of their spear and threw it at the woman. She noticed the spear just in time to twist away with a jump, firing an arrow mid air at Saga. Saga lifted their shield just in time to block the arrow that was coming straight for their heart.

“Sasha, Other side of the carriage. Another archer!” Saga bellowed as as they dashed forward.” All around them, screaming, swearing and the sound of spells and weapons clashing filled the ear. The bandits were more then the caravan defenders, but none of them were at the same level as Olafs group. But three level 10 were enough to take down a level 25 or even a 30 if they got too cocky. Jasper tried to tell Saga something but blood was pumping so hard trough their body they they just shoved him back into the carriage with a snarl, using one of their spears to bar the door.

Pulling their sword out, they felt the first tick of their Born for Battle and Unyielding both activate, giving them a sudden rush of strength. They bolted forward towards the Archer was taking aim at the male Guard, who at this point was looking worse for wear. His arm was a ribbon of bruised flesh and cut skin, but he had taken down two bandits while staring down a third. Saga didn’t get to the archer in time, as one dark arrow flew and buried itself in the neck of the guard. A sickly black poison spread at a alarming rate trough the guard who gurgled and clutched at the arrow before collapsing. The archer had made a terrible miscalculation in killing the guard however. They did not know of the increasing brawn of Saga. Meaning they didn’t have a good idea of just how much extra leg strength Saga had. She turned, began to move and got hit with a shield tackle that would make a linebacker wet their pants. Saga had exploded out of the last few steps, putting all their new strength into it. The archer flatted out against the wooden surface of the shield and went flying in a heap, literally bouncing against the snow.

Picking themselves up, the archer saw another fast shape literally use the Berserkers back as springboard. Sasha came thundering down like a goddess of retribution, axes raised. The archer tried to jump away but it was simply to late. Two axes came down hard, ending her life in an instant. Sasha rose up to her feet, dislodging her axes from the dead bandit.

{ You have beaten Snowland Bandit . You have gained 400 experience.}

The bandit that had been busy with the guard was now was fleeing away from the caravan, running across the fields when an arrow hit him square between the shoulders, then another. Saga and Sasha saw Lenara sprinting on top of the snow, shooting arrows with pinpoint accuracy into the thick of the fighting.

“Looks like she got done with stalking the Lindorm just in time” Saga said. Unfortunately for Saga, they had just done the same mistake as the enemy archer that they had just taken out. They were looking over to where Lenara came running in when the sound of hooves reached their ears. They heard something else, as they looked over to see one of the riders from the front group come thundering towards them.

“Saga! Your shield!” Sasha yelled as time seemed to slow down for Saga. They reached lifted their shield, just as the man leaned to the swung a large polearm in the shape of hammer. Saga saw the hammer, and realized that their shield would not be enough. The hammer made impact and for a second the world was nothing but pain. The hammer hit with a mighty ‘CRACK’. The shield splintered inwards, some of hitting their face, embedding into their cheek and cutting across one ear. Their arm buckled and broke with a sound that would haunt their dreams. The sharp snap of their bone echoing in their head as they lifted fully off their feet and got flung several meters away.

{ You have taken a critical hit. You have taken critical damage.}

{You have been hit by Bandit Leader; Magis. Bandit Leader Magi's has hit you with Hammer of Giants Judgement.}

{Your damage received has increased by 320% based on your level gap.}

{You have reached 0 hp. You have hit your death threshold.}

{Your Trait; Fury, has activated. You have entered Rage State.}

{You have gained +16 might. All lethal damage have been reverted.}

{You are going Berserk. You take 15% less damage from all sources.}

The prompts flooded their vision but they didn’t care. The pain was gone and they landed clumsily but remained on their feet. Not a second had passed before they were sprinting at the horseman with even more speed then their previous shield bash. The leader spurred his horse onwards to land a follow up blow only for Saga to slam their head into that of the horse-like creature's head. The bandit leader had an shocked impression as the pissed off berserker's headbutt collided with his mount. The creature let out neighing sound and stopped cold, the brawn 32 headbutt making its momentum shift carry its back legs up as buckled and lost balance before toppling, with the shocked bandit being caught under its massive bulk. As he tried to extract himself a wounded but alive Saga grabbed them by the head and started to simply smash the helpless bandit into the ground face first. The white hot was like nothing they had ever felt before. It was all consuming. All they knew was that this person had to die before they did. So they kept trying to smash his head in against the ground, not even bother to reach for their weapons that lay on the ground only a few feet away.

The unfortunate side effect of such a rage is the razor sharp, single person focus of Saga. They did not even register that their target was lifting a hand and pressing their palm against Sagas abdomen untill after the bandit leader's spell went off. A sudden blast of force sent them skidding back in the snow with a snarl. The bandit leader used the momentum of the point blank blast to get free from under their still stunned mount and grabbed his massive hammer. His entire left left side of the face was one big bruise and one of his eyes was entirely swollen shut, but he seemed to be in more than good enough condition to take a position with his hammer.

“I will enjoy killing you.” He snarled in a voice thick with hatred.

Saga snarled like a feral animal, but had regained enough of their senses to pick up their sword off the ground. Their shield arm was still hanging limply at their side, but even as it did, they felt no pain. None at all. Saga was only barely aware of the figure stepping up next to them. Sasha had a large cut across their upper torso as something had managed to slice through her coat of plate and slightly into her shoulder. Her axes were so drenched in blood as to stain her hands and arms up to the elbows.

“Together.” She said and Saga grinned. It was a feral look that would have looked wholly alien to the old Saga, should they have seen it in a mirror. Another figure stepped up to their other side, taller than both. Suddenly Saga realized Sasha hadn’t spoken only to them, but also to their unlikely half-giant ally. Hallvar was covered in a sheen of sweat, his clothes had all manners of ragged holes in them, but he himself seemed entirely without wounds. HIs blade were just as soaked in blood.

“Just give me one good hit. Think you can you hold out, Berserker? You did very good. I am glad I didn't kill you. But he is not dead yet.” Hallvar asked as he took a position, slowly moving to Magnis left flank .

"I can manage." Saga snarled, voice distorted with a feral, snarling sound to it. "Just kill him fast." With that Saga. Hallvar and Sasha darted forward with speed. For Saga it was the pumped up brawn doing all the work as they less ran as shot forward in two mighty leaps. At the same time Sasha drew the leaders attention, using her Might infused blows to stagger the half-dead bandit leader with a blow that rang loudly as it impacted the mans massive hammer. As he blocked and dodged, Magnis found no room to counter attack. Everytime he got a little distance and and lifted his hammer, Hallvar ghosted in within Magis guard and slashed with his blade before the bandit had time to swing his hammer. Saga in the meanwhile was a dashing in with slicing and cutting swipes. They were unbalanced, their left arm limp and useless , but the distraction and the power behind the attacks was what Hallvar needed. The bandit leader stumbled after a combined attack from Sasha nd Saga, and as he lifted his hammer to drive them back before they could press onwards, he left his back open. That strange, jagged blade of Hallvards struck. The bandit leaders eyes widened in terror and pain as the blade manages to slip all the way through him, the point slipping out the other side. Then as Hallvar ripped it back, they let out a gurgling, pained grunt and folded open. Red energy flowed from the open wound to Hallvars weapon as he huffed.

{You have beaten Bandit Leader Magnis. You have gained 1100 experience points. You have gained a level. You are now level 4.}

"Good job." Hallvar grunted, clearly at the end of his stamina as he had to lean against the caravan. Saga didn't listen. They located a spear similar to the one they used, stuck in the dead guard, then moved towards the front of the caravan where the worst of the fighting now seemed to take place. This battle was not yet over.