Tyranny of Steel

Despite being located in the frozen wastes of Iceland during the mid of winter. Berengar did not feel the slightest bit cold. In fact, if anything, he felt overdressed in this hidden paradise. The leader of the tribe of outcasts who still followed the traditions of their ancestors was quick to lead the Kaiser deeper into the village. He did not hesitate to introduce himself to the man who had been invited by the gods. 

"My name is Wulfgar, son of Olaf. My people have lived here for centuries, free from the persecution of Christians. The gods provide us sanctuary, and in return, we worship them with all our hearts. 

This is the first time in our entire history of seclusion that an outsider like yourself has been allowed entry. Normally the barrier would claim the lives of any intruders, but Odin has warned of us about your arrival, and the preparations that need to be made."

When Berengar heard this, he immediately became confused. If no outsider had ever entered these lands, then how could Siv have come to be? Obviously, her mother was hidden in this sanctuary, but her father was that bastard Erik, Lord of Reykjavík. With this in mind, he was quick to ask about the girl's past. 

"If no outsider has entered these lands, then how was Siv born? As far as I'm aware, her father is an outsider..."

A grim look appeared on the man's face as his gaze cast over to the teenager girl who was reconnecting with her mother. He shook his head and sighed before refusing to answer the question.

"That is a question best left answered by the girl's mother. It is not my place to say... Come, we have much to do, and little time to do it in. There are three trials you must pass before entering Valhalla's gates. Though you have proven yourself the world's greatest conqueror, your skills as a warrior are lacking."

Berengar's brows immediately furrowed as he heard these words. He cast an intense glare towards Wulfgar as he questioned what the man meant. 

"Are these Odin's words? If I am not a warrior worthy of Valhalla, then who is? I have fought in more battles than any man in this tribe and have always emerged victorious!"

Wulfgar did not take offense at Berengar's statement, and instead scoffed in disbelief as he quickly corrected the man in his delusions.

"Oh sure, you have fought many battles, some of them you have even participated in the front lines. But with every major feat of glory you have achieved in personal combat, you have done so by overcoming your rivals with superior technology, or the aid of your allies. It is not your will to fight that is questionable, but your own personal strength.

Odin has set forth three trials of combat, ones you must overcome solely with your own ability. Only then shall you enter Valhalla's gates. Make no mistake, these are exceptional feats, ones that even the most hardened berserker will probably fail to achieve.

You must prepare yourself for the possibility of death. However, the gods are not cruel. They have given you a fighting chance. Follow me and we shall see you reborn as a man like no other who has come before you.

Berengar did not understand what Wulfgar meant by this, but willingly followed the man to a mysterious pool of boiling water. There were several naked maidens kneeling in the pool, among which was a woman adorned in feathers and bones, which Berengar could only assume was some kind of Seeress. Just when he was about to ask Wulfgar what was going on, the man spoke of his own accord. 

"As I said before, the gods have given you a fighting chance, and have chosen to bless you with a ritual. You will cleanse your body and mind of any impurities here in this pool. Once you have done so, come meet me in the village below and I will lead you to the first trial." 

Though Berengar was confused by what Wulfgar had meant, did not bother rejecting the offer, and instead stripped himself naked before entering the mystical pool, where he immediately felt as if every fiber of his being was being soothed by the magical water. 

Once submerged from the neck down, the Seeress's attendants began to message every inch of Berengar's body with the magical water, ensuring that it fully soaked through his pores. They did not dare waste a single milliliter of the valuable substance. 

As someone who had always kept himself in great shape. Berengar prided himself on his body, and what it was capable of. However, as a mortal man, there were natural barriers that prevented him from becoming something more. 

In this pool, the physical impurities that existed in Berengar's body were melted away, creating the perfect human form. Though it was only after the seeress dunked his head beneath the surface of the magical water, and chanted her ritual, did Berengar feel his mind washed over by the same mystical energy. 

When Berengar finally resurfaced, he was born anew. Though he had not become superhuman, he had become the apex of what a human could achieve in both body and mind. A blessing from the gods, to ensure that his body would endure the trials that were to come. 

After exiting the pool, Berengar looked back upon his reflection, and noticed that his skin was softer, his already handsome features were enhanced, and his age seemed to have decreased back to his early twenties. 

The scars he had gained in warfare had disappeared, and any blemishes that previously marked his flesh were now gone. Perhaps, most notable of all, was the fact the eye of Horus had been forcefully ejected from his skull, and in its place a brand new sapphire eye, like the one he had born with, appeared.

Berengar quickly scrambled into the pool to recover his divine artifact, where he stood in disbelief for some time. At the moment, he was completely incapable of understanding the transformation his body had undergone. Berengar was just about to ask the Seeress what she had done to him when the woman spoke of her own accord. 

"You have now reached the absolute limits of the human body and mind. Use this gift wisely, for I can only conduct such a ritual once in my life. I pray for your safety in these upcoming trials. It would be a pity if such a blessing were to go to waste." 

Though Berengar could feel the difference in every fibre of his being, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, to hear it spoken by the seeress, it truly boggled his mind. He could only think that the gods of Germania must have something great in store for him to bless him with such a mighty boon. 

After bathing in the mystical pool, a pair of wool trousers were brought forth for Berengar to wear, and nothing else. Despite this lack of attire, he did not question it, and adorned himself with the article of clothing before regrouping Wulfgar, who led him to the first trial. 

When Berengar arrived at the trial ground, he nearly shit his pants. The entire tribe had gathered to witness this event, and the man could only stare like a dimwit at what was presented before him. He may have just reached peak human condition, but what waited for him in the pit below was a monstrous polar bear, which was large even by its own species standards.

A look of shock appeared in Berengar's eyes as he frantically cast a gaze over to Wulfgar, who was smiling at his misery. Before the Kaiser could even speak, the Chief bellowed in laughter before pushing Berengar into the pit. 

"Kill the bear with your newfound strength, or die trying!"

Siv stared at Wulfgar as if the man had gone mad, before shifting her gaze over to her benefactor's figure, who had taken a wrestling stance as he circled the beast that lie in the pit below. Even if Berengar had reached the pinnacle of human ability; to fight with a polar bear with nothing but his own strength, it could only be described as suicidal. 

Despite the dire situation that he found himself in, there was not a hint of emotion on Berengar's exceptionally handsome face. Rather, He continued to circle the beast, looking for an opportunity to overcome it. The slightest mistake would undoubtedly result in his death, and yet there was an intense desire for survival emanating from his mismatched eyes. 

No longer content with the dance, the beast charged forward recklessly, in an attempt to maul its opponent to death. The creature's claws narrowly avoided Berengar's neck, as it slid to the side and rammed its head into the stone wall, which separated the pit from those who stood above it. 

As if the heavens had presented him this opportunity, Berengar gnashed his teeth and roared as if he were a bear himself before charging his opponent and putting the beast into a headlock, where he proceeded to use his newfound strength, and leverage to lower the mighty bear onto the ground, and suffocate the creature with a choke known as the D'arce. 

The beast attempted to break free from Berengar's grasp, and even inflicted several severe slashes onto the man's body, but due to the awkward position it was in, and the weight of its opponent bearing down on its neck, it could only give one last struggle before its consciousness faded. 

Once the massive polar bear had passed out, Berengar put the beast into a rear headlock before breaking its neck with his overwhelming strength. He could hardly believe how strong he had become. Although, he recognized that if the creature had not slammed its head into stone, and dazed itself, he likely would be a dead man right now. 

With the creature's death, the crowd roared in excitement as they jumped into the pit and began to skin the beast. Its hide would be turned into a cloak, one for Berengar to wear, symbolizing his ascendance to the status of Berserker. Wulfgar nodded his approval and announced an end to the first trial. 

"Berengar Sieghardson, you have passed the first trial. Though you lucked out by outmaneuvering the beast, you still achieved your victory by using only your own strength. I assure you, the next trial will be far more dangerous. So prepare yourself."

Berengar sighed heavily, and gazed upon his bleeding flesh, with a hint of regret in his eyes. If he had known that such a dangerous series of tests were awaiting him, he might have thought twice before attempting to meet with Odin. However, after coming so far, there was no way he was going to quit, even if it meant his death. 

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