The War of the Raging Sea had cost Mire Sea Port too many young and strong, leaving mostly elderly, children, and women.
Although they had lost their strong laborers, the Vrykul elderly, children, and women still had the ability to work. They managed Mire Sea Port, and despite a lack of many supplies, they could still ensure their survival.
Children played in the streets, enjoying this rare moment of peace.
Just then, dark shadows swept across the sky. The children looked up curiously, then shrieked in terror.
"Dragon—!"
A Proto-Dragon revealed a cruel expression, diving down into the midst of the children. It opened its large mouth and swallowed one child, then swung its two front claws left and right, grabbing two more and tossing them into its mouth.
The children scattered and fled, crying out for their mothers as they ran.
However, their mothers could no longer save them.
The Dragon Rider Clan's Dragon Knights had launched an attack on the entire Mire Sea Port. Hundreds of dragons simultaneously breathed fire, and Mire Sea Port was instantly engulfed in a sea of flames.
The Vrykul were caught off guard and could only flee in a panic. Some Vrykul tried to resist, but they were burned to death by dragonfire before they could even find their weapons.
Having lost their bodies of steel, they could no longer withstand the burning flames.
A few hours later, Mire Sea Port was reduced to ruins, with no living Vrykul remaining.
The nagelfar approached Mire Sea Port, and Habron raised his lantern, collecting all the souls within the harbor.
With this, Odyn's recruitment base was completely eliminated.
On the lantern, Hela issued new orders to Habron.
"Have Imiron attack Valdisdall, and you, with the Kvaldir, attack Skold-Ashil. Eliminate all those Vrykul who have pledged allegiance to Odyn."
"Yes, my lord!"
Habron immediately relayed Hela's orders to Imiron, then signaled the other Vrykul Pirate ships to head south along Stormheim.
They had just left when a group of Valkyries descended upon Mire Sea Port. They looked at the ruins of Mire Sea Port and sensed the gravity of the situation.
"From the battle traces, it appears a group of dragons attacked Mire Sea Port. The Tide of Annihilation Clan has been wiped out, and even their souls have been taken. We must report this to Odyn; this is a powerful enemy."
In Valdisdall, the Dragon Knights repeated the surprise attack on Mire Sea Port, easily killing all the Vrykul there. The buildings were all incinerated, and Imiron stood amidst the ruins, lost in thought.
A Dragon Knight landed and reported to Imiron: "Your Majesty, the Vrykul here are fearless in death. Moreover, many Vrykul, even after death, kept talking about ascending to the Hall of Valor."
Imiron frowned upon hearing this: "Isn't the Hall of Valor sealed?"
"Your Majesty, from what they said, it seems the Hall of Valor has reappeared in the world."
Imiron's brows furrowed, and he looked up towards the high mountains in the southeast.
The Kvaldir pirates stormed into Skold-Ashil, burning, killing, and plundering, leaving no survivors in their wake.
Habron didn't even disembark from his ship to deal with the enemies here. He raised his lantern, once again capturing the souls of the Vrykul. Although these Vrykul souls didn't meet the Valarjar's requirements, Habron still cautiously guided them towards the Netherworld.
This war was a war for souls, and even the weakest souls were a vital resource. Resources were finite; if you claimed less, the enemy would claim more. To restrict the enemy, one must seize all available resources.
"Undead, you should return to hell!"
With a sharp cry, Axi led hundreds of Valkyries in a dive from the sky, launching an attack on Habron and the Kvaldir.
Habron looked at Axi with disdain. A chain suddenly shot out from his lantern, binding Axi. He pulled hard, and Axi was yanked from the sky, crashing onto the nagelfar.
The Kvaldir's morale soared, and they immediately attacked the Valkyries.
The Valkyries, with their aerial advantage, completely overwhelmed the Kvaldir. They were not in a hurry to kill all the pirates but instead charged towards Habron, intending to rescue Axi.
Habron didn't even spare a glance for the other Valkyries. A powerful undead force erupted from his lantern, knocking those Valkyries flying.
He stepped on Axi's head and said disdainfully, "You are the new Queen of the Valkyries? Your strength is truly unremarkable."
Axi struggled desperately, but she couldn't break free from the magical iron chain; it seemed to have been made specifically for her.
Habron began to cast magic. Thick fog enveloped the pirate fleet, and a cold wind pushed the fleet out to sea, quickly disappearing from the Valkyries' sight.
The Valkyries pursued them out to sea but ultimately returned empty-handed.
They returned to the Hall of Valor and reported to Odyn.
Odyn looked at the battle report, his face grim.
"The Dragon Rider Clan, they are actually helping Hela?"
Heimdall immediately volunteered: "Great Odyn, let me lead men to eliminate those Dragon Knights."
"No, this time I will go myself! I am very curious as to what courage Imiron possesses to raise his weapon against me."
Odyn personally led the Valarjar to Valdisdall and met the Dragon Knights.
Upon seeing the new appearance of the Dragon Rider Clan, Odyn was greatly surprised.
"Imiron, you have actually become undead?"
Imiron looked at Odyn with a complex expression, bowing respectfully: "Great Odyn, I never thought I would see you again."
Odyn: "No wonder you dared to wage war against me; it turns out you have sided with Hela."
Imiron said apologetically: "I am sorry, it seems I will not be able to enter the Hall of Valor."
"At least you know your place!" Odyn said unceremoniously: "The Hall of Valor welcomes only noble souls. Your souls have been defiled; you only deserve to go to hell."
"You are right!" Imiron had the Proto-Dragons ascend, "This is also Hela's idea."
"Attack!"
Imiron gave the order to the Dragon Knights. He now understood Hela's scheme. The reason Hela turned them into undead was to make them despised by Odyn.
The Dragon Knights were powerful Vrykul; if they had entered the Hall of Valor, they would have become a great asset to Odyn. But now, they could only help Hela, and only Hela's Netherworld would accept them.
However, he realized it too late.
"Let me see how much you have improved over the years."
Odyn waved his hand, and Heimdall led the Valarjar in a charge.
The two sides engaged in close combat, with soldiers falling from the sky from time to time.
The Vrykul of the Dragon Rider Clan were far inferior in strength to the powerful Valarjar. However, the presence of the Proto-Dragons compensated for the Dragon Rider Clan's combat power gap. Powerful dragonfire could inflict fatal wounds on the Valarjar.
Even though the casualty ratio between the Valarjar and the Dragon Knights reached 1:3, it still made Odyn tremble with fear.
It was important to remember that the Vrykul of Stormheim were already extinct, and the Valarjar would not be replenished. At the current rate of casualties, wouldn't a few more battles wipe out most of them?
Gale: Didn't I tell you?
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