Valkyrie's mount, Pegasus! There was no doubt that this was an incredibly rare and valuable creature.
As if by instinct, the trio reached a silent consensus without uttering a word.
Rowe immediately extended his middle finger—an unusual gesture that, for some reason, felt oddly satisfying when used to activate the Hand of Reckoning.
Hand of Reckoning!
A radiant glow of holy light surged from his entire body as the spell activated, and a gleaming hand-shaped manifestation surged toward the unsuspecting Pegasus.
Pegasus had been leisurely trotting through the forest, but the sudden magical intrusion made it freeze. Its glowing eyes darted toward Rowe, now filled with rage.
"Hey—!" it let out a piercing, echoing snort. Sparks shot from its nostrils before it charged forward like a meteor falling from the sky.
Hela flipped her palm gracefully. A long sword materialized from a flash of magic, floated briefly in front of her, then darted out with a shrill whoosh, heading straight for the Pegasus's wings.
Though the distance was still substantial, the Pegasus moved with blinding speed. With a beat of its mighty wings, it veered mid-air, evading the magical sword, and continued charging straight toward Rowe.
Almost simultaneously, Rowe clenched Verigan's Fist, channeling divine power into the enchanted hammer.
Judgment!
A searing hammer formed from holy light and flame launched at Pegasus just as it completed its dodge. The impact landed true this time.
BOOM!
Holy fire erupted, momentarily staggering Pegasus as its sleek coat singed at the edges.
But of course, as the chosen mount of a Valkyrie, this celestial steed wasn't to be underestimated. Although the hammer connected solidly, it caused only superficial injuries. The divine creature bucked in fury.
With a violent neigh, Pegasus accelerated, now a blur of speed. Rowe tried to leap out of the way but realized too late that evasion was impossible.
Flash!
At the last moment, Heimdall appeared in a streak of golden light, seizing Rowe and warping him a hundred meters away, avoiding the collision by a hair's breadth.
BOOM!
Pegasus crashed into a massive boulder, shattering it into flying debris.
Stunned by the impact, Pegasus reeled, its vision spinning. That was all the opening Hela needed. Her sword flickered again, whistling through the air like a hunting hawk.
Pegasus tried to evade, but the long sword twisted in midair, slashing across its flanks and wings. Blood splattered across the battlefield.
"Neighhhh!" Pegasus screamed in agony. It gave up on retaliation and tried to flee skyward with a desperate burst of wing power.
But Heimdall wasn't done.
He reappeared in a flash, stepping through the air itself and catching up within seconds. With an explosive sonic boom, he landed atop the beast's back, arms wrapped tightly around its neck.
"Hush-hush—!"
Panicked, Pegasus bucked and twisted violently. But before it could break free, Hela's sword struck again, slicing into both wings with pinpoint precision.
Pegasus howled and flailed. Its wings, injured and bleeding, gave out. With a cry of despair, the divine mount spiraled and crashed to the earth with a thunderous THUD!
Heimdall was thrown aside in the fall but rolled nimbly to his feet. Despite the rough landing, he grinned from ear to ear.
"Now that's what I call luck," he chuckled. "First day out from the rendezvous point and I bag a Pegasus."
Rowe approached quickly, laying hands on the fallen steed. A gentle wave of holy light washed over its wounds, sealing the worst of them. Then he bound its hooves and wings with rope.
Unexpectedly, Hela spoke. "A creature like Pegasus is proud and intelligent. You don't need to shackle it like a beast. A chain around the neck will do. It won't struggle meaninglessly."
Rowe nodded in agreement. Dragging such a majestic beast like a captured ox was indeed disrespectful.
Just as Hela predicted, Pegasus made no further resistance once the chain was affixed to its neck. Its breathing remained heavy and labored, a sign of its enduring defiance, but it did not lash out again.
They led Pegasus onward through the dense forest.
Time passed—day faded into night.
Later, they made camp near a clearing, raising a bonfire to rest under the stars.
"Hum-hum-hum…"
Suddenly, a low grunt echoed nearby. All three turned their heads.
A wild boar was nosing through the grass just a few meters away.
Heimdall snorted in amusement. "Rowe, why don't you use that middle-finger spell of yours? Make it come to us."
Rowe smiled, extended his middle finger again, and bathed the entire clearing in divine light. His body shimmered like a beacon in the dark forest.
"Humph!" The boar stiffened, clearly aggravated by the radiant glow. It turned sharply and charged.
When it drew near, Hela's sword flew once more, piercing clean through the boar's skull. It collapsed instantly.
Heimdall laughed. "So convenient." He knelt by the corpse and began preparing the meat for a late-night roast.
Hela watched, then turned to Rowe. "What's that spell of yours called again?"
"Hand of Reckoning," he replied.
"Hand of Reckoning? What's the reasoning behind that name?"
Rowe explained, "Because it reveals all sins. When someone is struck by the Hand of Reckoning, everything they've ever done—every wrong deed, every secret shame—flashes in my mind."
"It stirs guilt, provokes anger. As long as the target isn't a saint, it's guaranteed to enrage them."
Hela raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "That kind of spell actually exists? Where did you learn it?"
Rowe hesitated, then crafted a response. "My father, Gary, was a warrior. He fell from a cliff during a battle… but miraculously survived by landing on a ledge. There, he discovered a hidden paradise."
"Wait—your father also fell off a cliff?" Hela chuckled, clearly referencing their past misadventures in Jotunheim.
Rowe blinked, then coughed awkwardly. "Right, it's a bit of a family tradition, I guess. Anyway, in that paradise, he met an injured monkey. In the monkey's wound, someone had stuffed a book—Light Magic."
Heimdall, roasting meat, was amazed. "So your magic was passed down from your father?"
Rowe shook his head. "No. He died before he ever cast a single spell. I studied the book he left behind—taught myself."
Hela narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "Your spells… they don't behave like typical sorcery."
"They're unique," Rowe admitted. "But they're still magic. After all, the power I wield is called 'Holy Mana.' And 'mana' is the essence of all magic, isn't it?"
Heimdall glanced up from the fire, a grin forming. "Rowe, hit me with your Hand of Reckoning. I want to feel it."
Rowe raised a brow. "Why?"
Heimdall shrugged. "This is the first time I've heard of this kind of magic. I want to know what it feels like. No serious side effects, right?"
"Not dangerous," Rowe replied, "but you will regret it."
"Let's try it anyway," Heimdall said, chuckling. "What, are you worried the light will attract trolls?"
Rowe smirked. "I think you're just hoping to revisit your pervy teenage memories."
WHOOOOSH—
Suddenly, a dozen large stones flew in from the darkness, howling through the air.
Rowe's eyes widened. He reacted instantly, summoning the Sacred Covenant.
A radiant Shield of Holy Light formed, catching several boulders mid-air and shattering them with a divine hum.
CRACK—
Hela's sword danced in a blur, pulverizing another incoming rock. Heimdall vanished and reappeared beside them, evading the rest.
"Trolls!" Hela shouted.
From the shadows, over a dozen trolls in battle armor emerged, weapons raised.
"Suffer and die, Asgardians!!" one of them roared.
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCE 60+ CHAPTERS
patreon.com/HACKDWORLD