Extra's POV: My Obsessive Villainous Fiancee Is The Game's Final Boss

Chapter 107: A Barbarian Accord

Lars walked slowly but surely, each step taking him closer to his goal as he skirted the edge of the Greythorne Forest.

His goal wasn't inside the forest, no. It was the giant Green Tree that stood tall in the distance. He knew the tree was older than even the Greythorne forest. It stood like an old guard, its massive trunk standing out against the clear blue sky.

Green Trees such as this one were the source of the power the barbarian Druids wielded. 

The White Trees were long dead, the Blood Trees gave power to the Knights of Albion, and the barbarians had struck a pact with the Green Trees, tying their bloodline to its magic. 

Other trees existed, all rumored to be mere branches of Yggdrasil the world tree, but that was of no concern to him.

He took step after step as the sun travelled through the sky. Insects chittered, leaves rustled, and the creatures in the forest howled, but Lars barely noticed. His focus was singular. 

He had been on the run since the capital had descended into chaos. He'd sensed the death of his master but the chains around him still held firm. The palace soldiers had torn through Steadfast looking for him but he was no easy prey.

He'd slipped out through routes known to a few. With Anders dead, there was just one last task for him to do. One last mission left unfinished. A way to remove the chains of the Penny Prince around his soul.

He had traveled in secret, sometimes killing and most times evading the patrols and bounty hunters that were searching for traces of him and the long dead Penny Prince.

He'd crossed vast fields of Roses, treaded into the feared Greythorne Forest, and survived an assassination attempt in a nameless town before finally reaching the wild lands of the barbarians. 

And now, he had arrived at their doorstep.

He finally got to the top of the hill, getting his first view of the barbarian city built at the base of the Green Tree.

The settlement which belonged to the Tribe of Three was a collection of wooden longhouses, and a long stone wall that encircled it, the stones cemented with mud.

He inhaled deeply, taking in all the scents that floated in the air. This is it. The place where it would all begin.

His footsteps were light as he walked towards the gate, still shrouded in his cloaking ability. No one could see him as he slipped past the outer guards and the defensive scouts. Not until he stopped in front of the gate and dropped his cloaking ability.

Immediately, there was movement. Barbarian warriors burst from the shadows, weapons drawn, surrounding him. 

They wielded large axes carved from ironwood, their armor composed of stitched animal pelts and reinforced with bone and metal.

"Hold!" One of them barked, stepping forward, a scarred warrior with a jagged blade in hand. "Who dares step into our lands?"

Lars lifted his hands slowly, deliberately, keeping his expression calm. "I am here to see your Chief."

There was a beat of tense silence.

Then, another warrior growled, "You come unannounced, outsider. Why should we not spill your blood?"

Lars smiled faintly. "Because I bring you an offer that will change the course of your war."

The warriors exchanged glances before roughly seizing him, binding his hands as they dragged him deeper into the settlement.

As they marched him through the town, Lars' eyes darted around the place, taking in every detail. 

Barbarian women sharpened blades outside their homes. Young warriors trained, their fists striking wooden posts. Elder druids sat on the flat roofs of their longhouses, their eyes shut in deep meditation.

Despite the wild, savage nature often associated with the barbarians, there was structure here. Order. A purpose.

But more than that, there was hatred.

Everywhere he walked, eyes followed him, filled with suspicion, hostility, and a deep-rooted grudge that had festered for years.

There was no denying it. He was not welcome here.

At last, they reached the largest structure in the settlement which stood just before the Green Tree. 

It was a bigger longhouse than the rest, reinforced with thick wooden beams. The flat roof was decorated with skulls and several of what Lars could recognize as armors from fallen Ross Knights.

Lars was dragged forward, the doors were pushed open, and he was shoved inside.

He stumbled but quickly regained his balance. He was led to the middle of the longhouse, where he was surrounded by the veteran barbarians, warriors who wore their scars as the evidence they were meant to be.

But Lars didn't feel fear. He wouldn't have come if he didn't have a way out.

The veterans stared at him but said nothing. They were waiting for the Chief. Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long.

The Chief entered and everyone rose to their feet in respect.

The man was exactly as Lars had imagined he'd be. Standing well over six feet, his muscles stood out, making him look like what he was. A giant among men.

He had long braids on his head, woven with golden beads, and a cloak made from the hide of a dragon. There was no denying his power.

His eyes gleamed with fury tempered by wisdom as he assessed Lars with a single glance.

"You come to my home uninvited, outsider." The Chief rumbled, his voice echoing in the hall. "Speak quickly, before I have your skull added to my collection."

Lars bowed slightly, never breaking eye contact. "I bring you what you've been searching for, Chief. The means to reclaim your curse."

The longhouse fell into stunned silence.

One of the warriors scoffed, stepping forward. "You dare speak of our curse? What do you know of it, outsider?"

Lars allowed a small, confident smile appear on his face. "I know that your Druids are not as strong as they should be. That the Ross family stole something from you. That your true strength was taken years ago."

The Chief stood silent, his expression blank as he peered at Lars.

Lars pressed forward and no one tried to stop him. "I also know that you have trouble gathering the necessary berry powder for your Druids to grow in power."

A ripple of unease passed through the room.

Lars smiled. "And I can provide you with enough berry powder to raise an army of Druids the world has never seen. An army powerful enough to crush the Ross family and lift your curse."

The warriors muttered amongst themselves, their eyes wide at the prospect of what Lars was offering.

The Chief finally spoke, his voice calm yet dangerous. "You have enough berry powder to raise an army of Druids?"

"Yes." Lars said simply.

The Chief paused. "And what do you get from this, outsider?"

Lars finally allowed a full grin blossom on his face, his first show of true emotion in years. "Loyalty. When the time comes, I may call on you for a favor."

The Chief stared at him for several seconds before his lips curled into a smile. "A deal with a snake is always dangerous."

Lars chuckled. "True. But a hungry beast will always take the meal in front of it."

The Chief chuckled. "Very well. We have an accord."