Erik allowed Sven to do what he wanted with Gustav, the men that were at each other's necks moments ago were now working together all thanks to Tyr as they were reminded by the kid why they were there in the first place.

Gustav was brought to Sven's tent, but Sven did not do anything. Sven did not do anything but stare Gustav right in the eyes for a couple of minutes.

He did not break contact once and this made Gustav uncomfortable but he could not show it.

"What were you thinking trying to sneak up on us?" Sven spoke finally, and this drew no reaction from Gustav but Sven was not bothered by his silence.

"You need to work with me now, I have no problem taking pieces of you." Sven threatened, he was trying his best to take the civil approach because he knew torturing required a lot of work.

Work he would rather not do, but he would not mind doing so himself should the situation call for it.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Gustav spoke his first words, words that sounded like he was in a position of power in this little negotiation.

"I do not want to do it but I will have no choice if you do not tell me what I want to hear," Sven sounded tired of the back and forth.

"You misunderstand me, I am not asking for mercy, you can take my life. It holds no value, but I do not think your friend will like that you took his prey from him," Gustav said, this was about Erik's interest in him.

This included the duel because if Sven took pieces from him, then it would be impossible for him to fight Erik at full strength.

Sven knew this was what he implied but he did not care much about it if he killed Gustav right here and now. All Erik would do is throw a tantrum, a tantrum Sven could handle.

"Is that your best shot?" Sven laughed off the attempt at Gustav's manipulation, the fact that he thought Erik was that invested in him.

"All I need to do is wave an even stronger prey in front of that hound and he will forget all about you. Maybe if your King was here.." Sven teased, also watching his reaction closely, and there it was, Gustav flinched lightly when he heard this and Sven knew he had struck a nerve.

"You see, you are not the only one with scouts. I know that Asmund is beyond that hill." Sven said. The information he had kept from Erik.

"This is the last time I will ask.." Sven was interrupted by Erik barging in and without even accessing the situation, pulled Gustav by the hair and threw him outside.historical

Sven wanted to protest but he kept shut, he already knew the moment he started talking to Gustav that this man would not break under any circumstances.

"I am done waiting," Erik told Sven but Sven only heaved a defeated sigh as he acknowledged that Erik had exercised patience, even if it was just for a few minutes.

Erik exited the tent and the Vikings surrounded both men, cheering and screaming because a battle with Erik was one everyone wanted to see.

"Gustav, you have my warriors' blood boiling!" Erik shouted, Gustav, chuckled because this brought back memories. This reminded him of when he was a younger warrior that lived for blood and battle. Erik must have seen this too and that is why he was here.

"Hahaha! You Kattegat Vikings are nothing like I heard, Gustav said, getting to his feet.

"Do you know why I am by the side of my King Asmund?" Gustav questioned the binds that were around him breaking apart.

This surprised everyone there because the ropes were strong enough to hold the strongest of men yet Gustav just cut it with his sheer physical strength.

"Tell me, Gustav! Tell me why a monster like you is by the side of such a man!" Erik shouted like he knew who Gustav was, this drew questionable stares from the warriors around him.

"That is the debt I owe to the king," Gustav said, with Erik gesturing for the onlookers to bring him his weapons, which included weapons for Gustav.

"Erik The Berserker, stories have been told about your monstrosity, and the chaos you bring with your presence," Gustav said, picking his choice of weapon. It was a basic sword and a shield.

Erik looked proud that Gustav knew about his stories.

"Enough talking, come and take my head." Erik's tone shifted from playful to stern in a second and everyone backed up to give them enough room to fight.

Gustav rushed towards Erik, his footwork was different. He was not fast but he was nimble, but Erik dropped his weapons to the ground.

And Gustav stabbed him right through his chest, slightly to the left where the heart was located.

Everyone was shocked, everyone but Sven as Erik allowed Gustav to land the first blow that might result in his death.

Even Erik could not survive a strike to the heart.

"Why?" Gustav asked the giant, blood gushing from Erik's mouth.

"Why did you allow me to take your life?" Gustav questioned, leaving his sword inside Erik as he let the hilt go. Erik's eyes momentarily became lifeless and everyone gasped because their commander was about to fall in a battle that meant nothing to them but they could not interfere despite boiling with rage.

"Sven, why did you allow this!?" Oskar asked his commander because he could not believe how calm Sven was despite a major battle power falling in battle.

"HAHAHAHA!" Erik's voice came to life and Gustav instinctively backed up in fear because he was sure life left his eyes.

"I must have fallen asleep! Thank you for waking me up!" Erik said, dragging the sword from his chest and tossing it on the ground with Gustav's head followed right after he muttered the word,

"Monster," Erik was born with his heart on his right side, a defect.

"Allow what? Erik's fine as you can see," Sven muttered as he watched the headless body of Gustav drop to the ground.

"WARRIORS! I CANNOT BE KILLED! THE GODS HAVE GIVEN ME IMMORTALITY FOR THE BATTLE TO COME AS YOU CAN SEE AND I CAN SWEAR ON MY AX THAT IF YOU FOLLOW ME! VESTFOLD WILL FALL!" Erik shouted, his warriors became ravenous and even the warriors under Sven were amazed as they truly believed Erik to be a man that cannot be killed, his men had seen this numerous times and the effect it always has was a core part of why they were under him, this was like a reaffirmation to their faith.

Sven now understood why he allowed Gustav to fight him or even brought him here in the first place. It was not because of something as trivial as a duel but Erik has been messing with Gustav by giving him the illusion that he had a chance against him and the weakened ropes he had bound him with, all that was for this moral boost. Erik might look to be a sociopath but he was far from stupid.

"And he calls me crazy?" Sven thought as he watched the warriors' confidence skyrocket in a way he has never seen before.