The fjord stretched wide before him, silvered by the early morning mist. Bjorn stood on the cliffs above Kattegat, arms crossed over his chest, feeling the cold northern wind bite through his tunic. Seventeen, yes—but more than a boy. A lifetime of knowledge, of memories not his own, sharpened his mind and honed his perception. Every sound, every movement, every subtle shift in the villagers' lives was cataloged, analyzed, and stored.
He flexed his hands, testing the strength that now felt like an extension of himself. The animal hearts he had consumed had made him stronger than any man in Kattegat, and with each passing day, he learned to temper the hunger that lingered at the edges of his consciousness. This hunger whispered, reminding him that greater power demanded attention—but for now, it could wait.
Bjorn's eyes turned to the riverbank, where Floki was already at work. The shipwright's hammer struck with rhythmic precision, shaping the raw timber into a vessel that could carry men and supplies across the fjord. Bjorn's heart quickened—not with desire, but with anticipation. This was his craft as much as it was Floki's, and he intended to improve it.
Shipbuilding with Floki
"Your keel is too short," Bjorn said, stepping closer, his voice calm but authoritative. "The ship will not ride the waves; it will shatter in a storm. The mast is positioned poorly. The angle of the sail will reduce speed, and the weight distribution—completely off."
Floki froze, hammer in mid-air. "Who—who are you?"
"I am Bjorn," he replied simply, voice carrying a quiet weight. "And I can teach you to build ships that no Viking has ever imagined."
Floki's eyes widened, uncertainty mixing with awe. Bjorn bent over the hull, running his hands along the wood, recalculating angles, reinforcing weak points, suggesting subtle adjustments. Every change was precise, efficient, and grounded in knowledge Floki could not yet comprehend.
"You… you speak like a master," Floki stammered. "How… how do you know this?"
Bjorn smiled faintly. "I have learned more than one lifetime allows. Together, we will craft ships that cut through storms and outrun enemies. And when the time comes, these ships will carry men who will make history."
The rest of the day passed in silence and concentrated effort. Bjorn worked with a skill that astonished Floki, bending the wood to his will, guiding him through calculations and adjustments that would make their ships faster, sturdier, and deadlier than any that had sailed the fjord.
Testing Strength and Influence
Later, near the outskirts of the village, a group of local boys challenged him. They had heard rumors of his strength and skill, and curiosity mingled with bravado. Bjorn did not hesitate.
The confrontation was swift. He moved with ease, his enhanced strength allowing him to disarm and overpower them with minimal effort. A raised fist, a simple push, and they were sprawling in the dirt, stunned and fearful.
It was not brutality for its own sake. It was demonstration. Control. Lesson. Fear and respect could be taught as easily as skill, and Bjorn was a master teacher.
By the time he returned to the village, whispers had already begun. The boy who moved like a giant, who struck like lightning, was someone to be watched, respected, and feared.
Subtle Foreshadowing of Corruption
Back in his quarters that night, Bjorn contemplated the whisper that had followed him since his rebirth. Odin's blessing was a gift, yes, but it came with a shadow. A hunger. A corruption. The mechanics of it were not yet fully necessary, but he felt its edges, felt the need to manage it before it could take root.
He did not act immediately. Instead, he planned. Each future indulgence, each future ritual, would serve a purpose—control, strength, or manipulation. He was patient. Patience was power, and he had plenty of both.
Crew Selection and Training
With Floki's help, Bjorn began selecting men to train. Not all were warriors; some were craftsmen, some sailors, some traders. Each was tested subtly—through observation, minor tasks, and challenges that revealed their strengths and weaknesses.
Those who demonstrated loyalty and skill were recruited. Those who faltered were left behind, ignored or subtly humiliated to reinforce the consequences of incompetence. By the end of the week, Bjorn had a small cadre of trusted men, already forming the backbone of the power he would wield over Kattegat and beyond.
Expanding Influence Through Strategy
Bjorn's mind worked continuously. He watched Ragnar, Lagertha, and Rollo from afar, noting movements, conversations, and alliances. Each historical figure presented opportunities: a word here could shift loyalties, a small intervention there could redirect the course of events.
He understood the value of patience and subtlety. Direct action was only necessary when swift, decisive results were required. Otherwise, influence could be shaped quietly, invisibly, like the tides shaping cliffs over centuries.
Even the villagers' whispers were tools. Every rumor of his strength, every story of his cunning, spread fear that reinforced his authority without a single unnecessary act of violence.
Preparations for Larger Raids
With ships nearly complete, Bjorn began planning his first organized raid. Not for mere plunder, but for control, reputation, and tactical demonstration. Every factor was calculated: timing, enemy strength, terrain, and escape routes. His enhanced strength allowed him to fight with precision, but it was his mind that would truly ensure victory.
The crew, trained under his supervision, responded with loyalty and efficiency. They did not fear him blindly; they respected his skill, intelligence, and leadership. And that respect, Bjorn knew, was the foundation for absolute power.
Vision for the Future
By nightfall, Bjorn surveyed the fjord from the cliffs again. The ships, his growing cadre, and the fledgling reputation of his strength and cunning were all pieces of a larger design.
The whispers of corruption were faint now, manageable. Sexual indulgences and rituals would come later, when the time was right. For now, control, strategy, and influence were his weapons.
He envisioned Kattegat transformed: fleets that could strike fear across the seas, warriors disciplined to perfection, and a reputation that would echo across generations. Odin's blessing pulsed within him, a subtle hum of power and potential.
Bjorn smiled in the shadows. The world was his to shape, and he intended to carve it with both precision and ferocity. History would remember his name—not just as a Viking, but as a force beyond legend.