A/N: If you saw my message board, I'm thinking about dropping a teaser chapter for either Hiccup, the Womanizer, Adventure of a Lifetime, and The Viking and Princess (Hiccunzel) so be sure to leave feedback and let me know which story you'd like to see teased first. For this story, however, if you look at the Httyd 3 concept art for Drago's warlords, Griselda the Grievous' concept was that she was wearing gold chain mail, a pair of small horns or fangs, and a pair of antler-like ornaments on her helmet are gold rather than silver, the leather that hangs down from her helmet is outlined with gold as well, and she's wearing a white fur cloak. Also, if you recall in both Httyd 2 and Hidden World, every soldier whose helmets had those antler-like ornaments and with the leather that hangs down from their helmets is in fact Griselda's men, and those bigger guys that wear helmets similar to Ragnar's are his men. Back to Iskra though, just look concept art for Griselda the Grievous and pretend that this concept design is Iskra, who in this story, is the second aspiring champion in Drago's army and yet another warrior who wishes to become a warlord. Anyway, let's get this chapter rolling!

(Normal pov— Talon Nation)

A fleet of Slavic ships sailed along the Kumandran rivers while leaving behind smoldering villages and towns that resided in Talon Nation. Every citizen of Talon that the Slavic warriors encountered were ruthlessly murdered in the name of Drago Bludvist, Dragon-God of the world, and Iskra, the Ignoble served as Drago's genocidal blade. This Slavic champion was Griselda the Grievous' second in command, not only that, but the now late Griselda was Iskra's mentor; she had taught her everything about combat, naval warfare, how to be ruthless in negotiations, and how to send strong, yet effective messages to those Drago wished to see dead or conquered.

However, their campaign in Kumandra had swiftly become a death sentence; one she had accepted by the nature of her position as a commanding officer. Despite the catastrophe that was this campaign, Iskra would die for Drago's cause if so commanded, with or without the promise of reward. So long as the Northern Alliance reached its goal, then that was all that mattered.

But ever since the deaths of the alliances' previous warlords, Drago had informed those of experience and combat prowess that this was a void that needed to be filled, and so he offered the opportunity of those bold to seize the position of warlord by battle, blood, and conquest. After being chosen along with several others by Drago himself, Iskra thought about how far she'd come since she was recruited into the Northern Alliance. Since she was pulled out of the poorest rural district of her village. With this new challenge— to honor the memory of not only her mentor and friend, Griselda, but also take her place as warlord of the Northern Alliance— she could go a lot farther.

Now, Iskra was on the cusp of taking Griselda's place as the Slavic warlord, but only if she completed her task.

She was to lay waste to Talon's floating market city of Sagana, meaning plentiful. Everything of value and worth that Dang Hai's people could ever hope to purchase for their well-being was at Sagana. Drago had commanded Iskra to lay waste to the floating city, along with everything and everyone on it. Iskra knew that Sagana's destruction wouldn't cripple Talon's people entirely, however, it was a place that Drago wanted to see destroyed, but his word was law, and Iskra would obey without question. However, Sagana was protected by a thick wall of fog, the people of Talon knew how to navigate through the fog and ragged rocks that lay within the waters. However, to the outsider, those who tread on these waters would find their boats severely damaged or they would have to make landfall to avoid sinking.

As Iskra's warship took the lead, she found it amusing how the people of Talon had attempted to halt her and the ships under her command by setting up weak, meager barricades along the water. A fine attempt, but the because Talon's army was elsewhere, the people of this nation were unprotected and left to deal with Iskra and her Slavic warriors alone. Like many leaders in the Northern Alliance, Iskra had earned a ship that was quite large, it bore two large sails with emblems bearing the image of a dragon with its maw open from the side and a sword going through its maw, it also had a large metal ram at the prow of their ships, allowing them to puncture enemy ships or smash through barricades if need be. With the meager defenses that the people of Talon had set up along the water to keep Iskra and her warriors away from Sagana, Iskra and the ships accompanying her had no problem sailing through to their destination.

Wrapped in her white fur cloak, Iskra had been lost in her thoughts that she failed to notice her ships had entered the thick bank of fog that served as Sagana's wall of defense. Turning to her crew and to those manning the ships supporting her on this mission, she gave the order to light torches so that they wouldn't lose each other in the fog or accidentally smash into each other.

"Iskra."

Turning around, the woman laid eyes on one of her deck officers. "We can't see anything in this fog. Perhaps it would be wise to drop anchor and wait for the fog to clear, lest we collide with rocks—"

"Your concern is logical and well received, however, we can't afford to turn back. Drago wants Sagana destroyed, and we will obey the command of our master," she then gave her deck officer a dismissive gesture. "You're dismissed, deck officer. Return to your post." Reluctant, the man nodded and took his leave.

Though she had no quarrel with slaying the people of Talon, Iskra was still a warrior, and she craved a challenge worthy of her time. Despite this desire, she knew that Drago's commands came first and above her desires, and she would her task done to the letter. With or without a challenge worthy of her time.

Hiccup stood at the front of Dang Hai's ship, though the Kumandran ships weren't too impressive, they were small and armed with cannons, allowing them to move like hornets; fast and sure, if the need to combat Iskra's in that manner arose. After dealing with Margo, the Beast of Carthage, they returned to the Kumandran war camp where Raya had informed Chief Dang Hai of the attack on his nation. With this news, Talon's chieftain gave orders to assemble ships to sail after Iskra, the Ignoble, and those under her command. Despite voicing his concerns about the size and strength of the Northern Alliances' ships, Dang Hai reassured Hiccup that he was going to lure the enemy into a ravine that led to Sagana, when the time was right, a trap would sprung, resulting in Iskra's to collide into each other, halting their advance. Sailing to Talon Nation took a few hours, but it allowed Hiccup to rest after spending time working on Valkyrie's Fury in the makeshift forge he had made. While sleeping, Hiccup dreamed of gifting Astrid the weapon he now wielded in her honor, he smiled inwardly, knowing that his beloved would adore such a fine weapon. Had he not been so careless and overconfident in his abilities to sway the minds of men who had tried killing him and those he cared for, Hiccup knew that in Astrid's hands, Valkyrie's Fury would strike fear into the hearts of many opponents.

In another life, perhaps. But not in this one.

Upon reaching Talon, Dang Hai ordered his ships to drop anchor and wait until the enemy would arrive at Sagana. The long, uneasy silence allowed the now fully awake Hiccup to contemplate the state of the Northern Alliance. Ever since he had embedded himself in Drago's ranks, he had single-handedly crippled this seemingly unbeatable force, yet now they were barely on their feet, their efforts of bringing the Druun and Kumandra's warriors into their ranks have failed, now that Drago had regained the dragons, he was set on total annihilation. That tactic seemed well and good to Drago, but Hiccup knew that it would only drive the Kumandran people to come closer together and work as one people to overcome this challenge and fight to see their home and people live for generations to come.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Hiccup to see Raya stand by his side. Though she had been tortured, raped, and used as a bargaining chip by Drago as a means of regaining the dragons, Hiccup admired the fire that burned in her belly. Of course, she had ample time to replenish her strength and take the necessary measures to ensure that her rapist's seed didn't take hold in her womb, Raya was not going to stand idle while all of Kumandra now fought for its very survival. Despite the concerns of both Benja and Namaari, Raya dismissed their words of caution and was intent on spilling the blood of those who wronged her and the people of Kumandra.

"Peaceful, just floating here, with nothing but time and your thoughts for company," the princess said before releasing a sigh. "When it was just me and Tuk Tuk out there surviving the Druun and anyone exploiting the chaos as a means to fatten their pockets, I used to sail along these foggy waters and dwell on what and who I lost, whether or not Kumandra even deserved to be called Kumandra, and I often wondered if the world would succumb to darkness and death."

"If Drago is allowed to leave this place with the dragons, Midgard will succumb to darkness and death. No one in this world will be safe— man or dragon, no one is safe so long as Drago is still breathing," Hiccup turned to Raya and gave her a stern look. "Any of your fellow Kumandrans who believe that negotiating with Drago is possible will be sorely mistaken. I tried reasoning with the man, and it cost me everything I knew and loved." Reaching for Astrid's betrothal pendant around his neck, Hiccup grasped it tightly. "If you wish to see your people thrive, perhaps raise a child with Namaari, and watch your father grow old, you cannot bargain with Drago," looking back at the princess, Hiccup gave Raya a pleading glare. "Swear to me that you won't allow anyone in this coalition to bargain with that monster."

Raya recalled in vivid detail how Hiccup told of the massacre and slaughter of his people and kind, she pictured such carnage and death befalling Kumandra, and it terrified her that such slaughter was already happening, perhaps not on a grand scale, but Drago was beginning to enact the genocide of her home and those who lived there. If such butchery and carnage are allowed to continue, many within Kumandra's ranks who are desperate to see the killing come to an end will undoubtedly plead to the supposed Dragon-God to cease the killing and broker a deal of some kind. Hiccup was right, an attempt to deal with Drago was like bringing a serpent to the breast and laying trust in the serpent not to sink its fangs into one's flesh and fill you with its venom. Words can be sharper than any blade, Raya had felt such pain inflicted upon her many times, and she that the Kumandrans who would want to see the violence stop would too be wounded by Drago's false promises of peace only to tear down their hopes and relief with more violence and death.

"I swear," Raya said firmly to Hiccup. She rested her head against his shoulder and murmured against his ear. "We will fight until Drago and his foul legacy are nothing but a distant memory."

Wrapping an arm around Raya's shoulders, Hiccup gave a pleased grunt while clutching Astrid's betrothal pendant tighter. Though already having laying rest his inner demons, Hiccup still hated himself for throwing away a lifetime of happiness with Astrid, as well as seeing his father and mother grow old together, and have the chance to lead his people into the future. Now, all Hiccup could do was stand by his new friends, counsel them, and strengthen their resolve in the coming days.

The tender moment Hiccup and Raya were sharing was rudely interrupted when foreign war horns suddenly filled the air. Breaking apart from each other, the two young warriors turned to see Dang Hai rushing towards the side of his ship and looking out in front of them. Talon warriors manned their stations, awaiting the command of their chief, Dang Hai, however, was trying to see where exactly the enemy was coming from. Narrowing his eyes, he looked straight ahead and could see large silhouettes approaching them. As one of the enemy ships emerged in his line of sight, Dang Hai barked out orders.

"Reverse the oars! Sail into the ravine!"

As their ship began moving, Hiccup turned to see Talon warriors loading dragon-maw-shaped cannons, archers too were taking positions, and those tasked with the protection of their chief were at the ready. Looking back out towards the pursuing enemy ship, Hiccup inhaled sharply when an arrow whistled right past him and struck the deck of the ship. Barking out a warning to take cover, Hiccup grabbed Raya and pulled her close while raising his Gronckle Iron shield, which stopped several arrows from striking him down. Scrambling for cover, some of the warriors were struck down and others were merely wounded.

"Ne dayte im sbezhat'! Ubey ikh!"

A female voice barked out in the distance, Hiccup recognized the accent, it was Slavic. It had to Iskra, the Ignoble.

The ship suddenly veered violently, causing Hiccup and Raya to cry out in surprise and momentarily lose their footing. Getting up with a grunt, the Viking was about to inquire why they were steering in such a manner, but his unasked question was answered when he saw jagged rocks protruding out of the water. Looking out towards the enemy ships, Hiccup grinned when the rocks proceeded to rip through Iskra's support ships. The Slavs attempted to veer away, but the ships smashed against each other, sending men, supplies, and artillery flying everywhere.

"Wait..." once his ship passed the halfway point of the ravine, he roared out. "NOW!"

Dang Hai's command echoed throughout the ravine until suddenly, large yet thick chains emerged out of the water and blocked the Slavs from pursuing them. The chain stopped Iskra and her ships dead in their tracks, resulting in them smashing against each other. With the Slavic ships bundled up together, Talon warriors perched on each side of the ravine began firing grappling lines that were now embedded in the masts and decks of the enemy ships, allowing the sons and daughters of Kumandra to swing down and engage those that dared to kill their people. As Talon's warriors boarded the Slavic warships, they took advantage of the staggered and unprepared enemy warriors by slaughtering them while they were recovering from the violent crashes their ships had suffered.

Hearing the cries of battle made Hiccup's blood burn, he then turned to Raya with a look that told her that he was done standing idle. Lifting his left arm, Hiccup fired a grappling line that embedded itself in the left side of the ravine. While using the line to propel towards the battle, Hiccup ran along the wall of rock while narrowing his eyes, intent on landing on Iskra's warship. Retracting his line, Hiccup then flew high in the air with grace, quickly throwing his shield behind his back, Hiccup used his wing glider to make his way towards his destination. Rapidly approaching the bow of the ship, Hiccup landed a ruthless kick to one of the enemy warrior's faces, knocking them off of the ship and sending them to crash down into the water.

Now in the midst of battle, Hiccup drew Inferno and saw two enemy warriors approaching him. Ducking underneath Slavic steel, Hiccup spilled his first opponent's belly open and then proceeded to thrust Inferno straight through his second opponent's mouth, their dying gurgling and the sound of flesh being seared pleased Hiccup, but he wasn't satisfied. Turning to his right, the young Viking inhaled sharply to avoid a spear then would've gone through his head. Removing his blood-soaked blade from his now dead opponent's mouth, Hiccup hacked the spearman's legs off and then drove Inferno into their chest, finishing them off. Any Slavic warrior that tried striking Hiccup from behind was dealt with by the Talon warriors onboard Iskra's warship.

Although Hiccup wasn't hacking and stabbing violently like a wild berserker, his vision was red as he cut down each Slavic warrior. They were nothing but a nuisance to Hiccup, dead men that still had a few more seconds of breath before they could breathe no longer.

Slicing another opponent's chest open, Hiccup quickly grabbed his shield to protect himself from an enemy axe. Using his shield to smash the axe wielded in their face, Hiccup loomed over them and drove his shield deep into their face, causing blood and gore flung up and stained the Viking's shield and armor. Ducking underneath a sword, Hiccup cut his attacker across their middle, forcing them to their knees, he then proceeded to decapitate them with one strike. Hiccup was then tackled from behind by a large enemy warrior, despite his best efforts to get up, Hiccup was being beaten into submission by this warrior. As his vision blurred and his ears rang loudly, Hiccup felt the crushing weight of this warrior lifted off his body, he turned around to see Raya looming over them with her sword buried in their face.

"You're still alive?"

Groaning in pain, Hiccup shrugged at the princess who had retracted her blood-stained blade out of the warrior she had just killed. "For the moment, yes," he then added sarcastically. "What took you so long?"

Rolling her eyes, Raya smirked and landed a playful punch on Hiccup's chest before the two of them pressed towards Iskra, who was engaging several Talon warriors and dispatching them with relative ease by the look of it. Bearing his teeth, Hiccup rushed towards Iskra while also being mindful that there was still a considerable amount of Slavic warriors standing between him and his quarry.

Making sure her Viking friend didn't get himself killed, Raya struck down Iskra's men like a dancer, with elegance and grace. Two Slavic warriors charged with swords in hand and swung at Raya's head, but the princess spun around on her knees while using her blade to spill their guts open, blood and intestines pouring out of their bellies like a waterfall resulting in their swift, agonizing deaths. Back on her feet, Raya locked blades with another challenger, however, as another hostile warrior approached from behind with a spear, the princess quickly ducked as the spearman thrust their spear, but instead of striking Raya, they struck their fellow Slav. As the spearman retracted their weapon from the flesh of their companion, Raya severed half of the spear with her blade and caught the airborne shaft while it whirled in the air. Moving like a serpent, Raya then drove the sharpened steel of the spear through the hostile spearman's mouth. As they crumbled to the ground, Raya retracted the spear tip from her opponent's mouth and hurled it at another charging opponent, right between their eyes.

For Iskra, she was in her world, as a warrior, she finally received the challenge she desired. Though the warriors of Talon were skilled, their attempts to halt the will of Drago were inevitable, sooner or later, Kumandra would be reduced to fire and ashes. However, despite the valiant effort of her men, Iskra could see that Talon's numbers were overwhelming her warriors. Eventually, they would overtake them and most likely kill them without pity or mercy, if that were the case, Iskra would die knowing Drago and the Northern Alliance would conquer the world.

As Iskra finished off a Talon warrior, she locked blades with another one. This would not last, however, since she drew out a dagger and drove that blade through opponent's throat and slashed it wide open, causing blood to spray out and wet Iskra's skin and armor. Quickly turning to another advancing Talon warrior, Iskra grabbed their wrist and flipped them over and then drove her blade through their heart. Another opponent challenged her, resulting Iskra and her opponent to lock blades and grab at each other's free hands. Struggling to gain the upper hand, Iskra inhaled sharply and proceeded to bash her head against her opponent's. Staggered, the force of the blow knocked off Iskra's helmet, but she quickly recovered and proceeded to plunge her sword through her opponent's sternum. Whirling around, Iskra laid eyes on the man who had been a thorn in Drago's side for far too long— Hiccup Haddock III.

Looking the Viking in the eyes, Iskra bore her teeth and lashed out at the man who had humiliated the Northern Alliance and hampered their progress toward world domination, a feat many had tried before, but none have succeeded. Until now though, Hiccup Haddock single-handedly crippled the most powerful army in the world through sheer determination and a lust for revenge that would only be quenched when all who followed Drago and his cause lay dead. Iskra would prove to her allies and the Northern Alliance that Hiccup Haddock is nothing and that his constant interferences end here and now.

However, before Iskra could attack, she was sent back by a powerful kick to her chest by Hiccup Haddock himself. The blow sent her crashing against her ship's mast, leaving her breathless. She panted heavily while desperately attempting to catch her breath. Looking up at her opponent, Iskra could see that Hiccup's forest green eyes were like a ravenous void that sought to consume her whole, however, he was in no rush to kill her just yet. The thought of this boy playing with her like a cat playing with a mouse before consuming it caused Iskra to growl in embarrassment and rage, she would not tolerate this. With a cry, she lashed out at the Viking looming over her like a cloud of death, seeking to put him out of his misery and end the Viking people once and for all.

Instead of striking down Hiccup Haddock, however, Iskra screamed in agony as her sword arm was hacked clean off her body thanks to the former heir of Berk, his blade of fire slicing through her flesh and bone like it was nothing. Before she could back away, her screams amplified when she felt her right leg begin hacked off as well. Collapsing onto the ground and sliding on a pool of her own blood, Iskra looked up at Hiccup as he raised his blade of fire high above his head, but before she could scream any further, she was silenced forever when Inferno split her head in half. Hiccup grit his teeth as her blood spatter flung up and drenched his face and teeth, a droplet of his opponent's blood rolled down nose and then fell like a raindrop onto the already bloodied deck of Iskra's warship.

Panting heavily, Hiccup proceeded to decapitate the split head of Iskra and place her split head in a sack draped around his torso. He then turned to Raya who had dealt with Iskra's bodyguards before looking at him.

"Two down. Two to go," Hiccup said while approaching the princess and stopping to stand beside her. Looking into her friend's eyes, Raya could see the fires of determination and eagerness. "Who's next?" He finally asked.

"Altan, Golden Son."

Recalling that name when he was embedded in his enemy's ranks, Hiccup remembered Altan was Chagatai Khan's head Keshig. Mongol Keshig were imperial guards who protected Mongol royalty, and since Chagatai was royalty, he had brought with dozens of Keshig to ensure his life was well preserved from those treacherous enough to try and claim it.

Nodding, Hiccup urged Raya to follow him. Since Talon's warriors were finishing off the last of Iskra's men onboard her ship, it allowed the Viking and princess to walk nonchalantly. Hiccup then turned to Raya with a curious look. "Where has Drago tasked Altan to attack?"

Sheathing her blade, Raya replied. "He's tasked with attacking Spine Nation's most sacred temple, Ang Puting Batis, The White Brook," she then continued. "It's one of the most sacred places in Kumandra where the people of Spine seek spiritual balance. It must be protected."

Dang Hai and his personal guards approached the two and could see the two of them were eager to continue hunting down those that ascend to Drago's side as his new warlords. "Go on, you two," he encouraged. "My men and I will finish these murderers here." Turning to his guards, Dang Hai urged them to follow him, they nodded and followed their chief, leaving the young warriors alone.

"We'll need to inform Tong of this."

Nodding agreement, Raya disembarked from Iskra's ship and landed on a boat that Talon had loaned to them. "I already have, I sent out a carrier falcon to Tong, he should send his reply back to me soon enough. Spine's warriors won't take this attack on The White Brook lightly. They'll fight with righteous fury," Raya sat down and manned the oars of their small boat while Hiccup landed in front of Raya. She then gave him a playful smirk. "Ready to sail to Spine Nation?"

"Let's go."

A/N: Another one bites the dust. Again, if you haven't seen my latest message board, let me know what story you wanna see teased. Until then, see you in the next update!