Harald planted himself on the wooden bridge and jeered at the British Army soldiers across from him, stirring a noisy uproar in their ranks.
A mounted Englishman rode toward the riverbank. He was Harold II, the king of Britain, and his face twisted when he saw the Viking warrior standing on the bridge.
"Damned Viking bandits! Once we win this battle, I'll capture every last one of you alive and skin you!"
Then he swept his riding crop toward the wooden bridge.
"Forward, my warriors! Whoever cuts off his head will receive ten silver coins!"
A stir ran through the British Army soldiers. Then a squad of elite soldiers crowded onto the wooden bridge and charged toward Harald at the other end.
But the wooden bridge was narrow. Even in everyday use, people had to turn sideways to let others pass. Anyone leading a horse could practically fill its entire width.
Once the warriors stepped onto the bridge to fight, there was no way for them to work together. They could only fight one on one.
So no matter how many British Army soldiers rushed onto the bridge, Harald, the Vikings' leader, only had to face them one at a time!
The leading British Army soldier carried a sword and shield. He wore a suit of chain mail and a rounded helmet.
He charged up to Harald and swung his sword down with a furious roar.
Harald, a giant nearly two meters tall, did not even try to defend himself. He trusted his chain mail!
The sword struck his abdomen without doing much damage. His chain mail stopped the slash, while Harald seized the moment to raise his massive axe high and bring it down with lightning speed!
Crack! The massive axe struck the English swordsman's neck!
The chain mail