"So must I slay all human beings who believe in Gods; for blotted out from the earth shall be the name and remembrance of the Gods."
And he could not die until he had slain the last man who still believed in the Gods.
And thus he journeyed all about, everywhere, in his small ship; landed in bays and upon islands, lived upon game which he hunted, or upon domestic animals which he found in the fields, upon roots and wild berries from the woods, upon eggs of sea-birds, and mussels from the rocks.
And often the storm waves broke high over his boat, and shattered her planks. But she sank not, nor was he drowned.
And one day he saw he was wholly naked, the last charred rags had fallen from him. He was chilled, and when he met a wolf in the wood, he ran after him so long that he overtook him, slew him with his hammer, took off his skin, and hung it round his loins.
And thus he roamed and sailed, half naked, all about the north. And none recognised in the maniac Berseker, Halfred Sigskald, the son of Oski.
And he told me that when he chanced upon mankind, whither they were many or few, he sprang upon them, and shouted to them his question.
"Are there Gods?"
And if they said "Yes," or as the most did, gave him no answer, then he slew them all with his hammer. But if they said "No," as also many did--for it was already rumoured throughout the whole north, that a naked giant wandered through all lands with this question, whom the people called "God destroyer"--or if they took to flight, then he let them live.
And often, from dread, the peasants and the women gave him fruit, bread, milk, and other food. Many however bound themselves in a league to go out and slay him, as a wild beast. But they could not stand before the fury and strength of the maniac. He killed the bold, the timorous fled.