Close-up of a Viking ruler rising from slick obsidian mud, his dark metal helmet adorned with two imposing ebony horns. His face bears fierce warpaint and a scruffy, coal-black beard. His eyes flash with fury, a scar etched across his rugged features. Clutched in his hand is a formidable Viking axe. The scene is illuminated by cinematic lighting, with beams of light piercing through the gloom, casting a moody ambiance. The mud glistens, dripping off his powerful form, enhancing the drama of his emergence.