Volume 1

Volume 1 is the first volume in the series. It marks the beginning of the War Arc.

This volume makes up the first half of Volume 1 in the English-language release of the manga.

Chapters

 * Chapter 1: Normanni
 * Chapter 2: Somewhere Not Here
 * Chapter 3: Beyond the Edge of the Sea
 * Chapter 4: Unbreakable Chains
 * Chapter 5: Troll

Cover Characters

 * Thorfinn

Overview
Askeladd and his band of Vikings, including a young teen named Thorfinn, assist a general in a skirmish between two Frankish tribes, leaving with the treasury's contents after they win. Thorfinn earns himself a duel with Askeladd after he brings him the defending commander's head. Askeladd gets Thorfinn to lose his cool and Thorfinn loses the duel. Thorfinn's childhood in Iceland is explored. In 1002 A.D., when Thorfinn is six, the visiting Greenlander Leif Ericson tells him and the village children of his travels to Vinland. Shortly after, Thorfinn's sister Ylva finds a half frozen slave in the snow. Halfdan comes to village to reclaim his runaway slave, but Thorfinn's father Thors buys him for eight sheep. Thors and his family bury the slave when he dies later that day. Floki and the Jomsvikings come to the village, demanding that Thors "The Troll of Jom" join them in upcoming the Danish invasion of England, despite his desertion fifteen years prior.

Summary
The volume begins with Askeladd and his band of Vikings, including a young teen named Thorfinn, offering to assist General Jabbathe in a skirmish between two Frankish tribes. Askeladd's band leaves with the treasury's contents and Thorfinn earns himself a duel with Askeladd when he successfully brings him the defending commander's head. Upon arriving at Lord Gorm's village to winter, Thorfinn and Askeladd have their duel, but Askeladd gets Thorfinn to lose his cool and the latter easily loses the duel despite his skills. Thorfinn speaks to a slave and recalls his childhood in Iceland, recalling a visiting Leif Ericson telling him and the other village children of his travels to Vinland.

The volume continues to explore Thorfinn's childhood starting from Leif's visit in 1002 A.D., when Thorfinn was six years old. While doing chores with her their father Thors, Ylva, Thorfinn's sister, finds a half frozen slave in the snow. The slave had run away from Halfdan, who arrives by boat in search of his runaway slave. Thors tells the dying slave about Vinland and pays Halfdan eight sheep for him; the slave dies later that day and Thors and his family bury him. After an English force massacres a Viking village on bathday in November 1002 A.D., the Warriors of Jom join the Danes, who are preparing to invade England. Floki arrives in Iceland with the Jomsvikings and demands that Thors "The Troll of Jom" come back to the fold and join the battle despite his desertion fifteen years prior. Floki insinuates the village will pay the price if Thors does not comply.

Weekly Shonen Magazine
The first volume was originally released 15 July, 2005, under the label of Weekly Shonen Magazine. After the series was moved to Monthly Afternoon, the first two volumes were re-released under Afternoon label, with few additional pages and different volume covers.