Beatnik said:
Ugh, that was brutal. More brutal than anything in Berserk or anything of that ilk. Its because Vinland Saga's atrocities are reality-based, whereas other manga usually are more fantastical.
Also, you have to know the ideology was different at that time. Human lives are not worth that much at that time, where survival of the fittest is everything. Compassion and love and all those concept only become prevalent when some of these basic survival needs are satisfied.
So it was not really that shocking given the historical context. It is what it is... It's my own nihilistic view but once again, it's just an objective view on things.