Chapter 333 - 173: First Round

That axe strike reminded everyone of just who Palamede was.

Those who became commanders and Clan Leaders might not have been the strongest Warriors, but they were certainly no weaklings. Palamede, however, was one of the absolute best, even among countless Warriors. In his day, there were few who could face him in a direct confrontation.

Palamede came from a savage era, a time unlike the present. Back then, to become a Clan Leader, one had to be backed by immense power; otherwise, your subordinates would simply not obey.

You say you’re clever? That you’ve got a sharp mind?

Heh. What good is being clever if you can’t even keep your head on your shoulders?

It wasn’t that there were no clever people in Palamede’s time, but those individuals rarely lasted long as Clan Leader. They either died in the chaos of war or were killed in a betrayal. No one would follow a Clan Leader who wasn’t powerful enough.

In those days, personal valor was magnified. With every Charge, the Clan Leader was expected to lead from the front. If the Clan Leader didn’t take the lead, the others wouldn’t charge forward with courage. They needed an example to follow.

And Palamede was a product of that era. With his own two fists and sheer Power, he had carved a bloody path, walking over mountains of corpses to rule the Palamede clan. He was the one who led that small tribe, once on the brink of annihilation, step by step towards strength.

Despite his advanced age, his combat prowess hadn’t diminished in the slightest. In fact, he might even be stronger now than ever before.

Having fought in countless battles and slain untold numbers of enemies in his lifetime, Palamede clutched the Double-bladed Axe that had always been by his side. He scanned the room with a predatory gaze, and seeing that no one dared make a move, he finally began to walk, step by step, toward his seat.

"I don’t want to hear any more sounds like that one. You will remember my name. I am Pa. la. me. de," Palamede said, his eyes fixed on his seat as he walked. He spoke in a low, aged voice, enunciating every syllable.

An air of bloodlust and killing intent filled the meeting hall. At that moment, the long-dormant Slaughter Conqueror had reawakened. The man whose name alone once made his enemies tremble had finally revealed his true, ferocious nature.

CREAK... GROAN...

Palamede sat back down. It was as if his body carried the weight of a mountain, pressing down on the chair until it groaned as if it were about to break.

THUD!

He planted his Double-bladed Axe on the floor. The sound struck them like a mallet against the heart, and the weaker commanders and Clan Leaders couldn’t help but shudder.

"Rally the troops. We’re launching another wave. We will annihilate the enemy by daylight," Palamede commanded, his gaze predatory.

None of the commanders or Clan Leaders said a word, listening meekly. They didn’t want to confront Palamede directly, which meant they could not object to his command.

Just then, a Goblin Clan Leader shakily got to his feet, looking toward Palamede with unconcealed fear.

"Hm?" Palamede looked at the Goblin Clan Leader and grunted softly.

"O-O great and respected Grand Marshal, I have something to say," the Goblin Clan Leader stammered, prostrating himself completely on the floor, his voice shaking with fear.

"Speak," Palamede said, leaning back slightly. He rested his hands, one atop the other, on the handle of his axe and looked down at the Goblin Clan Leader.

"Our Goblin Warriors... they don’t want to go again," the Goblin Clan Leader said carefully. "Even the Giant Monster was defeated. They think the Undead are invincible."

"And?" A dangerous light flared in Palamede’s eyes.

Sensing the overwhelming killing intent, the Goblin Clan Leader pressed his head even lower, almost burying it in the floor. With a quavering voice, he pleaded, "O mighty Palamede, could we perhaps hold off the attack today and fight again another time?"

The words had barely left the Goblin Clan Leader’s mouth when Palamede vanished from his seat. In the next instant, he was beside him. A cold light flashed as he swung his axe.

"AARGH—"

The Goblin Clan Leader collapsed with a scream, one of his arms now missing. Pain contorted his features, and his face was instantly slick with sweat.

Palamede leaned down and stared at the Goblin Clan Leader, his voice impossibly cold. "That is your problem, not mine. I told you to prepare for a second attack. Which part of that did you not understand? Or are you saying you are incapable? If you are, then I will simply find a Clan Leader who is."