Chapter 29: The Challenge [2]

The moment those words left Bruz’s mouth, I knew there was no backing down.

This wasn’t just a challenge.

It was a public test, thrown down in front of the entire clan, and every pair of eyes was fixed on me.

If I refused now, I might as well roll over and let them gut me like a deer, because weakness had no place among goblins.

Strength was everything here. Either I proved I belonged, or I got stomped into the dirt.

So, naturally, I smirked.

Stretching out my arms, I rolled my shoulders as though I were simply warming up before a workout, then slowly cracked my neck, taking my time with the motion.

The act wasn’t for me. It was for everyone watching.

"Alright," I said, my voice calm and completely unbothered. "Let’s get this over with."

The goblins exploded into a frenzy.

Some cheered, hungry for blood and battle, while others jeered, eager to watch me get flattened. A few didn’t care who won. They just wanted a good fight.

The circle widened as the crowd shuffled back to give us space.

"Dead goblin walking," someone muttered behind me.

"Bruz is gonna mop the floor with him," another sneered.

I ignored every word.

My eyes stayed on Bruz, while Zephra watched from the edge of the crowd with an unreadable expression. As for me, I was eager to impress.

Bruz’s grin widened, his fangs glinting in the firelight as he let out a mocking chuckle.

"You’re gonna regret this, little parasite."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode toward an open clearing at the edge of the village.

The ground there was hard-packed and scarred with countless gouges and cracks, a battlefield shaped by years of brutal fights.

One by one, the goblins followed, spreading out until they formed a wide circle around us, turning the clearing into a living arena.

I walked after him at an unhurried pace, rolling my shoulders and shaking out the stiffness in my limbs as I steadied my breathing.

In. Out.

The anticipation humming beneath my skin only grew stronger with every step toward the center.

[Sharp Vision] kicked in, and the world around me seemed to slow as every tiny detail snapped into perfect focus.

Bruz’s stance was wide, rooted firmly to the ground, giving him incredible stability and raw power.

His thick fingers twitched with anticipation, eager to grab hold of me and crush me where I stood, while the arrogant set of his shoulders spoke of complete confidence.

There wasn’t a trace of caution or hesitation in him.

He had overwhelming strength. There was no denying that.

But finesse? He had none.

I stepped into the circle, muscles tensing as I prepared for the fight, when a thunderous voice suddenly cut through the deafening cheers.

"Idiot!"

The crowd immediately parted as a massive goblin forced his way through the spectators, drawing every eye toward him. It was Gunther.

His face was etched with pure irritation, and the moment Bruz saw him, the scowl on his own face vanished completely.

"Brother!" he exclaimed.

Brother? The two were siblings?

Huh. That actually explained a lot.

Gunther’s golden eyes shifted between Bruz and me, and for a brief moment I realized something surprising. He didn’t seem angry at me.

He was angry at Bruz.

He stepped closer to his brother, his voice dropping into a low, dangerous growl.

"Why the hell are you challenging him, Bruz?" he demanded, frustration bleeding into every word.

Bruz’s scowl only deepened as he squared his broad shoulders, standing like an immovable wall of muscle. "I don’t need your damn permission," he shot back without hesitation.

Gunther let out a long, exasperated sigh and rubbed his temples, looking like he already had a headache.

"You’re going to lose, idiot," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

But Bruz never even acknowledged him.

His pride had wrapped itself around him like a suit of armor, and with the entire clan watching, there was no turning back. Backing down now would be a humiliation he would never live down.

To Bruz, this wasn’t just another fight. It was a chance to prove himself. To prove that he wasn’t weaker than some outsider who had stumbled into the tribe with the title of "Chosen One." His jaw tightened, determination burning in his eyes.

"I will not lose."

Gunther opened his mouth as if to stop him, but the words never came.

Intervening now would only earn him the clan’s disapproval, and after all the boasting Bruz had done, backing down would be even worse.

By now, the tribe had already formed a wide circle around the two of them, their voices buzzing with excitement like a swarm of insects. They weren’t gathered simply to watch a brawl. They wanted answers.

They wanted to see if the outsider, the so-called Chosen One, truly deserved the reputation that had begun to spread through the clan.

This was a test. A trial.

Gunther, meanwhile, looked far less interested in the spectacle than he was annoyed that his brother was about to embarrass himself. He let out a weary sigh, folded his arms across his chest, and shook his head.

"Don’t hold back. Go all out. That’s the only advice I can give you."

Bruz visibly stiffened, the words clearly catching him off guard, but after a brief pause, he drew a deep breath and gave a firm nod.

Watching the exchange, I couldn’t help but grin.

That was... interesting.

Gunther didn’t like me. Not one bit. But unlike his brother, he wasn’t blinded by pride. He knew exactly how strong I was.

He had already fought me before. He had felt my strength firsthand, and unlike his younger brother, he understood exactly how this was going to end.

I flexed my fingers and rolled my shoulders, feeling energy thrum through every vein in my body. Every muscle felt alive, coiled and ready to explode at a moment’s notice.

A grin spread across my face as I stepped forward.

"Alright," I said, cracking my neck. "I’m ready."

Bruz answered by stomping into the center of the clearing, planting his feet wide as the ground trembled beneath his weight.

He puffed out his chest, his massive frame radiating confidence as he looked down at me like the outcome had already been decided.

"I’ll make this quick," he sneered.

I merely rolled my wrist, completely unimpressed, before meeting his gaze with a smirk.

"I sincerely doubt that."