Chapter 317: A Deathmatch [Part 1]

The argument between Troy and Hagen intensified.

Originally, this matter should have been settled inside Osteon’s residence. However, Troy had a different idea.

With that in mind, he went to the center of the city, dragging Osteon by the hair.

Of course, seeing their chieftain’s state angered the Bonegnash Tribe, and some of the warriors even stanced themselves, ready to fight to the death.

Just as the situation was about to go out of control, Troy roared. His lion’s roar had an intimidation effect, making the warriors momentarily lose their bloodlust.

It was then that he announced why the allied tribes had attacked the Bonegnash Tribe without any warning.

"Your chieftain has colluded with the Monster King to eliminate all the other chieftains of the Borderlands!" Troy roared. "The Bonegnash Tribe had clearly betrayed everyone, including you! Anyone who continues to support him will be executed without fail!

"All the high-ranking tribes now treat you as enemies. Resist if you dare, but know that a war awaits you!"

The Dark Manticores circling the city all roared in unison, supporting their chieftain’s declaration.

"Lies!" one of the warriors shouted. "You can’t frame our chieftain!"

"The Darkmane Tribe are liars!" another warrior shouted. "You’re lower than filth!"

"That’s right!"

"Go back to where you belong, you homeless mutt!"

"Loser!"

People called out to Troy. They insulted him, cursed him, and even called him names. Yet, instead of being angry, he only laughed.

"Since that’s the case, why don’t you ask the great shaman if I’m lying or not?" Troy asked in a challenging tone. "Do any of you dare to call him a liar?!"

If there was one thing Troy learned from Leone, it was to always use people to their advantage.

Gundar’s reputation was even better than that of the chieftains of the Borderlands. If he said Troy wasn’t lying, no one would doubt his words.

"It’s true," Gundar stated. "Osteon colluded with the Monster King and had planned to destroy all the tribes except the Bonegnash Tribe and Eden."

"W-What?!"

"Impossible!"

"This cannot be true!"

The people looked at each other in disbelief, while some were truly in denial. Troy clicked his tongue in annoyance, hoping someone would tell Gundar that he was a liar.

However, no one said that to the great shaman of the Borderlands.

Malik, who seemed to know what Troy was thinking, chuckled before commenting.

"See?" Malik said. "This is how bad your reputation is."

"Shut up." Troy glared.

Malik chuckled one more time, but said no more. He watched as Troy continued to list Osteon’s crimes, the ones that he had secretly investigated for years.

Every word that escaped the Lionkin’s lips was vile, and yet, Osteon couldn’t deny them.

Why?

It was physically impossible. Troy had broken his jaw.

Moving his mouth even a little made him feel great pain. As much as he wanted to defend himself, he couldn’t do it.

He could only make garbled and unintelligible sounds, as if he had lost his ability to speak.

Of course, this was part of Troy’s plan to further tarnish Osteon’s reputation.

"Now, we will decide on how we will deal with Osteon’s family and the Bonegnash Tribe," Troy declared. "The great shaman had questioned this traitor’s family earlier. He found out that they had no idea of his diabolical plan.

"Our laws demand family execution for severe crimes, and this is precisely one of those crimes. However, I am a benevolent ruler. I instead declare that Osteon’s family be exiled to the Aslan Tribe.

"Anyone who wishes to go with them may go! As for the rest who will remain here... all of you will become part of the Darkmane Tribe! Any objections?!"

"Screw you!" one of the tribesmen of the Bonegnash Tribe shouted. "We will never bow to you! We will not bo—argghhhh!"

The man couldn’t finish whatever he was going to say as one of the Dark Manticores dove from the sky and crushed him with a single paw.

Everyone, including the chieftains, watched in disbelief at this murder happening in broad daylight.

"Who else has objections?!" Troy asked in a challenging tone. "Speak! If you do, I promise to send you to the Earth Mother right here, right now! Do you honestly think I came here to shake hands and make merry with all of you?

"No. I have come here for vengeance! I have come here to kill! The only reason all of you are still alive right now is that I am allowing you to live. If you no longer wish to live, speak up! I will graciously grant your wish."

The Dark Manticore threw the remains of the man in front of the crowd, making some of them scream and scatter to avoid the dead body.

"Enough, Troy!" Hagen stepped forward. "You are being excessive! The majority of the Bonegnash Tribe is innocent!"

"So?" Troy asked. "Do you have a problem with me, Hagen?"

"I do." Hagen glared back. "If you don’t stop your atrocity, then I will stop you by force!"

The Bonegnash Tribe finally saw hope the moment Hagen stepped up. Hagen’s reputation was better than Troy’s, with many barbarians even looking up to him.

Unfortunately, Troy was someone who had no intention of backing down.

"Since you have a problem with me, then let’s settle this the barbarian way!" Troy stated. "A deathmatch! Only one of us will live. Do you dare to accept, you coward?"

It was then that Hagen finally understood why Troy had taken the discussion to the city center, a place where everyone would be able to witness this moment.

If this was handled in a closed room, only the chieftains, the elders, and their high-ranking officers would learn the truth.

But now that Troy had made it public and even challenged Hagen to a Death Match in front of everyone, that only meant one thing.

He was creating a situation where Hagen wouldn’t be able to back down so easily.

’This madman!’ Hagen thought to himself.

If Troy had challenged him a month ago, he would have gladly accepted to fight him in a deathmatch.

Though this time, it was different.

He had seen how Troy fought against the Bronze Dragon on his own. It was a desperate battle that showed his resolve.

It was the battle of a cornered man who had nothing to lose.

And one of the things Hagen didn’t want to deal with was a cornered man.

A glance was enough for him to know that Troy had that same fearless look when he faced the Bronze Dragon back then.

He was truly prepared to fight Hagen to a deathmatch.

A duel that Hagen had no intention of accepting. Not that he was afraid, of course. He simply knew that even if he won, he would not leave this battle intact.

However, as a chieftain, he knew he couldn’t possibly back down without a fight. The only saving grace was that the chieftain of a tribe may assign a representative to fight in his stead.

"You sound so confident." Hagen sneered at him. "Then, if I ask Gundar to be my representative, would you dare accept?"

Hagen knew that Troy was afraid of Gundar. He was probably the only person whom the Chieftain of the Darkmane Tribe feared in the Borderlands.

But just as he was about to ridicule Troy for being a coward, the chieftain’s reply came without a hint of hesitation.

"I accept," Troy answered without fear.

"What?" Hagen was genuinely surprised after hearing Troy’s answer. "You accept?"

"That’s right." Troy smirked. "I accept fighting the great shaman to a deathmatch. However, I don’t think he is willing to fight me, though?"

This time, everyone’s gaze landed on the great shaman of the Borderlands.

Gundar smiled faintly before giving his reply. "If Troy challenged me a month ago, I would have accepted. But now, I wouldn’t even dare to hurt even a single whisker on his head. After all, Troy is a war hero."

A war hero.

That was one of the highest praises someone could give to a warrior.

"He’s no war hero," Hagen replied. "He’s just a defeated chieftain who failed to win the war he started!"

Hagen wanted to remind everyone that it was Troy who started the war, and was, in fact, the defeated.

Suddenly, everyone heard a clapping sound.

Troy started clapping at those words. "Yes. I started the war and was soundly defeated. But that is that, and this is this. I have come to challenge you to a deathmatch, but you’re too much of a coward to even dare fight me. You even chose the great shaman as your representative, and I still accepted.

"You heard the man. He doesn’t want to fight me. Now, are you man enough to accept my challenge, or will you ask someone else to fight for you? You will never become the Barbarian King if you always hide behind others.

"Where is the courageous spirit of the Chieftain of the Grimhowl Tribe? Did you lose it after you faced the Monster King?"

Troy laughed out loud. His laughter was like the booming of thunder, perfectly poised to humiliate his foe.

Now that he had thrown the ball back to Hagen’s side of the court, the latter only had two choices.

To fight or to back down.

There was no third option.

If Hagen fought him with words, Troy would call him a coward.

If he made an excuse, Troy would call him a coward.

If he sent another representative, Troy would call him a coward.

When Hagen realized that Troy wanted to publicly humiliate him, it was already too late.

The barbarians revered the brave and the strong. This was an ironclad rule.

The moment someone shied away from showing their prowess was also the moment they would lose their support.

Sure, Leone might have defeated Troy, but he also gave the latter new fangs and claws to tear those who would try to belittle him.

Godwin, Malik, Duncan, Oswald, Garen, and all the warriors present waited with bated breath for how Hagen would handle what was coming next.