Chapter 153 - Unfair Challenge
Without even turning his head, Sam could guess who other party was. It is the Regiment commander of the fifth regiment.
At first, he was happy that Sam is not there for training, he felt that he could use a legitimate reason to cut some points for the first time, but when a soldier from his regiment came forward and explained the situation, he immediately became angry and agitated.
He didn't expect that Sam would retaliate like this.
"Sam, how dare you put down the soldiers of the Southern Star military and injure him like that? You seemed to have forgotten that you are also part of this military now. From this point alone you could be branded as traitor and executed."
Sam didn't even bother to reply and only looked at the Deputy General. He wants to see the latter's reaction and since the other party is as calm as ever, he spoke to the Regiment commander.
"It is not if what I say is true. I am here and fought four duels and won all of them without breaking a sweat. Trash is trash, no matter how much moral high ground you take. Seeing this trash itself is indication of your ability.
And here you are trying to train me. You should have thanked your lucky stars that I am not a Grand Realm cultivator. Otherwise, I would have kicked your ass until you call me your grandfather."
Sam didn't even hold back at insulting the instructor.
The instructor's veins popped on his forehead. He didn't expect that Sam would be this unruly.
How dare he, a small Novice come and say these words to him? He almost made a move on Sam right now. Only the presence of the Deputy general is stopping him.
But the most infuriated people are not instructor rather the soldiers. They are blaming themselves for not being competent enough to not to be insult to their commander.
"Deputy General, you have seen the impudence. We should punish him by military law." The Regiment commander asked with a loud but respective tone.
Deputy General just gave him a sweeping look and said.
"Just like he said, if what he said are just simply accusations, I will take action, but if it is true, then I must think about you and your efficiency in doing a good job. After all, if a single Novice can beat all the Novices of your regiment, I must also say you are trash.
So, if you want to take action, defeat him and prove him wrong."
The soldiers couldn't take it anymore after listening to this. Sam's provocations along with the Deputy General's statement made them even more indignant.
"You said you would take team fights, right?" A squad captain asked Sam.
"Sure."
"Are you okay with the squad?"
"Come on, then. What is having one trash and seven trash. The only difference is the time of cleaning."
Sam kept on with his trash talk. Actually, he didn't like this trash talk at all, but he has to do it to achieve their goal.
First one, is he would empty the wallets of these guys. He would stand on high pedestal as if saying that even his beating is worth money which would let them to take out the money in order to not to lose out.
Second one, the trash talk will not only rile the people up but if he won in the same overbearing manner, the people would feel the trash talk is true.
Third one, once they really felt like trash, the novices which are more than half of the regiment will lose belief in themselves and their teammates and lose their confidence and morale which would in turn affect the morale of the remaining Great realm cultivators too.
Whether he likes acting like this or not, Sam will continue this trash talking so that he can achieve his goals.
The squad came up and all of them made a small heap of their spirit stones near the stage.
Before they took the position. Deputy General gestured to start and Sam didn't stay passive anymore. He immediately made his move.
"Restrain him."
The squad captain ordered and a member of the team immediately placed his hands on the floor. A series of vines popped up and one of them hooked Sam's legs.
"Block his retreat."
An earthen wall appeared behind Sam's back while he was trying to get out the vines. But he was in no hurry.
He looked at the remaining members who are planning for the big move.
The squad captain placed his hands on the floor and big chunk of rock started materialising from the ground. It is spherical in shape. There are some grooves over the surface.
Then the remaining three people who seemed to be fire types started making hand signs and chanted a spell and soon they directed the flames towards the spherical rock. The flame entered the grooves and the rock started changing colours.
Meanwhile, Sam is just looking at the scene calmly, he let the vines wrap around him and let them restrain him as they wished.
He is looking at the rock with intrigue.
At this moment the soldiers are relieved.
"Finally, he will be done. Damn it, I was so afraid that he can win a squad."
"Yeah, and he is not facing any ordinary squad, he is taking on one of our best squads. The flaming meteorite is one of their best skills."
The soldiers were discussing, when Sam sensed something, the core of the rock was melting and it is slowly making its way towards the surface. Only thin layer is separating the lava from the surface.
If this can be shot at a sufficient momentum it would have been a good attack, but this is only useful in war where their teammates can buy sometime and it is most suitable to attack a group.
Just before the team could make the attack, Sam smiled.
"You think you can stop me? Dream on." He was suddenly engulfed with golden flames, which burnt the vines.
"Shoot." The squad captain shouted. But his hands aren't as fast as his mouth or Sam. Before he could make a move, Sam reappeared above the rock with a crooked grin on his face.
He swung his leg as he kicked the top of the rock. The thin layer cracked by the impact and started crumbling.
The lava exploded all over the squad members before they could escape. Sam didn't linger on them and went after the wood element mage who restrained him and the earth mage who blocked the rear.
With a single kick for each both of them are out of the stage.
Sam leisurely walked towards the injured four who are still burning with the lava. The fire elemental mages are a little bit alright compared to the squad captain.
He looked at the four of them condescendingly and said.
"I stood there and you guys cannot lay a single strike on me. I think calling you trash is even me being generous with my words."
He kicked them off the stage and shouted. "Next squad." Nobody moved.
Sam looked at the crowd and spotted the person who called the instructor back.
"You come up with your squad."
The soldier didn't have any say. As soldiers they have a rule to not turn down a challenge and the person who is challenging has a lower cultivation than his and he is even challenging his whole squad. It would be a disgrace to try and turn down.
The soldier gave a blaming look to the regiment commander and walked towards the stage with their squads.
The added their spirit stones to the previous small pile created by the previous squad.
This time, the squad is of the seven swordsmen. They are trying to surround him.
Their coordination is impeccable and they are even better than the previous squad in cornering a single enemy.
But Sam dealt with them all the same. This time, he didn't pull his punches at all. All his hits only landed on their faces and every hit made them lose a tooth or crack a facial bone.
Sam is toying with them completely.
The same scene continued for a while before they admitted defeat.
And another squad came, then another squad came.
Just like that, before afternoon, Sam dealt with four companies.
"Trash" This is the only thing Sam has to say all of them. In fact, most of these people's combat prowess is decent. But the problem is that they are quite intimidated and disturbed by Sam's actions and words.
Sam's words are all over their heads.
Deputy general noticed that Sam is achieving his goal. He is observing every step of Sam.
The huge pile of spirit stones is used as a bait initially and then Sam's words are greatest provocation to any army.
He entered the heads of all these people without much effort and now they are delivering their dignity and money at the same time without even thinking straight.
At this moment, the regiment commander said.
"Stop."
Sam didn't bother with him and was about to target next squad before the regiment commander said.
"Didn't you say that military is trash? The military power never lies in individual strength or strength of a squad. It relies on the whole army. Do you dare to fight against the whole army?"
Everyone was stunned by the shameless words.
The soldiers also didn't expect that their commander would make such claims.
Actually, their novices are not that great. Because, the true novice experts are scouted by the city guards for their individual strength. The Novices in this military are quite used for combined attacks.
But even then, losing to a single Novice is already a shameful matter much less fighting in squads.
Now, their commander is even more shameless to ask him to fight against an army.
But the regiment commander still continued.
"Your said that the military is trash. If the military didn't fight together then how can you say that it is trash? If you don't prove it, I will punish you with Martial law."
"So, what is your point?" Sam asked with some impatience. However, he knew what is going to happen.
"Fight a battalion and win. Then what you said can be considered true."
Sam didn't reply immediately and just looked at the crowd. Seeing this the regiment commander pushed even more.
"If you don't accept prepare for punishment. I would deduct every point for disobedience from your team and you will also be given the harshest punishment possible."
He is hanging on to this last straw, he knew that he is shameless and he really did regret provoking Sam. But he was on path of no return.