Bab 38: Typical men
In the heart of the bustling village of Garnt's, a hushed excitement filled the air as the villagers gathered around a makeshift arena.
"Is it a fight? Who is it this time?" A middle-aged man questioned, looking at the woman next to him.
"This time it is the boys, I think this will be over in a flash, look at their differences," She said and pointed in the direction, where the duel was taking place.
At the centre of this spectacle stood two formidable figures: Baktou, a seasoned warrior with a hulking frame, and Kiriah, a much younger and tiny fighter with fierce determination in his eyes.
Baktou, known for his strength that could rival the mightiest of giant bears, cracked his knuckles and grinned, revealing a row of weathered teeth after talking.
His muscles bulged beneath his tattered warrior garb, a testament to years of battles fought and won. On the other side of the arena, Kiriah stood with an air of unwavering confidence, his lithe frame a stark contrast to Baktou's brawn.
"Don't try me, Kiriah. Just because you're young, I won't go easy," Baktou muttered with a dangerous look on his face.
The villagers watched with bated breath, eager for the clash to begin. A hush fell over the crowd as the fighters circled each other, eyes locked in a fierce gaze. Kiriah, the underdog, was not to be underestimated, for his skill and technique were renowned throughout the land, especially for his age.
"Let's see about that," With a sudden burst of speed, Kiriah lunged forward, his movements fluid and graceful like a dancer. He struck with a flurry of precise kicks and punches, his blows aimed at Baktou's vital points.
The older warrior, however, was not to be caught off guard. He deftly blocked each attack, his experience and mastery of combat evident in his every move.
With a powerful swing of his massive arm, Baktou sent Kiriah sprawling to the ground. The villagers gasped, fearing the fight might be over. But Kiriah was not one to back down easily. He rolled with the fall and sprang back to his feet, determination burning in his eyes.
He attempted to sprint toward Baktou, his intention to swiftly grapple with him, but then his gaze fixated on the figure ahead of them.
A young man with a muscular body and long blonde hair looked at him with a slightly annoyed face.
"Brother!" He shouted, and everyone looked at the young man, only to realize that their beloved patriarch was already watching this duel.
Baktou, still recovering from the initial shock of Kiriah's unexpected shout, attempted to shift the blame away from himself. With a defiant tone, he declared, "It was Kiriah who challenged me, not the other way around! He's the one who wanted this fight!"
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances, torn between loyalty to their seasoned warrior and admiration for the young upstart. Kiriah, however, remained composed. He knew that the duel had been provoked by both of them equally, but he had no desire to escalate the situation with words.
As the debate in the arena continued, Garnt, the patriarch of the village, finally stepped forward. He had been watching the duel unfold with a discerning eye. He cracked his neck with a simple but authoritative gesture, causing a collective shiver among the spectators. His entrance into the makeshift ring was met with stunned silence.
Garnt stood tall, his muscular physique glistening with sweat under the harsh sun, his long blonde hair flowing like a warrior's mane. He wore a calm expression, contrasting with the tension in the arena.
"Baktou!" he called out, addressing Baktou. The young warrior turned his attention to Garnt with a mix of surprise and uncertainty.
Garnt then turned to Kiriah and nodded in acknowledgement. "Young Kiriah," he said, "I see you have spirit and skill. But this feud has gone on long enough, and it's time to settle it."
He had no idea what they were fighting for, but he easily could guess it was something silly.
With a confident smile, Garnt extended his hand toward both Baktou and Kiriah, gesturing for them to join him. "If you two can defeat me together," he declared, "I'll forgive this quarrel. But remember, the outcome will decide the matter once and for all."
The tension in the arena reached its peak as the villagers held their breath. Baktou and Kiriah exchanged a brief, with an unspoken understanding. They both knew that this challenge from Garnt was an opportunity to put an end to their dispute and earn the respect of their village.
But there was one individual that sighed seeing Garnt also joining the duel instead of stopping it. Kara couldn't help but sigh seeing this development, as she muttered. "Typical men."
[You better hold back against them, otherwise, you will break their confidence. They are still kids unlike you.]
Eva muttered since she knew Garnt was not going to hold back, even though he was going to fight his own brothers.
"I'll try," It was a short answer, but Eva knew this wouldn't end up good looking at his face.
With a determined nod Baktou and Kiriah, they moved towards Garnt, ready to face the challenge and prove something.
As the battle began, Garnt looked at them with an intimidating presence. His brothers, though skilled and determined, were still no match for his experience and strength. Garnt moved swiftly, parrying their attacks effortlessly and countering with powerful strikes of his own.
"Not enough power, put more strength into your attack, come at me like you want to kill me, "Garnt shouted and midway through the fight, the duel started to turn into a one-sided beat session.
Baktou and Kiriah fought bravely, their teamwork improving as they tried to coordinate their moves against their older brother. But Garnt's skills were unmatched, and he soon began to overwhelm them with his superior technique and strength.
"More! Show me more, this is not enough, at this rate, you two will never be able to hunt a primal bull," Garnt was shouting, but he suddenly felt confused when he saw both Kiriah and Baktou looking rather scared while staring at something behind him.
He had some bad feelings about this, so he quickly turned, only to see Gundo standing behind him with an angered look on her face. Ayra was also beside her, but she was trying her best to hold her laughter, seeing their 'most powerful leader' looking scared while gazing at a woman who wasn't even a combatant.
"Looks like you're having fun, my darling," Gundo said, her eyes twitching in anger, "Do you mind explaining to me why our respectable patriarch is fighting in the middle of the village? I would like to know."
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Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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