章 27: 27. Victory.
The first two warriors stepped forward, with the man who had been dancing positioned between them. He held their hands up to the king as a sign that their attention was now on each other and sought permission to proceed. The king granted approval by raising his hand.
After the king gave the go-ahead, the man dropped the warriors' hands and raised his own hand. The warriors assumed a bent, gorilla-like stance, their gazes locked onto each other. Without hesitation, the man swiftly dropped his hand, signaling the start of the fight.
The man quickly stepped back, as soon as the fight began, allowing the warriors to engage in combat.
The warriors tightly clasped each other's hands, each struggling to overpower the other. Unable to gain the upper hand, they released their grip and resumed their fight. This time, one of the warriors attempted to grab the other's leg, known as the danger zone due to the risk of causing a fall.
The crowd erupted in cheers as the warriors grappled fiercely, with one managing to secure the other's leg. The intensity of the struggle increased as the opponent fought back, but the persevering warrior ultimately prevailed. In a sudden, swift movement, he turned his adversary, causing the opponent's back to hit the ground.
The crowd rose to their feet, roaring with excitement and admiration for the victorious warrior.
Safiya's mouth hung open as she witnessed the scene unfolding before her. How had she not seen something like this before? She would have to come here often.
The one who had won the competition came forward and bowed his head to the king before raising his hand in the air. The crowd cheered and clapped, hailing him with joy.
On the other hand, the one who had lost would return home, no longer eligible for the next round. However, he would be given a prize as per tradition.
The next warriors stepped forward one by one, each engaging in the same ritual and the winner being chosen.
As the time for Dede's turn approached, a massive warrior emerged as his opponent, causing the crowd to gasp in astonishment.
"Is that a warrior from Azu, the other kingdom? He is so big," whispered someone behind Safiya.
Safiya glanced at Dede, who seemed unfazed by the imposing figure before him. Though he didn't display any signs of fear on the outside, Safiya couldn't help but feel that he must be inwardly daunted. How could he possibly defeat such a formidable opponent?
Safiya's breath caught as she realized she wanted Dede to win, though she knew she would never work with the king—even if he was to recruit female warriors, it wasn't even a possibility, and the only emotion she felt when she looked at him was anger.
The coach of the fight raised his hand to the king, just like the other warriors, and Safiya unknowingly turned in that direction. Her fist clenched as she realized she had just looked over to see him.
Malik's gaze wasn't directed at her; instead, it was fixed intently on the fighting circle, his hand resting on the arm of his seat. Safiya noticed Princess Amara laughing and saying something to him, and he nodded in response, initiating their conversation.
Safiya felt a tinge in her chest and quickly looked away, questioning why she was feeling this way. She should just focus on the match instead.
The man raised his hand, the drums started beating, and the women sang, their voices barely audible as Dede and his opponent's hands clashed.
They struggled, and Safiya could almost feel the ground vibrating under their feet, their breath catching as their chests rose up and down while they pushed each other. Then their hands loosened, and they started circling, their gazes fixed on each other.
The big man pounced on Dede, but Dede effortlessly dodged. He growled and pounced again, catching Dede's head while trying to turn him, but Dede's leg was pinned to the ground.
While the man held Dede's head in a painful-looking grip, Dede's hand reached for the man's leg. But the man's strength was proving too much, as he pushed Dede's hand away each time he tried to grab his leg.
The crowd had fallen silent, and even the women's singing had become quieter. The drummers looked on intently, and everyone caught their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
Dede's current position was not a healthy one, with the man putting so much pressure on his head, and Dede fighting against it to try and reach the man's leg.
It seemed like a stalemate, with neither man able to gain the upper hand. Safiya felt her heart racing as she watched the intense struggle between the two men.
"Come on, come on," Safiya growled, her hand clenching and unclenching. She was almost at the edge of her seat, praying silently for Dede's success.
And then, something incredible happened. Instead of growing weak from the exhaustion of the big man still holding his head, he pushed through and the man started to weaken. His leg gave way, and in a split second, Dede seized the opportunity and grabbed hold of it.
The man desperately tried to shake Dede's hand off him, but Dede's grip remained firm. In a moment of confusion, the man mistakenly removed one of his hands from Dede's head, reaching out to touch the ground.
Sensing the opportunity, Dede swiftly flung him over, and the man's back hit the ground with a resounding thud.
"Yes!" Safiya exclaimed joyfully, unable to contain her excitement. The crowd erupted into applause and cheers, relieved that the intense struggle had finally come to an end. Dede had emerged victorious, and it was a moment of triumph for everyone witnessing the incredible match.
As the crowd continued cheering, the drums started again, and the women resumed singing. Everyone marveled at what they had just witnessed – an intense fight. No one had expected Dede to be capable of fighting such a big man. The coach stepped forward, raising his hand and declaring Dede as the winner.
Safiya watched Dede, who looked exhausted but had a big smile on his face. How could she have said those things earlier? She suddenly felt guilty because this was who he truly was; she could see it in his face.
After the fight, the king stood up and raised his hand, causing the cheering to subside. He addressed everyone, mainly praising the warriors for their bravery and skill.
He announced that the next round would take place the following day and that the top winners would be chosen to join the warriors in their mission to save the land. Additionally, he mentioned the prospect of wholesome compensation.
Safiya couldn't help but scoff at the mention of compensation. She wondered if the king would truly follow through, considering the Azu kingdom's involvement in this perilous situation.
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