The challenge

After finishing our lunch we all sat in the living room. We each had a glass of wine in our hand sipping it in a leisurely manner. Both komiko and Arora were enjoying their wine. It was their first time drinking this so they are tasting it sip by sip.

"Hey guys, I have an announcement to make." I said while drawing their attention from their drink.

"What is it Justin? Is this important? Cant you see I'm enjoying the wine here?" Komiko said with a disgruntled tone as she was disturbed from her merry time.

"Is this important?" Asked Arora with an annoyed look.

"Yeah, it's kinda important. I'm going to challenge Mordo." I said with determination.

"Are you serious?" Both looked shocked.

"Yeah." I nodded to their question.

It's not that they don't believe me, it's just the entire problem is different. Mordo physically doesn't exceed my strength. If I have to make an approximation, it would be around high 8-C but with the weapon from the dwarves he could match up to me in destructive power.

It's not the most worrying matter. I have confidence that I can defeat him in a fight. It's just he is too influential. He has connection with the inner city and challenging him means I'm challenging his position as clan head. But I have no interest in that. I just want to fight. But I don't think he would understand that.

If he losses he can't be the clan head anymore. Even if I relinquish the position, the members of the clan won't accept him as long as I'm in the clan. So, fighting him means I have to leave the clan after the fight to avoid any trouble.

Looking at my determination, they both tried to convince me.

"Are you sure? You can always find tougher opponents outside the city, you know." Said komiko. They know that I improve fast when I'm facing an equal or stronger opponent that me. They can tell that after watching me grow in strength.

"Yeah, I can but I'm fighting him for a different reason. I'm aiming for the weapon. I want that axe." I said to the. About my true intension for fighting Mordo.

"If you fought without holding back, can you kill Mordo?" Asked Arora.

I was confused, why would she ask that but she soon answered that

"If you can, just kill him." Said Arora.

"Why? Do you have any vendetta against him?" I asked Arora in a calm manner. If there is a personal problem between the two, I don't think Arora would be working there. Even if there is I would consider her proposal.

"No Justin. I think it's best to kill him in the fight to avoid future troubles. Stop being naive, even if you leave the clan, I don't think he is benevolent enough to let you go Scot free after you humiliate him. And I promise he wouldn't want to part with his axe." Said Arora with a serious look in her eyes.

I mulled over her words. She seems to be making a good point. If I don't want future troubles, it's best to kill him in the fight. I decided as she advised. I nodded to Arora.

"Thank you Arora. I'll make sure to kill him in the fight." I said. Both Komiko and Arora were visibly relieved by my answer.

"So, what are your plans after that? Are you going to take charge as clan head?" Asked Komiko about my future plans.

"I don't think I'm suitable for that position and I'm not interested in doing something tedious. I don't know what's going to happen. I'll just think about this in future." I was not thinking of making some elaborate plans that would somehow mess up. It's the way of the world. I'll just be myself and be carefree.

"Be careful Justin, Mordo is not a simple man. He is not only strong, cunning and treacherous. He destroyed an entire squad of people when he was working somewhere for a treasure. It was not the squad of the enemies, it was his comrades." She said with all seriousness. This was a new thing I learned about him.

"Yeah, I'll make sure to be careful." I said to Arora. After that we discussed some counter measures in case something went wrong and we just relaxed for the rest of the day.

The next day I went to the clan building. I went to meet Franco first to ask him about arranging a meeting between me and Mordo. Which he accepted pretty easily.

I thought about the fight when he defeated me by knocking me out of the arena. It was not a fun fight. But got him back in my next fight against him as he was defeated in under a minute. After that the communication between us got quiet distant, it seemed he was pretty upset about the loss.

Soon he was off the comms and he looked at me.

"Head accepted for the meeting. He is waiting for you in the top floor. Follow me." As he said that he walked out of the office and towards the elevator. I followed him and reached the elevator.

It would be the first time I enter the top floor, as it is privately used by the head of the clan. When the door opens, it didn't seem any different from the other floors. Franco then exited the elevator and walked straight towards the room that was located at the end of the corridor.

I followed him slowly observing everything and when we reached the room, he slowly knocked.

"Head, I brought Justin here." Said Franco. He then patiently waited for the answer. A few seconds later the door slowly opened revealing an office room with a lot of different weapons on display.

I soon looked at the end of the room. There sat a bulky figure about ~6 feet or 180 cm guy, with grey skin and red tattoo covering his whole upper body. He was occupying the main chair behind the desk in the room.

"You can go now Franco, I'll have talk with Justin over here."

"Sure Head." Said Franco. Then he left the room leaving just the two in the room.

"What is it Justin? Why are you here? Are you here to finally join the clan?" Asked Mordo looking at me with a curious gaze.

"No, I'm here to challenge you to a fight." As I said that Mordo didn't even change his facial expression. He looked at me deeply and said,

"Do you want a promotion from wine maker to clan head? I don't think that's appropriate." As he said that his voice got a little deeper. 'Is he trying to intimidate me?'

"No, I don't want to be a clan head. I just want to fight you." I said this making Mordo slightly frown.

"So, what's the real reason?" He asked me. I was surprised but no so much. He was not convinced that I want to just fight him. Seems like I'm not a convincing liar. It's fine anyway.

"I have a proposal." I said looking at him. He said "Go on." I continued, "How about we make a bet? If you win I'll work for you, if I win how about giving me that axe?"

As I said that I was observing him, there was no change in his expression. He just looked at me blankly. It went on for a minute or so, in all honesty it was quiet uncomfortable for me to have this stare down. He soon stood up from where he was sitting and walked towards me. I too stood up and instantly went on guard. If he tried to do something stupid, I'll kill him right here, right now.

He stooped 3 feet away from me and stretched his hand out.

"You got yourself a deal Justin. Once you lose you will do whatever I say for next 10 years, you got that?" He said while looking up towards me.

I thought it was an ok deal. I'm sure I'll win and,

"And what about the axe, you have to say it you know. You can't just skirt around the issue." I said looking at him sternly.

"And yes, you can take the axe when you win the fight. But that's not guaranteed is it?" He said that with a mocking tone.

"We will see about that." I said with confidence. "Let's fight two days later. I have an important issue to handle. How about that?"

"Sure. But we should fight in the arena for everyone to see. It's as usual no hot weapons are allowed."

"No problem. See you in the arena." He said gesturing me to leave. I complied and went to the door and it automatically opened. Only after it was closed did I relax a little. I don't know what kind of tricks he has in that room.

I somehow feel something is off but I don't know what it is. I ruminate over the issue as I walk towards the elevator. I just want to leave this place before working on anything. Even if he wants to back out, he can't as I have recorded everything that happened between us.

*3rd POV*

After Justin left the room, Mordo still stared at the door. Soon his expression formed into a scowl and he picked up the chair Justin was sitting and smashed it on the floor.

"How dare that little shit? Since you don't know your place I'll show it to you." As he said that he walked towards the table and picked up his comms and searched into the contacts.

Soon it seemed that he found what he was looking for and selected the contact to call. The call connected,

"I have an offer for you." On the other side, the listener just voiced out the opinion, "I'm listening, make it quick."