Chapter 26

For two weeks straight, Xiao Chen pushed his men to their limits, exhausting them every day and trying to trigger their bottom line.

On the twenty first day of training a Galuk warrior finally had enough and expressed his frustrations

"What's the use of exhausting us every single day!? It serves no purpose...we the orcs are natural born warriors...we were born for war and lived for war...treating us like this... is a disgrace for any warrior...an orcs honor and strength is proven in battle...not through this useless daily tiring routine..."

A burly Galuk orc, with reddish brown skin, long unkempt hair that reaches his shoulders, huge bulging veined arms was finally fed up with Xiao Chen's orders.

"How dare you challenge the chief's will!"

Gur'kan stride forward with huge steps toward the complaining Galuk warrior, his fists were tightly clench, anger was apparent in his face and his eyes were filled with nothing but coldness.

"Chief's will...must follow..."

Galum'nor bellowed and thumped his chests like a gorilla and angrily charged forward towards the complaining Galuk warrior.

"Keep your eyes open...there is going to be a good fight"

Trot'thar told his men who were staring with confusion at what is going on. Drae'ghanna just snorted with annoyance and halted her men to spectate on what is going to happen.

"Gur'kan!!! Galum'nor!!! Stay your hand!!! Let me teach him with a personal lesson..."

Xiao Chen said with authority as he marched forward, his chest proudly out, his strides full of power, his arms like well-coordinated motors swung back and forth, his back straightened as straight as it can be and he had the menacing aura of a top predator, ready to catch his clueless prey.

"What do they call you!?"

Xiao Chen questioned the complaining orc with a voice full of authority, he was waiting for this to happen. The chance to display to the newcomers his combat prowess like what he did to his officers and the Arkhans when they challenged his authority when they were fed up with his harsh training.

"I am called Maghazz, chief"

The complaining Galuk orc said with a hint of fear as he eyed the massive Galum'nor busily staring at him with an excited face who can't wait to pummel him to the ground. Comparing himself to the hulking frame of Galum'nor, Maghazz knew that he had no chance of winning over the massive orc. Slightly to his left, he saw the cold eyes of Gur'kan, like a viper poise to strike, just waiting for the right moment, the clenched fists of the skinny orc meant he was raring to go and fight him.

"Maghazz...Well like those who have undergone my training before... I'll give you a chance...Fight me one on one...If you win, you can replace me as the chieftain...but if you lose... you'll do everything...and I mean everything... I command you to do that doesn't desecrate a warrior's honor and dignity."

Xiao Chen said to Maghazz, speaking clearly and loudly. Turning his gaze towards the other orcs who were spectating the event

"This applies to all of you! You are welcome to challenge me anytime...but you must prepare to accept the consequences when you lose"

He bellowed with authority, and giving a reminder to all those who can't wait to tear him apart, limb by limb.

"Choose your weapons"

Xiao Chen ushered Maghazz towards the equipment storage and stood where he was at. A few moments later, Maghazz came out fully armed, on his hands were two big swords, the sword had many dents but the dents only made it more dangerous than before, with sharp teeth spread out along its length like a saw, which could inflict a very painful wound.

Maghazz stared at the chieftain who had his arms crossed in front of his chest, eyeing him from head to toe, he didn't know what came over him but chief's eyes reminded him of the eyes of a powerful predator in the mountains, the Dargan. Much like a Dargan that observes its prey first carefully before attacking, Maghazz can't help but become nervous as the friendly aura of the chieftain change into that of a bloodthirsty warrior, the baleful aura of blood like the famed berserkers of the old hordes.

"I hope you're ready..."

Xiao Chen said then sprinted forward towards Maghazz with an unbelievable speed just like a nocked arrow on a bow that was just released.

Maghazz can't help but be surprised, the chief was fighting him barehanded. 'The chief is either brave and confident enough on his fighting skills or he is just a fool' Maghazz thought and raised the sword on his right hand above his head ready to strike down while his left hand clutching a sword prepared to intercept any sudden surprised attack.

"There..."

Maghazz muttered and grinned, 'the chieftain is done for' he thought as he imagined becoming the new chieftain, his right hand came crashing down towards Xiao Chen and he was sure that he can defeat him with just that slash.

But contrary to his expectations, Maghazz saw the chief spin, using his right foot as a pivot and evaded his slash. A heavy strike landed under his chin, making his head jerked backwards, his vision a little blurry and his footing unsteady.

Xiao Chen gave Maghazz a solid upper cut after evading his strike with a simple spin. Not giving him any chance to regain his bearings, Xiao Chen went on the offense. Charging forward like lightning, he grabbed Maghazz's left hand, twisted it towards his back. Maghazz uttered a painful moan as his hand was twisted behind his back, the pain caused him to let go of the sword which fell on the ground with a clang.

Disarming one of Maghazz's weapons, Xiao Chen kicked him forwards on the back as he evaded a wild swing from Maghazz's remaining sword.

With a loud thud, Maghazz crashed on the ground, his face slid on the rough hard ground causing some small cuts and bruises on his face.

Maghazz tried to get up but something heavy was on his back preventing him from getting on his feet. The small cuts on his face caused a stinging pain like it was being pricked by multiple thorns at the same time, the warm feeling of his blood made him angry.

He felt like his honor as a warrior is being stepped on. With a loud shout he tossed the chieftain on his back away and finally got back on his feet.

Quickly turning around to confront the chieftain, but what he saw was not the chieftain's face but a green foot fast approaching towards his face.

With a painful grunt, Maghazz stumbled backwards, his vision starting to change from clear to dark, he saw many white star-like sparkling dots wherever he looks at. Swaying left and right, like a drunk, suddenly a strong blow on his abdomen forced him to his knees.

"Heok!!!"

Maghazz uttered a sound filled with pain as Xiao Chen gave him a solid punch to the abdomen with a powerful right hook, knocking the wind out of his lungs.

Xiao Chen stared at the kneeling Maghazz who is experiencing great pain as he was clutching his abdomen and had a hard time trying to breathe.

"You lose"

Xiao Chen said and walked away from the suffering Maghazz and towards the spectators.

"You see that...even while unarmed...I defeated him... That's the purpose of training...the pain and sufferings that you are experiencing now...will be the one that will save your lives in the battlefield...a properly trained warrior can defeat multiple enemies even without a weapon...your body is your weapon... sharpen and strengthen your bodies...and you will survive more battles"

Xiao Chen shouted at his men; their eyes full of awe as they witnessed how their chieftain easily defeated Maghazz with just his bare hands.

"Chief, look out, behind you"

Gur'kan nervously exclaimed as he charged forward to try and save the chief from Maghazz's strike. Turning his body quickly and using its momentum, Xiao Chen landed a heavy spin kick towards Maghazz temple.

Maghazz grinned like a fool as he imagined stabbing Xiao Chen with his sword, making him bleed and taste pain but unexpectedly, something struck his left temple, his ears ringing and his vision turning dark. Slowly Maghazz fell face down to the ground, unconscious. He was lucky that his sword didn't accidentally embed itself on his body.

Shaking his head, Xiao Chen can't help but click his tongue after looking at the poor state that Maghazz was in.

"Take him to Rakh'ash'tha to be treated... and Gur'kan... be gentle"

Xiao Chen commanded, he can't help but feel pity for Maghazz, he became the sacrifice for him to warn the others and also to instill respect and discipline among his men, like the old idiom goes 'Kill the chicken to warn the monkeys' and the unlucky Maghazz became the chicken.