Chapter 38 - Haran Battle.

There were four hor families and each of the four hor Families had a specific mark that was exclusively given to the best among the family members.

Even if they traced their lineage to Hor they still had to obey the rules that he made.

Since Lulm was chosen by his own family to compete for the position for tribe head, he should also possess the marks that were specific for those of his family who were declared the best.

"In this test, you are free to participate in dealing with each other by accessing the powers of your marks" The Old Haran said.

Besides all of them were level 20 warriors.

Lulm's marks were made from his right shoulder to his right arm and they were a creation of interlocking diamond shapes. The other three had their marks on their neck, chest and waist.

For one to be sure that they were the best, they had to have the marks bestowed upon them by the tribe leader as only he had the right to bestow the marks to those who were worthy of it.

But for their weapons, they were all made to have the spear which was the ideal weapon of their tribe.

Out of the four, two came from the hor families and the other two were contestants that did not have family backings.

The four harans locked their gaze on one other. Each waiting for the other to make a move before they would act.

After a few moments of waiting, one of the harans decided to act. His markings made in the form of Chevron patterns glowed as he dashed towards Lulm.

Lulm harrumphed as the Haran approaching him "Alright, that's how you want to have it" He said as he stomped his foot and raised his himlo spear as he met his challenger spear with a clash.

The other two harans also began engrossed in battling each other. Lulm smiled at the Haran that attacked him as their spears clashed.

"Daloa, it is exciting that we are competing again. Don't you think?" He said.

The Haran harrumphed as he withdrew his spear and twisted it while sending it towards Hor.

The twisted spear moved in sync with his command as it shot towards Lulm. Lulm responded by taking a step towards the side and bending his back as the spear wheezed past him.

"The first rule to defeat an opponent with fast reflexes is to be calm and pay careful attention to the opponents movements" Lulm said to himself.

"You are no match for my speed" Daloa said as he swept his spear towards Lulm. Lulm bent his back as he brought his spear forward and deflected his opponent's spear.

Taking the time given by the deflecting of the spear Lulm slashed his spear at Daloa.

Unfortunately, Daloa managed to bring back his spear to block the incoming attack.

Daloa smiled as he moved his body from the direction of lulm's spear and slid his spear along the latter's spear while moving his feet.

Lulm's eyes narrowed as he tried to move his body from the spear attack. Unfortunately, his knuckles were grazed by daloa's spear.

Lulm jumped back to separate himself from Daloa "His markings increase his speed. Seems like he's been having good practice with them. I need to tire him out first before trying to engage in direct combat" Lulm muttered.

He could feel the pain of an himlo spear grazing against his skin but he ignored it.

"What are you muttering on about?" Daloa said as his chevron marks glowed again as he dashed towards lulm.

As he ran towards Lulm the latter held his spear and met his attack held on. Daloa attacked Lulm with a thrust of his spear, the latter blocked the attack and swiped his spear towards daloa.

Daloa moved his spear back to block the incoming attack before he pushed his opponent's spear and swirled before launching another attack.

Lulm responded by using his spear to deflect daloa's own. Daloa glared at Lulm as he brought his spear back and launched a flurry of strikes towards lulm.

Lulm's markings released an even brighter glow as he blocked and parried the attacks of daloa. Daloa's spear shot towards Lulm with fervent force but the latter met it with equal fervour as his attack was parried.

Daloa grew frustrated that he didn't manage to cause an injury to lulm.

Lulm, seeing this frustration smiled as he continued to block daloa's attacks.

After a while of fighting, daloa did not manage to gain any ground or inflict any injury at lulm.

"I need to tire him out first and conserve my energy" Lulm thought.

Elsewhere, two big red skinned harans watched the battles from within the crowd.

"Lulm seems to be going on full defensive. I wonder if he realized that he does not possess any chance of victory with daloa's fast and explosive attacks. After all, he has been training in the nearby hills for a long time" The slightly taller Haran said.

The other Haran smiled as he brought a piece of cooked meat towards his mouth and tore it before chewing it up "Lulm has hardly lost any fight or match he's been up against what makes you think that he would lose this one?" The haran said.

"Even if he has been training in the hills for a long time and has almost mastered the use of his markings. You know that he is still impulsive. Development is a thing that one must try to have both physically and mentally. Besides, what makes you think that Lulm has not been practicing" The Haran added.

"I spent years in the hills trying to increase and master the power of my markings. How can you counter my attacks!" Daloa yelled as he twisted his spear before sending it towards lulm but suddenly, the spear thwarted it's position and aimed towards lulm's face.

Lulm's eyes widened as he had been caught off guard. He bent his body over as he saw the sharp end of the spear flash before the corner of his eyes.

After the spear passed, lulm felt liquid trickle down his face. He had been cut.

Daloa smiled at this as he thrusted his spear towards lulm.

Lulm deflected the spear before he proceeded to interlock his own with it. "Time to end this" He said as he slashed his spear towards daloa while maintaining contact with the latter's spear.

Daloa seeing the force and the intent that the spear possessed arched his body away from the spear's direction while contemplating on how to counter. "This spear is aimed towards my neck" He thought.

While he did this, Lulm did a 360° turn as he withdrew his spear and slashed at his opponent.

The spear slashed the fingers of daloa that was holding the spear. Lulm's markings were still glowing when this happened and this further intensified the pain that daloa felt and he dropped his spear.

The moment the spear was dropped the harans who watched the battle gasped.

A haran dropping his spear especially the himlo spear in a duel meant that they declared that they had lost or they were forfeiting.

The slightly taller haran opened his jaw wide "What did I just see!" He shouted.

The other Haran who had gotten another piece of meat smiled and said "I told you that Lulm has hardly lost a duel or match.

He has dueled with Daloa many times before and has mastered the latters emotional state. Daloa improved on using tactics and using power from his markings.

However, he didn't work on the mental and emotional aspect"

"So you are saying that Lulm was just baiting Daloa and had already planned his defeat?" The tall Haran said.

"Indeed. It's a blessing that he was born into our family" The Haran replied.

Lulm looked at Daloa and said "Though your strength and abilities have improved, you need to also focus on the emotional aspect. Nevertheless, it was a glorious fight" He smiled.

"Wipe that grin off your face. You still have one more opponent to deal with" Daloa said as he took his spear and went to the crowd.

Lulm looked at his opponent who was a grey skinned haran. "It seems that the grey skins also want to enjoy the power of being the tribe head" He thought.

Unfortunately, they won't be happening since I'm here" He smiled as his eyes narrowed before he took a stance.

"Charge!" The grey skinned haran shouted as he ran towards lulm. Lulm noticed glowing hollow circles around his opponents neck. "I wonder what you specialize in" He said as he raised his spear and went to meet his opponent.

His opponent tried to encircle him while also containing his attacks. Unfortunately for him, lulm was able to tell that the hollow circles had their glow reduce the longer the match continued.

And with that, lulm was able to tell when his opponent was exhausted and thus end the battle.

And with that, the contest was over. It was the time for the marking of the new tribe chieftain.