-308- Bloodsworn

"The third duel begins!"

In the brutal arena, Tryndamere once again demonstrated astonishing strength.

His large hand reached up and grabbed fiercely, the long blade cutting into his palm, but then, something terrifying happened.

Tryndamere grabbed the long blade barehanded, even though one of his fingers fell onto the snowy ground.

With a powerful swing of his arm, Tryndamere wrested the blade away and aimed it back at the warrior.

He didn't even spare a glance at his severed finger lying on the ground.

"I surrender," the opponent immediately said.

Tryndamere tossed the blade aside, and by now, his wound had healed.

His finger had grown back.

He was like an undying monster, and some even suspected he was tainted by dark magic.

Ashe stood quietly above, watching the scene below.

In the crowd, many were awed by Tryndamere's strength, expressing astonishment and cheers.

This barbarian from the North had angered Avarosa previously, but with his performance in three duels, he successfully won the admiration of the Avarosan warriors once again.

Unarmed and clearly not at his best, Tryndamere had defeated three powerful warriors.

"Fourth round!"

Upon hearing this voice, Kastioya rolled his shoulders, and when another warrior from the Serylda tribe stepped this the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers.

"Kastioya! Kastioya!"

"Beat him, Kastioya!"

"Kastioya, if you can defeat him, I'll give you one of my cigars!"

Ignoring the voices around him, Kastioya stood in the dueling ring and finally realized what the previous three warriors had faced.

Meeting Tryndamere's gaze, Kastioya's body froze for a moment.

These weren't the eyes of a mere human.

"Boom!"

The battle-axe struck the shield, and Kastioya cheered himself on, keeping the words he had intended to say before stepping onto the stage—about unfairness without weapons—to himself.

Now, he would face a powerful beast.

"Roar!"

The roar sounded, and Tryndamere charged at Kastioya.

After just a few simple rounds, Kastioya, who had been entrusted with hope by the crowd before entering, was sent flying.

People caught the blood-spattered Kastioya, then looked at Tryndamere, who stood tall in the dueling arena.

"What happened to you?" someone asked Kastioya. "You looked like you were acting."

"Acting?" Kastioya chuckled bitterly.

After that man roared, Kastioya felt fear from the depths of his soul. He had tried his best not to listen, not to think, but still, he was affected.

His hands began to tremble involuntarily, and his strong heart seemed to stop beating.

"You go fight him, and you'll understand our situation."

"I'll go."

"Tryndamere, I challenge you!"

The Avarosan warriors were not afraid of Tryndamere; instead, they enthusiastically challenged him.

As time passed, fewer and fewer people challenged Tryndamere, while the light in Ashe's eyes grew brighter.

Ashe saw a feasible way to prevent Avarosa from falling into chaos.

"The fifth duel begins!"

"The sixth duel begins!"

"The seventh duel..."

"The eleventh duel..."

Despite defeating sixteen warriors in a row, Tryndamere still stood energetically in the dueling arena, awaiting the challenges from the people of Avarosa.

His strength and endless resilience earned the respect of the Avarosan warriors.

Those who knew they couldn't win put down their hands.

"That's enough." Ashe jumped down from the observation platform and walked towards Tryndamere.

"You win, Tryndamere."

"Food...." The red glow in his eyes faded, and Tryndamere reached out and grabbed Ashe's shoulder, saying loudly, "You promised me you'd save my people."

"I never break my word," Ashe said, looking at a girl who had arrived a while ago. "How are they doing?"

"Warmother, their condition has stabilized. After cutting away the frostbite, and using Shimmer, their flesh quickly grew back," the girl replied, lifting her head to look at Ashe. "But they are still asleep and can only be fed some unsalted meat soup."

"Did you hear that?" Ashe looked at Tryndamere.

Tryndamere quieted down.

Then, he knelt down on one knee and looked at Ashe. "The Mountain tribe is willing to merge with Avarosa. Please accept us, Warmother."

However, Ashe put away her smile and looked solemnly at Tryndamere. Then, she drew the short sword from her waist and lightly touched Tryndamere's shoulder.

This action made Tryndamere suddenly freeze, raising his head in bewilderment to look at the young and beautiful Warmother.

"You..." Tryndamere was shocked.

"I can accept your tribe, but I also have a condition." Ashe looked down at Tryndamere, her beautiful white hair cascading over her shoulders.

"You will join in marriage with me, and become my bloodsworn, Tryndamere. Are you willing to accept this?"

Ashe spoke.

The people of Avarosa tribe looked at each other when they heard Ashe's words.

"This..." Tryndamere looked at Ashe, looking into her eyes.

Then, Tryndamere understood.

He was being used as a political pawn by Ashe.

"I understand." Tryndamere lowered his head and said, "As long as you wish."

"People of Avarosa, did you all hear that?"

Seeing Tryndamere accept the request, Ashe's lips curled up.

"From today onwards, Tryndamere will become my first bloodsworn, as well as my last."

Tryndamere's fist pressed into the snow, his joints exerting force.

Political alliance, he had become a complete tool.

"Tryndamere, from today onwards, you and your people will be members of Avarosa."

Ashe reached out her hand towards Tryndamere. "And you will also be my only bloodsworn."

"I understand."

Tryndamere took Ashe's hand, stood up, and leaned close to her, whispering:

"I will only do what I must."

"That you will," Ashe whispered back.

"And I have one more thing for you to do."

"Please, go ahead."

"Join me in the south for a sports event?"

Ashe said.

The Twin Cities Games, Ashe had been worried about who to bring before, but now, bringing Tryndamere was undoubtedly the best choice.

After hearing Sejuani's words, Ashe planned to personally go to the Twin Cities and participate in the archery event. And now, she would also bring Tryndamere and let him participate in the free combat event.

Ashe believed that Tryndamere would not disappoint her.