Killing their way to the top (2)

Two teams stared each other down. The humid air was colder than the peaks of Mount Gri and their gaze could burn a hole through a dying star. Separated by two miles of elephant grasses dancing to west sea breezes, each team wore an identity tattoo on their arm to tell each other apart. Their generals sat on demonic beasts of equal status. Just when they had reached the height of their stand-off, ready to attack each other by the word of their generals, three people appeared right in their midst.

Ed and his group looked around at the situation they were in and raised a brow. Was this a level? It seemed like a world of its own.

"I see, a pocket world," Nti Anem said with a nod, then he paused as his face broke into a frown.

"That boy outside said we should be careful of the time in here. Ed, this could be bad," he said and Ed frowned. If they were not careful they could be stuck here much longer than they wanted.

"Hey! You three! You dare to interrupt our battle?" one of the generals asked, his bald head about to burst from protruding veins.

"Brother Ed! It's a battle! Can we stay and watch?" Ku Jian said and Nti Anem frowned.

"You can stay, we are in a hurry to be somewhere," he said and she frowned.

"No matter what you do, I am not leaving Brother Ed. So you can stop dreaming!" Ku Jian protested.

The two teams saw that they were discussing and almost went mad with anger. These people look down on them too much. They dare to discuss in the middle of battle? Did they not think they were dangerous?

"Get out of the way, bloody newcomers!" someone scolded.

At this, many thought him right. These three just appear here but, artefacts don't work on this level, so they must have just entered the level.

"Hey, you three. You just came in right?" the general with the eagle tattoo finally spoke.

"Ho Ho.. how did you know?" Ku Jian started and Nti Anem sighed.

"How about you join our team? We will show you the ropes," the boy said.

"You have not even asked them what rank they are on and you want them to join your team? Don't think that I do not know what you are doing, Nna Tang!" the general with the tiger tattoo said.

"Oho? And what is that?" Ku Jian asked with exaggerated suspicion, her hand on her cheeks filled with air.

"If they end up having a high rank, good for your team, if they end up having a low rank, they will not survive the battle anyway," the tiger-tattooed general said.

"So what then? You have a better solution?" Nna Tang sneered.

"They come to my team," the other general answered.

"Haha! You are so funny, Inang. Isn't that the same thing you want to do?" Nna Tang asked.

"Hm! We are of course the better choice," Inang snorted.

"You think yourself smart, don't you?"

"No, stronger," Inang snirked.

"You are equally matched, ho ho… So, no solution!" Ku Jian said.

"We are not! When I beat him in this battle, no one will dare say that again!" Inang insisted.

"You speak as though I will stand still while you do it! You will die here today," Nna Tang said.

"Good! Truth can only be determined in battle!" Ku Jian said, then turned to the fighters they were blocking.

"Half of you on this side move over to the other side. The other team! Do so as well!" she ordered. The teams did as she said. Now, they had shifted away and Ku Jian and her group were no more blocking their path, she put her hands on her waist and looked at both sides.

"I can't believe this," Nti Anem muttered.

"Men do not talk with their mouth, but with their fist! Who is the strongest? Who is right? Let your fist decide!" she shouted and silence followed the next second; as she let her words sink in, then she ordered, "Fight!"

As her words drifted out into the wind, the two teams attacked, under the sigh of Nti Anem and Ed's blank gaze, A 'ho ho' laughter guiding their way.