Chapter 20: Challenge For Chief

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Challenge For Chief

In babarian culture, the ancestors are worshiped and honored.

It is believed that life in the works of the living is by nothing but their grace and guidance.

This respect for elders goes deep, and is in turn reflected in status of those living.

After the ancestors, the person to embody such respect in the absence of a unifying Babarian king is the the tribal chief.

In fact, each chief of a tribe is seen as the personification of the will of the ancestors. For this reason, being the chief carried a lot of power.

A position that is inherited by the blood of the previous chief.

However, the babarians also have another believe. And that was:

The will of the ancestors can change personification.

The only condition that can prove that the will of the ancestors had changed, was battle.

A tribal member of battle merit may challenge the chief of his tribe for the right to rule.

The easiest way to do this, was to challenge the order of the chief.

Popo had asked if Jaja was challenging his words, and he replied in the affirmative.

This was the reason for the stunned look on the faces of all the babarians present.

Jaja was essentially spitting a challenge to Popo for the right to rule.

Victor was shocked by this. But like the others, he continued to observe.

Popo wanted to preserve the remaining members of the tribe and breed offsprings as soon as possible. While Jaja wanted the remaining members of the tribe to prepare for a war of vengeance.

In the eyes of the babarians present, neither was wrong. They all held resentment for Boramo, and they all wanted the continuation of the tribe.

But only the will of one could be followed at a time.

Victor on the other hand couldn’t help but look at the narrow idea of both parties and shake his head. Neither was a good plan in his opinion. Not for what was coming or the kind of power Boramo was wielding.

Still, it was not his business.

At least that was what Victor told himself.

After all, he had no plans of staying here any longer than necessary.

Once he got the blessing from the Beast Anima, he would be out of this place.

Regardless, he could not help but worry.

For who?

Jaja.

Even before the battle in the arena, Jaja was one of the most recognizable fighters of the tribe.

The only upper hand Popo had over him was the birth status of being a son of the old king and the respect that came with it.

However, because of the night before, Jaja was in no position to fight.

He had nearly died to save Victor.

But this pridefully stubborn babarian, pushed by his desire to avenge his wife, Umul, would not back down.

"You are in no position to battle." Popo’s gaze landed on the wound that had been covered with herbs. "If you take back those words, I’ll forgive this transgression."

These wasn’t a concession Popo should have given, not when his position as chief was being challenged.

But he had to. They were not many, and unless inflicted by the deadliest disease of all: Cowardice. This tribe needed every hand. Especially a strong capable one like Jaja’s

But Jaja seemed to get offended at the pity offer, his pride as a warrior wounded. "I am blooded. I don’t need arms or legs to battle. As long as my soul is Babarian, the ancestors guide my battle axe."

Those words ignited something within Popo and he no longer looked to underestimate Jaja. Pity to a warrior’s pride was an insult.

Popo waved a hand. Immediately, Foto hurried over, pulling a battle axe that was no doubt too heavy for her to carry.

This was action Kiki quietly took note of, but said nothing of the matter.

She handed it over to Popo and he swung it like he was holding a broom.

[Level 5 Jaja Son of Gada has issued a Challenge]

[Level 5 Popo son of king Zaza has accepted the challenge]

[Challenge description: The Challenge is a life or death battle.

Reward: Chief of the Southern Bloodline Babarian Tribe]

The babarians scattered back, clearing the center of the camp into a rough circle, whispering as they did.

The girl who’d been tending to Jaja hurried forward one last time, pressing a battle axe into the hand of his good side.

Her eyes lingered on him a second too long before she stepped back into the crowd.

Kiki walked to the center and planted her Broad sword in the dirt, both hands resting on the pommel.

"This is a Challenge of Blood," she said, her voice was flat and clear across the circle. "Life or death. They shall be no yielding." Her gaze settled on Popo, her betrothed. "Whoever falls, the ancestors have spoken."

She looked between them once again. Then stepped back. Popo and Jaja faced each other across the circle.

Popo’s grip on his axe was loose and easy. Clearly, he had carried the weapon for most of his life.

Jaja’s grip was tighter. Tight enough that his knuckles paled. As if his wrist feared the pain in his abdomen will make him loose his grip.

Both warriors had inherited different battle techniques from their fathers.

Victor watched closely. The battle against the Basalt Dragonic Lizard was one thing.

But a one on one battle was something entirely different.

The wound at Jaja’s side already began to darken the leafy bandage wrapped around it.

Neither man blinked.

Then they moved.

Both kicked off the ground at the same instant, and the earth actually cracked beneath them, crating small fissures spreading out from where their feet had been a half-second before, dust kicking up in twin clouds.

The axes met in the middle with a CLANG that rang off every wall left standing in the ruined village, sparks skittering off the edges. The force of it alone staggered a few of the barbarians watching closest to the circle.

Jaja was strong. Genuinely strong. Victor could see that immediately. It was in the way his strikes came fast, aggressive, and with no wasted motion.

But Popo was stronger.

The second exchange sent Jaja skidding back three full steps, feet dragging twin trenches through the dirt.

"This isn’t going to work," Victor muttered.