Chapter 761: The Sacred Duel
Weapon racks were placed on both sides of the high platform for the duelists to choose from.
From knives and swords to whips and clubs, almost all common weapons were included to ensure fairness as much as possible—for example, large clans were fully capable of forging more sophisticated blades, while challengers were basically penniless. The quality of their usual weapons was conceivable, and too great a disparity would make the duel lose its original meaning.
However, Tülüm knew that it wasn't impossible to do some tricks. The Iron Whip Clan had defeated the Aosha Clan with a black water long whip that had been swapped out. Although the arbitrators severely punished the weapon keepers afterwards, Aosha's failure was already a done deal. No one would go against the Iron Sand City's great clan for a fallen clan that was on the verge of disintegration.
But no one had expected that this dying man would have a rebirth from the ashes one day.
Its momentum was so strong that even the chief of the clan felt the pressure.
It was the first time he had seen the Mad Flame Leader with such a serious expression towards a new challenger.
"Is there a rule that one person can only bring one weapon?" Ash suddenly asked.
"Uh... there's no such rule," Tülüm recovered, "As long as you can carry them, you can take as many as you want."
"Very good, I'm ready." She first inserted two scimitars into her waist, then grabbed a long-handled iron hammer and weighed it in her hand, and finally put on a square wooden shield. "These few should be enough for me to use until the end of the duel."
Tülüm swallowed hard. Although he had known for a long time that this black-haired, golden-eyed goddess was incredibly strong, it was a bit too outrageous. A two-handed hammer that ordinary people would have to train for many years to use, she could actually hold it with one hand and wield it as easily as a rapier. Encountering such an opponent was simply a nightmare for the enemy. Obviously, she hadn't used her full strength in the conflict that occurred in the tavern, otherwise it would have been possible to dismantle the "Skull Cup" with her bare hands.
"Me too," Andrea casually picked up a short bow, and deliberately reduced the number of feathers in the quiver to twenty-two.
"Then go on stage," Iron Axe said in a deep voice.
"Wait!" Tülüm couldn't help but be stunned. "Are there only four of you participating in the duel?" He glanced at the Graycastle warriors behind him—fifty people were scattered around the weapon racks, back to back, vigilantly staring at other onlookers, with no intention of selecting weapons.
"The Sacred Duel doesn't stipulate that the number of people must be the same, right?" Ash said indifferently, "Four people are enough."
According to the rules, the warriors participating in the duel should be between fifteen and thirty, which was determined in consideration of the limitations of the high platform venue, but there was also a detail that the number of challengers should not exceed that of the challenged clan. In other words, if the other party only sent fifteen people to fight, then Aosha could only send up to fifteen people.
This consideration was based on a cruel fact: regardless of whether the duel was won or lost, the warriors in the field would face heavy losses. It was common for more than half to be killed or wounded, and there were even occasional cases of fighting to the last person. Obviously, the more people invested in the duel, the greater the weakening of the clan's strength, so that duels in which each side sent thirty people were relatively rare—unless it was known in advance that the challenger could not gather thirty powerful warriors, then this method would be used to gain an advantage in overall combat power.
Therefore, the Bone Shaving Clan set the number at twenty-two, undoubtedly preparing for the fact that even if the duel failed, it would not have too much impact on the clan. Falling from the leadership of Iron Sand City to a challenger did not mean complete destruction. As long as the clan still had brave warriors, there would be a chance to make a comeback.
The correct approach for Aosha should be to send an equal number of people to fight against them. Although those Graycastle warriors looked short and thin, and couldn't be called valiant and good at fighting at all, as long as Ash was there, Aosha could still occupy a great advantage—that kind of innate power that was not affected by the God's Stone of Retaliation was enough to influence the battle.
However, with only four people in the field, it was completely different. The goddess's advantage lay in leading her clan members to survive in the cruel desert. She was an object of people's admiration, but not necessarily suitable for combat. What's more, duelists would basically wear God's Stone of Retaliation, and the goddess's abilities could easily be suppressed, becoming weaker than ordinary people.
Once Zool Silvermoon and Andrea lost their fighting abilities, only Iron Axe and Ash would be left in the field. Even if the latter was strong, it was impossible to deal with the encirclement of twenty people at the same time, right? After all, if the other party was fighting to the death with the idea of risking their lives, even if they possessed extraordinary power, they would still only have two fists and two feet, so how could they defend against everything?
Tülüm originally thought that Iron Axe, who had participated in the Sacred Duel, was well aware of these common sense facts. Plus, he hadn't been asked to listen when they were discussing the duel matters, so he had adhered to the principle of "people who don't ask too much live longer" and didn't pay too much attention to the matter, but he didn't expect that this group of people would be so arrogant.
Staring dumbfounded at the four people walking onto the high platform with natural expressions, he couldn't help but shiver. Even though his forehead was dripping with sweat, he still felt like he was standing naked in the cold desert... as if the fire trees blooming around him could no longer shield him from the raging cold wind.
You must know that he was now a member of the Aosha Clan!
If this group of people lost, could he still gain a foothold in the small oasis? He was afraid that he wouldn't even be able to stay in the extreme southern region!
If he had known this earlier, he wouldn't have wanted to wade into this muddy water even if he had to abandon all the clan members to them.
The appearance of the four people also brought a strong shock to others. Fighting a few against many was a symbol of confidence and bravery, but using four people to fight against twenty-two battle-hardened tribal warriors? It was simply no different from suicide.
The booing disappeared instantly.
Everyone widened their eyes, and the indifference on their faces gradually turned into surprise and solemnity.
"Are you sure Aosha only has four of you?" Faced with such a bizarre scene, the Mad Flame Leader couldn't help but ask.
"That's right," Ash raised the corners of her mouth, "Hurry up and start. By the way, you should have written your wills in advance, right?"
The whole place was in an uproar—
"Who is this guy?"
"Isn't that a bit too arrogant!"
"Even if she's a goddess, she can't stop the God's Stone arrows, right?"
"Wait, why do I feel like she's serious..."
"I feel the same way as you, this guy has definitely shed more blood than any of us."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm a warrior, I can feel it—my heartbeat is telling me that she's terrible."
"But there are only four of them!"
"Wait and see, won't we know the answer then?"
In less than a quarter of an hour, the situation on the sidelines had undergone a huge change. All the clan members focused their attention on the high platform, and the previous indifference had also vanished—regardless of whether they were courting death or not, this courage was worthy of praise. Sand people never skimp on respect for true warriors.
Listening to the discussions coming from the viewing platform, Tülüm couldn't help but hesitate. Could it be that they really had the confidence to win in the face of such a huge numerical disadvantage?
While his heart was filled with mixed feelings and his thoughts were churning, the arbitrator struck the bronze gong hanging in the corner of the high platform.
"Then I announce that the Sacred Duel between the Aosha Clan and the Bone Shaving Clan now begins!"