CHAPTER 93: CLASH OF WILLS

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"Varleeeennn!!" Marule yelled as he spotted the Jalozian general. He had slaughtered countless low rank human soldiers which he had no idea which army they belonged to. Jalozi? Or maybe Gayara? Or any of the other Empires and Kingdoms in the Levarian continent?

Marule didn’t care. All he knew was that they were the humans he had come to slay. But his eyes locked on to Varlen in the distance.

The unusually calm breeze blew against Marule’s face. His black armor was stained with thick streaks of red blood.

Marule began to move on the chaotic mess of a battlefield.

The screams, war cries and clangs of swords all muffled in his ears as he took slow, careful steps toward Varlen.

He took one step.

A soldier who thought of Marule as another just Orcan soldier dashed toward him from the left, Marule swung his sword lazily, not even paying attention to the streaks of blood that splattered on his face as he cleaved the soldier in two.

He took another step.

A mage came, leaping from above with blue runic glyphs floating above his head. But Marule simply pointed the tip of his sword and raised it up slightly, and it penetrated the mage’s stomach.

’The General of Jalozi.. the one who killed my Father who was the second general of our kingdom during his time. I want to see that strength of yours.’ Marule thought to himself as he took another step forward. His green lips widening as his killing intent spewed, stopping all the soldiers he deemed ’small fries,’ from getting closer.

General Varlen stood still. His tobacco still hung on his lips, and his eyes never wavered. The sight of men dying didn’t seem to bother him at all.

"How does that filthy Orcan bastard know my name? God I hate this Orcan bastards that speak the central Levarian language." Varlen muttered to himself, taking off the tobacco from his lips and puffing the smoke.

"Well, fine." Varlen whispered as he hung the tobacco on his hair. "If I kill him, this little raid of his would be over."

Varlen took a slow step of his own. The wind blowing against his fluttering blue cape, and his brown hair swaying against his forehead.

As Varlen got closer to Marule, his own killing intent spewed. It was thick and dangerous. A poisonous force for those unable to withstand it.

Marule’s pace quickened subtly as he began to jog. Every step he took cracked the ground beneath his feet. "Hyaaaaa!!!!" He yelled, holding his sword high.

"What a fool." Varlen whispered as he quickened his pace too. The sand beneath his boots rippled as he ran.

As Marule and Varlen finally met, they stood face to face.

Their killing intents clashed, causing the air around the battlefield to grow thick.

The clash of the killing intent painted the atmosphere with a reddish hue as blood lust leaked from both of them.

"You’ve been shouting my name for a while now." Varlen’s voice was calm, and lethal, "now I’m here." His lips widened as he raised his two hands slowly, and the sand that surrounded both him and Marule began to rise subtly. "What would you do?"

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(POV: Blank)

"What is that?!"

Jeriq yells as the atmosphere around us suddenly spikes.

The heat doesn’t bother me much. But still..

I raise my head as I slowly stand up from the dead Orcan soldier I was sitting on.

The entire area of the battlefield is colored with a reddish hue. And I feel a dangerous wave of unrefined killing intent.

Is that a physical manifestation of high level killing intent? Just what kind of bloodlust..

"Isn’t that the area where the General is?" My voice’s low as I ask Jeriq who stands with his blood stained spear relaxed on his left shoulder.

"Yeah, I think so. That’s where I heard his voice from minutes ago." His voice is soft, but weary.

I adjust my mask as I walk toward Jeriq and stand beside him; by his left. "I think we’re almost do–"

Boooom!

Shockwaves ripple throughout the battlefield, and the reddish hue permeates through the air like a tidal wave.

I immediately fall to my knees.

It happens instinctively, as if I’d die if I don’t do it.

I shield my eyes with my left arm, and I turn to see Jeriq who’s clutching his chest, panting heavily as he crouches beside me.

"What the hell!!" He yells. Gnashing his teeth.

It was as if two stars; like suns, had clashed.

I cough, looking around as I take deep breaths.

Every single person is on their knees.

But at far distances that I can’t see clearly, figures stand, watching the position where the General is from afar. I think those are Generals of different Empires and Kingdoms.

They’re the only ones standing.

I turn right, and at the far right, I spot K’s figure, standing tall and watching the General’s position. Laran and Gislow stand behind him. But thousands of people; orcs and humans alike are kneeling on the ground.

Then I look forward.

"No way." Jeriq mutters as his gaze traces the same sight.

It’s our General! He’s trading blows with an Orc that’s larger than all the others!

Who is that man?

I turn to Jeriq, "what is the General’s name again?"

Jeriq doesn’t look at me. He stares at the General’s battle with keen eyes and widened mouth, but his lips finally move, "I think his name is.. Varlen."

I nod. "Varlen."

He’s strong. And he’s a mage too. Is he.. is he as strong as K?

I shake my head.

No. K is a natural disaster.

Just behind Varlen and the largest Orc I’ve seen today, I see five Orcs. Five of them are standing with their weapons dug on the ground.

It seems as though they’re forming a barricade. Not letting anyone pass.

Those Orcs aren’t on their knees..

Just how strong are they?

Varlen and the Orc keep exchanging blows. Each clash causes the air to ripple. Their killing intent keeps intensifying as they clash.

"How about we try standing up?" Jeriq asks as he taps my shoulder.

I shake my head, "we both know neither of us can stand up right now."

He nods, "but still–"

"Hahahahahahah!!!! Varlen!!" A familiar, mad laughter rings out.

Wait.. isn’t that..?

Immediately, as if he materialized out of thin air, K stands in front of the five Orcs guarding the large Orcan warrior. His long sword hangs on his shoulder.

I narrow my eyes into a sharp glare.

"Isn’t that your mentor?" Jeriq asks.

...

I don’t reply. I just watch.

K turns back. I don’t know if he can see me from that distance, but I know that he’s staring at my direction with a wide smirk.

Then he turns and faces the Orcs. He lowers his sword from his shoulder, and the Orcs drag their weapons dug on the ground.

Mad man.