Chapter 380: One Against Ten (Part 5)

“Clang!”

The massive battle-axe struck heavily against the spear in Sertans’ hands, bending its tip. Sertans was forced back several steps before he managed to steady himself.

Since the beginning of the duel, this was the first time he had faced such an attack, and his opponent was the first to put him in a truly difficult position.

“This is disgraceful! Absolutely shameful!” Nina seethed with rage. What infuriated her even more was that a wolfman had devised this dishonorable tactic. And standing behind the bearman who had just attacked, the final challenger was also a wolfman.

Nina knew them well. When had Silvermoon’s members become like this?

She was about to step forward and put a stop to their shameless tactics, but Wu Qingsong quietly held her back.

“Wu?” she asked in surprise.

“This is Sertans’ fight,” Wu Qingsong said, eyes fixed on the center of the field.

The bearman was launching a ferocious assault on Sertans. Another bearman had tried the same strategy earlier but was quickly struck down by a precise thrust to the chest, forced to admit defeat. But now, Sertans no longer had the stamina to launch the same swift and overwhelming counterattacks.

Perhaps this was the biggest difference between him and Nina—his attacks were sharp and deadly, but his endurance couldn’t sustain prolonged combat.

His steps grew unsteady, his movements slowed, and he could no longer dodge as nimbly as before.

Meanwhile, his opponent only became more aggressive. The massive battle-axe crashed down again and again, knocking Sertans’ spear aside each time. More than once, the axe came dangerously close to striking his body.

“He’s at his limit,” Nina said anxiously.

“Physically, maybe. But what about his spirit?” Wu Qingsong’s blood boiled as he watched. “He’s already defeated eight opponents. If he wins two more, he’ll be the undisputed commander of the Nagrand patrol. No one will question his qualifications. This is his fight. Do you think he would want you to take away the honor that rightfully belongs to him?”

Nina shook her head.

“Then give him some confidence,” Wu Qingsong said. “Give him some confidence.”

The battle had reached its most intense moment.

Sertans’ body swayed on the verge of collapse. The bearman’s battle-axe came crashing down once more, splitting Sertans’ spear in two.

Roaring in triumph, the bearman slammed his fist into Sertans’ face, sending blood flying.

But in that very instant, Sertans’ body suddenly surged forward. With a half-spear in each hand, he spun like a wheel.

The first strike plunged deep into the bearman’s shoulder.

The second stopped just short of his heart.

The frenzied cheers around them fell into stunned silence.

The beastfolk watched in shock as the battle suddenly turned on its head.

The bearman howled in pain, grabbing hold of Sertans and opening his jaws wide to bite into his throat. Several beastfolk roared in fury, rushing forward to stop the disgraceful act—

But the next moment, a figure they all knew well landed a single punch, sending the bearman flying sideways.

Another hand caught Sertans, gently lowering him to the ground.

“Nina, ma’am!”

The beastfolk who had rushed forward nearly crashed into Nina, colliding with each other in a heap before they managed to stop themselves.

Nina glared furiously at the final wolfman challenger, forcing him to lower his head in shame.

Then, without hesitation, Nina awakened her ability, pouring silver light into Sertans and healing all of his wounds.

“This is a disgrace,” she shouted to the gathered beastfolk. “A disgrace!”

No one had anything to say.

Sertans had shown mercy time and time again, proving his skill and control. Yet not only had they deliberately used dishonorable tactics to wear him down, but they had also attacked him even after he had clearly won and held back his killing blow.

No one could defend such behavior.

No one even wanted to help the bearman that Nina had sent flying.

Finally, Nina shook her head and pulled the broken spear from the bearman’s body, injecting a small amount of healing light into his wounds before kicking him aside.

By then, Sertans had already risen to his feet.

Thanks to Nina’s healing, he hadn’t fully recovered, but at least half of his strength had returned.

Wu Qingsong took a spear from a nearby beastfolk and tossed it to him.

Sertans caught it, then silently returned to his starting position, waiting for the final challenger.

But no one dared to step forward anymore.

Their skill levels were all roughly equal. If the previous nine challengers couldn’t win, what chance did they have?

More than that, Sertans’ actions had already won their respect. The desire to fight for dominance had faded.

“No one wants to challenge him?”

After a long silence, Wu Qingsong finally spoke.

The beastfolk exchanged glances. No one stepped forward.

“In that case, Nina?” Wu Qingsong turned to her.

Sertans hesitated, but Wu Qingsong said to him, “Show them your true power. Give them a real fight.”

Silver light burst from Nina’s body.

A moment later, golden light flared to life on the opposite side of the field.

***

Sertans could not defeat Nina.

Not even when she held back and used only half her strength.

But the fact that he could exchange more than ten blows with her before losing was more than enough to prove his strength to the gathered beastfolk.

Even among the many clans of the Icy Sea, such power would be considered overwhelming.

At last, the beastfolk had nothing more to say.

One by one, they accepted—some with silent acknowledgment, others with genuine excitement—that Sertans was now the commander of the Nagrand patrol.

And so, he received his first formal order from Wu Qingsong.

“I want to see them transformed.”

“Transformed?” Sertans struggled with the concept, because there was no standard to follow.

“Do your best,” Wu Qingsong said.

Of course, he wished for an elite army, but he knew that was difficult to achieve in this world.

“You can make any request you need. In six months, I want to see clear improvements. I don’t expect them to become the best soldiers, but they must at least surpass the average garrison.”

Sertans furrowed his brow. “I need a reliable core team. At least two hundred men,” he said. “I need sufficient logistical support. And I need the authority to execute.”

“You’ll have the entire personal guard. Beck will give you his full support,” Wu Qingsong said. “Logistical support will be provided. As for execution…” 

He hesitated briefly.

“You should know I’m not afraid of killing, Sertans,” Wu Qingsong continued. “But Nagrand is different from the Empire in many ways. Establishing authority through executions may work in the Imperial army, but I don’t want Nagrand’s soldiers to follow orders out of fear. I want them to fight because they believe in something, whether it’s faith, honor, duty, or the thirst for victory.”

Sertans didn’t fully understand, but he still nodded.