Rise of the Horde

Chapter 65: Chapter 6

After a few moments, Dug’mhar finally regained his consciousness. He was clutching his head with both of his hands and it looks like he was still disoriented. “Ugh! What happened!?”

He stared at his clansmen, who had a look of worries in their faces. Dug’mhar’s vision was still a bit a blurry. He tried to get on his feet but slumped down on the ground after loosing his footing.

Haguk approached the suffering Dug’mhar with an evil grin on his face. He snapped his fingers in front of Dug’mhar’s face. “I didn’t know you could fly that far.”

Haguk smiled while staring at the still disoriented friend of his before breaking into a loud laughter.

“That’s what you get for showing off too much. I wonder how did you survive all these years acting like that. I guess your opponents must have been dumber than you.”

Haguk shook his head, then stared at Xiao Chen. He was wary of the young chieftain’s prowess in combat after watching how fast he moved and how he strikes. It was the first time that he witnessed someone getting knocked out cold with just a single punch.

Xiao Chen observed Haguk who was staring at him. He has a bigger frame than Dug’mhar and only a few inches shorter compared to Galum’nor. He was also wary of his next opponent, but he forced himself to calm down by breathing in deeply and emptying his mind of any emotions. “Alright, it’s your turn. I hope you will not follow after him and keep posing in front of me.”

.....

Xiao Chen gave Dug’mhar a last glance before focusing all his attention on his new opponent. He was confident of his own ability, but it ain’t bad to be extra careful.

Xiao Chen was in his previous fighting stance again. Right foot forward and right hand outstretched forward. His outstretched right hand beckoned Haguk in a ‘Come on’ fashion as his fingers folded back towards himself repeatedly.

Haguk inched forward slowly with steady steps, his battleaxe in front of him, ready to deflect or parry any sudden attack. He was careful, very careful of his approach, because he knew that his opponent was far more agile than him.

Haguk came within a meter in front of Xiao Chen, who still hadn’t moved away from his initial spot and only observed him with an icy gaze. Taking a deep breath, Haguk gathered all his courage and shouted his battle cry before charging forward as fast as he can.

Xiao Chen’s stony gaze was unnerving but Haguk ignored it and only focused his gaze on Xiao Chen’s wide open torso. Haguk tried to cleave his opponent, but was easily evaded by just changing his leading foot.

Dust rose as Haguk’s strike missed its intended target. He raised his head to find out what his opponent was going to do while he retrieved his weapon that was embedded on the ground.

In his vision, Haguk saw a foot getting bigger and bigger. A helpless smile crept up on his lips as he braced for the impact of the kick. He grunted in pain and stumbled a few steps back. Haguk rubbed his left cheek that just got hit. The stinging pain and taste of iron in his mouth made him excited.

“Your really are a strong one! But I am going to prove that I am stronger.”

Haguk brandished his battle axe and charged forward again. He swung his weapon around with lesser power than his first strike to avoid it being stuck on the ground again.

Xiao Chen kept stepping backwards, leaning forwards, backwards and sidewards. He just kept on evading every single strike that Haguk threw at him.

Dug’mhar cheered for his friend when he finally regained his bearings. He returned to his old ways of showing off his muscles again. “That’s it! Come on! Beat him to a pulp! He just won by a sneak attack against me.”

The clansmen of Dug’mhar, who accompanied him facepalmed at what their chieftain was spouting. ‘Sneak attack? It’s more like you just offered yourself to be beaten when you kept spouting nonsense in front of your opponent,’ they all thought.

“What is the chief doing? Why won’t he strike back?”

One member of the White Tiger group finally can’t keep silent and voiced out his opinion. They have been watching their chieftain evade all this time without striking back.

“Just keep watch and you’ll find out.”

Gur’kan answered as they continued to watch Haguk trying to land an attack on their chieftain. The chieftain’s actions of just evading also puzzled him, but soon found out what he was aiming for. The more that Haguk swung his weapon, the more tired he became.

Haguk was already panting heavily, his arms already trembling in fatigue. His legs were threatening to buckle any moment now. His initial excitement for the fight has long since waned as he tried to steady his breathing.

Xiao Chen just stared at the heavily panting opponent of his. He shook his head in helplessness. “Hmm... Is that all you got?”

He mocked as he smiled evilly at his opponent. Haguk took one deep breath and shouted his lungs out before charging forward, his battle axe above his head for his last strike.

Xiao Chen waited for the right moment to strike. He bended his knees forward and lowered himself, his right fist coming forward.

Haguk grunted in pain as he felt something heavy land on his abdomen. He crouched down in pain to the ground, clutching his stomach as he tried to breathe, but to no avail.

His face turned paler as time passed by. He raised his head and stared at his opponent and smiled before loosing consciousness and fell face first forward.

“Oops! Gotcha!”

Xiao Chen caught Haguk’s body and prevented him from falling to the ground face first. It was the last he could do to respect his opponent’s efforts in trying to best him.

Dug’mhar stared in disbelief as his friend got defeated. He can’t quite believe it, it was the first time that he saw Haguk get defeated. They had fought together frequently and never did he see his friend get bested.

Xiao Chen stared at the wargs and three horned creatures as he supported Haguk with his shoulders. “A heavy cavalry and a light cavalry. Perfect!”