Chapter 69 - Duel Between Real Men

The army of 2000 men exuded arrogance. William led them and advanced. Full of fighting spirit, every time they took a step, an angry roar accompanied.

The moment the formation stopped.

It was as if the entire army had exploded. Their bright battle energy was released in all directions. All the grass within 500 meters instantly vaporized. Not even a trace of it remained.

The scene totally terrified the people from the Tauren tribe. They swallowed a lot of salivae. Some even started to silently nibble at the grass, waiting for the day when the Dawn Army would treat them as simple cows.

They were simply a small tribe, most soldiers at the peak of their lives, regular troops, with no prior special training. No one knew how many Taurens could even hold weapons.

However,

A loud roar of a cow came from behind the Tauren tribe formation.

The entire tribe was silent.

Pleasantly surprised, they opened up their formation and looked at their leader with respect.

He was a big, broad, and tall Tauren, strong and muscular, with stiff arms and fists,. He slowly walked out with heavy steps, making people feel as if their heartstrings were trembling.

William raised his eyebrows. He admired him slightly. Nodding, he spoke, “As expected of the Tauren whose fist can support a horse. Standing at almost 2.3 meters tall, I feel oppressed. Looking at your extraordinary muscles, I feel relieved. You will be able to do well in mining ores!”

“His bloodline potential is of epic levels. It is a pity that it does not seem like he can be brought under control. I will just get rid of you!”

“Lord of the City of Dawn, you led your troops here and infiltrated my territory. Do you think that the Tauren tribe is easy to bully?” The leader of the Taurens roared in a low voice. He did not seem scared, even when facing the Iron Army led by William.

William raised his eyebrows. He did not want to attack. Multiple times, he had sent people to try to persuade them, but the Tauren tribe would not surrender. It was a pity. This group of people was foolish enough to reject a face-saving offer. William was left with no choice but to lead his troops and destroy them.

“Heh. I do not attack the innocent. If you do not want your people to be harmed, we can have a test of strength. If you die, your people will follow me. If I die, my army will retreat.”

When the leader of the Taurens heard this, he breathed heavily. His eyes were bloodshot as he walked in front of William. He lowered his head and laughed coldly. “I am Fiu Roeser. Don’t you forget my name when you die! Remember it in hell!”

“…” A complex expression appeared on William’s face. Few roses?

“Hmph! Stop the nonsense.”

“Then don’t accuse me of being too cruel.” William narrowed his eyes and fiercely drew his sword. The blue battle energy continued to swirl around him and exploded like thunder.

But the moment he was about the charge.

Fiu Roeser stretched out his hand, signaling for him to stop. A stern expression occupied his face.

William, halfway there, stopped in his tracks. He raised his eyebrows, not understanding Fiu Roeser’s actions.

And it was not only him, but the observers were also confused.

Fiu Roeser laughed coldly. He threw the flaming axes in his hands on the floor and laughed. “Real men duel like men.”

“Oh? Without weapons?” William nodded. He had played games for ten years, but he never knew of such a tradition among the Taureans. But it was fine. He was okay with fulfilling his wish before he died, as long as he could take in the rest of the Taurens with stability.

Thus, he casually threw his sword on the ground.

But as he was about to charge again.

There was the stern expression, the hands Fiu Roeser stretching again. William stopped.

Shouts came from everywhere. Many soldiers among the Taurens started to roar. “Attack him, attack him!”

However!

Who was Fiu Roeser?

“Not only am I the leader of the Taurens, but I am also the wisest person in the entire tribe.”

“Why should I send people to their deaths for you? How many tribes have you destroyed? Over the past half-year, the lord of the City of Dawn has engaged war on all sides and wiped out numerous troops. Those who challenge him by themselves will meet their end.” Fiu Roeser laughed, pleased with himself.

Then, he lowered his head with a cold expression on his face. He looked at William with disdain. “A fight between real men is not a one-on-one fight. It is…”

“What?”

“Arm wrestling!”

“…” The lord of the City of Dawn, the team leader of the Dawn Mercenary Team, the Prince of the Blackleaf elves, William Blackleaf, was speechless.

An awkward silence followed among the spectators along both sides of the battlefield.

The people of the Tauren tribe were dumbfounded too. Arm Wrestling! This was what young Taurens did when they played house. Since when had it become a way to duel?

True Taurens should carry an axe and aim for their enemy’s heads, right?

William took a deep breath. He glanced at him. Fiu Roeser, not a bad name.

“Then come.”

“Ah… ah… ah… I’ve lost.” The moment Fiu Roeser’s arm was pushed down, it was as if a bomb, his body, had exploded. He flew ten meters away. No one knew how many people he crashed into and sent flying too.

He vomited blood. His body trembled as he slowly tried to stand up. It was as if he had used up all the strength in his body.

He did not care about the people who supported him by the arm. He relied on his own strength to support his body and slowly stand up…

At the same time.

He vomited blood again. His body was swaying, but he flashed a thumbs up at William. “Lord of the City of Dawn, your strength is impressive. I admit my defeat.

“If you still want to kill me, I, Fiu Roeser, am here. If I furrow my eyebrows before I die, write my name upside down.

“But if you dare to harm my people, even with my half-useless body, I will fight you to the death.”

William’s eyes widened. He was utterly confused.

He had not used any strength, and Roeser had flown away on his own?

Furthermore, his appearance was as if he suffered a great injury and could not be healed. What a good actor!

Was he the son of a famous actor?

Was he an Academy award winner?

But not even minding his shock, the people of the Tauren Tribe looked so touched that their tears were about to fall. When they looked at their leader, there was admiration. No matter what the Dawn Mercenary team would do, Fiu Roeser had won their hearts.

William took two deep breaths and slowly walked to Fiu Roeser. He ignored the rest of the Taurens and raised his hand.

Three seconds of silence ensued and then…

Fiu Roeser trembled and knelt on the ground. Then, he vomited blood again.

William smirked. The volume of his blood had dropped to 10%. How tough.

He placed his hand on Fiu Roeser’s shoulder and said in a low voice, “I admire… your… character… courage… fearlessness… the determination to protect your people. I will accept the loyalty of your tribe!”

Fiu Roeser was secretly happy. While he was acting, he was most afraid of being exposed. But, not only had he not been exposed, the situation had turned out well. He definitely had to seize the opportunity and quickly pledge his loyalty. “Lord of the City of Dawn, thank you for your mercy on me. I will lead my people and forever be loyal to the lord of the City of Dawn!”

“Lord of the City of Dawn, thank you for showing mercy.” The entire Tauren tribe knelt on the ground like a wave. They officially pledged their loyalty and became subjects of the lord of the City of Dawn.

That was right!

It was that simple.

Most importantly, William had encountered a coward, a unique coward. This coward had completely explained his full name…

As for his people?

The entire tribe had pledged their loyalty to him, but this did not mean that they were integrated into the City of Dawn.

There was a great difference between the two.

Pledging to one man meant, if William died, they could naturally leave and return to nature. They could continue spending their days and nights eating grass…

Furthermore, Fiu Roeser used his ‘utter defeat’ to prove William’s strength. As the tribe became the lord’s subordinates, not only did he leave himself an escape route, he gained the unshakable loyalty of a tribe.

To Fiu Roeser, this was a huge profit.