Beyaz Ayı collapsed where he stood. He had no answer to the words the knee-high child uttered against him. He had completely different thoughts in his mind, and his eye saw nothing else.
There were only two families' bloodline powers on the Orc Steppes. The first was almost extinct, and it was impossible for these rebels to reach it. The second belonged to him, and moreover, Warrior's Rage didn't have a feature to explain what happened.
What he saw were things he hadn't witnessed until today; his grandson had finished off more than a thousand of his warriors without even laying a hand on them.
"Come here, my lion. Your jaw works quite well too; you must be hanging out with your uncle a lot these days!"
Nafız had met the young orc right outside the war circle; meanwhile, Sangre on her right and Kitapkurdu on her left were standing ready.
"Alyon, hasn't the time come to announce your grandson's name? Make this place groan already!"
The whole continent should know the young orc's name, but they would start from here first.
"Listen to me!"
The area where the war circle was established had witnessed many people shouting throughout the struggles, but more than a hundred thousand orcs were seeing such a thing for the first time. When they heard this voice, they felt their internal organs knotting together; it was as if an invisible hand was pressing their heads down.
"My grandson, the sole and rightful lord of these lands, has received his name today. From now on, he will be known as Han and will be the person ruling the Orc Steppes for centuries!"
Alyon finished his words with a small quote from his friend. Due to the intensity of both the voice and the words, a large mass of snow would rise from the ground and whirl madly in the wind.
"Chief Alyon, I see you are very good at talking as a family, but isn't there something you forgot? The last fight still hasn't been held; do you have the heart to step onto the field of honor?"
This was a challenge; the last struggle would be the scene of a duel between chiefs.
"I had become afraid you wouldn't invite me, Chief Beyaz Ayı. Winning this war without bending your wrist wouldn't have any meaning!"
Alyon answered the Glacial Region Tribe chief's call with the same arrogance. He pulled off the upper part of his armor and threw it aside; he was left with only his leather trousers in the freezing weather. When he entered the circle with big steps and came to the middle, Beyaz Ayı had also stood up and was watching him.
"You have quite a lot of knowledge and manners for an orc who has lived for only a few years. Did you research the old customs a lot?"
In Cesuryürek's time, there were dozens of large and small tribes in every region, and fights were held every year to determine their status. Rival warriors could fight to the death, but when it came to chiefs, some restrictions were imposed.
It took many years for a chief to be raised; their death wouldn't be condoned for the big picture. When these people entered the war circle, they wouldn't use weapons against each other, and wearing armor where there were no weapons wouldn't be appropriate either.
Beyaz Ayı also took off the upper part of his clothes with a movement and threw it. His torso covered with cut and scar marks was revealed. The remaining orcs were watching what happened holding their breath; for the first time in their lives, they had the chance to witness the duel of two tribe chiefs.
Shortly after, two warriors came face to face inside the war circle. Alyon showed no sign of weakness by looking directly into the eyes of the old man almost equal to him in height.
"Chief Beyaz Ayı, since we started the old way, let's continue like two friendly tribe chiefs. Let our strength and endurance determine the winner!"
The Glacial Region Chief fell into astonishment once more; how did this orc facing him master traditions that ended a hundred years ago so well?
Not every tribe was enemies with each other; there were also chiefs who were very good friends. When these were to clash, the fight would happen in a completely different way. Among orcs punching each other in turn, the winner would be the person left standing last.
"If you know my son, you know this is the worst way for you, Chief Alyon. Are you still insistent?"
"I have no fear, Chief Beyaz Ayı. My trust in both myself and my master is infinite!"
Alyon wasn't stepping back; the moment he had expected most since stepping onto the continent had come.
"Then be ready. You know the senior one must start!"
The Glacial Region Tribe Chief landed the fist he pulled back hard on his opponent's stomach. Even he didn't remember since when he hadn't fought, but he realized he missed this pressure formed on his joints.
"You're rusty, Chief! A hundred years ago, you could do much better than this!"
Alyon wasn't pleased with the first punch he took at all; closing his fist tightly, he landed it on the old orc's torso.
"Bam!"
The sound produced was quite loud; both armies could understand the difference between them with the first punch they witnessed.
"Youngsters never know how to take it slow; starting this fast will wear you out quickly, kid!"
"Thud!"
The blow coming to his flank would shake Alyon; the old wolf seemed to have started taking the job seriously. The young chief's face was smiling; with this blow, feelings remaining from old times had rushed to his heart.
Two chiefs were punching each other in turn; although ten rounds passed, there was no sign of fatigue in their bodies. They possessed the joy of two children having fun recklessly, rather than commanders about to fight each other.
"Respect for the elder is essential in orc custom, but I don't know how long I can last against a monster like you. I am coming with all my strength, Beyaz Ayı!"
Alyon decided to get serious, and things would get ugly from this moment on.
"Bammmm!"
The earth and sky groaned; as the spectators thought about taking such a blow themselves, they felt like losing their minds.
"As you wish, young creature! Don't blame me for what will happen!"
The old orc, tasting his opponent's power, would understand that if he didn't take precautions early, it would be too late.
"Thudddd!"
Tension had risen; both chiefs knew quite well what would happen if they were defeated.
"This was the spirit I expected; you really deserve your name, Chief!"
"Bammm!"
Alyon added psychological pressure alongside physical violence. There were things he had wanted to learn for a long time.
"What are you saying? My name is Beyaz Ayı; what does this have to do with my punches?"
"Thudddd!"
"I am talking about the name your loved ones called you when you were a free man. Your reputation from the times when you crushed iron armor with your fists and stood proudly beside the Supreme Lord of the Orc Steppes!"
"Bammmmmm!"
Alyon had gotten angry; the memories inherited by him were as clear as crystal water, and the old man being in denial was annoying. As his fury increased, the amount of power he put into his punches would also increase proportionally.
"That man died long ago; whoever you heard this from, tell him so!"
"Thudddddd!"
"I have a question for you, old man!"
"Bammmmmm!"
"Ask away, brat!"
"Thudddddd!"
The frequency of punching increased; both warriors, caught up in the rhythm of the struggle, were fighting fervently.
"When did you become such a man, Demirdöven!"
"Bammmmmmmmm!"
Alyon was seeking an answer to one of the questions in the mind of the brave warrior whose self he inherited. The man standing opposite him had no resemblance to the person in his memories.
"You better not stick your nose into matters that don't concern you, kid!"
"Thuddddddddd!"
Beyaz Ayı had gotten angry for the first time; his eyes were shining with rage.
"What was the thing that caused you to turn into a heartless person who would leave his son and warriors to die in the hands of his enemy?"
"Bammmmmmmmmm!"
So what if his opponent's anger increased? Waves of fury foaming inside him right now were eroding the shores of his soul. The account remaining from the past had to be settled today; whatever needed to be experienced would be experienced, secrets turning into a silent lie would be solved.