Chapter 14: TRIAL BY COMBAT II
"Yes... Trial by combat." Orion replied a flabbergasted Joda. "That's how we resolve misunderstanding between two parties in this kingdom. Either you participate or you forfeit. Whoever forfeits will be at the mercy of the other party.
And whoever wins gets to demand anything they want from the loser. If the loser is still alive." The royal trainer said the last part under his breath but the people around him heard it anyway and chuckled.
" If you agree to participate, you'll have to fight both of the men you called liars at once. You don't need to worry though. This trial will be a non-lethal one so there will be no weapons." Orion took in a deep breath to calm his excited nerves before asking the final question.
"Do you accept the young man's challenge?"
Joda was very angry when he realized how he had been set up to fall. A look at the silent Thrall confirmed his suspicions. Thrall's fury was evident on his face. His eyes promised Joda untold pain and misery whether he accepted the challenge or not. Joda was cornered and Rollo knew it. What Rollo didn't know though was that a cornered Joda was even crazier than his younger twin.
"Fine. I accept his challenge." Joda hissed through clenched teeth. If he was going to fall, then he will take those who had set him up along with him.
"Then move into..." Orion choked on his words as Joda executed a well-balanced horizontal chop to the throat of the guard who had testified against him without even looking at the guard's position.
The whole room fell silent as the tall and bulky guard dropped to his knees with retching sounds as he struggled to breathe whiles holding his throat.
"You were saying?" Joda snarled his question at Orion whiles his eyes lay fixed on Rollo. Promising the young master pain upon pain and maybe even death. Orion couldn't believe his eyes.
That windpipe chop was so beautiful. Unless it was an accident, this boy could be just what he needed to ease his boredom as well as make some cash. But he had to see more of the young slave's skill before passing judgment. This should be fun. The Royal trainer thought.
Rollo on the other hand wasn't feeling too confident anymore. He was a skilled hunter and had military training on his side but something about the Young slave's body language and how well he had executed that move screamed danger. He wasn't too sure he could take the filthy slave on by himself anymore. He would demand help to make the floor even.
"Did you see what he just did? That filthy slave attacked my partner even before the trial began. I demand another partner!" Rollo yelled his displeasure to which the crowd started murmuring in agreement.
"Very well. You can choose whoever is willing to stand in for your fallen comrade" Orion gave the go-ahead and watched as Rollo pointed at Nuk, the animal man who didn't look too confident either.
"Are you willing to stand and fight for justice in this man's shoes?" Orion asked Nuk as he pointed at the fallen guard who was still writhing on the floor in pain and making wheezing sounds.
Nuk wanted to say no. He barely knew that guard and this whole fiasco was none of his business. not counting that devastating chop that had tumbled the guard. He wasn't ready to be on the receiving end of such an attack. He desperately wanted to say no but an angry look from his master quickly changed his mind and he nodded to Orion's question, sealing his fate.
"Then you'll replace the guard and fight for justice by Rollo's side. Both parties should please step into the circle." Orion instructed. "And no surprise attacks until I give the order to begin, else someone will know pain by my hands" the royal trainer snarled as he looked at Joda whose full attention was fixed on Rollo like marked prey and so did not even hear the royal trainer's threat.
The two parties moved into the circle. One team was made of Rollo and Nuk whiles the other was made of just Joda. The guests watched with bated breath as the two parties stood on opposite sides of the ring. Thrall was in no mood to go round offering bets so another guest did it for him.
The odds were in Rollo's favor since as far as the people spectating were concerned, quantity was sure to beat this kid who they couldn't even associate with quality. Orion though bet against the norm and put his money on Joda before signaling for the trial to begin.
The moment Rollo saw the signal, he instructed Nuk to attack whiles he stayed behind to await an opening. Nuk sprinted toward the much smaller boy with the intention of doing to him what he had done to Orga.
His mark was still stationary, whether out of fear or foolishness, Nuk didn't know and Nuk didn't care. That boy was a goner in his eyes. If only he knew just what he was throwing himself into, Nuk would have chosen his master's wrath a thousand times over than face Joda.
Joda saw the big man rush at him and took a fighting stance just as the man leaped at him in an attempt to spear him. Everyone heard the sick sound that came from more than one bone breaking as Nuk's face met Joda's flying knee. Blood flew everywhere and more than one person looked away from what they assumed will be a very painful attack. They were right.
Joda may have been far from his powerful build back when he was in his father's kingdom but he was far from weak. He had all the training and experience that came from his previous life and he had been taught to use every part of his body as a weapon from childhood.
Nuk throwing himself at him like that had been akin to a watermelon falling on a particularly sharp knife. No matter how big the watermelon is, it will still suffer.
Nuk had immediately passed out the moment Joda's knee met his face. The sharp pain that invaded his senses had been too much for his brain to bear which had led to a quick system reboot. He would regain consciousness a full day later to find that he has lost all his front teeth whiles suffering breathing problems due to his broken nose.
The whole room had gone silent. The guests were having a hard time processing what they had just witnessed. Did the young skinny slave just knock out Nuk with a single attack?
Sure, Nuk was no fighter but he was still bigger and stronger than that boy. What they had just seen made no sense at all. But one thing was clear to them. The first time could have been sheer luck. The second time, not so much. Just how strong was this boy again? The guests asked themselves.
"The field has been evened 'young master'. I am sure this is just how you planned to face me. Just you and me. No interference." Joda said in a calm icy tone that carried across to the now-shaking Rollo who was cursing his life for losing his ace so soon.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone