Atos looked at his opponent, and he was somewhat satisfied.

When he first arrived, he managed to destroy most of his opponents so utterly that they had almost no confidence left! The things he was doing for this first month were for one reason only, and that is for the warriors of the tribe to regain their confidence! 

For the first week, everyone was afraid of him... but who would not be? Even among these brutes, he looked something else. With his height around two and a half meters, he could not blend in easily even if he wanted. Of course, he had equipment for that, but that was for another time and another problem.

Now, and here in this tribe he needed to do things their way, or they will never listen to him fully!

You might be the sole dictator of a nation, yet, if you do not give them a reason other than intimidation, you will never reach the hearts of the people! And he wanted loyal, healthy and happy subjects, and not people that would cover if someone just mentioned his name!

So, as he looked down from his height, he was happy, as this ex-leader seemed to have regained his confidence. This meant that he could start the real work and if everything went according to plans, most of the tribesmen will be awed by him, yet not afraid of him! The first step of building a nation was getting the trust of your people and listening to their opinions! You have to earn their trust so they will give you their honest opinion, and that way everything is going to be a hundred times easier than otherwise would be!

He took some glimpses around the ring, and he could not help but feel satisfied once again!

The people looked upon them with excitement, and not fear! They had that confidence that they had before he whacked it out of them. Yet, it was necessary! Now, he is going to defeat their strongest and biggest chance of defeating him, and after that they will be his to command. Fully, and voluntarily!

As he stood there, in his normal attire, he could not help but lament the lack of culture these lost souls had. Even their strongest one only wore some garbs made of a beast’s hide and a crude bronze axe at his right side!

Now, after he prohibited fighting anywhere outside this ring, deaths were at an all time low and weapons usage against their fellow tribesmen was against the rules the only chance they had was to use it!

Even inside the ring, other than serious blood feuds, it was prohibited to use sharp weaponry and if you killed someone there were going to be serious repercussions!

He could not help it as he did not like the way they so easily killed each other, not to mention that they were now his subjects and it was foolish to lose them without reason when their numbers were not the highest either!

Everything went through his augmented brain under mere seconds, while his opponent only managed to lung forward him.

In fights for the chief position, the usage of weapons was allowed, otherwise how would he show them how utterly behind they are?!

He saw everything in slow motion, the “rushing” form of Bardul, the pathetic bronze axe that was on a collision path with his face. The concentrated, yet gleeful expression on his opponent’s face, and the expectant look in the eyes of their audience. He saw and processed that all under the time Baldur just managed to swing his axe.

They sparred for a few seconds, Atos giving his opponent some time to show himself and gave a perfect show to the audience that managed to ignite something inside them. The techniques he was using, the moves and styles they have never seen before. They were excited, as it was all new to them.

Even his opponent seemed to be enjoying himself, and after some near hits, seemed to grap an opportunity that would get him his oh so wanted victory.

Atos, however had other plans!

So, when the weapon was only a few centimeters away from his face, Baldur’s face went from gleeful to confused, then from that to flabbergasted!

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Killing intent like he never felt before pushed down upon him, but the most unbelievable things was the arm that stopped his bronze axe. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, as he saw that sole finger keeping him and his newfound strength at bay. Only one finger! Bardul could not believe it, and the audience could not either! It was so ridiculous that he did not even notice his bleeding palm that was raptured from the sudden halt of the weapon.

His jaw that was almost hitting the floor painted quite the comical site.

Sudden silence was the result of this otherworldly and unbelievable thing everyone witnessed. Everyone was afraid once more! When they saw Atos taking out the axe from Bardul’s hand, they expected this to be the end of him, but they were mistaken!

Bardul already accepted his fate, as there was no way that this demon in human form would spare him. He would surely not, as it was already exceptionally strange that he lived after he was defeated for the first time! Yet, when nothing happened even after he heard a collective gasp from the crowd, he opened his eyes only to see the demon cutting open his thumb with the axe he just took!

A booming and confident voice permeated the surroundings, and the words heard that day would mean the start of a new era and a new way of life for both the tribes and other people on the continent!

“Listen to me my subjects!” Came the first sentence.

“I, Atos of the dynasty of Dawn came here with a mission! A mission that will require the help of strong people like you! You might be afraid of me, but you have no reason to if you will follow me! I am a benevolent leader, and will listen to any of your problems with rapt attention, however beware as disobedience is out of question! If you have any problems that you would like me to know, tell me, I will listen and take it into consideration. The final decision is mine, however! Im not a demon, you saw me bleed, im not some god either because there is only a sole real one and that one is not me! God was merciful and sent me here to help you become something you never had the chance before! With my help, you will become even stronger, you already saw my training’s results, you will receive delicious food like in the past month and many more! You only have to do one thing, and that is to OBEY!”

“Bardul, you, are going to be my direct subordinate! Your responsibility will be to deal with everyday problems, develop yourself, and listen to the people’s problems! You will have to report to me every single day, and participate in a meeting that is going to be held once every week! This ‘council” will be made up of the 3 most experienced people that im going to promote later on! I have spared your life twice, do not give me a reason to do it another time! Now you were made and example of, be proud as this is the first step in uniting the tribes of the great steppes.”

Finished the last sentence Atos, with a lower voice directly into the ears of Bardul, who was still just standing there flabbergasted and gaping like a fish.

Bardul did not know what to think anymore. This person in front of him, managed to defeat him twice, both times when he was feeling undefeatable. He gave him strength just to be defeated again. He wanted to feel outraged, yet that bloodboiling feeling did not come. He felt strangely okay with it. If his opponent was so out of his league then he could only blame himself and thank his opponent for letting him have the fight of his life. He was sure that no fight will ever rach the height he has been to now. He looked up on his towering opponent with a complicated gaze and just accepted him. 

This feeling played down inside most of the tribesmen, and they started to really accept him as their own.

A booming laughter echoed and seemed to shock out everyone from their stupor.

“Now, my subjects, we have things to do! Of course, if any of you wish to go a round with me, I'm all in. If you manage to hit me even once, I might even teach you guys how to stop the axe with one finger and all. Other than that, the only way for anyone to learn that is a serious contribution to our tribe and being useful to me! You do not have to worry, and only need to tell your ideas to my advisor council that I will nominate at the nightly feast today! And they will not steal any of them, be at ease, as I swear on my name, blood and God that their fates are going to be worse than any of your nightmares if they do so!”

While he was saying his speech he took the bleeding hand of Bardul in his own and mixed their blood together.

"This will simbolize that i have taken you and your people as my kin and will do everything in my power to help you prosper! No foe will be able to defeat us, as long as we work together, and you listen to me!"

He finished with this promise, then just casually strolled out of the ring, right into his own tent.

Every person that witnessed this moemnt would forever remember it. Future generations would call this day the Start of the New era. And people would forever be greatful for the future this one day represented.

Atos just ast down in his tent and thought about his people, both old and new, and promised himself that he was really going to everything in his power to bring forth a new and better world!

Still, he could not help but like this feeling, the expressions of awe, the thinking expressions. He could already feel the winds of change approaching from the horizon, and it WILL sweep through the surroundings like a tornado! And no one will be able to stop it, not if he had a say in it!