The group ended their uncertainty after hearing about Tommy’s friends.
They have to fight him for the promotion trial no matter what. Tradition dictates for them to do so, and moreover, they have nothing to lose but their lives at this point - the cheapest thing on the battlefield.
But, if they won, there is a good chance for them to survive.
Of course, there are discussions on what happen if Tommy succeeds. After finding out that the jaw-dropping techniques they saw was made by Tommy’s group, half of them already have surrender in their hearts and it is a very real possibility that this person will become their new Lord.
These teens are too strong!
Before Tommy’s promotion trial begun, many of them are already haggling with him about what happens afterwards.
“These people… they already want him to succeed before the fight began,” someone from Esley’s side exclaimed.
“Commander, aren’t we going to do something?”
The Saint Empire Frontlines had not heard much of the name ‘Tommy Styrkur’ before today, but it is destined to change.
Soon, his name will travel across the world from this battle, and it will become another reason the Devilheart family fear the Snowdrifts.
Esley shook his head. He remember what he owed the mysterious hooded man, and was told not to help no matter what. In this case, helping might mess up whatever plans these young soldiers had in mind and it is indeed better to stay away.
The Martial King secretly looked forward to the fight, thinking that Tommy might be the person who aided him. The hooded one could move like a wisp and had unfathomable methods that could subdue Martial Kings.
If Tommy fought with his full power, Esley will definitely know if they are the same person.
No matter what these barbarians felt, they held their rituals sacred, and once the promotion trial starts they will be serious. It is a pride the Barbarians held in their hearts to do their utmost, and a respect they give to their enemies.
The Barbarians were the most concerned with Tommy’s plans.
“Besides our lives, can you guarantee our homes will not be invaded?” someone threw him the most important question.
If Tommy won and was promoted to Barbarian Lord in their eyes but moved against his own people, there is no way his title will still be recognised. In that case, they might as well just fight to the bitter end here instead of going through this charade.
“No,” the tall and powerfully built man said while looking at them. The crowd was riled up and many talked about throwing one last suicidal attack on the Saint Empire scums.
“Quiet,” Edward said calmly while he released his dragon’s aura. An overwhelming and suffocating oppressiveness stole their breaths away, Saint Empire and Frosthral troops alike.
The Barbarians trembled and their knees knocked. They know that this is to tell them their fates should they resist. They are already in the claws of a great beast, to retaliate is pointless.
They might logically understand that they could still tear a wound in their enemies, but their hearts are already defeated at this point.
The interchange of hope and despair is wearing down even the stoutest hearts among them.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“I will indeed lead you to invade your lands and your homes, but rest assured, I will not take the life of a single person who join us, nor will I let anyone do so. What my brothers and I set out to do is to unite the world.”
That declaration at the end floored everyone, including Esley, the Saint Empire troops, and those watching the battle.
….
On the battlefield, there are several soldiers holding on to crystal balls that record everything that could be heard and seen, then transmitting it to the upper echelons.
The Dark Hall and the Devilheart family were of course in the loop, and at this moment, they were steaming with anger like an overturned pot of soup.
If Tommy failed, that’s fine, but if he succeeds then the Snowdrifts will gain a large personal army.
The Devilheart family quickly sent the Dark Hall a message, “Go and check on their soul slips immediately! Especially the boy, Kairos’!”
“Yes sir!” A runner beat his chest and sprinted down to the Jade Hall from the other end of a communication device.
He quickly reached the place where loyalty is kept and checked through the shelves.
A sigh of relief escaped when he made certain that everything is in order. He ran back to the communication device placed in Command Hall where all the Ghosts are gathered, and gave them the confirmation.
“The Soul Slips are all intact,” the runner said with several Snowdrifts’ Soul Slips in his hands.
The Ghosts nodded without being surprised. Their base is made to be a stronghold and the most protected areas are the Jade Hall and the Dark Hall. To steal a Soul Slip under their noses is impossible.
“Hmph. Make sure they are. If anything were to happen, you can be sure the entire Dark Hall will be uprooted.”
Hearing the Devilheart family representative threaten them with death, even the most veteran Ghost paled.
They quickly replied with veneration, “We will not fail you, Old Man Biyo.”
If the Ah Gui, Ah Pui, Selena, or any of the fifteen – the senior personal disciples of Kairos – were here, they will recognise Biyo as their previous supervisor when they were still death warriors of the Devilheart family.
The communication link went dark and everyone started calming down. The Ghosts did not notice that there was one among them, with sweat pouring down his back. The Hall Master looked as though he had been through a swim as he barked, “Hand that over to me.”
He snatched one of the Soul Slips and stared at it as though it was a strange rune.
The other Ghosts were shocked at his behaviour, and each grabbed one of the Soul Slips to take a look.
After a while, the Hall Master looked up and said with trembling lips, “They were switched. They were all switched. Hurry, check if the other Soul Slips in the Jade Hall were replaced as well… Ah, I’ll head there myself!”
The Hall Master disappeared after finishing his sentence. His speed was so fast that his afterimage disappeared before the Ghosts could hear what he said.
As the other Ghosts followed their leader out of the hall, the runner had been turned into a mist of blood.
If anyone find out that the Soul Slips had been changed, the consequences will be unthinkable. Without the Devilheart family wiping them out, they would already have killed themselves.
To ensure nothing is leaked out, it is safer that no one could reveal it.
The Ghosts are absolutely loyal to the Dark Hall, but the runner is not yet tested. Moreover, those that within this place are all in the middle of their training or failed to become an agent in the field. While the Soul Slip could prevent intentional betrayals, it doesn’t mean someone skilful could not probe for information without triggering the slip’s defensive functions.
The group of ancient cultivators hurriedly reached the Jade Hall with hardly suppressed panic. They almost blow apart the gates and entered the place like a herd of frightened rabbits.
Within the walls with countless shelves was the Hall Master.
He turned and faced them with an unconcealed look of dismay on his face. The others did not have to ask him and know that every Soul Slip in this place had been swapped with decoys.
“Pass down the order. Have Esley disrupt the promotion trial. Tommy Styrkur is now suspect of treason,” the Hall Master said.
“It’s too late. The fight had already begun.”
“Then, arrest him after, otherwise your new Hall Master will become Kairos Astroire.”
…..
Thirty thousand surround Tommy. Among them many are at the Chief or War Chief level, the rest are made up barbarians whose leaders have all died and no one to lead them.
If it is a battle for a person against a hundred thousand, it wouldn’t end until several weeks or even months.
Each participant is armed with their favourite weapons and whatever armour they wore but without any other battle support items.
Some of them are holding swords that are cheap as dirt, while others had treasured blades that could exchange a luxurious life if sold. The northerners believe that the strong should lead.
The equipment one uses is generally considered a part of one’s strength but things like pills, talismans, formation plate, are all banned from this tradition. Otherwise, one could use money to buy his way to the top and it will make the entire north to be filled with merchants instead of barbarians.