“147”

“148”

“149”

Its been one year since Bognog started training me “seriously”. The new training he was putting my body through was complete and utter hell. The training I was doing before could even be considered childs play compared to this new form of daily torture. Grog’s mentor heard about my new training and poor Grog had to do double of what did, except the running of course.

“200”

“1”

“2”

This new training which could bring even the most powerful gods to their knees, Bognogs hell regime, 200 pushups, 200 sit ups, 200 squats, and 20 laps around the camp. The first few days I never even made it past the squats, much less 20 laps around the camp. Everyday without fail my body would scream at me in resistance and hate.

‘But I don't have time to complain today’

Today wasn't any normal day, today the duel between Grog and I was to take place. This duel would determine the hierarchy of our generation, the winner of this fateful duel would be the generation's head warrior. Representing the entire generation through one, and I intended for that to be me. How could I become the strongest in the tribe if I wasn't even the strongest in my age group.

“198”

“199”

“200”

‘Time for my laps’

Grog usually trains with me everyday, but we were both deadset on victory. Many of our generation thought Grog would win easily, even though I was strong enough to be the only one qualified to fight him. Few believed in me, scratch that, I don't think anyone believes in me.

‘So what, I don't need people to believe in me I just need them to watch me kick Grogs ass’

Due to Grogs simple nature and my arrogant nature, no matter how this match turns out I have no doubt we will still be friends.

‘Hell we’ve been practically inseparable since the coming of age ceremony’

Many saw us together, there was even a scandal started by some girls in our group who well, nevermind that. Grog was my friend and I want him to stay that way, he may be simple but he was honest and strong. Both of those traits are hard to come by, sometimes he even said something that sounded like he thought before he spoke. We showed great potential in his intellectual ability…maybe.

‘Finally, finished with my ridiculous morning training, that bastard probably loves seeing me come to training weak and stumbling every Day.’

After wiping the sweat off my brow with my forearm I went to the water pit to wash my face and hydrate. There wasn't much time before the duel, only a few hours. I had to eat and do some basic warmups with my daggers and fists before then. Making my way to the fire pit that practically belongs to Grog and me. We were the only ones who used it anymore and were here everyday.

Sitting on my usually rotting log I helped myself to some jerky we had made last week.

‘Nothing like dry meat that tastes like nothing to start the day’

I sighed to myself while I ate. At first eating jerky everyday was a blessing, but I cant say im exactly thrilled to eat jerky everyday. It would be ok if we had a variation, but we only had yargvish jerky, cooked the same way every time to preserve the meat for later consumption.

I complain too much, I need to focus’

That was an ongoing issue I started to notice, though it wasn't out loud I complained way too much in my head, but as long as I completed my tasks it's ok until it becomes a problem I guess. Finishing my delectable meal of dry jerky and the usual dirt water, I dragged my screaming body over to the training ground to start some warmup exercises.

As I started going through the usual monotonous maneuvers I started to think of some strategies to beat Grog. Of course I had thought about this before, but Grog was a monster, at this point he couldn't even be called a goblin anymore, he was closer to an orcling if anything. The only way I would be able to get him to the ground is with an attack that limits his senses and forces him to lower his guard. Once his guard is down I know that perfect move to bring him to the ground, after that it's a test of his endurance.

‘I need to slow down, save your energy’

I had unknowingly started to move fast during my warmup movements, I must've gotten too worked up. To my right I saw Bognog approaching me, I turned to look at him dropping my training daggers to my sides in a resting position.

“Hey little runt it's about to start, everyone is already waiting on you.”

‘No ways it's already noon, I guess I got lost in thought again, an issue more common than not sadly.’

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Thanks Bognog, lets go, don't want to keep Grog waiting”

At the sight of the duel, the middle of the camp, a wide circle of not just Gnars generation, but also kids from other age groups and even some mentors and warriors were scattered about. Many disregarded whoever it was that Grog was fighting, most had already forgotten his name. Almost everyone was here to see Grogs skill and strength in combat, he truly was a miracle among goblins everywhere.

The truly puzzling part about this whole thing that none but a few mentors understood, was why Grogs expression was so serious. Grog stood at an astounding 4.2 feet, towering over every goblin in the entire tribe, AT AGE 9! His entire body consisted solely of powerful muscle that looked like it could deflect steel swords with ease. He had the advantage over every goblin in his generation, so…why did he look so serious.

Amidst the crowds mingling and baseless assumptions Gnar slipped his way out of the crowd standing opposite of Grog.

‘Good to see he’s at least taking me seriously, may the best of us win Grog.’

I looked at Grog and gave him a nod, he returned in kind with a nod of his own. I could hear the whispers and small fits of laughter in the crowd. They thought this match would be an easy victory for Grog, and I couldn't blame them. Standing at barely 2.5 feet I was the shortest goblin in the whole camp, though I had more muscle than most of my generation it didn't look like much compared to Grog. I had worn a basic sleeveless leather shirt and hide shorts that went past my knees. The only aspects that made my appearance somewhat peculiar were my short stature and my white hair. I had been born with a full head of white hair, though it was short and straight naturally, hair was a rare feature of goblins.

The nickname given to me by many of the older goblins “gnome boy” wasn't just because of my height and build, it was also because most gnomes had white hair. Leaving many to speculate, me included, that my birth giver was a gnome, which would make sense honestly. Point being most goblins were bald or had black hair, which was a common side effect from having a human birthgiver.

‘Losing myself in thought even at a time like this, FOCUS GNAR!’

I gave my side a small punch and took a combative stance across from Grog, who was already in his own stance, we both eagerly awaited the signal to win. The anticipation was making my body slightly shake, Grog was strong. Not as strong as Bognog, but he was the strongest person in our whole generation. At Least he was until today,I'll be taking that title from him after this little scuffle.

“Welcome to the generation's strongest duel! Every one and a half cycles there is a duel between the two strongest warriors in a generation! The winner will be deemed head of their generation and will represent them during hunts and raids, as well as having control over all of the kids in their generation! I wish you luck warrior, BEG-”

We both moved towards it each in a mad dash before the announcer could even finish his words. Grog, weilding a massive wooden greatsword, sent a downwards slash directly towards my skull.

Everyone in the crowd was initially stunned at the speed in which the two combatants displayed, but they knew the fight would end just as fast after grog sent his sword barreling down toward the boy's skull. There was no way the runt could defend against such a swift and powerful strike, but to there utter disbelief the sword didnt even graze the smaller boy.

‘I barely dodged his opening strike, this is going to be a fun fight’

Before I even realized what I was doing a grin had appeared on my face. I sent the dagger in my right hand barreling towards Grogs neck, unfortunately he took two quick steps backwards slightly to his left, narrowly avoiding being stabbed in the neck. I didnt give him the chance to recover before I threw the dagger in my left hand flying out of my grasp and towards his skull. He lifted his massive sword and blocked it mid air.

However he limited his vision in the process and failed to catch my knee slamming into his solar plexus, tossing some of the air in his lungs to the wind. He retaliated before my body could get clear of his range of attack and slammed the wooden sword into my shoulder, forcing me to one knee. As he raised his sword to strike once more I tossed myself to the ground and rolled to my left. I watched as his sword obliterated the dirt where I was once kneeling.

‘Fuck! That hurt you brute’

The smile on my lips widened as adrenaline coursed throughout my body, I hastily lifted myself from the ground and sent my remaining dagger towards his right shoulder. He didnt have time to dodge or block since I was to his side and his sword was still stuck in the dirt. RIght before my wooden dagger struck his shoulder he let go of his sword and twisted his hips giving him enough breathing room to catch my dagger in his left hand.

While the move was impressive it was not without consequence, his foundation now completely unstable. I let go of the dagger and swiftly took a quick step towards him with my left foot before swinging my entire body to the left, with its entire force behind my leg which was aiming for Grogs exposed knee. Grogs eyes widened as he noticed that this was my plan all along, he attempted to move his body but the compromising position he was in made it impossible without falling to the ground. He attempted to push me with his free right hand but it held no power.

With a loud crack that sounded like a log snapping in two, Grogs knee was sent forcefully to the left at an angle that shouldn’t be possible. I saw a few faces in the crowd behind Grog become pale.

‘This is the leverage I needed’

The grin on my face had turned into a full blown smile as Grogs body was thrown into the ground. This fight isn’t over yet though, Grog would never admit defeat until he couldnt take another breath. Knowing this I rushed to his fallen body and before he could collect himself or completely realize what happened, I rolled onto the ground and slid behind his head. I latched both my arms around his neck and exerted as much force as I could, I had to knock him o0ut before he recovers. Grog, knowing he couldn’t escape the headlock in his current position, rose to his one good knee which allowed me to wrap my legs around his torso and put him in an even more restricting position.

‘GO DOWN YOU BRUTE BASTARD’

He lifted his entire body off the ground on one leg, me included, and jumped backwards onto the ground.

‘Fuck’

The full force and weight of Grog slammed me into the dirt and knocked my breath away, my nose leaked blood down my face and clothes but I never let go. Grog stood up once more to repeat the process.

‘I need to do something I can’t take another one of those slams’

However, before I had to worry about making a new plan, the headlock I had put Grog in for over 40 seconds had finally given through and his purple face went slack while his eyes rolled to the back of his head.

The massive goblin fell forward onto the ground. I struggled to my feat, stumbling here and there to stay upright. The entire crowd looked at me with mixed emotions, praise, admiration, awe, disbelief, but most commonly…fear.

I ripped my gaze away from them and let out a small chuckle which quickly turned into an insane fit of gut curling laughter. The announcer from before snapped out of his stupor and loudly announced

“I GIVE YOU THE WINNER AND NEW HEAD OF THE YOUNG GENERATION, GNAR, KNEE STABBER!!!”