Chapter 257 - Exceptional Warrior
In the elevated seats reserved for the council members, murmurs filled the air as the fight intensified. One council member leaned forward. "What incredible combat skills," he said. "That young Vakorr is truly exceptional. Look at the power behind every swing of his hammer."
Another council member, an older orc with a greying beard, nodded but added, "True, Vakorr is strong. But don't dismiss Naguk so easily. He came here injured, yet he's still managing to hold his own. Imagine how different this fight would look if his leg weren't broken."
A third council member, with the golden ornament, snorted. "Injuries or not, the reality is what matters. Vakorr is dominating him. Naguk's decision to continue after the ambushes shows recklessness, not strength."
A female council member spoke up, her tone measured but curious. "He has been through quite a bit after the death of the last one was announced. Remember, every other candidate except Vakorr is dead. That's no small feat. And I've heard Naguk spent much of his time rallying instead of preparing solely for this fight. If he wins, it will be because of public support."
The greying orc nodded again. "Votes might actually matter this time. If Vakorr wins the match but the people rally behind Naguk, the council will have to consider public sentiment."
The council member with the golden ornament shook his head. "Sentiment? This is a council of strength and strategy. Reckless sentimentality has no place here. Look at him—losing terribly because of his own decisions. If Vakorr crushes him, public opinion won't matter."
Before the discussion could escalate, the eldest of the council members, seated in the center with a staff of bone and ivory, raised his han and commanded. "Quiet," he said, his eyes fixed on the arena. "Now watch the fight. Analyze it. Study every detail you can. Later, we'll have time for discussions and judgments. For now, let the match speak for itself."
The murmurs ceased instantly. The council members leaned back and focused on the match.
On the tribunes where Naguk's supporters gathered, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Mor gripped the edge of the railing tightly. Her knuckles turned pale as she muttered, "Boss... come on..." Her voice was strained, barely audible above the noise of the crowd.
Below, the fight raged on. Naguk, pinned against the wall by the earth pillar, gritted his teeth as he felt the tremors beneath his feet intensify. His body ached from the repeated blows, and his leg screamed in protest with every movement. But he wasn't ready to give up.
With a roar, Naguk raised his axe high and brought it down with all his might, shattering the earth pillar holding him in place. Vakorr, still extending his arm to control the pillar's movement, smirked as the broken column re-formed and shot upward again. But Naguk anticipated the move, using the brief moment to slip to the side and jump away from the attack.
As his feet hit the ground, Naguk barely had a moment to breathe. Vakorr was already charging while swinging his hammer. Naguk ducked just in time, the massive weapon whooshing above his head and slamming into the protective barrier behind him with a deafening crash. The barrier shimmered, absorbing the force of the impact, but the sheer power of the blow caused a ripple that sent tremors across the arena.
Naguk's breathing quickened as he steadied himself, but Vakorr wasn't done. The larger orc shifted his hammer downward with surprising speed, bringing it down toward Naguk like a falling boulder. Naguk instinctively raised his axe to block, angling it to deflect the hammer's path. The maneuver worked partially—the hammer's edge glanced off the axe but still caught Naguk's side.
The impact sent shockwaves through Naguk's body, slamming him against the ground. He rolled away quickly, trying to escape the follow-up attack. Vakorr stomped where Naguk had just been. Naguk gritted his teeth, pushing himself up once more, but as he landed on his injured leg, pain flared again. His vision blurred momentarily, and he stumbled.
Vakorr smirked, seeing his opponent falter. "You're stubborn, I'll give you that," he said. "But you're only delaying the inevitable. Just give up already."
Naguk spat blood onto the ground, his grip tightening around his axe. "Not yet," he growled, the fire of determination burning in his eyes.
Vakorr charged yet again. Naguk held his ground, waiting for the right moment. The hammer swung down, and Naguk barely evaded it. He sidestepped quickly, moving closer to Vakorr in a calculated maneuver, but Vakorr was ready.
Before Naguk could bring his axe to bear, Vakorr drove his knee into Naguk's stomach. Naguk's body doubled over, blood splattering from his mouth as he gasped for air. He stumbled back, clutching his midsection, but he didn't fall. Instead, he tightened his grip on his axe and swung downward with all the strength he could muster, aiming for Vakorr's exposed leg.
The blade bit into Vakorr's flesh, drawing a sharp growl of pain from the larger orc. Vakorr's face twisted into a snarl as he retaliated, throwing a heavy punch that caught Naguk squarely in the chest. The impact sent Naguk hurtling backward, his body tumbling across the sand like a ragdoll. He came to a stop several feet away, rolling onto his side as he gasped for air.
Vakorr straightened, massaging the wound on his leg briefly before walking toward Naguk with slow, deliberate steps. His hammer dragged slightly along the ground, leaving a shallow trench in the dirt. "Look at you," Vakorr said, his voice thick with disdain. "Your determination is admirable, Naguk, but this fight is over. You can't win."
Naguk groaned as he struggled to his feet, blood dripping from his nose and lips. His axes hung limply in his grip, and his vision blurred from the repeated blows to his head and body. Still, he raised his head defiantly. In his mind, the image of the young orc flashed again.
"I can't lose here," Naguk thought, his teeth gritting against the overwhelming pain. "Not yet. For our dreams..."
Vakorr paused a few paces away, his towering frame casting a long shadow over Naguk. "If you surrender now," Vakorr said, "no harm will come to you. This isn't a fight to the death. But that doesn't mean you can't leave this arena broken."
Naguk's lips curled into a weak smile, blood staining his teeth. "What kind of example would I set," he rasped, "if I cowered now?"
Vakorr chuckled, shaking his head. "So be it." He hefted his hammer once more, gripping it with both hands as he charged again.
Naguk's body screamed in protest, but he forced himself to move. He dodged back as Vakorr's hammer came down smashing into the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Naguk flung one of his axes at Vakorr, aiming directly for his chest.
The axe struck true, embedding itself in Vakorr's chest plate with a sickening crunch. Vakorr staggered, his hammer missing its mark as the pain jolted through his body. He looked down at the axe lodged in his chest, then back up at Naguk with disbelief. "You little—"
Before he could finish, Naguk was already upon him. With a guttural yell, he leaped into the air as he raised his remaining axe. The crowd gasped as Naguk brought the blade down onto Vakorr's neck, the edge cutting deep into the thick muscle. Blood spurted from the wound, staining the sand below, but the cut wasn't deep enough to sever anything critical.
Vakorr roared in fury, his hand shooting up to grab Naguk by the arm before he could deliver another blow. Vakorr yanked Naguk forward and threw him to the ground with a thunderous crash. The impact left Naguk sprawled in the sand, coughing violently as he tried to catch his breath.
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Vakorr reached for the axe embedded in his chest, his massive hand gripping the handle tightly. With a grunt of effort, he yanked it free, tossing it aside. Blood oozed from the wound, but Vakorr barely seemed to notice. "That's a nasty cut," he said. "But it'll take more than that to bring me down."
Naguk groaned as he rolled onto his side, but before he could get up, Vakorr's massive fist came crashing down like a boulder, slamming into the side of Naguk's head. The force of the punch sent Naguk flying across the arena and he collided with the wall. He crumpled to the ground in a heap, motionless.
Blood trickled from Naguk's mouth and nose. Vakorr massaged the shallow cut on his neck. He glanced down at Naguk. "Stay down," he muttered, turning his back to walk away.
But the match wasn't called yet. All eyes were on Naguk, waiting to see if the unyielding orc would rise once more.