The Master of Uradan

Rohan was standing among the crowd, still wondering what was happening. This gathering of people was separated into two distinct groups.

One of them was the Blackwolf clan, cheerful and exalting of happiness. They were all chatting among themselves, talking about the great show that was about to take place.

Some even talk about what luck it was to encounter this other clan there.

The second group was the Greybat clan. In contrast to the other clan, they were all solemnly standing there, with mournful expressions.

Some of them were even shedding tears, while others were turning away their look.

In the middle of the circle formed by the two clans, stood four persons. Two of them were the respective chief clans, while two armed men were at their side.

One of them was a warrior, while the other one wasn't.

Darias spoke first.

"In agreement with the ancient treaty, as well as the rules of the clans, a duel will now take place."

His powerful voice echoed in the whole area, reaching the ears of everyone standing there.

"In front of the Blackwolf Clan." A huge clamor filled the rank of the nomads as they all stomped the ground with their feet.

"In front of the Greybat Clan." Nothing but silence prevailed among them, only perturbed by some snobs.

"This duel will replace any wars, and the result will be accepted by the two clans. The loser will give a tenth of everything, while the winner will take it."

Darias didn't have his simple smile on his face. He wasn't the middle-aged man Rohan had seen countless times anymore. He was now a powerful rank 3 Beginner Warrior. He was now the chief of the Blackwolf clan.

"The Blackwolf clan will send this man, a rank 1 Beginner Warrior."

The man standing beside the chief looked with a disdaining smile at the one who will be his opponent.

"The Greybat clan will send this man, one of our greatest fighters." It was now the other chief clan to seriously declare the fighter of his clan.

The man was with a solemn face, ready to brave the hell that was in front of him.

All the members were watching the center, the sort of conflict between the two men that were glancing at each other. But Rohan wasn't looking there.

He already had taken conscience of what was happening here, and also about another fact. He remembered when the chief clan Darias had said to him that his clan was in the top 3 more powerful ones of the exterior ring.

He didn't understand at that moment. He still didn't know what exactly was the ring he was talking about, but he was starting to comprehend the top 3 points.

After all, in the Greybat clan, there was only one rank 1 Beginner Warrior. All the other members weren't mana users. In front of this clan, was the Blackwolf clan, which had a couple of warriors and even a rank 4 Beginner Warrior in their ranks.

Another point was also the fact that Darias hadn't acted as if he knew the clan before him. For clans living in this region for probably centuries, not knowing about one specifically meant only one thing: there were too many of them.

But in this case, why was the opponent so polite in front of this chief clan? Why are all these nomads bowing their heads, fearful and crying? There was only one answer possible.

Rohan, By luck or by bad luck, had encountered one of the most powerful clans of this part of the Barren Lands, and these lands weren't as peaceful as what he had believed.

He looked away from the two men facing each other. There wasn't any need for it after all, since what would happen and the result was obvious. He was looking at a young man standing among the members of the Greybat clan.

His gaze was locked onto the back of the middle-aged man. Tears were flowing down on his cheeks, while his eyes were burning with hatred, but also with weakness. He couldn't do anything to this situation, forced to watch his father fight for the clan while everyone already knew the outcome.

For the first time since Rohan was following the Blackwolf clan, he was feeling sick.

"You don't seem to like what will happen." A soft manly voice entered his ears. Near him, Deidros had suddenly appeared.

"What do you mean, of course, I love it. I always love to see a rank 1 Beginner Warrior shed the blood of a normal man in front of his family and friends while hundreds of people laughed all around." His tone was sharp, and his sarcasm filled his voice. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Deidros smile weakly.

"The life of the Barren Lands is…"

"Yes it is tough, so let's go vent on the weaker clans. That's what you'll say to excuse it?"

Rohan turned his inquisitive gaze and looked deeply at the son of the chief clan, while his father was still talking and announcing the future fight. Deidros could only widen his eyes at these words and the sight of this man.

It was the first time he saw this young warrior act that way. The eyes of this terrifying man made him gulp down before he took back his countenance.

"No. I wasn't planning to say that, but you are indeed right. It isn't about venting or not, it is about resources. Our clan is one of the most powerful ones in the region. If we wanted to, we could just swipe through them, kill this unknown clan and rob them of everything."

He watched as the two fighters were moving to the center to prepare for their fight.

"But we do not."

"Hahaha." A laugh left the mouth of the young warrior, a joyless one. "And so this clan must be thankful for that, and bow down to you all for this great offer you are doing?"

He was feeling sick and betrayed. It was ridiculous. He had formed interesting bonds with the Blackwolf clan, but seeing this, he felt as if all was a lie.

Barulf was easily found with his large stature, watching with a blank expression.

The children were shouting here and there, following their parents.

Daina was with her spear in her hands, stomping it against the ground.

"Yes. Each clan needs more resources. What we have found inside the forest was indeed great, but on these chaotic lands, there are never enough resources. If the roles were reversed, that would be us shedding our tears while one of us would have to fight. The strong chase the weak, that is the way." He braved the scary eyes and looked deeply at this warrior. "But Rohan, that isn't only the way of the Barren Lands, that is simply the way of the world."

The last sentence made Rohan frown when he heard it. He thought back at the kingdom of Prasthana blocking all ways for his duchy to buy food, at the war that had been schemed in the dark. And at the Old Monster of the Empire destroying them all, simply because he had the power.

Deidros wasn't wrong. And that was what made Rohan feel his blood boil inside his body.

He couldn't even talk back. It was like he said, it was the way of the world. The strong live the way they want, while the weak pray each day to survive.

'One day. One day I will change that.'

He looked at the two fighters at the center. His mind was clearer than ever, his resolver stronger than ever. This world was dirty.. So he will become powerful, and he will clean it of everything.