Chapter 737 - Their Sacred Duel, Pefiles and Artiles Last Fight (1/2)

Day 154 - 9:39 PM - Tamawo Ancestral Tribe, Municipality of Badian, Province of Cebu

The Ancestral Trees at the center of the realm of Tamawos were quite old. It had been there even before their race was created by the Visayan Goddess of the Sea, Maguayan. Their appearance was close to Acacia Trees but grew in a cl.u.s.ter similar to a Birch Tree. The bark was as hard stone, and the wood was as hard as steel. Spears and arrowheads that the Tamawos used were mainly made from their peeled-off bark.

While the Ancestral Trees were not Spirit Trees, it was blessed to have the ability to choose the shamans of the tribe. Those shamans were the only ones capable of moving the trees that created the Castle with the trunks and the Dungeons with the roots.

But even with the manipulation of the shamans, the process was not easy because of the trees' hardness. While moving the small roots was easier, controlling the other parts was done slowly.

And yet, Pefile was here, holding the roots of the Ancestral Tree. He was controlling the gigantic branches of the tree as if it was an extension of his hands.

Those stone-like bark and metal-like wood...

They were all moving like elastic rubber wh.i.p.s as they displayed their hardness to smash the Tamawo Warriors into pieces.

The symbol of the Royal Family of their tribe was being used to kill their own people.

Such a scene was something everyone deemed impossible. Even the shaman in all their history was incapable of doing such feat.

At this moment, some of them could not help but think that Pefile was doing a miracle of a god.

”STOP HIM!”

Artile roared as he slowly retreated back.

The current king was confident that he could eliminate the only obstacle left in his life this time around.

With his loyal warriors, they surrounded the only place where Pefile could escape.

He managed to use their Ancestral Scepter and used the dead bodies to create wood golems. These undying minions should be enough to capture Pefile for their final showdown.

In there was no need to say anything about the warriors. Even the supposedly undying wood golems would stop moving after being smashed to pieces.

The worst thing, there were no dead bodies left to create more wood golems as every single warrior that died was literally turned into clumps of meat paste.

Nonetheless, at the command of their king and to avenge the deaths of their comrade, the warriors attacked. Because of Berrak's magical barrier blocking the arrows, the only thing they could do was to charge forward. They roared with bravery with their spears pointed towards their opponent.

They were not afraid to throw away their lives. Dying in battle was more feasible to them than losing their lives from the curse of their race.

These warriors charged, evading the branches smashing towards them from above. Some got hit and died, but many of them survived, still charged towards Pefile.

Unfortunately for these brave warriors, Pefile had no d.e.s.i.r.e to hold back. If the pair of thick branches above was not enough, then just make more.

This afternoon when Mark arrived to brief them of the plan. Pefile said that his new ability felt like he gained new limbs. It felt natural, yet not.

Later on, after telling them the plan, Mark told Pefile that his [Blood Wh.i.p.s] had a similar sensation. And since Pefile had just acquired it, the ability would feel strange.

It was not surprising. Even Pefile's race only had four limbs. Suddenly getting new limbs would feel awkward, strange, and uncomfortable.

That was why it was better not to treat them as new limbs at the start. Instead, it should be like holding a controller while playing a video game, align the actions of the ability to the movements of his hands and fingers.

Mark's advice sounded absurd. However, it did give Pefile a sudden breakthrough.

From a single wooden whip that he could control, it turned into eight ”limbs” soon after. Unfortunately, the size varied. He could not turn all into similar sizes if he wanted all to become larger. Two ”limbs” could grow big like the two thick branches, but the rest remained as thick as wh.i.p.s.

That was why while the Tamawo Warriors were charging at Pefile, three pairs of pointed roots shot out of the ground. The Tamawos in front immediately died with their hearts impaled.

Moreover, Pefile would not let them turn into Artile's golems as he used the [Root Wh.i.p.s] to tear the dead bodies into pieces.

Pefile's brutal act made some of the Tamawos waver. The ones most affected by the gruesome death of their comrades were the younger Tamawos. They began to hesitate on advancing against Pefile's brutal attacks.

Moreover, the smashing of the thick branches of the Ancestral Tree did not only affect the warriors. The heavy attacks also damaged the surroundings, causing other trees and structures nearby to collapse.

And the worst case. Since the castle was made of the Ancestral Tree itself, its unprecedented movements caused parts of the structure to be destroyed. Even the dungeon underneath began to collapse.

”PEFILE! ARE YOU TRYING TO DESTROY OUR TRIBE?!!!”

Artile roared, witnessing the collapse of his royal abode.

The destruction of the castle was not something that would be repaired shortly. It would take ages for the shaman to return it to its previous state.

But to Artile's question, Pefile stared with contempt.

”Our tribe, you say. Are you surely saying that? I already cut off my ties from this place. If not for Celine, there is no reason for me to return here. You should remember that you're the one who intruded in our life. If I destroyed this place, it's all your fault.”

”You!!!”

Artille was at a loss for words. Whether he would accept it or not, it was true. Everyone present also knew that.

Nonetheless, Pefile already said his intention. He did not care if this tribe was destroyed. It was something that they would not let happen, even at the price of sacrificing their lives.

”HA!”

This time, someone attacked Pefile. The Tamawo threw away his bow and grabbed a spear. He then charged. Dancing away from Pefile's attacks, the Tamawo closed in swiftly.

CLANG!

The spear and a pair of wh.i.p.s clashed against each other. Pefile stared at the Warrior, and the Warrior also stared at Pefile.

”Urille.”

Pefile called the Tamawo's name.

”I'm sorry, Pefile. I know that the tribe did you badly, but I can't just let you destroy it.”

The warrior, Urille, replied.

Urille was someone that both Pefile and Artile knew since their childhood. Among the Tamawos of this generation, he was considered to be the most talented warrior. He was too talented that even Artile kept him around even if Urille's father was already exiled for being loyal to Pefile.

CLANG!

Pefile controlled another root to attack Urille but the latter dodged.

”I can't believe that you're still working under Artile. You're even risking your life.”

”I'm just doing my best. I want my father to receive a pardon and return from being exiled from the tribe”.

Urille replied with a serious expression.

However, those words made Pefile sigh.

”Oi, Artile,” Pefile called out with a frown. ”Are you really going to honor that promise? Is there a point in giving a dead person a pardon?”

Those words caused Urille's heart to be enveloped in turmoil.

”W-what are you saying?!”

Urille questioned Pefile.

However, instead of explaining, Pefile replied.