Between a narrow valley path sandwiched between the walls of two mountains became there was hundred of people standing, facing each other with a strong tiger and elephant presence forming in the air.
Each and Everyone, had a fierce and bantering look at the crowd that was overwhelmed with fear in front of them, coming from both sides.
"Surnok, I have made myself clear. We will not surrender our treasure, and certainly not to the outsider you've brought." Solark clenched his fist tightly as he tried to not let his anger erupt.
He had to stop this fight, as it could possibly destroy his, as for the Marionettes Group Surnok brought they are superior to anyone in the tribe, and he simply don't know if possible to oppose them.
Ahead, stood Surnok a man who skin was also dried up, but instead looking pale it was a black like dried pitch, most of his body was also covered by amour made up of a blue and black stone.
"Solark, do you take me for a fool? Hahaha! Tell me, would we be in this situation if your leader hadn't chosen to suppress our power? We were once the strongest clan in this zone, feared and respected! But now? Your leader cowers like a frightened child."
Followed by the waves of crazed laughter, from Surnok a fierce-looking middle-aged man wearing a black cap walked out from back of the Marionettes Group.
The man had a smirk, his Exo Energy lashing out at him, was strong enough to make Solark wipe his sweat, despite the boost his power before.
Who really are the Marionettes just one member have this kind of power. Even when Solark was back to Argument power, different from most who were in the ashborn clan same as the Obsidian clan.
The man eyes narrowed at Solark and sneered.
"I'm here for a reason… Members of the Marionettes, we—" he paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "I have no interest in massacring this weak clan, so I'll give you one last chance. Hand over the treasure, a few of your people, and all your resources. Do that, and I swear we'll leave without harming another soul."
He raised his hand. A sudden, silent explosion shook the ground, and in the corner of their vision, a massive tree toppled, crashing to the earth before them.
"However," he continued, his voice colder now, "if you still fail to appreciate my kindness…I don't mind, destroyin your clan."
Instantly, low cries of pain resounded the surrounding, everyone who was stood behind, Solark had faces full of anger and fear, some small children cowered in their mothers embrace while trembling, crying out loud.
Some of the elders were trembling out of anger as they continuously raged. "You villainous thieves... will definitely receive retribution."
Solark answered through his clenched teeth. He had to stand his ground, for his clan psst and future. "Surnok, you have no idea what you're about to do by letting this happen. Even if we hand it over, what makes you think the Marionettes won't turn on you next? Without us, you wouldn't have survived this long."
Surnok side eyed, the Marionettes member, he head droped low briefly question it is true. 'He appeared one, day planning to take over out clan but, we disagreed he killed out leader… now why did that happen so easily.'
"Oh ho! Loose lips like yours tend to invite trouble." The Marionettes member laughed, his tone laced with amusement. "Looks like you won't be honest until we spill a little blood. That's fine…we've got all the time in the world to have some fun."
He shot a glance at Surnok before locking eyes with Solark. "Go on, then. Prove you're willing to do what it takes to leave this zone. Kill them… or cripple them. Your call."
Srunok swallowed hard, he glanced up at Solark and the people behind who were terrified then he looked at his people who looked excited, unsure but they were of course willing to do whatever it take to leave this zone part.
"Solark, you shouldn't have agreed to his terms so easily. First, you kill their people, and now… you won't listen. Looks like we have no choice but to do this the hard way."
He sighed, his expression darkening. "You keep bringing up the past, but that very past was what destroyed our alliance… leading to the deaths of your own clan members."
"Don't think that you can hurt our Clan Elder!"
At that same moment, three warriors hopped from behind solark landing, in the center. Immediately, three black round sheild bearers jumped forward landing into a trangiular formation.
They all galred at each other, even when in the past all fought each other for practice they knew what they must do currently to survive. Even, all Baseline of a Exodites power, current evenly match, everyone understood what happening so they kept quiet.
The Asborn Clan warriors held clawed gauntlets lunged first, his padded claws raked against one sheild bearers, as he tried to hook around it.
The shield bearer absorbs the hit and slams forward, forcing the clawed warrior back with sheer force. At the same time, another clawed gauntlet-wielding fighter rushes another shield warrior, his heavy fist crashing into the steel, sending a deep pang echo through the battlefield.
The impact shook the shield-bearer's stance, but he already recovered, twisting his body and driving his own fist into the gauntlet weilding ribs. He quickly escaped the gauntlet warrior, but he retaliated with a swift claw swipe, forcing the shield warrior to raise his guard.
The third Asborn warrior using only his fist weaved between the chaos, ducking beneath a heavy shield swing and delivering a brutal uppercut to one shield-bearer's chin, staggering him.
But before he can press the them, another shield slams into his back like a battering ram, sending him tumbling forward.
He manged to roll, barely avoiding a follow-up stomp, and scrambles to his feet just in time to block a crushing fist aimed at his jaw.
The fight continue forward, where one clawed warrior dogde around a shield strike, slashing at the warrior's exposed arm, drawing blood.
He retaliated immediately, swinging his shield in a arc that catches the clawed fighter in the ribs, lifting him off his feet and sending him crashing into the dirt.
Meanwhile, the gauntlet warrior lands a devastating punch to another shield bearer's shoulder, momentarily throwing off his balance.
Seeing an opportunity, he swung his clawed hand for a finishing blow, only for a shield to crash into his side, sending him sprawling before a savage punch to his temple knocks him flat.
The final warrior, breathing heavily, finds himself surrounded. He raises his fists, defiant, as the shield-bearers tighten their formation. One feints an attack, forcing him to react, while another slams his shield into his knee, forcing him down.
Before he can rise, a final crushing blow from a shield drops him completely, leaving the three shield warriors standing over them.
All the warriors of the asborn clan became, extremely worried at there warriors defeat as in the past both clans couldn't help but compare strenght sometimes matching each other.
But it's different for Solark and Surnok there knew how all, there past fight where so some even sighed of relief but some other spoke of thing can change today.
Solark's glare swept over the crowed, his voice was a low growl. "Surnok… you're really going to force my hand?" He muttered softly but it was heard by him that he stood at the ready.
As he finished speaking, he leaped into the air, his fist aim straight at the ground at the three sheild warriors who sheild rose trying to block however when Solark fist landed what was heard was constant loud screams and large dust cloud in the air.
When it was cleared, Solark stood in the center, a large hole in the ground and three sheild warriors away unconscious around him.
Solark head jerked up to Surnok, glaring straight at him, he took off his large wooden reinforced metal club off his back, and Surnok, also ready himself taking a metal round sheild off his back and a long deadly spear. Their muscles tensed as they locked eyes, their very presence radiating power capable of leveling trees.
"You know the truth, Surnok. You've never beaten me, and you never will."
Surnok raised his head high, his tone firm. "Solark, those are just memories now. The truth remains—we've always been the shield against raw power."
With a roar, Solark charged first, swinging his club in a arc. The air itself seemed to split from the force, but Surnok raised his shield, bracing his legs just in time.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, cracking on the earth beneath him. He gritted his teeth, absorbing the blow before twisting to the side and thrusting his spear toward Solark ribs. He had barely evaded, stepping back just as the spear tip sliced through the air, grazing his side.
Not giving Solark time to recover, Surnok lunged again, slamming his shield forward. The impact drove him backward, his boots skidding against the dirt.
Solark roared as he swung his club low, aiming for Surnok legs. He leaped back, dodging at the last moment as the club smashed into the ground, creating a deep crater where he had stood.
"Solark, it's your cursed clan that's been dragging us down. If not for that, we'd be so much further along!"
"Well, it's also my clan's curse that you've been alive this long," Solark sneered. "And yet, it won't be enough for you to pose any real challenge against me."
Surnok roared, in frustration they both moved in a blur of speed and brute force, Solark, using sheer strength, launched another overhead strike. Surnok lifted his shield to block, but the sheer power sent him flying backward.
He crashed into a massive tree with enough force to shake the entire trunk, sending leaves and branches raining down. He barely had time to breathe before Solark's rushed in, his club raised high.
Thinking fast, Surnok kicked off the tree, using its sturdy base to propel himself to the side just as Solark club came crashing down. The impact shattered the tree trunk, sending splinters flying like shrapnel.
Surnok didn't waste the opportunity, grabbing the broken top half of the tree, he spun and hurled it toward Solark like a battering ram.
He roared, smashing the airborne tree aside with a single swing, but the momentary distraction gave Surnok the opening he needed.
He dashed in, his spear a blur, striking at Sun's exposed flank. The strike connected, sending Solark staggering, but he caught himself and countered with a wild swing of his club. Surnok ducked, narrowly avoiding the attack before slamming his shield into Solark's chest.
Solark grinned, unfazed. He suddenly grabbed Surnok mid-motion, lifting him effortlessly into the air. Before he could react, Solark arched his back and suplexed him straight into a jagged rock formation, the sheer force obliterating the boulder on impact. The ground trembled, dust and debris clouding the air.
For a moment, all was silent. Then, from the rubble, Surnok pushed himself up, blood trailing from his forehead but his eyes burning with defiance. Solark smirked, gripping his club tightly, preparing for another strike.
Surnok thanks to there warriors, being a Aegis Ward sheild there body is already stronger than most Vertex Lancer stenght and other types of warriors.
It's at that moment Solark club came crashing down. The impact was thunderous surk was driven back several meters, his feet digging deep trenches in the earth as he absorbed the force. The collision created a gust of wind that sent dust and rocks flying.
When the dust cleard, the two stood apart, their breathing heavy. Neither had fallen. Neither had yielded.
The battlefield was in ruins around them, trees shattered, rocks broken. They locked eyes once more, their weapons at the ready, the fight far from over.