The sun had already set, and the surroundings of the death arena were illuminated by torches, as bright as day.
I picked up the bone hunting knife from the table and walked out of the small resting room step by step.
Gui Du Si did the same. We both walked to a distance of five meters from each other and stood still, sizing each other up.
Five meters was nothing for our non-human physiques, a blink of an eye. Therefore, while my expression was calm, the muscles beneath my leather armor were already tense, ready to spring forward like a cannonball at any moment.
Taking this opportunity, I got my first good look at Gui Du Si.
Gui Du Si was a head taller than me. I estimated his height visually to be around two meters.
His eyes were indifferent, his face was square, and a conspicuous scratch ran across his nose bridge.
He had a broad back and a strong physique, appearing like a beast in human skin, ready to tear someone apart at any moment.
Such a physique was deadly. To me, he was far more formidable than any muscular man, a natural killing machine!
He took two more steps forward, meeting my gaze under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
I secretly raised my guard and quickly scanned Gui Du Si's hands.
At a glance, I could only sigh. Ada had spoken the truth; Gui Du Si was the strongest warrior of the Du'an tribe.
His hands were like palm fans, each finger thick and uniformly sized, like small pillars.
Furthermore, the knuckles of his hands were flat, with four lump-like nodes on top, and the edges of his palms were hardened with calluses.
It was clear that without extensive hunting and practice, such hands were impossible to achieve.
With talent and hard work, such a monster could easily win a world championship in the UFC.
"All tribesmen of the Du'an tribe, may the Shepherd God bless us! We are all here to witness a glorious death match!"
The voice was high-pitched and clear, tinged with a hint of pathological fervor.
I took a few steps back and turned my head. On the raised platform to our left were two stone chairs, occupied by the Great Priest and Hu Tu.
Seeing me look over, Hu Tu even gave me a slight nod.
In front of them stood a shaman wearing a bizarre bird mask.
The voice from earlier had come from him.
"Good!"
The Du'an tribesmen seated on the round platform erupted in astonishing cheers.
I clearly saw no discomfort on anyone's face; instead, they were exceptionally excited, as if a long-awaited banquet had finally begun.
Gui Du Si's and my life and death were of no importance to the Du'an tribesmen. Perhaps, in their eyes, this was merely a bloody performance.
"Now, according to the rules of the death match, both parties may choose to forfeit."
"The fortunate one blessed by the Shepherd God, one of the Du'an tribe's strongest warriors, Gui Du Si!"
"Do you choose to forfeit?!"
The shaman, wearing the bird mask, seeing the enthusiastic atmosphere, began to perform a strange dance. When the dance ended, he loudly questioned Gui Du Si.
"I do not forfeit."
Gui Du Si bowed slightly towards the Great Priest, his face full of piety. One would think he was about to perform some good deed.
"Then, Ada's savior, the one who annihilated those cowards from the land of the forsaken, Ba Du, your bravery needs no further proof!"
"Now, tell me, do you wish to continue the death match!"
What kind of descriptors are these!
I distinctly heard a strong mocking tone in the shaman's words. If I weren't in a death match, I would have gone up and slapped him twice.
I took a deep breath and was about to answer the shaman when I heard Gui Du Si clear his throat and speak,
"Ba Du, I permit you to forfeit. However, you must leave your left eye, left hand, and left leg."
"Think carefully, I will only give you one chance."
Gui Du Si's tone was relaxed, as if he were discussing an ordinary matter.
I could guess Gui Du Si's thoughts. Before the death match had even begun, he had already deemed himself the ultimate victor in his mind, and this was a magnanimous offer from a victor.
His words were nothing but disdain for me.
As soon as Gui Du Si finished speaking, his words, carried by the unique terrain of the arena, reached everyone's ears. The Du'an tribesmen, gathered to spectate, began to murmur.
"Gui Du Si is truly merciful today. It's the first time I've seen him backtrack."
"I say Ba Du should agree. Gui Du Si alone can fight several warriors. Ba Du is no match for him."
"Just wait and see Ba Du beg for mercy, crying to his parents!"
The voices of the surrounding Du'an tribesmen's discussions flooded into my mind, making me inexplicably agitated.
"Have you considered it?"
Gui Du Si's infuriating demeanor made me want to kick him in the face.
"Damn it..."
"What?"
"Go to hell!"
I knew that Gui Du Si had never intended to forfeit from the start. The reason he said those things earlier was purely a psychological tactic to disrupt my rhythm.
However, when it came to psychological warfare, I, having grown up in the era of information explosion, was Gui Du Si's ancestor!