The moment these words were spoken, the previously boisterous entrance fell into deathly silence.
The Ghost Commander wants to fight me to the death?
Earlier, when I was chatting with Ada, he told me about a tradition passed down from ancient times in the Du'an tribe.
A death match!
The Du'an tribe does not permit private killings among its members, but a death match is an exception.
A death match, until one party dies!
Under the witness of all the tribesmen, both sides would settle their differences and decide life and death. Regardless of who won or lost, the other party was not allowed to seek revenge. It was the most extreme way for the Du'an tribe to resolve personal conflicts.
"Ghost Commander, have you thought this through?"
Hu Tu's eyes were complicated, and it seemed he did not wish for the Ghost Commander to engage in a death match with me.
"No matter what, my brother Gui Lichì died at Batau's hands. The chieftain has already made his decision. Please allow me to have a death match with Batau!"
"Batau, what about you?"
I didn't care if the Ghost Commander was overconfident in his martial prowess and wanted revenge for Gui Lichì, or if he had the suggestion of the Great Shaman. Since he had come looking for me, everything would be decided by strength!
"Great King, since the Ghost Commander wants a death match, let it be so."
With things having reached this point, neither the Ghost Commander nor I had any way back. It was either he dies or I die!
The Ghost Commander rose from the ground and turned to look at me.
"Batau, I won't bully you. I'll let you rest until tonight. Remember to eat well, and then I will personally cut off your head to pay respects to my brother."
His face was indifferent. I was familiar with this expression; it was the same look I had when facing someone I knew was going to die.
"You should clean yourself up and find someone to collect your corpse. Don't end up like your brother, whose corpse was gnawed by wild beasts, with not even a complete body!"
"You...!"
My words instantly broke through the Ghost Commander's composure. His eyes turned blood red, and his fists clenched tightly.
After a few seconds, he let out a sigh and looked at me with a cold smile.
"I hope your fists are as strong as your mouth when the time comes."
The Ghost Commander left without looking back.
Unfortunately, I couldn't provoke the Ghost Commander into attacking me on the spot.
I felt a bit regretful. The death match between the Ghost Commander and me had begun the moment I agreed to it.
Trash talk was the best way to disrupt an opponent's mindset, especially in a life-or-death competition like this.
Now that Da Zhi was still unconscious and identification was impossible, both Hu Tu and the Great Shaman left after the Ghost Commander departed.
In the morning, I had only eaten a little. It was fine during the confrontation, but once I relaxed, my stomach started rumbling.
"Let's go, I'll get you something to eat and replenish your strength."
Ada dismissed the other warriors who had returned with us, put an arm around my shoulder, and led me towards where we had eaten before.
"Batau, the Ghost Commander looks young, but he can be considered the strongest warrior in the Du'an tribe right now. Even I don't have much chance of winning against him."
Ada spoke with worry in his voice as he grilled food.
I knew the Ghost Commander was a formidable enemy. However, when two brave warriors meet on a narrow road, the braver one wins. Rather than constantly guarding against his sneak attacks, it was better to cut the gordian knot and, at the same time, demonstrate my own value.
"Brother Ada, are you very familiar with the Ghost Commander? Does he have any weaknesses?"
Although I didn't fear the Ghost Commander, knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory. I still needed to understand him.
"The Ghost Commander is much more straightforward than his cunning and sly brother. The last time I fought him was two years ago."
"Even back then, his physique was terrifyingly strong, and his grasp of timing was incredibly precise. I defeated him then by relying on my extensive combat experience. Now, he will be even more formidable."
Ada's face showed a look of wistful emotion, a sense of the new generation surpassing the old.
As he handed me a skewer of grilled meat, he continued.
"Moreover, he is a favored one blessed by the Shepherd God!"
Ada's words instantly piqued my interest.
"So he possesses special abilities?"
Ada fell into reminiscence, his face filled with longing.
"The Shepherd God particularly admires the bravest and strongest warriors. Every generation, the strongest among them usually becomes the Shepherd God's favorite. Sacred markings are tattooed on their bodies, allowing them to borrow the Shepherd God's power to enhance themselves when necessary."
Ada's words gave me a strange sense of déjà vu, as if I had encountered something similar before.
Suddenly, a flash of insight struck me. Damn it, isn't this like a Saiyan transformation!
"No one has ever seen what the Ghost Commander looks like after borrowing divine power, perhaps only the Great Shaman, who is closest to the Shepherd God, knows."
Ada also told me various trivial habits of the Ghost Commander. However, overall, this guy was simply the most monstrous person I had met since arriving on this island. He could be described as a six-sided warrior with no weaknesses.
After eating with Ada, I went back to sleep. In the blink of an eye, the sun had set.
The death match was about to begin...