Chapter 147: Gizzle

The Blue Mist Tribe continued its expansion. It was an expansion unprecedented in the history of the tribe.

In tribal wars, even with repeated victories, casualties were bound to accumulate. A tribal warrior was not only a fighter but also a hunter and a member of the society. As casualties mount, the social foundation becomes unstable. Unlike the civilized world where life and combat were separate things, the number of warriors was not just a measure of combat strength but also the foundation of tribal society.

The Blue Mist Tribe adopted tactics from the civilized world to minimize their war casualties. The battle formation was not only for victory in battle but also excellent for preserving their forces.

Urich continued to participate in the wars of the Blue Mist Tribe. Samikan freed the hostages of the Stone Axe Tribe according to Urich's achievements.

"Urich, this time it's twenty."

Samikan laughed, satisfied with Urich's accomplishments.

"Add ten more on top of that. Vald fought too."

Urich argued, wiping off the blood off his face. Samikan raised his hand, granting his wish and freeing more Stone Axe tribespeople.

'I should stop sending Urich into battle now.'

The number of hostages Urich had freed so far was getting close to a hundred. It was a significant number. Freeing more would make it hard to control the Stone Axe Tribe.

'If only I could get Urich to serve under my command.'

Samikan coveted Urich. His combat skills were outstanding, and his occasional displays of sharp intellect were extraordinary. Having a subordinate like Urich would make expansion much easier. Entrusting an army to Urich could allow for expansion on two fronts.

'I don't have anyone else under me to entrust with command.'

Noah Arten was an outsider on top of missing a leg. The warriors wouldn't listen to Noah's orders.

'Soon, we'll have to prepare for a clash with the Red Sand Tribe. Our territories are starting to overlap.'

Stone Axe and Red Sand were allies. For Samikan, they were a troublesome force. Although they were wounded, the Stone Axe was still a beast with fangs.

'It's troublesome. I should have completely dealt with Stone Axe first before striking Red Sand...'

Moreover, if Urich rejoins his tribe, gaining the upper hand with tactics from beyond the mountains becomes blurred.

'Urich needs to stay under me. If that can’t be, then he must be killed.'

Urich the Ironclad had earned the respect of the Blue Mist warriors. No warrior could resist admiring his bravery of always leading the line and crushing the enemies. The enemies trembled and retreated in fear of Urich's might.

'Such a warrior is too good for Gizzle to waste. Gizzle couldn't use such a warrior properly and lost to us.'

Samikan thought deeply. He wanted to leave the name Samikan in the plains and wastelands. As time passes, the body decays back to earth, and only the soul ascends to the heavenly mountains.

'Leaving my fame, my name immortalized is the only way to mark myself into the history of this era.'

Samikan didn't want to fade away meaninglessly.

* * *

The reconstruction of the Stone Axe Tribe was somewhat complete. They had as many tents as the number of families in the tribe and enough food stored to last for a while. It was a relief that the dry season hadn't yet arrived. Furthermore, the Red Sand Tribe, which Urich had brought into alliance, did not hold back in providing various forms of support.

'Red Sand Tribe is also wary of the expansion of Blue Mist. They've realized they need an ally like Stone Axe.'

Gizzle didn't refuse Red Sand's help. Swallowing his pride, he secured everything he could. As a result, they were able to stockpile as many weapons as they had lost to Blue Mist.

'We are sharpening our claws again, Samikan.'

Gizzle bore the humiliation, vowing revenge.

"The women who were captured have returned!"

An uproar ensued outside.

"Listen up. These women were saved by Urich. It's a debt paid in his blood."

Vald, who brought the women, emphasized several times that it was Urich who had saved the woman of the Stone Axe.

"Pass my gratitude to Urich, Vald. For saving my daughter."

The warriors bowed their heads upon seeing their returned daughters and wives. The Stone Axe tribespeople looked favorably upon Urich. Anyone who spoke of Urich being cursed for breaking a taboo ended up being scolded.

It was Urich who had secured the alliance with the Red Sand Tribe and returned the hostages. He was doing everything that a tribal chief should do.

Gizzle stepped out of his tent. The tribespeople's eyes turned to him.

"Looks like Urich is well-received and trusted by Samikan. How is he enjoying the special treatment?"

Vald glared at Gizzle's sarcasm.

"At least he's getting the respect he deserves for his abilities. Unlike when he was under a certain someone."

"So, he's wagging his tail under our greatest enemies. He must’ve bowed down to the ground in front of Samikan after standing tall before me."

"Watch what you say about Urich, Gizzle," Vald warned.

"And you shouldn't speak to me like that! I'm the chief, Vald!"

"A defeated chief, that is."

"Y-you..."

Gizzle's face turned red with anger. The tribespeople murmured, witnessing their chief being insulted by Vald, who was a mere warrior. In the past, Vald would have been punished for such disrespect.

Kirungka stepped in between them. He patted Gizzle's shoulder.

"Gizzle, I need to talk to you. Give me a moment of your time."

Kirungka intended to take Gizzle away before he caused any more trouble. Losing what little respect the tribe still had left for him would certainly be the end for him.

"You better be gone back to Samikan and that great Urich by the time I’m back, Vald!"

Gizzle pointed at Vald and stormed into his tent. Vald shrugged and waved to the surrounding tribespeople.

Crash!

As soon as Gizzle entered his tent, he kicked the hearth. Ashes spilled onto the floor.

"Dammit, that goddamn bastard insulted me."

"Calm down, Gizzle."

"Do I look like I can calm down to you? Until recently, that man was as good as dead, and now he's jumping around as if he's got the chance of a lifetime! Our tribe is in crisis, and Urich and Vald are celebrating like they've seized an opportunity! Those bastards!"

"Urich freeing the women is something we should be grateful for. It has lifted the spirits of the warriors."

Kirungka spoke the truth. He didn't like Urich either, but it was a fact that Urich had contributed a lot to the tribe. Excluding Urich thus far had been a mistake on the part of Gizzle and Kirungka, and Kirungka acknowledged his error.

"Even you're provoking me now. If you like Urich so much, why don't you go and stick with him?"

"You know that I didn't mean it that way. Snap out of it! Do you really want to be ousted as chief?"

"Ousted? I'm the chief! Who would dare oust me?"

"The warriors and shamans, probably. The chief is just a representative who's been delegated authority by everyone. There's been talk going around about Urich. What if he had been the chief... that's what people are saying."

Gizzle slumped into a chair. He covered his face, his shoulders shaking.

“Goddammit, I’m the one who’s been protecting the Stone Axe Tribe until now. Not Urich, but my father and me. Now that he's done a bit well, everyone's turning their backs on me? How is that fair? A man who irresponsibly abandoned the tribe?"

"What you’re saying is all right. People have forgotten about all the hard work you’ve done for them. But that's the reality. The one doing what the tribe needs right now is Urich."

Kirungka bitterly grinned. He had no intention of just saying what Gizzle wanted to hear. If Gizzle continued to act foolishly, he was sure to be ousted from his position as chief.

'You have to face and overcome the reality, Gizzle.'

Kirungka had seen firsthand that Urich was a remarkable warrior. He was gutsy and bold. On top of that, he was smart and capable. Urich lacked nothing to be a chief.

"You’re right, Kirungka... If Vald is still outside, feed him well before sending him off. Vald has worked hard. He deserves to be treated well for his work."

"We made a mistake, but it's not over yet. You're still the pillar of the Stone Axe. You will rise magnificently again."

With those words, Kirungka left the tent.

Creak.

Gizzle was left alone in the tent.

'Urich.'

Gizzle, born the son of a chief, had been tormented by the existence of Urich his entire life. No matter how hard Gizzle tried, the monster named Urich achieved more by the very next morning. The adults around them called it a competition, but for Gizzle, it was overwhelming just to act similar to Urich.

'Why did you come back?'

Gizzle stumbled as he wrapped himself in a fur cloak. He grabbed his hunting gear and preserved food.

"Kirungka, I'll be away for a bit."

Gizzle called Kirungka again to let him know of his departure, then left the village. He walked through the plains and entered the forest.

"Oh? If it isn’t our chief! What brings you here?"

The old woman was in the forest. She was the shaman of the Stone Axe Tribe.

'I didn't really mean to come here... I just walked mindlessly and ended up at the shaman's hut.'

Gizzle stared at the old woman. Holding a basket of herbs, she cackled with her black teeth showing.

‘This old hag is close to Urich.'

Gizzle disliked the old woman. He thought of her as a survivor who should have died long ago.

'She's always praised Urich, calling him the warrior of light, or something.'

No one knew the old woman's name. She was probably the eldest in the Stone Axe Tribe. Everyone just called her the old forest shaman.

"I came to hunt."

"All by yourself?"

"That's none of your business."

As Gizzle spoke, the old woman chuckled mysteriously.

"If you manage to catch a rabbit, I'll cook a delicious soup for you. It's been a long time since I've eaten meat after Urich just randomly took off."

Gizzle scowled but obediently went hunting. He hadn't gone far into the forest before he caught two rabbits. He was exceptional with the bow.

'Well, I did train every day not to lose to Urich.'

A hunting competition with Urich was almost torture for Gizzle. Even if he succeeded in hunting, the next day Urich would return with an even bigger game. Thanks to Urich, every day was misery for Gizzle.

"Good, you're back! Put the meat in the pot, chief!"

The old woman excitedly said, happy to eat meat after a long time.

"Hmm."

Gizzle frowned at the color of the soup. It was swampy and emitted a subtle plant odor and stench.

"What are you doing? Hurry up and put the meat in! It's delicious. Urich loved my rabbit soup, too. He was crazy about it."

Gizzle hesitated to put the meat in the pot after seeing and smelling it.

Tap!

The old woman slapped Gizzle's wrist with a ladle, and the meat fell into the pot.

'My precious meat...'

The old woman scooped the muddy soup into a wooden bowl and served it. Gizzle grimaced as he drank the broth.

"Hehe, I told you it’s delicious."

The old woman gnawed on a rabbit drumstick with her dingy nails, which were tainted with grime underneath them.

"I guess I did manage to torture Urich, in a way."

Gizzle forced himself to finish the bowl, feeling nauseated. It was like eating vegetables mixed with mud. Even the savory taste of the meat was lost in the earthy and planty smell.

"Urich, yes, Urich. The son of the plains..."

The old woman mumbled, her eyes half-closed.

'Damn shaman.'

Gizzle finally recognized the smell in the soup. His vision blurred. The soup was undoubtedly filled with hallucinogens.

"Yuck."

Gizzle stuck his fingers in his mouth to vomit what he ate. He glared at the old woman, annoyed. She was already in her own world, paying no attention to Gizzle.

"Urich was never cursed. He was born from the land and returned after being blessed by the heavens."

The old woman sorted the rabbit bones and cast them. She laid the bones in a line on the ground.

"He broke the taboo."

"It doesn't matter, Urich is a great warrior. Great warriors are not bound by taboos. Keke."

Gizzle grabbed the old woman's collar. She just laughed, her breath reeking of the aged stench.

"If Urich is a great warrior..., then what am I, the son of Stezo? Why did I become chief?"

Gizzle's eyes welled up. He released the old woman's collar.

"That you would have to ask the heavens, chief."

The old woman pointed upward.