Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Berirock shouted from within the plaza. He was one of the most loyal subordinates of the orc king and never questioned his faith. Seeing that it was nothing but a plot to besmirch the image of the orc king and not the truth, of course he was happy.

"GUGUGU… it's a pity, you were so close to revealing the truth. However, it seems like I had won in the end. Ah, it is all thanks to you, if not for you bringing that human so close to me, it wouldn't have gone this smoothly" Belgarious smiled and whispered in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

"You!?... you were the one who killed him?" Berigard asked gritting his teeth in hatred.

"GUGAGA… I don't understand your confusion. Did you really think I would sit back and allow you to reveal the truth in front of everybody? Of course, I killed that man before he utter anything relevant. of course, you played a huge part by bringing that human this close to me for the seal to work. You did a good job playing into my hands".

Mockery, ridicule and derision, the orc king's tone had no shortage of it.

Berigard's body shook in anger, hatred and self-loathing. He was this close to rallying the entire tribe against the orc king but now all his hopes and efforts have been shattered into nothing.

No, it was not like everything was over, there was still the last resort available to them and that was to start a war. Berigard took a deep breath to compose his emotions and turned towards the direction where his army was.

Although this method would severely cut their own strength marginally and make them vulnerable to the other tribes that are eyeing them, there was no other choice.

Before focusing on the threat outside, they must first cut down the tumour that has been plaguing them and make them rot from the inside.

<strong> ROARRRR…</strong>

With a rallying roar, Berigard summoned his staff and raised it up. Immediately, the thirty five thousand strong army raised their weapons and roared in symphony.

Their actions cannot be any more clear to everyone.

"Everyone, it seems like I have failed to convince you all. Since that is case, I have no choice but to use a more forceful way. I hope you would understand and step back, our only goal is to overthrow Belgarious and not to hurt everybody. I hope you all will understand".

Even though Berigard knew that the orcs in the plaza were loyal to the orc king and wouldn't just sit still while he takes the orc king's head, he still had to put his words out there.

"GUGAGA… so it finally came to this. I must say I'm disappointed Berigard. You are an individual I would have liked to keep as my subordinate; however, it's a pity that you are trying to go against me. Be as it may, there has never been a good ending for anyone that tried to be my enemy" The orc king unfazed by the army brought by Berigard stated lazily.

"My fellow orcs, general Berigard has betrayed our clan. As the honourable tribe members of the Diluvian High Orcs, I want you all to stop the army with me". With the orc King's words, the orcs in the plaza immediately readied themselves to face the army of orcs.

The orcs in the plaza numbered only around ten thousand, there was no way they would be able to stop Berigard's army. However, the orc king had another card up his sleeves.

He had long seen through Beirgard's intention to revolt and had set appropriate measures for it. When he glanced in Berirock's direction, the latter getting the clue took out a long horn and blew on it.

<strong>HOOOONGGGG…</strong> a deep sound rang out across the plaza and a couple of seconds later from within the underground chamber, came the rumbling sound.

Another army of orcs that was more than double the size of Berigard's army and fully decked out in their gears surfaced from the underground chamber.

Looking at this army that was more than seventy thousand strong, Berigard arched his brows in a frown. He didn't expect the orc king to be ready with an army of his own in preparation for their revolt.

Now on top of facing the orc king, an orc general, and a couple of orc commanders, they would also have to deal with his own tribe members.

Be as it may, there was no turning around from here on. From the moment they had decided to go forward with their plan, they were ready for all sorts of conclusion.

"Bellock, Belmarch, Belsea—I leave the army to you" Right after saying that, Berigard pointed his staff at the Orc King "South General Berigard demands a duel with the orc King Belgarious".

A duel was something that the tribe of orcs viewed as something sacred, it was initiated during certain events by other orcs to climb the ranks.

For the orcs, it was a like a kind of promotion exam and also a deterrent for those orcs who overestimates themselves. In the Dilvuain High orc tribe, one can only become an orc captain or an orc commander by defeating the one that occupy that spot.

If they are powerful enough to wind the duel, they would be able to get that seat. If not, they would be thrashed and be reduced to a laughing stock by their own peers.

Most often than not, the seats remain unchanged which shows how powerful the individuals sitting in those positions are. High ranks like the orc general hardly ever see any change unless a truly exceptional orc emerges out from within the tribe but in other cases, it remains unchanged.

As for the orc king, only a few individuals have been able to claim this position from the beginning of their tribe. It wasn't a position that one duels for but gets elected after being chosen by the previous orc king or gets the approval of the sacred spirit that resides inside the gigantic bones lying within the underground chamber.

Belgarious was someone who was selected by the previous orc king to lead them. And according to their history, every orc king that has been chosen has led their tribe to prosperity.

What Berigard couldn't understand was how an individual like Belgarious was chosen by the previous orc king as the selected candidate was unfit to be a king.

Today would be the first time in the long history of their diluvian High orcs history that anybody has challenged the orc king in a duel, a notion that was inconceivable to others.

"GUGAGA… a duel you say? Leaving behind the fact that you are still far from being his majesty's opponent, you are not in any position to request a duel with the orc king. I Berirock shall entertain you in the orc king's place" Berirock butted in after breaking away from two of Berigard's commanders.

However, before he could jump in between, he was stopped by Belgarious himself "Berirock stay put. You will be incharge of our army, make sure that our losses are minimal. Even if they are siding with the traitor, they are our fellow tribe members in the end so allow those that are willing to surrender, live".

'Even after being slandered like that, the orc king is still thinking about his tribe' The benevolent words of the orc king touched the orc general and the orc army. They were once again convinced that their king had never betrayed them and this was all just a craftily spun plot by Berigard to sow discord within them.

Having manipulated the minds of the masses once again, Belgarious flashed a sly smile. He then turned towards the other general who had been sitting on his seat quietly from the start with a gaze that seemed to be asking on which side he was on.

Berimond looked at Berigard and then at the orc King before making his stance clear.

"As I have said before, I have no plans on siding myself with either of the party. No matter what the outcome we arrive at today, I don't plan to get involved as long as we are not attacked by a foreign race".

Convinced by that answer, Belgarious didn't bother Berimond anymore and landed his gaze on his enemy.

"Since you want a duel, I will give you one, but do you really think you can beat me? GUGUGU... since you refuse to bend your knees, I will make sure to show you hell and kill every last subordinate of yours until you do so".

<strong>BOOOM…</strong> the taunt was successful, Berigard was instantly enraged when his subordinates were pulled in between and thus responded by conjuring a fierce gale that quickly materialised itslef into a hand and slammed towards the orc king.

Belgarious knowing that he cannot underestimate his opponent's magic, responded by quickly dodging to the side and countering by enveloping his armour and weapons with his dense mana.

A dark blue shine started coming off from the orc king's weapon which was then hurled towards Berigard's direction.

The weapon further powered by a layer of mana sped towards the orc general at an unimaginable speed and managed to easily topple numerous earthen walls and guards that he put up.

<strong>BANG…</strong> the power of a level 563 orc king was clearly demonstrated, the weapon even after destroying all the defences that Berigard put up, did not show signs of slowing down and rammed through the orc general or so should be the case.

However, a red aura powerful enough to materialise itself suddenly appeared around Berigard like an armour and deflected the weapon away.