Deacon''s POV


    I stood at the side of thebat area, keeping my eyes open in anticipation of Elena''s n to teach those arrogant warriors a lesson.


    They weren''t new warriors, so I couldn''t understand how they could be so indisciplined and reckless with their words. Was the camaraderie on the battlefield no longer existing, or was it the training of those in the South that had been molded with envy and doubts that they could easily be manipted to judge their fellow warriors without basis?


    "Show me what you got."


    A smirk immediately formed on my lips when I heard Elena confidently calling out Gail to attack. She didn''t even walk around to calcte her opponent''s movement; she just stood there waiting for him to make the first move.


    And to everyone''s surprise, as much as my own, she knocked him down in a single but expertly executed move.


    I couldn''t help but raise my hand and p amidst the loud sound of cheers,


    gasps, and murmurs of surprise among the bystander warriors. Some of me even surged with the hope that maybe someday I could duel with her and see her actual capabilities - a battle without her holding back her strength.


    Pride beamed within me, and I couldn''t wait to stand beside her and scold those who even doubted her for a second.


    But just as I was about to take a step forward, Glenda started causing chaos, which instantly boiled my blood.


    "I intend to. I''ll crush you so hard you wish you didn''te here, Elena," Glenda said, moving into a fighting


    stance.


    "Enough!" I shouted as I jumped into thebat area with them, which caused Glenda, Elena, and Gail to stand up into an attentive stance.


    I looked at them and walked around them for a while as I calmed myself into not killing Glenda. Stopping in front of Gail, I nodded in Glenda''s direction before I asked him, “General Glenda here said you threw defeat on your own. You have something to say to that?"


    Gail looked back and forth between Glenda, who was ring at her, and Elena, who didn''t even give her a nce. He kept quiet for a while before he swallowed his nerves and nodded.


    To everyone''s surprise, he approached Elena and bowed down. "I''m sorry, General Elena. I didn''t mean to doubt- your abilities, but you won this fair and square battle. I hope you can forgive me and ept my respect for your leadership, though it may be toote now."


    The warriors whispered at each other.


    Elena humbly extended her hand at him and gave him a smile, "Let''s fight side by side and be stronger along the -way."


    Seeing that, I took the opportunity and looked at the other warriors, asking in a booming voice, "Heard that? Is there anyone else doubting her ability?"


    Many of them shook their heads, while a few only kept their mouth shut.


    "That''s it?" Glenda''s voice echoed amidst the silence.


    I shifted my gaze at her and raised a brow, encouraging her to continue.


    She shook her head in disbelief and pointed at Elena. “She won a singlebat, and everyone is just supposed to fall in line and be at her beck and call? A single victory can''t prove anything!"


    My jaw clenched, and I took a threatening step in front of her. Pursing my lips, I replied, "Glenda, the battlefield is no ce for your temper. But if you''re so determined to challenge her, there will be consequences."


    I knew that, with her reckless behavior and arrogance, she wouldn''t stop until she learned a lesson. So, instead of jeopardizing everyone''s safety by having a misunderstanding when the actual battle begins, it''s better to settle everything here now and end it once and for all.


    "By all means..." I stepped back and spread my arms to gesture at the middle of thebat area.


    She looked at me in shock and dumbfoundedly asked in disbelief, "You permit as to a duel?"


    "If you insist on this challenge, then understand the stakes. If you lose due to your arrogance and insubordination, you''ll receive tenshes with the silver whip, and all the merits you''ve earned here will mean nothing. But if Elena loses, nothing will change as she''d still lead the troops as decided."


    She involuntarily stepped back upon hearing that while Bryson hurriedly stepped into thebat arena and held onto Glenda. They kept sending each other nces, shocked at my condition.


    Even Elena, who had been looking unbothered for a while, hurriedly turned her head to look at me in shock.


    I only gave her a slight nod before shifting my eyes at Glenda again. Feeling impatient after a minute of their silence, I called out her attention. “Well?"


    Intently looking at her, I taunted further, "So what will it be, General Glenda? Do you dare to challenge her, knowing the price you''ll pay if you face failure?"