Tactical Triumph - Chapter 21

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In a charged moment of anticipation, the two adversaries stood motionless, their intense gaze locked onto each other, waiting for the decisive move. Suddenly, an arrow whizzed through the air, aimed at Xertu's eyes, but the towering figure skillfully intercepted it with a swift snatch using his arm.

With a mischievous smirk, Xertu quipped, "Well, now the little girl has to get it too. Looks like she's next in line for a roast!"

Capitalizing on the moment, Leeani unleashed a simultaneous barrage of arrows, catching Xertu off guard and piercing through both of his legs. Seizing the opportunity, Zach swiftly assumed a low stance, wrapping his arms around Xertu's imposing torso. Despite the significant weight disadvantage, Zach forcefully slammed him to the ground, causing the earth to shatter beneath the impact. The resounding crash was heard through the entire forest.

"Leeani, now! Help, Kazaks!" Zach urgently commanded.

"Got it, captain!" Leeani promptly responded to the captain's call.

Zach swiftly mounted Xertu, unleashing a torrent of punches upon his face, primarily targeting his vulnerable features. In a defensive gesture, Xertu raised his hand to shield his face from the relentless assault. Simultaneously, Xertu attempted to retaliate by reaching for his neck, but Zach countered with an iron grip, crushing Xertu's hand and preventing the impending threat. Blood began to trickle from Xertu's nose under the relentless barrage of punches.

"You aren't worthy enough for me to unsheathe my claymore sword," Zach declared amidst the flurry of strikes.

As the pummeling persisted, Xertu, with a hint of amusement, managed to mutter a chilling response, "Heh," followed by a taunting whistle resonating through the entire forest.

The heavy footsteps that had previously heard in the distance, has now escalated into a rapid run, abruptly halting the ongoing battle. A colossal war elephant, weighing a staggering 9500 kg and towering at a height of 15 ft, crashed through the dense forest, breaking through the towering trees in its path.

"You're in big trouble now, little boy," Xertu grinned menacingly at Zach.

A collective hush fell over the battlefield as combatants ceased their frenzied clashes, their attention abruptly diverted to an awe-inducing spectacle. The colossal war elephant, an unexpected intruder on the chaotic battleground, commanded a momentary ceasefire. Amidst the stunned onlookers, Xertu seized the opportune distraction to wrest himself from Zach's very tight grip, a struggle that embodied the intensity of their clash.

With unyielding determination, Xertu launched a formidable punch at Zach, only to be met with the opponent's adept parry, a testament to the unyielding resilience of his adversary. "I'm not going anywhere, neither should you," Zach declared, his tone resonating with unwavering confidence.

Undeterred by the setback, Zach resumed his assault of punches on Xertu, delivering punishing blows with the harsh cadence of battle. Amidst the fray, Sanaage keenly observed Xertu's plight, recognizing an opportunity to intervene and extend a lifeline to his beleaguered comrade.

Even in the midst of the tumultuous conflict, Leeani couldn't contain her astonishment, her voice carrying a mixture of disbelief and shock. "That thing is about to become our enemy?" she murmured, her features etched with incredulity.

Kazaks, ever the enthusiast, bellowed with an infectious excitement in his eyes, "THAT THING'S HUGE!" His exclamation resonated amidst the battlefield, a testament to the electrifying blend of peril and fascination that characterized the unfolding chaos.

In a seamless display of agility and stealth, Sanaage deftly navigates the tumultuous battlefield, his swift movements eclipsed by the distraction imposed by the sheer magnitude of the colossal war elephant, which had ensnared the attention of both Kazaks and Leeani. While the behemoth's imposing size captivated their gaze, Sanaage capitalized on the opportune moment, swiftly closing the gap between himself and Xertuwith silent determination.

As Sanaage draws nearer to Xertu, his strategic intent materializes with a sudden and decisive strike, the gleaming blade of his machete slashing through the air with a calculated precision aimed at Zach. 

However, executing a nimble sidestep, Zach was able to gracefully evade the machete's slash by dismounting himself from Xertu's immediate vicinity. Zach's evasion unfolds with a balletic finesse, seamlessly distancing himself from the unfolding skirmish.

In the aftermath of this carefully choreographed exchange of blades and nimble evasion, the war elephant, a silent witness to the dynamic theatrics, grinds to a halt behind the antagonists, its looming presence adding an extra layer of tension to the already charged atmosphere.

With a boisterous laughter that echoed through the tumultuous air, Xertu taunted, "Ha ha ha ha, you, little boy, thought you could pummel me into submission, didn't you?"

Kazaks, always armed with a quick wit, seized the opportunity to deliver a verbal jab, turning his attention towards the duo of Xertu and Sanaage. "Oh, how nice of you! First, you complain that it's not fair with three of us against your two! But when Captain Zach had you on the ropes, what's your move!? Suddenly, there's this massive war elephant in play! Now it's my turn to show what I've got! You thought you were in control, but guess what? I was just getting started after years of not being in a real fight!" he hollered.

"I AM KAZAKS, THE ONE-MAN SHOW,  WAITING FOR HIS GRAND ENTRANCE AFTER YEARS OF BEING AWAY FROM WAR. TIME FOR THIS RENAISSANCE REBEL TO STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT!" Kazaks added a declaration.




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