One Bull and One Warrior

Chapter 20: One Bull and One Warrior

The king took the bull and a group of men, including Houssem, to the center of the plain. They were surrounded by a herd of cows on the right and a group of men who revered these creatures on the left. Above them, a massive bird circled, keeping a watchful eye to ensure Houssem didn't escape. A black cat stood beside them, observing the scene with its gleaming eyes.

Houssem glanced to the right and noticed the young calf he had met earlier. The calf's eyes were filled with pity, as if pleading for help.

"Please, help me," its gaze seemed to say, but the calf was powerless to do anything. The shake of its head conveyed despair, leaving Houssem deeply disappointed. The calf's eyes were filled with pain and blame, like those of a mother looking at her son who had failed his exams, awaiting reproach and disappointment.

The calf shivered under Houssem's gaze and quickly hid behind its mother. The mother cow watched the scene with anger, her eyes gleaming with defiance, as if saying, "If you do that again, I'll turn you into a moving hole."

Houssem didn't dare challenge that look. He turned away and tried to focus on something else. He approached one of the cow-worshipping men and whispered in his ear:

"My friend, aren't we human? Why won't you help me out of this mess?"

The man replied loudly, turning his face away:

"The orders of the sacred bull cannot be refused. There's no room for negotiation."

"Alright, alright... stop shouting, you've exposed us! Ugh, what a stingy man!" Houssem said angrily. Then he added in a whisper, "It doesn't matter. I'll pass this test easily and show you who I am."

The group reached the center of the plain, where everyone stepped back, leaving Houssem in the middle, surrounded by a circle of cows and men at a distance of 100 meters.

One of the men stepped forward, raising his voice to announce that he would be the referee of this match. Houssem looked around, searching for an opponent to face, but he saw no one except the king bull. He approached the bull and asked:

"Didn't you say I had to face your greatest warrior? But I only see cows here. Where's the warrior?"

The man replied loudly:

"Has no one taught you patience? Shut your mouth and wait."

"What the?!" Houssem retorted angrily, hurling a series of sarcastic insults at the man. "I've endured a lot of insults, but you're crossing the line!"

The man snorted dismissively, paying no attention, then turned to the king bull and spoke to it in a strange language.

Suddenly, the bull raised its hooves and let out a deafening roar, as if announcing the arrival of something colossal, like it was summoning someone.

At that moment, as Houssem watched the bull's roar, he noticed the atmosphere around him change strangely. The wind suddenly stopped, as if nature itself was in a state of anticipation. Everything became still, and then the ground began to shake beneath his feet. The powerful roar seemed like a signal for something greater and more formidable, and Houssem felt a looming threat approaching.

Suddenly, in the distance, across the vast plains, a dark figure appeared on the horizon. The massive shadow approached rapidly, and as it drew closer, it became clear that it was an enormous bull, unlike any Houssem had ever seen. Its skin was black as night, and its eyes glowed with a deep red hue, like burning embers in the darkness. Its hooves were massive, striking the ground with such force that it made the earth tremble beneath Houssem's feet. Its build was so immense that Houssem thought he was facing a creature from another world.

This bull let out a thunderous roar, but it was deeper and more powerful than the roar of the bull in the arena with Houssem, as if it could shake the world itself. Its shoulders were broad, and its body was filled with twisted muscles that seemed ready to burst through its tough skin. Its roar reflected immense power, as if it was announcing its arrival with a clear threat to everyone.

The man who had appointed himself as the referee stood frozen, his eyes filled with awe and reverence. He whispered to his companion standing beside him:

"It's the legendary bull... Its arrival marks the beginning of the decisive battle. No one dares to challenge it, not even the sacred bull itself."

The cows in the arena watched in astonishment and anticipation, as if they knew full well that this bull was unlike any other. As for the king bull standing before Houssem, its hooves trembled unusually, as if it had been struck by shock. It slowly raised its head, looked at the approaching bull, and then at Houssem, as if sending him a cryptic message.

Houssem, feeling the ground shake beneath his feet, took a step back. But his eyes were wide with disbelief. He wondered to himself:

"Is this the legendary warrior they were talking about? Can I face this beast?!"

The black bull approached gradually, and the ground of the plain shook with each step it took. The closer it got, the more the earth around it seemed to ignite, as if burning with an unquenchable fire. Then, it suddenly stopped two meters away from Houssem and let out a deep roar that brought an eerie silence to the place.

Then, as everyone watched in silence, the man who had appointed himself as the referee raised his hand and declared loudly:

"This is the warrior who will determine your fate. If you can survive this encounter, you will have passed the test."

Houssem looked into the bull's eyes, a strange feeling creeping into his heart. His heart was pounding, and his mind was filled with dread, but something else became clear in his thoughts.

"If I'm going to face this beast, I must be more than just a weak person. I must exploit every advantage I have."

Amid the silence, the black bull began to stomp the ground with its hooves, as if preparing to charge.

Houssem felt his heart race as he watched the legendary bull standing before him in all its might, while the ground beneath his feet shook from the force of its steps. Fear filled his body, but he quickly closed his eyes and took a deep breath, determined to face this challenge. He knew that the only chance of survival was to use everything he had learned so far.

In a sudden moment of decision, Houssem decided to activate the magical circle he had recently learned. Immediately, a bright beam of light shot from his hands, creating interwoven magical circles around him. This circle was a blend of mana magic and his body's endurance, stimulating energy throughout every part of his being.

Then, as he watched the bull with determined eyes, he began to use the technique of merging his body with mana. His body was enveloped in a blue aura of mana, which wrapped around his muscles, making them stronger and more resilient. However, this fusion wasn't perfect, as his body still struggled to maintain the energy for more than a few seconds.

Houssem took advantage of those precious ten seconds and sprinted toward the black bull at great speed, trying to stay close but cautious. With each step, the ground shook beneath his feet, but he managed to move smoothly and unexpectedly. During those moments, he felt an inner resolve growing, as if his mind and body had become one with the mana.

Then, in a critical moment, Houssem stood on the edge of his foot and unleashed his iron fist with all his might. His hand was enveloped in mana, making it stronger and more impactful. Directly, he struck the black bull on the side of its chest.

The blow was so powerful that the bull staggered slightly under its force, but it quickly recovered and let out a tremendous roar that shook the ground once more. Houssem felt pain in his hand from the impact, but his mana-enveloped body held on for a while.

As Houssem tried to avoid the next strike, he knew he couldn't keep this up for long. The mana energy enveloping his body began to fade quickly, and his muscles started to feel fatigued. But he didn't falter. Instead, he gathered the last of his strength and courage, ready for the next move.

The black bull advanced toward Houssem again, but this time its step was more strategic. Houssem decided to dodge at the right moment. In a flash, he jumped to the other side, avoiding the massive hoof that was coming down on him.

Then, he took advantage of the bull's momentary pause to charge and delivered a second iron fist strike to its head. The blow caused a powerful shock, and the bull staggered back slightly, blood dripping from its mouth.

At that moment, Houssem discovered a weakness in the black bull. There was an unprotected spot on the side of its chest, a place where he could deliver a quick defeat. The moments of "body and mana fusion" were almost over, but he used every second, ready to take the final risk.

With the last moment of his body fused with mana, Houssem felt all his energy flowing through him, as if every part of his muscles had become part of an unimaginable force. His heart was beating abnormally fast, and the air around him seemed charged with energy. His strength surpassed everything he had known about himself.

At that moment, he targeted the black bull's heart, the weakness he had discovered during the fight. He knew that any mistake at this moment could cost him his life, so he analyzed every movement of the bull with precision. The bull had started to move back toward Houssem after being slightly shaken by the previous blow, but its massive hooves were trembling with rage, and its glowing eyes seemed even more intense.

Houssem didn't hesitate. As the bull prepared to charge, he moved with incredible speed, using every ounce of energy he had left. He lunged toward the black bull like an arrow, dodging the strike that nearly hit him, and delivered his strongest blow directly to its heart.

The strike was like a storm. It released a tremendous amount of energy from his hands, carried by the mana enveloping his body, and penetrated the black bull's body in an instant. The bull shook violently and let out a terrifying roar that made everyone in the arena tremble with fear.

But after a moment of complete silence, the bull began to retreat, its strength gradually fading. The blow had a profound impact, and the bull fell to the ground, losing its balance. Despite its wounds, the bull tried to rise, but its strength was slowly draining.

Houssem, panting from exhaustion, felt his legs almost giving out. But as he watched the bull struggling to move, he realized he wouldn't survive if he allowed it to continue. This was the decisive moment where there was no room for error.

Houssem ran toward the bull once more, this time faster, taking advantage of the bull's obvious weakness. With unexpected speed, he leaped toward its head and delivered a final blow to its left side, hitting the spot where it was most vulnerable. This time, the strike was fatal, and the bull collapsed to the ground, unable to rise again.

Everything fell silent after that. The arena, once filled with noise and roars, became still. The men and animals around him watched in stunned silence. The cows observed with interest, and the eyes on Houssem were filled with awe and respect.

Breathing heavily, Houssem looked at the black bull, now unable to move, and then at the crowd around him. They were all shocked by the unexpected outcome. They had taken Houssem for a weak and reckless boy, but they never expected him to possess such immense strength.

"I've succeeded..." he whispered to himself, trying to stand on his feet amidst the silence of the arena.

To be continued...