Strongest Radioactive System

The clearing was alive with anticipation. Orcs from both hordes formed a wide circle, their roars and chants echoing through the dense forest.

Volk and Kragath stood at the center, sizing each other up like two massive predators on the verge of battle.

Volk rolled his shoulders, his gauntlet humming faintly as he flexed his fingers.

Kragath stood opposite him, his massive axe resting on the ground but within easy reach, its jagged edge gleaming in the faint light.

Kragath was the first to speak, his voice a low rumble. "You walk into my territory, speak of unity, and dare to challenge me in Mak'Gora. Tell me, stranger—who are you?"

Volk smirked, his sharp tusks glinting. "I am Volk. A Warchief from a realm beyond this one. I fight to unite the Orcs and face the threat of the humans. Who are you to deny me this?"

Kragath's lips curled into a grin. "Kragath. Arena Gladiator, Champion of the Bloody Sands, and the one who will crush you if you are unworthy."

Volk's gaze didn't waver. He raised his gauntlet, pointing it directly at Kragath. "Mak'Gora!"

"Mak'Gora!" Kragath roared in response, his voice shaking the very trees around them.

The crowd fell silent as the two warriors lunged at each other.

Volk's gauntlet flared with energy as he swung a brutal right hook, aiming for Kragath's side. But the gladiator was fast—his axe came up in a smooth arc, intercepting the blow with a deafening CLANG! Sparks flew as metal met magic.

They separated, circling each other like wolves.

It was their first clash, a masterful first clash!

"You're strong," Kragath said, his tone almost approving. "Most Orcs can't withstand a single clash with me."

Volk shrugged, his eyes never leaving Kragath's. "I was born strong. Strength is my birthright."

Kragath chuckled. "Born strong? I earned mine. Every scar on this body, every bone I've broken—it's all been forged in the arenas."

They charged again.

Kragath's axe came down in a heavy vertical slash, but Volk sidestepped, his gauntlet catching the haft of the weapon and twisting it aside with a burst of energy.

BOOM!

The ground beneath them cracked under the force.

Volk spun, his fist racing toward Kragath's ribs, but the gladiator ducked and retaliated with a sweeping kick.

Volk staggered back but remained on his feet, with his smirk widening in glee.

"You fight well," Volk said, his tone almost playful. "But I'm not one of your arena opponents."

Kragath straightened, his axe resting on his shoulder. "Not True. You may think you're better upon surviving my techniques but this is just a test. Plus, the arenas taught me to expect the worst, but you—"

He pointed his axe at Volk. "You fight with purposeful arrogance."

After that, he would fake an attack in which Volk would fall too.

"See, you are easy…" Kragath said.

The two Orcs resumed their circling against each other, their muscles taut and their eyes locked.

"You talk of purposeful arrogance," Kragath said. "What is it? Why risk your life to unite these gangs? Isn't it better to live by yourself with your little strength?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Volk's gauntlet pulsed with energy as he tightened his fist. "Because the humans are coming. They'll wipe us out if we stay divided."

Kragath snorted.

"Humans. I've fought them in the arenas. Their knights, their swordsmen, even their champions. They're soft. Weak. What makes you think they're a threat? Plus, I am sure they won't come after us even if you killed a high noble, so what makes you think you are too important for them to chase?"

"I just know that I will be the Orc's new hope. I also know they're soft when it's one-on-one, but I need to show them what will come to them," Volk countered, his voice rising with conviction.

"And they don't fight alone. This would make them a perfect celebration for the new beginning of the Orc age! They come in waves, endless and relentless. I will unite all of us and I'll make sure they will be nothing more than corpses on their battlefields and a symbol of the Orc's new beginning!"

Kragath's expression hardened. "You are talking big, you think you're the one to unite us? To lead us? You think that's easy? And you think you are the only one who also had that dream? Where are they now? Huh? Where?"

"I don't know," Volk said, stepping forward. "But it's better to have a dream than to be stuck in a cave and die in hunger!"

With that, he lunged again.

This time, he fainted to the left before driving his gauntlet toward Kragath's chest.

The gladiator reacted instinctively, swinging his axe to block, but Volk's real attack came in the form of a sweeping kick that knocked Kragath off balance.

Kragath recovered quickly, his axe slamming into the ground with a thunderous THUD! to steady himself. He grinned through gritted teeth. "You're clever. I'll give you that."

Immediately, the air grew thick with tension as they clashed again, their strikes more powerful, more calculated.

Kragath's axe cleaved through the air with deadly precision, each swing forcing Volk to move faster, react quicker.

WHOOSH! CLANG! BOOM!

The sounds of their battle echoed through the forest, sending birds scattering from the trees.

"You move like a gladiator yourself," Kragath said between strikes. "Where did you learn to fight?"

Volk parried a heavy blow with his gauntlet, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the ground.

"I didn't learn," he said, his voice strained. "I fought. Every day. Every moment. I fought to survive." Of course, Volk was lying to his teeth, he wouldn't say it's from the system.

Kragath's eyes narrowed. "Survival. The ultimate teacher."

Their weapons collided again, sending a spray of sparks into the air. Volk pushed forward, his gauntlet glowing brighter with each strike. "And you? Did you enjoy spilling blood for the humans' entertainment?"

Kragath snarled, his swings growing fiercer. "Enjoy it? No. But it made me stronger. Strong enough to never be their slave again."

Volk would sneer, "Heh!" And then he would add, "Never be a slave again but don't have the guts to go against them and dominate them!?"

BANG!

They broke apart once more, both of them breathing heavily.

The circle of Orcs around them watched in awe, their chants and cheers growing louder with each clash.

Kragath wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, his grin feral. "You've got fire, Volk. I haven't faced someone like you in years."

Volk nodded, a rare flicker of respect in his eyes. "And you're no ordinary Orc. Your strength is impressive. You'll be a great commander in my horde!"

Kragath laughed, the sound deep and booming. "Impressive? Coming from you, that's high praise. But you haven't seen anything from me, yet!"

They began to circle again, their muscles tense, their weapons ready.

"Yes, this isn't over," Kragath said, his grin fading. "I've seen what you can do, and now it's time to see your limits. I will now show you some little true power of mine!"

Volk raised his gauntlet, its glow intensifying. "Why not them all and not best around the bush?"