Tribal Hero---Zhakun

"My dear nephew, you aren't angry with me, are you?" The Chieftain had only just brought Azar into the council chamber and hadn't even taken his seat before speaking.

"Not at all. I am your nephew; we are family." Azar played the emotional card without hesitation.

"That's good. You likely understand that back then, we had just settled down, and I couldn't afford to make drastic changes." The Chieftain seemed to fall into memory, speaking with deep emotion.

"I understand. You have to consider the entire tribe. Now, have you made your decision?" Azar probed cautiously.

"Yes, my child. Your performance today shows that the mysterious power contained within this lake can make us even stronger." The Chieftain was full of confidence, his voice rising; he seemed to see the day the Zarzan Tribe would rise to glory!

"What do you intend to do? Whatever your decision, I will be unconditionally loyal to you." Azar knew that declaring loyalty at this moment was essential.

"Very good, my child. I am going to establish an Elite Guard, and you shall be its first commander. You are my nephew; I trust you." The Chieftain seemed to have planned this out along the way, answering as soon as Azar asked. Just as Azar was thinking about how to respond, the Chieftain spoke again.

"The mission of this legion is not just to protect my safety; it has a more important calling. It is to be the model for the tribe's future military. Its training and combat effectiveness must be the best. Every single one of them will be hand-picked—they must know how to fight, how to command, and most importantly, they must have a philosophy. They must understand their mission and be unconditionally loyal to the tribe and to their leader. And you, my dear nephew, as their commander, will enter the tribe's decision-making circle and witness the rise of this tribe with us." The Chieftain looked at Azar with eyes full of hope, as if saying, "With such superior conditions, hurry up and agree!"

"I obey your will, my uncle. I will select the personnel according to your requirements. However, I have an idea, though I am not sure if I should say it." Azar stole a glance at his superior's expression; seeing no signs of anger, a great weight lifted from his heart.

"Speak. Before me, you should say everything you know and leave nothing unsaid." The Chieftain's reply was remarkably brisk.

"What about the previous troops—Zhakun and his Shadow Hunter? After all, they have bled for the tribe and have made contributions." Azar weighed his words carefully. After a moment of contemplation, the Chieftain replied: "Do not worry about them, my child. If you need, I can grant you the authority to pick those you admire. As for the remaining troops, I will establish a Sweep Legion specifically for external warfare during this period. What do you think?"

"I obey your will. I will strive to do my best. Could the Sweep Legion be handed over to Zhakun?" Azar asked cautiously again.

Azar felt conflicted about Zhakun. He realized that at Zhakun's level of status, it would be difficult to win him over, but Zhakun had once been a hero of the tribe and had saved Azar's life. He could not bear to see Zhakun become a sacrificial lamb for reform.

"That is even better. I agree." The Chieftain readily consented. The heavy stone in Azar's heart finally fell away, and after saluting, he exited the council chamber.

"What do you think of him? My High Sorcerer?" the Chieftain asked the person emerging from behind the screen with a relaxed expression.

"Courteous and measured, knowing when to advance and when to retreat. He is a talent worth molding."

"High praise indeed! Aside from Azshara, you rarely compliment people like that."

"I can see that you appreciate your little nephew very much."

"For the rise of the tribe, we must cultivate excellent young people."

"We will surely succeed."

The next morning, at Zhakun's residence.

"Are you here to laugh at my misfortune?"

"I told you, whether you win or lose, I will give you the answer."

"Speak, I am listening."

"The paths we chose are different, so we have drifted apart. I chose order; you pursued slaughter. There is no right or wrong."

Zhakun nodded dejectedly. "I know. This day was bound to come. Actually, I don't even know when I became like this. I pursued power. During the Great War, I watched my kin die in battle, and I swore I would become strong. I would protect those around me; I would crush all enemies. I fought desperately, killing even when wounded, never stopping. I killed more and more, and I became stronger. I began to crave blood; slaughter and gore drove me mad. Once the killing stopped, my heart felt empty, and I didn't know what to do. I began to change—becoming cold, becoming heartless, becoming someone unlike the original me." He spoke with such agitation that he began to cough violently. A maid poured him water and rubbed his back. After calming his mood and catching his breath, he continued, "For the survival of the race, we killed the Insectoid, but why did we kill our own kin during the Great Migration? I told myself, 'It is also for survival.' This is the inherent killing instinct of the Troll."

"You are a hero of the tribe; no one can erase your achievements! Opposing barbarism and dissatisfied with the slaughter and bloodshed, the Chieftain chose the Great Migration. That you firmly followed the Chieftain shows that deep down, you are the same kind of person. There are some things you cannot change. Since you cannot change them, why not let them bloom?"

"What do you mean? Say what you have to say!" Zhakun grabbed my hand excitedly, his eyes burning with a fierce light.

"For the survival of the tribe, you have sacrificed much; I know it, and the Chieftain knows it. You are conflicted about the development of the tribe. Since it cannot be changed, why not burn ourselves out? As the saying goes, the righteous path of the Troll is full of vicissitudes. Rather than being marginalized, it is better to fight head-on. Even if you die in battle, it will be a death with purpose. A true hero does not count the cost. I do not agree with your martial path, but I will defend your right to choose it with my life. We must hold our destiny firmly in our own hands. So, go and fight! To die in battle on the eve of impending victory—is that not your best destination?"

"To die a glorious death? To die just before the goal of a lifetime is reached? Hahaha! I understand! I am a hero of the Zarzan Tribe! I am bloodthirsty and cruel, a cannibal of many, but I do not regret it! Everything I have done was for the survival and prosperity of the tribe! Even if I die, I die with purpose."

"A man should kill, killing without mercy. The immortal deeds of a thousand years, all lie within the slaughter. When the deed is done, brush off one's clothes and leave, hiding one's fame and name!"