Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1293: First Battle Defeat

Pagyi Gesang's statement prompted Zhang Yi to shoot him a sideways look.

It dawned on him then that Pagyi Gesang was merely pretending to be a kindly elder in his presence, seeming utterly benign and unthreatening.

Yet a figure who dominated as overlord in the Southwest Region—how could such a one possibly possess a tender heart full of mercy?

"Do as you please. I'm merely pointing out that training a superhuman like Chodak demands tremendous effort."

Zhang Yi saw no reason to interfere in others' matters. Pagyi Gesang showed no concern for his follower's survival, so Zhang Yi felt even less attachment.

Pagyi Gesang harbored his own schemes.

Indeed, forging Chodak into a superhuman had drained vast resources from him.

However, defeat in this clash would bring unbearable repercussions he could never endure.

Suddenly, a realization hit Pagyi Gesang.

In his frenzy to secure triumph, he had overlooked that Zhang Yi's faction would suffer gravely from a loss here as well.

Thus, Zhang Yi's bold words must stem from total certainty.

If so...

Pagyi Gesang's eyes darted about, before he abruptly heaved a deep sigh.

"You speak truly. I won't act so selfishly. Chodak remains my valued right-hand man. His life must be spared!"

Amid the fray, Chodak and Gele battled with frenzied gazes, both on the brink of collapse, mere moments from demise.

Right then, Pagyi Gesang seized a loudspeaker and bellowed:

"Halt! Both of you, halt at once! Cease the fight!"

"This bout, the Pagyi Family yields victory!"

His declaration echoed over the battlefield, stunning all who heard.

No one anticipated Pagyi Gesang publicly conceding before a verdict emerged.

Deji and his allies displayed sheer shock on their faces.

"Has Pagyi Gesang lost his mind? He's gifting the win to the foes?"

His move baffled them completely.

Not only them—the combatants themselves stood perplexed.

Though startled inwardly, Gele sighed in relief and pulled back, abandoning his desperate struggle.

The result was set. He aimed to conserve his energy. Should his leader command retreat, his life might yet be saved.

Fearlessness of death didn't equate to courting it.

Chodak froze in place, tears streaming hot from his eyes.

He whipped around toward Pagyi Gesang and roared, "No! Family Head, I'd rather perish in combat, but we mustn't concede!"

Pagyi Gesang called back firmly, "Chodak, defeat isn't yours. Yet I, Pagyi Gesang, refuse to lose my truest ally for one mere triumph!"

These words granted Chodak immense honor.

He understood: for Snowy Region men, death was acceptable, but ridicule was not.

Indeed, Chodak's defiance eased a bit.

Gratitude surged next.

"For someone like me, you shouldn't have!"

Chodak sobbed harshly, dropping to his knees. His burning tears thawed the frost below.

Pagyi Gesang dispatched aid to heal Chodak right away and offered fitting solace.

Still, he warily told Zhang Yi, "Sir, our initial bout ended in loss. The battles ahead..."

Zhang Yi gave him a look. "Put your mind at ease! Victory is ours."

Loss was impossible, of course. Zhang Yi held a foolproof path to success.

Only then did Pagyi Gesang unwind.

He couldn't fathom Zhang Yi's source of assurance, but likely potent allies awaited deployment.

The opening round concluded via Pagyi Gesang's surrender.

Cheers erupted wildly from the three allied families' camp.

Morale soared sky-high.

Yet the Pagyi Family's side hung heavy with gloom.

Pagyi Gesang eyed his Personal Guard, Suolang Deji.

This stood as the Pagyi Family's top fighter, their mightiest warrior, ever at his leader's side.

Even in slumber, he rested in the adjacent chamber.

"Suolang Deji, step forth now!"

Pagyi Gesang eyed Zhang Yi too, adding, "Give it your all. If the foe proves too strong, yield. A great ally supports us."

Suolang Deji paused briefly.

He scorned becoming a fool, preferring battlefield death.

Yet his value to the Pagyi Family loomed immense. A superhuman's fall would cripple them sorely.

For the larger cause, death was forbidden.

As Personal Guard to Pagyi Gesang, Suolang Deji proved no hothead; wisdom guided him.

Thus, he nodded. "Understood, Family Head. Your words are etched in my mind!"

Opposite, post-victory, Gele gazed afar.

Toward his family head, La Min Ouzhu.

This win had pushed him to exhaustion's edge. Further combat spelled certain doom.

La Min Ouzhu eyed Deji nearby.

"Khenpo, my fighter claimed a round. Isn't it time to switch?"

"Switch? La Min Head, do you grasp attrition battle rules?"

Ere Deji replied, Xia Zha Gyatso sneered from across.

"Lethal duels shun cowards fleeing the field. Real heroes prize battling till the last!"

"With a woman heading La Min Family now, have its men turned craven too?"

Xia Zha Gyatso desired no retreat for Gele.

The successor hailed from Xia Zha Family.

Better Gele perish, first exposing rival tactics and dealing grievous wounds!

"Absurdity! Retract that, Xia Zha Gyatso!"

La Min Ouzhu glared murderously at him.

Xia Zha Gyatso shrugged it off, sneering. "Arena entrants duel unto death! No mid-fight exits!"

He turned to Deji. "Else, should defeat come, how preserve our three families' and Sangha Monastery's honor?"

Deji cast a steely glance at La Min Ouzhu.

"La Min Head, urge your warrior to battle like a true man till the finish!"

La Min Ouzhu swallowed her fury, fists balled white-knuckled.

Ultimately, she gnashed her teeth in resignation. "Very well!"

No withdrawal command reached Gele.

He'd foreseen this, yet clung to faint hope.

This verdict left him powerless too.

"Death it is, then!"

Gele shut his eyes gently, pressed palms to chest, invoking Buddha's grace for rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

Then eyes snapped open, blazing with iron will.

Soon Suolang Deji advanced to the field.

Gripped in hand: a Vajra Dharma Rod, man-height, bronze-hued, staff-like yet tipped with piercing cone.

Suolang Deji entered the arena, facing death-ready Gele. Deliberately, he lifted his left palm upright to his chest.

"Gele, I arrive to escort you to your last road!"

Author's Note