Chapter 132: The Iron Brotherhood
The morning sun began to break over the frozen mountains when Kellar rose from the bed. Around him lay the naked bodies of his six women, still flushed and releasing fluids after an entire sleepless night. The excitement of the news had unleashed an unbridled passion, and each of them had sought to express their gratitude and surrender to their man until utter exhaustion.
Kellar dressed in silence and stepped out into the central yard. The village was already alive; people were working on skinning hides, blacksmithing, and cooking. As he passed, the villagers bowed and greeted him with deep reverence.
With a steady stride, Kellar walked toward the lake area. Usually, no one approached this location due to the ancestral fear of the giant fish and aquatic monsters. However, as he approached the shore, fifty youths were already waiting for him. They were those who had failed their awakening over recent years, along with several of the former captives rescued from the Blackskull tribe.
Upon seeing the young shaman arrive, everyone stood at attention. Kellar was the role model for this entire generation; at such a young age, he was the supreme shaman and undisputed leader. It was said that in combat no hunter could stand against him, and the stories of his early hunts had spread like legendary tales. No one doubted that he was the most powerful and terrifying person in the tribe.
"It is good to see you so energetic this early," said Kellar, stopping before the formation with a serious gaze.
"Thank you, Great Shaman!" said the crowd of youths in unison, shouting with discipline to make the best possible impression.
"Good... very good. Energetic and courageous, I like it," said Kellar, starting to pace before the ranks as he inspected them.
Suddenly, Kellar came to a dead stop and slowly shook his head.
"Everything seems to be going too well," said Kellar, folding his arms over his chest. "But I already see something I don’t like at all. Sit down, everyone, for a moment; I want to say a few words and make some things clear before anything else happens."
The youths obeyed instantly and sat down on the frozen snow, paying absolute attention to his every move.
"Once you are in this tribe, you belong to the tribe equally," said Kellar, pointing at the formation with a rigid gesture. "I see that you are divided. From here over, you are the former captives, and from here over, those born in the tribe. I do not like that. Every single one of you will defend the person beside you with your life. You must learn to trust your comrades with your life regardless of the situation; you will be brothers in life or death."
The boys looked at each other with a sense of discomfort and tension.
"You have ten seconds to mix yourselves together," said Kellar, shifting his tone of voice to a cold, dominant edge that made the blood of everyone present run cold. "Those who do not obey will have to learn why things here are red. And believe me, I do not intend to expel you from the army; you will learn to respect the easy way or the hard way. One!... Two!..."
When the countdown reached ten, the crowd of youths had already reorganized, mixing with one another amidst the panic of unleashing the shaman’s wrath. Kellar observed them with satisfaction; that was precisely why he had chosen to recruit young boys instead of older men. The young could still be molded through strict discipline and the whip, while only death could reshape the old ways of the elders.
"To the new boys and those born in this tribe: you all belong to the tribe equally, there are no distinctions," said Kellar, pacing his cold gaze across the ordered ranks. "Any attempt at division will be corrected with severe punishment! Understood?"
"Yes, Great Shaman!" said the entire formation in unison, making the freezing morning air echo.
"Perfect, then let us begin," said Kellar, gesturing toward Brak, who stepped forward with his chest puffed out. "From this day on, Brak will be your instructor, and you will call him Commander Brak. Understood?"
"Yes, Great Shaman!" said the group of recruits.
Kellar turned toward Brak to begin explaining the new physical regimen.
"Listen carefully, Commander Brak," said Kellar, stepping into position to demonstrate the movements. "Training will not consist solely of running or carrying logs. We will implement a daily routine divided into four mandatory blocks to build muscular endurance, explosiveness, and a steady aim for weapons."
Kellar dropped to the ground onto his palms and toes, keeping his back straight.
"The first exercise is called push-ups," said Kellar, lowering his torso until almost touching the snow and pushing up with explosive power. "They will perform four sets of twenty-five repetitions every morning. This will strengthen their chest, shoulders, and arms to withstand the repeated recoil of the iron muskets."
Brak nodded along, impressed by the simplicity and demanding nature of the movement.
"The second block will be deep bodyweight squats," said Kellar, standing up and executing a full descent with an upright back. "Five sets of thirty repetitions. A warrior without strong legs collapses in the mud or snow when holding a battle line."
Kellar laid on his back upon the frozen ground and bent his knees, raising his torso forward.
"The third consists of sit-ups," said Kellar, completing a quick set before leaping back to his feet. "Four sets of thirty repetitions. The core is the body’s center of stability; without a firm abdomen, their shots will stray when fatigued. Lastly, they will finish the physical block with a three-kilometer run around the settlement’s perimeter carrying full gear on their backs."
"Three kilometers daily with gear, Shaman?" said Brak, tightening his vest straps while taking mental note of every instruction.
"Every single day at sunrise, without exception," said Kellar, looking intently at the new commander. "I am not looking for men who only know how to swing a club; I want soldiers with cardiovascular and muscular endurance superior to any mountain warrior. Whoever faints, you pick them up; whoever tries to give up, you make them repeat the entire set."
"It shall be executed to the letter, Great Shaman!" said Brak, turning toward the fifty youths with a fierce grin. "You heard the leader! Down on the ground, everyone! We start with push-ups right now!"