[Because she commanded him to keep his mouth shut, he wants to quiet even less.]

What's dumb about that? You were attacked, then grew frustrated when you lost. It's reasonable to challenge him in order to prove that you're stronger.

[Only the stars know how many times Oz has skewered Mithra to a state of near death. That hasn't stopped Mithra from going after him year after year. In fact, each loss has stoked the fire into the raging bonfire it is now.]