Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: The Red Maned Lion
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The ecstatic mane dyed in gold instantly captured everyone's gaze.
Just facing its countenance head-on was terrifying enough to make their legs tremble.
'So that's why it was kept so well hidden.'
Hyeok Mulin finally understood the source of the confidence that Su Ma-gun had been exuding.
Lions were rare predators typically seen only in vast plains like grasslands.
In Namman, where most of the land was covered in dense jungles, few martial artists even knew what one was.
"...A lion."
However, Hyeok Mulin, the Palace Lord, and the Great Princess vaguely recognized its identity.
The ruler of the plains, an animal called the king of beasts alongside the tiger.
Its true nature was none other than a lion.
Moreover, it wasn't an ordinary adult lion; it possessed a massive body comparable to the Palace Lord's No. 1 beast.
The wolf standing before it looked like a mouse facing a cat.
Bang Tara, witnessing this, sensed something was off and swallowed hard.
But he quickly composed himself.
'Size is just size—it doesn't necessarily equate to combat prowess. It could simply be a large beast.'
Unaware of the lion's fearsome reputation, Bang Tara comforted himself and spoke up.
"I now announce the start of the battle between Silver Wolf and Red Maned Lion!"
"Red Maned Lion?"
"What an odd name."
"Doesn't suit that beast at all."
The spectators tilted their heads at the name.
The creature's entire body gleamed with golden fur, so why call it Red Maned Lion?
And it didn't take long for their questions to be answered.
Tadadada!
The valiant wolf charged straight at the lion.
It opened its jaws wide, aiming to bite the Red Maned Lion's throat.
Judging the hide too tough, it targeted a vital spot for a quick kill—an intelligent choice for a beast.
But the outcome didn't unfold as Silver Wolf intended.
Creeeak—
In an instant, the lion bared its jaws.
With that enormous maw.
Kwaduk!
It chomped down on the wolf's torso mid-leap, jaws agape.
As the crowd's eyes widened in shock, the Red Maned Lion slowly opened its mouth.
The wolf's corpse, cleanly bisected, thudded to the ground.
The Red Maned Lion, creator of this gruesome scene, then roared skyward.
Kuoooo—!
Its mane, now soaked in fresh crimson blood, had turned a vivid red.
"...That's why it's called Red Maned Lion."
A lion that always dyes its mane red with the blood of its foes.
Hyeok Mulin, grasping the origin of the name, turned to Su Ma-gun.
"Where on earth did you get that thing?"
It wasn't an ordinary lion, either.
A beast of that size and power was one in thousands, if not tens of thousands.
Yet the Little Palace Lord, living deep in the jungle, had brought one here.
Su Ma-gun brushed off Hyeok Mulin's question with a sly smile.
"Took some effort."
Effort alone couldn't explain it.
Hyeok Mulin glanced at him briefly before turning back to the arena.
Bang Tara, who had watched the fight closest as announcer, wore a thoroughly dejected expression.
His proudly presented wolf had been crushed before it could even fight back.
Even so, he had no choice but to declare the victor amid his gloom.
"...Victory to Red Maned Lion."
The audience began buzzing with excitement over the one-sided slaughter before their eyes.
The No. 1 beast dispatching a tiger like a mouse was impressive, but nothing compared to this shock.
Red Maned Lion had bitten the wolf in half in one go—the impact dwarfed the previous match.
As time passed and the crowd regained their composure, they spoke up with eager anticipation.
"Four left now?"
"Every matchup is thrilling."
"The survivors are the real contenders."
The arena was cleared, and the semifinals resumed shortly after.
Initially, few had paid attention to the left bracket.
All eyes had been on the Palace Lord and Little Palace Lord's beasts in the right.
But now, over halfway through the Fierce Beast Tournament,
the left bracket had garnered equal interest.
Black Iron Gorilla, winner of the previous tournament,
faced off against the Great Princess's Gold Leopard, whom no one had expected to see.
Both beasts had shone in prior rounds, fueling massive expectations for their clash.
Thump thump thump thump!
Black Iron Gorilla entered the arena, pounding its chest aggressively.
As if declaring its ferocity and unyielding confidence in victory.
"Impressive presence."
"But it lacks the raw power to match that brute force."
"A leopard's bite has its limits, after all."
The spectators leaned toward predicting Black Iron Gorilla's win.
In response, Gold Leopard merely stood in place, surveying its surroundings.
Then, its eyes met Hyeok Mulin's.
Nod.
Hyeok Mulin nodded to Gold Leopard.
Staring openly, it soon turned back to face forward.
"Now, the first semifinal: Black Iron Gorilla versus Gold Leopard begins!"
Bang Tara declared and stepped back.
Yet Gold Leopard showed no intent to move, standing motionless.
The crowd couldn't help but wonder.
'What's it doing?'
Speed was its only chance.
A leopard's greatest weapon was mobility.
Strike first, confuse the foe—that was the optimal strategy against Black Iron Gorilla.
But it just stood there, leaving the audience puzzled. Right then—
Gold Leopard's eyes widened fiercely.
Its golden leopard eyes locked onto Black Iron Gorilla.
The piercing gaze that could captivate anyone trembled for a split second.
And in that exact moment.
Thud.
"...!"
"Wh-what is this...!"
The onlookers blankly rose from their seats.
Their eyes, peering down at the arena, captured Black Iron Gorilla collapsed.
Thus ended the clash between Black Iron Gorilla and Gold Leopard.
Without a single exchange of blows.
Gold Leopard had subdued its opponent with nothing but a stare.
Black Iron Gorilla lay sprawled on the ground, foaming at the mouth.
Bang Tara rushed over, shaking it, but it remained unconscious, completely out.
Confirming this, he stared blankly at Gold Leopard.
Then declared to all.
"The victor is... Gold Leopard..."
His words instantly stirred uproar among the crowd.
"What just happened?"
"I didn't see a thing."
"It ended before the fight even started—is this fair?"
"I can't accept this result."
They voiced doubts about what they'd witnessed.
And rightly so.
After facing off, Black Iron Gorilla had suddenly foamed and fainted.
It was natural to suspect foul play from someone behind.
Thus, suspicious glares turned to Su Ah-rang.
Demanding an explanation from the Great Princess for the incident.
But she could only falter under those eyes.
She was just as stunned.
Having left Gold Leopard's training entirely to Hyeok Mulin, she was equally clueless.
As she hemmed and hawed, unable to respond definitively,
"This was a legitimate fight."
Suritae's voice rang out as he stood.
As gazes shifted to him, he continued.
"A pure contest between two beasts, with no interference—as you saw, victory was decided. I guarantee it."
The crowd gradually nodded in acceptance at the Palace Lord's words.
"If the Palace Lord says so."
"Guess that's that."
The Palace Lord ruled over beasts; his word carried immense weight, melting away the protests.
Hyeok Mulin watched him silently.
Soon, reseating himself, Suritae addressed Hyeok Mulin.
"Your doing, right?"
"Yes."
Hyeok Mulin affirmed, and Suritae nodded.
"Impressive. To draw out a beast's Arksa."
Genuine admiration shone in his eyes toward Hyeok Mulin.
"Never thought an outsider from Namman could teach a beast to unleash its Arksa."
Arksa was something only someone like the Palace Lord, who grew up with beasts, could awaken.
Suritae couldn't help marveling at Gold Leopard's transformation under Hyeok Mulin's training.
But it wasn't over.
What truly shocked him came next.
"Arksa?"
Hyeok Mulin tilted his head, puzzled.
"What's that?"
"...What?"
Suritae stared at him in disbelief.
As if questioning if he meant it.
Seeing Hyeok Mulin's genuine confusion, realization dawned.
He truly didn't know what Arksa was.
Arksa.
A unique Namman term for a beast's innate energy.
Beast versus spirit beast—the greatest divider was Arksa, once a highly valued concept in Namman.
Yet he'd awakened it without even knowing what it was.
'...Hah.'
Suritae could only chuckle wryly at Hyeok Mulin.
The Heavenly Demon lived up to his name, once again.
'Arksa, huh.'
Meanwhile, Hyeok Mulin pondered the word while eyeing Gold Leopard.
He had a rough idea of what it meant.
Probably the ability to wield its beastly energy.
An accurate guess.
What Hyeok Mulin had taught Gold Leopard was simple.
He'd infused it with his killing intent until it could endure it.
Of course, not at full power.
Had he gone all out, Gold Leopard wouldn't have survived.
Moderated thus, it had reached the level of manifesting killing intent directly.
Child's play to Hyeok Mulin, but a world of difference to fellow beasts.
"Gold Leopard! The first to advance to the finals—give a hot round of applause for our beast!"
Clap clap clap—
With the Palace Lord's endorsement dispelling doubts, the crowd applauded.
Gold Leopard, sensing it was for him, smugly shrugged its shoulders.
'Want to smack it one.'
As if reading Hyeok Mulin's mind, it flinched and hurriedly exited the arena.
Moments later, with the iron gates firmly shut, the venue's murmurs faded.
Cold silence descended.
No one spoke, all eyes fixed on the arena.
The next match.
Its outcome would shape the future of Namman Beast Palace.
In the heavy atmosphere, Bang Tara slowly spoke.
"You've waited long. Most palace folk have awaited this moment in the Fierce Beast Tournament."
Bang Tara was a Namman Beast Palace martial artist too.
Thus, he felt the tension equally.
"The second semifinal."
Nodding, he uttered in a firm voice.
"The Palace Lord's No. 1 versus the Little Palace Lord's Red Maned Lion—the match begins now!"