Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: Lion and Tiger
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Lion and tiger.
Tiger and lion.
It was a head-on clash no one could have predicted before the Fierce Beast Contest began.
And most of the warriors in the Namman Wild Beast Palace still had no idea what animal the Little Palace Lord had brought with him.
However, Hyeok Mulin, who knew the truth, watched the arena with keen interest.
Interesting.
Among those well-versed in beasts, the animals most often named as king of the hundred beasts were the tiger and the lion.
The king of the jungle: the tiger.
The king of the plains: the lion.
They inhabited entirely different territories, so clashes between them were virtually nonexistent.
But now, in this arena, they had no choice but to fight until one fell.
And soon enough, the outcome would be revealed right here.
Who was the true king of beasts.
And who would seize control of the Namman Wild Beast Palace afterward.
Based on what they've shown so far, it's neck and neck.
In the semifinals, both beasts had simply overwhelmed their opponents without respite, without revealing their full potential.
Yet even from the power, movements, and reflexes they displayed, Hyeok Mulin sensed they were evenly matched.
But there was one thing that nagged at him.
Hyeok Mulin's gaze flicked toward Suma Geon.
The confidence he exuded.
It felt like the source of it was still hidden.
He too had watched the Palace Lord's black tiger up close—and in some ways, he knew its ferocity and abilities better than anyone.
Yet he had still wagered the position of Little Palace Lord.
That was only possible with absolute certainty of victory, no matter what.
Well, watching will reveal it.
Hyeok Mulin's eyes returned to the arena.
The heavy iron gate, firmly shut until now, began to rise slowly.
Soon, Ilho and the red-maned lion emerged from beyond the gate and stepped into the arena.
The pitch-black tiger and the lion with its gleaming golden mane.
Two beasts as contrasting as could be faced each other.
Krrrng...
The strong recognize the strong.
Unlike before, when it had toyed with its foe, Ilho fixed its gaze straight ahead and began to move.
And the red-maned lion mirrored it exactly.
They circled each other, probing for weaknesses.
The spectators watching this scene found their palms growing slick with sweat.
"Indeed..."
"Which one will win?"
They didn't know the wager between the Palace Lord and Little Palace Lord, but they instinctively sensed this fight would shape the future of the Namman Wild Beast Palace.
And so, as everyone held their breath and watched the arena.
Kraaang!
The red-maned lion lunged forward in an instant, igniting the battle.
Ilho did not evade.
The best defense is a good offense.
Ilho charged straight at it.
The moment they met.
Both beasts reared up on their hind legs and pounced with their front paws.
As their bodies crossed, they rolled and twisted fiercely on the ground, each vying to gain the rear position.
In the process, neither yielded vital spots like the throat, pressing their attacks relentlessly.
But then.
"Huh...?"
The eyes of those watching the arena began to widen one by one.
They clawed and bit at each other.
Pain was inevitable in such exchanges.
Ilho sometimes faltered under the strong foe's assaults.
But the red-maned lion was different.
It didn't retreat a single step, continuing to tear into Ilho without pause.
Even as its own nose, ears, and body were ripped open, wounds multiplying and blood soaking it through, the lion showed no hesitation.
It chewed Ilho's flesh, tore it free, and spat it out.
A brutality beyond cruel—but the lion's jaws never stopped.
And as time passed, at the end of it all.
"That's enough!"
Bang Tara appeared before them, signaling the end of the match.
Ilho's movements had already ceased.
Its once-tiger form was now unrecognizable, reduced to a mangled mess of shredded flesh.
And once again, the lion's mane and muzzle were stained crimson.
Kuooo!
The red-maned lion roared triumphantly atop Ilho's corpse.
At this savage result, the crowd involuntarily swallowed hard.
But soon, they exchanged glances, nodded, and erupted in applause and cheers.
They couldn't help but admire the lion's valiant display.
To press the attack without yielding, even as its own body was torn—worthy of respect, even from a beast.
They cheered in homage to the lion's bravery, but Hyeok Mulin thought differently.
That's not bravery.
Having watched the bout, he was certain from its reactions.
The lion hadn't charged in ignorance of pain—it truly felt none.
Hyeok Mulin's gaze shifted to Suma Geon.
Suma Geon slowly opened his mouth.
"We have a winner."
He smirked at the silent Palace Lord and continued.
"Since the Little Palace Lord position was on the line, I'll claim the due reward."
A loaded statement.
Moments later, Suritae, who had listened quietly, spoke up.
"It's not over yet."
"...It's a bit late for excuses, but what do you mean by that?"
Suritae pointed at Hyeok Mulin.
"Doesn't your beast still have one more step to victory in the Fierce Beast Contest?"
Suma Geon looked at him incredulously.
"Even after seeing that match, you truly believe that leopard still has a chance?"
The Palace Lord nodded, gazing at Hyeok Mulin.
"I believe it."
He seemed to have already written off the thousand gold taels.
Naturally.
Better to pay money than surrender the Palace Lord seat.
But that appearance...
Hyeok Mulin stared into the lion's eyes, gleaming with murderous intent.
This lion definitely felt no pain.
It was no ordinary beast.
Even so.
"Let's do it."
Hyeok Mulin readily accepted Suritae's plea.
He had never once doubted his victory, from start to finish.
"Then we'll begin the finals right now!"
Without delay, Bang Tara brought the Fierce Beast Contest to its climax.
With the red-maned lion still in the arena, he opened the gate on one side.
Geum Pyo entered the arena again with light steps.
It froze.
The moment it spotted Ilho's corpse, Geum Pyo instinctively heightened its guard.
It slowly circled the red-maned lion, probing it.
But the assessment was far from favorable.
The lion exuded tremendous ferocity, and judging by Ilho's corpse at its feet, its combat prowess surpassed it easily.
Its massive bulk dwarfed Geum Pyo, and the murderous aura Hyeok Mulin had taught proved ineffective. In a fair fight, victory was impossible.
"Unfortunate for the Great Princess..."
"The outcome's plain as day."
"So the palace's leadership passes to the Little Palace Lord now?"
"Which tribe is under the Little Palace Lord?"
"We need to pick sides soon."
No one thought Geum Pyo could win; they already treated the lion's victory as fact.
Their minds filled with visions of the Namman Wild Beast Palace under the Little Palace Lord's lead.
Then, someone spoke in a bored tone.
"It's moving."
Geum Pyo slowly advanced toward the red-maned lion.
One step, one step.
Calmly closing in at a deliberate pace.
The crowd laughed, assuming fear, but Hyeok Mulin watched with a pleased smile.
"Yes. That's it."
A sure-kill technique, usable only once.
One Geum Pyo had perfected only after fully grasping Hyeok Mulin's teachings.
As all watched the arena with bated breath, Geum Pyo flashed into motion.
Not its body, but its tail.
Whip!
Geum Pyo lashed its tail against the ground.
A small sandstorm erupted between them.
A fleeting moment, but the lion's vision blurred in the yellow dust.
Unable to see.
Sensing something incoming, the lion instinctively swung its paw.
But Geum Pyo had already slid beneath its massive body.
Kuo!
The lion hurriedly tried to defend, but its bulk became shackles.
The lion's movements couldn't match the leopard's agility.
Twisting fluidly, Geum Pyo's fangs plunged into the soft flesh below the lion's belly, ripping open a prior wound and tearing into its innards.
The fatal blow took immediate effect.
Another hole in its gut, and strength drained from the lion, pain or no.
The massive lion staggered.
As if indignant, it fought to stay upright to the end.
Thud!
Finally, the red-maned lion collapsed onto the arena floor.
And all this happened in an instant, before the dust even settled.
Moments later, as the dust cleared and the arena came into view, the crowd was stunned speechless.
"......!"
Defying all expectations, they stared blankly at the arena.
But their gazes weren't positive.
Soon, murmurs of discontent rose one by one.
"Using dust to blind it? That's cowardly."
"Anyone could see the lion had the advantage."
"Hard to call this a fair fight."
"I can't accept that leopard as the winner."
These dissatisfied looks turned toward Sua Rang.
But Sua Rang wasn't one to tolerate it twice.
The dust blinded both sides equally—what more was there to say about a clear result?
As tempers flared again with sidelong glares, she was about to raise her voice.
"The victor in the wild."
Hyeok Mulin boomed in a resonant voice.
"Is the one that survives to the end."
His sudden words left the crowd momentarily speechless.
In the ensuing silence.
"Kahahahaha!"
Suritae's hearty laughter shattered it.
He laughed long at the result before him, then grinned.
"Well said. The survivor is the winner."
Suritae pulled his lips into a satisfied smile.
The crowd exchanged looks, then nodded in acceptance one by one.
No one would question the Palace Lord's word.
"As all have seen, the result is clear! The beast that claims victory in the Fierce Beast Contest is—"
Before his declaration ended, Sua Rang had rushed to Geum Pyo, checking its condition.
Seeing it unharmed, she shed tears of relief and embraced it tightly.
"Geum Pyo, the beast of Great Princess Sua Rang!"
"Waaaaah!"
With the Palace Lord's clean declaration of victory, the spectators raised no further doubts.
They now celebrated with cheers and roars.
As their shouts filled the arena.
"Congratulations."
Suma Geon said to Hyeok Mulin.
"As expected of the Cult Leader. Though it used a trick, I didn't anticipate raising that beast to this level in such a short time."
"You admit defeat."
"Yes. I lost."
Suritae added to the admission.
"Don't forget the Little Palace Lord wager."
"Of course. How could I quibble before the Palace Lord and Cult Leader?"
Suma Geon smirked and continued.
"But the Little Palace Lord seat isn't the important part."
Suma Geon rose slowly from his seat.
He gazed at the sky for a moment, then drew something from his bosom.
A flute?
As Suritae voiced his puzzlement, Suma Geon leisurely raised it to his lips.
He filled his lungs and began to play.
Yet eerily, no sound emerged from the flute.
But soon after.
Rumble rumble rumble—
As if an earthquake struck, intense tremors vibrated from all directions.
Feeling it, Suritae turned to him with a flustered shout.
"What have you done?!"
Suma Geon replied calmly.
"From this day forward."
Smiling faintly, he continued.
"Everything in the Namman Wild Beast Palace will change."