CHAPTER 498: CHAPTER 498: COLD ACCEPTANCE

"I don’t mean to boast, but I once fought three tier 5 tigers at the same time, one of which was a chimera.

I was tier 4 back then

That I am alive today should tell you that I survived. I came out as the winner, as it should be.

Alora, ask yourself, how exactly do you hope to surpass me?"

What Kael said shocked not just Alora, but all the lion kings watching the fight.

They were stunned, what did Kael mean by what he just said?

He fought three tier 5 tigers, which wouldn’t be strange if he were tier 5 when he fought them.

Although tigers are not that common any longer like they used to, they can still be found if one looks hard enough.

That Kael had met some tigers was not surprising at all.

But Kael was also saying that he fought those three tier 5 tigers while he was still at tier 4.

"Impossible!" Alora muttered under her breath. She used one hand to press her shoulder and the other arm hung loosely.

She spoke the word that was on everyone’s mind at the moment.

"Impossible? Indeed," Kael said, slowly walking over to Alora with two flaming fists.

"But at that time, I didn’t think it was impossible. I thought it was just something any Primordial should be able to achieve.

In fact, I assumed that any lion that was talented enough should be able to achieve such a feat.

I only knew how wrong I was after studying the lion civilization personally.

It’s not you and the others are weak. Actually, lions are still the best.

But, I’m just better."

Kael arrived in front of Alora.

"I’m better than you. And I’m not even trying to be arrogant or boastful, or bring you down.

It’s the truth.

I could be as humble as fuck, I could express utmost humility, but is it going to do any of us any good?" Kael continued.

He was now close to Alora and looking down at her bloodied form. He had really beaten her very hard.

Anymore and he might kill her. That was why he was standing so close right now. He would snap her neck and be fine with it.

"You want to stand at the top? You’re not even close.

I know many lions who have tried harder than you and me long ago, but they still failed.

It’s not just about the combat ability, not everything in the universe is about fighting.

You also have to be smart, be efficient, solve problems, you have to be fast, and you have to do things in a certain kind of way to the extreme.

So far, you’re better than most of your peers in terms of combat ability, but so what?

I was better than you. When you and I reach tier 6, I will still be better than you.

When the day comes that one of us has to fight for the top, I will kill you, and I won’t show mercy.

Why fight against what is inevitable? Why desire something that you cannot attain...

...Something that you cannot attain without me."

Under the gaze of everyone watching, Kael stretched out his hand and gave it to Alora.

The scene was both heart-touching and frightening as this could mark the end of a talented lioness like Alora.

In this situation, Kael was clearly the bad guy. He was the villain, the temptor, the evil one.

For now.

If everything else was taken out of context and this day was left as it was, Alora should be the one receiving pity or assistance.

She should be relieved as others try to calm Kael down so that he doesn’t harm her.

But no one was saying anything. Even Shawty, who belonged to the Fanged Flower Alliance with Alora, was quiet, not knowing who to support.

It was safe to say that if Kael did anything to Alora today, no one would try to tell Kael that he was wrong.

It was a wake-up call for Alora. The kind of power she had been pursuing was raw and for herself only.

Kael had been building his foundation on all sides, leaving as few weaknesses as he could.

Not only was he stronger, but he also had followers. Alora couldn’t even see herself engaging in long discussions with other lions, talkless of building a follower base.

And intelligence? Alora was smart, definitely, but she wasn’t as smart as someone like Kael.

It was exactly as Kael said, if she really wanted to compete with Kael in the future, she would be playing a losing game.

And what about the other contenders, the hidden immortals scattered across the universe, the Primordials?

What about those Original Primordials who never sacrificed themselves to create their races and were still alive to this day?

If the universe were a game, only someone like Kael fulfilled the requirements to be a player. Alora could at best be a supporting character.

Not unless she did something extreme and achieved great power in a short period of time.

Alora looked up at Kael, her blue eyes getting soft.

She was about to make a move again...

"I know what you’re thinking," Kael said, a faint smile that wasn’t really a smile plastered stiffly on his face.

"In your mind, there are two options.

First, you could immediately transform into your true lioness form and fight me to the death.

You’re also aware that your chances of actually winning are very slim so it’s mostly that you will die.

But you’re also wondering if it is worth it.

Second, you think that if you end up taking my hand, you will just be using me to reach your goal, not because you care about me or anything.

But you’re assuming that a lot of your freedom could be lost. You’re also worried about developing feelings that may compromise your goals.

Correct me if I am wrong," Kael said.

To which, Alora still didn’t say anything. She wondered how Kael guessed.

He wasn’t one hundred percent right but he was dangerously close. Kael was simply asking himself what he would do if he were in Alora’s situation.

"What would you have me do?" Alora finally asked after staying silent for nine seconds.

"Life or Death? One serves you with continuity and hope, the other serves your ego and gives you honor that no one will respect.

I don’t need to make you choose.

Although, trying to use me as a stepping stone to get closer to your goal may not be a good idea. It’s no different from prolonging your demise to a later date.

However, if you help me get stronger, you will naturally get stronger as well.

Do you understand that?

If you join me, my growth will affect your growth positively..."

"But if you fall, I fall with you," Alora said.

"Alora, if I fall, you would probably be dead too either way," Kael said honestly.

"So, you want me to join you just like that? Become your consort? Or else, you’ll kill me?" Alora asked.

"Stop thinking about that and start thinking about all we can accomplish together!" Kael said, leaning forward with his shadow looming over her.

"Stop thinking about yourself alone for once, think about US, think about our power..."

Kael didn’t continue what he was saying as Alora reached out and held his hand. The sudden contact and the terrifyingly cold plan stunned him for a moment.

"Our power..." Alora muttered, playing with the word in her mouth.

She had only agreed to this because of one simple reason; She was already getting attracted to Kael before now.

If any other person had done this, she would have just killed herself directly to avoid all this.

The beating Kael gave her, she didn’t like it, but she didn’t exactly hate it.

Kael’s display of power, showing her who was boss, and explaining to her the gap between both of them. It humbled her and also caused her to unwillingly admire Kael the more.

She hated how much she truly admired Kael, she hated it so much. But it was true.

Power loved power.

’Our power...his power,’ Alora kept on thinking in her mind, forgetting that she was still holding Kael’s hand.

That coldness and aloofness that she once had was still there, it even seemed to magnify now that she subconsciously blended her identity with Kael’s.

Space twisted around the two before they disappeared from the view of everyone who was looking.

The final discussion between Kael and Alora was not heard by anyone. It was kept private, sealed off by a thin spatial barrier.

No one knew what had transpired at that last moment.

Shawty, who had been watching from above, had a deep scowl on her face. For her, the best outcome would have been Alora’s death.

She was starting to regret why she lent Alora a helping hand when she first came from the expedition to Eridoria.

If only she had known.

Shawty didn’t know that even if Alora wasn’t present, Kael would still not have any reason to interact with her.

...

Far above the short beat down, above the hole Shawty was peering through, Katari was crouched in her humanoid form, staring at all the occurrences with an indifferent demeanor traced with killing intent.