Mark Grayson and the White Lion exchanged glances.
Silent information was rapidly exchanged between his molten gold pupils and the White Lion's scarlet beast eyes.
Is that you or me?
Hmph!
The White Lion snorted out two jets of scorching white steam from his nostrils, letting out a low, disdainful roar from his throat.
He slammed the crude goblet, made from an unknown creature's skull, onto the stone table with a dull thud, splashing wine everywhere.
That aggressive and impatient action left no doubt about the answer.
Mark Grayson nodded slightly, saying no more.
His senses, like an invisible radar, swept across the entire cave, quickly assessing the strength of most of the creatures present.
The conclusion was clear: there was almost no one who could pose a real threat to the White Lion, who, despite his current dissatisfaction, was brimming with fighting spirit.
Ruijia, the tall female leader, counted as half, but only half.
As long as the White Lion wasn't foolish enough to be surrounded and exhausted, he was safe and sound.
Roar—!
The White Lion let out a deafening battle roar, suddenly rising to his hind legs, his massive body stirring up a fishy wind; his not-yet-fully-healed wounds seeped slightly from bulging muscles, adding to his ferocity!
The thick, almost tangible scent of blood and surging battle intent, like a splash of ice water, instantly silenced the alien races who had been most boisterous, causing them to instinctively retreat a few steps.
However, the Alliance was a mixed bag, and what it lacked least were simple-minded brutes and warmongers overly confident in their own strength.
After a brief silence, several exceptionally burly leaders, scarred and clearly having fought their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, instead had their eyes light up with excitement and aggression.
I'll test the mettle of your white-furred cat!
A giant nearly four meters tall, with granite-like skin and only one massive eye, was the first to roar and leap into the arena!
With every step he took, the ground trembled slightly, and sand and gravel rustled down.
Ruijia didn't stop him; her amber eyes, instead, sparkled with amusement as she raised her cup to Mark Grayson.
Mark Grayson's expression was calm, and he also raised his cup in response, as if the impending fight below was not a brawl but an entertaining performance.
The battle began quickly and ended even faster.
The cyclops roared, launching a savage charge, like an out-of-control heavy tank.
The White Lion merely watched him approach indifferently, and just as the giant was about to collide, he moved!
His speed was so fast that it left only a white afterimage; with a sidestep, he easily avoided the charge, while his huge, bandaged lion's paw, with a scream that tore through the air, accurately slammed into the giant's side neck like a heavy hammer!
Bang!
A muffled thud!
The cyclops's forward momentum abruptly halted, his single eye filled with disbelief, then rolled back, and his massive body crashed to the ground like a felled tree, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Knocked out cold!
Just one move!
The entire crowd was in an uproar!
Useless! Let me!
A creature resembling an upright scorpion, with a tail glowing with poisonous light, shrieked as it charged forward; its speed was extremely fast, and its venomous tail struck towards the White Lion's eyes like lightning!
The White Lion didn't even bother to dodge; his other paw moved faster, accurately gripping the tip of the rapidly striking venomous tail like iron tongs.
Then, amidst the opponent's terrified shrieks, he suddenly exerted force and swung!
Swish—Smack!!
The scorpion-man was flung against the nearby rock wall like a meteor hammer, his carapace shattered, and fluids splattered, knocking him out cold on the spot.
Another one!
Immediately after, the third, the fourth, the fifth…
Those with strength were crushed by the White Lion's even more violent power; those with speed were utterly outmatched by the White Lion's even more terrifying speed and reactions; and those using strange abilities couldn't even break through the White Lion's battle instincts and resilient body, honed through countless life-or-death struggles!
The White Lion paced back and forth in the center of the arena as if strolling in his own backyard; every challenger who stepped up was almost instantly sent flying, knocked out, or trampled underfoot in the most concise, brutal, and humiliating way!
He didn't even use any special abilities, just the most basic pounces, clawing, tail sweeps, and his terrifying, ultimate brute strength!
Screams, bone-crushing sounds, and dull thuds of bodies hitting the ground rose and fell.
Soon, a circle of various powerful individuals lay around the White Lion, groans echoing incessantly.
Who else?!
The White Lion shook off the unknown blood and viscous fluid clinging to his paws, his scarlet pupils scanning the entire hall; wherever his gaze fell, almost all creatures instinctively avoided eye contact.
He bared his teeth in a wide grin, his tone filled with disappointment and impatience.
That's it? A bunch of weaklings!
I'm barely warmed up!
The entire council hall fell into an extremely awkward silence.
Only the crackling of the bonfire and the groans of the injured on the ground were exceptionally clear.
Mark Grayson and Ruijia were still drinking.
But Mark Grayson could clearly feel that the female leader beside him was slowing the frequency of her toasts, her hearty smile becoming somewhat stiff, and a storm beginning to gather in the depths of her amber eyes.
The White Lion's ruthless sweep of the entire hall was tantamount to rubbing the Starfire Alliance's face in the dirt.
As the leader, her authority was being challenged.
Mark Grayson secretly thought, 'Not good,' having been so engrossed in watching Grom vent and assert dominance that he forgot to consider the feelings of this temporary ally.
He was about to speak to stop the White Lion, who was enjoying the fight, but it was too late!
Enough!!
A roar filled with fury exploded!
Ruijia suddenly stood up, smashing her goblet to the ground; her tall body trembled slightly with anger, as if power surged beneath her bronze skin!
Even when beating a dog, one must consider its master, you white-furred beast, you are too arrogant!
Ruijia roared, leaping down from the high platform; her heavy bone scepter was casually stuck into the ground, as she intended to fight the White Lion bare-handed!
Bring it on!
The White Lion, not yet satisfied with the fighting, was delighted rather than surprised to see the strongest leader finally enter the fray, and roared as he charged forward!
Boom!
The two collided like two human-shaped meteors, and the air currents generated by the pure physical impact dimmed the surrounding bonfires!
The ensuing battle was completely different from before!
Ruijia's ability to become the temporary leader of the Starfire Alliance was definitely due to her undeniable hard power.
Her strength might be slightly inferior to the injured White Lion's at the moment, but her combat skills were extremely refined, her experience incredibly rich, and she seemed to possess a unique way of exerting force and powerful energy amplification!
Her fists, feet, elbows, knees, and even the bone plates on her head became deadly weapons; her offense was like a storm, yet carried a wild rhythm!
The White Lion grew more and more alarmed as he fought; he had initially thought he could end the battle quickly, but found that if he didn't fight with the intent to kill, relying only on the idea of knocking her down or out, he truly couldn't defeat this woman in a short time!
Her resilience, ability to withstand blows, and the wild momentum that grew stronger with each fight far exceeded his expectations!
The two fiercely exchanged blows in the center of the arena, fist meeting flesh, the dull thuds echoing like drums, and the ground beneath their feet constantly cracked, sending gravel scattering!
Go, Leader!
Beat that white-furred lion!
Let him know the might of our Starfire Alliance!
Leader Ruijia! Defeat him!
The surrounding onlookers finally recovered from their shock, erupting in cheers like a mountain and a sea.
Almost everyone was shouting for Ruijia, transforming all the frustration of being crushed by the White Lion into support for their leader.
Of course, there was also a small group of troublemakers, or those already dissatisfied with Ruijia, who were sarcastically jeering at the White Lion.
White-furred trash! Can't you do it anymore?!
Where's your arrogance from earlier?
Go back to your Alliance!
These voices pierced the White Lion's proud nerves like needles; his heart was already filled with violence and pain due to his clansmen's plight, and now, after a prolonged battle and being mocked by mere nobodies, his suppressed rage finally broke through the dam of his reason!
Roar ah ah ah ah!!!
The White Lion suddenly let out a furious roar that shattered the clouds; the dense scent of blood and killing intent around him instantly surged by more than several times!
It was as if an ancient beast, completely enraged, had broken free from all shackles; in his scarlet pupils, only the most primal, most insane desire for slaughter remained!
He abandoned all defense and technique, his speed and strength suddenly elevating to a new level.
He swung a paw with a decisive force that could tear through anything, aiming directly for Ruijia's head; this strike was no longer a sparring match, but a deadly fight!
It was a true killing move, meant to exchange life for life!
Ruijia's pupils suddenly contracted; she felt a fatal crisis.
The palpable killing intent rushing towards her almost froze her blood!
She wanted to block, but found all her movements became slow and powerless before that pure, savage will to kill; she could only watch helplessly as the deadly claw rapidly grew larger before her eyes!
The scent of death instantly enveloped her!
Just at this critical moment!
Enough.
A calm voice seemed to sound in both their ears simultaneously.
The next instant, whether it was the berserk White Lion, the desperate Ruijia, or all the cheering onlookers, everyone felt a blur before their eyes!
A figure, like a ghost, appeared without warning between the two of them, perfectly separating the deadly claw from Ruijia's unguarded face.
It was Mark Grayson.
He raised both hands simultaneously; one hand, with fingers splayed, casually met the White Lion's berserk claw, which was capable of smashing small mountains and contained endless killing intent.
The other hand bent its forearm, firmly blocking Ruijia's heavy punch, which she had instinctively unleashed with all her power in a moment of crisis, attempting to take him down with her!
Bang!!!
Two extremely dull, yet strangely intertwined, massive thuds suddenly erupted!
The expected scene of flesh and blood flying did not occur.
Mark Grayson stood there, his feet not even sinking half an inch into the ground; not even much dust was stirred up from beneath his soles.
His golden pupils were calm and unmoving, his body as steady as a rock, as if what he had just received was not the full-force, life-or-death strike of two powerful individuals, but a gentle breeze passing by.
The White Lion's berserk power was like a mud ox entering the sea, disappearing without a trace; his claws were firmly blocked by Mark Grayson's palm, unable to advance even an inch!
Ruijia's counterattack, condensed with all her bio-energy and despair, struck Mark Grayson's arm, but couldn't even make him budge!
Time seemed to stand still at this moment.
The entire noisy council hall was as if a mute button had been pressed.
All shouts, cheers, taunts, gasps… all came to an abrupt halt!
Every creature widened their eyes, opened their mouths or similar organs, as if petrified, watching the incredible scene in the center of the arena in disbelief!
He… he took it head-on?
And he took on both the rampaging White Lion and Leader Ruijia's desperate… killing moves at the same time?!
And… didn't even budge?!
Not even the ground beneath his feet cracked?!
What did this mean?
It meant that Mark Grayson's body could completely withstand and instantly neutralize this level of terrifying power!
His defensive capabilities and power level far exceeded the understanding of all creatures present!
The dead silence lasted a full five seconds.
Thump…
The sound of someone's legs giving way and sitting down was the first to break the silence.
Immediately, gasps of cold air rose and fell, merging into a single sound.
The frantic bloodlust in the White Lion's eyes gradually faded, returning to clarity; he looked at the calm Mark Grayson before him, then at his own paw, which had been so easily blocked, and let out a complex and unwilling low growl from his throat.
Finally, he slowly withdrew his power, took a step back, turned his head, and said nothing more.
He knew that Mark Grayson had stopped him once again.
Ruijia also slowly withdrew her fist, looking at Mark Grayson's arm, which didn't even have a red mark, and then at her own slightly numb, even somewhat fractured and stinging fist.
Her amber eyes were filled with shock, lingering fear, and a hint of… inexpressible awe.
She finally understood completely; the rumors were not only true but possibly even underestimated!
This man's power was overwhelming and despair-inducing!
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her churning blood and complex emotions, and performed a gesture of their tribe's highest respect towards Mark Grayson.
…Thank you for holding back, Mr. Mark Grayson, and also, Sir White Lion, Ruijia and the Alliance are convinced by your strength!
This time, her tone was no longer the previous hearty and outwardly enthusiastic one, but carried genuine, strength-based respect, even a hint of carefulness.
As her words fell, after a brief silence in the council hall, a louder clamor erupted than before!
But this time, it was no longer defiance and doubt, but filled with admiration, awe, and complete conviction!
My God… so strong!
This is… their strength?!
No wonder they could blow up the Old One's avatar…
Do we… do we really have hope?!
All doubts, all contempt, vanished at this moment.
The cruel reality of the cosmic told them that in the face of such absolute power, any petty thoughts and internal strife seemed laughable and insignificant.
Survival was paramount.
Mark Grayson nodded slightly, withdrew his hand, his tone still calm.
Just a small interlude, it's over now.
Leader Ruijia, now, can we truly discuss how to fight the Old Ones?
Of course!
Ruijia nodded without hesitation, her attitude more serious and cooperative than ever before.
Please follow me to the inner hall; we need to discuss in detail!
Thus, Mark Grayson and the White Lion, relying on their absolute strength, finally gained a firm foothold and earned their place in this chaotic but crucial Alliance.
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