The legendary warrior

"His power's too strong!" A palpable tension sailed through whispers of quivering mouths. "A-amazing…"

The mysterious man in Blood Robe spared a spiteful glance to the onlookers. Driven still by the ominous threat that lay behind the being's scrutiny, they sealed their mouths shut in fear of offending him.

This male was not normal by any means. After all, he was none other than the incarnation of the Sacred Blood Lion.

"Welcome to Lion King Castle!"

Benson and his disciples fell to their knees in one swift movement, displaying their unwavering reverence for the spirit before them. They couldn't be more delighted to be standing on the dais as they beheld his awaited arrival.

However, the guest harbored such deep and clear hostility towards the group, that their futile attempt to plow past his indifference with the use of courtesy went ignored.

It was a fact that Ricky couldn't completely comprehend. He thought that the relationship between the subjects would be one filled with homage, what with the widespread legend of its ancestry. And yet, a disturbing truth dawned on him as he further observed the situation; humans and beasts, with their glaring differences, were just as incompatible as mixed oil and water.

If it weren't for the submissiveness of the contenders, the spirit would have started a massacre if he had felt even the slightest malicious intent drifting from one of them.

He shifted his predatory gaze to Benson's form, not bothering to hide his distaste. "Here are the three drops of blood essence from my body. Take them," he said as he regarded them coldly, stretching out his right hand to reveal his bloodstained fingertips. Three dark beads of blood slipped past the thick surface of his skin and floated towards Benson.

The receiver took out a jade bottle from his loose sleeve hastily as he prepared to catch the flying drops of liquid. He couldn't help but feel excited at the sight of it, his hands trembling with the obvious effort to stay calm.

"Thank you, my honorable Sacred Blood Lion!" Benson bowed deeply to the benevolent figure. His disciples followed his actions shortly after.

"This marks the end of the debt I once owed to your castle. From now on, expect that I will no longer be back. Your kind and mine shall never mingle again, and if ever we do--" his glare bored into them, chipping away at the chunks of metal serving as their armor. To him, it must've looked like mere toys. "--we are to meet as enemies."

He left in a trail of dark red smoke, disappearing without a trace in the open air.

It appeared that the Sacred Blood Lion was more than unwilling to pay a visit to a human's territory.

The warriors all sighed in relief at his departure, finally able to breathe at ease without the all-encompassing presence.

Then, one by one, heads snapped like magnets entranced to a piece of metal as the king held the white, delicate jade bottle that contained the blood essence. Greed reflected in their eyes, burning rays into the small object that almost seemed to melt under its intensity like wax against a white-hot flame.

No warriors in this world could've had the tenacity to resist the temptation of the rare matter.

Even so, resorting to using underhanded tactics was a taboo amongst the whole region. One must go through the Iron Blood Trial to earn such a prize; if not, they would face the wrath of the Snow Sect.

A conceited warrior of Bone Reinforcement had taken it upon him to commit such a foolish, daring act once.

dire consequence, his name found its own home on the Sect's death list as a prime wanted man. Soon enough, the burglar and his accomplices' bodies had served their purposes as decorations to the

the nerve to

with eagerness, luring him into a daze the longer he stared at the bottle. He couldn't help the thirst he had for the power within his reach, but he also had questions he'd like to clarify. "Master Grace, there's something about the Trial that feels a bit... uncertain to me. As per tradition, Benson had always followed the tradition of pouring all the blood essence into the Sacred Blood Pond, but if his disciples fail in the test, what would be there for Lion

has been drawn out before it's dribbled into the Scared

before flashing her an awkward smile, "Oh… Is that so?" At least now, all doubts inside his mind

itself with guarding this place. Having only

really is everything, I'm so proud to

a source of hope for him to

...

The Iron Blood Trial will proceed three days from now as scheduled; I hope you'd all do well, especially with the knowledge of this event being the last one in history. May you all try your

roused the crowd into shouting with glee and jubilation with his speech of

in the area had come with an undeterred will; they were all prepared to see through any setbacks that might hinder them from coming back to their lands as champions.

...

as everyone began to leave the venue. Ricky and Grace followed suit but were

Connie scoffed, speaking to Ricky in a venomous tone, while she was supported behind by the presence of a young man in black along

a quiet, appraising manner, and immediately concluded

an oncoming storm; dangerous and gloomy, inevitable destruction caused by the unstoppable force of nature. Ricky

to prioritize dealing with the annoying

anywhere I want

any signs of the vulnerability Connie must've hoped to see after delivering

sputtering at his comeback. "Grace, why did you recruit such an arrogant nominal disciple?" The man in black cut in, a faint wicked smile marring his lips. Suddenly, an enormous intent to kill gushed out and painted their atmosphere with straining

my disciple!" Grace argued, unaffected by the rising

How could you say such a thing? Both of us are core disciples of the Snow Sect. It's our collective duty to instruct our outer

lividity. "This guy doesn't even know how to act in front of his senior. I'd very much like to teach him

you be willing to do

knowing full well that his question was just for the sake of

like him would surely be in good hands during the Iron Blood

grade of Skin Refinement?

studied Ricky in contemplation, a sneer appearing on his cruel face as he

let's leave

his master's final words. Ricky followed her dutifully, marching out of the place as

...

Connie and said, "Be at ease, that bastard won't survive the trial." He whispered what he thought were words of comfort to Connie, his lustful eyes betraying any sincerity he wanted to impose on her.

Far from him, or them, as she watched Ricky's form slowly disappear into the bustling city with obvious resentment. She wanted it so bad to kill Ricky right there and then, stopping at the right time when she realized that she was still with her companions. She promptly pulled herself back to her senses the moment she heard Harald's voice addressing her. "I'm so grateful!" She thanked him profusely with a charming smile, barely preventing herself from cringing after noting