C29 Challenge Bearman Patriarch!
The might of a Rank Six warrior was indeed formidable.
Beneath the Bear-man Patriarch's intentional oppression, Qingyou and Lillian felt as though they were burdened with a weight of a thousand kilos, struggling to catch their breath.
Yet, the two young women remained upright, steadfastly holding their ground.
"Patriarch, while I may be young, I'm well aware of the law of the jungle. Please withdraw your aura. Surely, you don't think I'd deliver goods to your door without any forethought?" Qingyou managed a strained smile, appearing somewhat disheveled but maintaining an even tone.
She had anticipated all potential issues well in advance.
Orcs naturally revered strength above all; in this realm, codes of conduct and reason held little sway. The strong rarely regarded the weak with any significance.
To the Bear-man, Cat-men were inherently inferior, especially when one arrived bearing copious amounts of exquisite wine and knowledge of metallurgy.
If such lures failed to incite the Bear-man's avarice, that would indeed signal something amiss.
"Oh?"
The Bear-man Patriarch was taken aback by Qingyou's poised response under his duress, prompting him to withdraw his imposing presence.
"There's a human proverb, 'The innocent man is blameless, but he who possesses a gem invites trouble.' Regardless of the windfall your Cat-man Clan has stumbled upon, your strength does not merit possession of such treasures. If you cannot demonstrate the might required to hold these items, then don't fault me for attempting to seize them. Alternatively, the Cat-man Clan could willingly align with the Bear-man Clan, and I might consider offering you protection."
The Bear-man Patriarch rose to his full height, towering over three meters, and gazed down at Qingyou, his voice brimming with unshakable self-assurance.
"Besides yourself, does the Bear-man Clan boast anyone of greater combat prowess?"
With the pressure lifted, Qingyou felt an immediate lightness. She sidestepped the Patriarch's inquiry, posing her own question instead.
"I represent the pinnacle of the Thunderclaw Tribe's might as a Rank Six Warrior. Across the entire spectrum of Orc tribes, numbering in the millions, there are fewer than a thousand who can claim this level of strength."
The Bear-man Patriarch's face beamed with pride.
He had immense confidence in his strength.
As he had claimed, despite the Bear-man Clan's exceptional talents, advancing became increasingly difficult. Achieving Rank Six was a testament to his relentless combat and bloodshed.
It was through countless battles, skirting the edge of death, that he had forged himself into a Rank Six Warrior.
"Please, follow me to an open area where I can demonstrate the might of our Cat-man Clan," Qingyou said, extending an invitation with a graceful gesture before turning to head outside.
"Hahaha! Little Cat-man girl, is this a challenge I hear? If you're so eager to witness my power, perhaps you should have this little Featherman girl spar with me instead. With her ability to hover, she might manage to hold her own for a bit. Though I'm aware you're a mage, you must realize that against such a vast disparity in rank, you wouldn't even have the chance to cast a single spell before I defeat you," the Bear-man Patriarch roared with laughter, as if he'd just heard the funniest joke.
His laughter boomed like thunder, making everyone's ears buzz.
"Hehe, how will we know unless we try?" Qingyou responded, her face impassive as she watched him finish laughing before she spoke.
