Taiga sharply noticed that something was unusual when the Players appeared in droves at the Long Ears’ village.
He had the vague feeling that those people who resembled humans had something to do with the Saber-Toothed Tiger Warrior’s death.
Still, neither the Mountain Tigers’ rank nor Taiga’s own position permit him to test their abilities personally.
That was why he quickly sent forth the Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior he so favored while forking out some profits to instigate the Hyena-men he so hated to test those humanlike creatures.
And as he imagined, the Hyena-men’s wits were not sharpened by much despite having their king, and they easily agreed to his request, mobilizing their whole tribe and advanced towards the Long Ears.
The Hyena-men could have been assuming that their expedition was no different from a buffet—the Long Ears were too physically weak, and not many amongst them could master the unbelievable skills of martial sorcery due to the sheer difficulty of passing it down.
However, what the Hyena-men bit into was a high-pressure stove made from stainless-steel. Not only did they not reach meat, half their teeth crumbled and their mouths bled.
Having already suffered initial losses, the Hyena-men shamelessly tried other tricks but was still punched by the humans into the ground, even rhythmically rubbed in the dirt up, down, left and right.
Finally understanding that they had provoked someone they shouldn’t, only then did the Hyena-men fled the battlefield, with half of their army already dead.
And after learning the news, Taiga reevaluated the Players fighting capabilities while developing an interest toward the Hyena-men who were demoralized and were only left with wounded soldiers.
It was true that nonhumans could live in peace, but only if there was a distinct hierarchy in between.
So, if the Mountain Tigers could seize this moment to take the Hyena-men out of the equation, their strength would rise considerably while they resolved the problem that was the King Hyena-man. Not only would they have to fear the humanlike creatures appearing in the Long Ears’ village, Taiga might even attempt to pluck Swordtail Grayclaw’s mane!
Hence, he sent the Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior out once again and had him persuade the Hyena-men.
It shouldn’t have been a difficult matter-it wouldn’t matter if the Hyena-men wouldn’t submit to the Mountain Tigers since the idea only randomly occurred to Taiga.
Even if the Hyena-men would turn against them then and there, it wouldn’t be difficult for the Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior to escape.
And yet, there were no signs that the Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior was returning after leaving the village for so long!
Could he have run into some trouble?
Taiga would have mobilized his troops if the Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior’s mark on their tribe’s totem had faded.
Still, that was when his footman came to report that the Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior had finally returned to the village.
Taiga quickly went out to welcome him, and while he wanted to reprimand the Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior for dragging his feet, those words were caught in his throat and he couldn’t say anything when he saw the look on the Tiger Warrior’s face.
One word was enough to describe him: sad!
His cloak was long gone and he was caked with mud all over his body. Tiny pebbles and dry leaves were caught between his fur, whereas all kinds of wounds were laden all over his body!
There were wounds from burns, frost, biting, swords, spears, meteor hammer, and even blunt instruments, along with signs of being bound and weird suction marks that the humans would leave after intense bondage foreplay… some of which were dripping with blood.
Taiga was beside himself in shock.
How horrific had the battle been that so many scars were left!
It wasn’t just the Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior either. Even the Hyena-men who followed him back to the village were all battered, with just over a hundred of them left of the three-hundred who survived the battle at the Long Ears’ village!
And the first thing that the Hyena-men did after reaching safety was to lie down and sleep, but they were holding tightly to their weapons even when they did so, jolting awake should anyone touch their weapons or made just the faintest of sounds and attack strangers within reach in panic and hysterics.“What… What did you run into?” Taiga asked the Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior, who seemed to be the only one still sane amongst them.
“Humans.” The Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior said as he wolfed down on a chunk of dried meat, a fearful look on his face. “It was only two at first-a fat one and a skinny one, but more soon appeared, saying things like ‘that lucky pair is right, there really is a ball here!’, and then fearlessly attack. They are like wasps that kept coming, and it won’t matter how many we would kill… and their corpses would also disappear soon after they die, so we can’t even use them as food.”
The Tiger Warrior shuddered at that. “They would attack no matter what you were doing at the time—having a meal, sleeping, or even having a toilet break. Whether you would bravely face them or run like a coward, they would fight you until they die, and anyone separated from the main group is never coming back. I had to take so many detours just to escape their pursuit and encirclement… but it just doesn’t work.”
Then, be it in fear or hate, Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior’s face contorted just like the Hyena-men. “Even if only one of them would find us, more would swarm us without end even if we quickly killed him! Do you get it, chief? They are looking like us like we’re treasures, charging at us excitedly with a thrilled smile that never fades even when we cut off their heads! Could you understand the horror!?”
Who would understand what you’re saying?!
Taiga Roar was roaring inwardly, but he knew that he shouldn’t say those words. The sad way the Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior had fled home to their village made it obvious that he had done all he could.
Tagia’s heart felt a chill as his face tightened. “Wait… Do you think that the humans chasing after you could find our village?”
The Ancient Imperial Wrath Tiger Warrior who had been nibbling on the dried meat looked up at Taiga with a pair of jaded eyes, and Taiga’s heart sunk.