236 Duel with the Flaming Salamander Lord

[Foolish human! You will soon fill my belly…] The Flaming Salamander Lord started a long-winded rant proclaiming his superiority and the general inferiority of humans.

It really was long-winded. Remian was on the ground while the FSL was still going on about the flabby, tiny bodies of humans. He waited a few minutes while the FSL went on to boast about his powers, his body, his handsome, ruggish features compared to Remian's pale, wan skin…

Five minutes afterward, Remian yawned while the FSL threatened Remian's family, friends, town, and generally everyone he ever met…

[Look, are we fighting or not?] Remian grew tired of waiting at last and asked directly.

[HAH! Speaking so audaciously! How bold! Strike the first blow, if you dare…!]

Remian had had it. Raising one hand, pointed to the FSL and said, "Null Oxygen."

That was the thing about magic and science. While magic seemed to bend the rules of nature, all the things that happened still largely took place in a world where natural law was established. Back when Doom and Darian were going on and on about ice as a direct counter-element to fire, Remian was thinking scientifically. When he learned null-fields, this was the first thing he thought; fire needed oxygen.

Without oxygen, the Flaming Salamander Lord's fire outright went 'POOF!'

[Wha…?!] The FSL gaped.

Remian stomped his foot. "Spike!"

Instantly, a new Rocky Thorn emerged from right under the No-Longer-Flaming Salamander Lord. It skewered the big lizard right through his center, raising him fifteen feet into the air. "Fill your belly with THAT!"

[Urghk!] dangling from the sudden stalagmite the lizard tried to struggle, but with his relatively stubby legs dangling five meters off the ground, it could only flail at the stone spear and fail to even scratch it with his stubby legs. It tried to light fire again, but Remian's null-oxygen field was still in effect. [HUMAAAN! Ugharrrkk…]

Two things the FSL used in combat; fire and his Tier-6 body. With both nullified, it was basically harmless.

"Time!" George called.

"Six seconds since the first spell cast!" Max announced.

"Do you yield?" Remian asked the lizard.

To that, the FSL snarled. [N-never y-y-yield…! You…! I will… cook you… medium-rare…]

"Ice." Remian pointed. Maybe all that training in ice magic could come in useful after all?

A chunk of ice froze up the FSL's mouth. But that didn't really stop him from continuing to rant.

Nope. Ice training, still useless. At least, for now.

Remian sighed, tapped the ground with his foot, and a block of stone rose up to present him a seat. He sat down, and waited as the FSL roared and gasped for air, Psionic threats flying every which way, now including the entire human race and every Wild who befriended Remian into the FSL's must-kill list.

But as minutes passed, the threats slowed. After about five minutes of gasping for air and bleeding out, the FSL finally said, [The Kings of the Wilds… will never… let you… live…]

[Actually, I think the Wood Emperor is giving me a decent chance for once.] Remian contradicted. [Otherwise, I wouldn't even bother having to duel you for Lordship.]

[Just what do you want?! My territory? There is no fertile land here for you to grow your food! There is no flat space to build your homes! There is nothing here for you!]

[No, I just needed the Lordship to challenge a King. Then I need to establish a King's territory for my people to live on.] Remian explained courteously.

[You… didn't even want my territory?! Then why… why me?!] The Flaming Salamander Lord asked weakly.

[Because you were the easiest. Among all the Lords of the Wilds, you were the easiest target to take down.]

[The… easiest…] the Flaming Salamander Lord choked, and finally expired. Remian wasn't sure if he bled out, died of suffocation, or whether he was angered to death.

Or maybe a combination of all three.

"NOW can we call it?" George asked. "Time?"

"Twelve minutes, twenty-three seconds since the first spell was cast!" Max replied.

"Mark it down! Everyone who bet on the ten-second fight has lost their stakes!" George declared. "Along with everyone who bet on the lizard! This fight is Remian's win!"

"Great. So what does that mean?" Max asked.

"Other than that he's now qualified to Challenge the Kings…" George paused. "As of this minute, the Frontier has a new Lord of the Wilds!"

Darian applauded slowly. "Great! Now that you've qualified, who's next?"

"You mean, which King do I challenge?" Remian queried.

"No, no, I mean… who's the next Lord and the next Challenger."

"What? We still have to fight more Lords?" Remian stared blankly.

"Well, yeah. You're bringing a whole team to fight the King Challenge, right? Then they'll all need to qualify." Darian pointed out. "Didn't we already tell you?"

Remian gaped. "H-how much time do we have?"

"Two days." Darian reminded him. "In that time, everyone in your team, except for your mate, will have to qualify as Lords of the Wilds, or at least, viable Challengers."

"Two days? Can we really make it in time?" Remian asked.

Darian shrugged. "That's up to you, not me. But if you want my advice… I only have one word for you."

"What's that?"

"Hurry."

***

An hour and a half later, they were passing over the Blood Lands to the south of Rocky Thorns.

"The land beneath us is particularly poisonous. It is ruled by the Scarlet Viper Lord, and to say that one bite from him is usually fatal to anyone beneath the level of a King is no exaggeration."

"Pass." Song Chen decided. "Next!"

Two hours after that, they reached the striped Highlands. "Ruled by the Thunder Hawk Lord…"

"NEXT!" Song Chen didn't even pause.

"Bog Marshes, ruled by the Cyan Python Lord, especially famous for choking the life out of its victims…"

"That's the one!" Song Chen went for it.

Meanwhile, Markus engaged in a massive battle against the Golden Lion Lord. Joshu went hunting the High Crown Stag Lord. Even Spike asked Shadowflash for a spar.

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The first fight that ended that evening was Spike's. Five seconds into the battle, he was literally flipped over on his shell and begging for mercy.

Shadowflash laughed out loud for a five minutes straight.

***

On the open field known as the Golden Savannah, Markus faced the Golden Lion King.

The big cat yawned. [Do we really have to?]

"This is a challenge for Lordship! Even if I can't defeat you, I have to prove that I'm capable of being at least a Challenger!" Markus said.

He was wrapped up in extra-heavy armor, supported by his new B-Frame with a Strength Mod equipped. George's glaive gleamed and glistened with new runes in the fading evening light.

[You're seriously wanting to kill me?] the Lion Lord eyed Markus.

"I don't think I could, even if I tried." Markus confessed. "I just want to keep going as long as I can, and hopefully not get killed in the process."

The Golden Lion Lord yawned. "Then why even bother. Oh well, come at me, then."

Markus charged at the Lion Lord with all the power his body and Frame could muster. His extra-heavy armor added weight and momentum as he raised the glaive…

With a sudden roar that terrified all the beasts in a kilometer's radius, the Golden Lion Lord suddenly lunged forward and smacked at Markus with its paw.

The impact felt like the mines of Kara-Goth had collapsed onto Markus all over again. For all the added weight of Markus' armor and Frame, it was like a twig compared to a brick against the gigantic Golden Lion Lord. The beast was tons and tons heavier than Max, and that first, direct clash proved it painfully.

Markus went flying back, blood spurting from his lips as he tumbled through the air and crashed in a metallic heap on the ground.