Hunters: The Prequel - Chapter 294

“Why are you boasting like that praise was directed towards you? Is he your student? Are you the one who trained him?”

Beastly Tiger growled in his menacing voice.

“No,” Rash Tiger shook his head in reply. “But I wonder who it was that said that me and Frowning Tiger do everything together,” Rash Tiger smacked his lips and remarked shamelessly. Beastly Tiger almost spat a mouthful of blood in anger. He didn’t think that Rash Tiger would return his words to him and use it as a means to defend his behavior.

Unlike Beastly Tiger, Domineering Tiger smiled slightly as he listened to the two bicker with each other. This had always been how things were whenever the four got together. Rash Tiger and Frowning Tiger were inseparable; the best of friends. And although Domineering Tiger and Beastly Tiger would never admit it, they were closer to each other than anyone else in the village, or the world for that matter. In other words, they were best friends.

Their group dynamic was similar to that of Rash Tiger and Frowning Tiger’s. The team of Frowning Tiger and Rash Tiger was a simple one. Frowning Tiger was the intelligent, thoughtful one, and Rash Tiger was the strong, impatient one. Plus, Frowning Tiger was used to handling political affairs, and only then would he show that he possessed some eloquence. Rash Tiger felt politics was too complicated, but was very smart when it came to other affairs. For instance, when it came to manipulating the emotions of others to boost morale or force a surrender, Rash Tiger was the right man for the job. The two had very different strengths, and so made a great team.

Domineering Tiger and Beastly Tiger were similar in that regard. Domineering Tiger was the intelligent, brooding one, and he didn’t lose out to Frowning Tiger when it came to wit. The major reason why Frowning Tiger handled most of the politics of the Tigers was because Domineering Tiger couldn’t be bothered to do so. However, whenever he was forced to, he displayed knowledge and maturity that didn’t lose out to Frowning Tiger’s. Added to the fact that Frowning Tiger was the personal confidant of Village Head Fan, many pushed Domineering Tiger to the back of the picture whenever it came to issues having to do with governance. But the Predators and Village Head Fan knew what he was capable of.

Beastly Tiger was similar to Rash Tiger more than anything else. He was just as rash and just as impatient as his Tiger counterpart. He didn’t like to think too much about issues, and usually left complicated things to Domineering Tiger to solve. Do not judge him for his temper tantrums now, for he was usually mild mannered and lovable. He was a person that was usually the life of any party. And he never took traditions seriously. Sound familiar? That was because it was. This was the exact character of Rash Tiger. However, the two groups never got along. Whenever they met, Rash Tiger and Beastly Tiger would bicker continuously like little children, without a shred of dignity.

In fact, no one without knowledge of who they were, would know they were Tigers if they were to meet them arguing. And most often than not, these arguments exploded into brawls and wrestling contests that left the two men dirty and filthy all over. As for Frowning Tiger and Domineering Tiger, the two could do nothing but watch on with a wry smile. They did occasionally get into arguments due to their very differing opinions on what matters most in life – strength or the human heart. But it was always handled tastefully. As for who believed that strength was more important, and who believed that the human heart took precedence over strength, one could easily guess based on what had been said so far.

“He is awfully clever in times like these, isn’t he?” Domineering Tiger drew closer to Frowning Tiger and stated. He was referring to Rash Tiger’s clever use of Beastly Tiger’s earlier words against him.

“Surprisingly. That has always been the basis for their brawls, hasn’t it?” Frowning Tiger smiled wryly and replied. Rash Tiger was ‘street’ smart. Because of that, when it came to a war of words, Beastly Tiger always fell short. This was the basis behind their brawls. Since Beastly Tiger couldn’t win when it came to words, he preferred to use his fists. But he wasn’t that much stronger than Rash Tiger, so victory was never assured.

“What is the tally again,” Domineering Tiger scratched his chin and smirked. Since the two Tigers had fought many times, there were bound to be losses and victories.

“75 to 72 in Beastly Tiger’s favor,” Frowning Tiger replied. That was how close the two were in terms of power. Beastly Tiger may be ranked higher than Rash Tiger, but even he, the one famed as a beast, couldn’t handle Rash Tiger in his animalistic nature with certainty.

“How can you all be so relaxed,” Arthur mumbled bitterly as he watched these men who had been his role models growing up, reminisce about the old times whilst they were on the battlefield. At least they were better than the duo who were growling at each other and ready to pounce on each other, almost as if they had forgotten that the job hadn’t been done yet.

“You’re here, are you not?” Domineering Tiger said words that stunned Frowning Tiger. Arthur didn’t think too much of it, but the effect these words had on Frowning Tiger was immense, and that was because of who had spouted these words.

“Domineering…” Frowning Tiger wanted to say something, but then he only sighed. For Domineering Tiger to say something like this was equivalent to a Magical Beast letting a prey go after hunting it for several years without rest.

Domineering Tiger’s words were an acknowledgement of Arthur’s strength, and at the same time they were a means of concession. He was basically saying that he wasn’t strong enough to affect the battlefield by himself, and that Arthur was the one who truly held power here. Although he didn’t say that he would fight together with Frowning Tiger and Rash Tiger, the fact that he had drawn closer to his compatriot and said those words, meant that he was going to do so. As far as one knew and understood Domineering Tiger’s character, they would understand what he was implying.

“Domineering, you can’t be serious,” Beastly Tiger also understood what Domineering Tiger was implying, and he found it hard to believe.

“Beastly, as people who pursue strength before everything else, we should be capable of recognizing higher powers when we come into contact with them and acknowledging that we are weaker. Wasn’t that the reason we followed Village Head Fan?”

Domineering Tiger waved his hand and said. He wasn’t abandoning his beliefs. He was enforcing them. If he was a pursuer of strength, then he had to know when to accept that another’s fist was bigger. Someone like him would only listen to another who was stronger. Domineering Tiger sought to remind Beastly Tiger that he shouldn’t forget that they followed Village Head Fan exactly because he was stronger than them.

“You are right. The fact that he is a v.i.r.g.i.n boy doesn’t mean we shouldn’t show him the respect his strength warrants.” Beastly Tiger nodded his head with an innocent look on his face. He didn’t forget to slap Arthur’s face whilst he was at it.

Arthur’s lips twitched when he heard the ‘v.i.r.g.i.n boy’ comments. But he didn’t have any other reaction. He understood that the main reason Beastly Tiger found it so hard to accept his leadership was because he was so young. The fact that Arthur had such strength at a young age was a bitter feeling in the mouth of this Tiger who made chasing after strength his major agenda for as long as he could remember. It wasn’t easy to swallow one’s pride and listen to a boy you had seen grow up, just because he was now stronger than you. And Arthur understood this. But because of Beastly Tiger’s ‘v.i.r.g.i.n’ comment, Arthur’s initial plan to tell them that he was only did strong because of the sword, was tossed outside the window. He was understanding, but that didn’t mean that he didn’t have a hint of pettiness in him.

Rash Tiger also had a look of surprise on his face, but it was quickly replaced by respect and admiration.

“You truly are worthy of being the King of Tigers. Only a King knows when to make concessions for the sake of his people.” Rash Tiger’s insightful words made all the Tigers look at him with stunned expressions. They couldn’t believe that something so insightful came from the mouth of someone brash like Rash Tiger.

“What? I can be smart too.” Rash Tiger harrumphed, and the others snickered. Suddenly their expressions changed as a loud roar shook the entire village, and every man and woman who occupied it.

*ROAR*

It was a powerful roar, stronger than the Shadow Leopard’s, and filled with a sense of majesty and superiority it just couldn’t match up to. It was the roar of the beast that threatened the strongest forces of the village.

“The Pseudo Legendary Class Magical Beast. It is here.” Arthur remarked solemnly. Under the cautious gazes of the remaining Tigers, the fearful gazes of the surviving Mythic Classes, and the envious gaze of the Shadow Leopard, a towering figure revealed itself.