Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 441: Perennial Against a King

By now, the many spectators could feel the strange tension throughout the colosseum. Zelsh was especially worried since his technique had just been returned to him under the guise of “altered betting terms”.

Strangely enough, the only people that seemed to act as usual were Vloz and the gorillas. Even after Ania informed them of the bet, the gorillas didn’t blink at the strange offer. Vloz was hesitant at first but he could sense and feel the palpable trust the gorillas displayed for their clan chief.

“Hey, are you coming down? Or are you forfeiting without a fight?!” Bradok shouted with his usual gusto.

With a prompt nod, the early-king dragon began his walk down. But a familiar voice telepathically reached the early-king, stalling him for a brief second.

‘Go all out. Hold nothing back. Expose clan secrets if you must...’

‘Very well, Lord Warak,’ the early king replied immediately and continued his walk down.

Warak finally let loose the breath he’d been holding subconsciously. He shook his head in disappointment and glanced at Treeda beside him, “... What do you think?”

.....

“It’s hard to say... Normally, I’d never claim that Bradok could win more than one time out of a hundred under such circumstances. But...” Unable to sort and share her thoughts, Treeda called out, “Zelsh, come up here.”

Zelsh did just that and hurried to a seat at Treeda’s side. “Yes, Lord Treeda?”

“You know Bradok better than us, and you’re quite familiar with the abilities of Razor-hide Dragons. In your eyes, what are the odds of Bradok winning?” asked Treeda.

Taking a moment, Zelsh leaned forward in his chair. “... Lord Warak, how old is that king, and how long ago did he ascend?”

“He’s been a king for almost ten years, and he’s under sixty years old,” answered Warak. “He also made it to the quadrant finals during his run through the Mortal Championship.”

“Ahh... That’s not good for your odds, Lord Warak.”

“What? I’m quite proud of his advancements and achievements. Before sixty he’s become a king, yet Bradok has remained at the peak of the perennial realm for how long now?”

Sighing, Zelsh replied, “But that’s the issue. How much of your kin’s advancement comes from natural bloodline?”

“... Quite a lot, I suppose,” replied Warak.

“Exactly. And how much of Bradok’s cultivation and experience comes from his bloodline?” questioned Zelsh, getting Warak to slightly rethink the match-up. “And Bradok is nearly two hundred years old. Would you like to know how long he’s waited at the peak? ...

“Almost one hundred and fifty years.”

Both Treeda and Warak felt their hearts jump.

But their shock continued to pile up as Zelsh continued, “Bradok has been fighting as a clan chief for one hundred years and as a cultivator-for-hire for more than fifty years. The only reason he never joined the Mortal Championship was due to the death of his parents. They died along with most of the clan elders at the time, forcing Bradok to inherit the role of clan chief the moment he became an early-elder. Can your early-king match that level of battle experience?”

Warak answered plainly, “No... Compared to my young king, Bradok has lived more than three lifetimes and has likely faced uncountable difficulties that my kin never need to imagine.”

“I do agree that your kin still holds the advantage, being a king cultivator,” Zelsh added, “but Bradok... If Dioro didn’t exist, Bradok would be the greatest ape anomaly that you can imagine. He’s killed a king before.”

“WHAT?!!”

Nodding to both dragon lords, Zelsh went on to say, “Exactly. Don’t underestimate him. That early-king never had a king-grade bloodline or from a prefectural clan, but they were still a king. If soul arts weren’t allowed and Dioro was to be pitted against Bradok, both as peak-perennials, I’d bet everything I own on Bradok.”

“... Zelsh, isn’t that too much praise?” questioned Treeda, marveling at Zelsh’s straight face.

“No. I believe it’s the perfect amount. Otherwise, I’d be underestimating Bradok’s abilities,” answered Zelsh. “But, again, I still give Lord Warak’s kin the advantage in this fight. Since Bradok was on the brink of death after killing an early-king in the past, I don’t know how he’ll fare against someone with such an amazing bloodline and naturally powerful physique.”

Warak nodded slowly. “... Zelsh. Please, stay here. If we have questions, we’ll let you know.”

“Very well. But I believe it’s better that you experience and witness Bradok’s strength, compared to being told about it.”

Too curious, Treeda asked one more question as the early-king reached Bradok. “Zelsh, have you ever fought Bradok?”

“Of course.”

“And how did that go?” asked Warak, also intrigued.

“I met Bradok just after becoming a low-king and was adamant to teach him a lesson due to his rebellious, rambunctious nature. That was the first time we fought...” Sighing, Zelsh chuckled and admitted, “I’ve never told anyone this, but he shattered my arm and shoulder. I put him out of commission for a few weeks but he still dealt me major injuries. And that was mostly due to my death essence gradually overtaking him.”

Before Treeda and Warak could react or say more, Bradok and the early-king bowed to each other. It was the second Razor-hide king judging the fight, with Rhyner and Jeminine of Toxic-shadow in charge of protecting the crowd.

“Are you both ready?” asked the judge.

“What’s your name?” Bradok asked with a respectful tone.

The man quickly shifted into his true form, showing his massive draconic body. Standing on all four legs, the dragon king was five-krin tall and fifteen-krin long, including his long club tail. With a wingspan of ten krin, the fully grown dragon was only smaller compared to his kin with abnormally powerful bloodlines, such as Brak and Warak.

“I’m Rojak. Youngest son of Warak.”

“Ohh... So you’re that brat’s younger brother? I feel sorry for you...” Bradok sighed and shook his head in pity, unfazed by the dragon’s enormous size.

Chuckling, Rojak bowed his head in respect. “Thank you. I ask that you consider that brat as an outlier, and not as my sibling.”

“Very well. Consider it done, Rojak,” replied Bradok, bowing in return. “I look forward to a great battle. Don’t hold back!”

“As my clan’s pride depends on this, I shall show no mercy. So, please, surrender should you feel your life is at stake.”