BXBX NOVEL Chapter 161: Arrogance of the leader
Its red eyes gleamed with a mix of fury and bloodlust as it stared down at the tribe, particularly at Lyerin, who stood firm, unshaken by the behemoth's rebirth.
Corora hurried to Lyerin's side, her breathing uneven, her small frame trembling with uncertainty. "Lyerin... Should we attack now? We have no time!" Her voice quivered, betraying the fear that had crept into her heart.
Lyerin glanced at her, his gaze calm, almost amused. "No, not yet," he said, shaking his head slowly, his expression unreadable.
"But why?!" Corora's eyes widened in shock. "It's only getting stronger every second. You can't possibly let this go on!" Her voice rose in panic.
Lyerin's lips curved into a small smile. "Exactly. The Minotaur grows stronger each time it's angered, each time it's killed. It regenerates, and with every return, it becomes twice as deadly."
Corora froze, her gaze snapping back to the Minotaur.
She tried to focus on its power, honing her senses to gauge its current strength. And then, the truth hit her like a blow to the gut. She stumbled back, her face paling. "No... It can't be… It's... It's already surpassed me."
Her voice was small, breathless as she realized the full extent of the monster's growth.
"It was only at the tenth stage of the initial Mana cycle, and now... now it's nearly at your level, Lyerin! It's in the eighth stage of the secondary Mana cycle!" Her voice trembled. "It's doubled in power!"
Lyerin gave a slow nod, his eyes never leaving the towering creature before them. "That's correct."
"But..." Corora stammered, her mind racing. "What do we do now? How do we stop something that grows stronger with every defeat? It's getting closer to your power, Lyerin! If it surpasses you…"
Lyerin chuckled softly, cutting her off. His tone remained light, almost dismissive. "It's not a problem," he said, his voice carrying an air of confidence that made Corora stop short, blinking at him in disbelief.
She opened her mouth to protest, but the look in Lyerin's eyes stopped her.
Despite the impossible odds, despite the monstrous power standing before them, Lyerin was utterly calm.
There was not a trace of fear in his demeanor.
In his head, Lyerin thought to himself, In my past life, I was always prepared. A loner like me didn't survive by brute force alone. I've seen creatures like this before. And no matter how strong they get, there's always a way…
A way…
To break them!!
…
Far above, in the shadowy realm that housed the six-armed watchers, laughter erupted in waves.
The sinister figures hovered like dark gods, their laughter deep and mocking as they replayed Lyerin's words over and over in their minds.
"Not a problem?" one of the shadows scoffed, its voice thick with amusement. "Did you hear that? The human really thinks this is not a problem!"
"How ignorant can these Earthlings be?" another shadow chimed in, its tone dripping with disdain.
"Do they really believe that their pathetic tribe can handle a creature like that? The Minotaur is invincible! Every time it's defeated, it regenerates stronger and stronger. Not even we have the means to deal with such an endlessly evolving force!"
The largest shadow, its form bristling with malice, chuckled darkly.
"The humans don't realize what they're dealing with. This isn't just some ordinary monster. The Minotaurs were created for this very purpose—to crush the weak, to annihilate anything that stands in their way. Lyerin and his tribe are nothing more than ants before it."
"They really think they can handle a monster that regenerates after every death?" a shadow sneered.
"The Minotaur's strength is limitless. It grows faster, stronger, more dangerous with every second. And they think their tiny human tribe can do something about it?"
"Fools," another voice added. "We struggled to capture that beast even in the dungeon, with all our power and resources. It took all of our strength to subdue it, and now this Lyerin thinks he can deal with it?"
The shadows cackled in unison, their voices a cacophony of mockery. "Let the Earthlings be the first victims. Let them be crushed by their own ignorance."
…
On Earth, the projection of the Asura girl reappeared in the sky, her expression one of pure disbelief. She had been watching the events unfold, her voice tinged with shock as she announced to the gathered masses what was happening.
"Can you believe this?" the Asura girl's voice rang out, her tone incredulous. "Lyerin of the Stonehooves Tribe just claimed that the Minotaur is not a problem! Not a problem?! Does he not understand what he's facing?"
The people of Earth watched in horror as the Asura girl continued.
"Let me make this clear to all of you watching. The Minotaur is no ordinary creature! It's one of the most terrifying beasts in existence. Its power grows exponentially every time it is angered, every time it is defeated.
"Right now, it's already at the eighth stage of the secondary Mana cycle. And if Lyerin continues to toy with it, it will only get stronger!"
Her voice took on a darker, more ominous tone.
"The only weakness of the Minotaur is that it grows stronger the angrier it gets. Its power is tied to its rage. The only way to defeat it... is to somehow calm it down. But how can anyone do that when it's been designed to destroy?"
The Asura girl paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. Across Earth, people listened, their faces pale with fear and confusion.
How could anyone, especially a mere human, hope to calm a creature that had been designed for pure destruction?
"Now… Can you believe it?" the Asura girl said again, her voice filled with both disbelief and amusement.
"Lyerin says it's not a problem! Not a problem, when this creature could crush him and his entire tribe with a single blow!"
…
Back on Earth, people were watching in disbelief.
The giant screens that had been set up across major cities were now filled with the image of the massive Minotaur towering over the Stonehooves Tribe.
Its red eyes glowed with an otherworldly hatred, its muscles bulging with power. The ground beneath it trembled with every step.
In a crowded marketplace, a group of people stood frozen in front of one of the screens, their faces a mix of fear and confusion.
"He said... it's not a problem?" one man muttered, his voice shaky. "How can it not be a problem? Look at that thing! It's a monster!"
"He's insane," another person said, shaking their head in disbelief. "That Minotaur... it's going to kill them all!"
In a small village, an old woman clutched her rosary, her hands trembling. "He's going to get them all killed," she whispered to herself, tears streaming down her face. "There's no way they can survive this…"
Meanwhile, in the upper echelons of society, those who had been watching the survival game with more interest began to murmur among themselves.
"Is Lyerin truly that arrogant?" one man said, his voice filled with disbelief. "Does he really think he can handle something like that? The Minotaur is unstoppable!"
"He doesn't know what he's doing," another person said, shaking their head. "Earth is doomed if this is their best hope."
…
The Asura girl's projection loomed over the skies of Earth once more, her voice rising with curiosity and a hint of challenge.
"Lyerin of the Stonehooves Tribe," she called out, her voice echoing through the air.
"How do you plan to deal with this beast? How do you intend to stop a creature that only grows stronger the more it is angered?"
The people of Earth held their breath, waiting for an answer.
Waiting to see i
f Lyerin truly had a plan—or if his confidence was nothing more than the final act of a man doomed to fail.