564 CH 524: TIGER VS SNAKE (1)
The Tiger Lord, Baihu, stood atop the fortress, gazing out at the vast expanse before him.
The white disk of the moon hung high in the sky, its stars shining brightly as he held a bottle of alcohol in his hand.
Bailu knew very well that the impending clash might be his last.
The power the Duke employed was otherworldly, and the reports suggested this wasn't her usual domain.
The second Duke was the legendary Gerald, an old man renowned in military annals for his mettle and battlefield prowess.
Alongside Tyr, Gerald had been one of the cornerstones of the Lustburg Army, serving his country under three generations of kings.
"Hahaha. Should I consider it an honor to face such adversity?"
He grinned, taking a swig and downing all the alcohol in one gulp.
Such quantities could never inebriate him, but the taste of the alcohol brought back memories.
"Father. I may join you soon."
Bai Hu sighed. At least the clan still had its elders.
They were old and fading, their time nearing its end, but his military achievements should be enough to procure some medicine to slightly extend their lifespans.
At least long enough for his children to grow up or for another member of the Tiger clan to become a Duke.
'How poignant,' he thought.
He couldn't help but laugh.
When he was young and his father was still alive, all he wished for was his father to step down and allow him to become the leader.
It was only after becoming one that he realized just how burdensome this responsibility was.
Bearing the weight of leadership was not for everyone, and understanding that all his actions affected his clan kept him up many sleepless nights.
"Leader…"
"What is it?"
Bai Hu stopped and looked at the one who interrupted his drinking session.
She was one of his three concubines and the mother of one of his children, a young man who, while lacking talent as a warrior, was undoubtedly gifted in other ways.
Ping Hu gazed at her man before holding his hand. He was a cold and aloof man who often wore a mask of arrogance, but she knew deep down he was just a weary man fighting tooth and nail to protect his clan.
She hushed her voice while creating a small mana barrier to talk to him.
“Dear…”
Bai Hu frowned. He had a strict policy of not using endearing nicknames during official matters. Then he remembered that he might very well die in the next few hours, so his brows softened, and he nodded.
“For you to set up this barrier, something big must have happened. Explain.”
While Bai Hu was not one to mistreat his wives, he still exuded clear authority.
“I… Do we really have to fight?”
Ping Hu cringed a little when she said this, but she continued, pouring out her concerns as if she feared being stopped.
“This war is not just a war against another country. It’s a war for the throne. Do you think us fighting to the death will amount to anything?”
The more she spoke, the angrier she became. “Our family has been one of the most loyal to the crown, and even after your father's death, we were still respected. It was only after the Tyrant took the throne that our situation started plummeting.”
She cursed a little. “The chances of us winning this fight are dismal, while the chances of death grow ever larger. Beyond victory or defeat, do you think the Tyrant will keep us safe?”
She looked up hopefully. “What if we... What if we switched sides and joined forces with the princess?”
“So you want us to become traitors?”
“Yes. I am not afraid of death. I have fought alongside you for as long as I can remember. I have shed my blood for my clan and did so willingly. But I have no loyalty to the crown. Why must we die for this cause? We have already lost so much of our own. The clan's power has fallen by more than half already.”
Her arguments were passionate, born not of cowardice but genuine concern.
Weakness was a sin punishable by death or enslavement.
The Tiger clan had been a giant for years, and many would relish its fall.
“Go back.”
“Dear!”
He sighed. He wished for nothing more than to roar at her and make her fall silent, but he knew he needed to make himself clear.
“Think, woman. Think. Did you perhaps imagine that I did not contemplate betrayal?”
He asked sadly, “But we have already missed the timing. Choosing a side should have been done from the start. We missed the timing and killed a soldier of Lustburg. Even if we betray, do you think we will receive better treatment than we do now?”
He looked up at the moon. “I am willing to set aside my pride and beg if it can save the clan. But then what? What about the elderly, the sick, the women, and the children who stayed? Do you think the Tyrant will spare them if we switch sides? Even if he does and somehow loses, do you think the new princess will trust traitors? And what if he wins?”
He chuckled. “I am no seer. I cannot foresee or anticipate the future. I am no genius. I cannot calculate the flow of the war. But what I do know is this: As long as we stay true to our side, even if we die, the Tiger clan will not be destroyed.”
He looked up, his eyes ablaze. “They may fall. They may suffer. But they will endure.”
Ping Hu's eyes filled with tears. “But is such survival worth it?”
“Of course it is.”
His voice remained calm. “Death is the end of all hope. Only by staying alive can you change your circumstances.”
He waved his hand to dismiss the barrier and finally looked at all his companions. His company was not solely composed of Tigers, but he regarded all of them as people worthy of respect.
“Everyone! I believe tonight is a momentous night. Many of us may not see the sun tomorrow, myself included. Therefore… Give it your all from the outset. Do not hesitate.”
The wolves howled, the tigers roared, and everyone else let out their war cries.
Their eyes reddened as their horns manifested, boosting their power further. [2]
They were about to enter a berserk state, and they had no reason to hold back.
This night would be drenched in blood.
[1]: Hu is the family name, which means Tiger. It's quite an archaic name in China, with Ho being more mainstream. The name Ho for Tiger is also used in Korea, interestingly. Bai Hu means legendary white Tiger. It's quite a grand name for a random character, but I didn't want to exhaust myself trying to find a better name.
[2]: For those who remember, the basics are Mana veins, Horns, and Core. Only the S (divine beasts) rank has cores. High-ranked magical beings have horns. Everyone else has mana veins. For the Berserk mode, you can refer to Vol 3, Sol vs. Setsuna. (Dragon vs. Wolf was the name.)
