Seth's teeth clenched immediately upon hearing Orion's words.
"Are you questioning my orders?" he responded, struggling to contain his irritation, though it still seeped into his words.
"No!" Orion shook his head decisively.
"What I meant is that continuing this way would not only prolong our journey to the mountain but also hinder our ability to conserve strength for rescuing Saria and extracting her from the mountain," he added.
Orion had previously conveyed to the Village Chief and other key figures the vulnerability of the Prismerion race compared to the village warriors. This information had also been shared with the warriors to prepare them for what lay ahead.
Seth understood that Orion referred not to the Prismerion race but to the alleged god trapped in the mountain with them.
Regardless, Seth couldn't ignore the subtle challenge within Orion's words.
"So, you're truly questioning my orders?" Seth responded, his brows twitching in annoyance.
"I didn't say anything that would ques—"
"ENOUGH!" Seth bellowed, his voice cutting through the tension in the air. Witnessing the sudden shift in expressions among the warriors, he understood their thoughts and couldn't allow the conversation to take a detrimental turn.
"TCHH!" Seth clicked his tongue loudly in annoyance.
Despite his successful exploration, which might have seemed like a punishment initially, he was confident that he had solidified his standing not only among the warriors but also among the key figures in the village. This success should have earned him enough merit to become the next Stronghold Leader.
However, with both the Left and Right Stronghold Leaders still having several more years before retirement and showing no signs of weakening, Seth had redirected his ambitions toward becoming the next Village Chief.
Naturally, Seth had set his sights solely on the position of Village Chief, making it his ultimate goal to seize such an opportunity.
However, his carefully laid plans had been thrown into disarray by a single individual—an upstart young warrior who had barely joined their ranks a month ago.
Now, this same young man dared to challenge his authority in the presence of the warriors, the very individuals who would pave the way for Seth's ascension to the role of Village Chief.
It was no wonder that frustration and irritation bubbled within him.
"DO YOU BELIEVE YOU'RE MORE SKILLED AND CAPABLE OF LEADING THIS GROUP ON THE MISSION THAN I AM?!" Seth's words echoed with evident irritation.
Despite his attempt to conceal it, his frustration was palpable.
He swiftly devised a strategy to manage the situation and demonstrate to the young man that there were limits to the extent of his influence.
Orion prepared to reply when a sudden pinch at the side of his stomach caught him off guard.
Furrowing his brows, he turned to find Fifi wearing a solemn expression.
Ignoring her silent communication, he refocused on Seth. Fifi audibly sighed and let her shoulders slump as he asserted, "Though I didn't intend it that way, if you put it like that, then yes, I believe I can lead this group to successfully complete the mission and bring Saria to the village safely."
Seth could feel the veins on his head pulsating as his blood boiled intensely upon hearing Orion's bold words.
"Good… Good… It seems that in my absence, no one was around to properly instil the demeanour and attitude befitting a warrior in you. Very well, since it's come to this, I'll take the opportunity to teach you myself," Seth declared, his voice resonating for all to hear.
He then commanded loudly, "Lower the Orion's skies."
Fixing his gaze on Orion, he added, "Just to be clear, given your contributions to the village, I'm willing to overlook your statement. However, if you're determined to prove your capabilities in handling this mission better than me, I'll gladly give you the chance. Everyone, except those in charge of the flying contraptions, should assemble on the ground."
As the Orion's skies gradually descended, Seth stepped over the basket's edge and leapt to the ground.
"Boom!" echoed the sound of Seth's landing, resonating through the air before the sequence repeated as other warriors followed suit, descending from the ropes and leaping down to the earth below.
"Are you sure about this?" Fifi asked, observing Orion with concern.
Despite underestimating the severity of their first conversation, she remained confident that Seth wouldn't harm Orion.
However, witnessing Seth's actions and hearing his words made her contemplate stepping in to resolve the issue herself.
"If I don't do this, it will take days to reach the mountain, which we can't afford. I don't know what he is planning, but we'll find out when we go down," Orion said, moving over the basket and scaling the rope.
"Come on, let's go. We can't afford to waste any more time."
Observing Orion's determined expression, eager to resolve the situation, Fifi released a deep sigh for the umpteenth time and swiftly followed, determined not to be left behind.
Regardless of Seth's position, Orion's safety remained her top priority.
Seth observed as Orion and Fifi descended to the ground, gesturing for some warriors to surround and block the one and two-star Vylkr vines from advancing.
All the present individuals were three-star warriors, so they promptly cleared the area.
Meanwhile, the other warriors were directed to step aside, creating a path for Orion and Fifi to move forward.
"How do you suggest I prove myself? We don't have enough time to waste here," Orion asked as he stared at Seth.
Seth felt a momentary twitch in his brows before swiftly regaining composure. "Strength is paramount for leading a group, surpassing even character. If a warrior cannot defend himself, he cannot safeguard the group and is unfit to lead," he stated, studying Orion intensely.
He added, "Since I'm offering you the chance to prove your leadership, it's only fair that you demonstrate your strength first."
Orion's brows furrowed instantly.
"Seth, I don't think that..." Fifi interjected promptly, sensing that things were veering off course before she was swiftly interrupted.
