Chapter 157 Chapter 157: Victoria's Glory
Chapter 157: Victoria's Glory
"Respect?"
Kevin had forgotten how long it had been since anyone had mentioned that word to him.
From his student days to the final battle to save the world, no one had ever mentioned this word in front of him. Even if they had, it was others showing it to him.
"You mean?"
A certain trait that had been completely restrained began to gradually diffuse.
After noticing that special beings like the Emperor and Ya Zi cared about his identity, Kevin, following the Emperor's explanation, had almost completely suppressed all the "traits" belonging to the "Beast Manifesting in This World."
Judging from the Emperor's reaction at the time, this move was highly effective.
The gaze in Gawain's beast-like eyes gradually shifted from arrogant dissatisfaction to solemnity. A "peer" who could completely conceal its aura?
"State your purpose, 'peer.'"
A low, authoritative voice rang out. Even the imposing presence of past Aslan kings could not compare to the Beast Lord before him. Or perhaps, they were the very hidden hands that propelled Victoria's founding.
Therefore, precisely because he understood the Beast Lords' peculiar tastes, Gawain similarly did not believe Kevin's purpose was as simple as touring Victoria.
"Friend or foe, choose."
Kevin did not wish to expend excessive energy on this, so he succinctly offered two options.
This lion was not as simple as it appeared on the surface. At least for the vast majority of people on Rhodes Island, it was indeed a sufficiently significant threat.
"Hah, since you are our 'peer,' you naturally understand that from our standpoint, there has never been such a thing as enemies or friends."
Gawain laughed at Kevin's words. They were omnipresent, even fading into history. They were Beast Lords, preserving the deepest secrets of this land.
Friends? Enemies? These were unimportant.
"Tea...cher?"
Vina never expected that the golden-hued creature had always remained by her side.
But her feelings towards these beings were complex. On one hand, they rescued her from peril, taught her combat techniques, and strengthened her physique...
On the other hand, they seemed to expect something, even envisioning her future... She was tired of the days of pursuit and those watchful gazes.
Gawain did not respond to Vina's call. Its limited attention was already focused on this "peer" before it.
"I am not your peer. Also, you should make your choice."
Kevin twisted his wrist, his knuckles cracking. At the very least, he was willing to spare a sliver of effort to resolve risks that could be easily extinguished and had little connection to him.
"Huh? Don't you two..."
"Vina, this is 'our' struggle. No one on this land has the right to interfere or obstruct."
Gawain would not make any guarantees. Most Beast Lords acted on whims. Today, they might bestow kindness because they found it amusing; tomorrow, they might strike casually because they were bored.
Moreover, with things having reached this point, no Beast Lord would back down.
"ROAR—"
Gawain let out a high-pitched roar, its golden mane radiating like a miniature sun.
"Five minutes."
The figure in casual attire almost appeared before Gawain like a ghost the moment before it roared. A jade-white hand pressed against its torso.
The surrounding space instantly erupted with light, sucking both of them inside. Only the brief, confident three-word echo remained in the air.
"Vina, come sit over here."
If Kevin said five minutes, then not a second more. The Doctor calmly found a seat and sat down. A little time was something she could completely wait for.
Seeing her composed demeanor as if she had weathered great storms, Vina stood frozen in place for a good while before finally coming to sit beside the Doctor.
"Want some water?"
The Doctor handed over the lid of her thermos cup, which was about three-quarters full of tea.
"Uh, no thanks, Doctor..."
Before Vina could refuse, the Doctor retracted the thermos cup lid as if she had anticipated the outcome.
"Oh, I was just being polite. Don't take it seriously."
The hot tea, which had cooled for a while, was now at a moderate temperature. The warmth transmitted in her mouth made the Doctor close her eyes contentedly.
"Doctor, aren't you worried at all?"
Others might not know the inside story, but Vina, who had studied with the "Lion Pride," had only one evaluation for these special "teachers" of hers—unfathomable!
Even the Fragmentum Tower standing in the center of Londinium, which Rhodes Island and the Dukes were helpless against, Vina did not think could compare to the "Lion Pride" in the wilderness.
"Worried about what? Oh, you mean Kevin? It's fine. From what I know of him, at most he'll just beat that lion half to death. There won't be any life-threatening danger. He has a sense of proportion in that regard."
"But?"
The Doctor made a gesture urging calm, successfully stopping Vina's words. At this point, arguing had lost its meaning. They only needed to quietly await good news from Kevin.
......
Within Imaginary Space,
The man and lion shattered the tranquility of this false sky.
The feeling of solid ground returned beneath their feet. Below them was a ship identical to Rhodes Island's vessel. However, lacking the roar of engines, it seemed dead and lifeless.
"ROAR!"
Gawain opened its maw wide, an angry lion's roar. Vast and mighty sound waves stirred tidal surges in the air, assaulting Kevin who was close at hand.
Kevin merely expressionlessly guided with his left hand and swung his right fist. A hook punch like a meteor smashed squarely into the other's chin, forcing the massive lion's maw shut.
The exaggerated sound wave capable of stirring tides abruptly ceased.
The tremendous force caused violent ripples across the other's body.
When his right hand lowered, it was already encased in a layer of blue-black bone-like material, cold and exuding a sense of power.
The bone-like material extended, quickly transforming into a giant claw that swatted down like a palm-leaf fan towards the golden lion on the ground.
"ROAR!"
Gawain roared, a lion's paw seemingly cast from gold thrust out. The sharp golden edge almost tore through this Imaginary Space. Wherever it passed, it left behind arcs of golden light.
Boom! Clang!
Flesh and claws collided, emitting either dull or crisp clashing sounds intermittently.
As the collisions continued, the golden light on Gawain grew increasingly radiant. The tips of each hair seemed to flicker with starlight. An aura very familiar to Kevin gradually rose from its body.
It wasn't the aura of any individual person but rather the aura of the entire land upon which the nation of Victoria stood.
"Victoria's Glory"!
"History has witnessed Victoria's rise; it shall continue to bear witness."
An exquisite symbol began to coalesce: four short and four long rays, four stars encircling a central disc.
At this moment, Gawain's imposing aura seemed to ascend another level!!!
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