Beauty and the Beasts

“What? He wants to make it to the supreme rank with just one battle?”

“But no one dares to challenge him. With no contenders, there’s no way he can level up.”

The scorpion leader transformed into a human. Even though he had a handsome face like all the male beastmen, his eyes were cold and heartless.

“This is against the rules,” said a scorpion beastman.

“Then, can I level up if I challenge you and win?” Winston had never been a patient beastman. He only wished to find out from the scorpion king, the location of the scorpion tribe’s nest as soon as possible, and kill that leader who dreamed of snatching away Bai Qingqing.

The scorpion beastman subconsciously retreated a step. Hesitation flickered across his eyes, before he said, “Come in.”

This was the outermost layer of Flame City. Only beastmen in the supreme rank could enter the innermost layer of the city, and the owner of this city lived right in the center of it.

Supreme-ranked beastmen were akin to royals. Every time a beastman made it to this level, the owner of the city would personally come out to welcome him.

Finally, Winston’s gaze changed slightly. With everyone’s envious eyes upon him, he entered the entrance of the combat pit.

He moved straight past three combat pits and finally reached the innermost layer.

“The owner of the city invites you to go in,” informed a scorpion beastman.

Winston nodded imperceptibly, then strode into the stone castle.

As he went deeper in, a handsome man leisurely sitting cross-legged on a rock entered his view.

That man had black hair that reached his shoulders—a color that was considered very normal in modern times. Yet, it appeared furry on his head, like the hairs on a spider’s body. He had the perfect, gorgeous looks typical of males in this world, yet he exuded a malevolent air unique to the scorpion tribe.

“I’ve long heard about you. I had thought that you wouldn’t come. But here you are,” the scorpion king said in a laid back tone as he sized him up. Despite his calm countenance, there was a desire to battle in the depths of his eyes.

“According to the rules, you may choose a territory anywhere you please. I’ll arrange for my men to construct an abode for you.”

Winston went straight to the point. “No need. I want to use that to exchange for something else.”

“Oh?” The scorpion king raised an eyebrow with interest. “What do you want?”

“The location of a scorpion tribe. This is the leg of one of them.” Winston retrieved a section of a scorpion’s black leg and tossed it before the scorpion king.

The scorpion king paused, then suddenly smiled. “You’re very bold. Aren’t you afraid I will shield my tribesmen?”

“You won’t.” Winston’s smile was laced with conceit, an impudent expression on his face. “Beastmen that are born rootless have neither emotions nor desires. You don’t feel obligated to help your tribe.”

“Hahahaha…” The scorpion king laughed even louder now, yet his gaze was icy cold.

Born rootless… He didn’t mind that, but occasionally, he would feel curious about why those beastmen were so hung up over the females.

Even though they bore bitter hatred towards the females who abandoned them, they couldn’t bring themselves to hurt them. He couldn’t comprehend how they felt, nor did he have the opportunity to understand.

“Sure, but you have to fight me. I’ve always been curious about how powerful you are exactly.”

With that, the scorpion king got to his feet. Without waiting for Winston’s reply, he transformed into a black scorpion about one-third larger than the size of an ordinary scorpion beastman in his beast form.

Winston, too, instantly transformed into a beast.

“Bang!”

A battle ensued between the two beastmen.

This battle lasted ten times as long as Winston’s last battle, and its intensity was also something never before witnessed in the combat pit.

As Winston’s attacks were bold and resolute, his opponent was oftentimes unable to ward them off. But he had a fatal flaw—that was, his overly majestic body limited his agility.

The scorpion’s shell was stiff and hard, but the hook on his tail was extremely nimble. Finally, he caught a chance and pierced right at the back of the white tiger.

At the same time, the white tiger bit the scorpion king’s head.

“Growl!…”

The venomous hook pierced into his body, spreading an intense pain throughout his entire body. The white tiger let out a stifled growl, yet didn’t exert force into his bite. Instead, acting as though nothing had happened, he released his bite.