"h.e.l.lo to you too." Remian grimaced.

They met at the border of the Golden Savannah and the Blood Lands. To the east, there were trees and marshlands. To the west, it was open gra.s.sland as far as the eye could see. To the south, the Speckled Highlands, hilly terrain. To the north, Craggy Falls, where a broken-looking cliff supported a towering waterfall.

Remian, George, Song Chen, Mindy and Tim arrived on the Red Fang. Doom and Darian were already there, along with several hulking figures, and an especially intimidating dragon.

"Is that… Kor'ag-dras?" Remian stared.

"No, that's Tor'ndras. Madame Tornado herself. But she is Kor'ag-dras' granddaughter and she is here today to represent her grandfather in officiating this event." Darian explained. "She is one of the Elders of Dragon Lake. So unless you want a Tier 7 Elder Dragon to wipe out everything you have and care about, treat her with respect."

"Is she… a King of the Wilds?" Mindy asked.

"She could easily be one, but she doesn't want to leave Dragon Lake. That's basically the same for the other dragons."

Meanwhile, Song Chen had a dark look on his face. "What about Tim? He ambushed the Viper Lord too!"

"He did so in single combat, with only his sword. The same goes for Mindy. The Lords and the Kings and Tor'ndras all acknowledge them. But you shot down the Python Lord with a fleet of airs.h.i.+ps and an army. The Wilds do not acknowledge you."

"Fine. I wasn't a fan of this big fight anyway." Song Chen grumbled, and stalked off. "I'll be watching from the Red Fang, with a ballista ready to fire if there's any cheating on their side."

"You do that." Doom snorted.

"And if there's cheating on ours?" Tim asked, curiously.

"Do you see that dragon?"

As if it was a signal, Tor'ndras roared to the sky, and a pillar of purplish Dragon Fire as thick as a Sky Tree surged into the clouds. It cleared a huge open s.p.a.ce above, as if the clouds themselves were running for their lives.

[We shall begin.] Tor'ndras announced.

[But… but two of the Challengers are not here yet! The Golden Lion Lord and the Scarlet Viper Lord…]

[The Golden Lion Lord will not be coming.] the Elder Dragon said shortly. [Star Wolf King! I understand that you challenge for the north-east edge?]

Out stepped an older, grizzled wolf that made Carrie look like a puppy. There was a patch of white fur on his forehead roughly shaped like a five-pointed star. [I challenge for the lands of the Emerald Woods all the way to the Misty Valley.]

[I challenge the Star Wolf King!] a monstrously large baboon with blood-red fangs leapt up.

[I challenge the Star Wolf King!] a Pegasus with lightning and fog crackling around its feet stepped out.

Tor'ndras nodded. [Also, a challenge has been reserved by the Scarlet Viper Lord, who is late...]

The Star Wolf King hesitated. [Actually, the Scarlet Viper Lord… won't be making it.]

[Oh? Why is that?]

[A Lord Challenger has killed him.]

There was a short pause. [Who then rules the Blood Lands?]

"I do." Tim said, raising his hand.

[Do you seek to challenge for the North-East Edge Region?] Tor'ndras eyed him.

Tim glanced at Remian. "Which region are we fighting for, exactly?"

Remian glanced at Darian.

Darian cleared his throat. "The humans seek to challenge for the Eastern Edge, from the Rocky Thorns to the Bog Marshes."

That caused a stir.

[That is a very big region.] Tor'ndras narrowed her eyes at them. [Truly, the greed of humans know no bounds.]

"But it is a legal challenge, and must be met in battle." Doom cut in. "If you are angered by it, express that anger in combat."

[I challenge the humans!] a roar rose up from a lean, fierce lioness.

[I challenge the humans!] a sharp-eyed hawk announced.

[I challenge the humans!] a black, heavy gorilla thumped his chest repeatedly.

[I challenge the humans!] a long-headed lizard hissed.

[I challenge the humans!] a big blue snake added.

"Is that… a Cyan Python?" Tim asked Darian.

"It is. In fact, it's the brother of the one Song Chen killed, and he really, really doesn't like us." Darian explained.

Two other territories were contended for. Other challengers made their bids.

[We will begin with the Challenge for the Eastern Edge Region, having four territories; the Rocky Thorns, the Blood Lands, the Striped Highlands and the Bog Marshes.]

"Not the Speckled Highlands?" Mindy whispered.

"No, that's a whole separate matter." Darian whispered back. "That's yours as a Lord, regardless of whether we win this Challenge. The Speckled Highlands is part of the region with Three Pines and Dragon Lake. We do NOT want to challenge for Dragon Lake."

"I thought we were going for the region with KarGoth in it." Mindy added.

"There's no need. The Star Wolf King will take care of that. But we still need a valid kings.h.i.+p, and that's the region where we've already taken three Lords down. That means, less Challengers for us to face."

"There's still five Challengers, though."

"Only because we're humans. Better five than eight."

***

The lizard lord moved first.

[The Flame Salamander Lord was my friend…!] he hissed. [You will pay for his suffering!!]

"Actually, he didn't suffer very long." Remian tried to explain.

Unfortunately, that only seemed to trigger the lizard's aggression. With a hissed command, three Lord Challenger reptiles leapt out at Remian's group.

There was no time to plan, no time to get into formation or any such thing. In an instant, a toothy lizard was jumping toward Mindy, a red-striped one was las.h.i.+ng a tail at Tim, and an oversized toad filled with boils flicked its tongue out at Remian.

"Ice kitchen sink!" Remian instantly unleashed his special move, and a big chunk of ice slammed down on the frog from above. Seeing it pinned down, at least for now, Remian instantly got to work saving Mindy. "Giant Left Shoe of Ice!"

BAM! A huge ice boot slammed down on the lizard before it could lay a single talon on Mindy.

"Uh…" Mindy paused, her hand on her sword's hilt, still not drawn yet. "Thanks, I guess? But what about Tim?"

Remian glanced at Tim artfully dodging the lizard's tail repeatedly. "Huh. I've already used the sink and the left shoe…"

"So?" Mindy prompted.

She had a point, he realized. Remian focused on the lizard attacking Tim. "Giant Right Shoe of Ice!"

BOOM! Another ice boot hammered down on the lizard chasing Tim.

The Lizard King Challenger stared at Remian. [Release them! Release them at once!]

"Oh? You actually care about them? Are they relatives?" Remian blinked. "Well, then…"

He raised the left boot off the lizard previously after Mindy.

Instantly, the lizard snarled and leapt to the attack.

"Left shoe!" Remian barked.

POW! The ice boot descended with blinding speed. This time it fell with at least twice the speed and force of the previous time.

"Phuark!" the lizard was flattened underneath the boot.

[How DARE you! I will have your heads for this! Your whole family will..]

"Threatening me, now?" Remian glanced at the other lizard and said, "Right shoe!"

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The ice boot over the lizard after Tim rose up and even more swiftly crashed down again.

"Uuwaaaakkk…" the lizard after Tim went splat.

[YOUUUU!!!!] the Lizard King Challenger roared.

Remian wasn't done. "Left shoe!"

BAM! "Pheeeeek…"

"Right shoe!"

POW! "Gufuooo…"

"Left!"

BOOM! "Ugmuuu…."

"Right!"

Cras.h.!.+ "Bhueeek…"

"Left! Right! Left! Right! Left! Right! Center!!"

This time, even the frog got squished. [Whyyy?! It's not fair…!]

It really wasn't. The ones on the left and right had so many stomps, while the center only had two. So…

"Center! Center, center, center, center, center…"

[DIEEE!!!] the Lizard King Challenger couldn't hold back any more and charged in to attack directly.