Chapter 309: Wild Arrogance

Chapter 309: Wild Arrogance

The winds raged and the waves tossed at the Eternal River’s estuary. The tides were surging. This was the second clash between the two sides. Xina put away his playful mood, and Bran no longer wished to appear weak. A line clearly separated them—the storm brought by Xina halted there, unable to advance even an inch further.

Hidden beneath the sea, Xina stared at the small figure standing on the river’s surface, unwilling to reveal himself just yet. He wouldn’t mind a fair fight with the small being before him, but a nagging feeling told him something was missing.

What was missing?

Puzzled, he carefully probed. Since the opponent dared to face him directly and issue a challenge, he must have had his own reliance.

Who would willingly step into a fight with no assurance of victory?

Besides, Xina couldn’t afford to lose. This might be his only chance to reclaim the Fruit. Here, the connection to the Fruit grew clearer. He kept trying to summon it, but the Fruit seemed trapped, struggling against some force.

If the Fruit had responded and returned to his grasp, he would have turned and left long ago. He regretted his earlier carelessness again. If one solid wave had crashed down on that tiny reef back then, would the outcome have been completely different?

With this spark of annoyance, the sea suddenly churned and rose, forming a massive tidal wave that surged forward.

A faint tremor appeared at the boundary. Before the wave could get close, it shattered into a spray of water. And so, Xina’s anger dissolved along with that shower of droplets.

Nothing would be different. He couldn’t keep this small being here. If he couldn’t win the fight, he could always flee. Xina shouldn’t have placed the Fruit before this little being; he shouldn’t have entertained the idea of playing a fishing game…

I’m so stupid! As this thought struck him, the wind and rain suddenly intensified harshly.

Perhaps this small being had come for it back then. Maybe he had received some clue from a prophecy, which was why he appeared on that reef.

As his thoughts rose and fell, the reef in his memory suddenly became vivid. He understood what he had overlooked—the cat!

A massive whirlpool formed on the sea surface. Where was the cat?

The small being sat quietly on the river, but Xina grew tense. Just like that time, Mana was resonating. From start to finish, he hadn’t been facing just one person. I’m so stupid!

How many years had it been? Mana was resonating. Xina suddenly realized why that playful mood had risen then.

He had once had such a partner too. That was why he understood how tricky and frightening it was when two such beings appeared together.

The whirlpool spun faster and faster, wider and wider, forming a dark and gaping maw on the sea. Tense and agitated, Xina chose to endure. Until the little cat was found, he needed to wait longer and watch more carefully.

The wind and rain slowly subsided. Under the setting sun and rising moon, the sea gradually returned to calm. Only the dark maw remained, announcing its existence.

Eileen and Maya stood side by side on a small hill, gazing at the shimmering water. There, Bran sat facing the dark maw that could swallow everything. He seemed so small, lonely, and helpless. The dark Shadows amid the rippling light seemed deeper and more oppressive under the gaping maw’s influence.

Maya sensed her worry. “Don’t worry,” she reassured. “He won’t lose.”

Eileen sighed. “I hope so. Even if he loses, he can always run. It’s not like he hasn’t run before, leaving us unlucky ones behind to face that Monster’s fury.”

Just then, an unfamiliar, slightly stiff voice spoke beside them: “He won’t run.”

“How do you know?” Eileen instinctively retorted before realizing something was wrong. A stranger, an Amphibian, had appeared beside them unnoticed.

“Because I’m here,” the Amphibian answered casually, offering gentle clarity to the seemingly ignorant young pair before him.

He studied Maya intently, seeming unsure. “…A Dragon?”

Maya subtly shifted, shielding Eileen slightly, then nodded her massive head.

“I didn’t expect a purely black Dragon,” the Amphibian said with surprise.

Hiding behind Maya and clutching her sword hilt for courage, Eileen asked, “Who are you?”

“Me? Ola, Guardian of the Amphibians.” He looked at the tense pair—one human, one Dragon. “Can you tell me who that young man is? Why are they fighting?”

Eileen pressed her lips tight, unwilling to answer.

“Then, can you tell me your relationship to him?”

“Friends! Good friends!” Before Eileen finished speaking, Maya nudged her off balance.

Ola shook his head. How long had it been since he had heard such tone? In the past, he might have let it slide, but today his mood was truly foul. Someone had to pay a price, and perhaps he’d start right here.

Just as the intention formed in his mind, a voice spoke near his ear, sounding as if someone exhaled right upon it: “Shall I answer for them?”

Ola started. The voice was too close! How was that possible? Who could get this near without him noticing?

Ola’s figure blurred as he darted away from Eileen and Maya. Laughter followed him—bearing the wild arrogance unique to a youth. As it faded slightly, a voice filled with mockery and malice spoke again: “No need to panic. Just a small trick for controlling sound. Allow me to introduce myself: Wizard Bran.”

On the river’s surface, the youth slowly rose to his feet under Ola’s stunned gaze. Utterly ignoring the dark maw beside him, he stepped onto the shimmering ripples and began walking toward Ola. And the notoriously violent Xina made no attempt to attack him during this.

“You are right!” Bran said. “I won’t run. But if I were you, I’d run as far as possible and never return. Before you flee, could you tell me why you appeared here?”

To Ola, the boy seemed like a crazy person—a little lunatic. This little madman approached him with an almost coy gesture, plainly showcasing his own wild arrogance and contempt for Ola.

“What, dumbstruck?” Annoying laughter accompanied the question as the boy drew nearer. “You know, you are really irritating! You ruined a good thing for me. I was genuinely planning to have a serious talk with that Monster in the water—I wanted to be its good friend. I had the chain ready, a net was prepared… I was about to succeed.

But I had to give it up. So… you owe me payment!”

Ola watched as the youth seemed to walk slowly but came upon him startlingly fast. Looking down at the youth now staring up at him, a glint of disdain curled Ola’s lip. His height advantage let him maintain dominance, and offered a moment of satisfying revenge.

“Of course! Kid,” Ola smiled faintly. “How would you like me to pay?” As he spoke, he locked his focus on the youth… and simultaneously found himself tightly locked by an unseen force.