CHAPTER 276: THE APEX PREDATOR

Deep within the third pyramid, the trial of the Black Sabre-Tiger offered no complex puzzles or spiritual illusions. The arena was simple, violent, and absolute, a blood-soaked colosseum where seven thousand warriors were locked in together. The law etched into the stone was singular, slaughter, devour, and prove ultimate dominance to claim the feline deity’s blessing.

The three thousand Croc-heads and three thousand Bull-heads fought with savage desperation, but the one thousand Orc Obsidian Elites were apex monsters of another realm. With brutal, terrifying efficiency, the Orcs overwhelmed the beastfolk, tearing through flesh and bone, devouring their fallen competitors to absorb their vital blood-essence under the roar of kinetic lightning.

When the heavy obsidian gates finally ground open, only one thousand warriors stepped out into the central court.

The Orcs had completely annihilated the beastfolk. The rank-and-file Orcs had expanded from their already formidable nine-foot frames into towering, ten-foot juggernauts of muscle and bone, their jaws now crowned with fearsome, curved sabre tusks.

Yet, at the head of the host, the Orc General had not grown in size. Standing at a modest six feet tall, his physical form had instead super-condensed his divine reward, packing immense power into a dense, unbreakable frame. A constant, passive energy of white-gold and violet kinetic lightning crackled softly across his skin, washing over two massive, razor-sharp sabre tusks that gleamed like polished ivory.

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Caius looked down from the high terrace, observing the transformed green host.

This pyramid is Orc-exclusive, Caius noted silently. Their primal bloodline is the only vessel capable of holding the Sabre-Tiger’s violent kinetic core.

As the crackling arcs of passive lightning hummed around the six-foot general, Old Bones stepped up beside Caius, his dark elf eyes narrowing in subtle perplexity.

"My Sovereign," Old Bones murmured softly, tilting his head. "Why is it that despite all that condensed power and crackling passive storm, I sense the distinct aura of a lazy cat radiating from the General?"

Caius looked down at the compact green titan, who was currently mid-yawn, completely unbothered by the divine lightning humming across his skin.

A rare, dry smirk broke across Caius's face. "It appears undergoing the feline trial simply leveled up his laziness to that of a house cat."

Old Bones let out a raspy chuckle, and Caius laughed softly beside him, the rare moment of levity echoing over the quiet balcony.

Below, paying no mind to the awe-struck gazes of the city guards, the Sabre-Tusked Orc General offered a lazy, half-hearted salute toward the terrace. Without a word, he turned his compact frame around, slouched away from the court, and flopped down beneath the broad shadow of a nearby basalt pillar to catch a nap.