The lion with the golden mane saw his four pursuers fall as they lost blood from the wounds on their bodies that had mysteriously appeared.
He didn't understand what had just happened. One moment, the four enemies were standing menacingly, charging at this flying boat, and then they were mortally wounded.
"What?" he exclaimed in surprise in his native language when he noticed that everyone on the flying boat was standing still.
However, as his enemies fell dead at the edge of the area, four people on the flying boat all looked in Seth's direction, all with shocked expressions on their faces.
"Seth... Don't tell me that..." Atlas muttered as he opened his mouth.
"Have you reached the Apogee?" Dax asked as he stepped forward, looking strangely at his friend.
There were no reports in the entire history of the Misty Woods Tribe about what could happen after one reached the state of Spiritual Apogee. However, everyone in the tribe understood what was considered 'ordinary' and what was extraordinary.
What Seth had just done couldn't be considered ordinary even for the superpowered members of the Misty Woods Tribe!
As much as he could copy the abilities of other superpowered beings, Seth couldn't demonstrate those abilities at the same level as its natural owners.
However, he had just done the same thing First Elder Elijah could do!
If he could do that with the most complex skill of all, then he was at a stronger level than when they left the Giant Island!
"Seth..." Emery clenched her fists, curious.
If he had reached such a level, even the old First Elder would be no match for him now.
The lion heard this conversation and felt the aura, as a pillar of energy seemed to be condensing around that member of Sky People, the skies vibrating in recognition of Seth's presence.
"No, not yet," Seth opened his mouth as he looked at his companions, his heart quieting, "I just took another step towards Apogee."
"That can't be," Dax couldn't believe it, "You shouldn't have been able to immobilize me like that. How did you do that?"
"Just because I haven't reached Apogee doesn't mean we have the same level of inner peace, Dax. But I confess I'm not far from reaching what the legends say is Apogee. I may be able to make my breakthrough in a few months," He said as he looked into his friend's eyes and then up at the beautiful sky in the area.
"Using the language of the people of Ihaes, it is not wrong to say that I have advanced one level since we arrived on this continent."
"So that's it." Levi sighed as he took two steps forward, then smiled, "Well, if that's the case, congratulations on your breakthrough, boss. Elder Snyder would probably spit blood if he found out you've improved your strength without using artificial methods, haha."
Dax sighed, "Does that mean you can use all of our abilities at such a level?"
"Yes. But don't worry, I have no intention of competing."
"Tsk! I'll do better and continue to make life difficult for you." Dax laughed, imagining that from now on, it would be harder to compete with Seth using the same skill simultaneously.
"How did you manage that? This place is much weaker and harder than the island for us to reach the ideal state for meditation." Atlas looked at Seth with interest, curious about a method for himself to meditate better.
"That... I don't know." Seth said, surprising his four companions. "I don't feel any different here than I did on the island. Maybe it's one of the skills I've copied over the years."
"You don't know?" Emery narrowed his eyes, "Could it be the knowledge you've absorbed? Like it or not, the way the people of Ihaes understand our powers is much more detailed and developed than our way of analyzing our powers."
"I've thought about this possibility," Seth nodded positively, "That may be the case. But if it is, I honestly won't be able to help you. That will be up to you."
"If we can improve our strength like this and still maintain our path to spiritual Apogee, then we'll have a way to survive this continent without corrupting ourselves," Dax suggested, a little more confident in their plans.
After this little chat, they all looked at the golden-maned lion standing there and remembered what had prompted all this talk.
"What are we going to do?" Levi asked as he looked at that beautiful specimen.
"He's got a lot of meat. It would make a good stew." Atlas licked his lips, causing the beast that took up half the space of their floating boat to recoil in embarrassment.
"Please, seniors, I didn't know you were so strong!" The lion spoke in the common language these five individuals could understand.
"Those hunters came after me to kill me, as I've already told you. I am the last lion of my tribe who is strong enough to keep our people in Leowick Gulch. If I die today, 38 Golden Mane Lions will die in the next few months.
The cubs will be hunted down and forced into slavery by other beast tribes in the area or turned into mounts for humans. The adults will be killed, and their remains devoured by our rivals or sold on human markets.
In the end, my entire tribe will perish, and Leowick Gulch will go up in flames."
The lion said as he looked at Seth, "Then please, Senior, don't kill me. I'm not asking for myself but for my tribe. I would die happy if it meant their peace, but I know that's impossible."
"Would you be willing to sacrifice yourself for your tribe?" Atlas asked the lion, changing his expression from a moment ago.
"Yes, unfortunately, I don't have that right." The lion said dejectedly, "Those hunters killed all the others who were strong enough to protect the tribe."
"I see..." Atlas closed his eyes and lost his hunger completely, "Seth?"
Seth saw that it was true and sighed, "Do you have a name?"
"Kion, Senior."
"Kion, where is your tribe?" Seth asked, "There are other hunters nearby. You shouldn't be able to sense them, but if we let you leave this place, you will die before the next dawn."
Gulp!
The lion looked around and imagined that this must be true. 'Damned hunters! Always this!' He closed his eyes in frustration.
He and his people had to face this dilemma of hiding and running from the hunters who came to Leowick Gorge twice a year.
"It's not far from here, Senior. I can show you the way," Kion replied, not hesitating to lead them to his people.
They were so strong that they could kill him and ensure the end of his tribe even without Kion's help. Refusing them would do this creature no good!
"Please show me the way. I'm curious to learn more about the world of beasts in these lands." Seth motioned for the lion to lead them.