Chapter 183
Kashik looked genuinely surprised by Suhyeok's proposal.
His hand slipped away from the chin he'd been resting it on.
He hadn't expected to be told that he should act as the judge.
And the Chief of Herbivore Village too?
From Kashik's perspective...
It was an utterly incomprehensible demand.
If the two Chiefs became the judges...
Then the person presenting the food would ultimately be Suhyeok himself.
But there was one obvious problem.
Unless the outcome was overwhelmingly decisive...
Neither side would ever acknowledge the other's food.
Even if both dishes tasted good...
It would be impossible to instantly bridge the gap between them unless the food was exceptional enough to overturn their entire way of thinking.
So what exactly was Suhyeok planning?
Countless questions crossed Kashik's mind.
Then...
He grinned.
Heh.
Well, it doesn't matter.
No matter what happened...
There was nothing for Kashik to lose by accepting.
Even if he served as the judge...
He wouldn't suffer any disadvantage.
And that wasn't all.
Kashik stared directly at Suhyeok.
"Do you know something?"
"Our race can instinctively sense another person's soul."
"We call it an ‘Ark.’"
"The greater and more magnificent one's Ark..."
"The stronger that person is."
Before coming here...
Kashik had once been a Great Warrior on a vast plain large enough to rival an entire kingdom.
That experience gave him confidence in what he sensed.
Suhyeok had endured the aura Kashik released at the entrance.
That was impressive.
But even giving him the highest possible evaluation...
He seemed only somewhat stronger than Turkal.
In comparison...
The warriors of Carnivore Village were all elites from those plains.
They were strong enough to entrust their backs to one another while fighting hordes of Beasts.
Even if he surprises me...
One or two should be his absolute limit.
Honestly, even that would be enough for me to pass him──
Then...
RUMMMMMMMMMBLE!!
"...!!!"
Kashik froze.
The broad smile on his face vanished instantly.
Everyone else in the tent looked toward him in confusion.
Turkal was no exception.
Because Kashik...
Now looked terrified.
Like a small child standing before a Beast dozens...
No.
Hundreds of times larger than himself.
It was the first time any of them had ever seen fear on his face.
The atmosphere immediately became unsettled.
But Kashik didn't notice.
His attention was completely consumed by Suhyeok's Ark.
The others couldn't sense it.
So they remained calm.
But in Kashik's trembling vision...
It was unmistakable.
BOOOOOOM.
A colossal pillar rose around Suhyeok.
So enormous...
It seemed capable of swallowing not just the village...
But the entire floor.
Elite Orcs were a race that pursued strength.
They admired the powerful.
And spent their entire lives striving to become powerful themselves.
But the gigantic pillar of Ark before Kashik...
Was far beyond anything that could be called admiration.
Shake. Shake.
The moment he saw it...
The hand resting on his chair began trembling.
His shoulders pressed against the backrest trembled too.
Soon...
His entire body was shaking.
He'd never felt anything like this.
Not even when facing a Dragon.
No.
Compared to this...
A Dragon would've been reduced to nothing more than a lizard.
This wasn't admiration.
There was no word for it except...
Overwhelming.
"..."
Kashik sat there blankly, unable to move.
Then...
Whoosh.
"...!"
The overwhelming presence vanished instantly.
His trembling stopped with it.
The massive pillar disappeared without a trace.
Now...
A calm Ark flowed around Suhyeok like gentle waves.
Kashik was confused.
Why had Suhyeok suddenly shown him something like that?
Then...
He froze.
...Don't tell me.
Did he do that intentionally?
After what Kashik had just seen...
The outcome of the fight was obvious.
It would be their complete defeat.
And Kashik himself probably wouldn't fare any differently.
Then perhaps...
Suhyeok had shown him that Ark as a silent warning.
There's no point in this fight.
Let's stop wasting time.
Meanwhile...
Suhyeok watched Kashik's obvious confusion with faint interest.
So that thing he calls Ark is Rank.
I didn't expect him to be able to sense mine.
Suhyeok had been suppressing his Rank the entire time.
Even the pressure he'd shown Turkal had only been a tiny fraction.
And now...
He had completely sealed even that.
Suhyeok had assumed no one could sense him.
Apparently...
Turkal hadn't been afraid of his father for nothing.
Silence filled the tent.
Eventually...
Kashik swallowed dryly.
"...We'll do as you requested."
"The two Chiefs will judge."
"And the fight from earlier..."
"We'll forget it."
Everyone looked confused by his sudden decision.
But seeing Kashik's cold expression...
No one dared object.
Suhyeok noticed that Kashik seemed to want something.
"This time..."
"It looks like you have a request of your own."
"Of course I do."
The moment Kashik answered...
His Rank took form.
Like a Simulation...
Dozens of battles between himself and Suhyeok unfolded.
Every single result...
Ended in Suhyeok's overwhelming victory.
No matter how Kashik attacked...
He died.
Again.
And again.
Only after one suffocating minute...
Did Kashik burst into laughter.
"Kuhahahahaha!"
"I lost."
"Completely."
"I've never been defeated this badly before."
He looked at Suhyeok with open admiration.
"You're truly strong."
"Stronger than any Beast I've ever faced."
"Stronger than any existence I've ever encountered."
Kashik rose from his chair.
Then walked straight toward Suhyeok and extended his hand.
"Our people have a custom."
"Whether the other person is an enemy or not..."
"Once a battle ends..."
"The loser offers their hand to the winner first."
"It's how we show respect."
It was similar to how Barbarians considered dying in battle and reaching Valhalla an honor.
Tap.
Suddenly...
Everyone in the tent dropped to one knee.
Their heads lowered.
Turkal hurriedly followed suit.
Apparently...
This was another one of their customs.
Kashik kept his hand extended.
"So..."
"Will you accept?"
Suhyeok grinned.
"Gladly."
The two clasped hands firmly.
The atmosphere became strangely warm.
Then...
Kashik cleared his throat.
"Ahem."
"Speaking of which...."
"I heard something from the village entrance."
"About some fruit..."
"That's apparently good for building muscle...."
