Within the Lizardmen City, inside a heavy stone hall.
The flames in the brazier crackled, casting mottled, wavering light across the rock walls.
Several chunks of partially refined Black Magic Crystal lay on the stone table at the center of the hall, emanating a dim glow as though devouring the air itself.
Several Lizardmen Legendary Experts sat around the stone table, each wearing a different expression. The atmosphere was oppressive and tense.
"Gewalong, a dignified Tier 3 powerhouse like you actually lost to a mere human."
A slender female Lizardmen Legendary Expert spoke coldly. Her scales glimmered with a pale pink sheen, and her eyes were full of mockery. "This is simply a disgrace to our race."
The speaker was none other than Therese, leader of the Wetland Lizardmen.
Her voice was crisp and cold, carrying an arrogant disdain, as though she were tearing open Gewalong's wounds.
Gewalong's face turned livid, and his lone arm trembled slightly.
That arm had been completely severed in that battle. It could never be restored.
Yet his gaze remained sharp as he said coldly, "Therese, stop gloating. That human... is no ordinary opponent. If you had faced him yourself, you might not have done much better than I did. Instead of mocking me, think about how we should defend against his threat."
Therese gave a light snort and ignored him, though her eyes still clearly held disdain. She evidently did not take the human seriously.
Gewalong sneered inwardly.
He understood all too well how perilous that battle had been. If he had not cautiously held back some of his strength, losing an arm would have been the least of his troubles.
Though losing an arm was not fatal to him, the humiliation still pierced his heart like a poisoned thorn.
Since returning from the