Arrogance

After checking the fuel in the iron forge, little Sian frowned and thought for a while before turning his gaze toward the top of the tower outside the window.

"Talking in riddles again..."

Baine rolled his eyes disdainfully. "You know I'm not smart enough for that, so why are you talking like Grandpa?"

"Besides, you asked whether I wanted power. Isn't the answer obvious?"

He sighed, a dejected expression appearing on his young Tauren face. "Without enough power, how can we protect the people we love?"

"I see..." Having been called out so bluntly by Baine, Sian smiled awkwardly. "You seek power to protect others, don't you?"

"Yes!" Little Baine nodded solemnly. "Father has always taught me—destruction is easy, but creating something that can endure is the real challenge!"

"So, I am willing to raise my spear for protection!"

Little Baine's expression gradually grew grave. Those words came from the dignity he held deep within his heart, something time would never change.

"Well said!"

Little Sian sincerely admired his companion's words. He believed that his friend would remain true to himself and live out the lofty aspirations of his youth throughout his future life.

He smiled, but then abruptly changed the subject and asked softly, "Then if one day, you suddenly gained immense power—powerful enough to fulfill any dream—how would you feel?"

Baine scratched his head, thought for a moment, then answered hesitantly, "I'd... probably be very happy?"

"But... in the end, I would definitely be very afraid..." He gently swished his tail, seemingly embarrassed to admit it.

Sian froze, but Baine had not finished speaking.

He sighed and said quietly, "There are many, many things to fear. Whether I've taken on the responsibilities that come with it, whether I've hurt others..."

"And whether... without realizing it, I've become a terrifying monster."

"Haha, looks like power hasn't gone to your head like it did that Centaur bastard!" Little Sian patted his companion on the shoulder, smiling brightly.

"Tch... What's the point of talking about this now? It's not like I'm about to find some treasure that'll make me several meters taller. Who knows what will happen in the future?"

Little Baine curled his lip in annoyance. "It's all your fault for bringing up this nonsense. Now I'm worrying about it too!"

"Don't worry! I believe in you!"

Little Sian shrugged nonchalantly and smiled. "Besides, if that day really comes, I won't just sit around, will I?"

"Xiao Na and I will definitely straighten you out!"

"That sounds more like it..."

Baine nodded in satisfaction, but then suddenly realized that while being cared for by his friends felt quite nice, why did he have to be the one getting straightened out?

However, before he could argue, little Sian muddled through and brushed the matter aside.

"Hmph! I'll keep a close eye on both of you too!" Baine said indignantly.

"Sure, sure!" Sian replied with a placating smile. "If I ever lose my way too, then you can talk me through it. I believe you can do it!"

Hearing his companion say that, little Baine snorted contentedly and finally let it go.

The young calves still did not know what this conversation meant.

They did not know whether, in the near future, when they recalled this bleak night once more, they would sigh at the unpredictability of fate.

But that was a matter for later.

"Our enemy possesses terrifying power, but his heart is fragile."

Sian spoke slowly. "Admitting one's own smallness is the first step toward greatness."

"If one cannot acknowledge one's own limits, then such a fragile heart cannot wield great power."

"Because one day, when the carefully embellished lie is exposed by cruel reality, even the smallest matter will bring about their final end—self-destruction, destroyed by their own power..."

"Wait! You mean... Ah, I get it!" Baine nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly understood. "That's why he has pursued us so relentlessly!"

Baine slammed his fist into his palm and said angrily, "He's afraid, isn't he?"

"Yes! So it's time to put an end to this meaningless behavior."

Sian patted the wooden barrel beside him and smiled confidently. "Let us use his own power to defeat him!"

Time returned to the present.

Sian had just been sent flying by a punch. The moment he sensed something was wrong, he had gathered all his strength to defend himself, but he had still underestimated the Centaur's power.

A fist hardened by earth elements struck his abdomen with tremendous force. Though Sian had desperately drawn in his arms to block it, he was still knocked away and crashed heavily onto the ground, coughing up surging stomach fluid.

In truth, he and Baine had bought enough time. But if they did not reach the designated location, all their efforts would be in vain.

So he absolutely could not fall here!

Enduring the agony in his arms as though they had been broken, Sian struggled to his feet. Keeping his eyes on the Centaur, he mocked, "Where are your spear and bow? Don't tell me your intelligence has regressed so far that you've forgotten how to use tools? If so, you're truly bringing shame upon your ancestors."

"Speaking of ancestors, let me think... How exactly did Centaurs evolve through crossbreeding?"

"Hehe, keep using that cunning mouth while you still can."

Stone Spear grinned viciously. "Because next, I'll tear you apart inch by inch, starting with that annoying mouth!"

With that, he stood still, spread his palm, and aimed it at his target.

The pebbles jumping beneath his feet gave little Sian a warning.

Feeling the earth tremble, terror surged through him. Ignoring the pain in his arms, he rolled and threw himself to the side.

Just as he rolled away, two slabs of earth snapped shut like a gaping maw, crushing together violently. The immense force shattered the soil layer by layer before reducing it to a pile of rubble.

It was impossible to imagine what a horrifying sight it would have been if that attack had hit him.

After scrambling to his feet, before he could marvel at the power of Earth Shock, violent tremors rose beneath his feet again.

"Damn it!"

Sian cursed loudly and dodged the Earth Spike bursting from the ground in a sorry state.

Then came Earthquake, Earth Shock, Earth Rift, Earth Spike, and Earth Fury in rapid succession.

The Centaur had completely abandoned weapons and close combat. He began casting Shaman spells repeatedly, turning himself into a moving disaster.

The ground beneath Sian's feet constantly shattered, compacted, exploded, and split apart...

As Sian dodged the attacks rising from below, he also struggled to evade the spikes Stone Spear fired at him one after another.

His stamina was draining rapidly. Stone Spear watched the scene with a savage grin, immensely pleased as his prey scrambled in every direction and was being forced into a corner.

The mistake came quickly. A protruding stone loosened beneath Sian's foot, making him slip, and the consequences were fatal.

A spike struck directly into his thigh. Its vicious barbs tore away a large chunk of flesh, instantly turning his right leg into a bloody mess.

Collapsing to the ground in agony, the young Tauren lost all ability to move.

"The annoying flea finally can't jump anymore!"

Stone Spear laughed wildly as he approached the fallen Sian, saying viciously, "Though my instincts crave crushing you with the power of earth, that would end things too quickly. I'd rather savor this in a more traditional way!"

As Stone Spear walked forward, he extended his left hand. Fragments of dirt continuously gathered into his palm, then compressed into the shape of a spear.

"I'll tear off your legs first, then remove your arms. Finally, I'll repay your insolence twofold!" His eyes were bloodshot as cruel words spilled from his mouth. "I'll use this spear to gouge out both your eyes!"

The sounds behind him gradually drew closer. The fear of death crushed his mind, and little Sian's heart pounded wildly. But he knew he still had an unfinished mission, so he absolutely could not fall here.

Even if his right leg could no longer walk, he would use his hands and remaining left leg to keep moving forward, forward, and forward.

He crawled on with difficulty, step after step, his injured right leg leaving a horrifying trail of blood across the earth.

Ten more steps, nine more steps... Crawl forward!

Don't act rashly, Baine. The opportunity will come. You have to hold on!

Atop the pitch-black tower, another young Tauren silently watched below, watching his companion's difficult struggle to crawl across the ground.

His eyes turned as scarlet and savage as that dreadful bloody trail on the earth. His clenched teeth made a distinct grinding sound, blood slowly flowed from the corner of his mouth, and the left hand gripping the hammer's handle tightened and loosened, loosened and tightened.

But in the end, he did nothing.

"Yes... yes, that's it. Crawl slowly. There's still hope of escaping."

"See? Haven't I slowed down?"

Stone Spear toyed with the spear in his hand, deliberately slowing his pace as he said cruelly, "I said I would give you hope, and I also said..."

The Centaur's figure instantly merged into the earth. When he appeared again, he had teleported to little Sian's side!

"I would take it away again!"

With a twisted, bloodthirsty grin, Stone Spear gripped the earthen spear and viciously thrust it toward the Tauren!

At that critical moment, Sian finally reached the designated location.

And his mission was finally complete!