In the distant past, the Golden Lion Kingdom was the most powerful country in the northernmost reaches of the continent.
However, in recent years, the Northern Emerald Country has ascended to the pinnacle of power in the entire North, and even most of the East has adopted its ways.
The country that now dominates the north was once a small nation in the ice field. Through sheer grit and determination, it rose from obscurity to become a beacon of hope for the downtrodden and oppressed.
However, this beacon of hope has a dark side. After aligning themselves with the sand ghosts, they rapidly expanded their territory and devoured their neighbors. In the past 730 years, they have firmly controlled the entire northern continent.
Their rise to power has been a story of both triumph and tragedy. They have brought peace and prosperity to their people, but they have also committed unspeakable atrocities.
They are a complex and contradictory force, and their true nature is still shrouded in mystery.
Their current ruler, Sapir King, is regrettably an insufferable, complete tyrant. It is unclear what defect in his character compels him to take such delight in tormenting the Golden Lion Kingdom.
The latter has long since lost its former glory, and under the ruinous rule of its previous pleasure-seeking emperors, it is now on the verge of collapse, on par with a city-state like Leiyin City.
The Golden Lion Kingdom was once a powerful and prosperous nation, but it has been declining for many years. Its emperors have been more interested in pleasure than in governing, and the country has become weak and vulnerable.
Yet Sapir King still takes a perverse pleasure in treating the Golden Lion Kingdom as a thorn in his side. He takes every opportunity to humiliate them, whether explicitly or implicitly.
The Golden Lion Kingdom is a shadow of its former self, a once-great power that has now been reduced to a vassal state. But even in its weakened state, it still represents a threat to Sapir King's hegemony.
He knows that the Golden Lion Kingdom could never hope to defeat him in open battle. But he also knows that they can still cause him trouble.
"A while ago, when the sand ghosts crossed the border, these fools were kneeling on the ground and kowtowing to their ancestors. Now I have the heart to laugh at them." Oswald said with a cold face.
Long before he succeeded, he had privately evaluated the Northern Emerald Country and Sapir with only four words: "It will be over sooner or later."
Now, standing in front of the Northern Emerald Country's abject humiliation, he did not take those four words for granted.
Instead, he narrowed his eyes, tilted his head, and said to Kevin, "I hate kneeling. I detest bowing and bootlicking, utterly loathe it."
Kevin's eyes flickered. He raised his chin at the crippled lion in the cage. "Who doesn't?"
Indeed, no one wanted to kneel. Not even if they were blinded, their claws were broken, and they were disabled.
The lion pushed against the iron bars of its cage, letting out a low growl. Its limping front paw scratched the ground twice, and it forced itself to stand upright. Its body shook uncontrollably, but not from fear.
The lion's eyes were filled with defiance, and its mane was tinged with blood. It was a proud creature, even in its weakened state. It would not kneel, no matter what the cost.
Although its blind eyes were terrifying, its shaking head gave the impression of bewilderment. It seemed to have no idea where it was or what danger it was about to face.
The subtle sounds of its opponent were drowned out by the noise of the crowd and the sharp whistles.
The wolf on the opposite side, which seemed to have been drugged or otherwise tampered with, had bloodshot eyes that were almost bleeding.
There were still pieces of meat on its white fangs, and it appeared to be close to madness. When it saw the male lion enter the cage, it paused and circled.
Tilting its head and hanging one front paw, it carefully observed its opponent this time.
Soon, its front paws slowly lowered to the ground, and it continued to circle the iron cage.
Taking advantage of the lion's blindness, it even bumped into the lion twice as it passed by, making a deep grunt from its throat, whether as a warning or a provocation.
"This lion is a stray that we caught in Skull Valley. It was probably lost and surviving on scraps."
A conceited young man standing beside the iron cage said while twiddling his gemstone ring, "We pity it, so we aim to change the course of its way of life.
"This is not a wager, and it will be fair play. If the oldster wins, all the funds will be indulged in him. I will purchase the finest meat, engage the best veterinarian, and provide it with a cozy and comfortable cage. If he loses..."
He paused briefly, "It doesn't matter if he loses; it's just for entertainment purposes. The money is his to keep, and we will continue our journey once morning arrives."
Upon hearing him speak, Kevin briefly replied, "That little beast..."
Oswald's forehead furrowed as he muttered, "I recognize him, Sapir's youngest son, Bert, possessing a vicious mien, a razor-sharp tongue, and a monkey-shaped face, spends money like water, searching for excitement everywhere, and character... I agree with your assessment."
The whistles from the audience grew louder, like a rising tide of anticipation. Bert's disguised attendant, who was sitting among the crowd, was particularly vocal in his encouragement.
The owner of the opposing Black Ear Wolf had no reservations about Bert's idea of "dispensing funds when idle." He gleefully set aside his chips and nodded to the referee.
The referee raised his hand, and the match began. The two Beasts charged at each other, their roars echoing through the arena. The crowd was on their feet, cheering wildly.