"Mr. Dark Devilgod Tiger, I have one more question. After this, I can truly die without regrets." Ning Rongrong's voice carried a hint of urgency.
"Tch, so troublesome! Ask away! This mighty tiger shall grant your wish!"
The Dark Devilgod Tiger curled its lips. If not for its recent breakthrough to 100,000 years and the prospect of devouring all three Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan members
Letting the family reunite in death would further boost its power. Otherwise, it would never be this patient.
Ning Rongrong pretended not to hear the tiger's displeased tone.
"Human records mention the Dark Devilgod Tiger." She feigned curiosity.
"Legend says you're mutated from a Holy Light Tiger that received power from a fallen evil god."
"Could you clarify are there other Dark Devilgod Tigers besides you?"
"Hmph, humans..." The tiger sneered. "Whether others exist on this continent, I know not."
"I did indeed receive the Evil God's gift or rather, fragments of its power. That's what transformed me from light-attribute to darkness, granting this feared devouring ability."
"By human Soul Masters' or soul beasts' standards, my nature is 'evil,' unacceptable to this world. Both factions seek my extermination."
"But this is what makes me laugh." The tiger seemed talkative perhaps from prolonged isolation.
"Which human Soul Master is truly pure? They slaughter soul beasts, serve them on dining tables. How does that differ from my actions?"
"No perhaps there is one difference. Those I devour leave no souls behind. But so what?"
"Human Soul Masters are no cleaner than me. Trading, brainwashing, enslaving, taming, death squads, massacres... In my 30,000 years, I've witnessed it all."
"What right do they have to label me 'evil'?"
"Even soul beasts are hypocrites."
The Dark Devilgod Tiger shook its head.
Take recent events
Which fierce beast in Star Dou Great Forest's core respected those three gatekeepers at the Life Spring?
Some weaklings called... the Soft Bone Rabbit family?
They got eaten by fiercer beasts shortly after entering the core region.
Those murderous hypocrites dare call me unacceptable?
The pot calling the kettle black!
"Enough. You've learned what you wanted."
"Your last words end here."
"True." Ning Rongrong nodded.
"Mr. Dark Devilgod Tiger, letting you live this long was rather inconsiderate. After all, everyone despises you."
"So could you kindly die now?"
"I'll make good use of you!"
The miniature tiger froze at her words.
Then
A terrifying premonition struck from behind.
"DAMN IT!"
The Dark Devilgod Tiger instantly swung its tail hook.
Layers of gray soul power enveloped its body.
Yet in that instant, an icy sensation pierced its back so cold it nearly screamed.
The invading chill then detonated violently.
BOOM!
The shielded tiger was blasted across the arena, tumbling dozens of rounds before skidding to a stop.
Black blood oozed from its mouth as its facial stripes contorted with rage.
"Impossible! How do you retain such strength?!" The tiger glared at the chestnut-haired girl near its former position.
Her right wrist bore a strange weapon, its barrel smoking with residual frost.
The staggered tiger rose, studying Ning Rongrong. "Brat... what is that?!"
"Technology changes fate. Even support-types can fight."
"Some soul tool, like that ice-fire sword earlier?" The tiger recalled the odd blade.
Definitely not a spirit ring something far stranger.
"Whatever it is, you're here now." Ning Rongrong licked her lips. "Little tiger, you can't escape this arena, can you?"
"Time to bury you here!"
"Ridiculous!" The tiger snorted. "I'm a 100,000-year Dark Devilgod Tiger! No toy can defeat me!"
"You're unworthy, human!"
With a roar, it crouched like a stalking panther, dark soul power surging.
A shadow streaked across the arena.
The tiger lunged at blinding speed close quarters would neutralize ranged weapons.
Surely it could overpower a human at awakening-age!
"DIE!"
Ning Rongrong seemed frozen as the tiger reached her.
Its right claw swiped down vengefully yet met no resistance, passing clean through her.
"WHAT?!"
The tiger's ruby eyes bulged. Before it could process this, excruciating pain erupted from its right flank.
KABOOM!
"YOWL !"
The explosion launched the tiger in a spiraling arc before it cratered into the arena floor meters away.
From the smoke, Ning Rongrong emerged step by step, the frost soul tool still mounted on her wrist.
"As expected. At Houtian stage, I don't reach Soul King tier." She observed the prone tiger thoughtfully.
A fifth-tier soul tool performing at third-tier capacity clearly her current power couldn't fully activate its arrays.
She'd anticipated this limitation.
"Trace Step."
A slight tremor she vanished.
Reappearing beside the tiger, she calmly aimed the soul tool at its head.
"Curtain call, kitty."
"NEVER!"
As Ning Rongrong prepared to fire, the tiger suddenly erupted.
A massive disc materialized at its tail.
"If you're still this strong, I'll rewind time further back to your infancy!"
The Dark Devilgod Tiger refused to believe any human could defeat it as a newborn.