The lion warrior studied Lenore in front of him, who looked completely unfazed... his underlings behind him were ready to back him up, but he was too prideful to call them and resume the large melee... he had to finish things by himself and demoralize the enemy.

"By the honor of my village, I accept your duel," Lenore said. "My terms are that the side who loses this duel will have to surrender to the winner unconditionally. The winner also should declare that they will treat the other side fairly."

Raiden’s thoughts about battlefield honor came from numerous encounters where lofty ideals quickly crumbled under pressure. He had witnessed countless instances where the necessity of honor was shed the moment survival instincts took over. For many, honor was not a steadfast principle but rather a convenient facade to gain advantage when circumstances were favorable.

In Raiden’s experience, promises made in the heat of battle were often discarded when the stakes were raised. The brutal truth of war was that allegiances shifted, and oaths were forgotten when the prospect of defeat loomed large. He had seen leaders and warriors alike pledge to uphold principles, only to break their word when their lives or their side’s survival were at risk.

To Raiden, honor on the battlefield was an illusion—an impractical ideal that often led to greater suffering. He saw the struggle for power and survival as a far more tangible reality. In this grim world, pragmatic actions and the readiness to adapt were far more reliable than the empty promises that could not withstand the crucible of combat. Thus, while others might cling to honor as a guiding light, Raiden viewed it with deep skepticism, understanding that in the end, survival often necessitated a more ruthless and pragmatic approach.

"Very well, I accept your terms," The Lion man said while grinning from ear to ear.

However, Raiden’s internal chaos found a sudden and new point when he glimpsed his mother’s eyes. In the midst of the tumult, her eyes shone with an intense, almost supernatural clarity. The glow in her eyes was not merely a physical phenomenon but a real technique. It was as if her eyes held an unshakeable truth that cut through the noise and confusion surrounding him.

This moment of connection with his mother’s resolve changed things. In that instant, his confusion dissipated, replaced by a newfound sense of direction and purpose. Her strength provided him with the confidence he needed to navigate the complexities of the battlefield, offering a tangible anchor in the midst of the chaos.

The lion man suddenly charged toward Lenore and then swung his claws at her, but she just took a single step to the side and avoided it. The attack caused a blast of wind that even those behind it felt and was pushed away...

Raiden’s perspective was limited as he only caught the first and the last frames of the lionman’s attack—a brief glimpse of the initial charge and the final moment when the blow missed its mark. To him, the whole sequence seemed almost incomprehensible, a blur of movement and raw power that left him struggling to make sense of what had happened.

In stark contrast, his mother’s perception of the attack was entirely different. She saw the entire sequence unfold as if time had slowed down for her. Her reaction was precise and elegant, her movement perfectly timed to evade the lion man’s devastating strike. To Raiden, it was as if she had stepped aside with effortless grace, almost as though she had anticipated the attack’s trajectory from the very beginning.

The difference between Raiden’s limited view and his mother’s almost supernatural awareness left him speechless. Witnessing her uncanny ability to perceive and respond to the attack in such a composed manner highlighted just how far beyond his own understanding her skills were. It was a stark reminder of her formidable prowess and the gap between their experiences, leaving Raiden in awe and momentarily overwhelmed by the sheer scale of her mastery.

The lion man charged again and used his body to close the distance as well to smash Lenore to death, but she just one step backward and another to the side and then avoided the attack... as if that wasn’t enough, she slowed and landed a jab on his right side.

The lion man stopped and then glared at Lenore in anger... at the same time, he began to sweat bullets. It seemed a bit too soon for him to notice their difference in skills, but it looked like it was too obvious from his point of view.

The lion man, having missed his initial attack, soon tried to strike again. However, this time, he seemed slower and less coordinated. His movements, once quick and powerful, were now more rough as if the previous exchange had taken a significant toll on him.

Raiden, observing the scene, noticed a distinct change in the lionman’s movements. Despite the lion man’s attempts to regain his former speed and ferocity, there was an undeniable difference. It became clear to Raiden that Lenore’s previous actions had inflicted a lot of damage, even though it had appeared as a slow punch to him.

The subtle shift in the lion man’s pace and the evident strain on his body suggested that Lenore’s seemingly slow and deliberate counterstrike had been far more impactful than it initially seemed. The punch, though slow in Raiden’s view, had evidently struck with precision and force, leaving the lion man weakened and struggling to maintain his earlier vigor. This realization underscored the impressive skill and strategic prowess of Lenore, highlighting the effectiveness of her technique in a way that left Raiden both amazed and enlightened.

In the end, that scene repeated it self again, but Lenore attacked the other side of the lion man body. He started to shake all over before falling on his knees.

His underlings looked completely dumbfounded... they had no idea what was going on, but they knew that it was impossible for their leader to be taken down with only two punches.

"Do you surrender?" Lenore asked while clacking her fists. "The next punch will definitely knock you out and the pain will make you stay in bed for weeks."

"... Yes... I surrender," the lion man said while he looked at Lenore as if she was a walking nightmare.

Lenore had a purpose behind the duel. She planned to make a clear and powerful statement to the enemy forces. By demonstrating her prowess and the effectiveness of her techniques against their strongest warrior, she aimed to instill a sense of fear and respect in the hearts of all who witnessed the battle.

As the lion man struggled to recover from her deceptively powerful punch, it became evident to everyone watching that Lenore was not to be underestimated. Her ability to inflict significant damage with what seemed like minimal effort showcased her formidable skill and precision. This was a deliberate move on her part—to use the duel as a means to convey a message.

Lenore wanted the enemy to understand that fighting her would result in the same debilitating pain and defeat that their leader was experiencing. By showcasing her ability to incapacitate their strongest warrior, she aimed to demoralize the enemy forces and make them reconsider the futility of further resistance.

Raiden was confused at first, but he soon began to realize what had happened... it looked like Lenore path of perception was the highest of the village, to the point that she could even predict the movements of the enemies and she also could find the best spots to attack and when to attack causing as much damage as possible.

"Impressive, right?" Iri asked while grinning. "She sits on a chair all day and she is still the strongest in the village. No one ever claimed to have won against her."

"Only I can win against your mother," Harth said proudly.

He didn’t mean it in a battle... probably in the wrestling matches between men and women. Thanks to that, Raiden felt like bleaching his brain to erase that kind of information from his head.

The lion man’s forces began to surrender, the tension in the air seemed to ease. The enemy warriors, realizing the futility of further resistance, started laying down their arms, choosing surrender over facing the same fate as their leader.

However, just as it seemed the conflict was drawing to a close, a new wave of tension swept through the area. The elves and dwarves, allies of the village warriors, arrived on the scene. Their arrival was marked by an immediate readiness to fight, their weapons drawn and eyes scanning for threats. The sight of the enemy forces, combined with the signs of a recent battle, triggered their instincts to engage and extend the battle.

The situation grew tense as the elves and dwarves prepared for combat, misinterpreting the scene as an ongoing threat. The warriors of the village, however, quickly intervened to prevent a new clash from erupting. They stepped forward, positioning themselves between the newly arrived allies and the surrendering enemies.