“It’s impossible for a Patriarch to be born.” [Predecessor]

“(Impossible…?)” [Riteinia]

Riteinia remembered a story she had heard from the Predecessor when she was younger. The old amazon had told her how, during her days as Matriach, she had once held a Blood Trial to test a formidable opponent. He was powerful enough to hold his own against her. As such, she had believed that his blood would strengthen her tribe. Yet, once magic was forbidden, the man was utterly helpless before the onslaught that was her amazon warriors.

The spells that he casted to toy with his foes were sealed away. His strength that he was proud of became brittle. His speed that prevented anyone’s eyes from following his shadow slowed to a crawl. Attacks that he shrugged off while laughing became deadly to his defenseless flesh. In the end, he cheated and relied on body strengthening to escape from death’s clutches at the last minute. So, after an intense and bloody fight, the Predecessor punished him by ripping his limbs off.

Riteinia remembered the words the old woman had told her.

“No man can survive the Blood Trial and earn the Patriarch title. The story that someone succeeded centuries ago is probably just that. A story that was embellished over the years. There’s no point in testing a man you’ve found worthy to join our tribe. He’ll only die uselessly, and we’ll lose his blood in vain.” [Predecessor]

Yet…

“(No… Predecessor, it’s not impossible…)” [Riteinia]

The Matriarch watched, wide eyed and spellbound, as Ryner warded off edged weapons using his hands and slowly reduced her warriors’ numbers.

A high kick to the chin knocked someone out.

A simple twist broke another’s arm.

A quick series of steps allowed him to evade steel and flesh with ease.

Amazons were a tribe of female warriors that were blessed at birth. All were born with large mana pools and physical strength superior to what their beautiful builds suggested. They had trained in the arts of combat since young and polished their skills against dangerous beasts as well as unfortunate men who crossed their paths. Against one man who possessed no weapons and no magic, it should have ended quickly and decisively.

“(… That man… Is strong…)” [Riteinia]

But, reality was different before Riteinia’s eyes.

Ryner’s right high kick impacted the side of an amazon’s face and sent her reeling back. He spun in place and seamlessly connected his attack with a mid-kick. His heel diverted a spear that was coming from behind and his upper body, which was parallel to the floor, avoided another golden-eyed woman’s horizontal slash. Then, keeping his left leg as a pivot, he crouched and changed his stance to dish out a low kick, simultaneously sweeping his attacker off her feet and dodging two more sets of swords and spears that passed over his head.

Following up his leg sweep, the challenger sprung up and grabbed the nearest amazon by the wrist before throwing her over his shoulder and onto the previously downed opponent. Right after, the human possessing eyes of different colors jumped and flipped in the air, narrowly avoiding an axe that went for his legs before dropping his elbows on the two foes stacked on the floor. He then quickly rolled away as various weapons honed in on him.

“(He’s strong…)” [Riteinia]

Riteinia had seen many foolish men who challenged her tribe. There were also those who tried to escape but failed. Some were disappointedly weak while others possessed enough strength to become their captives. But, this was the first time that she had met a man like Ryner. Most assuredly, there were others that were born with mana pools rivaling hers. Others she had yet to meet, that could wrestle against dragoons and fight her barehanded. Males that she could call her equal and consider as a potential partner. However, she doubted any one of them could match the man that was taking down her warriors with a sleepy-looking expression using but his wits and body.

“He’s strong.” [Riteinia]

Before she knew it, a giddy, feral smile was plastered on Riteinia’s face and her body that was frozen in place started moving. Her blood was boiling and her heart was loudly thumping in her chest. The instincts of the amazons demanded she joined the fight instead of absentmindedly gazing from afar.

“He’s strong.” [Riteinia]

So, she walked towards Ryner while muttering the same thing out loud.

“… He’s strong.” [Amazon]

Someone else mirrored her actions. Just like her, a couple of her brethren did not attack the challenger, but watched the battle unfold with wide eyes and mouths agape.

“… He’s strong.” [Amazon]

However, they were now all stirring awake as they followed their Matriarch’s example.

“He’s strong…” [Amazon]

“He’s strong…” [Amazon]

Those that had only observed, as well as those that were fighting from the beginning, all started exhibiting a change in their behavior.

“He’s strong…” [Amazon]

“He’s strong…” [Amazon]

“He’s strong…” [Amazon]

As if possessed, they smiled like predators eyeing the juiciest meat they had ever found and stalked towards Ryner. Golden eyes glinted and mad wills raged like fire. It didn’t matter if they were unharmed or had dislocated shoulders. It didn’t matter if they were bruised or couldn’t feel their legs. Walking or limping, the amazons approached their prey that was, coincidentally, also sharing similar thoughts.

“(They’re freaking strong.)” [Ryner]

Although Ryner didn’t show anything on his face but his usual lazy mask, he was beginning to struggle. His opponents were stronger than most burly men and relentless like wild beasts, not to mention that their endurance was irritatingly tough. After diverting fast-moving weapons so many times, his hands were starting to burn. The repeated friction of the steel upon contact chafed his skin. Wearing gloves would solve the problem, but covering his hands dulled his senses and threw off his timing when parrying steeled edges barehanded, which could be fatal. As such, he was slowly relying more on his legs to ward off attacks.

“(They don’t stay down.)” [Ryner]

Besides his fatigue accumulating, the amazons possessed a resilient constitution. There were around thirty at the start of the Blood Trial, but now, about half were left. However, most of them needed to be knocked to the ground three times before they lost consciousness and retired from the fight.

“(Should have slept last night.)” [Ryner]

Moreover, though Ryner never slept much, he was genuinely feeling sleep-deprived since he had been skipping sleep for the past three days. Although his sleepy-looking eyes were focused and continuously tracking everything in sight, he couldn’t help but stifle a yawn.

“Oi! Green sexy lady! Fighting them without killing is way too hard! You seriously better keep your word and do anything I want later!!” [Ryner]

Ryner complained loudly to Rosaminta who was watching from the giant plant along with Itham and Mi. However, the light green-skinned woman didn’t answer.

“Hmm?” [Ryner]

But, he didn’t care about the reason for her silence when he sensed the change in atmosphere.

“He’s strong…” [Amazon]

“He’s strong…” [Amazon]

“He’s strong…” [Amazon]

“He’s strong…” [Amazon]

Suddenly, the amazons were mumbling the same thing while approaching him with a rather creepy smile on their faces. Warriors whose arms he dislocated or legs he numbed by targeting their pressure points were also among the crowd drawing close. Their figures quite resembled a horde of shambling undead, especially as they kept repeating the same words like some sort of cursed chorus. But, the violent torrent of emotions and determined wills burning in their golden eyes made them more intimidating than a rotten, man-eating corpse.

“… I know I’m not in a position to ask this, but… You lot alright?” [Ryner]

Ryner couldn’t help but voice his concern. The women looked crazed as they smiled happily while showing their canines. Despite losing to him since the Blood Trial commenced, the tribe appeared more invigorated and ready to fight than ever.

“I was wrong.” [Riteinia]

Walking out from among her brethren, Riteinia closed in on her prey from the front. She took a sword from one of her tribeswomen who obediently handed it to her.

“I was wrong, I was wrong, I was completely wrong.” [Riteinia]

The Matriarch said, sounding almost happy.

“You’re strong. So much stronger than I thought. With or without magic. The strongest man I’ve ever met.” [Riteinia]

“Uhh, thanks, I guess?” [Ryner]

Coldness and cruelty disappeared from her face and all that was left was an animalistic aggressiveness and a burning desire to possess him.

“So I take it back.” [Riteinia]

She stopped walking. The two stood face-to-face. Five meters separated them.

“It doesn’t matter how much you get on my nerves! I will have your child!” [Riteinia]

The Matriarch raised her sword over her head.

“YOUR BLOOD WILL BELONG TO OUR TRIBE!!!” [Riteinia]

And the battle resumed once more.

The amazons assaulted the challenger as if they were possessed. Ryner dealt with the swarm of smiling, golden-eyed women just as before, and was surprised to find how much their fighting spirits had skyrocketed. They hadn’t managed to put a scratch on him, yet they were like soldiers standing on the brink of victory.

Or ravenous beasts that hadn’t eaten in days while he was an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Riteinia joined the fray and swung her sword downward. Ryner pushed it to the left using the side of his left hand as he stepped forward with his right leg. Simultaneously, he drove his palm into her stomach. Her face distorted in pain, but her crazed smile didn’t vanish. In fact, it widened.

“NOW!!!” [Riteinia]

The Matriarch yelled as she let go of her weapon and grabbed onto the man’s arm with both hands. Everyone understood her intent and moved quickly to answer her order. Weapons came swinging from all directions and were about to cut into Ryner’s flesh.

“Seriously?!” [Ryner]

Moreover, some were even heading straight for the light green-haired woman as they tried to pierce him through her.

Ryner grabbed ahold of Riteinia and began escaping from the onslaught of blades while pulling her along.

“You brats trying to kill your boss!?” [Ryner]

He shouted when they all pulled back to get ready for another attempt at his life.

“We are all amazon warriors! We’re ready to die anytime!” [Riteinia]

The strongest of the golden-eyed women mockingly smiled while still in his grasp.

“But, for this Blood Trial, you dared promise the Gatekeeper that you wouldn’t kill any of us.” [Riteinia]

She tightly wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Would this break your word?” [Riteinia]

“Ouch! Wait, you suicidal idiot! Stop bear hugging me! And are your eyes glowing!? You can do that!?” [Ryner]

Tightly pressed to the Matriarch, Ryner frantically dodged the amazons that didn’t care if they hit their leader.

They answered her resolve with their own.

“You can’t have my kids if you die! Now let go!” [Ryner]

“As if this will kill me!” [Riteinia]

“Then how will you have my kids if I die!? Now let go!” [Ryner]

“This won’t kill you either! And no matter how incredible you are, the Blood Trial must be passed fair and square!! NOW LOSE AND BECOME OUR TRIBE’S BREEDING DOG FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!!” [Riteinia]

“WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THIS FREAKING TRIAL!!?” [Ryner]

While the annoyed Ryner and excited Riteinia were yelling at each other, the amazons traded their weapons for spears and encircled the two. Seeing their formation, the Matriarch victoriously grinned at him before releasing her grip and jumping away. Once she slipped through their encirclement, everyone synchronously thrust their spears at the man’s body, aiming for his torso, legs and head. Yet, Ryner agilely ducked and dodged most of the sharp tips by crouching low. He pushed up a spear with his forearm and used it to keep the makeshift dome of spears above his head in place.

Those that he couldn’t escape from by ducking were avoided by slightly shifting his body and moving in the gaps. He caught the shafts of two spears that were about to skewer him, stopping them right before they pierced his skin. Whether they were between his legs, under his armpits, over his shoulders or in front of his nose, his immediate surroundings were filled with pointy spears.

“Wha…?” [Riteinia]

Then, while Riteinia and the amazons were still shocked and wide-eyed at how he ridiculously avoided death in that hopeless situation, Ryner strongly rotated his body as he stood up. Using his four limbs and the spears he yanked out of their owners’ hands, he forcefully knocked away all of the long weapons that missed him by an inch. Some of the stunned amazons accidentally let go of their weapons and were disarmed as a result.

Still, although Ryner avoided death, he didn’t come out unscathed. His rotation pushed the spears and flung them away from him, but the blades of many grazed his flesh, leaving shallow cuts all over his body.

“Whoa that was close. You’re crazier than I thought, crazy lady.” [Ryner]

Small wounds covered him from head to toe. Blood seeped out from his flesh, dyeing his clothes and staining his skin in a crimson red. They were nothing more than scratches, but it was the first time he was injured since the start of the Blood Trial. The amazons silently watched the bloodied Ryner calmly stand in their midst while wiping away the blood spilling from the cut on his cheek with the back of his hand. As their stupor faded, their instincts took over. Blushing, panting and trembling, their killing intent soon rescinded and one by one, they dropped their weapons.

“You’re… Amazing.” [Riteinia]

Riteinia emerged from the crowd, her cheeks red.

“For someone like you to not be famous among your kind… Who are you, really?” [Ritienia]

“A monster.” [Ryner]

Ryner plainly told her.

“I’m so strong that others call me a monster. The strongest you’ll ever meet, brat.” [Ryner]

He said as he tilted his neck left and right and cracked the joints. Then, he raised his hands, parted his legs and lowered his stance, getting ready for the battle to resume.

“Ready for the last round?” [Ryner]

“No, you win.” [Riteinia]

“That’s what I thoug-wait what?” [Ryner]

But, contrary to his expectations, Riteinia shook her head and announced his victory.

“I… We, concede. You’ve passed the Blood Trial.” [Ritienia]

None of the other amazons that were still standing complained. They all just intensely stared at him with red cheeks and rough breathing. The race of female man hunters knew that he beat their Matriarch. Furthermore, they experienced firsthand his physical capabilities in the Blood Trial. Their will to fight was quickly fading away.

The last straw was when the man dodged their swarm of spears and survived with some light injuries. At that moment, they saw an illusion of a warrior, who fought against all odds, who endured despite his wounds, despite death encroaching him, and came out on top of a mountain of corpses. They saw his figure after a scene of carnage, covered in his enemies’ blood and standing victorious.

The amazons found him attractive.

They found him mesmerizing.

Their instincts were overcoming their rationality, urging them to capture him.

“Uhh is it me, or is everyone sort of looking strangely turned on?” [Ryner]

In short, their strong interest had transformed into intense arousal after fighting him.

“You’ve proven that you are no dog, but a warrior. You’ve proven that you are a match to our tribe’s warriors and can stand above them.” [Riteinia]

Riteinia completely ignored his comment and declared the verdict as she slowly walked towards him.

“So, from here on, you may refer to yourself as the amazon’s Patriarch.” [Riteinia]

Flushed cheeks, eyes glowing and heated breaths, she felt her mana, that was left untouched during the trial, course through her body, empowering her.

“And now… Do your duty as our Patriarch!!” [Riteinia]

Using body strengthening, the Matriarch easily crossed the short distance in a moment and practically tackled Ryner to the ground before straddling him. As if that was the signal, the rest of the amazons swarmed him while freely utilizing magic to break through their limits. Like bees to honey, they stretched their hands out and pinned him down.

“Ma, Matriarch, shouldn’t we bring him back to the city and announce the results first?” [Amazon]

A browned-skinned amazon asked her leader, dutiful to their rules and traditions.

“No! We’ll be making new warriors here and now!!” [Riteinia]

“Then please let me have him after you!!” [Amazon]

Her dutifulness quickly disappeared and she returned her focus on restraining one of the man’s arms while groping around.

“Wait, wait, wait, this turned weird way too fast!” [Ryner]

Ryner struggled to break free, but it wasn’t easy when over ten amazons, driven by instincts, were keeping him immobile.

“Look at his wounds! This blood will be ours soon! A daughter with his blood…! Hehe… Hehehe…!” [Amazon]

“A Patriarch! I can hardly wait! My body’s burning up!” [Amazon]

“The Matriarch goes first, but then we can use him as much as we want!” [Amazon]

“I want to have him next!” [Amazon]

“No! He’s mine after! I contributed to the fight more than you!” [Amazon]

“Then we’ll share him, alright?!” [Amazon]

The unfortunate winner of the Blood Trial had to use some life force to strengthen himself since his bones were about to break. The women, whose golden eyes were glowing, weren’t regulating the power in their grips at all. They were too excited to mind such details.

“Would you stop for a sec-mmhhm!!? Don’t put your hand in my mouth!! Hey?! Who's touching my-ouch!? Someone seriously bit me!! Would you-owowow?! WOULD YOU BRATS GET OFF ALREADY!!!?” [Ryner]

So, burning some more life force, Ryner got up, shook off the multitude of hands groping him and sent everyone flying.

“Urgh! The hell is wrong with you all?! You’re suddenly acting like beastmen in heat! Where’d the bloodlust go!?” [Ryner]

Despite the rough treatment, none of the amazons were unhappy or discouraged. Some were groaning in pain because of their injuries, but they were all still smiling, blushing and aiming to pounce on him.

“It’s because it’s our way of life. We want your children, so give them to us!” [Riteinia]

“What happened to wanting me dead?!” [Ryner]

“That’s not important anymore! All that matters is you getting me, us, PREGNANT!!” [Riteinia]

Riteinia loudly declared and demanded on behalf of her tribe and resumed her approach. On their first meeting, she initially planned on just fighting the seemingly sleepy human. On their second time, she desired to fight and have his child after winning. Now, she just wished to bear his daughters.

“You’re like a broken record! Talking about nothing but having kids and kids and kids…! Hmm…?” [Ryner]

As they slowly crept closer like lions surrounding a rabbit, Ryner’s annoyed face suddenly became blank.

“… Ah.” [Ryner]

He uttered a dumb sound as he looked up at the sky and remembered a very small, yet important detail.

“It might be a bit late, but I forgot to mention.” [Ryner]

He then returned his gaze to Riteinia.

“I’m infertile.” [Ryner]

“““……….””” [All amazons]

At his words, the crowd of excited amazons froze up while their brains processed the information.

“““… WHAT?!!!””” [All amazons]

Meanwhile, up above a giant leaf, a certain Gatekeeper was rolling around and laughing at the carnage right next to a frozen High Elder and a clueless puppy.