129: Undercurrent

The night was like ink, with stars scattered like crushed diamonds on black velvet.

In a valley, several campfires flickered, dispelling the chill of the night. Leaders of Resistance Army squads from all over sat around the fires, the atmosphere so heavy it could be wrung out like water.

"Ahem... ahem..." A light cough broke the silence. The speaker was an elderly beast with mottled fur, but its eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. It was the leader of the veteran Resistance Army "Firefly," a beast of long standing and high prestige; no one present dared to underestimate it.

"Everyone, we didn't gather here for idle chatter." The Old Beast's voice was hoarse, carrying a measure of unquestionable authority. "That wretch Blade Claw is increasing its suppression of us. If we don't join forces now, we will be picked off one by one sooner or later!"

"Brother Firefly is right!" another leader echoed. "We must twist ourselves into a single rope to stand against Blade Claw!"

"But the position of Alliance leader..." a rough voice rang out, carrying a hint of provocation, "it must be held by a beast who can convince the masses, right?"

The speaker was the leader of "Blood Hoof." This guy was broad-shouldered and thick-necked, with a Face full of flab; one look and you knew he was trouble. His words were clearly aimed at Rock Stele.

Rock Stele, the young leader currently in the limelight, had risen to fame in the Resistance Army thanks to a few impressive victories. But in the eyes of these old guys, it was still too green.

"Oh?" Rock Stele raised an eyebrow, a faint, imperceptible smile curling the corner of its mouth. "And according to Brother Blood Hoof, who would be able to convince the masses?"

"Hmph!" Blood Hoof snorted. "Of course, it's about strength! Whoever has the hardest fist calls the shots!"

"Alright." Rock Stele slowly stood up, its gaze like a torch. "Then... shall we spar?"

"Brother Rock Stele, don't be impulsive." Firefly quickly urged, "We came here to discuss major matters, not to fight."

"That's right, Brother Rock Stele." Another leader also advised, "Brother Blood Hoof was just speaking off the cuff, don't take it to heart."

"Speaking off the cuff?" Rock Stele sneered. "I think it is just unconvinced in its heart, isn't it?"

"So what if I'm unconvinced?" Blood Hoof stood up abruptly, his eyes wide as copper bells. "You brat, your fur hasn't even fully grown, and you dare to challenge me?"

"Enough!" Firefly shouted angrily, interrupting the two beasts' quarrel. "Sit down, both of you!"

"Brother Firefly, I..." Blood Hoof wanted to say something more, but was glared back by a look from Firefly.

"Brother Rock Stele, don't take it too much to heart." Firefly turned to Rock Stele and said, "Blood Hoof just has that kind of temper; don't hold it against him."

"Hmph." Rock Stele snorted and sat back in its original seat.

Seeing this, Firefly breathed a sigh of relief. It knew Rock Stele was giving it Face.

"Alright, let's continue discussing the real business." Firefly cleared its throat. "In my opinion, how about we..."

The meeting continued for a long time. The leaders argued endlessly over the leadership of the Alliance. Rock Stele didn't speak again, just listening quietly. It knew these old guys wouldn't easily divide their interests.

"...If you ask me, this Alliance leader position should still be held by Brother Firefly!" Blood Hoof's voice rang out again. "After all, Brother Firefly has the longest standing, the highest prestige, and the most experience!"

"Brother Blood Hoof is right!"

"I also support Brother Firefly!"

Many leaders echoed in succession.

Firefly looked smug upon hearing this. It cleared its throat and was about to speak when it was interrupted by Rock Stele.

"Brother Firefly, I have a proposal." Wood Hammer spoke slowly. "How about... we let Brother Rock Stele serve as the military commander of the Alliance, what do you think?"

"What?!"

"This..."

"No way!"

Wood Hammer's words caused an immediate uproar.

"Brother Wood Hammer, you are..." Firefly was also stunned.

"Brother Firefly, I know you are advanced in years and have limited energy." Wood Hammer looked at Firefly and said slowly, "This military commander position carries heavy responsibility; I'm afraid you... are not up to the task."

"You..." Firefly was so angry at Rock Stele's words that its Face turned livid.

"Brother Wood Hammer is right." Another leader suddenly said, "Brother Firefly, don't decline."

"That's right, Brother Firefly."

"Among us, only Brother Rock Stele knows military affairs best."

More and more leaders began to support Rock Stele.

Seeing this, Firefly's expression became even uglier. It knew it had been schemed against.

"Bullshit!" Blood Hoof slapped the table, shaking the campfire so it dimmed. His copper-bell-sized eyes glared at Wood Hammer. "Military commander? Just based on this Rock Stele? How many battles has it fought? A brat whose fur hasn't even grown, and it dares to command us?"

Several small leaders behind Blood Hoof also chimed in:

"That's right! Who knows if those few victories of Rock Stele were just a blind cat bumping into a dead mouse!"

"When we were risking our lives, it didn't even know where it was nursing!"

"Brother Firefly is virtuous and prestigious, with rich experience. As for this military commander position, I won't accept anyone but Brother Firefly!"

Firefly was secretly happy. This guy Blood Hoof, although rude, was definitely loyal when it came to supporting it. It coughed and feigned persuasion: "Blood Hoof, don't say that, Brother Rock Stele still has some skills..."

"Skills? It has no skills!" Blood Hoof interrupted Firefly, spittle flying. "Brother Firefly, you are just too kind! At a time like this, I say the Alliance leader position must be yours!"

Wood Hammer looked around, his voice steady and powerful as he retorted: "Brother Firefly, I know you have seniority and prestige. But what we are discussing now is the Alliance's military command, not seniority. You are old and your energy is failing; this is an undeniable fact. If something goes wrong, who will take responsibility?"

Wood Hammer's words were like a heavy blow to Firefly's heart. It opened its mouth, wanting to retort, but had nowhere to start.

"Wood Hammer is right." The silent Giant Rock suddenly spoke. His rugged Face showed no expression. "Fighting is not a game; it requires abundant energy and keen judgment. Brother Firefly, don't push yourself."

"That's right, Brother Firefly, just rest."

"Among us, when it comes to fighting, who can compare to Brother Rock Stele?"

"Brother Rock Stele's few battles were fought beautifully!"

Firefly was trembling with anger. It looked at this group of guys and couldn't say a word for a long time.

Blood Hoof saw this situation and became anxious. He slapped the table hard and roared: "Bullshit! You bunch of ungrateful guys! Who led you out of the enemy's encirclement in the first place? It was Brother Firefly! Now you actually want to let a brat ride on Brother Firefly's head? Have your consciences been eaten by dogs?"

Several small leaders behind Blood Hoof also clamored:

"That's right! What is Rock Stele? How is it worthy of being a military commander?"

"Those few victories it fought might have been pure dumb luck!"

"Brother Firefly is our leader! Besides Brother Firefly, I won't accept anyone else as this commander!"

The scene reached a stalemate amidst the gradually escalating quarrel.

At this time, Firefly spoke: "Everyone, be quiet, listen to me for a moment."

As Firefly spoke, the beasts gradually quieted down.

Firefly continued: "Brother Wood Hammer's words are not without reason. I am advanced in years, and for the Alliance's will, it is indeed inappropriate, but Brother Rock Stele's lack of seniority cannot be ignored. How about we have a battle, which might put everyone at ease."

"If Brother Rock Stele wins, the Alliance leader position is naturally his. If I am lucky enough to win, it means he still needs more tempering."

"How about that?"

Rock Stele heard this and nodded with a smile, "A gift from an elder cannot be refused; this Junior will offend you."

Rock Stele and Firefly looked at each other and tacitly walked to the open space in the center of the camp. Other leaders consciously stepped aside, forming a large circle, excitedly whispering.

"Brother Firefly, please." Rock Stele gestured, its tone calm.

Firefly didn't stand on ceremony, loosening its joints, which made cracking sounds: "Brother Rock Stele, be careful!"

Before the words faded, Firefly attacked first. Its figure flickered, bringing a gust of fishy wind as it lunged at Rock Stele.

Rock Stele didn't dodge. It planted its feet in a horse stance, swung its tail, and scooped up a stone axe from the ground to meet it.

"Clang!"

The stone axe collided with Firefly's cane, making a deafening sound. Both beasts retreated a few steps simultaneously, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Good lad, you've got strength!" A flash of surprise crossed Firefly's eyes. It had thought this young beast was just bluffing, but didn't expect it to have some real skills.

Rock Stele didn't speak, just tightened its grip on the stone axe, its gaze even sharper.

Firefly roared low and launched another attack. Its cane danced like a tiger in the wind, every strike aimed at Rock Stele's vital points.

Rock Stele responded calmly, its stone axe swinging to block or dodge, neutralizing Firefly's attacks one by one.

"This old guy really has rich experience!" Rock Stele sighed inwardly. Every one of Firefly's attacks was perfectly timed, sealing off Rock Stele's counterattack routes.

"Can't go on like this!" Rock Stele's mind stirred, deciding to change its strategy.

It deliberately exposed a flaw to lure Firefly into attacking.

Firefly fell for it, its cane heading straight for Rock Stele's chest.

Just then, Rock Stele lowered its body, narrowly avoiding the cane, while the stone axe slashed from bottom to top, diagonally towards Firefly's lower body.

Firefly's expression changed. It hadn't expected Rock Stele to counterattack this way. In its haste, it could only retract its cane to block Rock Stele's attack.

"Clang!"

The stone axe collided with the cane again. But this time, Firefly couldn't fully block Rock Stele's attack.

The stone axe grazed the cane and slashed onto Firefly's leg.

"Hiss..." Firefly gasped, feeling its leg as if it had been burned by a red-hot iron.

"Brother Firefly, I concede." Rock Stele withdrew the stone axe and stepped back a few paces.

Firefly clutched its injured leg, its Face alternating between blue and white. It knew it had lost.

"Brother Rock Stele, truly a hero among the young!" Firefly sighed. "Old man... I concede."

The surrounding leaders immediately erupted.

"Rock Stele actually won!"

"Now, the military commander of the Alliance will definitely be Rock Stele!"

"That guy Blood Hoof should have nothing to say now, right?"

Blood Hoof's Face was as ugly as if it had eaten a dead fly. It hadn't expected that Rock Stele could actually beat Firefly.

"Hmph, it's just luck!" Blood Hoof said stubbornly. "If you have the ability, let's fight again!"

"Blood Hoof, that's enough!" Wood Hammer glared at him. "A bet is a bet, don't make a fool of yourself here!"

Blood Hoof wanted to say something more, but seeing the disdainful eyes of the surrounding leaders, he finally closed his mouth.

The Alliance was established, and Rock Stele was ambitious, ready to do something big. It began to integrate the forces of all parties, preparing to give Blade Claw a heavy blow.

However, reality was like a basin of cold water, dousing Rock Stele completely. It soon discovered that things were far from as simple as it had imagined.

These old guys were cunning as foxes. On the surface, they were respectful to it, calling it "Brother Rock Stele" more affectionately than a real brother. But behind its back, they were all scheming, their little abacuses clicking loudly.

During meetings, they scrambled to express their loyalty, swearing to fight Blade Claw to the death. But when it came to actual action, their Faces changed immediately.

Rock Stele wanted to mobilize troops, they said their own territory was unstable and needed manpower to defend. Rock Stele wanted provisions, they said this year's harvest was bad and they were almost unable to put food on the table. Rock Stele wanted intelligence, they said their subordinates were all blind and couldn't find out anything.

In short, nothing was available, and they claimed ignorance about everything.

Rock Stele was fuming, but helpless. It couldn't just kill all these old guys, could it? If it did that, the Alliance would break up immediately, and what would be the point of fighting then?

"These old foxes!" Rock Stele slammed its fist on the stone table, making the teacups clatter. It finally understood that these guys didn't take it seriously at all!

"Rock Stele, calm down." Wood Hammer walked over and handed Rock Stele a cup of water. "You can't be impatient with these guys."

"How can I not be impatient?" Rock Stele took the cup and drank it all in one gulp. "We don't have much time! That guy Blade Claw won't wait for us to slowly integrate!"

"I know." Wood Hammer sighed. "But haven't you noticed something?"

Rock Stele smiled bitterly. "I know, those doing this are basically people from Senior Firefly's side. I also thought about going to find Senior Firefly, but Senior Firefly is currently acting like it is old and incapable, and I really can't do anything about it."

Just as both sides were still discussing...

"Report!" A soldier ran in hurriedly.

"Lord Rock Stele, it's bad!" The soldier's voice carried a hint of panic. "Our raid plan... has been leaked!"

"What?!" Rock Stele stood up abruptly, its Face pale.

It knew what this meant.

It meant there was a traitor within the Alliance!

"Investigate!" Rock Stele gritted its teeth. "Investigate for me! We must find this traitor and drag him out!"

On the wasteland, a team was fleeing in a sorry state.

This team was the remnants of the Resistance Army led by Rock Stele.

They had fallen into an ambush by Blade Claw's army and suffered heavy losses.

Rock Stele was also injured.

It clutched its wound, running forward with difficulty.

"Lord Rock Stele, we... can't escape." A soldier said in despair.

"Shut up!" Rock Stele roared. "As long as there is still a breath left, we cannot give up!"

"But..."

"No buts!" Rock Stele's voice was firm and decisive. "Charge out with me!"

Rock Stele led the remnants, fighting all the way, and finally broke out of the encirclement.

But they had also paid a heavy price.

The original hundreds of beasts were now only a few dozen left.

"Lord Rock Stele, what... do we do next?" A soldier asked panting.

"Find a place... to rest." Rock Stele's voice was weak and hoarse.

It looked around and found itself in an unfamiliar place.

"Huh?" Rock Stele suddenly discovered that there seemed to be a cave not far ahead.

"Let's go, go and see."

Rock Stele led the remnants towards the cave.