Chapter 9: The Trial of Strength

Li Wei awoke to chaos.

The rhythmic pounding of a drum echoed through the village, sending vibrations through the wooden walls of Diana's hut. He stumbled outside, still groggy, to find the entire village in a flurry of activity. Beast-women darted around, their movements fluid and precise, their expressions a mix of excitement and grim determination.

"What now?" Li Wei muttered, barely dodging a wolf-woman who sprinted past him, her sharp claws gleaming in the sunlight.

Freya appeared beside him, her feline grace undiminished even as her golden eyes shone with mischief.

"Morning, little human," she purred. "Excited for the Trial of Strength?"

Li Wei frowned. "Trial of what?"

Freya smirked. "It's a tradition in our village. Every so often, we hold a competition to test our skills. And today, you're the guest of honor."

Li Wei froze. "Guest of honor? That sounds suspiciously like a fancy way of saying 'target.'"

Diana joined them, her imposing figure casting a shadow over Li Wei. "Relax, prey. You won't be fighting. But you will be… participating."

Li Wei swallowed hard. "Why do I feel like that's worse?"

The village square had been transformed into an arena. Wooden platforms and barriers formed an intricate obstacle course, while a roaring crowd of beast-women gathered around. Some perched on trees, others lounged on rocks, their predatory gazes fixed on the spectacle.

Li Wei stood awkwardly in the center, flanked by Diana, Freya, and Charlotte.

"So, what exactly am I supposed to do?" he asked nervously.

Charlotte grinned, her sharp teeth gleaming. "Survive."

Before he could respond, Victoria stepped forward, her serpentine grace commanding attention. She held up a clawed hand, signaling silence.

"Today, we honor our traditions," she announced, her voice carrying over the crowd. "And as part of this Trial of Strength, we introduce an unusual challenge: the human."

Li Wei groaned. "Fantastic. I'm a challenge now."

Victoria turned to him, her slitted eyes gleaming. "Your task is simple. Avoid capture for as long as you can. If you succeed, you'll earn our respect. If not…" She let the sentence hang, her smile more ominous than reassuring.

Li Wei raised a hand. "Question: What happens if I don't succeed?"

Diana leaned down, her voice low and teasing. "Let's just say you'll be a very popular meal tonight."

Li Wei's face turned pale. "You're joking, right? Right?"

The moment the trial began, Li Wei bolted.

He darted through the obstacle course, his heart pounding as he heard the sound of claws scraping against wood and the growls of his pursuers. Freya was the first to chase him, her lithe form weaving through the barriers with terrifying ease.

"Come on, little human," she called out, her voice dripping with amusement. "Don't make this too easy!"

Li Wei scrambled over a wall, his breath coming in short bursts. "Easy? I'm not even sure what the rules are!"

"There are no rules," Freya replied, leaping over the wall with effortless grace.

Li Wei let out a string of curses, his mind racing. He spotted a narrow tunnel ahead and dove into it, narrowly avoiding Freya's outstretched claws.

"Impressive," Victoria's voice hissed from above. He glanced up to see her slithering along a tree branch, her serpentine eyes locked onto him. "But you can't hide forever."

As the trial continued, Li Wei found himself cornered. Diana and Charlotte flanked him, their predatory grins sending shivers down his spine.

"Nowhere left to run," Diana said, her voice a low growl.

Li Wei's mind raced. He spotted a pile of loose rocks nearby and grabbed one, hurling it at Diana. She caught it mid-air, her expression amused.

"Really?" she said, raising an eyebrow.

But the distraction was enough. Li Wei darted past her, making a beeline for the edge of the arena. The crowd roared in approval, their cheers a mix of admiration and laughter.

"You're surprisingly fast for a human," Charlotte called out, her wolfish grin widening.

"Thanks," Li Wei shouted over his shoulder. "Years of running away from my problems."

Just as Li Wei thought he was done for, he spotted Freya ahead, crouched and ready to pounce. He skidded to a halt, his chest heaving.

"End of the line, little human," Freya said, her golden eyes gleaming.

But Li Wei wasn't ready to give up. He grabbed a handful of dirt and flung it at her, catching her off guard. Freya yelped, momentarily blinded, and Li Wei took the opportunity to slip past her.

The crowd erupted into cheers as he crossed the finish line, collapsing in a heap.

"Unbelievable," Diana muttered, shaking her head. "He actually made it."

Freya approached him, her expression a mix of irritation and admiration. "You're craftier than I thought, human."

Li Wei looked up at her, his face streaked with dirt and sweat. "Does this mean I earned your respect?"

Freya smirked. "Don't push your luck."

That evening, the village celebrated Li Wei's unexpected victory. Though he still felt out of place among the beast-women, he couldn't deny the camaraderie that had begun to form.

As the stars lit up the night sky, Victoria approached him, a rare smile on her lips.

"You surprised us today, Li Wei," she said. "Perhaps you're not as weak as we thought."

Li Wei chuckled. "High praise coming from you."

Victoria's smile faded, her gaze turning serious. "But remember, this was just a trial. The real challenges are still ahead."

Li Wei sighed, staring up at the stars. "Great. Just when I thought I could catch a break."