POLAR BEAR ARC END

The next arc starts midway in this chapter. Next up is the Lion Arc. 😍

In the polar bear sanctuary, Qiao Qixi and his partner, Otis, enjoyed a leisurely and peaceful retirement.

In the end, Otis didn't suffer from any illness; he simply passed away quietly on a snowy night, nestled beside Qiao Qixi. Although Otis had always hated the heat, as he grew older, he became more sensitive to the cold. In his final months, he clung closely to Qiao Qixi, no longer rolling around in the snow like he used to when he was younger.

During that last winter, they spent their days in the small wooden cabin, snuggling and cuddling, exchanging kisses. It was a time of simple joy.

When Qiao Qixi woke up one morning to find that Otis had passed away beside him, though he was reluctant to let go, there was no regret. After all, they had been companions for so long, and it was time to be content with the life they had shared.

However, after Otis was gone, Qiao Qixi found it increasingly hard to continue living. It wasn't long before he, too, could no longer hold on.

On the night he passed, it was also snowing, and it hadn't been long since Otis had gone. That night, Qiao Qixi awoke from a dream about Otis, overwhelmed by an intense wave of longing for him. The grief that he had been suppressing finally erupted in the snow-covered night, and he sobbed uncontrollably.

Qiao Qixi's heart, now old and frail, couldn't withstand such profound sorrow. It's likely that even in his wildest dreams, Otis wouldn't have imagined that the delicate little bear he had protected all his life would die in solitude, crying out for him.

It was fortunate that Otis didn't know; otherwise, he would have been heartbroken.

As someone who had experienced rebirth once, Qiao Qixi had often wondered what would happen after his death. Would there be another life?

Probably not. After all, having two lives was already a gift from the heavens. A third life seemed unlikely. And even if there was a third life, what would it matter if Otis wasn't in it?

But Qiao Qixi hadn't considered that whether or not there would be a third life wasn't up to him.

Just as unexpectedly as when he had become a polar bear, Alexander's body shut down after his consciousness had already left, yet he remained unaware of his death because his awareness persisted.

It was like a dream in which Qiao Qixi became aware of something: he would have a third life. When he woke up again, he would be a lion on the African savanna. And Otis? Otis would also be born in this new landscape.

If fate was kind enough, there was a chance they might meet again.

???

'Could this really be happening?'

Qiao Qixi was confused, thinking perhaps he missed Otis so much that he was experiencing a mental breakdown, conjuring comforting delusions to ease his sorrow.

But if it were true, it was too incredible to believe. Then again, considering that he had already gone from being a human to a polar bear once, why not a lion now?

In the "knowledge" that Qiao Qixi now had, Otis was literally reborn on the African plains after leaving the Arctic, becoming a lion.

That meant Otis might not even remember anything.

'How unfortunate!'

Just when Qiao Qixi had received some good news, he couldn't help but get greedy, but his sadness quickly turned into anticipation. Whether or not it was real, he decided to call it a prophecy, for now.

'What if it is true?'

...

In Africa, on the savanna south of the Sahara, one of the two major subspecies of lions, the African lion, still roamed.

According to statistics, only around 20,000 wild African lions remain—a number that, while seemingly adequate, is still a concern.

Another subspecies, however, the Asian lion, had been reduced to around 300 individuals, now confined to a 1,400-square-kilometer reserve due to human hunting and environmental destruction.

Lions had once thrived across the planet, with two major subspecies and eight subgroups spread across various regions. But many of these subspecies had since gone extinct or were on the brink of extinction, such as the now-extinct Cape lion and Barbary lion, and the critically endangered Asian lion.

During the rainy season, the African savanna shed its typically dry, dusty image and became vibrant and full of life. Thanks to abundant rainfall in December and January, the lush grass and thick, green canopy thrived.

The wild growth of vegetation made the air fresh and moist, like a natural oxygen bar. Animals like African buffalo, wildebeest, giraffes, antelope, and zebras roamed under the clear blue sky, peacefully grazing—at least until predators caught sight of them.

As everyone knows, the African savanna is home to a group of powerful and fierce predators, including the well-known African lions, several species of leopards, packs of hyenas, and the lesser-known baboons.

The appearance of any one of these predators near smaller herbivores could easily trigger a frenzy.

However, this was not the case for one particular pride of lions that was on the verge of collapse.

Two emaciated lionesses were traveling south across the savanna, accompanied by five cubs, roughly nine months old. They were fleeing from a neighboring male lion that had invaded their territory.

A month prior, the male lion that had protected the pride had died from injuries, leaving behind five lionesses and thirteen cubs.

Male lions, when taking over a pride, will relentlessly kill the cubs, and the three-month-old cubs in this pride had already been killed during the initial conflict.

The lionesses were resilient, determined to protect the remaining sub-adult cubs, and had tried every tactic to outmaneuver the invading male lion.

But things didn't go as planned. The two lionesses, now leading the cubs in an attempt to escape, were struggling, having sustained numerous injuries along the way. Even if they managed to evade attacks from other lions, their deteriorating physical condition made it nearly impossible for them to hunt and feed the five starving cubs.

A team of researchers quietly followed the pride, documenting their plight. Even though the cameraman had decades of experience recording life on the savanna and had grown accustomed to witnessing life and death, his heart still ached for this pride.

The pride in front of him, now on the brink of extinction, had once carried a prestigious name: the Norman Family Alliance.

Anyone with even a passing interest in African lions would have known the history of the Norman Family Alliance.

They had once been an unstoppable force, one of the most formidable alliances on the savanna.

Initially formed by two male lions, the alliance had carved out a vast territory in the southern plains. At its peak, the pride boasted 35 members—a rare feat.

After the first generation of Norman family kings rose to prominence, the pair of brother kings left behind six outstanding sons, who then formed the legendary "Six Lions Alliance," continuing the Norman family's glory.

It was during this time that the Norman family gained worldwide attention and legions of fans, captivated by the brotherhood and ferocity of the Six Lions.

From their adolescence to their prime, these majestic lions had fought countless battles, sustaining injuries, but always prevailing. For ten long years, people cheered and wept alongside these mighty lions.

But the end of the Six Lions' reign was less fortunate. Their offspring failed to live up to their legacy, and the pride's future still rested on the weary shoulders of the aging brothers.

Even after they passed, the Norman family's third generation did not falter entirely, but neither did they thrive. For a time, they were reduced to surviving in the margins, clinging on by a thread.

This period was the most heartbreaking for the Norman family's supporters around the world. They had once hoped the third generation would rise, but eventually, their only wish was for them to stay alive, to survive.

"As long as the mountains stand, there will always be firewood."

If the third generation failed, then maybe they could rely on the fourth or fifth.

Yet even with these low expectations, the direct descendants of the original two lion kings continued to die or disappear, one after another.

By the time the last two brothers of the third generation passed away, only five sub-adult males remained. They were the fourth generation, fiercely protected by the lionesses' fangs and claws.

But now even the lionesses could no longer hold on.

Without their protection, the five young males were doomed.

Sure enough, the two lionesses fell during a hunt. The sisters failed to return to the pride.

Now orphaned, the five young males had no means of hunting. Even if they managed to avoid predators, they could only wander the savanna for a week at most.

The researchers recorded the lionesses' final moments and captured the sight of the five helpless cubs disappearing into the tall grass.

Should they continue following the pride?

It was an agonizing process because everyone knew the five cubs were destined to die.

Unless a miracle occurred.

But the unforgiving savanna rarely showed mercy.

The cameras followed them for two more days, and as expected, the story of the Norman family, spanning over 20 years, ended with the sight of these young males collapsing in exhaustion on the plains.

This was the last image people would ever see of the Norman family.

It was heartbreaking but inevitable.

The once-glorious family had fallen, and the thought of how devastated their supporters would be was almost unbearable.

The photographer chose not to capture images of their rigid bodies, a final act of compassion. As night fell on the harsh, survival-of-the-fittest savanna, the humans left that heart-wrenching place.

The lionesses had been wise. They had chosen a "no man's land" for the cubs to escape to—territory where neighboring prides were too preoccupied with their own battles to notice. Or, perhaps, they had noticed but simply couldn't spare the resources to deal with the cubs.

It wasn't just the lionesses who had been clever. Alexander, the polar bear turned lion, also had his wits about him.

Yes, it was an exciting moment—what had once seemed an unbelievable prophecy had actually come true.

When Qiao Qixi opened his eyes again, he found himself in the body of a sub-adult male lion.

He was in good shape, about three years old, and it looked like he had only left his pride half a year ago. Now, he wandered the savanna alone, though not far from his original pride. The lionesses there were fairly friendly, so when he first arrived, he could sneak back now and then for a free meal.

But freeloaders are never welcome anywhere for long.

After two days of mooching, Qiao Qixi decided it was time to become independent. After all, how could he search for Otis if he didn't have his own strength?

Determined to stop relying on handouts, he began pondering how to hunt.

"...Uh oh," his mind went blank.

Lacking the inherited hunting instincts of lions was quite the challenge. He would have to figure everything out from scratch.

At that moment, Qiao Qixi thought of a literary quote: 'I've watched countless nature documentaries about the savanna, but I still don't know how to live this life.'

But that wasn't a problem. While he didn't have a lion's hunting knowledge, he did remember how to hunt as a polar bear.

In essence, he was already an expert at wilderness survival.

Plus, Qiao Qixi realized his senses were extremely sharp, much like those of a polar bear. He could detect food or danger from miles away.

With his human smarts and survival skills, hunting on the savanna wasn't too difficult for him.

In fact, one might say he was something of a cheat on the savanna. After all, no other solitary young male lion could live as leisurely as he did.

The most dangerous moment for a lone lion isn't during the hunt, but after it succeeds. The scent of blood can attract all manner of carnivores, eager to claim the kill.

Take hyenas, for example. As long as there are more than three of them, they wouldn't hesitate to challenge a solitary young lion.

Vultures, on the other hand, were less of a concern.

That's why Qiao Qixi usually hunted smaller herbivores, quickly devoured his meal, and then moved on.

This lion with polar bear habits preferred hunting just before the rain—rainwater would wash away the blood and mask the scent, allowing him to drag his kill back to his den for a leisurely feast.

One day, as Qiao Qixi carried a surprisingly large highland antelope in his jaws—a lucky catch, as he had initially been aiming for a smaller gazelle—he stumbled across a litter of half-drowned lion cubs in the rain-soaked grass.

At first glance, he ignored them and continued dragging his kill home. Why bother saving them?

Survival of the fittest, life and death determined by fate.

That's the brutal reality of the animal kingdom.

But if he had always wanted to raise cubs? Well, that was a different story.

Qiao Qixi had always dreamed of raising cubs. Now, he had the perfect opportunity—a litter of cubs without parents.

'Heh heh heh.'

Fate truly worked in mysterious ways. He hadn't gotten a chance to raise polar bear cubs in the Arctic, but here on the savanna, he could raise lion cubs instead.

He went back to the rain-soaked grass and, one by one, carried the weak cubs back to his den.

At that moment, he missed his old companion, Yellow Bucket. If Yellow Bucket were here, he could have carried two cubs at once.

Yellow Bucket: '??? I'm retired, thank you very much!'

Qiao's den was tucked beneath a rock formation, in a recessed area that shielded it from the rain.

He had also dug a drainage ditch in front, so the den stayed dry.

There were five cubs in total. As Qiao Qixi licked their fur clean, he discovered that they were all male.

They weren't even a year old yet, and some still had spots on their coats. Clearly, they were quite young.

But they had definitely been weaned—he could tell by their healthy, sharp baby teeth.

To Qiao Qixi's surprise, one of the five cubs was a white lion.

The little white lion was the smallest and most frail of the group, confirming the savanna's reputation for being particularly harsh on white lions. Their survival rate was notoriously low.

Had this white cub not encountered a miracle, he would have been dead by now.

In fact, it wasn't just white lions. All lion cubs faced a steep survival challenge, with a mortality rate as high as 80%.

So while a lion pride might have many cubs, only a few would survive to adulthood.

Naturally, those who did survive were the elite.

Qiao Qixi finished cleaning the cubs' fur and noticed that despite their weakened state, they still had a strong will to live.

He tore open the antelope's hide and chewed up some meat for them.

The famished cubs, who had been teetering on the edge of unconsciousness, immediately caught the scent of blood and struggled to their feet to eat.

Qiao Qixi glanced at the weakest cub, the little white lion, and worried that it might not make it. So he decided to give it some extra attention.

Thankfully, the little white lion could still open its mouth and swallow. With some forceful feeding, it managed to eat a bit of meat.

The feeding session lasted a long time.

As the cubs regained some strength, they began eating directly from the carcass, though they remained wary, as if unsure whether this strange male lion would hurt them.

Instinctively, lion cubs know to avoid unfamiliar adult males.

But the temptation of food was too strong. Starving as they were, the cubs couldn't bring themselves to leave.

So they ate cautiously at first, then with growing hunger and abandon. In about ten minutes, their fear was overtaken by the need to feed.

Qiao Qixi paid them no mind, focusing instead on hand-feeding the immobile white cub.

Once he was satisfied that they'd eaten enough, he curled the white lion cub's slightly cool body into his own for warmth.

Though the white lion had endured much hardship, if it survived, it would undoubtedly become a leader on the savanna.

Qiao Qixi had big hopes. If he could raise all five of these cubs, how wonderful that would be. Though he knew that the odds were slim.

There had once been a legendary tale on the savanna of two fierce lionesses who raised eight cubs to adulthood—a record that had never been broken.

Qiao Qixi licked the weak white cub in his arms and thought with ambition, 'What if a male lion could raise five cubs?'

Couldn't that set a new record?

Just then, the white lion opened his eyes, still weak, and took in the scent of a strange male lion.

Fear, anxiety, caution, and confusion must have flooded his young mind, filling him with uncertainty.

He should have immediately scrambled to escape, but the warmth of the embrace reminded him of the rare moments of comfort he had once experienced with his mother—precious memories he had enjoyed far too few times.

Indeed, compared to his brothers, the white lion likely received far less attention. Some white cubs were even killed at birth.

Qiao Qixi looked down to find the little lion staring up at him with wide eyes.

'What pretty eyes.'

Qiao Qixi: 'Well, hello there, little lion. Surprised?'

To be fair, the entire litter was quite good-looking. Their features were handsome and well-proportioned. Except for the white lion, the others had yellow coats, and it wasn't hard to imagine that when they grew up, they would sport beautiful tawny manes.

Of course, they hadn't grown their manes yet. These sub-adult lions were still very young and cute.

Qiao Qixi chewed some antelope meat and fed it to the white lion, whose strong will to live compelled him to accept the food.

He had no other choice.

This strange male lion, behaving almost like a mother, gradually reduced the white lion's fear. His curiosity grew stronger, though the confusion remained.

The other four cubs, seizing the rare opportunity for a feast, ate until their bellies were round and full, reluctantly abandoning the rest of the antelope when they could eat no more.

After quickly cleaning their paws and faces, the four brothers huddled together in a corner, looking fearful and uncertain with their wide, youthful eyes.

They were exhausted.

Though their eyes still reflected their fear, they also revealed another feeling: drowsiness.

They all knew they should leave this place as quickly as possible, but after glancing at the unfamiliar male lion, none of them moved. Fearful though they were, they still stayed in the den, which was filled with the scent of a lion.

They knew the outside world wasn't any safer.

The brothers had found a rare moment of safety, warmth, and a full belly, and their young, inexperienced minds were torn between fear and the longing for comfort.

But not one of them left.

After all, life on the run had been terrifying and exhausting, and they craved even a brief respite from the fear. Eventually, they couldn't hold out any longer and collapsed into sleep.

Once one fell asleep, the others quickly followed. Before twenty minutes had passed, all four cubs had huddled together and dozed off.

Meanwhile, the little white lion, having eaten its fill, finally drifted off to sleep as well, nestled between Qiao Qixi's paws.

Ig by now, everyone can guess who Otis is right?