Chapter Thirty-One: Possessing the Superpower of a Honey Badger

Chapter 31: Possessing the Superpowers of a Honey Badger

Chu Ye stared at the white stripe on his back, utterly bewildered. He could not understand what had happened to him or why such a stripe had suddenly appeared.

While the white stripe did not make him look ugly—on the contrary, it made him stand out among the other lion cubs like a crane in a flock of chickens—Chu Ye was simply unable to fathom how the fur on his body had changed so abruptly.

Furthermore, Chu Ye felt as though his skin had become incredibly loose; whenever he turned his head, he could easily see every patch of fur on his body.

"This isn't right. Has my body undergone some sudden transformation? Last night, I felt feverish. Could I have fallen ill?"

Chu Ye recalled his sleep the previous night. In the middle of the night, he had felt a scorching heat throughout his body, as if he were burning with a fever. However, the sensation had faded after a while. To his surprise, when he woke up this morning, a white stripe had sprouted on his back.

In truth, lion cubs are much like tiger cubs in their youth, both bearing faint yellow-black stripes. Not only is their fur color similar, but their physical forms are nearly identical. It is only as they mature that lions and tigers grow to look quite different. Because a lion’s muzzle is more prominent, it appears somewhat unique among the feline family.

It is precisely for this reason that some believe lions should belong to the canine family. They argue that almost all felines live solitary lives, while only lions are social creatures. Consequently, some categorize lions as canines rather than felines. Regardless, genetic analysis confirms that lions are indeed felines, albeit a rather unique breed.

Chu Ye could not explain the white stripe on his body. At first, he wondered if his fur had mutated and he was turning into a rare white lion. After all, on the African savanna, some lionesses occasionally give birth to rare white cubs. These lions possess entirely white fur, making them look exceptionally distinct. In reality, white lions are not particularly special; they are simply the result of a genetic mutation that prevents their skin from synthesizing pigment, leaving their fur colorless—which, to the eye, appears white.

For the past few days, Chu Ye had been contemplating whether his body was undergoing some form of mutation.

Was it possible he was turning into a little white lion?

But as more days passed, Chu Ye saw no further changes. The white stripe on his back did not expand. This led him to believe that he wasn't turning into a white lion after all; he was still a lion, just with an extra white marking on his back.

"How did this happen? Why is there a white marking on my back?" Chu Ye could not wrap his head around it.

Then, one night, Chu Ye had a dream. He dreamt he had turned into a little honey badger, scurrying across the savanna. When he woke up the next day and thought about the dream, he suddenly felt as if he understood.

"It must be because I ate the meat of that little honey badger that my body underwent these changes. Am I turning into a honey badger?"

Chu Ye was struck by the possibility. Although he had once idly dreamt of being a honey badger in his next life, it had been nothing more than a passing thought. In truth, he preferred being a lion. After all, the lion is the king of the African savanna! While honey badgers are fierce, their size dictates that they can never claim that title.

"No way! Am I really becoming a honey badger? Will I stop growing? Will I stay this small forever?"

Chu Ye grew anxious, fearing that his growth had stunted and that he was truly transforming into a badger. Not only had his fur color changed, but he also felt that his front claws had become curved and long—remarkably similar to those of a honey badger.

"Forget it! If I really am turning into a honey badger, then I’ll just live like one!"

At first, the thought worried him, but after a moment of reflection, he realized that whether he was a badger or a lion, they were both creatures of the savanna; there wasn't much difference. Moreover, he wondered if, by becoming a honey badger, he had also acquired some of their legendary superpowers.

Honey badgers possess unique abilities. For instance, they have a remarkable resistance to toxins; they are unfazed by venomous snakes or stinging bees. They also have incredibly tough skin, so thick that even a lion’s bite cannot pierce it. Furthermore, honey badgers can release a foul odor, a signature skill of the mustelid family. Of course, they also possess sharp teeth and powerful claws—their most formidable weapons.

Chu Ye thought that if he truly possessed these superpowers, it wouldn't be such a bad deal.

Considering it was currently the dry season on the savanna, where dangers lurked at every turn, having the superpowers of a honey badger would allow him to roam the plains without fear. Compared to lions, honey badgers have far greater survival skills. They have a diverse diet and can eat whatever they choose. Even venomous snakes and bees are staple items on a honey badger's menu. In this regard, lions are far inferior. Lions are limited to the meat of herbivores and know nothing else to eat. Honey badgers, however, eat whatever they desire—meat or otherwise.

Chu Ye suspected that consuming that honey badger had granted him its supernatural abilities. Of course, he would need to test them to be sure.

He decided to start by testing his ability to release a foul odor. It was a very easy skill to verify.

Although the color of his fur had changed, he was still the same little lion. Lisa and Aisha had found it strange at first, but once they smelled his scent, they naturally accepted him as one of their own.