Just as everyone had feared, the escaped African male lion did indeed appear inside the zoo.
However, what surprised everyone was that besides the escaped African lion, there was another male lion present.
If the escaped lion gave off a strong sense of fear, then this enormous lion with golden-yellow fur emanated an indescribable majesty.
It was as if it wasn't a wild beast at all, but rather a noble king.
Compared to it, the African lion looked like nothing more than a mongrel - they hardly seemed to be of the same species.
Beyond their physical differences, their auras were completely different as well.
Although the crowd couldn't clearly see the expressions on both lions' faces due to the distance, judging from the slight trembling of the African lion's body, it appeared to be afraid.
Yet its pride as a king wouldn't allow it to bow down before this new king like other animals would.
While the crowd couldn't see this scene clearly, Yang Lin, standing behind the lion king, could see everything in perfect detail.
He had to admit, at this moment he somewhat admired this African lion.
Even under the influence of the king's presence, it was still holding its ground - at least its willpower was quite impressive.
Though its body seemed less cooperative, with all four of its sturdy legs shaking like leaves.
Looking at its state, Yang Lin couldn't help but mock:
"Weren't you so fierce just now? Why are you cowering now?"
"Come on, come on, attack! Don't make me look down on you."
Hearing Yang Lin's words, the African lion, which had been forcefully suppressing its fear, immediately showed signs of rage.
"Damn you, what did you do to it? Why has it become like this? You're not human, are you? You must be a god."
"Don't be so smug. Even if I die today, I won't submit to it!"
With that, it let out a powerful roar!
Perhaps this roar drove away the fear in its heart, as its eyes instantly became determined.
The next second, this former lion king from the African savanna launched an attack toward the elderly lion king in front of Yang Lin.
Seeing this, the watching crowd immediately burst into exclamations of surprise.
Outside of wildlife documentaries, when had they ever had such an opportunity to watch a battle between two male lions up close?
"Look, they're fighting!"
"Could that golden-colored one be the lion kept at the West Rainbow Zoo?"
"It should be, but I thought I heard the lion at West Rainbow Zoo was old and toothless?"
"You can't believe everything you hear online. I even saw people online complaining that the animals at West Rainbow Zoo had no energy and looked sickly."
"Indeed, if the animals at West Rainbow Zoo were sickly, then there wouldn't be any lively animals in this world."
"Probably just some marketing accounts stirring up drama online for views."
"What is this, a battle for the lion throne?"
"Quick, quick, film it! We might only see something like this once in our lifetime."
"Which lion do you think will win?"
"Is that even a question? The outcome is already clear - that African lion can't possibly beat this golden lion."
"But it has the courage to attack a stronger opponent - truly worthy of being the king of beasts."
While the spectators were discussing, the battle between the old and new lion kings had already begun.
The African lion now leaped with all its might, its pale yellow eyes filled with intense fighting spirit.
The old lion king, living its second life, couldn't even be bothered to move in response to such an attack, its golden eyes filled with indifference.
Just as the African lion's sharp claws were about to strike its face, it finally moved.
It suddenly raised its right front paw, thicker than Yang Lin's thigh, and struck directly at the African lion's neck.
Still in mid-air, the African lion suddenly felt an enormous force coming from its side.
Before it could react, it was slammed to the ground.
The impact nearly broke its spine.
Boom!
With an earth-shaking crash, the African lion that had been so fierce just a moment ago was now thrown to the ground.
The immense pain completely immobilized it, while the elderly lion king acted as if nothing had happened.
Only its golden eyes remained fixed on the African lion on the ground.
The next second, under the African lion's terrified gaze, this easily victorious elderly lion king opened its bloody maw toward the sky.
Roar!
A roar even louder than before instantly echoed through the heavens and earth.
From this moment on, there would be only one lion king, and the one lying on the ground was merely a defeated challenger.
Realizing this, the previously defiant African lion struggled to its feet.
Just when Yang Lin thought it might continue fighting, it suddenly lowered its proud head.
Seeing this, the watching crowd and the action team fell into complete silence.
At this moment, they felt as if they were witnessing a special coronation ceremony, observing the transition from an old king to a new one.
It took nearly a full minute before everyone finally recovered from that indescribable shock.
"That was incredible. I never thought we'd witness the birth of a lion king in a zoo."
"I feel like it's not just a lion king, but the king of all beasts."
"You might not see something like this even once in a hundred years. We're lucky to see it today, thanks to the zoo director."
"Amazing, this scene is just too perfect. I can feel inspiration bursting in my mind."
"Me too. Just from this scene alone, I've already imagined a two-hour animal movie."
"I've even got the name - 'The Lion King.'"
"Better not use that name, brother. You might get a warning letter from lawyers."
"Indeed, none of the animals at West Rainbow Zoo are ordinary - first the tiger king, now the lion king."
"Talk about bad luck for this African lion - of all places to escape to, it had to choose West Rainbow Zoo."
"The way the lion king struck just now was incredibly cool. The whole movement was so fluid - felt like the African lion's head hadn't even hit the ground before the lion king had walked two miles."
"I've recorded the whole process. I have a feeling this video is definitely going to go viral."
.....
With this, the terrifying dark cloud that had been hanging over all of Ningnan dissipated.
The defeated African lion had now completely lost its will to resist, allowing the staff to load it into an iron cage.
From the moment of its defeat, its spirit had died.
Just as Yang Lin was about to wipe his cold sweat, a system prompt suddenly rang out.