LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 103: Nostalgia

Lyerin felt a jolt as the magic circle completed its work, depositing him in a city unlike any he had ever seen.

The sky was dark, almost as if it had absorbed the shadows from the ground.

Tall, imposing structures lined the streets, each one marked by the symbol of a panther, a constant reminder of the power that ruled this place.

Every corner of the city was adorned with panther designs—statues, carvings, and murals—all exuding an aura of silent menace.

The panther that had accompanied him through the magical transport stepped forward, its movements fluid and graceful.

It seemed to blend seamlessly with the environment, Lyerin could not even distinguish its black fur because it was almost indistinguishable from the dark surroundings.

The panther turned its head slightly, as if to ensure Lyerin was still with it, then began to speak.

"This is the Black City," the panther began, its voice echoing slightly in the empty streets. "The heart of the Borgias Family's power. Few are allowed here, and fewer still leave once they arrive. You should feel honored, halfling."

Lyerin remained silent, his eyes scanning the city.

The architecture was both beautiful and intimidating, with sharp lines and towering structures that seemed to loom over him.

The city seemed alive, pulsating with a dark energy that was both captivating and terrifying.

The panther led him down a narrow street, its steps soundless against the stone pavement. "The Borgias Family has a long history," the panther continued, "a history that has shaped the very fabric of this world. You are about to step into the Borgias Main Castle, where decisions are made that affect nations, where power is concentrated in its purest form."

As the panther spoke, Lyerin couldn't help but feel a deep sense of nostalgia. Memories from his past life flooded his mind—memories of his family, of his mother who had been taken by the Borgias, of the hell they had put his family through. He had never thought he would be back here, in the heart of the very family that had caused him so much pain.

Yet here he was, walking through the Black City as if fate had drawn him back to this place.

The panther paused in front of a towering structure, its dark stone walls seeming to absorb the light around it. "This is the Borgias Main Castle," the panther said, its voice filled with reverence. "A fortress that has stood for centuries, a symbol of the Borgias' unyielding strength."

The castle was massive, its walls adorned with intricate carvings of panthers in various poses—prowling, leaping, and hunting.

The entrance was marked by a massive door, sharp and imposing, with edges that seemed to gleam with a dangerous light.

The door was covered in mystical runes that glowed faintly, and Lyerin could feel the magic emanating from them, a powerful force that guarded the castle from any who would dare to enter uninvited.

As they approached, Lyerin noticed several guards stationed in front of the door, their uniforms black as night, blending perfectly with the surroundings.

Swish!

Their faces were hidden behind masks, only their eyes visible, cold and watchful. The panther nodded to the guards, and they responded in kind, acknowledging its authority.

With a slight push from the panther, the massive door creaked open, revealing the interior of the castle.

Creak…

Lyerin followed the panther inside, stepping onto a black carpet that stretched down a long corridor.

The walls were lined with paintings, each depicting a different scene from the Borgias Family's history.

There were battles, assassinations, and moments of triumph, all captured in stunning detail.

As they walked, the panther began to introduce the members of the Borgias Family that Lyerin would encounter in the future.

"The first you must know," the panther said, pointing to a painting of a tall, slender man with piercing eyes, "is Alaric Borgias. He is known as the Silent Blade. His skill with a dagger is unmatched, and his ability to move without a sound has made him the family's most feared assassin."

Next, the panther pointed to a woman with long, flowing hair and a cold smile. "This is Selene Borgias, the Mistress of Shadows. She can manipulate shadows to her will, using them to conceal herself and strike her enemies without warning. Many have tried to escape her grasp, but none have succeeded."

The panther continued, pointing to each painting in turn. "There's Markus, the Steel Fist, whose strength is said to be equal to that of ten men. He can crush a man's skull with a single blow."

"Then there's Elyana, the Enchantress, whose beauty is matched only by her cunning. She can bend the minds of others to her will, making them do her bidding without even realizing it."

"And this is Vesper, the Shadow Archer. His arrows never miss their mark, and he can shoot from the darkness without being seen."

The list went on, each member of the Borgias Family more deadly than the last. There was Ansel, the Master of Poisons; Eira, the Ice Witch; Thorne, the Beastmaster; and finally, Cassius, the Dark Strategist. Each had their own unique skills, each a piece of the Borgias' power.

Lyerin listened silently, absorbing the information. He knew that these were the people he would have to deal with, perhaps even fight against in the future. But for now, he kept his thoughts to himself, nodding occasionally as the panther spoke.

Suddenly, they reached the end of the corridor, where a massive door stood before them.

The door was even more imposing than the entrance, its surface covered in intricate carvings of panthers intertwined with mystical symbols.

The edges of the door were razor-sharp, as if to warn those who approached of the danger within. Magical particles floated around the door, shimmering with a dark energy that made Lyerin's skin tingle.

The panther stopped in front of the door and slowly began to fade, its form dissolving into the shadows. "This is as far as I go," the panther said, its voice echoing in the air as it disappeared. "You can take it from here."

Lyerin stood in silence, staring at the door. He was about to step forward when the panther's voice echoed one last time, even though its form was no longer visible.

"It would be unfair for a halfling like you to come without Mana," the panther said, its tone carrying a hint of amusement. "So I will give you some. Let's see what you are really capable of when you take on the ten special missions."

Lyerin felt a sudden surge of energy within him. It was as if a dam had been broken, and Mana flooded his body, filling every fiber of his being. But this Mana was different—it wasn't the usual elemental magic he was familiar with.

It was Shadow Mana, dark and powerful, seeping into his core like a cold, creeping mist.

Lyerin would have had a maniacal smile on his face but immediately hid it. This was the wrong turn the Borgia family took, sending a panther.

Exhausting his mana by building structures in his tribe and understanding the panther's personality, he finally got what he needed from it.

Now, he didn't need a shadow core.

'Borgias Family, you're all a fool,' he muttered secretly.

He clenched his fists, feeling the Shadow Mana coursing through him.

It was unlike anything he had ever felt before, a force that both excited and terrified him. He knew that this was no ordinary gift; it was a test, a challenge from the Borgias Family to see if he was truly worthy of standing in their presence.

With a deep breath, Lyerin stepped forward, pushing open the massive door.