LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 195: Lyerin's persona

Now, Lyerin lounged lazily on his makeshift throne in the heart of the Stonehooves Tribe.

His sharp eyes glinted in the dim light of the flickering torches surrounding him, casting long shadows that danced with a malicious energy.

The grin on his face stretched unnaturally, fueled by the notification he'd just received.

The Stonehooves Tribal Spirit has reached level two.

His laughter had echoed ominously through the camp.

There was no joy in it, just a cold, vicious satisfaction that filled the air with tension.

The silence that followed was thick, stifling, broken only by the crackle of the fire.

Corora, Sophia, and the others watched from a distance, their faces pale, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and disbelief.

They had grown used to Lyerin's unpredictability, but now?

Now, there was something else.

A cold finality in his voice.

As if a promise of destruction.

Lyerin's mind was already miles away, plotting his next move.

His boredom had taken over, and when boredom struck, so did his temper.

He knew himself well enough—once the fun was gone, all that remained was the overwhelming urge to finish what had started.

"After careful thought, I really had enough of this." His voice cut through the heavy air like a blade. "It's time to end this whole thing. I'm tired of playing these little games."

The ground beneath his feet seemed to tremble, though it could have been the palpable fear radiating from those around him.

Corora dared to step forward, her voice trembling. "Lyerin, what are you planning?"

But Lyerin's gaze snapped to her, sharp and unforgiving. "You'll see soon enough," he sneered. His grin widened, eyes narrowing with dangerous intent. "Prepare yourselves. The Asura Shuras are next."

---

The Ironmaul Clan

Gorn Ironmaul stood atop a jagged cliff, his massive, four-armed frame silhouetted against the backdrop of survival games turbulent sky.

The sun was a fading orb of molten orange, casting long shadows over the Ironmaul Clan's mountainous stronghold.

The air was thick with the scent of burning forge fires and the sound of hammering steel—a constant symphony that echoed through the rocky terrain.

The Brutarians, known for their towering strength and love for battle, were always prepared.

Gorn himself, the embodiment of raw power, clenched his four fists, veins bulging beneath his rough, stone-like skin.

His clan had faced countless challenges, from rival tribes to monstrous creatures. But something was different now.

A sense of unease had crept into the air, chilling even the heart of this battle-hardened warrior.

"Chief Gorn!" A deep voice rumbled from behind him. Gorn turned to see one of his commanders, a Brutarian nearly as large as he, rushing forward with a grim expression. "We've spotted something. It's coming."

Gorn's brow furrowed. He followed the commander to the edge of the stronghold, where the rocky landscape sloped down into the valley.

There, in the distance, a dark mass was gathering.

Pig Orcs—an army of them.

Their grotesque figures marched in unison, their guttural snarls carried on the wind.

"By the forges of Darrok…" Gorn growled, his voice like grinding stone. "What is this? An attack? Again? Another wave?"

"They march under no banner," the commander said, his voice tight. "And they come from all directions. It's as if they're being summoned."

Gorn's eyes narrowed.

He could feel it—the strange, dark presence that seemed to hang over the valley like a shroud.

It wasn't the Pig Orcs that troubled him.

It was the feeling that something far more sinister was behind them.

After all, they didn't know that Lyerin and his Stonehooves Tribe was the one in control of these beasts now.

His mind raced back to the news of the Skyclaw Brotherhood's fall.

The idea had seemed absurd at first. The Birdmen were unmatched in their speed and aerial tactics.

How could they have fallen so quickly? And to the Stonehooves Tribe, no less?

Gorn had never considered the Stonehooves a threat.

They were few in number, their influence weak, their power seemingly limited.

But now…

"Prepare the Ironmaul," Gorn barked, his voice resonating with authority.

"We will not let this insult stand. If these Pig Orcs think they can challenge us again, they will learn the price of crossing the Ironmaul Clan. And once we deal with them, we will scout the Stonehooves Tribe and understand how they managed to destroy the Skyclaw brotherhood!"

The Brutarians behind him let out a unified roar, "Yes sir!" their battle cries shaking the ground.

Gorn, however, couldn't shake the sense of unease.

The Pig Orcs felt different.

---

The Webweaver Coterie

In the shadowy caverns of survival game, Sylkis Webweaver moved with quiet precision.

The Araknae race, spider-like humanoids, lived in a world of intricately woven webs and darkened tunnels.

Sylkis, their leader, was a master of manipulation, both of magic and of the delicate threads that held their society together.

The Webweaver Coterie had always been cautious, calculating in their actions, and Sylkis was no different.

She moved through her domain like a whisper, her six legs gliding effortlessly over the network of webs that hung between the towering stalagmites of the cave.

Her slender fingers twitched as she felt the vibrations from far below.

Something was wrong.

Sylkis reached the central chamber, where the Webweaver Coterie's council gathered.

Their many eyes gleamed in the dim light, reflecting the silvery glow of the webs that stretched in every direction.

There was a sense of agitation in the air, an unease that rippled through the chamber.

"Mother Sylkis," one of the council members began, their voice a soft hiss. "There are… disturbances outside the nest. The Pig Orcs are moving."

"Moving?" Sylkis' voice was smooth, but there was an underlying tension. "Where?"

"All directions," another council member chimed in, their multiple eyes blinking rapidly. "They march toward us. Toward others."

Sylkis remained still for a moment, her mind weaving through possibilities.

Pig Orcs were brutish, savage creatures.

They came from here earlier. But they had never been a direct threat to the Araknae before. Why now again?

Her thoughts drifted to the fall of the Skyclaw Brotherhood.

Like many others, she had been stunned. The Birdmen were formidable—perhaps the most formidable of all the participants in the survival game. And yet, they had fallen to the Stonehooves Tribe, a group she had barely considered worth her attention.

"How?" Sylkis murmured, her voice soft but sharp. "How did the Skyclaw Brotherhood fall?"

There was silence in the chamber.

None dared to speak, but the tension was palpable.

They could all understand her.

They were all thinking the same thing since earlier.

If the Skyclaw Brotherhood had been destroyed, what did that mean for the rest of them? And why was it that the Pig Orcs, who had been little more than pests, were now organized—marching toward them in numbers that should have been impossible?

However, now is not the time to think of that. And she knew that.

Immediately, Sylkis narrowed her many eyes.

The survival game had never been clear in its purpose. But one thing was becoming apparent: the Stonehooves Tribe was no longer the weakest.

They were the most dangerous.

"Prepare the defenses," she ordered, her voice cold and calm. "The Pig Orcs may just be the beginning. We cannot allow ourselves to be caught off guard. Once we are done, we will send scouts to the Stonehooves Tribe."

The council members scattered, their legs skittering across the webbed floor.

Sylkis remained still, her mind weaving together the threads of this growing mystery.

…

Back in the Stonehooves Tribe, Lyerin stood atop the stone table that had risen from the earth.

Lyerin's lips curled into a demonic smile. "It's time," he whispered. "I decided. It's time to end this, once and for all."