LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 222: Crush the head

Lyerin's laughter echoed through the strange realm as he gazed at Yasira, his eyes filled with twisted amusement.

He had expected her to squirm, to panic, but instead, she stood firm, and that amused him even more.

His grin widened as his laughter died down into a low chuckle, and he leaned closer to her, mockingly patting her on the head like one would a child.

"And why," he asked, his voice dripping with condescension, "do you think I'm lying, Yasira? Go on, tell everyone why you think all of this is just some elaborate farce." His eyes gleamed with anticipation, eager to hear her justification.

Yasira took a deep breath, standing tall despite the menace radiating from Lyerin.

Her mind raced as she carefully formulated her response, knowing that the fate of not only the Borgias but perhaps the entire human race could hinge on what she said next.

"You see, Lyerin," Yasira began, her voice steady, though her heart was pounding, "everything you've done so far reeks of desperation. You're trying too hard. Yes, I can see it clearly now.

"You're trying to scare them, to intimidate the humans and the Borgias Family into believing that you're far more powerful than you truly are. But the truth is, this is all a carefully constructed lie—one that you hope will create chaos and distrust among them."

She paused, watching Lyerin's expression, but he simply raised an eyebrow, his grin still firmly in place.

"You flaunt that severed head," Yasira continued, pointing toward the head of the so-called Borgias patriarch, "as if it's definitive proof of your victory. But think about it—does it even make sense?

A man like the patriarch of the Borgias Family, someone who is known for his cunning and power, someone who has survived countless assassination attempts, would follow you out of the safety of his city without a plan? Without backup? And fall so easily into your trap? It's not logical."

She gestured toward the camera, addressing the humans and Borgias family members who were likely watching.

"Why would a patriarch, a man responsible for protecting his entire family, leave himself vulnerable in such a reckless manner?

"Especially when he knows that Lyerin, someone he's already identified as a threat, is still out there, lurking, plotting? No, it doesn't add up."

Yasira's voice grew more confident as she continued, laying out her argument piece by piece.

"And what of the supposed scroll that Lyerin claims he has? The one that can awaken a spirit? If such a thing existed, do you really think Lyerin would announce it so publicly?

"Would he tell the world where it came from, how it could be used, and what it could do?

"A man as secretive and cunning as him?

"No.

"Lyerin thrives on manipulation, on keeping people guessing. Revealing something so valuable to the public would be the last thing he would do."

She crossed her arms, staring Lyerin down as she spoke.

"And let's talk about the Borgias Family's weaknesses that Lyerin so generously decided to share.

"Really, Lyerin? You expect us to believe that after infiltrating their core, you, of all people, would give away their vulnerabilities so freely? It's a classic diversion tactic.

"You want to make everyone think that the Borgias Family is on the brink of collapse, that they're exposed and weak, so that the real threats—the other powerful families, the other entities on Earth—will turn their attention to them instead of you.

"You want to create chaos, to pit everyone against each other while you sit back and watch."

Yasira turned to the camera again, her expression serious.

"Earthlings, humans—can't you see what he's doing? Lyerin is trying to make you distrust one another, trying to create divisions where none need to exist.

"He's banking on your greed, on your fear, to make you believe that you need to destroy the Borgias Family to save yourselves.

"But the truth is, he's lying. He's creating a smokescreen to cover up his own weaknesses. Don't fall for it."

Her eyes narrowed as she turned back to Lyerin.

"Everything about you, Lyerin, screams manipulation. You lie, you deceive, and you twist the truth to suit your own ends. But I see through you.

"The Borgias see through you. And soon, everyone else will too."

---

Meanwhile, on Earth, in the heavily fortified halls of the Borgias Family's central compound, a palpable sense of dread and disbelief had taken hold.

The image of the severed head, supposedly belonging to their patriarch, still loomed large in their minds, but Yasira's words had given them pause.

Lyuzen, Lyerin's father, stood in stunned silence, his hands trembling with barely restrained fury.

Around him, members of the Borgias Family whispered anxiously, exchanging worried glances.

"Do you think it's true?" one of the younger members asked, her voice shaking. "Could the patriarch really have fallen into Lyerin's trap?"

"No," another man snapped, his voice laced with disbelief. "There's no way. The patriarch was too careful, too clever to be outwitted by that... that halfling!"

"But the head," someone else whispered. "It looked real."

"It's a trick!" Lyuzen suddenly shouted, slamming his fist onto the table.

"That damned brat is playing games with us. He's trying to make us doubt ourselves, to make us think the patriarch is dead so we'll panic and make mistakes."

One of the elders, an older man with a grizzled beard, nodded in agreement.

"Yasira was right. Lyerin's a liar, always has been. He's using fear and confusion to manipulate us. He wants us to believe that we're vulnerable, that we're exposed. But the patriarch is alive—I'm sure of it. He wouldn't fall so easily."

A younger member chimed in, her voice filled with worry. "But what if he's not lying? What if the patriarch really is dead? What if Lyerin did manage to infiltrate the family?"

"Enough!" Lyuzen growled, his eyes blazing with fury. "I refuse to believe that bastard killed my father. It's a trick, a cruel joke. We need to stay calm and think this through. If we lose our heads now, we'll be playing right into his hands."

"But what about the scroll?" another elder asked. "If what Yasira says is true, and Lyerin's lying about that too, then what is his real goal? What does he want?"

Lyuzen's jaw tightened as he paced the room. "He wants chaos. He wants us to destroy ourselves. The scroll is probably fake, just another one of his lies to make us tear each other apart while he watches. We need to focus, stay united, and not let him manipulate us."

The room fell into a tense silence as the members of the Borgias Family exchanged anxious glances.

They were caught between disbelief and fear, unsure of what to believe. But one thing was certain: Lyerin had thrown their world into turmoil, and the consequences of his actions were beginning to unravel.

---

Lyerin's laughter once again filled the air, cutting through the tension like a knife. He leaned back, his arms wide in a mocking gesture of acceptance.

"You know what, Yasira?" he said, his voice dripping with amusement.

"You're absolutely right. I am lying. Everything you said is true. I'm trying to manipulate them, to turn everyone against each other, to create chaos."

His eyes sparkled with sadistic glee as he spoke, almost as if he enjoyed hearing her lay out his plan.

He began to repeat Yasira's words, mimicking her logical, measured tone with eerie precision.

"The patriarch would never have followed me out into the open without a plan. He's far too smart for that. And the scroll? Of course, it's probably fake. Why would I reveal something so valuable to the public? That would be foolish, wouldn't it?"

Lyerin's voice grew darker, more theatrical, as he continued.

"And yes, I want to make everyone believe the Borgias Family is weak, that they're on the brink of collapse. I want to sow distrust, to make them think their enemies are circling, ready to strike.

"Because when they're divided, when they're too busy fighting each other, that's when I can swoop in and take what I want."

He grinned, his voice lowering to a menacing whisper. "Chaos is my weapon. Fear is my ally. And you're all playing right into my hands."

With that, Lyerin turned to the camera, his eyes gleaming with maniacal delight. "But let's see how much of this is a lie, shall we?"

Without warning, he tightened his grip on the severed head of the patriarch.

With a sickening crunch, he crushed it between his fingers, blood and bone splattering across the screen.

Yasira's gasp echoed through the room, and Lyerin smiled darkly.

"Now... let's see what happens next."