LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 256: Scary long shadow

For a moment, they were just people—survivors reveling in the sweet taste of victory.

Some of the men even slung their arms around each other, their faces beaming with camaraderie as they reveled in the thrill of triumph.

But above the jubilant cries and laughter, Lyerin's voice suddenly boomed, sharp and unyielding. "Hold your cheers! Do not lower your guard!"

The laughter faltered, and the men's gazes snapped back to him, eyes wide and senses heightened.

They looked around, as if realizing for the first time that something was wrong, that the air had shifted once again.

"This was only the first wave," Lyerin warned, his tone as cold as iron. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, a distant point in the sky, his eyes narrowing as he watched something in the distance.

And then, as if in response to his words, the sky began to darken. A low rumble echoed from above, a sound not of thunder but of something even more ominous.

Soldiers tensed, their fingers tightening on their weapons.

Their celebratory expressions faded, replaced by looks of dread and determination as they squinted into the darkening sky.

Then, like a swarm, the shadows materialized, growing larger and more distinct as they neared.

Shapes took form, sleek and sinuous, like monstrous bats with wings stretching impossibly wide.

They glinted with a malevolent sheen, their eyes burning red as they honed in on the warriors below.

The air grew thick, filled with an ominous hum that set everyone's teeth on edge. The creatures, hundreds of them, flew in synchronized waves, casting a darkness over the battlefield. Enjoy exclusive content from m-v l'-NovelFire

"Thunder Bats," someone whispered, his voice barely audible over the low, resonant hum that filled the air.

The men gripped their weapons tighter, glancing nervously at each other, and then back to Lyerin, who stood firm, unflinching as he met the incoming swarm with a steely gaze.

He raised his hand, commanding attention. "Prepare yourselves," he said, his voice cutting through the rising fear. "This will be nothing like what we just faced."

The air was tense, a palpable tremor of fear rippling through the gathered soldiers behind Lyerin as the screeching thunder bats circled overhead.

Their leathery wings sliced through the air, and the sound built to a pitch that sent chills down their spines.

Each flap seemed to vibrate in their bones, rattling the courage that many had barely summoned for this alliance.

A lieutenant in the back, visibly shaken, barked, "Formation! Hold your ground, men!"

His voice cracked midway, but he tried to steady himself, gripping his rifle like a lifeline.

Around him, soldiers raised their guns and braced themselves, attempting to follow his orders even as panic flashed in their eyes.

But the bats weren't waiting. With a synchronized shriek, they plunged down from above, streaks of black and silver in the night sky, their red eyes glowing like embers as they honed in on their targets.

"OPEN FIRE!"

Lucas shouted. His voice, usually calm and composed, was loud and sharp now, straining to carry authority over the rising screams and frantic gunfire.

The first rounds sprayed into the air, a cacophony of bullets tearing through the sky as they aimed desperately at the bats.

Some of the beasts fell, struck by well-placed shots, but there were too many, and they were too fast.

The thunder bats seemed almost to swim through the bullets, weaving in and out, their movements slick and unnaturally fluid, a living storm of wings and talons.

"RELOAD!" one soldier yelled, fumbling with his weapon, hands shaking so badly that he nearly dropped his ammo.

Beside him, his comrade cried out, "They're too fast, they're too—" but his words were cut off as a thunder bat swooped down, claws slashing his arm and sending a spray of blood across his face.

The bat screeched in triumph and arced back up, joining the others in their relentless assault.

Behind him, another voice shouted, "They're everywhere! Keep close! Don't let them separate you!"

However, as the thunder bats rained down on them, more soldiers scattered, the formation breaking into chaotic clusters.

The men looked around desperately, unable to find any sense of direction amid the chaos and darkness.

Lyerin stood at the front, calm amid the turmoil, his eyes glinting as he watched the horror unfold.

He didn't flinch, even as the beasts screamed around him, slicing through the air like blades.

He could see the fear tightening around his newfound "allies." This was a test as much as it was a fight.

And just then, the night seemed to grow darker.

Something else was moving—far larger and far more ominous.

A shadow, massive and serpentine, coiled just beyond the front lines, rising and then falling in a slow, chilling motion.

"Sir… what is that?" whispered one of the soldiers nearest to Lyerin, his voice barely audible over the thunder bats' shrieks.

His eyes were fixed on the ground, wide with terror as the shadow slid closer.

The shadow rose once more, looming above them, and then a sudden rush of darkness surged upwards, scattering a cluster of bats with a soundless sweep.

Several of the thunder bats disappeared in an instant, swallowed by the massive presence before it drifted back to the ground, silent as a nightmare.

The eerie quiet left in its wake seemed to weigh heavily, as though the world held its breath, fearing to draw the attention of whatever lurked in that shadow.

One of the officers behind Lyerin muttered, "Is it… a spirit beast?" His voice quivered as if daring not to break the quiet any louder.

Lyerin, for once, remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on the place where the shadow had sunk back down.

He felt the anticipation in the air, the unspoken question rising in everyone's mind: Would they follow it? Could they?

"Move forward," he commanded, his voice calm but carrying an edge that sent a shiver through the ranks.

The soldiers hesitated, exchanging terrified glances, but Lyerin's authority bore down on them like a weight.

Their steps were slow, careful, each one watching the shadows as if they expected the monstrous form to rise again, to swallow them whole in a heartbeat.

A lieutenant, his face pale and eyes wide, whispered, "Everyone, stay close… don't fall behind…" His voice trailed off, as though he, too, feared waking whatever prowled the darkness.

As they took each step, the soldiers' murmurs grew louder, a quiet hum of fear. "You see that thing? It… it was huge…"

"Didn't even make a sound…"

"Where did it go?"

They moved forward, though every instinct in them screamed to turn and flee.

Their breaths grew ragged, and the metallic clinking of their gear seemed deafening in the silence.

Suddenly, a distant growl rumbled, deep and menacing, and the soldiers froze again, every eye wide with dread. It was there, somewhere in the shadows, circling them like prey.

One soldier, his hand trembling on his rifle, whispered, "What are we doing here? This is insane…"

But another snapped, "Shut up, man! Don't let it hear you!" He tried to mask his own fear, but his voice was a thin veneer of false courage over terror.

Lyerin's lips quirk into a dark smile as he walked forward, head held high, leading them onward with an unnerving calm. It was as though he was daring the shadow to show itself again.