LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 297: A little break

The calm of the moment didn't last long. Suddenly, the air around them grew heavy, the once-cool breeze now tinged with an uncomfortable warmth.

The soldiers shifted uneasily, their expressions turning from awe to confusion as the heat steadily increased.

"What's happening?" one of them muttered, tugging at his collar as beads of sweat began to form on his forehead.

Lyerin stood at the front, his posture relaxed, a sly grin creeping across his face. "Ah, I see our friend is taking a little break."

The soldiers exchanged nervous glances. "A break? What do you mean by that?" Lucas finally asked, his tone sharp with suspicion.

Lyerin didn't answer immediately. Instead, he crouched slightly, placing his hand against the warm surface of the creature's back. He smirked as if enjoying some private joke. "This one has its habits. You'll see."

The heat intensified rapidly, becoming oppressive. The once-welcoming glow of the mushroom-lit island faded into insignificance as the soldiers' focus turned inward to their discomfort. The warmth was now unbearable, soaking them in sweat and making it difficult to breathe.

"Lyerin!" one of the soldiers barked, his voice trembling. "What's going on? Why is it so hot?"

Lyerin stood upright, brushing a hand through his hair casually. "Relax. It's just relaxing."

"Relaxing?!" another soldier exclaimed, his face flushed with heat. "This thing feels like it's turning into a furnace!"

The heat surged again, and the soldiers began to panic in earnest.

"We're going to cook alive!"

"My armor is burning me!"

"Are we seriously just supposed to sit here?!"

"I can't breathe! I can't—"

The creature let out a deep, resonant rumble beneath them, as if responding to their rising panic. Its massive wings shifted slightly, the movement stirring a hot gust of wind that only made the situation worse.

"Lyerin!" Lucas shouted, his voice cutting through the cacophony of cries. "What is this? What should we do?"

Lyerin turned his gaze lazily toward Lucas, raising an eyebrow. "Do? Nothing. Just hold tight. It's not going to last forever."

"Nothing?!" Lucas spat, glaring at him. "We're dying here, and you want us to do nothing?"

The others began shouting too, their voices overlapping in a chaotic blend of fear and desperation:

"How are we supposed to survive this?"

"We're soldiers, not fireproof beasts!"

"Why didn't you warn us?!"

"Are you crazy, Lyerin?!"

Lyerin threw back his head and laughed, the sound rich and unrestrained, a sharp contrast to their growing hysteria. "Oh, you're all so dramatic! It's just a little heat."

"A little heat?" one soldier yelled, his voice cracking. "My boots are melting!"

"Do something!" another screamed, clutching the feathers tightly as if they might save him. "I'm burning alive!"

The heat surged again, the air shimmering visibly around them. It felt as though they were inside an oven, the oppressive heat pressing down on them from every direction. Some soldiers began tearing at their gear, desperate for relief, while others muttered prayers under their breath, their faces pale with terror.

"Lyerin!" Lucas shouted again, his voice hoarse. "If you don't do something—"

"Relax," Lyerin interrupted, his tone surprisingly calm. "You're not going to die."

"Not going to die?" Lucas repeated incredulously, gesturing wildly at the others. "Look at us! We're melting here!"

Lyerin smirked, folding his arms across his chest. "Oh, come on. Do you think this beast would bother taking you along if it wanted to kill you? Use your head, Lucas. You're fine."

The soldiers stared at him, their faces a mix of disbelief and anger. One of them shouted, "Fine?! Do we look fine to you?!"

Lyerin shrugged. "You look like a bunch of whiners, to be honest. This is nothing compared to what's ahead."

The creature let out another low rumble, and suddenly, the heat began to subside. It was subtle at first—a slight cooling of the air, a faint breeze washing over them—but it grew steadily more noticeable. The soldiers, still tense and drenched in sweat, hesitated, their complaints trailing off into uncertain silence.

"See?" Lyerin said, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Told you it wouldn't last."

The soldiers exchanged wary glances, their panic slowly giving way to confusion. One by one, they began to notice the change. The oppressive heat was gone, replaced by a comfortable warmth that felt almost soothing in comparison.

Lucas glared at Lyerin, his expression a mix of frustration and begrudging relief. "You could've warned us, you know."

"Where's the fun in that?" Lyerin replied with a chuckle. He gestured toward the creature beneath them. "You're riding one of the most ancient beings in this world. You might as well enjoy the experience."

"Enjoy?" another soldier muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "You've got a twisted sense of humor."

Lyerin shrugged again, his grin unwavering. "Maybe. But you'll thank me later."

The calm was deceptive.

No sooner had they caught their breath than the temperature began to rise again.

This time, it wasn't a gradual increase—it hit them like a wave.

The air turned scorching, making every inhalation feel like fire searing their lungs.

"What's happening now?!" one soldier yelled, clutching at his chest.

"The heat's back!" another cried, glancing around frantically. "It's even worse than before!"

The feathers of the massive beast beneath them were shifting colors, the once-dark tones now glowing with an ominous red hue.

It was as if the entire surface of the creature was becoming a living ember. The soldiers scrambled to their feet, looking down at the radiant feathers in horror.

"It's burning!" a soldier screamed, yanking his hands away from the feathers as though they were lava. "We're going to burn alive!"

The air shimmered with heat waves, making everything look distorted and surreal.

Sweat poured from their faces, dripping down their armor and pooling at their feet.

Some began tearing off their gear in desperation, tossing helmets and gloves aside in a futile attempt to cool down.

"Lyerin!" Lucas shouted, his voice cracking with panic. "What is this? What's happening to the creature?"

Lyerin stood off to the side, arms crossed and a smirk playing on his lips. He seemed completely unbothered by the chaos around him. "Oh, don't worry," he said, his tone light and almost playful. "This is just the mushrooms."

"Mushrooms?!" Lucas repeated, his voice rising in disbelief. "What are you talking about?"

Lyerin gestured lazily toward the enormous stalks of glowing mushrooms sprouting from the floating island. The once-glowing caps now pulsed with a fiery orange-red light, casting the entire area in an eerie, flickering glow.

"Those," Lyerin said, pointing at the mushrooms. "They release heat when disturbed. It's part of their defense mechanism."

"Defense mechanism?!" another soldier yelled, his face pale despite the oppressive heat. "Against what? We didn't even touch them!"

"Doesn't matter," Lyerin replied with a shrug. "You're here, and that's enough for them to react."

The soldiers were on the verge of hysteria, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of panic:

"We're going to die here!"

"This is insane! Why did we even come to this place?"

"Lyerin, do something! We can't take this heat!"

"It's like standing in the middle of a volcano!"

"Help us! Please!"

Lucas grabbed Lying by the arm, his expression a mix of fear and anger. "If you know what's going on, do something! We can't survive this!"

Lyerin laughed, pulling his arm free with ease. "Oh, come on, Lucas. Don't be so dramatic. You're fine."

"Fine?!" Lucas shouted, throwing his hands in the air. "We're roasting alive, and you're standing there laughing like it's some kind of joke!"

The others chimed in, their voices trembling:

"Our skin's going to blister!"

"The armor's heating up! I can't move!"

"We're all going to die here, aren't we?"

Lyerin's grin widened, his amusement seeming to grow with every passing second. "Die? None of you are going to die. Did you all forget already?"

"Forget what?!" someone shouted desperately.

Lyerin straightened, spreading his arms as though to address the group formally. "You're all temporary members of my tribe. The Stonehooves Tribe. That means you've already adapted."

"Adapted?" one soldier repeated, his voice shaking. "What are you talking about?"

"Yes, adapted," Lyerin said, nodding. "The mushrooms can't hurt you. Neither can the heat. Your bodies are already adjusted to withstand it. You just don't realize it yet."

"That's impossible!" Lucas snapped. "We're burning up! How can you say we're fine when—"

"Relax," Lyerin interrupted, his tone sharp but not unkind. "Take a deep breath. Focus. What you're feeling is an illusion—your mind is tricking you because you haven't accepted the adaptation yet."

The soldiers hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances. The heat was still intense, but… as Lyerin's words sank in, some of them began to notice subtle changes. The burning sensation on their skin wasn't as severe as before. Their breaths, though labored, were no longer painful.

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"See?" Lyerin said, his voice calm but filled with satisfaction. "You're fine. You're not melting. You're not dying. The Stonehooves Tribe doesn't break so easily."

"But… how?" one soldier asked weakly, his voice filled with wonder and confusion.

"It's part of the bond," Lyerin explained, gesturing to the ground beneath them and the mushrooms around them. "The tribe adapts to the environment. Always has, always will. You're part of it now, whether you like it or not."

The soldiers were silent for a moment, their panic slowly giving way to disbelief. One by one, they began to test Lyerin's claim, touching the feathers again, moving their arms and legs, even breathing deeply. To their amazement, the heat no longer felt unbearable. It was still there, but it no longer threatened to consume them.

"See?" Lyerin said again, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. "I told you. None of you are going to get hurt."

Lucas stared at him, his expression unreadable. Finally, he let out a shaky breath and muttered, "You're insane, Lyerin. Absolutely insane."

Lyerin chuckled. "Maybe. But I'm not wrong."