LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 298: Celebration

The oppressive heat that had once consumed the soldiers melted away, replaced by a soothing warmth that spread through their bodies like the embrace of a comforting fire on a cold winter's night.

The feathers beneath their feet no longer felt searing but soft, inviting. The tension in their shoulders eased, and the soldiers began to look around, bewildered.

"It's... warm?" one of them whispered, cautiously placing his hand on the glowing red feathers. "Not hot anymore?"

"Yeah," another said, hesitantly removing his glove to touch the feathers directly. His expression shifted from fear to awe. "It's... kind of nice."

"Nice?" Lucas echoed, narrowing his eyes at him. "You were just screaming about your armor melting five minutes ago."

"Well, yeah," the soldier replied with a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his neck. "But now it's different. It's... relaxing."

A ripple of realization passed through the group. The unbearable heat had vanished, leaving behind an almost magical sensation. It was as if the island-sized creature beneath them was now radiating a gentle, life-giving warmth that seeped into their very souls.

"Relaxing?" Lucas grumbled. "Don't tell me you're all suddenly comfortable."

"Actually," one soldier piped up, stretching his arms overhead and letting out a contented sigh, "I kind of am. This is better than any campfire I've ever sat by."

"Same here!" another chimed in, lying down flat on the beast's feathered surface. "This is amazing! I feel like I could sleep for days."

The group burst into murmurs of agreement, each soldier testing their surroundings and finding themselves surprised by how soothing it all felt. Even the air seemed different—no longer stifling but fresh, with a faint hint of something sweet, like honey.

"I can't believe this," one of the younger soldiers said, sitting cross-legged as he stared at the glowing mushrooms in the distance. "A few minutes ago, I thought I was going to die, and now? Now I feel like I'm at a spa."

The others laughed, the sound echoing across the vast creature's back. It was the first genuine laughter they'd shared since arriving in this strange, perilous place. The tension that had gripped them for hours—maybe even days—began to melt away.

"Spa? Really?" Lucas muttered, crossing his arms as he remained standing, ever the skeptic. "You do realize we're still sitting on a giant beast that could toss us off at any second, right?"

"Oh, come on, Lucas," another soldier said with a grin, nudging him in the ribs. "Lighten up for once. This is the first time we've felt even remotely safe since we got here."

"Safe?!" Lucas shot back. "We're in the middle of the sky, surrounded by floating islands and killer mushrooms. There's nothing safe about this!"

"Stop being such a downer," the first soldier replied, lying back and folding his hands behind his head. "If Lyerin says we're fine, we're fine. You've got to admit, this warmth is... incredible."

"It really is," another soldier agreed, a dreamy look in his eyes. "It's like... it's like being hugged by my mom. You know, when I was a kid."

Several soldiers nodded in agreement, their expressions softening. The warmth seemed to stir memories of home—of nights spent by the fire with loved ones, of moments of peace and comfort they hadn't experienced in what felt like an eternity.

"Yeah," one of the older soldiers said, his voice thick with nostalgia. "It reminds me of the old days... back before all this madness. Sitting with my kids by the hearth, telling them stories until they fell asleep."

"That's the best feeling in the world," another added quietly. "Being with family. Feeling safe."

A hush fell over the group as they reflected on their lives before this journey. Some smiled wistfully; others looked away, their eyes glistening with unshed tears. The warmth seemed to open something inside them, a vulnerability they hadn't allowed themselves to feel until now.

And then, of course, Lyerin broke the silence.

"Is this a celebration or a funeral?" he asked, his tone teasing as he approached the group. "You all look like you're about to cry."

The soldiers blinked, startled out of their reverie. One of them, a younger man with a mischievous grin, shot back, "Maybe we are, boss. Ever think of that?"

Lyerin smirked, crossing his arms. "Well, if you're going to cry, do it with some dignity. You're members of the Stonehooves Tribe now, remember? We don't sob over warm feathers."

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The group chuckled, the tension breaking as they rolled their eyes at Lyerin's antics.

"So," Lyerin continued, pacing in front of them like a commander addressing his troops. "What's the verdict? Are we throwing a party here on the back of this beast, or are you all too chicken to enjoy yourselves?"

"A party?" one soldier repeated, laughing. "What kind of party do you throw on a flying monster?"

"The best kind," Lyerin replied with a grin. "Come on, loosen up. You've all survived things that should have killed you ten times over. You've earned this."

The soldiers exchanged glances, their smiles growing. One by one, they began to relax even further, sitting down or stretching out across the glowing feathers. Some started to hum tunes from their hometowns; others began joking and sharing stories.

Lucas, still standing with his arms crossed, sighed heavily. "You're all insane."

"Maybe," Lyerin said, flashing him a knowing smile. "But you're still here with us, aren't you?"

Lucas didn't respond, but the faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

For the first time in a long while, the soldiers allowed themselves to laugh, to share stories, to simply be. The warmth of the feathers, the surreal beauty of the floating islands, and Lyerin's irreverent confidence combined to create a moment of peace they hadn't thought possible in this strange and dangerous world.

Unbeknownst to them, Lyerin watched them carefully, his smirk softening into something more sinister.

Though his demeanor remained playful, his eyes gleamed with something deeper—satisfaction.

The soldiers continued basking in the newfound warmth, their laughter and murmured conversations blending into the gentle hum of the air.

The radiant glow of the mushrooms lit their faces, and for a moment, the surreal world they were in felt almost... peaceful.

It was a fragile moment of reprieve, one they hadn't dared to hope for in the chaos of their journey.

Lucas, however, couldn't settle.

He sat off to the side, his posture rigid as he watched the others.

His brow furrowed, deep in thought, his mind churning with questions that refused to let him rest.

Finally, he stood and walked over to Lyerin, who was leaning casually against a feathered ridge, surveying the floating islands around them like a king overlooking his domain.

Lyerin noticed him immediately, though he didn't turn. "You've got that look again, Lucas," he said, a smirk curling his lips. "The one that says, 'I've got questions, and I'm too stubborn to let them go.'"

Lucas chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Am I that obvious?"

"To me? Always." Lyerin turned to face him fully, his sharp eyes glinting in the mushroom's soft light. "Well? Go ahead. Ask."

Lucas hesitated, glancing back at the other soldiers. Most of them were too engrossed in their impromptu celebration to notice him, but still, he lowered his voice. "I was just wondering... how do you do it?"

"Do what?" Lyerin asked, tilting his head slightly.

"Lead us," Lucas admitted, his tone a mix of awe and frustration.

"We've been through so much—things none of us were prepared for. And yet, you're always calm, always in control. It's like... like you're playing a game you already know you'll win."

Lyerin's smirk widened. "That's because I am playing a game, Lucas. And I do intend to win."

Lucas blinked, taken aback by the honesty of the statement. "But how? How can you be so sure? You don't even know what's going to happen next—none of us do."

Lyerin shrugged, his demeanor almost casual. "It's not about knowing, Lucas. It's about adapting. It's about understanding the board and the pieces on it. And right now, all of you are my pieces."

"Pieces?" Lucas echoed, a flicker of irritation in his voice.

"Don't take it personally," Lyerin said smoothly. "You're important pieces. Crucial, even. Without you, none of this would work. But you're still on the board, and I'm the one moving you."

Lucas crossed his arms, his expression hardening. "That's... cold."

"Is it?" Lyerin raised an eyebrow. "Or is it just reality? You want me to pretend this is some grand partnership where we're all equals? Because it's not. I'm the one leading, and you're the ones following. That's how we survive."

Lucas opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself. He couldn't deny that Lyerin's leadership had saved them more times than he could count. Still, the bluntness of his words stung.

"You're quiet," Lyerin observed, his smirk softening. "Good. That means you're thinking. I like that about you, Lucas—you don't just accept things. You question them. That's rare."

Lucas shifted uncomfortably under the praise, unsure how to respond. Instead, he decided to change the subject. "Why do you like this?" he asked after a moment. "Leading us, pushing us to the edge over and over. What do you get out of it?"

Lyerin chuckled, a low, almost sinister sound. "You think this is about what I get out of it?"

"Isn't it?" Lucas pressed.

For a moment, Lyerin said nothing, his gaze distant as he looked out over the floating islands. When he finally spoke, his tone was quieter, more reflective. "Maybe it started that way. Maybe it was about what I wanted. But now... it's bigger than that."

Lucas tilted his head, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Lyerin turned back to him, his expression unreadable. "You've all grown, Lucas. In ways you don't even realize yet. When I look at you, at all of you, I don't just see soldiers anymore. I see survivors. Fighters. People who can change the world—not just for themselves, but for everyone."

Lucas frowned, confused. "Change the world? What are you talking about? We're stuck in some floating death trap with giant mushrooms and killer trilobites. What world are we changing?"

"Not this one," Lyerin said, his voice steady. "Earth."

Lucas froze, his heart skipping a beat. "Earth? But... what do you mean? Why did you even bring us here?"

Lyerin's smirk returned, but this time, it was tinged with something darker. "Because Earth won't be livable for much longer."

The weight of his words hit Lucas like a physical blow. "What are you talking about? What do you mean it won't be livable?"

Lyerin crossed his arms, his expression hardening. "The Asuras, Lucas. They're turning Earth into their personal arena. A playground for their games. And do you know what happens to humanity when the Asuras play? They lose."

Lucas stared at him, his mind racing. "But... why? Why would they do that?"

"Because they can," Lyerin said simply. "Because they don't want humanity to grow beyond their control. They'll make sure of it."

A heavy silence fell between them as Lucas processed the revelation. "So that's why you brought us here," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "To escape."

"Not just to escape," Lyerin corrected. "To grow. To become something stronger. Something the Asuras can't control. This world is dangerous, yes, but it's also an opportunity. Here, you can become more than what you were on Earth. You can become what you need to be."

Lucas didn't know what to say. He looked back at the other soldiers, laughing and chatting as if they hadn't just been told their home world was doomed. They didn't know yet. Not fully.

"You're putting a lot on us," Lucas said, his voice quiet.

"I am," Lyerin admitted. "But I wouldn't have brought you here if I didn't think you could handle it."

Lucas studied him for a long moment, searching for any sign of doubt or hesitation. He found none. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. What's the next step?"

Lyerin's smirk widened. "Now you're asking the right questions."