LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 309: Finally

The Minotaur statue stood silent for a moment, its stone surface bathed in the soft, pulsating glow of the captured creatures. The soldiers, battered and exhausted, gathered at a safe distance, their breath caught in their throats as they watched Lyerin at work. He stood at the base of the statue, hands raised high, chanting in a tongue that felt ancient and powerful, vibrating through the very marrow of their bones.

At first, the hum was faint, more like a gentle vibration that tickled their feet through the ground. A few soldiers exchanged wary glances, unsure if they were imagining it. But as Lyerin's chant deepened, growing louder and more commanding, the hum grew in intensity. It wasn't just heard—it was felt.

One soldier grabbed his chest, gasping. "It's in my ribs!"

"Mine too," another muttered, clutching the hilt of his weapon as if it would anchor him to reality.

The sound seemed to pulse in waves, rippling through the air and ground, growing stronger and deeper with each beat. The captured creatures around the statue responded in kind. Their glowing bodies flickered, and a low, collective whine emanated from them, creating a discordant harmony with the statue's hum.

Lucas frowned, his brow furrowed as he scanned the area. "What's happening? Lyerin didn't warn us about this."

Another soldier, younger and jittery, gripped his arm. "Do you think this is safe? Shouldn't we—"

"Stay put!" Lucas barked, his voice cutting through the growing noise. "We don't move unless Lyerin says so."

Yet, despite his commanding tone, doubt flickered in his eyes. He glanced toward Lyerin, who remained unwavering, his hands glowing now, as if they were conduits for the energy swirling around them.

"Lyerin!" another soldier shouted, their voice strained over the ever-growing hum. "What's happening?"

Lyerin didn't respond. His focus was absolute, his chant turning into something deeper, almost guttural. The very air around him seemed to shimmer and bend as if reality itself was warping under the weight of his power.

The hum wasn't just sound anymore. It was a force, pressing down on everything in the vicinity. Trees swayed violently, though there was no wind. The earth trembled beneath their feet, small fissures forming in the soil as the vibrations grew stronger.

One soldier fell to his knees, covering his ears. "It's too loud! I can't take it!"

"Hold yourself together!" Lucas snapped, though he too was grimacing, his body taut against the pressure.

The captured creatures were no longer whining. They screamed, their glowing bodies now pulsating rapidly, almost as if they were about to burst. Their light was blinding, casting eerie shadows that danced and twisted across the soldiers' faces.

"Is this supposed to happen?" a soldier yelled, his voice barely audible over the cacophony.

"If it wasn't, Lyerin would have stopped!" Lucas shot back, though even he looked uncertain now.

Just as the sound seemed unbearable—as if their very bones would shatter from the intensity—there was a sudden, deafening silence. It was so abrupt, so absolute, that it left their ears ringing.

And then, the statue pulsed.

A single wave of energy radiated out from it, a shimmering ripple that distorted everything in its path. The soldiers froze, their breath caught in their throats, as the wave passed through them. It wasn't painful, but it was disorienting, like being submerged in water for a brief moment.

"What was that?" one soldier whispered, his voice trembling.

Before anyone could respond, the ground beneath the statue cracked. Another pulse followed, stronger this time, and with it came a low, guttural rumble from deep within the earth.

Lyerin finally spoke, his voice calm yet commanding. "Brace yourselves. The transformation is beginning."

The ground around the statue heaved, as if something massive was stirring beneath it. The soldiers stumbled back, their panic mounting as they watched the earth split apart. From the cracks rose massive, smooth structures, their surfaces glistening with an otherworldly sheen.

"What in the hell—?" Lucas began, but his words were drowned out as more structures emerged.

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They weren't just random formations. They were walls—tall, towering walls that seemed to stretch endlessly upward. Their surfaces were etched with glowing symbols that pulsed in time with the statue's hum.

"Look at the size of them!" a soldier gasped, his voice tinged with awe and fear.

The walls began to close in, forming a labyrinthine pattern around the statue. The soldiers scrambled to stay together, but the ground shifted beneath them, splitting and reforming, forcing them apart.

"Stay close!" Lucas shouted, his voice frantic.

But it was no use. The walls rose too quickly, their massive forms cutting through the terrain with an unstoppable force. Within moments, the soldiers were separated, each trapped in their own section of the newly-formed labyrinth.

In the eerie silence that followed, the statue stood at the center of the labyrinth, its glow now steady and ominous. Lyerin's voice echoed faintly through the walls, carrying a tone of grim satisfaction.

The soldiers, scattered and disoriented, could only stare at the towering barriers around them, their minds racing with questions and fears.

"What now?" one soldier whispered to himself, his voice barely audible.

For now, there was no answer. Only the unyielding presence of the walls and the pulsing energy of the Minotaur statue.

The Minotaur statue stood tall, its ominous hum now fading into a low, steady resonance.

The labyrinth around it loomed, its towering walls casting immense shadows over the scattered soldiers. For a long moment, silence reigned.

Each soldier stood frozen, their breaths shallow, their minds racing to make sense of what had just happened.

Lucas was the first to break the silence, his voice filled with unease. "Is this it, Lyerin? Are we trapped here forever?"

Before Lyerin could respond, another soldier shouted from the far side of the maze. "How do we even move in this thing? These walls don't make sense! They're too high, too... weird!"

Indeed, the walls shimmered faintly, as if they weren't entirely solid. Strange symbols etched into their surfaces glowed faintly, pulsating in rhythm with the statue. The patterns were hypnotic, almost alive, twisting and shifting subtly as if to mock anyone who dared to navigate them.

Lyerin, standing confidently near the statue, raised a hand. His voice cut through the soldiers' rising panic like a blade.

"Enough."

The single word carried such weight that every soldier fell silent, turning their attention to him.

"You are not trapped," Lyerin said, his tone calm yet commanding. "Not unless you believe yourselves to be."

A skeptical soldier stepped forward, his face pale. "But these walls—they're impenetrable! We don't even know where to start."

Lyerin smirked. "Of course you don't. You're thinking too hard." He gestured to the nearest wall. "This maze isn't a test of strength or strategy. It's a test of belonging."

The soldiers exchanged confused glances, but before they could voice their questions, Lyerin continued. "Walk forward. Go. I don't care which direction. Just move."

The group hesitated. Lucas, his face a mix of distrust and determination, took the first step. He approached one of the shimmering walls cautiously, reaching out a hand as if expecting it to zap him with energy.

"Move, Lucas," Lyerin said impatiently.

With a deep breath, Lucas stepped forward—and to everyone's astonishment, the wall rippled like water, parting effortlessly to let him through. He stumbled, looking back in disbelief.

"It... opened?" Lucas muttered.

"It opened because I told it to," Lyerin said, crossing his arms. "You are temporary members of my tribe, and this maze recognizes that. Its magic bends to my will, and by extension, to yours. For now."

Encouraged by Lucas's success, the other soldiers began to move hesitantly. One by one, they approached the walls, and like magic, the barriers parted for them. Some walked cautiously, others sprinted, testing the limits of the maze's compliance. Each time, the walls shifted to accommodate them.

"This is unreal," one soldier whispered, running a hand along the shimmering surface. "It feels alive."

"It is alive," Lyerin corrected, his voice echoing through the labyrinth. "Or rather, it's a manifestation of living magic. It responds to those who carry my mark. Without it, you'd be stuck here forever."

A few soldiers froze mid-step at his words, their faces pale.

"Relax," Lyerin added with a smirk. "You're safe. For now."

The soldiers grew bolder, experimenting with the maze's behavior. One soldier sprinted toward a wall at full speed, laughing as it parted just before he crashed into it. Another climbed onto a low ledge, trying to get a better view, only for the walls to ripple and shift, preventing him from seeing beyond.

"Stop playing around!" Lucas barked, his tone sharp. "This isn't a game."

But even he couldn't deny the surreal nature of the maze. It seemed almost playful, responding to their movements in unexpected ways. One soldier even swore he heard the walls laughing—a faint, melodic sound that sent shivers down his spine.

"What happens if we stop being 'temporary members'?" someone asked nervously.

Lyerin's expression darkened. "You don't want to find out."

As they continued to explore, the Minotaur statue remained at the heart of the maze, its energy pulsing steadily. The soldiers couldn't help but glance back at it, their unease growing with each step.

"It feels like it's watching us," one muttered.

"It is," Lyerin replied casually. "The statue is the heart of this labyrinth. It sees everything, knows everything. As long as it recognizes you as part of my tribe, you're free to move. But if you lose that connection..." He trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

After what felt like hours of wandering, the group finally emerged from the maze, stepping into the open air with a collective sigh of relief. The towering walls shimmered one last time before fading into the ground, leaving no trace of their existence.

Lyerin stood at the edge of the clearing, his arms crossed as he watched them. "Well?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "Do you understand now?"

One soldier stepped forward, his face pale. "Understand what?"

"That you're here because I allow it," Lyerin said. "The maze, the statue, the magic—it all bends to me. And because you've sworn temporary allegiance to my tribe, it bends to you as well. But make no mistake." His eyes glinted, cold and sharp. "The moment our partnership ends, you'll be just like any other outsider. Trapped. Helpless."

The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of his words sinking in.

"So... we're safe as long as we're with you?" Lucas asked, his tone cautious.

Lyerin nodded. "Exactly. Now stop wasting time. We have more important things to do."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving the soldiers to follow in tense silence, the memory of the maze still fresh in their minds.