LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 317: Not enough

Lyerin crouched beside the mangled corpses of the beasts he had just slain, his hand delving into the depths of their chests. The ichor-slicked remains were still warm, and the air carried the acrid tang of charred flesh and crushed bone. He extracted a handful of mana stones, each glowing faintly with eldritch light, their energy humming softly in his palm.

He examined them closely, the veins of mana flickering erratically within the stones, as if struggling to contain the raw power inside. He sighed and shook his head.

"This isn't enough," he muttered to himself, his tone low and disapproving. Standing, he clenched his fists, the mana stones grinding together in his grip before he carefully placed them into a small pouch tied to his belt. "If I want this to work... I'll need more. Much more."

He turned his gaze to the dense forest ahead, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows between the towering trees. The faint sounds of rustling leaves and distant growls reached his ears, but nothing nearby seemed threatening enough to hold the kind of energy he sought. Lyerin clicked his tongue in frustration, his mind racing with possibilities.

Lyerin paced back and forth in a small clearing, his boots crunching against the blood-soaked earth. He muttered to himself, his thoughts spiraling as he tried to devise a plan.

"Stronger mana stones," he growled, his tone growing more agitated. "I need beasts with cores teeming with concentrated mana, not these weak scraps. But how do I draw them out?"

He paused, glancing back at the corpses of the slain creatures. An idea began to form in his mind, a slow grin spreading across his face.

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"Of course," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "A feast of death always attracts the strongest predators. Why hunt for them when I can make them come to me?"

Lyerin wasted no time. He moved swiftly through the forest, dragging the largest of the corpses behind him. The spined beast, though cumbersome, was ideal for his plan. Its grotesque form left a trail of blood and viscera across the forest floor, a scent trail potent enough to lure even the most cautious predators.

"Come and get it," he muttered under his breath, his grin widening as he hauled the beast into the clearing. He propped its mangled body against a fallen tree, positioning it like an offering on a grotesque altar.

Satisfied with his work, Lyerin stepped back and surveyed the scene. The clearing was bathed in an eerie glow from the mana stones within the beast's chest, their light flickering faintly like dying stars.

"That should do it," he said, his voice tinged with anticipation. "Now, let's see who takes the bait."

Lyerin didn't have to wait long. As the scent of blood and mana filled the air, the forest around him began to stir. The distant rustling of leaves grew louder, the shadows between the trees deepening as unseen figures moved closer.

He leaned casually against a tree, his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. His ears caught every sound—the snapping of twigs, the low growls, the heavy thud of approaching footsteps.

"That's it," he murmured, his tone almost playful. "Come to me."

The first creature to appear was a hulking beast with jagged horns and glowing red eyes. It snarled as it stepped into the clearing, its claws digging into the earth. Behind it, more creatures emerged—serpentine forms with shimmering scales, winged monstrosities with talons sharp enough to cleave stone, and shadowy figures that seemed to flicker in and out of existence.

Lyerin's grin widened as he counted their numbers. "Perfect," he said, drawing his blade with a flourish. "This should be fun."

The beasts charged as one, their roars and screeches blending into a deafening cacophony. Lyerin darted forward, his movements fluid and precise as he met their assault head-on. His blade sang through the air, its edge slicing through flesh and bone with ease.

The jagged-horned beast lunged at him, its claws aiming for his throat. Lyerin ducked low, spinning on his heel to avoid the strike. As he turned, he drove his blade upward, piercing the beast's chest and shattering its mana core.

The creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground. Lyerin pulled his blade free, ichor dripping from its edge as he turned to face the next attacker.

The winged monstrosities descended from above, their talons flashing in the faint light. Lyerin leapt into the air, meeting them mid-flight. His blade arced through the sky, severing wings and sending the creatures plummeting to the ground.

Below, the serpentine beasts coiled around him, their scales deflecting his strikes with metallic clangs. Lyerin narrowed his eyes, his grin fading slightly as he adjusted his strategy. He thrust his blade into the ground, sending a shockwave of energy through the earth. The serpents recoiled, their bodies writhing as the energy disrupted their movements.

As the fight dragged on, the beasts grew more aggressive. Their attacks became faster, their coordination more precise. Lyerin found himself forced to dodge and counter with increasing speed, his laughter echoing across the battlefield as he reveled in the chaos.

"You're better than I expected," he admitted, his voice tinged with excitement. "But not good enough!"

He unleashed a burst of energy, his blade glowing with an otherworldly light as he struck down three beasts in rapid succession. Their mana cores shattered, their energy dispersing into the air like wisps of smoke.

As the last beast fell, Lyerin stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. He surveyed the battlefield, his eyes scanning the fallen creatures. He reached down and extracted their mana stones, his brow furrowing as he examined them.

"Still not enough," he muttered, his tone laced with frustration. He straightened, his gaze turning back to the forest. "Looks like I'll need to lure even more."

With a resigned sigh, he began dragging another corpse to the center of the clearing, the cycle starting anew. "They better be stronger this time," he said, his voice low and determined. "I'm just getting warmed up."