LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 324: Ambush

As Lyerin trekked through the dense and shadow-laden forest, the weight of the mana stones he carried pressed against his back, but his gait was steady and unrushed.

The air around him was thick with the remnants of his earlier battles—the faint metallic tang of blood, the charred scent of scorched foliage, and the eerie quiet that always followed a predator's reign.

His eyes glinted with a mix of exhilaration and weariness, his mind replaying the countless moments of combat he had just endured.

The world around him seemed still, almost unnaturally so.

The usual rustling of leaves, chirps of small creatures, or distant roars of wandering beasts were absent.

It was the kind of quiet that pressed on the ears, making one hyper-aware of every sound, every movement.

Yet Lyerin, unfazed by such stillness, hummed a soft tune to himself, a dark melody that seemed to mirror his own chaotic energy.

But then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught something—a flicker, a blur, something darting just out of his direct line of sight.

It was subtle, almost imperceptible, like a shadow sliding through the dense underbrush.

He paused mid-step, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area around him.

At first, it was just one.

A faint shimmer against the backdrop of green and gray, moving with the speed and silence of a ghost.

Lyerin's lips quirked into a half-smile as he turned his head slightly, as though to give it a better view of him.

"Ah... so you've finally decided to show up," he murmured, his voice low and tinged with amusement.

The blur moved again, faster this time, weaving between the thick trunks of ancient trees, its motion fluid and deliberate.

It was as if it were testing him, gauging his reaction.

Lyerin remained still, his eyes following the movement with a predator's precision.

Then another appeared.

This one to his left, mimicking the first with its graceful and fleeting movements. And then another, to his right.

His sharp senses began to pick up the faint disturbances in the air, the minute shifts in the forest's natural rhythm.

One became two.

Two became four. And then, all at once, the forest seemed alive with motion. Shadows darted and danced through the trees, their movements synchronized yet erratic, like a symphony of ghosts converging upon their prey.

Each blur was unique, its shape and size just indistinct enough to defy easy identification.

Were they soldiers? Beasts? Spirits? It didn't matter to Lyerin; his grin only widened.

"Ah, there it is," he said softly, his voice carrying an edge of glee. "The thrill of uncertainty."

The blurs didn't come closer—they circled him, their movements tightening like a noose.

Every now and then, one would come just a hair closer, as if testing his awareness, before retreating back into the swirling dance.

The forest itself seemed to shift in response to their presence, the shadows growing darker, the air heavier.

Lyerin's laughter broke through the tense silence, a sound that was both genuine and unnerving.

He tossed his head back slightly, the motion almost casual despite the growing tension around him.

"You're trying so hard," he called out, his voice loud enough to echo through the trees. "It's adorable, really. Like children playing a game they don't fully understand."

The blurs hesitated for the briefest moment, their movements faltering as if taken aback by his boldness.

Lyerin chuckled again, shifting the weight of the mana stones on his back as though he weren't surrounded by a dozen unknown entities.

"No need to hide," he continued, his tone almost teasing. He spread his arms wide, as if welcoming them.

"Come on, let's not waste each other's time. You've been watching me for a while now, haven't you? And I have to say, I'm flattered. Really, I am. But this little game of cat and mouse? It's getting a bit boring."

The blurs paused in unison, their once-fluid motions freezing mid-dance. The forest held its breath, the stillness more deafening than any roar or battle cry.

Lyerin's smile sharpened into something predatory as he leaned forward slightly, his eyes glinting with that familiar, dangerous light.

"So... what's it going to be? Are you going to make your move, or do I have to drag you out myself?"

As the forest stilled into an eerie silence, Lyerin's mocking words echoed through the vast expanse, reverberating off the trees like a challenge.

For a moment, it seemed like the blurs hesitated, their presence still palpable but motionless, as though weighing their next move.

Lyerin smirked, standing amidst the tension with a demeanor that exuded both confidence and a subtle air of condescension.

And then, without warning, the assault began.

The first attack was almost imperceptible. A faint whirring noise broke through the still air, followed by the glint of metal streaking through the dappled sunlight.

Lyerin's body moved before the projectile could find its mark, twisting with fluid precision as the weapon embedded itself into a nearby tree with a sharp thunk.

"Ah, starting small, are we?" Lyerin mused, brushing a speck of dust off his shoulder as though the attack were nothing more than a nuisance.

His tone was laced with amusement, his eyes flickering with a dangerous glint as he scanned the treeline. "Let me guess... darts? No, too fast. Bullets? Maybe something custom?"

Another whirring sound tore through the air, this time followed by a rapid burst of projectiles.

Lyerin ducked, sidestepped, and spun with an almost theatrical grace, each movement calculated yet effortless.

The weapons embedded themselves into the ground around him, carving small craters into the dirt as they missed their mark.

"Ah, definitely bullets," he remarked, tapping his chin with mock contemplation as he side-stepped another volley. His smirk widened, his voice carrying a taunting edge.

"But what's the point of using them if you can't even aim properly? You might as well be throwing rocks at me."

The blurs, now clearly identifiable as highly trained assassins armed with modern weaponry, pressed their attack.

Explosives detonated in controlled bursts around Lyerin, shaking the earth and sending debris flying.

Smoke grenades filled the air with thick, choking clouds, obscuring the battlefield in a haze of gray.

Lyerin's laughter rang out from within the smoke, his silhouette darting in and out of view like a phantom.

"Smoke? Really?" he called out, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. "You're trying to blind me in a forest I know better than you? That's cute. Desperate, but cute."

The assassins adjusted their strategy, switching to heat-seeking devices and laser-guided systems.

Missiles streaked through the sky, homing in on Lyerin with unerring precision. But as they closed in, Lyerin leapt into the air, twisting mid-flight with an agility that defied human limits.

The missiles collided with each other in a fiery explosion, the shockwave sending leaves and branches raining down from above.

Landing gracefully, Lyerin dusted off his cloak, his grin never wavering.

"You're escalating quickly," he observed, his tone almost conversational. "I like that. But maybe slow down a bit? Give yourselves a chance to actually hit me first."

The forest erupted into chaos as the assassins unleashed everything they had. Drones buzzed overhead, raining down gunfire and miniature explosives.

Turrets hidden among the trees sprang to life, their barrels swiveling to track Lyerin's every movement.

A hailstorm of bullets and shrapnel tore through the landscape, shredding trees and gouging deep trenches into the ground.

Yet Lyerin danced through it all. His movements were a blur of elegance and efficiency, his body twisting and contorting to evade each and every attack.

He moved like water flowing through cracks, adapting seamlessly to the relentless onslaught.

"Is this really all you've got?" he called out, his voice tinged with mockery as he narrowly dodged a laser-guided strike. "I expected more from assassins with such fancy toys. You're embarrassing yourselves."

A sudden whistling sound caught his attention, and Lyerin's eyes flicked upward just in time to see a cluster of small devices descending rapidly toward him.

They detonated mid-air, releasing a cascade of razor-sharp shrapnel that blanketed the area in a deadly rain.

Lyerin raised an eyebrow, his expression one of mild intrigue as he stepped into the gaps between the falling fragments, his movements impossibly precise.

"Ah, fragmentation bombs," he mused, plucking a stray shard from the air and examining it before tossing it aside. "Classic. But honestly? Still not enough."

The assassins switched tactics yet again, deploying energy-based weapons that crackled with eldritch power.

Bolts of searing light streaked toward Lyerin, carving molten trails into the earth as they passed.

He ducked and weaved, his laughter echoing through the battlefield as he sidestepped one blast after another.

"Now we're getting somewhere," he remarked, his grin widening as he dodged another energy bolt. "Though I have to say, you're still missing the mark. Literally."

The attacks grew more intense, the assassins pushing their equipment to its limits in a desperate attempt to overwhelm Lyerin.

Plasma grenades exploded in blinding flashes, EMP bursts disrupted the natural rhythm of the forest, and chemical canisters released clouds of toxic gas that spread rapidly through the air.

Lyerin paused briefly, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of the gas creeping toward him.

He sniffed the air experimentally before letting out a low chuckle.

"Ah, now this is interesting," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Poisoning the air, are we? Clever. Or at least, it would be, if I weren't immune to most of this nonsense."

He stepped forward, his grin turning feral as he addressed his unseen assailants. "Is that all you can do?" he taunted, his voice carrying a dangerous edge.

"Because if it is, you might as well pack it up and go home."