LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 367 Progress

The day finally came when they decided to venture out once more, driven not by courage but by the desperate need to prove they could overcome their failures.

The forest stretched before them like a yawning maw, its shadows twisting and curling as if mocking their resolve.

Each step forward felt heavier than the last, the weight of their previous defeats pressing down on their shoulders. But this time, there was something different—a simmering determination, fragile yet present, born of desperation rather than confidence.

Their plan was simple, far from foolproof but meticulously crafted after countless discussions and failed strategies.

They had pooled their resources, combining their traps, weapons, and whatever courage they could muster.

Instead of rushing headfirst into the unknown, they moved cautiously, mapping the terrain as they went, ensuring no detail was overlooked.

Tessa led the group, her bow at the ready, her eyes scanning the underbrush for any sign of movement.

Behind her, Jonas carried a modified net launcher, his injured arm still bandaged but steady enough to aim.

Caron, though still shaken, had taken up the rear, watching their backs and ensuring no one was left behind.

The rest of the group followed in tense silence, their breaths shallow and their weapons tightly gripped.

Hours passed with no sign of the beast, the oppressive quiet of the forest broken only by the crunch of leaves beneath their boots.

Tension coiled in their chests like a spring, each rustle of the wind or distant birdcall setting their nerves on edge.

They knew it was out there, watching, waiting, testing their resolve as it always had.

And then, they found it.

The clearing opened up before them, bathed in dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy above.

At the center stood the beast, its massive form illuminated like some unholy monument to their failures.

Its obsidian-like fur shimmered with an unnatural sheen, its glowing eyes boring into them with an intelligence that sent chills down their spines.

Scars from their previous battles crisscrossed its body, but they had healed unnaturally fast, a testament to its terrifying resilience.

"Positions," Tessa whispered, her voice barely audible but sharp enough to cut through the suffocating tension.

The group fanned out, each member moving to their assigned place as they prepared to execute their plan.

This time, they didn't attack immediately. Instead, they lured the beast into their trap, carefully orchestrating their movements to keep it focused and distracted.

Jonas fired the first net, and though the beast easily dodged it, the act bought them precious seconds to maneuver into place. Another net followed, this time grazing the creature's flank before tangling around a nearby tree.

For a moment, the beast faltered, its predatory confidence replaced with a flicker of confusion.

It wasn't much, but it was progress. Tessa seized the opportunity, loosing an arrow tipped with a crude explosive.

The projectile struck the ground near the beast, erupting in a cloud of smoke and debris that momentarily blinded it.

Yes, the projectile struck the ground near the beast, erupting in a cloud of smoke and debris that momentarily blinded it.

"Now!" Caron shouted, his voice breaking the silence like a thunderclap. The group surged forward, their combined efforts focused on subduing the beast rather than defeating it outright.

Spears jabbed, nets tangled, and traps snapped shut, each assault chipping away at the creature's dominance.

But it's not enough.

But they sound like they're trying again.

Soon, another series of spears jabbed, nets tangled, and traps snapped shut, each assault chipping away at the creature's dominance.

The beast roared, a sound that seemed to shake the very earth beneath their feet. It thrashed wildly, its sheer strength breaking through some of their defenses, but not all.

For the first time, they saw it struggle—not significantly, but enough to light a spark of hope in their hearts.

"It's working!" one of the soldiers shouted, their voice tinged with both disbelief and exhilaration.

But the battle was far from over.

The beast lashed out, its claws rending through their ranks with a ferocity that reminded them of why they had failed so many times before.

Tessa narrowly avoided a swipe that would have cleaved her in two, her heart pounding as she rolled to safety.

Jonas was thrown backward, his net launcher shattered and useless. Caron fought to keep the group coordinated, barking orders amidst the chaos.

Your journey continues with empire

Still, they pressed on, their determination outweighing their fear.

Each blow they landed, each second they managed to hold the beast at bay, felt like a small victory. By the time the sun began to set, they were bloodied and exhausted, but they had pushed the creature further than ever before.

When the beast finally broke free and retreated into the forest, its roars echoing in the distance, the group didn't feel defeated.

They were battered, bruised, and barely standing, but for the first time, they had made progress.

They had seen the beast bleed, had forced it to retreat, had proven to themselves that it wasn't invincible.

As they limped back to the camp under the fading light, their conversations were filled with cautious optimism.

"We did better this time," Tessa said, her voice shaky but resolute. "We're learning."

"It's not unbeatable," Jonas agreed, though his tone was tinged with exhaustion. "We just need… more."

"More of everything," Caron said, managing a weak smile. "More traps, more weapons, more people, more—"

"More rest," Tessa interrupted, earning a tired chuckle from the group.

They knew the road ahead was still long and fraught with danger, but for the first time in weeks, they felt like they were moving forward.

Progress, no matter how small, was still progress. And for now, that was enough.

That night, back in the tribe, the atmosphere was completely different from the heavy tension that had hung over them for days.

Though their progress was small, it was progress nonetheless, and after so many failures, even the slightest victory felt monumental.

The soldiers gathered around the central fire, their faces illuminated by the warm glow, their voices rising in a chorus of laughter and relief.

The air buzzed with an energy they hadn't felt in weeks, a fragile optimism that threatened to shatter at any moment but was desperately clung to nonetheless.