LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

The air around the Stonehooves tribe was electric, buzzing with an energy that hadn't been felt in years.

After the Minotaur's massive body hit the ground, its severed head rolling to the side, there was a moment of stunned silence.

Then, the cheers erupted.

The sound exploded into the night, a cacophony of voices, disbelief turning into celebration.

Every person in the tribe looked at Lyerin with wide, admiring eyes.

"Lyerin! Lyerin!" they chanted, their voices rising in unison.

A group of younger tribespeople, who had been trembling just moments before, surged forward, throwing their fists into the air.

Some of the elders, usually the most cautious and somber, nodded in approval, their stern faces softening into smiles.

Corora, perched beside Sophia, was the first to break the solemn silence among the women.

Her lips curved into a shy smile, then into a wide grin, and she whispered to herself, "I knew it. I knew Lyerin would protect us."

Sophia, standing nearby, couldn't contain her joy either. She rushed forward, her eyes glimmering as she practically leapt toward Lyerin.

"You did it, Lyerin!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe and a mix of gratitude and admiration. "You killed it! You really killed it!"

Lyerin, standing tall and relaxed, wiped his blade clean, his chest rising and falling steadily.

His expression remained nonchalant, almost bored, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he glanced at Sophia. "Was there ever any doubt?"

Sophia laughed, a sound so light it could have floated on the wind. She moved closer to him, her eyes shining.

"I wasn't worried," she said, though her earlier fear had been apparent to everyone. "I knew you'd handle it."

From the other side of the crowd, Corora, still shy, finally joined the cheer.

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She cupped her hands around her mouth and, with a voice louder than anyone had ever heard from her, shouted, "Lyerin! You're amazing!"

Lyerin shot her a playful glance, his grin widening. "You sound surprised," he teased. "Didn't you already say it was too weak?"

Corora's face flushed red, and she covered her mouth with her hands, too embarrassed to answer. But the joy was infectious.

Even those who had once doubted Lyerin's leadership couldn't help but be swept up in the moment.

"Did you see how fast he moved?" one of the older men in the tribe asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "I've never seen anything like it."

"And the way he dodged that axe," another chimed in. "Like he knew where it would strike before it even moved!"

The women of the tribe began whispering excitedly to one another, their eyes darting toward Lyerin, filled with awe and admiration. "He's unstoppable," one of them murmured. "A true warrior of the Stonehooves tribe."

Others joined in, their voices overlapping in excitement.

"Lyerin! Lyerin! Leader of the Stonehooves!" they chanted louder, their praise echoing through the air, fueling the growing celebration.

It was as if they had forgotten the danger that still lingered. For now, Lyerin was a hero, and in their eyes, nothing could touch him.

Corora, no longer able to contain her emotions, ran to Lyerin and wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"I knew you'd protect us," she whispered, her voice soft and filled with affection. "You're amazing, Lyerin."

Lyerin smiled at her, but there was a subtle glint in his eyes, something almost predatory as he tilted his head slightly, sensing the attention of beings far more powerful than his tribe.

He felt it – a presence, or rather, presences – observing him from above. But he chose to ignore it, for now. His focus was on his people.

…

Far above, in a dark realm that stretched beyond the understanding of mortal beings, the six-armed shadows watched the celebrations below with disdain.

Their glowing eyes fixated on the humans of Earth, their expressions unreadable, but their mockery was clear in their tones.

"Foolish humans," one of the shadows muttered, its voice dripping with contempt. "Do they truly believe this is over?"

"They think killing a Minotaur is a feat worth celebrating," another sneered, its six arms crossing over its chest as it hovered closer to the portal, watching the festivities with disinterest. "Pathetic. They don't even realize what awaits them."

A third shadow, its voice colder than the rest, chimed in. "This is merely the beginning. These ignorant creatures believe they've won a victory, yet they remain unaware of the real challenge ahead."

"They're cheering over a single kill," scoffed one of the larger shadows, its tone mocking. "As if this was some kind of grand achievement. Do they not understand the nature of the game?"

Laughter echoed among the shadows, each one mocking the humans' ignorance with malicious delight.

"That Lyerin is arrogant, too," one of the figures said, its arms waving in dismissive gestures. "He doesn't realize how insignificant his power is. If he thinks that a simple Minotaur is the greatest threat he'll face, he's in for a rude awakening."

Another shadow chuckled darkly. "Let them celebrate. The longer they live in their delusion, the sweeter their despair will taste when reality strikes."

…

Back on the ground, the cheering in the Stonehooves tribe was beginning to reach its peak.

People were dancing, throwing their arms around one another, overwhelmed by the sense of relief.

Even the air seemed lighter, less oppressive, as if the defeat of the Minotaur had lifted a great weight from their shoulders.

But then, suddenly, a hush fell over the tribe.

One by one, the cheers died, replaced by gasps of shock.

The atmosphere, which had been vibrant with celebration, quickly shifted to one of cold dread.

All eyes turned toward the massive corpse of the Minotaur that lay on the ground.

Sophia, standing beside Lyerin, frowned in confusion. "What… what's happening?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Lyerin, still relaxed, feigned ignorance. He turned slowly to face the fallen beast, his expression neutral, as though he hadn't noticed the shift. But in truth, he had felt it the moment the celebration had begun.

The Minotaur, which had been dead and unmoving, twitched.

Its body began to glow faintly, a dark, ominous light pulsing from its wounds.

The head, which had been severed cleanly, seemed to flicker as if it were being reattached by an unseen force.

The earth beneath the beast trembled, and the air grew thick with an oppressive energy.

Corora's voice, usually quiet, cut through the silence, filled with horror. "It's… it's getting back up!" she cried, her hands flying to her mouth.

Sophia's face turned pale, her eyes wide with disbelief. "But… how? You killed it! We saw it die!"

Lyerin's lips twitched into a smirk, though his eyes remained focused on the Minotaur.

He pretended to be as surprised as everyone else, though deep inside, he had expected this. After all, this was the game, and nothing would be so easy.

The Minotaur's body began to grow, doubling in size before their very eyes.

Its muscles bulged grotesquely, its horns elongating and twisting into even deadlier shapes.

The glow from its eyes intensified, now blazing with fury as it stood to its full, terrifying height.

Where once it had been formidable, now it was monstrous, its roar shaking the very ground beneath the tribe's feet.

GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

The cheers were gone. Panic immediately possessed everyone in the crowd, as if their earlier confidence were immune shattered like a broken glass.

"L-Lyerin…" Sophia's voice was a whisper, filled with fear. "What do we do now?"

Lyerin didn't answer right away. He stared at the massive creature before him, his mind racing as he calculated his next move.

Then, he turned his head slightly, his smirk never fading. "Hmmmm," he said calmly, almost too calmly. "There's something wrong about it."

The Minotaur let out a bone-rattling roar, its voice filled with the rage of a creature that had been denied death, and it charged toward the Stonehooves tribe with a speed that belied its enormous size.

Fear rippled through the tribe like a cold wind, paralyzing them in place.

Every one of them, save for Lyerin, stood frozen, their eyes wide with terror as the ground shook with the force of the beast's approach.

Lyer

in, however, remained motionless, his smirk now a grin.

As the Minotaur bore down on them, he stepped forward.

"Let me see…"