LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

As the remnants of the various participants of the survival game busily rebuilt their territories, whispers of confusion and unease swept through the lands.

Each faction—each race—grappled with the chilling reality of their recent experiences.

They had all witnessed the destruction wrought by the Pig Orcs and felt the tremors of chaos shake their foundations, they needed to strengthen their territories for the next wave.

In the heart of Kaeloris, Elandra Leafshadow, the leader of the Greenveil Family, gathered her kin under the shade of ancient trees.

Her brows furrowed as she addressed her gathered Olerai warriors. "Why would the survival game choose to eliminate the Stonehooves Tribe? They are but a handful, and their territory is weak. This makes no sense."

A murmuring chorus of agreement rippled through the crowd. "Perhaps they are not what they seem," one voice suggested hesitantly. "What if they are more formidable than we realize?"

Suddenly, the ground beneath them rumbled, and a stone tablet erupted from the earth, startling everyone into silence.

The message it bore sent shockwaves through the Greenveil Family:

[[ The Stonehooves Tribe destroyed the Skyclaw Brotherhood. ]]

Elandra's eyes widened in disbelief, her mind racing. "This... this cannot be true! The Skyclaw Brotherhood was the strongest of us all! How could a weak tribe like the Stonehooves have bested them?"

From Treneron, Marinus Tidecaller of the Tidalblade Clan was equally unsettled.

He had been meticulously reconstructing his aquatic defenses when the tablet rose from the ground, its message striking him like a physical blow. He turned to his clanmates, eyes wide with fear.

"This means we underestimated them. We all did! If the Stonehooves Tribe could defeat the Skyclaw Brotherhood, what does that say about their potential?"

Nerith Shadowfang, leader of the Seraphians in Keros, paced anxiously.

"The Skyclaw Brotherhood was a force to be reckoned with. They dominated the skies! If they fell to a group that was previously thought weak, what kind of power do the Stonehooves possess? Are they hiding their strength?"

Ignar Flameheart, leader of the Moltenfist Tribe, slammed his fist against a stone wall, sending vibrations through the air.

"If we allow our fear to guide our actions, we may fall victim to their ambitions! We need to understand how they achieved this victory. They may be hiding some ancient power or a skill we know nothing about!"

Gorn Ironmaul, from the Ironmaul Clan of Darrok, crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at the tablet.

"We've always thought humans were disorganized and weak. Yet here we stand, confronted with evidence of their unexpected ferocity. What else have we missed?"

Vetrax Mindbender, leader of the Mindspire Circle from Thrylos, folded his arms, contemplating the implications of the message.

"The survival game must have had its reasons for wanting the Stonehooves eliminated. If they could dispatch the Skyclaw Brotherhood, what makes us think they won't target us next? We need to prepare."

Sirena Deepwater, leading the Deepwater Legion of Zygron, gazed into the distance, her voice a mere whisper.

"If the Stonehooves Tribe is rising while we rebuild, they could become the new dominant force. We must either ally with them or prepare for conflict. There's no middle ground."

Sylkis Webweaver, head of the Webweaver Coterie from Pherin, shivered as she examined the tablet.

"This isn't merely a matter of survival anymore. It's a game of power. The Stonehooves Tribe could become the puppeteers of this game, and we might find ourselves ensnared in their web if we're not careful."

The realization began to sink in across the different races.

They had all seen the Stonehooves Tribe as a mere obstacle, a nuisance to be brushed aside. But now, faced with the undeniable truth that they had taken down the Skyclaw Brotherhood, their fear morphed into respect—albeit a reluctant one.

The murmurs grew louder, voices rising with an urgency that had been absent moments before. "We cannot ignore them any longer! We need to investigate!" "They may be building alliances!" "What if they come for us next?"

Elandra Leafshadow, stepping forward to regain control of her kin's emotions, raised her hands for silence.

"We must remain calm. This news changes everything, but we cannot act hastily. Our next steps must be calculated. If we do not understand our enemy, we will fall like the Skyclaw Brotherhood!"

The crowd quieted, contemplating her words.

The realization that they could no longer dismiss the Stonehooves Tribe settled over them like a dark cloud.

As they processed this new reality, a sense of urgency took root in their hearts.

"We need to send scouts," Marinus proposed. "Gather intelligence on their strength and strategies. If they are truly a threat, we must be prepared to counter it."

As the participants of the survival game began to strategize and plot their next moves, fear and respect for the Stonehooves Tribe mingled in the air.

Each faction now recognized the potential threat of a tribe they had previously disregarded.

Meanwhile, Lyerin watched the sky as if he was seeing the unfolding chaos of each participant from afar, this made him wear a satisfied grin stretching across his face.

The realization of the other participants would only serve to solidify his position as a formidable force in this ruthless game.

With the destruction of the Skyclaw Brotherhood, the Stonehooves Tribe was now a player in a larger game—a game that could shift in any direction, but one where Lyerin intended to come out on top.

"Let them tremble," he whispered to himself, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Let them realize that strength comes in many forms. The Stonehooves Tribe is just in the beginning phase."

As Lyerin enjoyed the chaos unfolding around him, a notification pinged loudly in his mind.

Ding!

[ The Stonehooves Tribal Spirit has reached level two! ]

The words glimmered in his vision, and a wicked grin spread across his face.

"Ha ha ha!" Lyerin laughed maniacally, the sound echoing through the maze. "Level two! Finally! This is just the beginning!"

Corora, Sophia, and the other members of the Stonehooves Tribe exchanged uneasy glances, a cold dread washing over them.

They had grown accustomed to Lyerin's unpredictability, but this felt different. His laughter was tinged with a madness that set their instincts on high alert.

They could sense that something dark and ominous was brewing within him.

"Lyerin…" Corora ventured cautiously, but her voice faltered under the weight of his intense gaze. It was clear that questioning him was not an option.

"Enough!" he snapped, cutting through the air with a wave of his hand. "You will see soon enough! This game is far from over. I'm getting tired of toying with these fools."

His eyes gleamed with fervor as he raised his arms triumphantly, as if summoning the very power of the heavens. "But should I target the Asura Shuras next as my victims!? Should I make them tremble, their proud warrior race? Hmmm… Let this beginning enter phase two first and I'll think further what to do next…"

The fear in Corora's heart deepened.

They all knew Lyerin was more than capable of enacting his dark ambitions, and as they watched him revel in his newfound power, they couldn't shake the feeling that they were standing on the precipice of something horrific.