LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

The moment the Minotaur's body began to stir, the people of Zordrix held their breath. The air in the floating city of Eryndor was thick with anticipation.

Velros Skybreaker and his Skyclaw Brotherhood had felled the beast, or so they thought.

The mighty Minotaur, its chest pierced by Velros's blade, had collapsed in a thunderous heap, and the Jaldir had erupted in wild celebration.

However, now, as the creature's massive form shifted, as its muscles rippled and reformed, the jubilant cheers were replaced by stunned silence.

On the grand screens, the Minotaur rose.

It wasn't just getting back up; it was transforming.

The creature's already towering frame began to expand, its muscles growing denser, its body swelling to nearly twice its original size.

Its eyes burned with a new ferocity, glowing like embers in a furnace, and its breathing became deeper, more guttural.

The club in its hand, once large enough to fell trees, now seemed like an extension of its own arm, a part of the beast itself.

"It's... it's even bigger than before!" a Jaldir woman gasped, her voice trembling with disbelief. Her wings, usually poised and graceful, quivered with fear as she stared at the screen. "How... how is that possible?"

The young Jaldir boy from earlier stood frozen, his eyes wide with horror. "Velros… Velros defeated it. We all saw it! How can it be back? It's... it's a monster now!"

The elder Jaldir, who had remained calm through most of the battle, now had a look of deep concern etched into his ancient face. His voice was low and filled with dread.

"This... this is no ordinary creature. It's adapted. The maze… it must have given it power beyond anything we've seen."

On the screen, Velros and his Skyclaw Brotherhood stood motionless, clearly as shocked as the Jaldir watching from their sky city.

The Minotaur was twice the size it had been, its body brimming with raw, terrifying strength.

For a moment, even Velros—the fearless leader who had never once wavered in the face of danger—looked uncertain.

The Asura girl, narrating the events for the Jaldir people, faltered in her speech, her voice shaky.

"The Minotaur... it's... it's transformed. Twice as large. Twice as powerful. Can...

can the Skyclaw Brotherhood even stand a chance now?"

Velros gave a signal to his warriors, his voice cutting through the shock. "Stay focused! We take it down like we always do. Adapt and strike!"

The Jaldir people held their breath once more, hoping against hope that Velros could pull off yet another miracle.

The Skyclaw Brotherhood sprang into action, wings flaring, blades gleaming, moving as a single, coordinated unit.

They attacked from all sides, a flurry of strikes aimed at the beast's massive body.

Their movements were swift and precise, as they had always been.

But this time... nothing.

Every attack that connected with the Minotaur seemed to do nothing more than glance off its thickened hide.

The beast didn't even flinch.

The blades that had cut through the Pig Orcs and even wounded the Minotaur earlier now seemed utterly useless, as though the Skyclaw Brotherhood's weapons were no more than toy swords against the beast's impenetrable skin.

"It's not working!" one of the Jaldir warriors in the crowd cried out in despair. "Their attacks aren't doing anything!"

"They're hitting it!" shouted another, her voice laced with panic. "But... but it's like they're striking stones!"

On the screen, Velros's expression hardened, his wings flaring as he dove in for another attack.

He spun in midair, bringing his blade down with all his might, aiming for the same weak point he had struck before.

The blade hit.

And then... nothing.

The Minotaur didn't even acknowledge the strike. Instead, it turned its massive head, locking its glowing eyes onto Velros.

KABANG!

The Minotaur's club swung faster than anyone had anticipated.

It was a blur of motion, a storm of raw power.

One of the Skyclaw warriors, too slow to evade, was caught in the swing.

The club connected with a sickening crunch, and in an instant, the birdman was no more. His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless, wings shattered like glass, even his bones seemed to turn to dust!

A collective gasp rippled through the Jaldir crowd.

The young boy clutched his chest, his face pale as he stared in disbelief at the screen.

"No... no! They can't die! Not the Skyclaw Brotherhood!"

The elder's face was ashen. His wings drooped in grief.

"The Minotaur... it's not just stronger. It's faster now. Velros and his warriors... they're in real danger."

Velros, seeing the death of his comrade, yelled out in rage, his voice echoing through the maze. "No! Keep fighting! Don't let it break you!"

But the Jaldir people watching knew. They could see it in Velros's eyes, in the way his wings faltered for just a moment.

The Skyclaw Brotherhood was losing.

One by one, the birdmen fell.

The Minotaur's swings were relentless, its speed unmatched.

Every time a Skyclaw warrior tried to strike, the beast was already there, meeting their blows with crushing force. Another warrior was knocked out of the air, his body slamming into the stone walls of the maze.

Blood stained the ground as the Brotherhood was whittled down, their numbers dwindling with terrifying speed.

The Jaldir people, once so filled with hope and pride, now stood in stunned horror.

They had watched Velros and his warriors win battle after battle, always emerging victorious, always outmaneuvering their enemies. But now... now their beloved Skyclaw Brotherhood is being slaughtered.

"They're... they're dying," whispered a Jaldir woman, tears brimming in her eyes. "Velros... Velros is losing."

"It can't be happening," another muttered, his voice hollow. "The Brotherhood has never lost."

The young boy who had idolized Velros was trembling, his wings wrapped tightly around his body. "He... he promised they'd win. Velros promised..."

On the screen, Velros's face was a mask of fury and desperation.

He attacked again, calling on his remaining warriors to press forward. But it was no use.

The more they fought, the more Birdmen fell.

The Minotaur had adapted fully, its body now impervious to their strikes.

It was a nightmare come to life, like a creature born of the maze's dark magic, feeding on the strength of its enemies and growing stronger with every death.

The Asura girl's voice trembled as she continued to narrate the carnage. "The Skyclaw Brotherhood... they're falling. One by one. The Minotaur... it's unstoppable.

Can... Can Velros and others survive this?"

But the people of Zordrix could see it, even if the Asura girl couldn't bring herself to say it. Velros and his warriors were no match for the beast.

They had come to the end of their strength, their power drained by the maze and the relentless assault of the Minotaur.

A hush fell over the city of Eryndor as the realization settled in.

The Jaldir people had believed in their hero, had cheered for him, had known with every fiber of their being that Velros Skybreaker would lead the Skyclaw Brotherhood to victory. But now, in this moment, they saw the truth. Velros could not win this fight.

"They have to run," the elder finally said, his voice grave. "If they stay, they will all die."

"No!" the young boy cried, tears streaming down his face. "Velros never runs! He'll fight! He'll win!"

The elder shook his head slowly. "No, child. Sometimes... even the greatest warriors must know when to retreat. There is no shame in survival."

On the screen, Velros hesitated for just a moment, his eyes flickering between his fallen comrades and the towering, monstrous form of the Minotaur.

The beast stood before him, its body still and menacing, as though daring him to make the next move.

Then, with a heavy heart, Velros gave the signal. The Skyclaw Brotherhood had no choice.

"Fall back!" he commanded, his voice filled with bitter defeat. "Retreat!"

The Jaldir people watched in silence as their hero, their idol, turned and fled.