LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Back in the heart of the Stonehooves Tribe, Lyerin sat on top of the Minotaur Statue.

The air was filled with the scent of roasted meat and the sound of laughter, a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding in the distant maze.

Children of the tribe ran around him, laughing and playing, their eyes wide with awe as they looked up at their towering leader.

Lyerin, in turn, moved with an easy grace, a smile on his lips as he watched them, his usual stoic demeanor softened by the carefree atmosphere.

The tribe seemed to gather for a feast, contrast to the battles inside the maze around them.

The Stonehooves people, though scared and feeling weak, cherished these moments of peace when they could relax and revel in their victories.

Even Lyerin, who had long carried the weight of leadership, seemed lighter, more relaxed than anyone had seen him in years.

With a chuckle, Lyerin scooped up a young child who had been tugging at his robes, swinging them into the air to the delighted squeals of laughter from the rest of the children.

He spun them around before setting them down gently, their eyes sparkling with joy as they scampered off to join their friends.

"Uncle Lyerin! Come play with us!" one of the children called out, waving him over to a makeshift dance circle where some of the tribe's humans who were musicians had begun playing a lively tune.

Lyerin grinned and stood, his towering frame casting a long shadow as he moved to join the children, clapping his hands in rhythm with the music.

For a man so feared by his enemies and fellow tribespeople, Lyerin seemed almost out of place among the joyous laughter and playful teasing.

It was as if this was the side of him that few outside the tribe ever saw—the side that cared deeply for his people.

He danced with the children, moving with surprising agility for someone his size, his long hair flowing as he spun and twirled with the rhythm.

The children laughed and cheered, trying to keep up with him as he moved from one end of the circle to the other, lifting them into the air and spinning them around before setting them down again.

The adults watched from the sidelines, some smiling fondly and helplessly as they looked at Lyerin and their children that was playing with him.

Truly, children seemed to have forgotten what Lyerin had done earlier.

The music played on, and Lyerin's laughter echoed through the village as he became fully immersed in the celebration.

For a moment, it was easy to forget the chaos and danger that loomed outside the wall maze of his tribe.

But as the laughter died down and the music began to slow, Lyerin's gaze drifted toward the maze, his smile faltering for just a moment before turning into a grin.

"Are the bird brains still alive?"

The Skyclaw Brotherhood had entered the maze not too long ago, and though they were formidable warriors, the chance of them and the chance that the maze would claim them was one hundred percent.

They would become the first sacrifice!

Blood of birdmen!

But even as he pondered the fate of Velros and his warriors, he allowed himself to relax again.

The maze would take care of them, one way or another.

There was no need to worry about it now. He and his people were safe, and for the time being, that was all that mattered.

Returning to the circle of children, Lyerin crouched down, his massive hands ruffling the hair of a nearby boy.

"What game shall we play next, little one?" he asked, his voice warm and gentle, a stark contrast to the deep, booming tone he used in battle.

The boy grinned up at him, pointing toward the edge of the clearing where a group of children had gathered around a series of Troll and other animal bone targets.

"Let's see who can hit the target with the most stones!" he exclaimed, his eyes bright with excitement.

Lyerin laughed, standing up and stretching his arms.

"Very well, but I warn you—I'm a very good shot!" he teased, earning a round of giggles from the children who eagerly grabbed stones from a nearby pile and began taking turns throwing them at the targets.

As they played, Lyerin's thoughts drifted back to the system screen, the only connection he had to the ongoing events in the maze.

He hadn't checked it in a while, but the subtle hum of anticipation in the back of his mind reminded him that there were updates waiting for him.

He had made it a point not to let the numbers distract him too much, but he knew that eventually, he would have to see how things were progressing.

After a few more rounds of the stone-throwing game, Lyerin stepped back, acted like he was wiping the sweat from his brow. "You children are far too good at this game!" he laughed, watching as they beamed with pride at their victories.

But just as he was about to rejoin the feast, a familiar sound reached his ears—a soft chime, almost imperceptible over the noise of the celebration.

Ding!

It was the system notification, and this time, something about it made Lyerin pause.

He glanced down at his wrist, where a small, shimmering screen had appeared.

The numbers on the screen blinked in the soft light of the setting sun, and as Lyerin read them, his expression shifted.

His smile faltered, replaced by a contemplative frown as he took in the latest report.

| Current Stonehooves Tribe Population: 96/600.

| Raging Pig Orcs that the Stonehooves Tribe had tamed: 504/504.

| Available Pig Orcs that are not tamed: 643. |

His gaze lingered on the numbers for a moment, processing the information.

The number of tamed creatures had grown.

He knew that the maze was designed to push both the tribe and their enemies to their limits, and it seemed the maze had taken a toll on his own people as well.

But the untamed creatures?

That was... interesting.

Lyerin let out a slow breath, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The maze was alive, adapting, just as he had hoped. But it wasn't just the Skyclaw Brotherhood that was being tested—it was everyone, including the tribe. And the fact that the creatures within the maze were growing in strength, becoming more numerous... that was something he had fully anticipated.

But instead of worry, a slow, satisfied smile spread across Lyerin's face.

This was exactly what he wanted.

The maze was working as intended.

His enemies were being culled, and his tribe was growing stronger, even if their numbers were shrinking.

"Time to clip the first blood," Lyerin muttered under his breath, his gaze flickering toward the maze once more.

He could hear the distant roar of the Minotaur, echoing faintly through the maze's twisting passages.

The Skyclaw Brotherhood was still alive—for now.

But not for long.

Right now, they might be hanging in life and death.

With a final glance at the system screen, Lyerin closed it.

"My belly is full now, and I can feel that I have enough energy for the next challenge. I think it's time to make the Shura race go against me!"