LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 392: Unexpected

The air around the floating island grew heavier as the two towering serpents, eerily similar to the one Lyerin and his group had defeated moments before, stared at the corpse of their fallen kin. A silence as sharp as a blade filled the space, broken only by the faint, unsettling hiss of the creatures tasting the air with their forked tongues. It was a silence that carried an unspoken tension, as though the world itself held its breath.

The larger of the two serpents tilted its massive head, its glowing eyes narrowing as it slithered closer to the body of the fallen beast. Its scales glistened with a faint metallic sheen, catching the faint light of the floating island’s luminescent flora. The smaller serpent, although not much smaller, reacted instantly, moving to block the larger one’s path. Its body coiled tightly, its tail curling around the remnants of the corpse as if to lay claim to it.

The larger serpent paused for a moment, its tongue flicking out rapidly, tasting the air and catching the scent of its rival’s challenge. A low, rumbling growl emanated from deep within its massive form, a sound that sent shivers down the spines of Lyerin’s group.

The girls huddled closer behind Lyerin, their breaths shallow, eyes wide as they observed the unfolding confrontation. “What… what are they doing?” whispered Lydia, her voice trembling.

“They’re fighting over the body,” Lyerin replied quietly, his tone flat yet filled with a knowing unease. “It’s a resource to them. Flesh, blood, and the mana core inside—it’s all vital to their survival.”

Sophia’s hand clenched around Fiona’s, her fingers trembling as she whispered, “Shouldn’t we do something?”

“No,” Lyerin said sharply, his gaze never leaving the creatures. “We’re not part of this fight. Not yet. Let them weaken each other first.”

As though on cue, the tension broke. The larger serpent lunged forward, its jaws wide open, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs. The smaller serpent uncoiled in a flash, dodging the attack with a fluidity that defied its massive size. Its tail snapped like a whip, striking the larger serpent across the face with a sound that echoed like a thunderclap.

The larger beast recoiled, its head jerking back, but it recovered almost instantly, hissing furiously as it lunged again. This time, it struck with precision, its jaws clamping down on the smaller serpent’s midsection. The smaller beast let out a piercing screech, its body writhing violently as it attempted to free itself.

The battle was brutal and primal, a clash of sheer power and instinct. The larger serpent’s grip tightened, its fangs sinking deeper into the smaller serpent’s flesh. But the smaller beast was far from defeated. It coiled its body around the larger serpent’s neck, squeezing with a force that made the larger creature’s scales crack under the pressure.

The island shook with their struggle, chunks of stone crumbling and falling into the abyss below. The flora around them swayed violently, their bioluminescent glow flickering like candles in a storm.

The Pig Orcs shifted uneasily, their massive hands gripping their weapons tightly. “Should we intervene, Lord Lyerin?” one of them rumbled, its deep voice breaking the tense silence.

“No,” Lyerin said firmly, his eyes never leaving the battle. “Not yet.”

The girls could barely breathe as they watched the fight escalate. The smaller serpent managed to free itself from the larger one’s grip, its body bleeding from several deep gashes. It retaliated with savage ferocity, lunging at the larger beast and sinking its own fangs into its rival’s tail. The larger serpent roared in pain, thrashing wildly and slamming its tail against the ground in an attempt to dislodge the attacker.

Each strike was a spectacle of raw power, each hiss and growl a chilling reminder of the beasts’ primal nature. Blood spilled onto the ground, black and glistening like oil, as the two serpents continued their deadly dance.

The larger serpent gained the upper hand once more, using its massive body to coil around the smaller beast, constricting it with a force that made the smaller creature’s scales crack audibly. The smaller serpent screeched in agony, its body flailing as it struggled to break free. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

But just when it seemed the fight was over, the smaller serpent unleashed a desperate attack. It uncoiled just enough to twist its body and sink its fangs into the larger serpent’s throat. The larger beast’s eyes widened in shock, its hiss turning into a gurgling choke as dark blood poured from the wound.

The struggle slowed, the movements of both creatures growing sluggish as their injuries took their toll. The smaller serpent released its grip and slithered back, its body trembling but its eyes still burning with defiance. The larger serpent collapsed onto the ground, its massive form heaving as it struggled to draw breath.

The smaller beast let out a victorious hiss, but its triumph was short-lived. It was severely injured, its body covered in deep gashes and its movements unsteady.

“They’re killing each other,” Emily whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the serpents’ labored breaths.

“Let them,” Lyerin said coldly, his expression unreadable. “This is their fight. We’ll deal with whatever’s left.”

The scene ended with the smaller serpent dragging its battered body toward the corpse of its fallen kin, while the larger serpent lay motionless, its glowing eyes dimming as its life faded away. The tension in the air was palpable, the outcome of the battle a grim reminder of the unforgiving nature of the world they found themselves in.

The victorious serpent, its body battered and oozing dark blood, lay motionless for a long moment, the adrenaline of its primal struggle giving way to the creeping ache of its many wounds. Its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air as if to ensure no new threats lingered in the area. The other serpent, the one who had suffered defeat but survived, slowly uncoiled itself from the chaos.

The defeated serpent was covered in gashes that ran deep into its flesh, its once-pristine metallic scales dulled by blood and grime. It hissed weakly, its glowing eyes darting toward the victorious beast with a flicker of resentment. The weaker snake began to retreat, its long, sinuous body slithering slowly but steadily across the terrain.

The movements were labored, each coil of its body dragging it farther and farther from the scene of its humiliation. The defeated snake’s body scraped against jagged rocks and uneven ground, leaving a trail of dark ichor behind it. It did not stop or look back, even as the victorious serpent, now steady on its coils, began to loom over the corpse of their fallen kin.

The victorious serpent, larger in size but also weakened, moved with a slow, deliberate grace toward the body. Its eyes gleamed with a dangerous hunger, a primal need to consume and replenish the energy it had expended. The air around it felt heavier, the oppressive weight of its presence pressing down on everything nearby. Even the Pig Orcs, mighty as they were, hesitated to move closer.

Lyerin observed in silence, his sharp eyes narrowing as he gestured subtly for his companions to remain still. The girls, clustered together, watched with a mixture of horror and fascination, their breaths held as the scene unfolded. The victorious snake paused before the corpse, its massive head lowering until its snout nearly touched the lifeless body.

Its tongue flicked out, brushing against the flesh of the dead serpent. For a moment, it hesitated, as if savoring the scent and texture of its prize. Then, with a sudden motion, it opened its maw wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs and a dark, cavernous throat.

The sight was both mesmerizing and terrifying. The victorious snake began its gruesome feast, its powerful jaws closing around the corpse’s midsection. With a force that made the ground beneath it tremble, it lifted the body and tilted its head back, using gravity to aid in the consumption.

The corpse slid slowly into the victorious serpent’s mouth, its scales scraping against the predator’s fangs. A sickening crunch echoed through the air as the snake’s powerful jaws crushed bones and sinew, breaking the body down into more manageable pieces. Blood and viscous fluids dripped from its mouth, pooling on the ground below and staining the once-pristine earth with a dark, foreboding hue.

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The serpent’s throat bulged grotesquely as it swallowed, the outline of the consumed body visible as it moved down its neck. The victorious beast’s body expanded slightly to accommodate the massive meal, its scales stretching unnaturally but remaining intact. Each swallow was accompanied by a low, guttural growl, a sound that reverberated through the air and sent chills down the spines of Lyerin’s group.

The process was not quick. The serpent’s consumption of the corpse was methodical, almost ritualistic in its precision. It paused occasionally, its tongue flicking out to taste the air, ensuring that no other creatures dared to challenge it for its prize. The defeated snake, now a distant shadow on the horizon, had long since vanished from view, its retreat a silent acknowledgment of its rival’s dominance.

The victorious serpent continued its feast, its body coiling and uncoiling rhythmically as it worked to swallow the last remnants of the corpse. The ground beneath it was slick with blood and viscera, the air thick with the metallic scent of death. The girls averted their eyes at times, unable to fully process the gruesome display, while Lyerin remained stoic, his gaze fixed on the beast as if calculating its every move.

When the final piece of the corpse disappeared into the serpent’s maw, the creature let out a deep, satisfied hiss. Its body pulsed slightly as it digested its meal, the bulge in its throat slowly descending toward its stomach. The beast’s eyes glowed brighter for a moment, its strength visibly returning as the energy from the consumed body rejuvenated it.

The serpent reared its head high, its massive form casting a shadow over the area. It let out a low, resonant growl, a sound that seemed to vibrate through the very ground beneath them. The victorious snake’s dominance was now unquestionable, its power fully restored despite the injuries it had sustained in the battle.

For a moment, it remained still, its gaze sweeping across the area as if challenging any who might dare to oppose it. Then, with a deliberate grace, it began to coil its body, preparing to leave. The ground trembled slightly under its immense weight, the sound of its scales scraping against the earth a reminder of its overwhelming presence.

The scene ended with the serpent slithering away, its massive form disappearing into the dense mist that surrounded the floating island. The air grew still once more, the oppressive tension lifting but leaving behind an undeniable sense of unease. Lyerin and his group remained motionless, their breaths shallow as they processed the chilling