LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 393: Taking advantage

Lyerin stood tall amidst the tension that hung thick in the air. His sharp eyes followed the faint trail left by the victorious snake as it slithered away, its massive bulk creating grooves in the ground. He raised a hand, signaling to the Pig Orcs, his voice low but commanding. “Follow it. Track its every move. Do not lose sight of it.”

The Pig Orcs, ever obedient and attuned to Lyerin’s will, straightened their postures, gripping their weapons tightly. “Go,” Lyerin said again, his tone firmer, “Do not let it slip away. Keep your distance but stay close enough to observe. And remember—do not engage unless I command it. This isn’t a beast you can take lightly.”

As the Pig Orcs began their march, their heavy footfalls softened into careful, deliberate steps. Lyerin’s voice rang out again, this time sharper. “Maintain your formation. Flank it from the sides. I don’t want even the slightest chance for it to turn and spot us. If it senses us now, all of this will be for nothing.”

He paused, glancing back at the girls, who stood silent but visibly tense. “Stay here,” he said firmly. “This isn’t your fight. I’ll handle this with the Orcs. If anything happens, be ready to retreat.”

The Pig Orcs began to disappear into the shadows, their forms blending into the landscape as they followed the massive serpent’s trail. But Lyerin was not done issuing orders. “Spread out evenly,” he instructed, his voice now a low growl. “The snake is wounded, but it is not weak. Stay downwind. Watch for any sign of it doubling back. If you so much as hear a rustle, signal me immediately.”

The group moved with calculated precision, each step a testament to their training and Lyerin’s leadership. “You,” Lyerin pointed to one of the larger Pig Orcs, “take the rear and watch for any other beasts. This is its territory—we cannot assume it’s alone.”

They continued their pursuit, the trail of the snake growing fainter as it moved deeper into the mist-laden terrain. Lyerin’s eyes darted to the faint marks on the ground, his mind piecing together the creature’s likely path. “It’s slowing down,” he muttered to himself before raising his voice to the Pig Orcs. “Be alert. It’s finding a place to rest, which means it’s vulnerable—but also more dangerous if startled.”

Minutes turned to what felt like hours as they stalked their prey. Lyerin’s orders did not cease. “Keep low,” he hissed. “Its senses might still be sharp. Watch its movements. If its tongue flickers too often, stop immediately. It’s testing the air.”

At last, the group reached a clearing where the massive serpent had coiled itself into a resting position. Its body rose and fell with slow, heavy breaths, the wounds from its earlier battle glistening faintly in the dim light. Lyerin held up a hand, signaling the group to stop.

“Do not move,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “We’ve found it, but this is where it gets tricky. It’s resting, but not asleep. One wrong step, and it will know we’re here.”

He gestured to the Pig Orcs, his movements precise and deliberate. “Circle around it. Slowly. Do not let your armor clink, do not let your weapons drag. If you even breathe too loudly, you’ll doom us all.”

The Pig Orcs obeyed, their massive forms moving with surprising grace as they positioned themselves around the snake. Lyerin’s voice came again, softer but filled with authority. “Aim for the joints in its scales. Those are the weak points. If you hit anywhere else, it will sense it and strike back.”

He turned to one of the Orcs, pointing toward a specific segment of the serpent’s body. “You, strike there. But not yet. Wait for my signal.”

The serpent shifted slightly, its massive form rippling as it adjusted its coils. Lyerin froze, his hand raised to signal the Orcs to halt. “Patience,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s still aware. We cannot afford to rush.”

Minutes passed, the tension growing thicker with every breath. The serpent’s tongue flicked out, tasting the air. Lyerin’s sharp eyes caught the movement, and he gestured to the group to stay completely still.

After what felt like an eternity, the serpent settled again, its breathing deepening. Lyerin exhaled softly, his voice resuming its quiet commands. “Now. Strike there,” he said, pointing to a spot near the base of the snake’s neck. “But lightly. We don’t want to wake it—only weaken it further.”

The chosen Pig Orc moved with painstaking care, its massive weapon glinting faintly as it descended toward the snake’s vulnerable point. The strike was swift but controlled, the weapon biting into the flesh without causing the serpent to stir too much.

Lyerin nodded in approval. “Good. Now, the rest of you—coordinate. Hit it in turns, and only where I point. Do not let it sense a pattern in your attacks. Keep it disoriented.”

The group followed his instructions, their strikes precise and deliberate. The serpent shifted occasionally, its massive body undulating slightly as if sensing something was amiss. Each time it moved, Lyerin would signal for the group to freeze, his eyes never leaving the beast.

“Be ready to retreat at any moment,” he warned, his voice low but firm. “If it wakes, we’ll need to scatter and regroup. Do not try to fight it head-on.”

The process was agonizingly slow, each strike chipping away at the serpent’s strength without fully rousing it. The Pig Orcs moved like shadows, their massive forms betraying no sound as they carried out Lyerin’s meticulous plan.

The serpent shifted again, this time more noticeably. Its head rose slightly, its tongue flickering rapidly as if sensing danger. Lyerin raised his hand sharply, signaling for everyone to stop.

“Hold,” he whispered, his voice tight with tension. “It’s on the verge of waking. Do not move. Let it settle again.”

The group froze, their breaths held as they waited for the serpent to relax once more. It took long, agonizing moments, but eventually, the beast lowered its head, its breathing evening out.

Lyerin’s sharp gaze swept over the group, his mind calculating their next move. “We’re close,” he murmured. “A few more strikes, and it’ll be too weak to fight back. Stay focused.”

The Pig Orcs nodded silently, their resolve unshaken as they prepared to continue their slow, methodical assault under Lyerin’s watchful eye.