LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Chapter 399: Dragon Shadow

Lyerin’s voice was low but firm as he gestured to the Pig Orcs and the girls. “Move. Quietly. No sudden movements. We don’t want to draw any attention.”

The girls exchanged nervous glances but obeyed without a word, their breaths shallow as they followed Lyerin’s lead.

The Pig Orcs, usually loud and lumbering, somehow managed to soften their steps, their movements surprisingly coordinated and subdued. Every sound seemed magnified in the tense silence—the crunch of boots on the ground, the faint rustle of leaves swaying in the breeze, the distant chirping of unfamiliar creatures.

Corora clutched Maria’s hand tightly, her eyes darting around. “Why does it feel like the entire island is… watching us?” she whispered.

“Because it probably is,” Lyerin replied curtly, his eyes scanning the terrain ahead. “Keep moving.”

The tension hung thick in the air, each step feeling heavier than the last. The girls walked in single file, their faces pale and their hearts pounding. Sophia stumbled over a loose rock, letting out a faint gasp, but Lyerin shot her a warning glance before she could make any more noise. She nodded quickly, biting her lip to suppress any sound.

As they moved deeper into the dense foliage, the rumbling beneath their feet grew softer but didn’t entirely fade. It was as if the very earth was alive, pulsing faintly with energy, a constant reminder that danger loomed just out of sight.

Lyerin suddenly raised a hand, signaling them to stop. Everyone froze in place, their eyes wide as they waited for him to explain. He crouched low, his head tilted as though listening for something. The Pig Orcs mimicked his posture, their massive forms eerily quiet as they crouched beside him.

“What is it?” Fiona whispered, her voice barely audible.

Lyerin didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, his gaze flickering to the sky. The faint rustling of wind grew louder, carrying with it a sound that made everyone’s blood run cold—a low, rhythmic whooshing, like massive wings cutting through the air.

Natalie’s eyes widened. “Is that—”

“Stay quiet,” Lyerin ordered sharply, his voice barely above a whisper.

The sound grew closer, louder, until it was almost deafening. Then, a shadow passed over them, blotting out the light of the sky. It was massive, its edges jagged and sharp, moving with an unnatural grace that sent chills down their spines.

Corora clutched Lyerin’s arm, her voice trembling. “What is that?!”

Lyerin didn’t answer. His eyes were fixed upward, his expression unreadable as he watched the shadow move across the treetops. The shape was unmistakable now—a massive creature with bat-like wings, its body sleek and powerful, gliding effortlessly through the air.

The girls stared in horror and awe, their breaths caught in their throats. The shadow loomed over them for what felt like an eternity before it finally passed, disappearing into the distance.

Elena whispered, her voice barely audible. “Was that a… dragon?”

Lyerin didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stood slowly, his gaze still fixed on the sky. His jaw tightened, and when he finally spoke, his voice was low and grim.

“We need to move. Now.”

Lyerin didn’t waste a moment. “Move,” he commanded, his voice sharp but hushed, slicing through the tension like a blade. The Pig Orcs immediately took point, their massive forms surprisingly stealthy as they led the way. The girls hesitated, still shaken by the sight of the dragon, but Lyerin’s stern gaze left no room for argument.

“Do not dawdle,” he barked softly, his eyes scanning the treetops and sky above. “One misstep, one unnecessary sound, and we might as well announce ourselves. Follow precisely where I step, and do not stray.”

The group began their cautious march, the air thick with anxiety. Every movement felt painstakingly slow, deliberate. The rustling of leaves beneath their feet sounded deafening, each snap of a twig like a thunderclap in their ears.

Corora, her hands trembling, whispered, “It’s still flying somewhere above us, isn’t it?”

“Focus,” Lyerin replied curtly, not even glancing back. “You’ll have plenty of time to panic when we’re safe. Eyes forward.”

Maria stumbled, catching herself on Fiona’s shoulder. “I don’t understand how it didn’t notice us. We’re not exactly invisible…”

“It didn’t notice us because we’re insignificant to it,” Lyerin muttered, his tone sharp and matter-of-fact. “Dragons like that don’t hunt for sport—they’re above such things. It was preoccupied. Let’s not give it a reason to change its mind.”

The Pig Orcs, sensing the tension, tightened their formation, their broad backs forming a protective wall around the group. Despite their size and strength, even they seemed uneasy, their tusked faces set in grim determination.

The group weaved through the dense undergrowth, Lyerin signaling them to halt every few steps to listen. The rhythmic beat of wings occasionally echoed faintly in the distance, sending shivers down their spines. The dragon wasn’t circling, but its presence lingered like a shadow over their every move.

Sophia’s breath hitched as a branch grazed her arm. “Why is it still here?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Lyerin turned his head slightly, his voice cold and steady. “You’d rather it be on the ground hunting us? Count yourself lucky. Now, keep moving.”

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Elena clutched the hilt of her weapon tightly, her knuckles white. “It feels like it’s watching us, even when it’s not.”

“Dragons always feel like that,” Lyerin replied. “But feelings are not facts. Stay focused.”

Every step forward felt like an eternity. The dragon’s shadow no longer loomed overhead, but its presence was a weight on their shoulders. The girls flinched at every distant rustle, every faint sound carried by the wind. Lyerin, however, remained calm, his movements deliberate and precise, his focus unshaken.

The Pig Orcs occasionally glanced back at Lyerin for guidance, their usual gruff demeanor replaced with an almost childlike trust in their leader’s judgment. Lyerin gave them subtle hand signals, directing them to scout ahead and secure a path while maintaining their formation.

“We need to pick up the pace,” Natalie whispered, her voice trembling.

“No,” Lyerin said firmly. “Speed invites mistakes. Mistakes invite death. Keep the rhythm I set.”

At one point, they came to a small clearing. Lyerin raised a hand, halting them abruptly. His eyes scanned the area, his sharp gaze taking in every detail—the angle of the light, the disturbed soil, the faint scent of something metallic in the air.

“Too open,” he muttered to himself. Then, louder: “We go around. Single file. Quietly.”

The group obeyed, moving around the edge of the clearing. Each step was a test of their nerves, but Lyerin’s unwavering calm anchored them, even as their hearts pounded in their chests.

Just as they reached the edge of the clearing, the distant beat of wings returned, louder this time. The group froze in unison, their eyes snapping upward.

“Stay low,” Lyerin ordered, his voice a sharp whisper. “Do not move.”

The sound grew louder, closer, the wind carrying with it the faint but unmistakable scent of something ancient and powerful. The dragon wasn’t visible, but its presence was palpable, a looming force that pressed down on them like a tidal wave.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours before the sound began to fade again. Lyerin waited, his hand raised to keep them still. Only when the silence returned did he lower his arm and motion for them to move.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lyerin spotted a rocky outcrop ahead. He gestured toward it, his movements precise and deliberate. “There,” he said. “A cave. Move quickly but quietly. That’s our shelter.”

The group hurried toward the cave, their movements careful but urgent. As they slipped inside, the cool darkness enveloped them, a temporary reprieve from the tension that had gripped them for so long.

Lyerin positioned the Pig Orcs at the entrance, their massive forms blocking any light from entering. “No fires,” he said. “No unnecessary noise. We wait.”

The girls collapsed onto the cool stone floor, their breaths ragged, their nerves frayed. They exchanged nervous glances, the weight of the encounter with the dragon still heavy on their minds.

Lyerin stood at the mouth of the cave, his eyes scanning the horizon one last time before retreating further into the shadows. “Rest while you can,” he said. “This isn’t over yet.”