LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Lord Victor sat comfortably on the back of an unconscious Cragar'Throm Mana Beast, his fingers tracing the beast's muscular shoulder. His gaze was distant, thoughtful. "Hmmm… pure blood," he whispered to himself, a glint of curiosity in his eye. "I will experiment on you later."

His attention shifted to Lucius, Aria, Kira, and Varus—his talented yet currently debilitated students. They were still groggy, their minds clouded by the aftereffects of Lyerin's brutal torture. Victor tilted his head, scrutinizing them with mild interest. Their disoriented expressions, the way they fumbled about trying to regain their bearings, amused him.

"Are you all fine now?" he asked, though his tone suggested he didn't care much for their wellbeing. "That guy, Lyerin, is ruthless, isn't he? Talks a lot about not torturing targets as a Borgias assassin, yet here he is, doing exactly that to all of you." A smirk danced on his lips. "Really ruthless."

But his amusement faded as the four students still seemed disoriented, their eyes unfocused and their movements sluggish.

Lord Victor sighed in mild exasperation. "Side effects of the torture, I see," he muttered. "Lyerin... what an extraordinary little fella. I didn't know such methods could exist, let alone be executed so skillfully. It makes me curious—what else does he know?

If he fails, perhaps I'll just take those secrets for myself and use him as an experiment."

Lord Victor turned his gaze back to the four students.

They were still struggling to gather themselves, shaking off the remnants of their harrowing ordeal. Victor's expression softened slightly, or at least as much as his cold demeanor would allow. "Perhaps you should watch what happens next," he said. "It might help alleviate some of that lingering trauma."

A magic circle began to form beneath him and the four students, glowing faintly as it expanded and solidified. Lord Victor's thoughts, however, were elsewhere. He pondered whether he was being too harsh with Lyerin. The task he had given him was nearly impossible, after all. But then again, Lyerin had proven himself to be resourceful and full of surprises.

Perhaps it was worth watching to see how the boy would fare.

"Is it too harsh?" he mused aloud. "Or should I give the kid more chances?" He shook his head, dismissing the idea. Lyerin's request to complete the ten special missions was based on nothing more than a legend. It wasn't something Victor took seriously. So, why should it matter if the boy failed?

…

Meanwhile, Lyerin stood in the thick of the jungle, his hands busy tying thick vine ropes to the limbs of the five Cragar'Throm Clan Mana Beasts that were his temporary allies. He worked efficiently, his hands moving with practiced precision as he secured the knots tightly. His mind, however, was racing with thoughts and ideas.

"Flexible," he murmured, pulling the vine taut and testing its strength. "Good, strong... not too big, not too heavy..." He gave the vine a firm tug, satisfied with its durability. "Perfect for pulling."

After making sure the vine was securely fastened, Lyerin let go for a moment and left to check the nearby river. He made his way through the dense foliage until he reached the water's edge. The river was wide, its surface calm but deep. Lyerin crouched down, observing the flow, dipping his fingers into the water to gauge its temperature and depth. It was exactly what he needed.

He began to stir the waters, his hands moving swiftly as he agitated the muddy bottom, turning the river a murky brown. He stepped back and watched as the muddy water spread, clouding the entire river. Perfect. This would provide the cover he needed.

After ensuring the river was sufficiently concealed, Lyerin returned to where the Cragar'Throm Mana Beasts were still tied up. The beasts were calm now, having settled into a state of quiet confusion, unaware of what was about to unfold.

Taking a deep breath, Lyerin positioned himself carefully and then let out a loud, guttural cry—a sound that mimicked the calls of the wild monkeys in the jungle.

"OORR-A-AARRGG-AARGGG!!"

The cry echoed through the dense trees, resonating in the still air. He repeated the call, louder this time, his voice carrying through the forest with an almost primal intensity.

"OORR-A-AARRGG-AARGGG!!"

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then, from the depths of the jungle, a soft, eerie sound began to rise. It was the unmistakable chatter of apes, faint at first, but growing louder with each passing second.

"OORR-A-AARRGG-AARGGG!!"

The sound was unsettling—creepy, almost, like the cackling of malicious spirits.

Lyerin's heart began to race, though not with fear—no, he was excited. His plan was working.

The eerie sounds grew closer, louder. The once quiet forest was now filled with the unsettling noise of Carnivorous Blast Apes. It was no longer just a few of them, either. Their numbers were multiplying. Dozens of them, maybe even hundreds, were approaching.

Lyerin quickly retreated to his hiding spot, securing himself in the thick underbrush and gripping the vines he had tied to the Cragar'Throm Mana Beasts. He huddled low, staying perfectly still as he watched the scene unfold before him.

The apes began to emerge from the shadows of the trees, their grotesque forms slinking out of the jungle like silent predators. They moved in packs, their eyes glowing faintly with latent mana energy. Their bodies were large and powerful, rippling with muscle, their fur bristling as they sniffed the air, sensing something out of place.

Lyerin held his breath. The apes were terrifying in person, even more so than he remembered from his past life. Their large, hulking forms exuded raw power, and their presence alone was enough to make most creatures flee in terror.

But Lyerin wasn't most creatures.

He watched, waiting for the right moment. His grip on the vines tightened as he prepared to put his plan into action. The apes continued to advance, their numbers growing as more of them appeared from the shadows. Their movements were slow and deliberate, but Lyerin could see the tension in their bodies—the barely contained rage that simmered just beneath the surface.

Suddenly, one of the larger apes stopped, its nose twitching as it sniffed the air. Its gaze shifted toward Lyerin's hiding spot, its glowing eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Lyerin's pulse quickened, but he remained perfectly still, his body pressed low against the ground. The ape hesitated for a moment longer, then let out a low growl before turning away, satisfied that whatever it had sensed was not an immediate threat.

Lyerin exhaled softly, relieved but still on edge. He couldn't afford to make a single mistake. Not here. Not now.

As the apes continued to mill about, Lyerin slowly began to maneuver the vines. His goal was simple: lead the apes to the river, where the muddy waters would hide the Cragar'Throm Mana Beasts from view. If he could lure the apes into the water and trap them there, he would have the upper hand. And perhaps, just perhaps, he could find a way to tame them in the process.

But for now, survival was his priority and he had other plans.

The apes grew closer, their movements more erratic as they began to sense the presence of the mana beasts. Lyerin knew it was only a matter of time before they attacked. He had to act quickly.

Holding his breath, Lyerin tugged on the vines and began to pull the Cragar'Throm Mana Beasts toward the river. The beasts, still disoriented but obedient, followed his lead, their large forms moving clumsily through the underbrush.

Lyerin pulled harder, gritting his teeth as he forced the beasts to move faster. The apes were growing more agitated, their cries becoming louder and more frenzied. They could sense the mana beasts now, and it wouldn't be long before they descended upon them in a violent frenzy.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lyerin managed to get the mana beasts to the edge of the river. He guided them into the water, the muddy current concealing their forms as they waded in.

Lyerin watched from his hiding spot, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear the apes approaching, their movements growing faster and more aggressive. The air was thick with tension, the jungle alive with the sounds of the approaching beasts.

And then, with one final, guttural cry, the apes charged.

Lyerin gripped the vines tightly, holding on for dear life as the chaos erupted around him.