LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

The valley was alive with the heavy footfalls of Orcs, their snorts and grunts filling the air like the rumbling of an impending storm.

Outside the Stonehooves Tribe's walls, what had once been a scattered group of pig-like creatures had now transformed into a sea of flesh.

Their numbers had tripled, maybe even more.

Hundreds upon hundreds of Valley Orcs, some the size of small horses, others twice as large, were amassing.

Their eyes gleamed with malice, their tusks glistening with saliva as they hefted their crude weapons—clubs, axes, and stone hammers—preparing for an assault.

It was as if they were waiting for the perfect moment to strike, as if the sheer weight of their numbers would ensure their victory.

Yet, even in their growing mass, there was a subtle hesitation.

Their eyes flickered, every so often, towards the imposing figure of the Minotaur.

Standing like an immovable mountain at the edge of the tribe's territory, the Minotaur radiated an aura of menace and power.

Its presence alone seemed to keep the Orcs at bay, at least for now. But numbers were a powerful force, and the Orcs, while primitive, were not foolish.

They were waiting for their numbers to grow large enough that even the Minotaur couldn't hold them back.

Lyerin sat atop the Minotaur's shoulder, observing the swelling ranks of Orcs.

His face remained calm, though his mind was full of calculated strategies and maneuvers.

He needed to be ready.

Despite the initial shock and hesitation, the Orcs would attack soon.

Their fear of the Minotaur would only last so long before their primal rage overtook them.

With a graceful leap, Lyerin jumped from the Minotaur's shoulder and landed softly at the base of the new Minotaur statue, which had taken the place of the old Stonehooves monument.

He crossed his legs and settled into a meditative position, closing his eyes.

His shadow magic core had now returned to its normal state, the Panther's Mana long since depleted.

His body felt the familiar weight of his magic returning to its natural balance. But Lyerin Isn't content with that.

No, he needed more.

The Minotaur, this creature of raw power and primal strength, had given him an opportunity—a path to evolve, to shift from mere survival to conquest.

From the Minotaur's statue, a deep, crimson aura began to seep out like mist.

It was a violent energy, sharp and jagged, radiating an unmistakable combativeness.

The aura crawled up the statue, slowly but surely, winding its way towards Lyerin.

As it reached him, the red aura wrapped around his body, enveloping him in its fierce embrace.

Lyerin's core, nestled deep within his consciousness, began to change.

Where once there had been the steady pulse of a normal magic core, there was now a shift—a violent, aggressive energy surged through him, transforming it into a combat core.

"Time to change my magic core," Lyerin murmured under his breath, his voice almost lost in the growing tension around him.

Suddenly, a notification appeared before him, ringing in his mind with a clear and distinct Ding!

| There are plenty of hooved creatures nearby.

| Would the host like to tame them?

| Current Stonehooves Tribe Population: 45/600.

| Creatures that the Stonehooves Tribe can tame: 150/555. |

Lyerin's eyes snapped open, his heart thrumped with excitement.

"So the Valley Orcs count as hooved creatures? Pigs do have hooves, after all." He grinned, realizing the advantage that had just fallen into his lap.

Without a moment's hesitation, he accepted the prompt.

The notification chimed again.

| Ding!

| Mission: Make the creatures stay in the territory of the Stonehooves Tribe without attacking them directly for 4 minutes. |

Lyerin laughed to himself.

"Sixty seconds? That's nothing."

He glanced towards the mass of Orcs that had gathered at the valley's edge.

This was going to be easier than he had anticipated.

---

Meanwhile, back on Earth, the Asura girl's eyes gleamed with excitement as she surveyed the unfolding scene.

She hovered above the battlefield, her expression a mixture of anticipation and gleeful malice.

She knew that the battle was about to begin, and it would be a glorious, violent spectacle.

She turned to the viewing screens, addressing the millions of Earthlings who were watching the game unfold in real-time.

"Everyone, look closely. The Orcs have finally gathered in enough numbers to launch their assault. They've formed an army, a true army of savagery and brute force. They're gathering strength, biding their time before they charge."

Her voice rose as she pointed towards the Orcs, the camera zooming in on the sea of pig-like creatures standing at the ready.

"These Valley Orcs, or 'Raging Pigs' as they're known, are a force to be reckoned with. Their numbers alone make them a dangerous foe. But don't be fooled by their appearance.

"They may look simple and brutish, but their strength lies in their overwhelming force. Once they begin their charge, it will be like a tidal wave of destruction."

The tension was palpable, and the audience watching from Earth could feel it.

The Orcs were gathering like storm clouds on the horizon, ready to unleash their fury.

"But that's not all," the Asura girl continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Let me tell you about the Minotaur. This isn't just any ordinary creature. No, this Minotaur was taken from the deepest, most dangerous dungeon. A beast of unparalleled strength. When it was first brought here, it had no home, no territory to call its own. But now..."

Her eyes gleamed with wicked excitement. "Now, it has a home. The Stonehooves Tribe is its territory, and it will do anything to protect it."

She pointed towards the screen showing the Minotaur, standing tall and menacing, its muscles taut as it faced the Orc horde.

"This Minotaur... it will fight with a ferocity that you've never seen before. It's no longer just a creature of brute force.

"Now, it has something to defend—a tribe, a home. And that makes it even more terrifying. This battle between the Minotaur and the Orcs is going to be legendary."

The camera zoomed in on the Minotaur, focusing on its imposing form as it gripped its enormous club.

Every Earthling watching could feel the weight of what was about to happen.

They could picture a bloodbath!

The Asura girl smiled wickedly, her voice dripping with anticipation. "Get ready, everyone. The war between the Minotaur and the Valley Orcs is about to begin."

---

Back in the valley, the tension had reached its peak.

The Valley Orcs, despite their fear of the Minotaur, could no longer hold back.

Their numbers had swelled to the point where they felt invincible, their instincts pushing them to attack.

With a unified roar, the Orcs began to march forward, with their hooves thudding against the ground in unison, creating a low rumble that echoed through the valley.

The Minotaur, sensing the approaching threat, let out a deep, guttural growl.

GRRROOOOOAAAARRRR!!!!

Its eyes glowed with a crimson light as the red aura from the statue continued to surge through it.

The beast gripped its massive club and raised it high above its head.

The Earth trembled.

The air seemed to crackle with energy as the Minotaur let out a roar—a roar so loud and so powerful that it felt as though the very world itself was about to crumble under its might.

The Valley Orcs hesitated, their march faltering for a brief moment as the sheer intensity of the Minotaur's presence hit them like a wave.

Lyerin, now fully enveloped in the red combat aura, watched with a calm smile as the Minotaur raised its club high, preparing to strike.

This was it.

The true test of the Minotaur's strength and the beginning of the battle that would determine the fate of the Stonehooves Tribe.

The Minotaur roared again, louder this time, its voice carrying across the valley like a storm. And as its club came crashing down towards the advancing Orcs, the battle will now begin!