LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

The sun hung low over the horizon, casting long shadows across the sprawling maze of the Stonehooves Tribe.

The air was thick with tension, and the scent of blood and battle lingered.

The Pig Orcs had returned victorious from their latest conquest, but the war was far from over.

Above them, Lyerin hovered in mid-air, arms crossed, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the battlefield below.

His thoughts raced, his mind constantly assessing and recalculating the situation. The Asuras had made their move, and now, it was time for him to make his.

Lyerin's voice cut through the tension like a blade, cold and commanding. "Grok'thar, I want every injured Pig Orc brought to the healing chambers. I don't care if they're barely breathing—patch them up and get them ready for the next wave. We can't afford any weaknesses right now."

The massive Pig Orc leader, Grok'thar, slammed a fist against his chest in acknowledgment.

"HUGUGUGUUURRR!!! AROGGUGUGURR!" he roared, turning to the other Orcs and barking orders in their guttural tongue.

The Pig Orcs scrambled to follow Lyerin's command, dragging their wounded comrades toward the Stonehooves' makeshift infirmary.

Lyerin's eyes scanned the maze, noting how the labyrinth had grown more ominous, filled with traps and pitfalls. His army of Pig Orcs had fortified it after their last victory, but he knew it wasn't enough. Not for the kind of enemy they were facing now.

"Strengthen the defenses," Lyerin barked, turning to a group of Orcs standing nearby. "I want the outer walls reinforced with every last scrap of metal we've scavenged. Barricade the narrow paths and leave only one entrance into the heart of the maze. Funnel them in, make them fight for every step."

"OKEEEKKK!! OKEEEKKK! OGUGURRR!!!" one of the Orcs bellowed, rallying a group of his kin to carry out the task.

Lyerin's gaze fell upon the two horned girls, Corora and Cornelia, standing beside him.

Their faces were calm, but he could sense their unease.

The fight with the Asuras had taken its toll, and though they had performed well, Lyerin knew the enemy wasn't finished. Not by a long shot.

"We need to be ready for another wave," Lyerin said, his voice quieter now, but no less authoritative. "Corora, Cornelia—scout the perimeter. Make sure no one's sneaking up on us. I don't want any surprises."

Corora tilted her head slightly, her silver hair catching the dying sunlight. "Of course," she said smoothly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "We'll make sure no one gets within a hundred yards of this place without us knowing."

Cornelia, her twin, nodded in agreement. "We'll be back soon," she added before the two of them vanished in a flash of speed, their abilities allowing them to move through the maze like shadows.

Lyerin exhaled slowly. His eyes darted back toward the horizon, where the Asuras had last been spotted.

He knew they wouldn't give up so easily. The elite Asuras that had fallen were just the beginning. More were likely on their way, and they wouldn't make the same mistakes again.

"Reznak!" Lyerin called, his voice snapping through the air.

A smaller Pig Orc, one with quick eyes and an even quicker mind, ran up to him. "URRKEKEEERRKK UGUEERKK?"

"I want the maze flooded with traps. Not just the usual spikes and pitfalls. I want magic runes. I want explosives. Anything that can slow them down, confuse them, or kill them outright."

Reznak grinned, his tusks gleaming.

"UKEERKEERRR!!"

His posture was like saying consider it done chieftain, we will crush them all!

"Good." Lyerin's eyes flickered with satisfaction. "Do it quickly."

He was going to use everything he had, with the remaining tools in his magic ring, so he suddenly threw them all.

As Reznak ran off, Lyerin turned to the remaining Pig Orcs who had gathered below him, waiting for his next command.

These Orcs were battle-hardened, their bodies scarred from countless encounters, their eyes gleaming with the thirst for blood.

They were loyal, fierce, and they would fight to the death if he ordered them to.

"We're not just defending this place," Lyerin shouted, his voice booming across the maze. "We're going to make sure any Asura that steps foot here regrets it. You've already tasted their blood. Now I want you to be ready to bathe in it."

The Pig Orcs roared in response, their voices rumbling like thunder.

They slammed their weapons against the ground, the noise reverberating through the maze like a war drum.

"But remember this," Lyerin added, his tone growing darker. "They're not stupid. They'll try to trick us. They'll use magic, illusions, anything they can to weaken us. Don't let them. Trust your instincts.

If something feels wrong, it probably is. Kill it."

The Orcs grunted in agreement, their eyes burning with anticipation.

Lyerin descended from the air, his boots hitting the ground with a solid thud. He walked through the ranks of his army, his presence commanding absolute attention.

"And if you see any of the smaller Asuras, don't hesitate. Kill them immediately. The faster we get rid of them, the less chance they'll have to activate their abilities. I don't want any surprises."

"UGURRRRKKK UGURRRKKK!" the Orcs shouted in unison, their voices filled with savage enthusiasm.

Satisfied, Lyerin nodded and moved to the center of the maze, where the heart of the Stonehooves Tribe lay.

He stood before a massive, intricately carved stone obelisk—an ancient relic from the days when the Minotaurs had ruled these lands.

The obelisk pulsed with faint, otherworldly energy, a constant reminder of the tribal spirit that now fueled the Pig Orcs.

Lyerin placed his hand on the cool stone, feeling the energy surge beneath his fingertips.

He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the task ahead.

His Tribe had leveled up, but they needed more power.

The Asuras would be back, and they wouldn't be as easy to defeat next time.

"Just one more," he muttered under his breath. "One more push, and we'll be ready."

Suddenly, a voice broke through his thoughts. "Lyerin, they're coming."

It was Cornelia. She and Corora reappeared, their faces grim. "They're approaching from the west, but there's something strange," Cornelia continued. "We didn't sense them until they were almost on top of us."

"West?" Lyerin narrowed his eyes. "They're trying to flank us."

Corora nodded, her expression serious. "They're using some kind of cloaking magic. We almost missed them ourselves. These aren't like the last group."

Lyerin's jaw tightened. "Get everyone in position. Now."

Before Corora and Cornelia could move, the sound of whistling air caught Lyerin's attention. His head snapped toward the sky, and in that split second, he saw it—an arrow, sleek and black as night, hurtling toward them from an unseen enemy.

"Move!" he barked.

Corora and Cornelia dove to the side just in time, the arrow barely missing them. But the danger wasn't over. More arrows rained down from the sky, and one of them, faster than the others, found its mark.

Cornelia gasped as the arrow pierced her shoulder, knocking her out of the sky and sending her plummeting toward the ground. The impact was brutal, her body crashing into the hard earth with a sickening thud.

"Cornelia!" Corora screamed, rushing to her sister's side.

Lyerin's heart pounded in his chest as he watched Cornelia fall, blood seeping from the wound. His hands clenched into fists, his mind racing.

The Asuras had made their move, and now, they had drawn first blood.