Lyerin stood amidst the remains of the battlefield, with his breathing in slow, controlled exhales.


    "Phew!" He mumbled as he wiped the sweat on his forehead.


    He was back in his human form, his Eldren energy drained to its very limits.


    The once towering eldritch form he had, had receded, leaving him vulnerable in appearance but still formidable. His flesh and blood remained powerful, brimming with the energy of someone who had faced the abyss ande out stronger.


    All around himy the bodies of the in, the eldritch fleshers he had mercilessly cut down, their twisted, grotesque forms now lifeless and still. The other horses, now also devoid of life, were strewn across the ground like discarded toys.


    "We''ve cleaned almost all of them now, what do I need to do next?" he mumbled while looking around him.


    Despite the depletion of his Eldren, Lyerin felt an odd sense of satisfaction.


    The Eldritch Mana beasts under his control had done their job well, clearing the streets of the majority of the threats. These creatures, each more monstrous than thest, had fallen to thebined might of his eldritch power and the savage efficiency of his eldritch mana beasts.


    They had made short work of the eldritch fleshers, tearing through the abominations with feral precision.


    The streets, once overrun with horrors, were now eerily silent, if you only save for the distant sounds of his Mana beasts finishing off thest of the threats.


    Resting against the broad, sturdy shoulder of one of the humanoid horses that were now a member of his eldritch tribe, Lyerin allowed himself a moment of contemtion. His gaze was distant, his mind turning over the situation at hand.


    "The area''s clean now," he muttered to himself, a hint of relief in his tone. Thedies—Corora, Cornelia, Maria, Elena, Sophia, Lydia, Fiona, Emily, and Natalie—would be safe, at least for the time being.


    The thought of them holed up in the sanctuary, their safety dependent on his actions, weighed heavily on him. But he had cleared the area; the immediate danger had passed. For now.


    Lyerin considered leveling up.


    The thought had crossed his mind several times. He knew he was on the verge of it, standing at the precipice of newfound power. His body thrummed with the promise of evolution, of ascension. But he hesitated, not out of fear, but out of strategy.


    There was a more pressing concern.


    The eldritch horses, his newly-formed Stonehooves Eldritch tribe, needed to grow, to evolve.


    It was a calcted decision, one borne out of necessity rather than desire. Lyerin understood the importance of numbers, of having a strong, reliable force at hismand.


    If he could create a group of powerful warriors, beings capable of holding their own against the horrors of this world, he would be in a far better position when the inevitable confrontation with the family representatives came.


    His thoughts delved deeper into the reasons. "If I stand alone," he reasoned quietly, "I''ll be overwhelmed. They''lle at me from all sides, each family representative with their own tricks, their own deadly abilities." He clenched his fist, feeling the strain of his muscles beneath the skin. "But with a group, with a squad of warriors at my side, I can divide and conquer.


    I can strike at their weaknesses, exploit their fear of the unknown."


    He continued, his mind racing through possible scenarios. "Alone, I can''t cover the entire city. But with a team, I can set up strategic points, control the battlefield. We can hit them where it hurts, cripple their forces before they even realize what''s happening." A cold smile yed on his lips. "And the psychological impact...


    seeing a horde of unstoppable, eldritch beasts tearing through their ranks... It''ll break their spirit. Fear is a powerful weapon, one that I can wield to perfection."


    There was another reason, one that Lyerin knew was crucial. "Survival," he murmured. "If I fall, there will be no one to protect the others, no one to continue the fight. But if I build up my tribe, create awork of loyal, powerful warriors, they can carry on even if I''m taken down." The thought was a bitter one, but he knew it was necessary.


    "But I won''t though, without me, the tribe won''t survive haha!"


    Afterughing, Lyerin sighed, the weight of his decisions pressing down on his shoulders. His hand absently stroked the mane of the horse beside him, the tendrils writhing beneath his touch. "It''s time," he decided. "With their kill, they would soon reach the next level without my leveling up ability."


    As if on cue, a notification dinged in his mind, a sound he had grown all too familiar with. He straightened, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the message that appeared before him.


    | Ding!


    | To be a level two tribe, the host must make the twenty hoofed creatures choose an evolutionary path. |


    A grin spread across Lyerin''s face. He had been waiting for this. "You heard me, my fellow Stonehooves Eldritch tribesmen!" he shouted, his voice carrying through the night air. "Eat! Eat more and grow! Evolve into something more powerful, more terrifying!


    We will be a force to be reckoned with!"


    The horses responded with fervor, and then their towering bodies as if renewed energy as they tore into the remains of the fallen eldritch beings.


    The sounds of tearing flesh and crunching bones filled the air, a symphony of carnage that echoed in the night.


    Lyerin watched with satisfaction as they fed, he could see their bodies absorbing the essence of the defeated, he could see in their flesh that they were beginning to shift and change.


    Not long after, another notification appeared.


    | Ding!


    | Choose the evolutionary path for your Stonehooves Eldritch tribe- |


    Lyerin didn''t hesitate and didn''t even let it finish. "Raging Brute path," hemanded. He knew what he needed, and the Raging Brute path would provide exactly that—a squad of unstoppable, hulking warriors, brimming with raw power.


    The transformation was immediate.


    One of the horses, alreadyrge and imposing, began to grow even taller. Its body bulked up, muscles swelling to three times their previous size.


    The creature''s form widened, its hide stretching over the rippling mass of muscle and sinew. When the transformation wasplete, the beast stood towering over the others, a monstrous, brutal force of nature.


    But then, something unexpected happened. The newly evolved horse, now a Raging Brute, turned away from the group.


    Without hesitation, it began to move on its own, leaving the horde of humanoid horses behind.


    Lyerin knit his brow although he already expected it. "So, that''s it," he muttered. "My Taming Level isn''t high enough to control it anymore. It''s be too powerful."


    Normally, even as a tribal chief, he couldn''t control them. After all, they are members of his tribe, not some animal juggalos.


    The only reason he could control them earlier was his ability to tame them. Yet, this was only a level twelve peak in the initial cycle, while these beasts are in the beginning phase of the second cycle.


    He watched as the creature lumbered away, likely heading back to the tribe to establish itself as a guardian, a protector of their territory.


    Lyerin smiled to himself, a mixture of pride and frustration warring within him. "Alright," he said, turning back to the remaining horses. "Next!"


    One by one, the twenty horses transformed, each taking on the Raging Brute form.


    Lyerin could feel the power radiating from them, a tangible force that made the air hum with energy.


    They were no longer mere beasts; they were his personal brute force squad, a testament to his strategic nning and the strength of his will.


    When thest of the horses hadpleted its transformation, a new notification appeared.


    | Ding!


    | Congrattions!


    | The host has sessfully leveled up the Stonehooves Eldritch tribe to level two. |


    Lyerin allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. But then, another notification shed before his eyes.


    | Ding!


    | Would you like to level up the Stonehooves Eldritch tribe to level three? |


    Lyerin''s heart raced. He was on the verge of something great, something that could tip the scales in his favor. "Yes," he whispered, anticipation building within him.


    But then, the screen shed red, and a warning message appeared.


    | Ding!


    | Warning: Unable to level up due to unknown ser


    ver error.


    | Lack of authority detected. |


    Lyerin''s eyes widened in shock. "What the hell is that?"