There was a note of respect in her voice, and Lyerin appreciated it, even as his smile remained enigmatic. "For the future," he replied simply, leaving them even more intrigued.


    The girls exchanged nces, clearly wanting to ask more, but before they could, Lyerin waved his hand dismissively. "You''ll understand in time. For now, enjoy your new forms, but stay ready. We have much to do."


    Corora, who had been silently observing everything, suddenly leaped up, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "Does this mean we''re finally going to level up?" she asked, her voice filled with eager anticipation.


    Lyerin nodded, his eyes twinkling with approval. "Yes. You''ll need to be ready for what''s toe."


    At his words, the girls visibly perked up, their earlier curiosity giving way to excitement. They had been waiting for this moment, the chance to grow stronger, to unlock the next stage of their transformation.


    Lyerin nced at Corora. "Tell them everything they need to know. Prepare them."


    Corora''s expression became serious as she nodded, understanding the importance of the task. Lyerin trusted her to guide the others, to ensure they were ready for whaty ahead.


    With that, Lyerin turned on his heel and strode away from the group, his mind already shifting to the next phase of his n. There was no time to waste. He needed to make sure everything was in ce before they could proceed with the next steps.


    His destination was the Borgias family. They were known for their extensive connections and resources, and Lyerin needed to stock up on supplies—both the essentials and a few items that would serve to throw off anyone who might try to interfere with his ns, especially Victor.


    He couldn''t afford to be careless; Victor was always watching, always scheming, and Lyerin needed to stay several steps ahead.


    When he reached the Borgias'' estate, Lyerin wasted no time. He purchased everything he needed and then some, deliberately adding arge quantity of seemingly useless items to his order. If Victor ever got his hands on his magic ring again, the random assortment would surely confuse him, making it difficult to discern Lyerin''s true intentions.


    Satisfied with his purchases, Lyerin made his way back to the tribe. He could feel the anticipation building within him, a tension that thrummed in his veins as he prepared for the next phase of his n.


    As he approached the newly established camp, Lyerin didn''t slow down. Instead, he reached into his magic ring and pulled out a massive, intricately decorated bottle. Without hesitation, he hurled it into the air with a powerful swing—**Swing! Bang!** The bottle exploded with a deafening crack, shattering into countless shards of light that rained down upon the ground below.


    The earth trembled beneath his feet, a deep rumbling that sent shockwaves through the entire area. The girls, Corora included, turned to Lyerin with wide eyes, wondering what he had just done. But Lyerin remained focused, his gaze locked on the horizon as he waited.


    And then they appeared.


    From every direction, humanoid creatures began to emerge. They were Mana Beasts, their bodies rippling with raw, primal energy. Their eyes burned with an intense, fiery rage, and their horns glowed with a malevolent light. Lyerin recognized them instantly—the members of the Hundred Bison Tribe and the Snow Leopard Tribe, formidable warriors who had roamed thesends for generations.


    Their numbers were vast, far greater than he had anticipated. The ground shook with the force of their approach, their collective footsteps reverberating through the earth like a thunderous drumbeat. **Boom! Boom! Boom!**


    Lyerin stood his ground, unmoved by the sight of the raging Mana Beasts bearing down on him. Instead, he smiled—a confident, knowing smile that spoke of the power he held within him. He had been expecting them.


    As the Mana Beasts drew closer, their anger palpable, Lyerin reached into his ring once more.


    This time again, he pulled out a handful of special grasses, each de imbued with potent magic. He scattered the grasses across the ground in front of him, their vibrant green glowing softly in the dim light.


    The moment the Mana Beasts caught sight of the grasses, their rage faltered.


    Their fiery eyes flickered, drawn to the tantalizing scent of the magical flora.


    One by one, the beasts began to slow their charge, their focus shifting from Lyerin to the grasses thaty before them.


    Lyerin watched as the once raging horde of Mana Beasts halted, their aggression melting away as they hungrily approached the grasses.


    They began to feed, their movements growing calmer with each bite they took.


    A few momentster, the Mana Beasts werepletely pacified, their eyes now filled with a serene light as they continued to feast. And then, one by one, they began to glow, their bodies enveloped in a soft, ethereal light.


    | Ding!


    The sound echoed in Lyerin''s mind, followed by a notification.


    | You have recruited 324 tribal Mana Beasts who are willing to be members of your Stonehooves n.


    | Would you like to ept them? |


    Lyerin''s smile widened. "Of course."


    With a simple thought, he epted the new members into his n, and as soon as he did, the light around the Mana Beasts intensified, solidifying their ce within the Stonehooves n.


    They were no longer wild beasts, but powerful allies, ready to serve their new leader.


    Without missing a beat, Lyerin reached into his ring once more, retrieving arge stack of scrolls. He tossed them into the air with a flourish, the scrolls unfurling as they soared through the sky.


    Theynded with precision, covering the new Mana Beasts, not the old members of the tribe, and the girls.


    The scrolls shimmered as they made contact, activating the spells within them. Magic circles formed beneath each recipient, their glowing patterns pulsing with power.


    The transformation was immediate, enhancing their abilities, solidifying their connection to the n, and preparing them for what was toe.


    Lyerin surveyed the scene before him with satisfaction. Everything was falling into ce. His tribe was growing stronger by the minute, their numbers swelling, their power multiplying.


    Finally, he raised his hand, drawing everyone''s attention. His voice was calm, but it carried the weight of his authority.


    "Let''s go dungeon diving."


    However, the atmosphere around the Stonehooves n shifted abruptly, an unsettling silence descending upon the clearing as the magic circles beneath the newly recruited Mana Beasts and the girls began to flicker and pause.


    Lyerin''s confident smile faltered for the briefest moment, with his sharp eyes narrowing in confusion.


    This wasn''t supposed to happen.


    The magic was foolproof, designed to function without a hitch. But something—or someone—had interfered.


    In an instant, he understood, he quickly regained hisposure.


    Lyerin turned his gaze inward.


    Soon, a cold shiver ran down his spine as a presence made itself known behind him. He didn''t need to turn around to know what it was—he could feel it in the air, the oppressive weight of its silence, the way the very fabric of reality seemed to bend and warp around it.


    Slowly, deliberately, Lyerin turned to face the intruder.


    What stood before him was a creature of pure darkness, a ck creature whose sleek, muscr form seemed to absorb the light around it, creating an aura of deep shadow that radiated outwards like a living void.


    Its eyes, glowing with an unnatural blue light, were locked onto Lyerin with a gaze that was both piercing and unreadable.


    The air around them both crackled with silent, terrifying magical energy, a power so immense and controlled that it made even the ground beneath it tremble slightly.