LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

The forest, still scarred from his previous battles, seemed to stretch endlessly before Lyerin. Shadows danced between the towering trees, and the faint hum of mana-rich energy hung in the air. The mana stone in his pouch pulsed faintly, but its light barely held his attention. It wasn't enough—not nearly enough. Lyerin needed something greater. Something that would ignite the thrill of battle in his veins.

His boots crunched against the forest floor as he moved silently, his senses heightened. Every rustle of leaves, every distant call of a beast, sent a wave of anticipation through him. He could feel it—something was out there, watching him, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

And then, he saw them.

The creatures emerged from the shadows one by one, their massive forms radiating a dangerous aura. They were similar to the beast he had fought earlier—scaled monsters with glowing eyes and an air of primal menace—but these were larger, their movements more coordinated.

There were five of them in total, their scales shimmering with a faint iridescent glow that reflected the dim light filtering through the canopy. Their claws were longer, sharper, and their eyes burned with an intelligence that sent a thrill down Lyerin's spine.

He crouched low, hiding behind the cover of a fallen tree as he observed them. The beasts moved with purpose, communicating with low growls and guttural sounds that hinted at a level of strategy. They weren't just aimless predators—they were hunters, and they worked as a team.

Lyerin's lips curled into a slow, wicked grin. "Now this," he murmured, his voice barely audible, "this is what I've been waiting for."

Lyerin didn't hesitate. He stepped into the open, his movements deliberate as he drew the attention of the entire group. The beasts froze, their glowing eyes locking onto him with predatory precision.

"You're a sight to behold," Lyerin said, his voice carrying an edge of excitement. He spread his arms wide, taunting them. "Come on, then. Let's see what you've got."

The largest of the beasts let out a deafening roar, the sound reverberating through the forest. It charged, its claws tearing into the ground as it closed the distance with terrifying speed. Lyerin sidestepped at the last moment, his movements fluid as he delivered a powerful kick to the creature's side.

The impact sent the beast skidding across the ground, but it quickly regained its footing, snarling in anger.

"Not bad," Lyerin said, flexing his fists. "But you'll have to do better than that."

The other four beasts didn't wait for orders. They attacked in unison, their coordination flawless as they surrounded Lyerin. One leapt at him from the front while another tried to flank him from the side.

Lyerin ducked under the first attack, using the momentum of his movement to deliver a devastating elbow strike to the second beast's jaw. The creature yelped in pain, but the remaining three pressed their advantage.

A swipe of claws narrowly missed his shoulder, tearing through the bark of a nearby tree with ease. Lyerin retaliated with a series of rapid punches, each blow landing with enough force to crack the scales of the beast in front of him.

"You're quick," he said, sidestepping another attack. "But I'm quicker."

The beasts adapted to his movements, their attacks becoming more calculated as the fight dragged on. They moved in perfect sync, one distracting him with feints while another went in for the kill.

Lyerin was relentless, his movements a blur as he dodged, blocked, and countered with precision. He refused to use his eldritch magic, relying solely on his physical strength and agility. Each strike he delivered sent shockwaves rippling through the air, and yet the beasts refused to back down.

One of them lunged at him with its jaws wide open, aiming to tear him apart. Lyerin grabbed its lower jaw with both hands, his muscles straining as he held it at bay. With a roar of exertion, he twisted sharply, sending the beast crashing into another.

"You're tough," he said, his breathing heavy but his grin unwavering. "But so am I."

The largest of the beasts, seemingly the leader, let out a guttural growl that silenced the others. It stepped forward, its glowing eyes narrowing as it assessed Lyerin.

"You want a piece of me too, big guy?" Lyerin taunted, rolling his shoulders. "Bring it on."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The beast didn't charge blindly like the others. Instead, it stalked toward him, its movements slow and deliberate. Lyerin tensed, his instincts screaming at him to stay on guard.

The beast suddenly lunged, its claws slicing through the air with blinding speed. Lyerin barely managed to dodge, the tips of the claws grazing his arm and drawing blood. He countered with a powerful uppercut, the force of the blow lifting the beast off its feet.

The others seized the opportunity, attacking him from all sides. Lyerin spun in place, delivering a flurry of punches and kicks that sent two of them flying. He grabbed another by the tail and swung it like a club, using it to knock the others off balance.

The fight grew fiercer with each passing moment. Lyerin's movements became more aggressive, his strikes hitting harder as he pushed himself to his limits. His laughter echoed through the forest, a sound of pure exhilaration as he reveled in the chaos.

The beasts, though wounded, refused to give up. They fought with a ferocity that matched his own, their glowing eyes burning with determination.

The leader lunged at him again, its claws aiming for his throat. Lyerin caught the attack, his hands locking around its wrists as they grappled. The ground beneath them cracked under the pressure, and Lyerin let out a roar as he threw the beast to the ground.

Before he could follow up, another tackled him from behind, its weight pinning him to the ground. He snarled, twisting his body to throw it off before delivering a brutal punch to its side.

The clearing was a battlefield, the ground littered with shattered trees and scorched earth. Lyerin stood in the center, his chest heaving as he faced the remaining beasts. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, but his grin was as fierce as ever.

"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, spreading his arms wide. "Come on! Give me everything!"

The leader let out a final roar, and the beasts charged him as one. Lyerin met them head-on, his fists colliding with claws and teeth in a clash of raw power.

The battle reached its peak, their movements a blur as they fought with everything they had. The ground trembled beneath them, and the air was thick with the sounds of snarls, roars, and Lyerin's laughter.

When the dust finally settled, Lyerin stood alone, his body battered but unbroken. The beasts lay motionless around him, their glowing eyes dimmed and their bodies still.

He crouched beside the leader, extracting its mana stone with a practiced motion. The gem pulsed with an intense light, its energy radiating warmth in his hand.

Despite his victory, Lyerin's grin faded slightly. He glanced at the other stones in his pouch, then back at the one in his hand.

"I want more," he muttered, tucking the stone away. His gaze shifted back to the forest, the thrill of the hunt still burning in his chest.

"There's something stronger out there," he said, his voice low but determined. "And I am sure they were going to take me to the limit"

With that, he disappeared into the shadows, his hunt far from over.