Chapter 374: Eaten
Chapter 374: Eaten
The following night, the group of soldiers ventured out under the cover of darkness, their steps heavy with determination and their minds filled with Lyerin’s advice. However, when they returned to the tribe just before dawn, their faces were grim, frustration and disappointment etched into every line.
Lyerin, seated near the central fire as usual, lazily glanced up as he heard their boots crunch against the dirt. He set aside the small artifact he had been tinkering with and leaned forward slightly, his expression curious. “Back so soon?” he asked, his voice calm but carrying an undertone of mockery. “I expected a triumphant return or, at the very least, some amusing failure to share. But these faces… they tell a different story. What’s wrong this time?”
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, their reluctance palpable. Finally, the younger one stepped forward, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. His words were slow and hesitant. “We found it, Chief. The beast. Just where you said it might be.”
Lyerin arched an eyebrow. “Oh? And yet, judging by your expressions, this doesn’t sound like a tale of victory. What happened?”
Another soldier spoke up, his voice tinged with bitterness. “It was there, all right. We tracked it to a rocky cavern near the cliffs. It was resting, just like you predicted, and we had it cornered. We were ready to strike—this time, we were sure we’d win.”
“But…?” Lyerin prompted, his tone drawing out their explanation with a sharp edge.
“But,” the older soldier continued, clenching his fists in frustration, “just as we were about to move in for the kill, something happened. Something… else showed up.”
Lyerin leaned back, his expression sharpening with interest. “Something else? Care to elaborate?”
The group shifted uncomfortably, their sour expressions deepening. The younger soldier swallowed hard before replying, “It was fast. Too fast. We barely saw it coming. This thing—this creature—burst into the cavern and attacked the beast. It was… brutal. The fight was over before we could even process what was happening. The beast we’ve been chasing—it was torn apart in moments.”