Chapter 53: Dungeon Dive
A sudden flash of red light caught Lyerin's attention, it was pulsing from time to time, the familiar chime of the system echoing in his ears. He glanced at the small prompt that had popped up in front of him, the message scrolling across his vision.
[ Ding!
[ All the missions will be nullified!
[ The tribe level is not high enough to level up the loyalty in the boundary of the second cycle! ]
Lyerin's brow furrowed as he read the message. But he quickly dismissed it. "Not a problem," he muttered, pushing the notification aside.
He had bigger plans.
The loyalty of his tribe could wait then; there were other things to be done, more pressing matters to attend to.
As long as they would now listen to him, it would be enough.
Without a care in the world, Lyerin reached into his pocket, pulling out a set of scrolls.
The parchment was aged and weathered, covered in ancient runes that glowed faintly in the dim light.
There were ten of them in total, each one humming with a latent power that Lyerin could feel thrumming in his fingertips. He held them aloft, a sense of purpose driving his actions as he threw them one by one onto the Stonehooves humanoid beasts.
As the last scroll fell into place, a massive magic circle began to form above the gathered creatures.
The runes on the scrolls lit up, it was pulsating with an unknown energy, and the circle began to glow, like its intricate patterns were weaving together in a brilliant display of arcane power.
The air crackled with energy, the very ground beneath Lyerin's feet trembling as the circle gathered strength.
For a moment, Lyerin felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. His vision blurred, and he swayed slightly on his feet, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what he had purchased.
The endless resources he had acquired with Victor's coin from the Borgias and Rose Kingdom were immense, but even so, the cost of summoning such power was not insignificant. But Lyerin steadied himself, his determination unshaken.
This was necessary; this was the path to his vengeance.
"Let's go dive into the dungeon, my new fellow Stonehooves humanoid beasts members!" Lyerin commanded, his voice resonating with authority.
The magic circle pulsed one final time, and then, with a blinding flash of light, it enveloped the herd of beasts entirely.
The creatures, once restless and wild, now stood eerily still, their forms silhouetted against the intense glow.
Lyerin's mind began to think of something unusual as he watched them.
He couldn't call them the Stonehooves, not anymore.
That name was reserved for the true members of his tribe, the intelligent ones who would serve him with loyalty and purpose.
These creatures were different. They were his tools, his puppets, to be used for a singular purpose: destruction.
As the light intensified, Lyerin considered their new name. It needed to be something fitting, something that reflected their strength and their role in his plans. Finally, a name formed in his mind, one that brought a twisted smile to his lips.
"I'll call you all Cragar'Throm Clan!" Lyerin declared, his voice echoing through the clearing. "It means Craggy Stompers! We will stomp those who block our paths, all to their deaths with a stomping bang!"
Immediately, the world around Lyerin faded, consumed by the brilliant radiance. And then, with a final burst of magicalbenergy, the light imploded, taking Lyerin and his newly christened Cragar'Throm Clan with it.
---
Meanwhile, in a dungeon far removed from the chaos of the outside world, peace reigned.
The ground was a carpet of vibrant flowers and lush vegetables, their colors a brilliant contrast to the dark stone walls that surrounded them.
Creatures of all shapes and sizes roamed freely, some floating gracefully through the air, while others grazed on the abundant flora. There was no fear here, no danger—only tranquility.
But that peace was about to be shattered.
In the center of the dungeon, a magic circle began to form, its edges glowing with a soft, ethereal light.
The creatures nearby paused, their attention were immediately drawn to the circle as it slowly took shape.
The air grew thick with anticipation, a gentle hum of energy filling the space.
Slowly, a silhouette began to form within the circle, its outline hazy at first but growing sharper with each passing second.
The light within the circle intensified, casting long shadows across the dungeon floor.
The creatures watched in silence as the silhouette solidified, revealing a familiar figure—Lyerin.
His form emerged from the light, his presence dominating the serene environment.
Lyerin took a deep breath, with his chest rising and falling as he inhaled the sweet, fragrant air. The scents of flowers and fresh earth filled his senses, and he spread his arms wide, embracing the beauty of the place.
"Aaah, what a beautiful place," Lyerin mumbled, a contented smile playing on his lips. He turned slowly, taking in the scenery.
The dungeon was unlike anything he had seen before—a paradise of sorts, untouched by the darkness that plagued the outside world.
The flowers were in full bloom, their petals shimmering in the light, while the vegetables grew in neat, orderly rows, each one bursting with life.
The creatures, though wary, did not seem threatened by his presence. Instead, they watched him with a curious, almost welcoming gaze.
As Lyerin took in the peaceful surroundings, a new prompt appeared in his vision.
[ Ding!
[ Would you like to level up your Stonehooves Tribe to level two? ]
Lyerin chuckled softly, amused by the system's timing. "Of course, why the hell not?" he replied, his voice filled with a mix of amusement and anticipation.
The system responded instantly.
[ Ding!
[ Mission:
[ Make at least ten of the creatures level up naturally! ]
The words barely registered in Lyerin's mind before he burst into laughter.
The sound was deep, echoing through the dungeon with a manic energy. His laughter grew louder, his shoulders shaking as he gave in to the madness of the moment.
The sound reverberated off the stone walls, filling the space with a wild, almost uncontrollable energy.
As Lyerin laughed, a massive magic circle began to form behind him, its light casting long shadows across the dungeon floor.
The circle pulsed with energy, and Lyerin's laughter only intensified, the sound growing more unhinged with each passing second.
Another magic circle appeared beside the first, its glow even more intense.
The two circles pulsed in unison, their lights intertwining as they gathered strength. Lyerin's laughter reached a fever pitch, his voice echoing through the dungeon with a crazed delight.
And then, a third magic circle appeared, completing the trio.
The light was blinding, the energy palpable as the three circles combined their power. The creatures in the dungeon recoiled, their peaceful demeanor shattered by the sheer force of the magic at play.
Finally, as the circles reached their peak, the silhouettes within them began to take shape. Lyerin's laughter subsided, his eyes gleaming with a twisted satisfaction as he watched the figures emerge. Slowly, the forms of the Cragar'Throm Clan materialized, their bodies still radiating the energy of the summoning.
One by one, the humanoid beasts stepped forward, their eyes burning with a renewed power.
The wild, chaotic energy that had once defined them was gone, replaced by a cold, calculated intensity.
They were no longer just beasts—they were members of the Cragar'Throm Clan, bound to Lyerin by the magic that had summoned them.
Lyerin threw his head back, laughing maniacally as the creatures roared in unison, their voices shaking the very foundations of the dungeon.
The sound was deafening, a declaration of their power and their allegiance to Lyerin.
The peaceful dungeon was now a place of chaos, its tranquility seemingly shattered by the arrival of Lyerin and his new clan.