Chapter 193: Fear on the same side
His glowing eyes were fixed on the projection of Zordrix, where the monstrous beasts loomed and the people screamed in terror.
Beside him, the six-armed shadow figures who served under him were equally astonished.
One of the shadow figures, his voice filled with awe, whispered, "Lyerin... truly, he is terrifying. His cunning knows no bounds. To not only defeat the Skyclaw Brotherhood but to completely wipe them out... it is beyond comprehension."
Another figure nodded slowly, his six arms folded across his chest. "Indeed. Lyerin has shown himself to be a strategist of unparalleled skill. He allowed the Skyclaw Brotherhood to weaken themselves in the maze, and then struck when they were at their most vulnerable. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."
"But why?" asked another shadow, his voice a mix of confusion and admiration. "He could have let the natural course of events take them out. The Skyclaw Brotherhood was already struggling. Why go out of his way to destroy them entirely?"
The Overseer, silent until now, finally spoke, his voice low and measured.
"Because Lyerin understands something most do not. He understands that fear... true, paralyzing fear... can only be achieved through absolute domination.
"By wiping out the Skyclaw Brotherhood, he has sent a message not just to the other competitors, but to everyone watching. He is not content with victory. He craves annihilation."
The six-armed shadows shivered at the Overseer\'s words. One of them spoke up, his voice barely above a whisper. "Lyerin... he\'s not just cunning. He\'s dangerous. More dangerous than we ever realized."
Another shadow nodded vigorously. "He is a sadistic killer, no doubt about it. A true master of destruction."
The Overseer chuckled softly, a dark, ominous sound that echoed through the shadowed realm.
"Perhaps. But it is that very nature that will bring him far in these games. The other participants, the other tribes—they will all fear him now. And that fear will make him even more powerful."
The shadows murmured in agreement, their voices filled with a mix of respect and fear.
Lyerin\'s actions had not only changed the course of the games, but had shifted the balance of power in a way no one had anticipated.
…
Back on Earth…
The Earthlings who had been following the games, watching the rise and fall of the participants, were left stunned.
The Asura girl of Earth, who had once proudly declared the superiority of the Skyclaw Brotherhood, was left speechless as the announcement of their defeat echoed through the screens.
"The Skyclaw Brotherhood..." she murmured, her eyes wide with disbelief. "They\'re... they\'re gone?"
The humans watching from their homes, from bars, from crowded stadiums, were equally stunned. .
The Skyclaw Brotherhood had been one of Earth\'s greatest hopes, their swift aerial assaults and unmatched coordination inspiring confidence that they would emerge victorious.
Now, with their leader was victorious and their enemies decimated, the humans were left wondering if they stood any chance now since they now have the power to do so.
…
As the echoes of chaos and destruction rippled through Zordrix, a deep rumble shook the ground beneath the Stonehooves Tribe.
Lyerin, ever the orchestrator of mayhem, stood amidst a gathering of his people, their eyes wide with confusion and fear.
They had been celebrating, their laughter ringing through the maze, but now an ominous silence hung in the air.
Suddenly, a massive stone table emerged from the earth with a grinding noise, its surface etched with ancient symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light.
As it fully emerged, the ground trembled, sending a shiver through the very core of the Stonehooves Tribe.
Lyerin raised an eyebrow, intrigued, as the words on the stone table became visible:
|| Stonehooves Tribe - Humans destroyed the Skyclaw Brotherhood - Jaldir. ||
The girls and the new members of the Stonehooves Tribe gaped at the message, their minds racing to comprehend what it meant.
Whispers began to ripple through the crowd, an unsettling mix of shock and awe filling the air.
"What does this mean? Did we really... destroy them?" Corora asked, her voice trembling.
"I don\'t understand. How could we have done that without even realizing it?" the voice of Sophia chimed in, confusion painted across her face.
Lyerin stood at the forefront, a demonic smile curling his lips as he watched the reactions unfold.
He seemed to take pleasure in their shock, basking in the glory of what he had orchestrated. Yet, the more the girls whispered amongst themselves, the more dread settled into their hearts.
"How could he do this?" one of the new members murmured, glancing nervously at Lyerin. "We were just... celebrating. We had no idea he was capable of such destruction."
Another voice echoed the sentiment, tinged with fear. "What if he turns on us next? If he could destroy the Skyclaw Brotherhood without us sensing anything, what\'s to stop him from using that power against us?"
Lyerin, overhearing their whispered fears, chuckled softly, a chilling sound that sent a wave of anxiety through the crowd. "Oh, my dear tribe," he said, his tone light and mocking, "you needn\'t worry. You\'re safe… for now. Just consider what we\'ve accomplished together!"
His words hung heavily in the air, but instead of reassurance, they left the members of the tribe feeling even more unsettled.
They exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of disbelief and horror as they began to understand the magnitude of Lyerin\'s actions.
"Did you hear what he just said?" one girl whispered to another, her eyes wide. "We didn\'t do anything! It was him. It was all him!"
The murmurs of dissent grew as uncertainty spread through the group like wildfire. Lyerin\'s face, illuminated by the dim glow of the stone table, took on a sinister cast.
"Listen closely," Lyerin continued, his voice now low and deliberate. "We have the power to reshape this world. With the Skyclaw Brotherhood gone, we\'ve cleared a path for ourselves. We have the opportunity to rise above the rest and show the true strength of the Stonehooves Tribe."
"But at what cost?" one brave soul finally dared to ask, stepping forward but still trembling. "You\'ve just destroyed a tribe that had a chance to win. What will happen next? Are we really ready for this? Are we ready to be known for such... carnage?"
Lyerin turned to face her, his expression shifting from amusement to something more serious, more intense.
"This is a survival game. It is ruthless and unforgiving. In order to succeed, we must adapt and overcome. The Skyclaw Brotherhood was a threat. They had the potential to thwart our plans. Now, they\'re gone, and the world belongs to us!"
"But you did it without us!" the girl pressed, her voice trembling but resolute. "You made this choice without consulting anyone! What if we wanted to ally with them? What if—"
"Enough!" Lyerin\'s voice boomed, cutting through the tension.
The ground shook slightly with his anger, and the members of the Stonehooves Tribe fell silent, the fear returning to their eyes.
"You think you can dictate the terms of survival? Look around you! The world we live in is not one of mercy or friendship. It\'s a battleground, and you either claim your power or become fodder for someone else\'s ambitions!"
The weight of his words settled heavily upon them.
Lyerin\'s intensity was both magnetic and terrifying, drawing them in even as it repulsed them.
They were caught between the urge to follow him, to stand united as a tribe, and the chilling realization of what he was willing to sacrifice to achieve that unity.
A heavy silence filled the air as the tribe members glanced at one another, uncertainty etched into their features.
The revelation of their power, of Lyerin\'s power, left them feeling both exhilarated and terrified.
Finally, a voice spoke from the back of the crowd, resolute and unwavering.
"If we are to follow you, we need to know that you will not sacrifice us too. We want to believe in a future, Lyerin, but it must be a future where we are all safe. Where we are all valued."
Lyerin\'s expression softened for just a moment, and he nodded slowly, as if weighing the implications of her words.
"Very well. I will protect my tribe. But know this: protection comes at a price. You must work for me completely. Together, we will carve our names into history, but only if you understand the stakes involved."
With that, the tension in the air shifted, and though fear lingered, a flicker of determination ignited among the tribe members.
They exchanged glances, unspoken agreements forming as they began to understand the path forward.
Lyerin may have chosen destruction, but perhaps there was a way to turn that destruction into a foundation for something greater.
As they rallied together, Lyerin could feel the shift in their energy. He smiled, a satisfied glint in his eyes. "Now, let\'s claim what belongs to us. The Stonehooves Tribe will rise again, and we will show the world what true power looks like!"
With renewed resolve, he told the Stonehooves Tribe to gather their strength, the shock of the day\'s events slowly transforming into a fervor for survival, even as they navigated the uncertain waters that lay ahead.
Lyerin promise that their tribe would be reborn in chaos, determined to seize their fate despite the dark shadows of the unknown loomed on the horizon.
After a few minutes of consoling them, Lyerin cracked his neck, his shoulders, and his hips, and then he looked at the sky.
"Aaaaaaaahh… I wonder what their faces would look like when they see what I\'m going to do next!"
He said was he was lying to their faces.