Polemos sighed a sad sigh as he was going to miss the desert, as he was heading back to the tribe in the morning after his daily morning training.
"Ahhhh, I wonder what things have changed in the tribe. Well I'll find out in the morning anyway. Besides, someone has been looking at us from afar these past few days, and was even a little cautious, good for him but, I have Rose to thank for that otherwise that might have been ugly."
Polemos chuckled lightly as he walked over towards Rose as he was heading to bed while atop her head.
Polemos woke up early the next morning still atop Rose's head.
'I really don't want to leave, but I need to go back as I have things to sell and even see what upgrades I can get. Plus I wonder if Carl has anything on the slave trade in the tribe, knowing him, he probably does…'
Polemos continued his thought process as he slid off of Rose's head so he could start his daily routine. Polemos stretched to loosen his body and muscles, when he was all done he walked over to the mouth of their camp atop the earthen spire and started his descent to the bottom. So that way he could start his morning run.
When Polemos got to the bottom of the spire he saw something that caught his eye, someone had carved something into the spire.
'Return and die!'
"Must be the person who's been watching us these past few days, don't tell me what to do. I wonder what they must have been smoking if they thought I would even listen, or consider what they thought." Polemos spoke with a small smile on his face. "Must be Hassan or Ashern as Alayah would definitely not be out here, she liked money more if anything. They'll be dead anyway, I wonder what I should make for breakfast, the boar meat sounds good for breakfast or should I go with…"
Polemos ignored the useless 'threat' as he started his morning run while trying to figure out what he should make for breakfast when he gets done with his daily routine for both Rose and himself.
When Polemos got back to the camp his tunic was off as he was sweating pretty heavily but had a very steady breath. Polemos had changed again during his tempering, he spotted a few more scars across his chest and arms, the look in his eyes were deep, and his combat experience was brutal as he fought constantly every day against monsters and beasts.
Polemos then looked towards his calloused hands as he looked up towards the spire's peak.
"Alright just need to climb this then on to my basics for weapons then breakfast. Then after that pack, then head back." Polemos then started his climb up the spire.
When Polemos reached the mouth of the camp Rose was awake already waiting for him as she hissed to greet Polemos.
"Hisss."
Polemos smiled a warm smile as he returned Rose's hiss.
"Morning Rose, just give me a bit then I'll start breakfast, remember we will be heading back to the tribe today after breakfast and everything is all packed. I'll make sure to introduce Elder Spear and Carl to you as well."
Polemos smiled while having no idea what had happened to Elder Spear in the tribe.
Polemos had no idea that he was no longer alive as Alyan, already had Elder Spear killed. Polemos, not knowing what happened to Elder Spear, continued his daily basic training and made Rose and himself a very hearty breakfast of Razor Boar meat and Golden Deer meat.
'Alright after this pack then I'm off back to the tribe. Got some chaos to cause as well as finish off Alyan and his group, then I'm off on my own to start my journey with so much to do, but it'll be worth it.' Polemos had a small smile on his face as he had his breakfast as he made a quick to-do list in his head.
When everything was all finished and packed away Polemos smiled as he was seated atop of Rose's head as they both looked out towards the massive golden sands of the desert. As he rubbed Rose's head.
"Don't worry we will definitely be back out to explore and hunt again Rose, just need to finish some things in the tribe, and then we'll be able to continue our journey across the sands. But for now we should head back."
Rose's body was wiggling the entire time Polemos was rubbing her head as she hissed in response to Polemos.
"Hisssssssss."
"Alright then let's go!"
The moment Polemos said go, Rose climbed down the spire as she headed towards the destroyed Giant Centipede nest Polemos had destroyed in the beginning of his hunt.
As Rose dashed through the sand with ease as they even avoided some monsters along the way but, what they didn't know was that someone was already waiting and anticipating Polemos's arrival at the tribe.
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Alyan, Ashern, and Alayah, were inside all looking at a report on Alyans desk that arrived the day prior by Hassan. The report had everything Hassan was able to gather for the entire week he scouted Polemos. He was only able to get a weeks worth of information or intel as it took a bit for Hassan to find Polemos as he was never in the same spot for long.
Alyan was furious after he killed the slave Jar-roll sent over and had gotten angrier with each passing day waiting for Hassan to report back.
"How is this possible? I had already had him killed, and now according to Hassan's scouting report he's heading back to the tribe as we speak, but Hassan has even put into the report that this Cursed Devil even knew he was being watched and allowed it to happen!" Alyan had fire in his yellow golden eyes as he looked over the report as it even included Hassan's guess on what stage Polemos reached.
"Hassan even put in the report that he could possibly be at the sixth or seventh stage in power but it seems he only knows the basic fireball and earth spire spell at least." Alayah spoke in a soft tone as she was trying to think of ways to handle Polemos as it was obvious he was looking for them.
"Does the report say anything about this bastard when it comes to his actual strength since he knew someone was watching him?" Alyan asked both Ashern and Alayah.
"Unfortunately no it doesn't look like it but, what gets me is that Hassan put in the report that he even has a centipede that is accompanying him, and he wasn't even able to figure it's true strength either." Ashern spoke in a dark voice as it felt like this Cursed Devil was mocking him as he used to throw him into the insect pits all the time.
Both Alyan and Alayah nodded when Ashern spoke up and talked about the centipede.
Alyan then looked up towards the map behind him as he remembered that there was a Common ranked centipede nest not that far from the tribe and spoke.
"If anything we shouldn't really have to worry all that much about a stupid bug, it should only be a Common or an Elite ranked beast at best which is of no concern. Still we need to prepare for when this curse comes back to the tribe, as he definitely has something planned if he's been out for a while it looks like."
Alayah and Ashern both looked over towards Alyan as he spoke. Alyan then crossed his arms behind his back as he gave out an order.
"We must be prepared for when he gets back, wait for Hassan to get back as he should arrive at the tribe shortly as he left last night according to the report. Do not report this to either the Tribal Leader or the First Hunting Captain as this is our problem and they don't need to get involved."
Both Ashern and Alayah nodded their heads and agreed to Alyans suggestion to wait and even to not inform the two highest members of the tribe.
It was only about an hour later when Hassan entered Alyans tent and informed everyone of something that made them pale.
"The night before I left, I left a message on a spire that he had made his camp but, when I got close to the spire I felt like something was watching me and even heard something in my ear silently hissing. I'm pretty sure that it must have been that damn centipede and it is definitely stronger than what I had put into the report." Hassan took a deep breath as he was tired and exhausted. "I'm pretty sure that it could combat or evenly fight against you, Ashern." Hassan looked towards the pale Ashern.
The moment Hassan reported his new findings everyone turned even paler as this was something that could even potentially take out half the tribe and this Cursed Devil was bringing it back to the tribe!
Alyan took a deep breath as he tried to calm his erratic heart as his face furrowed in anger.
"It looks like I'll actually have to inform both the Tribe's leader as well as the First Hunting Captain of this new piece of information. It looks like, shit. It looks like the elders of the tribe were right about those with purple eyes; they are a curse indeed!"
Alyan shook his head in reluctance as he headed out of his tent towards the center of the tribe where both the leader and captain were currently as he had a report to make late in the night.