"Freya and Jacob?"
The pair crouched behind the bush, observing the scene unfolding before them. Screams and cries emanated from the cluster of women and children who sought refuge behind Freya and Jacob. They found themselves encircled by a band of men.
The men brandished swords, their eyes filled with hunger as they licked their lips and leered at the women. With sinister laughter, they exchanged knowing glances, reveling in their malevolent intent. "Where are you all going? Didn't I tell you to follow our chief and your lives would improve? But you remain ignorant!"
A man with a bald head, clad in wolf hide and wielding a stone dagger, his build akin to Grimlock's, though lacking in strength, berated the group. He gestured to one of his followers, who nodded and swiftly departed, returning moments later.
He clutched a man tightly bound in rope, fear palpable in the captive's eyes as he struggled to articulate his words
"You see, this man betrayed the tribe. Not only that, but he also stole the chief's woman. The chief was furious. However, he declared that if you can kill this man, he will accept you as his woman."
The bald man sliced through the rope and shoved the captive onto his back, forcefully pushing him to the ground.
Observing their hesitant expressions, the bald man erupted into laughter. "If you hesitate, we will claim and indulge in you. You are traitors, so it's better to relieve the stress of our men on you. After all, we are the pillars of the High Barbarian Tribe!"
In a hushed yet resolute tone, Freya whispered to Jacob, "We need to do something, Jacob."
"And of course, we cannot forget our guest. Your name's Freya. You're quite renowned among other tribes. Many men have sought after your body, and your face... wild yet enticing! I can hardly wait to touch it. But alas, the Chief has set his sights on you." The bald man sighed regretfully, his lustful desires tempered by his deep respect for his chief.
His name was Boris, the most formidable hunter of the High Barbarian Tribe. While they lacked a formal chief, his status commanded obedience from all. His words wielded immense power within the tribe. Boris reveled in his life, craving eternal existence, until the true leader of the High Barbarian Tribe, emerged seemingly out of nowhere.
Boris initially felt shocked, but soon became overwhelmed with joy at the prospect of his tribe finally having a true leader. However, his elation soon turned to frustration. Unlike Boris, their chief was not a lustful man; he upheld moral values and respected women deeply. Boris found himself torn between his loyalty to the chief and his insatiable desires. He knew he could indulge his fantasies outside the tribe, but he struggled to suppress the urge of his inherently lustful nature.
Freya's eyes narrowed as she retorted, "Your words hold no weight with me, and your desires even less. Keep your lascivious thoughts to yourself if you wish to retain what little dignity you have left."
"Whatever…" Boris sneered.
Meanwhile, the newly arrived duo exchanged glances, each lost in their thoughts. Draven broke the silence. "Chief, what do you reckon our next move should be?"
"We're going to help," Wang Jun replied decisively. He couldn't shake the suspicion that these newcomers might be responsible for the attack on their village. He confided his thoughts to Draven, who suddenly sparked with determination.
"Kill them all! Spare the children," Boris ordered, his voice filled with malice and authority.
Suddenly, Boris whirled around, blocking the incoming danger just in time. Boris halted his followers with a gesture, as they were taken aback and prepared to intervene.
"Who the fuck are you!?" Boris's voice thundered, a storm of surprise and aggression rumbling beneath his words.
"Chieftain, Draven!" Freya's voice rang out, her shock evident as she trembled slightly. But soon, a smile graced her face as she turned, feeling a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She met Jacob's gaze with a smile.
Jacob understood Freya's feelings completely.
"Let's talk about it later. Right now, let's help Draven," Wang Jun urged, hurrying to their side.
Though the enemy outnumbered them by ten, the odds were not as dire as they appeared. In truth, the advantage lay with them, for Freya's strength surpassed that of any single adversary. Moreover, Wang Jun had recently leveled up, enhancing Draven's abilities significantly. With his newfound strength, he could take on three opponents at once, while Freya could handle four. However, Boris remained the primary concern.
Boris loomed larger than his followers, his strength and prowess posing a formidable threat to their group.
----
Name: Boris
Age: 21
Status: Hunter of High Barbarian Tribe
HP: 100/100
Strength: 18
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 19
Perception: 10
Will: 13
Intelligence: 9
Charisma: 6
Skills:
Primal Metamorphosis (Level 2): Can tap into primal essence, transforming into a powerful mutant with heightened senses and physical prowess.
Weapon Mastery (Level 1): Proficient with basic weapons such as clubs, swords, spears, and axes.
---
Weapon Mastery has evolved into Weapon Familiarity, reaching advanced proficiency in weapons stronger than the two. However, the most alarming aspect, posing a greater threat, is the skill of Primal Metamorphosis.
Just the thought of Boris invoking his Primal Metamorphosis sent shudders down Wang Jun's spine. He couldn't shake the image of Boris transforming into a green, hulking creature reminiscent of the Hulk. The mere idea filled him with dread and unease.
"Chief?" Boris's gaze pierced Wang Jun, his eyes gleaming with malice as a sinister smile spread across his face, revealing his yellowed teeth. "You have Chosen One too?"
"Chosen one?" Wang Jun's expression shifted. Though he didn't fully understand the term, he could already sense its weight and significance.
"They are the people who suddenly appear out of nowhere," Boris continued, his voice tinged with contempt and uncertainty. "They don't look like us, weak and thin, but we feel a sense of kinship with them. Of course, not the enemy's chosen ones, but our chosen ones. They were given that title by the elders because they were chosen to lead our tribe in ruling the world.
Wang Jun motioned for Draven to halt, his hand raised in a gesture of restraint. It was crucial to gather more information; he sensed that they might be facing a larger problem than they had initially anticipated.
"But let me remind you how shocked I was when I realized that the other tribes also have chosen ones, especially the larger tribes," Boris continued, his voice heavy with concern. "They must be reveling in their newfound power, and soon they might launch an attack against us. However, what I cannot understand is why our chief has only ordered us to attack one month later."
"Does your chief possess any sort of power or ability?" Wang Jun inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Power, huh?" Boris regarded Wang Jun thoughtfully, a smile playing on his lips. "Actually, if you weren't the chosen one and similar to our chief, we would have killed you. But we're unsure how the Chief would react if we were to harm one of his kind. So, we'll let you live. Of course, only you."
Boris then hurled his sword to the ground and commanded his followers to flee as far as they could. "Chosen ones possess power. I don't know what your power is, but I know it's dangerous. And I know you won't retreat. So, my choice is to capture you and bring you to the Chief."
"You asked about the power of our chief, our chosen one. I'll show you." Boris continued.
---------
Author notes:
As you may have noticed, my writing has started to change: the chapters are getting shorter, the action scenes feel rushed, and the quality isn't what it used to be. I'm a webnovel author, and as you might know, I'm relatively new to this. My editor advised me to reach 15 chapters by April 15th to participate in MGS and WIN WIN. However, it's already the 13th, and I simply can't write as quickly as a seasoned author. Consequently, I've decided to cut down the chapter length to 1,000 words each, even though my typical chapters are between 1,500 and 2,000 words. My editor suggested locking the 16th chapter, but it seems it's already too late for that. I've also noticed that many novels here lock their chapters at 30 or above.
Because I rushed through the chapters too quickly, the plot started to veer off course from my original plan. Some events, like killing off Wulfgar, weren't even part of the plan. As a result, my carefully crafted outline became useless, and all the effort I put into building Wulfgar's character sheet went up in smoke.
And then I realize, fucked that, this is my book.