Suddenly, ignoring the angry looks from the shaman, the Ibex warrior leader, and the warriors, Lyerin began to curse endlessly. "Damn it! This is insane! What the hell is happening?" His voice rose in intensity, filled with frustration. "Why now? Why here? Of all times, of all places!"
The shaman, the leader, and the warriors were initially shocked by his outburst. But then they realized Lyerin wasn't looking at them. His eyes were fixed on something in the air before him, something they couldn't see.
Lyerin's tirade continued, his words a torrent of pent-up rage and disbelief. "I almost forgot about this damned ability! No, I refused to remember it because it was so utterly useless back then!" His voice cracked with emotion, and he clenched his fists.
"An overpowered ability wasted on counting sand! If it had been to level up sand, I could have controlled it, maybe become something formidable by using sand as a weapon. But no, it was counting! Counting sand! What kind of sick joke is that? It's useless!"
His voice echoed through the cavernous space, his anger reverberating off the walls.
The shaman, incredibly confused, with his face red with fury, slammed his staff onto the ground. "Enough!" he bellowed. "Why do you know so much about us? Speak!"
Lyerin's anger cooled, replaced by a steely determination. He locked eyes with the shaman, as if he was looking at their soul. His mind raced back to the moments before he encountered the tribe members.
He remembered his simple plans.
His first goal had always been to survive.
When he and the now-deceased kingdom Ibexes had pretended to desire the women of the Devil Horned Tribe, it was a calculated move. He had hoped to deceive the tribe's shaman, warrior leader, and warriors into thinking he and the others were nothing more than foolish outsiders trying to infiltrate their ranks.
If they had not put on that act, the warriors would have likely killed them outright.
Lyerin knew his screams of wanting their women had been crucial.
It had made the tribe members see them as objects of ridicule like a frog wanting to devour a swan rather than immediate threats.
After all, they respected their women so much, who are they to just want their women!? They deserved to be mocked and humiliated before they die one by one!
And after that, Lyerin's second plan was simple: deal with them or threaten them using the Borgias family name and leave this place be.
But now, standing there with the mysterious system screen flashing before him, he felt a shift within himself. His unique ability, which he had thought wasted, had been accidentally used on this tribe.
The power to level up anything had been activated, and he could even feel the potential of what Lyerin could achieve by using his ability.
'I accidentally have chosen everything in the Devil Horned Tribe as my target to level up infinitely," he mumbled. 'Does that mean that I could level up everything, like the army, warriors, healers, women, their combat ability, the deliciousness of the women, the taste of the food, and even the environment of the tribe!?'
Lyerin knew how his ability works. If others had to take a long time to reach a higher level or master something, he just needed to complete a simple, specific task in order to level it up.
For example, to count the grains of sand in his hands, some would need to count them one by one, but he didn't need that. He just needed to jump or complete a mission, and immediately, the grains of sand would be counted and the total would be displayed in the Eldritch system screen.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Lyerin would make a hearty laugh, an uncontrollable laugh!
"Hahahahhahaha!" "Hahahaha!" "Hahahaha!" "Hahahahahhahah!"
It was never ending.
The shaman, the warrior leader, and the warriors watched him with bewilderment.
"Is he crazy?! Or going crazy!?" they all thought.
Suddenly, Lyerin would focus his attention on them again, and saw their uncertainty, their doubt, and probably knew what was in their head.
He didn't mind.
'This tribe, these people—they were now a part of my destiny. Perhaps it was fate, or perhaps it was my own stubborn resolve to make something of myself. However, I know that I would not walk away from this.'
Soon, Lyerin's voice cut through the tense silence. "You want to know why I know about you? It's simple. I am Lyerin Borgias, and I was once part of the Borgias family. My goal was to survive, to use any means necessary to ensure my safety. But now... now I see a different path."
The shaman's eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?"
Lyerin ignored him and took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the gathered tribe members. "I have decided to join you. To become a part of your tribe and use my abilities to help us all grow stronger. Together, we can achieve things you've never imagined—No! I will make sure you all will achieve things that you can never imagine bwahahaha!"
The shaman, the leader, and the warriors exchanged uncertain glances.
This human really sounds crazy!
Lyerin's declaration was like a blade that came from the heavens, as if it made a massive explosion upon its impact.
He finally had made his decision. His past regrets and failures would no longer define him. He would forge a new path with the Devil Horned Tribe, one that could potentially change their fates forever.
All the possible dangers in his heart disappeared in an instant!
Meanwhile, Lyerin's sudden change in demeanor puzzled the tribe members. His earlier calm and confidence had given way to a crazy, almost unpredictable personality.
The shaman, incredibly suspicious, stepped closer, his eyes boring into Lyerin's entered being. "You speak of joining us, but how can we trust you? How do we know you won't betray us?"
Lyerin met his gaze without flinching. "Because I have nothing left to lose. My life in the kingdom is over. They cast me aside, and now I have a chance to make a new life here. My ability to level up everything... I will use it for the good of this tribe. I will help you become stronger, more powerful."
The shaman's eyes narrowed. "And what do you gain from this?"
Lyerin's gaze was steady. "A place to belong. A purpose. The chance to prove myself. And perhaps, in time, your trust and respect."
The shaman, still wary, would look at the tribe members. Suddenly, all of their eyes would release a glint, full of malevolence.
They have no idea what is happening, but Lyerin seemed to went crazy, maybe due to the huge pressure of them, threatening him, but still, they didn't care.
Nodding at each of them, the Shaman finally spoke. "Very well. We will give you a chance. But know that we will be watching you closely. One wrong move, and you will face our wrath."
Lyerin would find it weird at first, but he's so high right now so he just inclined his head in acknowledgment without thinking that much. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
After all, can he blame himself? He could finally use his ability!!