The roar of victory echoed across the battlefield. With the death of the alpha wolf, the remaining wolves, now leaderless, faltered. The successive setbacks had shattered their offensive. They scattered, retreating into the shadows of the forest.
The tribal warriors guarding Ethan Drake erupted in cheers, their voices ringing out in relief and exhilaration. The tension of staring death in the face had left them shaken, but now they basked in the joy of survival—and triumph over the wolves.
Meanwhile, the barbarian tribe stood in stunned silence. Every pair of eyes was fixed on Rio Drake, their expressions a mixture of awe and disbelief. To them, he wasn't a man—he was a monster, a force of nature they couldn't hope to challenge.
Even the barbarian leader found his thoughts tangled. His gratitude for being saved clashed with the deep unease stirred by Rio's overwhelming power.
Yet, Rio himself seemed unaffected by the admiration—or fear—he inspired. After letting out a roar of victory to release his emotions, he immediately strode back to Ethan, dragging the body of the wolf he'd slain behind him.
Ethan's lips quirked in a small, satisfied smile as Rio approached. This was exactly why Rio was the first warrior of Mirror Tribe. Waving a hand to signal his warriors, Ethan's commanding tone cut through the cheers. "Enough celebrating. The battle isn't over yet."
The warriors fell silent, the mood shifting as they remembered their unfinished task. All eyes turned toward the barbarian leader and his men, who now stood stiff and uneasy. The warriors of Mirror Lake advanced as one, their movements deliberate, intimidating.
The barbarian leader tightened his grip on the massive wooden club in his hands, stepping back instinctively. His men mirrored his unease, knowing full well that a fight was suicide. Rio, with his devastating strength, was enough to crush them alone. But even Ethan, who appeared scholarly and mild, had proven himself deadly, ripping a wolf apart in front of their eyes.
Ethan stepped forward, his voice calm but laced with authority. "Since we joined forces against the wolves, I'll give you two choices."
His gaze swept over the barbarians, then shifted to Rio. Placing a hand on Rio's broad shoulder, Ethan spoke again. "This is the first warrior of our tribe. I'll give you a chance—one-on-one combat. If any one of you can defeat Rio, I'll let your tribe go free."
The barbarian leader flinched as if struck. He knew full well what Ethan was doing, and the offer might as well have been a death sentence. No one could take Rio down, not even with several men fighting him at once.
Muttering under his breath, he cursed Ethan. "Who'd fight this monster willingly?"
The barbarians exchanged glances but remained silent. None of them stepped forward, their fear outweighing any sense of honor or courage.
Ethan's smirk widened as he caught their hesitation. "I thought as much." His tone sharpened as he delivered the second option. "Then here's your other choice—drop your weapons and swear loyalty to me. Surrender, and you'll live."
The barbarian leader froze, knowing the truth of those words. This wasn't an era where tribes survived alone. Stronger tribes swallowed weaker ones. It was a cruel, practical reality.
Finally, with a heavy exhale, the leader loosened his grip on his weapon. The wooden club slipped from his hands and landed in the snow with a dull thud. The sound was a surrender, one that rippled through his men. One by one, the barbarians laid down their arms, bowing their heads in submission.
**System Notification:** *Congratulations to player 'Ethan Drake' for successfully conquering the first barbarian tribe. Rewards: 300 Civilization Points, 5 Military Points.*
**System Notification:** *Do you wish to keep the barbarian tribe at its current location?*
Ethan didn't hesitate. "No." The location was unsuitable—no water, no abundant resources, nothing but snow and sparse timber. His tribe, Mirror Lake, had just begun. Splitting resources to maintain a second settlement here was out of the question.
He signaled James Drake, his trusted aide, to assess the situation. James led a small group to check the barbarian tribe's remaining population. The women and children, who had been hiding in tents, were fortunately unharmed. Adding the captured warriors, their total numbers reached forty-seven—slightly more than Mirror Lake.
Satisfied, Ethan instructed the group to gather the bodies of the slain wolves as they began their march back to Mirror Lake.
On the journey, Ethan occupied himself by reviewing the captured tribe's status. Loyalty was crucial—his fledgling tribe couldn't afford unrest or betrayal. Thanks to his 'Ruler' talent, every new member had a default loyalty boost of ten points. Most of the barbarians showed a loyalty score above 75, with a quarter even reaching 80.
What caught Ethan's attention was the barbarian leader's loyalty—it stood at 84. Ethan deduced it stemmed from saving the man during the wolf attack, a debt the leader couldn't ignore.
Still, Ethan couldn't help a twinge of disappointment as he checked for exceptional talent. None of the forty-seven barbarians had a growth potential above three stars. His luck from earlier victories seemed to have run dry.