Night falls.
The bright moon hangs high in the sky, casting its silvery glow over the lush green plains of the Indian subcontinent. The air is thick with tension as a tragic war unfolds beneath the celestial light.
A simple tribal settlement, constructed of wood and mud, is engulfed in chaos. Flames rise into the night sky, and the sounds of clashing weapons and war cries echo through the air. Two groups of warriors are locked in a fierce battle.
One group is clad in black armor, wielding sharp blades that gleam coldly under the moonlight. Their movements are precise, their formation unyielding, as if they possess the ability to see clearly in the darkness.
The other group, dressed in animal skins and armed with a variety of crude weapons, looks disoriented and confused. They seem to have been caught off guard, as if they had just awakened to find their home under attack.
The black-armored soldiers are a force to be reckoned with. Their discipline, coordination, and superior weaponry make them far more formidable than the tribal warriors. Even though the tribal fighters are defending their home and are more familiar with the terrain, they are steadily losing ground.
The battle rages on for a quarter of an hour, and nearly a hundred tribal warriors have already fallen.
"Your chieftain is dead! Lay down your weapons! Those who surrender will be spared!"
A towering figure, standing over two meters tall and clad in black armor, steps into the light. In one hand, he holds the bloodied head of the tribal chieftain, a grim trophy of their victory.
The tribal warriors are thrown into disarray. The death of their chieftain, a man of great strength and respect, shatters their morale. Many of them, already overwhelmed by the invaders' might, are on the verge of dropping their weapons and surrendering.
But then, thoughts of the coming winter give them pause. Winter is not far away, and if their food stores are taken, they will surely perish from starvation. The smarter among them tighten their grips on their weapons, whispering to their comrades, urging them to fight to the death to protect their food.
At this critical moment, another figure emerges from the ranks of the black-armored soldiers. He is a young man, no older than twenty, with a slender yet strong build. Unlike the towering warrior who had displayed the chieftain's head, this young man exudes a calm and commanding presence.
"Chieftain," the black-armored soldiers murmur respectfully, making way for him.
The young man, Sujay Rao, steps forward and addresses the tribal warriors with a reassuring smile. "We will not take your winter food stores. If you surrender, I promise you will not go hungry. In fact, you will have a meal of meat every three days."
The tribal warriors are stunned. Murmurs ripple through the crowd as they digest his words. Not only will they be allowed to keep their food, but they will also be given meat regularly? This is an offer too good to refuse.
Their will to fight wanes further. Many of them are not even native to this tribe; they were captured from other clans and forced to serve here. If the Night Tribe, as they call themselves, can offer them a better life, then surrendering might not be such a bad idea.
"Who are you? Can you truly speak for the Night Tribe?" a sharp-eyed warrior calls out.
Sujay Rao replies confidently, "I am the leader of the Night Tribe, and my word is law. If you join us, you will become part of our family. Look at my warriors—they are no stronger than you, but they have better weapons and armor. That is why they prevailed. If you join us, we will equip you with the same arms and armor, and you will become as powerful as they are."
His words strike a chord with the tribal warriors. The desire for strength burns within them, and the Night Tribe's superior equipment is something they deeply envy. They believe that, given the same tools, they could stand toe-to-toe with the Night Tribe's warriors.
As for the ordinary tribespeople, their concerns are simpler. They just want to survive and have enough to eat. In these harsh times, that is already a blessing.
All eyes turn to the tribe's elder, a wise old man who has served as their spiritual guide. The elder looks around at the desperate faces of his people, then at the imposing black-armored soldiers. After a moment of hesitation, he makes his decision.
"We surrender," the elder says, his voice heavy with resignation. "But I implore you, great leader of the Night Tribe, to keep your promise and treat our people well."
Sujay Rao nods, a smile spreading across his face. "You have my word. The Night Tribe's reputation is known throughout the Black Soil Plains. From this day forward, we are one family, and I will treat you as my own."
With that, the tribal warriors slowly lower their weapons, their resistance finally broken.
"Vijay," Sujay Rao says, turning to a trusted lieutenant, "I leave this place in your hands. Ensure that everyone is brought back to the Night Tribe safely."
"Of course, Chieftain," Vijay replies with a bow. "I will see to it that no harm comes to them."
Sujay Rao mounts his black stallion and, with a hundred soldiers at his back, gallops away along the riverbank. His mind is already racing ahead, eager to check the rewards promised by the system.
[River Overlord: Annexed the Garuda Tribe and the Nandi Tribe, becoming the dominant force near the Red River. (Completed)
Rewards Obtained:
One thousand acres of spiritual land (location can be chosen freely)
Seeds of the Spirit Gathering Tree
Architectural blueprints for a Second-Level Cavalry Camp (Divine Realm)
Architectural blueprints for a Second-Level Infantry Camp (Divine Realm)
Blueprint for the Dark Saber
1,000 units of world origin energy
[System Notification: Congratulations on unifying the surrounding tribes. The City of the Gods has been unlocked. Divine Communication System unlocked. Plane Detection System unlocked...]
[System Notification: You are the 16,876th deity to enter the elementary realm. Rewards: Small Magic Crystal Ore1, Small Blood Crystal Ore1, Small Dark Crystal Ore*1 (Choose one)]
[System Notification: As this is your first time entering the elementary realm, you will be under system protection for one month (main world). Other deities are prohibited from invading your plane. Note: If you actively invade another deity's plane, system protection will end immediately.]
(End of Chapter)