LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe - Chapter 120

Chapter 120: Unaffected City
Lyerin soared through the early morning sky, his body cutting through the wind with incredible speed and precision.

The Mana flowing through him was potent, almost overwhelming, yet he wielded it with the ease of someone who had centuries of experience.

His senses were on high alert, attuned to the slightest disturbance in the air around him, ready to react to any threat that might emerge from the shadows.

The cities below him were nothing more than a blur, their outlines distorted by the sheer speed at which he traveled.

The city of horses—once a bustling metropolis, now a fortress brimming with tension—loomed beneath him.

Its walls were heavily guarded by Mana users from several powerful families, all of them on high alert as they prepared for the impending bloodbath that would decide the fate of their territories.

Lyerin’s sharp eyes caught sight of the guards, their auras flickering like small beacons in the dark, but they did not see him.

He moved too quickly, too silently, a shadow that passed over them without a trace.

If he had wanted to, he could have ended their lives in an instant, but the risk was too great. His tribe would be exposed, and the consequences would be catastrophic.

Nuclear bombs, advanced weaponry designed to eradicate entire populations of Mana users, would rain down upon them without mercy.

‘No,’ he thought, narrowing his eyes as he adjusted his flight path. ‘I can’t afford to be reckless. Not now.’

His body twisted in the air, the power of the sixth-cycled panther Mana beast thrumming through his veins.

The sheer force of it was staggering, a raw, untamed energy that should have torn him apart from the inside.

Any other Mana user would have been obliterated by such power, their bodies unable to withstand the strain. But Lyerin was different.

He had lived through countless years, each one leaving its mark on him, hardening him against the dangers of the Mana that he now wielded.

To him, the sixth cycle mana was nothing more than a tool, a means to an end, and he used it with the same ease with which he might wield a dagger or a sword.

For three hours, he flew across the sky, faster than a fighter jet, a streak of dark energy that defied the laws of nature.

The landscape below him changed, shifting from the ruined cities and wastelands ravaged by the Eldritch to greener pastures, to places where the air was still clean and the people lived in peace.

The sun had fully risen by the time he reached the neighboring city, its rays casting a golden hue over the rooftops and streets below.

Unlike the other cities he had passed, this one was untouched by the chaos that had consumed the world.

The buildings stood tall and pristine, their windows gleaming in the sunlight.

People moved about the streets, going about their daily lives as if the apocalypse had never touched them.

There was an eerie calm about the place, a stillness that set Lyerin’s teeth on edge.

‘This city is too clean,’ he thought, narrowing his eyes as he began to descend. He couldn’t simply enter it, not without drawing unwanted attention.

He needed to find a way in, a way to remain unnoticed until he found what he was looking for. His mind raced, calculating his options as he scanned the outskirts of the city.

As he neared the ground, he saw a massive truck approaching the city gates, its engine rumbling as it came to a stop.

The vehicle was heavily armored, its metal plating reflecting the sunlight in sharp, blinding flashes.

Surrounding it were military soldiers, their weapons at the ready, their eyes sharp and alert as they barked orders at one another.

Lyerin dropped to the ground, landing silently behind a cluster of trees. He pulled his aura tight around him, effectively rendering himself invisible to any Mana user within range.

From his hidden vantage point, he watched the scene unfold.

The truck rumbled to a stop just outside the gates, its massive tires kicking up a cloud of dust.

The soldiers swarmed around it, their voices harsh and commanding as they directed the driver to park the vehicle.

The tension in the air was palpable, a thick, oppressive force that pressed down on everyone present.

“Park it there! Watch the wheels, damn it!” one of the soldiers barked, his voice cutting through the noise. He was a burly man, his face set in a permanent scowl as he waved the driver into position. “Move it! Move it!”

The driver, a thin man with a nervous expression, nodded frantically as he maneuvered the truck into place.

The vehicle’s massive bulk creaked and groaned as it settled, the engine sputtering to a halt.

The soldiers wasted no time, surrounding the truck with military precision as they prepared to inspect its contents.

“Open the back!” another soldier ordered, his voice sharp and authoritative. He stepped forward, his rifle slung across his chest as he motioned for the driver to comply.

The driver hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering to the soldiers before he reluctantly moved to the back of the truck.

His hands shook as he fumbled with the latch, his fingers slipping on the metal.

Finally, with a loud clang, the doors swung open, revealing the interior of the truck.

Several figures stepped out of the darkness, their forms silhouetted against the light.

They moved with a confidence that set them apart from the nervous driver, their steps sure and deliberate as they descended from the truck.

Lyerin’s eyes narrowed as he watched them, his senses prickling with recognition.

These were no ordinary people—they were Mana users, their auras pulsing with a power that marked them as something far more dangerous than the soldiers who surrounded them.

“Line up!” the soldier commanded, his voice ringing out as he gestured for the newcomers to fall into place. “We need to check you before you can enter the city.”

The Mana users exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable as they moved to comply.

They formed a line in front of the truck, their stances relaxed, almost bored, as they waited for the soldiers to complete their inspection.

The tension in the air grew thicker, the soldiers clearly uneasy as they approached the line of Mana users.

The power radiating from the group was unmistakable, a reminder of the delicate balance that existed between those who wielded Mana and those who relied on conventional weapons to protect themselves.

The soldiers were trained to deal with Mana users, but it was clear that they were outmatched, their bravado hiding a deep-seated fear.

One of the Mana users, a tall man with sharp features and a cold, calculating gaze, stepped forward.

He was dressed in a dark, tailored suit, his appearance immaculate despite the rough journey he had just endured.

His presence commanded attention, with his aura that seemed to thrumm with a barely contained power that made the soldiers take a wary step back.

“Enough,” the man said, his voice calm but filled with an authority that brooked no argument.

The soldiers hesitated, their eyes flickering between the man and their commander.

The tension was palpable, the air thick with unspoken threats.

For a moment, it seemed as though the situation would escalate, the fragile peace shattering under the weight of the Mana user’s defiance.

But then the commander, a grizzled veteran with a hard-set jaw and a scar running down the side of his face, stepped forward.

His eyes narrowed as he sized up the man in the suit, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “You’ll follow our procedures, Mana user, just like everyone else,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “We don’t care who you are or where you come from. In this city, you follow our rules.”

The Mana user’s eyes flashed, a flicker of something dangerous passing across his features. But then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by a cool, detached expression. “I don’t think you understand,” he said, his tone icy. “I am not just any Mana user. I am a dignified member of the Veloran family, and I demand to be treated with the respect I deserve.”

The words swang in the guards like a knife, sharp and cutting the chopping board.

The soldiers stiffened, their expressions hardening as they prepared for a confrontation.

The tension was at its breaking point, the situation teetering on the edge of violence.

Lyerin watched from his hidden vantage point, his mind racing as he took in the scene.

This was a delicate situation, one that could easily spiral out of control if not handled carefully.

The Veloran family was known for their power and influence, their members feared and respected across the land.

If this confrontation escalated, it could have far-reaching consequences, not just for the soldiers but for the entire city.

However, to Lyerin, the Veloran family is nothing but a pest in the Borgias.

The commander’s eyes narrowed further, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. “Respect is earned, not demanded,” he said, his voice a low growl. “And in this city, you’ll earn it the same way as everyone else. Now, line up and let us do our job.”

The Mana user’s gaze hardened, immediately, his aura flared with a sudden burst of power that made the soldiers take an involuntary step back.

For a moment, it seemed as though he would push the issue, and would force the soldiers to back down through sheer intimidation. But then, with a barely perceptible sigh, he relaxed, his aura receding as he stepped back into line.

“Very well,” he said, his tone clipped. “But know this—I will be reporting this treatment to the Council. They will hear of how you treat a member of the Veloran family.”

The commander didn’t respond, one could see his expression were unreadable as he signaled for the soldiers to proceed with their inspection.