LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe - Chapter 389

Chapter 389: Giant Snake
The trembling of the ground seemed to intensify with every passing second, the vibrations coursing through the floating island like the heartbeat of some ancient entity awakening from a deep slumber. Small fragments of stone and dust began to dislodge from the terrain, cascading like a warning heralding the approach of something massive. Then, as suddenly as the tremors had escalated, they began to even out, subsiding into an eerie stillness.

It was the calm before the storm.

The air around them grew thick, as if nature itself was holding its breath. The tension became suffocating, wrapping around their group like an invisible shroud. The girls huddled closer to Lyerin, their eyes scanning the horizon for the source of the disturbance. Even the Pig Orcs, usually so formidable and unshaken, stood rigidly still, their weapons ready but unmoving, their gazes sharp and fixed on the distance.

Then it emerged.

From the far edge of the floating island, the earth seemed to split apart, crumbling to reveal a monstrous form rising from the depths below. A towering serpent slithered into view, its massive, coiled body shimmering in the dim light with scales as dark and glossy as obsidian, reflecting faint hues of purple and green. Its sheer size defied reason; the creature was impossibly large, each shift of its body creating waves of movement across the ground as if it were commanding the very earth to tremble beneath its might.

The giant snake raised its head high into the air, its elongated neck stretching toward the heavens as it surveyed the surroundings. Its eyes gleamed like molten gold, sharp and intelligent, exuding an aura of ancient malice and primal dominance. The sharp curve of its fangs glinted menacingly as it opened its mouth slightly, releasing a faint hiss that reverberated through the air like a predator’s promise.

Its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the atmosphere, testing the air.

The sound of its tongue tasting the wind was disturbingly quiet, yet it carried the weight of immense danger. A soft, repetitive “shhhht” filled the silence, a rhythmic and predatory cadence that sent shivers through everyone present. With each flick of its tongue, the giant snake seemed to gather information, narrowing its golden eyes as though it were honing in on the tiniest details.

The girls barely dared to breathe, their gazes fixed on the terrifying creature. Maria clutched Cornelia’s sleeve tightly, her knuckles white with fear. “What…what is it doing?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“It’s smelling us,” Lyerin murmured under his breath, his tone quiet but firm. His eyes remained locked on the snake, his sharp features tense with concentration. He raised one hand in a subtle motion, signaling the Pig Orcs to remain still. “Do not attack,” he said softly, his voice barely audible but carrying an undeniable authority.

The Pig Orcs complied immediately, their massive bodies unmoving despite the primal fear radiating from the beast before them.

Sophia, unable to take her eyes off the snake, whispered urgently, “Shouldn’t we—”

“Silence,” Lyerin interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The giant snake slithered further onto the island, its massive body undulating with a hypnotic grace that belied its terrifying power. Every movement sent ripples of tension through the ground, and with every flick of its tongue, the atmosphere grew heavier. It moved slowly, methodically, as though it were savoring the moment, testing the environment, and determining whether the group before it was prey or merely an annoyance to ignore.

The situation grew more precarious with each passing moment. The longer the snake lingered, the more oppressive its presence became. The air seemed to thin, each breath feeling like a laborious task as fear gnawed at the edges of their minds.

Lyerin’s sharp gaze never wavered. He raised his hand again, signaling the girls and the Pig Orcs to prepare but remain silent. With subtle gestures, he conveyed his orders: do not engage unless he gave the signal, be ready, but do not provoke.

The girls exchanged uneasy glances but obeyed without hesitation, their trust in Lyerin overriding their terror. Cornelia gripped her weapon tightly, her knuckles whitening as she fought to control her trembling. Lydia silently mouthed a prayer, her wide eyes fixed on the serpent. Emily stood rigidly still, her breathing shallow but controlled, her fingers twitching near the hilt of her dagger.

The tension was almost unbearable as the giant snake continued its slow, deliberate movements. Just as it seemed to lose interest and began turning away, its massive head stopped mid-motion. Its golden eyes narrowed, and its tongue flicked out again, tasting something new.

The group’s collective breath hitched as the snake froze completely, its head slowly swiveling back toward their direction.

Its gaze locked on them.

The stillness was almost unbearable.

The air felt like it had turned into stone, pressing down on everyone present, making every breath a deliberate effort. The massive snake, its obsidian scales gleaming faintly under the strange light of the floating island, stood completely still, its colossal body coiled but ready to strike. Its golden eyes burned with an unsettling intelligence, locked onto the group, dissecting them in silence.

The faint sound of its tongue flicking in and out broke the oppressive quiet, a delicate “shhhhht” that somehow carried the weight of a thousand storms. The massive serpent didn’t move a muscle beyond this, yet its presence alone seemed to dominate the entire space. Its stillness wasn’t that of indecision, but rather the terrifying patience of a predator.

Lyerin stood at the forefront of his group, utterly motionless, his sharp features set in a calm yet focused expression. His eyes didn’t waver, didn’t blink, locked in an unspoken contest with the enormous beast. His hand rested subtly at his side, ready to move at a moment’s notice, yet frozen in its readiness. To the untrained eye, it might seem as though nothing was happening, but those who truly knew Lyerin would understand—his mind was a maelstrom of calculations, strategies, and possible outcomes.

Behind him, the girls huddled together, their breaths shallow and strained. Each one of them was on edge, feeling the crushing weight of the moment.

Cornelia had her hands clutched tightly around her weapon, though it trembled slightly under the pressure of the situation. Her normally stoic demeanor was cracking ever so slightly, her lips pressed into a thin line as her eyes darted between the snake and Lyerin.

Maria stood rigidly still, her wide eyes fixed on the serpent with a mix of awe and terror. She shifted her weight ever so slightly, the softest creak of her leather boots sounding deafeningly loud in the suffocating silence.

Lydia, normally the calm and serene one, had her head tilted slightly downward as though in prayer, her fingers clenching and unclenching the folds of her skirt. Her lips moved silently, whispering a litany under her breath as her gaze remained fixed on the ground, avoiding the snake’s terrifying eyes.

Fiona and Natalie stood side by side, their knuckles white as they clutched their weapons. Fiona, ever the protective one, positioned herself slightly ahead of the others, her stance firm but betraying a deep unease. Natalie, normally brimming with confidence and energy, was pale and quiet, her gaze darting nervously.

Emily, standing at the farthest edge of the group, seemed to be the most visibly shaken. Her breathing was erratic, her chest rising and falling quickly as she struggled to maintain composure. Her fingers twitched near her blade’s hilt, but she dared not draw it, fearing it would provoke the beast.

Sophia was at the center of the group, her normally vibrant energy now dampened by the oppressive atmosphere. She stood as still as the others, her hands balled into fists, her jaw clenched tightly as though physically holding back her fear. Yet her gaze was unwavering, focused not on the snake, but on Lyerin, as though drawing strength from his calm.

And then there were the Pig Orcs.

The massive creatures, so fearsome and indomitable in their own right, stood like statues at Lyerin’s command. Their glowing eyes flicked occasionally toward the snake, but otherwise, they didn’t move an inch. Their weapons were poised, their muscles taut, ready to spring into action, but they held their positions without question.

The stalemate stretched on, every second feeling like an eternity.

The snake made no move to attack, its gaze shifting lazily between each member of the group, as though savoring their terror. Yet it didn’t retreat either. It seemed to enjoy the tension, the fear radiating from the group like a palpable force.

The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional soft flick of the snake’s tongue. Lyerin’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly, his posture unchanged, his breathing steady. He didn’t speak, didn’t motion, yet his presence alone seemed to hold the group together, a singular point of calm in the storm of terror.

The longer the moment dragged on, the heavier the weight on their shoulders became. Sweat beaded on foreheads, breaths became shallower, and muscles began to ache from holding tense positions for so long. Every sound, no matter how faint, seemed to reverberate a hundredfold in the oppressive silence—the faint rustle of leaves in the distance, the soft creak of a tightening grip on a weapon, the subtle shift of boots on the uneven ground.

Suddenly, without warning, Sophia let out a soft gasp.

Her knees buckled, her body swaying as if the tension had finally become too much for her. Before anyone could react, she collapsed to the ground, her form crumpling like a puppet with its strings cut.

The faint thud of her body hitting the ground shattered the silence like a glass pane splintering into a thousand pieces. The girls gasped in unison, their heads snapping toward Sophia in alarm.

Lyerin’s eyes widened ever so slightly, and his fingers twitched as though to motion, but he held back, his focus still locked on the snake. The serpent’s golden eyes narrowed, its tongue flicking out again, tasting the sudden change in the air.