LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe - Chapter 396

Chapter 396: Silent tension
The vibrations from the core became more pronounced, sending ripples through the air. It wasn’t merely a sound but a feeling—a tangible thrum that coursed through their bodies, making their hearts beat in sync with its rhythm. The Pig Orcs shifted uneasily, their muscular forms tense as they exchanged uncertain glances. Even the girls, who had witnessed countless strange phenomena, couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease mingled with fascination.

The core’s hum deepened, transforming into a pulse that seemed to echo across the floating island. The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly, and the air grew heavy with an inexplicable energy. The light emanating from the core intensified, shifting from a steady glow to a pulsating brilliance that mirrored the beat of a distant, primordial heart.

“What… what are you doing?” Fiona whispered, her voice barely audible over the increasing vibrations.

Lyerin opened his eyes, their golden hue shimmering with an intensity that made it seem as though he were peering into the very essence of the world itself. “I am not doing anything the core does not already wish for,” he said cryptically. “This is its true nature—its purpose. It was not bound to the ground by weakness but by potential untapped. And now, we shall see that potential unleashed.”

As he spoke, the aura around his hands deepened, shifting from gold to a brilliant, radiant white. The core responded with an almost deafening pulse that sent shockwaves through the air. The Pig Orcs staggered slightly, their hulking forms struggling to maintain their balance under the increasing intensity. The girls instinctively stepped closer together, their breaths quickening as they tried to comprehend the magnitude of what was happening.

The core began to vibrate violently, releasing waves of energy that seemed to ripple through space itself. The surrounding air shimmered, distorted by the raw power being channeled into it. Lyerin’s hands remained steady, his expression calm yet focused, as though he were guiding an untamed force with the precision of a master craftsman.

And then, as if drawn by an unseen force, the vibrations grew stronger. The pulse was no longer just a sensation; it became a sound that resonated deep within their very souls. It was as though the core was speaking, not with words but with the raw, unfiltered language of power and potential.

The light from the core brightened further, casting long, flickering shadows across the island. The girls shielded their eyes, their hearts pounding in their chests as the core seemed to reach a crescendo. Its energy surged outward, creating a dome of light that engulfed them all. The Pig Orcs let out low growls of both awe and discomfort, their instincts warning them of the sheer power emanating from the object in their master’s hands.

“Lyerin,” Maria called out, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and awe, “what is this? What are you trying to do?”

Lyerin’s smile widened slightly, and without looking at her, he replied, “This is not something that can be explained. It is something that must be experienced. Watch, and you shall see.”

With that, he poured more of his aura into the core. The white light surrounding his hands began to take on hues of gold and crimson, swirling together in a mesmerizing dance of color and energy. The pulses grew even stronger, each one sending a shockwave through the ground that made the entire island tremble.

The core’s vibrations reached an almost unbearable intensity. The Pig Orcs, who had been bracing themselves, dropped to one knee, their massive hands gripping the ground for support. The girls clung to each other, their eyes wide with both fear and anticipation.

Lyerin remained unmoved, his focus unwavering as he continued to channel his aura. The more energy he poured into the core, the more it seemed to react, its light now pulsating like a miniature star. The ground beneath their feet began to crack, faint fissures spreading outward from where Lyerin stood. The air around them grew thick with energy, each breath feeling heavy and charged with power.

The pulses became so strong that the very fabric of the space around them seemed to distort. The girls felt as if they were standing at the edge of something vast and unknowable, a force beyond their comprehension. Yet, despite the overwhelming power, there was an undeniable beauty to the spectacle—a sense of harmony in the chaos.

Finally, the core let out a massive, resounding pulse that sent a shockwave outward, shaking the floating island to its foundations. The light surrounding it flared brightly, momentarily blinding everyone present. And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the vibrations ceased. The core floated gently in Lyerin’s hands, its glow steady and serene, as if it had reached a state of perfect equilibrium.

The silence that followed was almost deafening. Everyone stared at Lyerin, their breaths held, waiting for him to speak. But he said nothing, simply lowering the core and looking at it with a satisfied smile, as though he had just uncovered a secret hidden in the depths of the world itself.

The silence hung thick in the air, as though the world itself was holding its breath. Lyerin’s eyes lingered on the mana core in his hands, its soft, ethereal glow casting faint shadows across his face. The Pig Orcs and the girls remained utterly still, their gazes locked on the core, their hearts racing with a mixture of anticipation and dread.

Then, without warning, the mana core shuddered. A faint mist began to emanate from it, swirling lazily at first, like the first tendrils of a morning fog. These were not ordinary vapors but tiny, shimmering particles of mana, each glistening like a speck of stardust. The mist grew denser, and the particles began to spread outward, drifting through the air with an almost purposeful intent. The core pulsed gently in Lyerin’s hands, its rhythm matching the slow, deliberate spread of the mana particles.

The girls exchanged uneasy glances. “Lyerin,” Lydia whispered, her voice barely audible, “what’s happening?”

Lyerin didn’t respond. His gaze remained fixed on the core as if he were in a trance, his breathing steady and controlled. The mana particles continued to spread, filling the space around them. At first, they moved with the grace of drifting snowflakes, but soon their motion became more urgent, more deliberate. The air grew heavy, charged with an energy that made the hair on their arms stand on end.