Chapter 117: The Gaze of the Great Lord
Kellar shifted his attention to the newly unlocked skills menu and selected [Eyes of the Tribe Lord].
The schematic overhead view of the management mode transformed into a vivid, real-time projection. His consciousness hovered high in the sky, allowing him to observe every corner of his territory with astounding clarity, as if an invisible falcon were gliding over the hills.
He could see the dying embers of the massive bonfires in the courtyard, the former captives resting beneath blankets in the shelters, and the hunters stationed atop the watchtowers. Kellar stood marveling at the reach of this new tactical skill; there would no longer be ambushes or enemy movements capable of escaping his oversight.
However, as he focused his gaze on the main plaza, he noticed something peculiar. Krag, who was walking back to his quarters, came to a dead stop in the middle of the snow and raised his head directly toward the position where Kellar’s invisible sight hovered. The veteran hunter furrowed his brow, squinting up at the night sky in obvious confusion.
"What the hell...?" said Krag in a whisper, running a hand over his bald head as he scanned the dark clouds.
Moments later, Kellar shifted his focus toward the perimeter of the forest, where the night guard hunters were patrolling the palisades. The second his gaze settled upon them, two of the veteran trackers froze in place and gripped their dagger hilts, looking upward with wide eyes. Their instinctive senses were so sharp that they could perceive the weight of the divine eye watching them from above.
Kellar deactivated the divine sight skill and slid his finger across the holographic screen to select the next reward: [Slot for Tribe Familiar].
Upon touching the icon, a new drop-down window appeared before him with the sole option of [Add]. Kellar selected the button, and the interface displayed the silhouette of Freyja, the small cat that had accompanied him since his first days in this world. Having no other animal available in the registry, he pressed confirm without hesitation.
A flash of crimson light illuminated the workshop table. A second later, Freyja materialized, sitting on the cold wood. His previously normal pupils now glowed with an intense and mysterious red color.
The system emitted a metallic chime as the notification unfolded before Kellar’s eyes:
[Tribe Familiar has been added. Any tribe member can communicate with it, and from now on, the familiar will act as an extension of your consciousness. Familiars can be summoned by any tribe member to speak with you at a distance.]
Kellar extended his hand and stroked the feline’s head, feeling a faint psychic link vibrate between his mind and the creature.
"Interesting," said Kellar in a low voice, observing the reddish glow in the animal’s eyes. "So you’re no longer just my pet, but now any member of the tribe can seek you out to speak with me no matter where I am."
Freyja tilted his head and stared at Kellar with his glowing red eyes.
"It seems I now have a bond with everyone," said Freyja, his soft voice resonating directly inside Kellar’s mind. "How strange, I didn’t know such a thing was possible. However, none of them have a scent quite like yours."
"Don’t be mean to them, and treat them well," said Kellar, smiling faintly as he stroked the feline’s back. "With your new power, I can feel safer leaving you here to watch over them all."
Without wasting any more time, Kellar slid his finger across the interface to examine the final reward: [Tribe Guardian on the way!].
It was a rather strange message. However, the instant he pressed the option to confirm it, a series of panicked shouts and alarm horns began echoing across the entire settlement.
Kellar bolted out of the workshop to see what was happening. Upon reaching the central yard, the frozen ground vibrated beneath a series of massive footsteps. From the tree line, a colossal beast covered in blood-red fur was charging at full speed toward them. It was a giant red bear, twice the size of any predator they had ever seen.
The hunters stationed on the palisades panicked. Krag and Brak readied the mounted crossbows and explosive bolts, aiming directly at the beast’s head as they prepared to open fire.
"Hold! Hold!" shouted Kellar, sprinting into the open yard to place himself directly between his hunters and the creature.
The imposing beast skidded to a halt a few meters away from Kellar, kicking up a dense cloud of snow and vapor. The hunters held their breath on the walls, their fingers trembling over the triggers of the heavy crossbows.
"He is the envoy of the Bear God!" shouted Kellar, raising his hands firmly to show he carried no weapons. "Do not fire!"
The great bear tilted its massive head covered in crimson fur and slowly approached. It released a hot huff through its nostrils that ruffled the shaman’s hair and began sniffing him with curiosity, recognizing the Totem’s divine essence emanating from his body. Satisfied, the colossus dropped its hindquarters and sat tamely on the snow, staring at the human like an obedient guardian.
A murmur of wonder swept through the entire tribe. Krag slowly lowered his crossbow, swallowing hard at the sight.
At that instant, a holographic screen floated before Kellar’s eyes:
[Grant a name to the Tribe Guardian]
Kellar observed the beast’s imposing figure, its eyes glowing like burning embers.
"From today onward, your name shall be Ignis," said Kellar, reaching out his hand to stroke the thick fur over the animal’s snout.
[Name successfully registered: Ignis!]
Ignis let out a low growl of satisfaction that made the ground vibrate. At that moment, Lennis and several hunters approached cautiously dragging a wooden litter bearing a giant river fish they had caught that very morning.
"Let’s see if this satisfies him..." said Lennis, dropping the massive fish in front of the beast.
The bear snapped up the giant fish in a single bite and began devouring it with hunger. As it swallowed the mass of flesh, an intense crimson aura wrapped around its body, and the creature began expanding right before everyone’s eyes. The fur on its back grew denser, and its claws lengthened until the creature reached a colossal height of five meters tall, dwarfing the men surrounding it.
Seeing the Guardian’s imposing majesty and insatiable appetite, Kellar turned to the villagers.
"Bring all the fish we have in the storehouses!" shouted Kellar, raising his voice so it echoed across the yard.
The builders and hunters rushed to the larders bringing whole baskets and giant fish without pause. Ignis devoured one after another with delight until he finally let out a loud burp of satisfaction that shook the snow off the roofs, resting his five-meter head on the ground to sleep contentedly.
"It seems our Guardian is finally full," said Kellar, chuckling softly as he patted the gigantic beast’s side.