Chapter 118: The Might of the Tribe
Kellar reached his hand toward the interface’s floating screen to inspect his new Guardian’s attribute panel. Upon pressing the silhouette of the gigantic carnivore, a series of crimson data unfolded before his eyes:
[Tribe Guardian: Ignis]
Strength (STR): 200
Dexterity (DEX): 50
Recovery (REC): 300
Intelligence (INT): 10
Kellar stood stunned as he looked at the numbers. The animal was a walking fortress; its attributes made it clear that its greatest virtues were a terrifying brute force and an almost impenetrable physical endurance.
Uneasy with the comparison, Kellar slid his finger across the screen and opened his own status sheet to evaluate his personal growth following the recent battles:
[Tribe Leader: Kellar]
Strength (STR): 164
Dexterity (DEX): 93
Recovery (REC): 70
Intelligence (INT): 67.5
Tech Points: 0
Tribal Evolution Points: 4380
His physical and mental attributes had increased enormously since his arrival in this world. Observing the balance of over four thousand Tribal Evolution Points, Kellar furrowed his brow in silence, wondering in which section of the interface or on what kind of upgrades he could spend such an accumulated amount.
Finally, he directed his gaze toward Freyja, who continued watching him with his mysterious red eyes. Curious to see the changes in the creature after being named the Tribe Familiar, Kellar tapped the feline’s icon to open his panel:
[Tribe Familiar: Freyja]
Strength (STR): 200
Dexterity (DEX): 400
Recovery (REC): 100
Intelligence (INT): 45
Kellar was in shock upon reading the data. Freyja possessed the exact same immense strength as the five-meter giant bear, but his speed and agility were out of this world. His only weakness was a moderate endurance, though Kellar was entirely certain that with four hundred points in dexterity, it would be virtually impossible for an enemy to even touch the feline in combat.
Kellar stared at the floating numbers with his mind racing at a thousand miles an hour. The strength, dexterity, and endurance of these creatures made no sense under regular logic. Just how powerful was a being with three hundred recovery points? Could Ignis withstand the direct hit of a heavy crossbow shot? Or survive the point-blank detonation of a draconic gunpowder charge?
At that moment, Kellar realized his own tactical mistake. During the last battle in the defile, he had fought while keeping his resources split into two separate fronts. He had relied the weight of the defense solely on modern technology, fire traps, and sulfurous smoke, leaving his own personal power in reserve. He possessed the ability to summon lightning and cast divine curses through the Totem, yet he had allowed the gunpowder to do all the work alone.
However, as he closely examined the status panels, a small detail in the upper corner turned his blood cold: beside Ignis’s name stood the label Lvl. 1.
A five-meter-tall bear capable of demolishing structures with a single swipe and devouring whole river monsters was merely a first-level creature on this world’s scale.
The image of the giant centipede with natural iron armor he had seen in the ash lands, as well as the shadow of the legendary Fire Dragon dominating the east peaks, flashed back into his memory. Would his gunpowder explosions even be enough to pierce the scales of a high-level monster?
"I can’t keep fighting as if magic and science were independent forces," said Kellar in a whisper, clenching his fists with resolve as he looked toward the mountains. "If I want to survive the true threats of this land, I must fuse my personal power with technology."
Footsteps over the snow pulled Kellar out of his deep thoughts. Several members of the tribe, led by his inner circle, had slowly approached the imposing colossus resting on the frozen ground.
"Shaman?" said Mila, stepping forward while glancing sideways at the massive crimson beast. "Is what the hunters are saying true? Does this giant beast now belong to our tribe?"
"It is," said Kellar, turning toward his people with a calm smile. "His name is Ignis. He is the Guardian sent by the Bear God to protect our territory and every single one of you."
Meli brought her hands to her chest, letting out a sigh of relief, while Maya stepped forward with a spark of curiosity in her dark eyes.
"A five-meter guardian..." said Maya stretching out a hand until touching the thick red fur. "He looked like a nightmare when he appeared in the valley, but now he seems as docile as a tired puppy."
Feeling the human touch, Ignis let out a deep, lazy snore that vibrated the snow around him, yet he didn’t move an inch. Encouraged by the colossus’s gentleness, Elia and Loria timidly approached from the other side, burying their fingers in the soft fur covering his huge ears.
"His hide is surprisingly warm," said Elia, looking up at Kellar with faintly blushed cheeks. "It’s almost like standing next to a workshop furnace."
"And his fur is so soft," said Loria, rubbing her cheek against the bear’s back while he continued sleeping peacefully. "With a guardian like this watching over us, no one in the mountains will dare attack us again."
Kellar observed the scene for a few moments longer before taking a step forward to address his group.
"Everyone go get some rest," said Kellar, offering a warm look to his women. "It has been a long few days, and there is still much to do."
Mila and the others nodded with calm smiles and began retiring toward the cabins, leaving Kellar alone in the yard with Krag and Lennis.
"Get everything ready with your people to depart tomorrow at dawn," said Kellar, turning toward Krag.
"Everything will be ready to take our new zone, Shaman," said Krag, though his eyes couldn’t pull away from the five-meter crimson mass sleeping peacefully a few meters away.
"He will stay here to guard the village while we are away," said Kellar, following the veteran hunter’s gaze with a confident smile. "Before, I was afraid of leaving this settlement without a main defense force, but now with Ignis present, I can go with you in total confidence."
Lennis stepped forward, adjusting the leather belt where his workshop tools hung.
"You will come with us, Lennis," said Kellar, looking at the craftsman. "We will set up the blast furnaces at the mountain base before returning. With the raw material from the mines and the knowledge of the new blacksmiths, we will leave that fortress churning out metal nonstop."
"It will be an honor, Great Shaman," said Lennis, bowing his head with enthusiastic resolve. "Tomorrow morning we will lay the foundations for the finest forge this valley has ever seen."