My hand dropped from Arwa’s head and I stood tall with a sigh. It wasn’t too surprising, but these indlovu didn’t care about who Bekizo or the Enkulu were, but I was a little surprised to see no reaction to Qaqambi or the Yegolide either. Even so, there were some positives with this latest raid by the Indlovu. I’d barely been able to convince Brutus, Ytte, and the rest of my “guards” to stay back while I faced this latest foe alone. With all my newly heightened [Skills], especially [Murderous Melody], I relatively easily stunned and slew this latest fool. He hadn’t spoken a word, merely striking out blindly and angrily with every swipe of his maul. As I’d hoped, the indlovu served as the final test for [Adversary] to advance, and I glanced over the updated [Skill] description.

[Skill: Adversary has evolved into Skill: Nemesis]

[Skill: Adversary; a passive Skill granted to those who have demonstrated their determination to conquer. This Skill grants an aura that incites weakness, aggression, and paranoia in those the Skill’s holder has deemed an enemy. This aura allows the Skill holder to more easily break the morale of those targeted. This Skill can evolve. Skill evolution requirements: Defeat a foe with a greater Stat total than yourself, without substantial support from any other creature. Progress: 10/10]

[Skill: Nemesis; a passive Skill granted to those who have demonstrated their ability to conquer. This Skill grants an aura that, more so than its predecessor, weakens those who the Skill’s holder has deemed an enemy. Additionally, this aura serves to break the will and mind of those targeted. When assisted by other Skills, Nemesis can permanently reduce its holder’s foes to gibbering messes. This Skill can evolve. Skill evolution requirements: Slay 5 tribal-level leaders or higher in individual combat before their subordinates. Progress: 0/5]

Though I’d never done anything otherwise, I did note that this new [Skill’s] evolutionary requirements required me to kill my foe instead of merely defeating them. And what made a pack or whatever “tribal”?

[A group of individuals must have a requisite level of intelligence to qualify as a tribe. Additionally, the number of individuals within the tribe must be at least 100 individuals.]

“It’s always a ‘certain amount’ or something when I ask about requirements.” I sighed. Even so, I understood the general point that it was getting at. Had to be “people”, or something like that. This new goal, however, would be more difficult than the last, given I’d have to get their leader to face me before their people. I had half a mind to give chase to the few indlovu that had attempted to escape from us, but with their uncanny ability to hide within the grasses that surrounded us, we’d lose much more than we gained. Instead, I refocused myself on my people. Our current predicament was not lost on me, and I wasn’t sure how to proceed.

Sybil approached me before I could lose myself in planning. “They understood the words you spoke.” She reported. “They do not appreciate who Qaqambi has selected, and consider him to be a wily foe. Those who survived were concerned about how Allatsu would react to the loss of several hunters, but they still believed that running to him would be the best option.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“That was the name of the chieftain Qaqambi spoke of, right?”

“Yes, Allatsu of the Linqata was the name.”

“Didn’t Qaqambi say that they were friends? Or allies, at least?”

Sybil cracked her teeth together in denial. “Not in my presence. He did mention that this is the land of the Linqata, but there was no mention of a preexisting relationship between the two indlovu, nor their peoples.”

I mused over what she said, and eventually asked, “How did they react to any commands you gave the wolfstags? Arwa wouldn’t have engaged without your command, I don’t think.” The wolfstag perked up at her name, her crown of antlers leaning heavily to the side as she measured me up. I gently scratched at the base of her antlers, just how she liked, and she leaned into the scritches.

“The indlovu became more quiet thereafter,” Sybil allowed, “But they did not seem to believe that I was one of their own. Some complaints about the Yegolide and their sneaky ways, but they didn’t regard anything we did with positivity or understanding.”

“Mmm.” I grunted, my tail flicking in agitation. “If they don’t think that we can understand them, then I think we can take their words to be the truth. If that’s the case, then Qaqambi may have sent us here specifically to anger or even damage their enemies.”

“That could be the case.” Sybil flared her frills. “I do not believe that his intent behind sending us to the Linqata lands matters as much as what we will do with at least partially aggressive natives here. I still believe that he did not mean any harm in any advice or information he provided, given the innately truthful attitudes and nature of his tribe. Even so, we could be in a more precarious position than I previously believed.”

“Well,” I hedged, the beginnings of a smile peeking at the corner of my mouth. My lips spread wide and exposed my fangs as I responded, “We do have certain things that we want to get, and Qaqambi seemed to think that we could find many more creatures to subjugate here in these lands. Perhaps, without engaging in any talks, we can claim innocence in anything we do that negatively impacts the Linqata.”

Sybil’s face quickly mirrored my own, a mischievous grin quirking the corner of her mouth. “If that is the case, there is something else that I believe I should do. Perhaps Joral and Shemira will help me locate one…”

[Chieftain Allatsu POV]

“Have your askari deserted you? You tuskless fools!” His mind smashed into those of his people, dozens swaying where they stood with the force of his impotent rage. “Our lands remain our own only by the grace of the Inkulu, and now you allow some worthless keelish to ransack our lands! How have you not located the earth-forgotten lizards that are robbing everything that walks?”

Allatsu raged more and more against his useless hunters, the ripples of his mind stunning the nearby children. With a trumpeting call of fury, the chieftain contained himself enough to stop damaging his tribe’s future. His heaving chest and rushing breaths did nothing to calm him, but Allatsu ground out his newest command.

“Find them. Bring their heads to me.”