Chapter 71: The dangers that lurk beyond

It was safe to say that traveling with the Typhon Tribe was pretty awkward. They didn’t know what each other liked, what inside jokes they had, or who the same people were, and they were clearly on edge after the recent battle.

Even the bugs were making fun of them by producing those loud noises that either warded off prey or acted as mating calls.

But in their heads, it sounded like, ’Get a load of those losers. You could kill with that silence.’

They were lucky that Kanan was creeped out by bugs. Luckily, the Stone Age side of him could remedy that fear, but the modern side of him still caused his body to jerk away from the hideous critters.

"Is it alright if I ask a question?" It seemed that Telah wanted to break the silence.

No one knew if they were thankful or angry at her for doing so.

"For whom?" Selin asked

"For you three Nemean Tribesmen."

Kanan shrugged while cutting some vines out of his way. "Ask away."

"Your name is Selin, correct?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"And you are a warrior? Or are you a hunter or Guard?"

"I’m a warrior." She grumbled.

"I see. You are a formidable warrior then, being able to contend with Tagah, empowered or not."

’A compliment? Haha! Yes! We’re getting somewhere!’ Though it looked like Kanan was happy, in truth, he was glad that no one was trying to kill each other.

His opinion on the Nemean tribe hadn’t changed, so he was still angry at them for the attack, but he wasn’t so heartless as to not understand why, or to know that there were innocents in their tribe.

Still, it would take a while for him to trust them. The only reason why he wasn’t being grumpy was that it wouldn’t get him anywhere. Since his god told him to take in the tribe and adopt them into their own, he wouldn’t give them a hard time just because of past grudges.

This didn’t mean that they would eat and sleep for free. Oh no, he had plans to work those bastards to the bone once they returned home.

"You as well, for fighting Elder Nala. She’s the most formidable warrior we have in the village." Selin replied

"I see. Thank you."

"Whatever." ℯℯ𝘭.

’It’s a start, and that’s better than nothing.’ Kanan thought to himself.

"Uh, Kanan?"

"That’s Shaman Kanan to you." Jol hissed.

Telah replied with a nod. "Right, Shaman Kanan. May I ask what your role is in your village? You’re young, and I see that you hold authority over many people."

Telah was completely different from what Kanan had remembered. Their first encounter was like a beast finding its prey, with the way she was trying to torment him alongside her foul mouth.

Now, she was docile and respectful.

"I’m the village Shaman. I’m sure you all have heard of that role before, right?"

"Indeed. It has been passed down in our clan that the village shaman of the Nemean tribe holds great power and would lead your people to a brighter future. This is why my ancestors killed the previous one."

Selin and Jol went on edge, but Kanan held up his hand to stop them.

"That’s correct. I’m basically a second village chief who also has the power to empower our people, similar to your late chief. My blood carries the blood of our god, so my descendants will be extremely powerful."

The three Typhon Tribesmen turned to Kanan, their eyes wide in shock. "The blood of Nemean?!"

"Surprised?"

"Y-Yes. We assumed we killed them all."

"Almost, but not quite."

"I see. A shaman and blood of Nemean. No wonder we lost."

Helgen couldn’t help but sigh in defeat. "I would have stayed home if I knew that we would be going against a Shaman who carries the blood of Nemean. Individually, a person of either of the two would be a huge threat, but to be both, man, what a bright future the Nemean Tribe will have."

Now Kanan wanted to know what type of chokehold his ancestors had on the Typhon Tribe in the past for their descendants to be speaking like this. He would have to ask the system later, as they had just exited the forest and were now looking at the mountain.

The group had barely stepped out of the forest when monsters attacked. They poured from the rocky slopes, screeching and crawling over one another as they rushed toward the six warriors.

"Helgen, Viren, form up!" Telah shouted.

The two Typhon warriors moved immediately, spirits gathering around their bodies as they joined Telah at the front. Selin and Jol followed, while Kanan stayed close enough to support everyone.

A long-limbed monster lunged for Viren, its body twisting unnaturally as it swung several claws at her. She blocked two, but a third caught her side and sent her stumbling.

Jol saw it happen, and he was close enough to help, but he simply turned away.

Kanan noticed and immediately dashed forward, striking the monster with a blast of spirit energy before helping Viren back to her feet.

"Thanks," she said.

"Stay close," Kanan replied.

Selin carved through a cluster of monsters with blazing strikes while Helgen unleashed lightning spirits against anything that got near him. Telah moved between them, her spear striking with enough force to knock creatures off their feet before finishing them.

Jol fought alone, freezing monsters as they attacked, but there were too many.

Three rushed him at once. He froze one, stabbed another, then barely blocked the third. More creatures piled onto him, forcing him backward.

"Garghh! Fucking beasts!" He groaned, feeling something bite his leg.

Before they could tear him apart, Telah slammed into them. Her spear swept through the group, knocking them away, and she finished the remaining monsters with a series of quick strikes.

Jol stared at her, and Telah looked him directly in the eyes. Neither said a word. She simply turned around and went straight back into the fight.

Jol stood there for a moment before tightening his grip on his spear. Then he followed. Together, the six warriors tore through the remaining monsters until the nest fell silent.

"What the hell was that? I’ve never seen monsters on this side of the mountain!" Selin was burning the corpses to ash to prevent the smell of blood from lingering.

Telah looked at Selin with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"There’s a hole in the mountainside toward the south of our village. That’s where the monsters usually pour in." Kanan explained.

"No, that’s not what I mean. What I mean to say is, you’ve never encountered monsters on the outskirts of your territory?"

"Besides beasts, no. Should we?"

"No. Those dangers only lurk beyond the mountain. So, the fact that they’re here means that they’re evolving!"

While Telah’s words could be true, there was something else that Kanan had hypothesized, something that scared him more than monsters evolving.

"Or they’re scared."