- 15.
After Nicole and the werewolf left, I couldn’t shake my unease.
“Kaelan, I’m worried they’ll team up with other tribes and come back to attack us. We need to be careful,” I said, voicing my concerns.
Kaelan’s golden eyes gleamed coldly. “I wish they would try.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”
His expression softened as he turned to me and explained, “Lily, the White Tiger Tribe
isn’t strong enough to protect everything you’ve brought to us. If we don’t expand and grow,
others will eventually come to take it all.”
“So, it’s time for us to expand our territory.”
He paused briefly, then added, “I’ll lead the male warriors into battle. Until it’s safe, you need to stay here in the tribe and avoid leaving.
His words surprised me. I hadn’t expected him to think so far ahead.
Realizing a direct war could lead to unnecessary casualties, I quickly offered an alternative. “If we go to war, people will get hurt. Instead of fighting, why don’t we use the
technology and knowledge we have as leverage? If other tribes are willing to join the White
Tiger Tribe, we can share these advancements with them. Shared benefits can unite even
beastmen.”
Kaelan’s eyes
lit up at the
at the suggestion. He nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. “You’re right. I’ll give it a try.”
Kaelan didn’t waste any time. He gathered a team of male warriors and set out.
Two weeks later, he returned with warriors and leaders from two smaller tribes.
When these newcomers saw the abundant food, the sturdy shelters, and the thriving state of the White Tiger Tribe, their faces lit up with joy. Kaelan had kept his word–he offered them the benefits of joining without hesitation.
:45 Fri, Jan 10
67%1
Over time, more and more tribes began to merge with us.
However, Kaelan was no fool. Each time a new tribe joined, he carefully selected a portion of their strongest fighters to accompany him on his expeditions.
The new recruits assumed this was a sign of trust, believing Kaelan had fully accepted them into the White Tiger Tribe. Their loyalty grew stronger, and soon, they were willing to risk their lives for him.
Six months later, Kaelan led a group of warriors to a nearby beastman city to trade for supplies.
That’s when Nicole returned–with the Lion Tribe.
She stood beside the Lion Tribe’s chieftain, leaning against him as though she owned the world. Her smug expression was unbearable as she looked down at me.
“Lily,” she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. “I told you–you’ll never be better than me. This time, let’s see where you can run!”
I glanced at the hundreds of young, strong warriors from the Lion Tribe behind her and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Of all the places to start a fight, they had to come to the White Tiger Tribe’s home.
I raised my hand, and immediately, sharp wooden spikes coated in iron tips appeared along the defensive walls of the village.
From the high towers, massive trebuchets–each requiring the strength of at least two beastmen to operate–were quickly set into position.
The Lion Tribe’s chieftain froze, his face paling as he took in the sight.
He turned on Nicole, grabbing her by the throat. “You said they’d be easy to crush!”
Nicole clawed at his hand, desperately trying to breathe. “I didn’t know!” she choked out. “How was I supposed to know they’d change so much in just six months?!”
The chieftain released her, still glaring. He tumed back to me, his voice cold. “Kaelan isn’t
22:45 Fri, Jan 10
The Lion Tribe’s chieftain froze, his face paling as he took in the sight.
He turned on Nicole, grabbing her by the throat. “You said they’d be easy to crush!”
Nicole clawed at his hand, desperately trying to breathe. “I didn’t know!” she choked out. “How was I supposed to know they’d change so much in just six months?!”
The chieftain released her, still glaring. He turned back to me, his voice cold. “Kaelan isn’t here, and most of your warriors are gone. Do you really think these weapons will be enough to stop us?”
But before he could take another step, his confidence was shattered.
Kaelan returned, leading the very warriors the Lion Tribe thought were absent.
Caught between Kaelan’s forces and the White Tiger Tribe’s defenses, the Lion Tribe didn’t stand a chance.
The battle was short and brutal.
As the Lion Tribe collapsed under the onslaught, their chieftain, enraged by their defeat, grabbed Nicole and snapped her neck without a second thought.
With their leader dead, the remaining members of the Lion Tribe surrendered unconditionally.
As was tradition among beastmen, the defeated tribe became slaves to the victors. The Lion Tribe’s warriors were now tasked with the hardest, dirtiest jobs in the White Tiger
Tribe.
This outcome didn’t go unnoticed by the other tribes that had willingly joined us. Watching the Lion Tribe’s humiliation, they couldn’t help but feel relief.
They were grateful their leaders had had the foresight to surrender early. Because of that, they were treated as equals, enjoying the benefits of the White Tiger Tribe’s innovations without the shame and hardship of servitude.
