Chapter 9 – Tribe

The noise from the explosion was still echoing in the valley.

Sai and the other members of the Du’Shalan tribe were looking at Drake in shock.

Never before had they seen someone as strong and more importantly more ruthless then the wild magic beasts. It was like they had never met a true beast before, as they watched the blood dripping from the edge of the crater.

“Blood and bones…!” Sai whispered in shock. He had underestimated Drake. He hadn’t thought that the, on first sight, weak looking creature was this ruthless and cruel.

“He is even stronger than I thought…If he decides to become our enemy….” Sai thought and a cold shiver ran down his back. He turned away from Drake and looked at his tribe mates, which were all watching the destruction caused by Drake in shock and horror. To his surprise Sai realized that they were not only looking at Drake as if he was a monster, but on him too.

It seemed like they weren’t recognizing him and warily tried to move as little as possible.

“Guys! Its me, Sai!” Sai said to all the surrounding tribe members while slowly standing up from the ground. As soon as he moved, half of the surrounding crocodile men hurriedly jumped back a few meters. Sai looked at them in surprise and decided to try it again.

“It really is me…I got…well you could say I got a blessing, which changed my body slightly. This small dangerous looking guy over there with the silver eyes, well…how can I say this…he really is not an evil creature! He even saved me and we swore an oath afterwards! You have to believe me!” Sai explained and a loud growl came from deep in his body.

No reactions. It was like he had talked to a wall. All of a sudden, Sai heard a faint crackling sound behind him and turned around. Drakes silver eyes had become blue again, which in fact, wasn’t even a little bit better than the silver eyes and the white scales slowly merged into his body again. After a few moments there were no more scales on his body and Drake looked around him with a low chuckle.

“It seems like I might have overdone it. Slightly…!” Drake said with a low voice, but because he was talking in the language of the tribe, everyone nearby could understand him clearly. Gasped were heard everywhere in the crowd and the eyes of the observers got even bigger and more fearful. What was this strange small creature?! How could it be so strong?! Almost all of them stepped back again as Drake leaped out of the crater, landing next to Sai.

Both sides were looking at each other, no one broke the silence. If someone would see this, he would think all of the people were unbelievable lifelike statues.

‘Drip…drip….drip….’

The dead birds slowly bled out and the dripping of blood was the only sound that could be heard. After a moment, which felt like an eternity, a smaller crocodile slowly split the crowd, walking to the front. The crocodile stopped three meters in front of Drake and Sai, observing Sai carefully. Drake, in turn, also observed this crocodile. One couldn’t really say that it was small, as it was at least a head taller than Drake and had a lot wider body. The scales, which covered its body were pale grey and dull. The eyes were filled with wisdom. A few breaths later, the old crocodile seemed to discover something and an excited and hopeful glint appeared in his eyes.

“Sai! Are you really…him?!” the old crocodile said slowly and doubtfully, squinting its yellow reptile eyes. It seemed too good to be true, as the tribe had thought that he had died already. It was not that they wished his death, but that Sai was just too reckless. He wanted to become strong. So he had left the tribes village to hunt on his own. And everyone knew that one member of their tribe, even if it was Sai, was no match to the countless evil beasts in this world. They had long since believed that he ended as food for a bigger beast.

“Yes…! I am me! Sai! I went out to hunt and you probably declared me dead, but I really slayed a Mal’mar! Unfortunately, on my way back to the village, I got attacked by a Zecais…-!” a huge gasp was heard from the surrounding crowd and horror and shock could be seen in every single pair of eyes. The Zecais were the rulers of this valley, no one could rival them, except the flaming birds. The birds wouldn’t bother with the Zecais though, which meant their undangered ruling over this place.

“..- and almost died! I managed to hurt it, but it was not enough and as I was ready to meet my ancestors…he appeared out of no where, ramming the Zecais away from my body!” Sai talked excitedly and pointed at Drake, who was watching the surrounding crocodiles calmly.

The old crocodile shifted his gaze to Drake and observed him closely. He had never seen a creature like this, small but muscular body, curled fur on its head and a face with a strange white thing on it. It looked like the creature had an open bone on his face, with a demonic grin engraved into it. What was even more unusual and surprising, was the tattoo on the creatures fore arm, which looked like a scorpion tail. Somehow the pattern seemed to be alive and as the old crocodile watched it closely, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his eyes. With a shocked gasp he jumped back.

“Bloodline…technique? No….impossible…this creature doesn’t look like a scorpion at all…” the old crocodile muttered and Drake, who heard the voice of the old man, willed his soul energy into the tattoo, activating it with a blending green flash. The crocodiles, which couldn’t see it clearly during the fight, were shocked as they realized that the ghostly tail, floating above the forearm of the strange creature, seemed indeed to be a bloodline technique.

“I engraved it into my arm myself…It is in fact a bloodline technique!” Drake said calmly and watched the old crocodile.

“That is not possible! You are not a scorpion! And first of all…what do you mean ‘I engraved it myself’?!” the old crocodile said and sat down on the ground as he was too shocked to stand longer.

“You are right! I am not a scorpion, in fact I am not a beast either. I don’t really know what I am now, but I once was human…” Drake said and knelt down in front of the crocodile.

“And to the question of engraving it myself…I really did it! I won’t tell you how though, because to tell you the truth, I’m not really trusting you yet!” he said in a low voice.

“Its true! I saw…-“ Sai started to talk, but remembered the strange memory transplanting and more importantly, the imparting of Drakes bloodline to him. He decided to change his sentence and for the time being, he would conceal the things that happened with Drake.

“…- I saw him engraving! And even more, he gave me power too! Look!” Sai said and with a thought the red glowing spikes appeared on his back and elbows.

“Holy shit…” the old crocodile whispered and almost fainted. He had already seen something glowing red on the body of Sai during the fight, but he took it for the flames of the birds.

“I am very sorry I doubted you, stranger! Let me introduce myself: My name is Tysahisscyth-Ita Du’Shalan and I am the elder of this tribe!” the old crocodile said while standing up and patted his chest in greeting.

“Tysah…what?” Drake asked confused and tried to remember the strange name the crocodile told him.

“Hah…you can call me Ita then, as everyone does…” the old crocodile sighed and looked slightly sad.

“Very well Ita! My name is Drake Cal’anar Du’Shalan and I am the successor of the Taran’Kha!” Drake said with somewhat proud voice while patting his chest.

“You are named…Du’Shalan? How come?” Ita asked doubtfully and a little angered.

“My bad, my bad! Drake and I swore the oath of brotherhood and I gained his clan name and he gained mine! We are technically brothers…” Sai said hurriedly and twisted his big mouth into a somewhat proud smile, which looked slightly disturbing.

Ita, who looked at Drake in a strange way, nodded and the anger in his eyes vanished.

“So be it…from this day onwards you are a member of this tribe! Seeing how strong you are, you will directly be appointed as a warrior!” he said and a sly grin appeared on his face.

Drake somehow had the feeling that he got cheated and his gaze turned somewhat bitter. At the same time a warm feeling swarmed through his body, and Drake felt like he was in the right place. Perhaps this tribe can become his home, his family.

“Well…its not like I have anywhere to go anyway…I might as well stay in this tribe…” he thought and slowly lifted his hand. He placed it on his chest and looked into Ita’s eyes.

“I, Drake Cal’anar Du’Shalan, vow that I will protect this clan with all I have!”

Ita looked surprised at the actions of Drake, but shortly after he smiled again and looked relieved. Before he could say something to Drake the whole crowd of crocodiles behind them roared loudly and as they turned around to look at them, they saw excitement, hope and pride in the eyes of the tribe members.

“Hahaha! That’s the spirit! You are now a full member of the Du’Shalan tribe! Welcome!” Ita laughed loudly and happiness appeared in his eyes. With Drake and Sai, who were extremely strong, the tribe wouldn’t have to fear total annihilation anymore and could grow. And if Drake really could engrave bloodlines…then the Du’Shalan tribe would grow unimaginably strong.

“Let’s start rebuilding this place!” Ita said and wanted to turn around, but Drake held him back.

“No…let’s move to a completely new area…This place is filled with blood and bad memories! This place is unsuitable to become our tribe’s home! We have to move one, finding a place that is suitable to our needs!” Drake shouted and the former happy atmosphere instantly vanished, leaving only silence behind. Ita slowly turned around to Drake and looked him sternly in the eye.

“How?”