The Crimson Star Tribe's perimeter faded into the forest behind them as Enzo issued his order. Without hesitation, the combat team dispersed, melting into the jungle with practiced silence.
The enormous silver-backed bear—Betta—lumbered after Enzo, clearly intent on joining the group. But Enzo halted, turning on it with a cold glare. "Stay put, Betta. Take another step, and you'll lose your shot at power—forever."
The beast let out a low, wounded growl and, with clear reluctance, sank down onto its haunches.
Watching the exchange, Clara smirked. "It's got remarkable intelligence. You keep helping it evolve, and I wouldn't be surprised if it breaks through into an extraordinary beast in under ten years."
"Ten?" Enzo blinked, genuinely surprised.
Clara let out an amused sigh. "Yeah, that's fast. You really don't know how rare fast advancement is among beasts, huh? It takes them decades sometimes, even with perfect conditions. And for us humans, becoming a totem warrior? That's just as hard. You need a supernatural creature's essence, sure—but the real bottleneck is in nurturing the totem fire. Even a big tribe like Golden Oak only manages to form one solid totem flame a year."
The others listened with rapt attention. Meanwhile, Enzo was quietly digesting the information, a strange look flickering across his face.
He recalled the moment he had used the Boar King's essence to awaken Tia's power. At the time, the fire in the tribe's brazier had transformed completely—pure totemic flame. And judging by how much had been used, it could've equaled the life force of a hundred people.
It hadn't seemed that difficult.
Which meant either the Crimson Star Tribe's fire was unusual—or he was. More likely, it was the leaf totem itself. When he first communed with it, it had shone with vibrant, shifting hues unlike anything in Sovita's inherited records.
That realization lingered in the back of his mind as Clara suddenly lifted her hand, motioning for everyone to slow down.
"We're close."
Enzo glanced up and saw it—a dense grove of bamboo ahead. They advanced with care, taking care not to make a sound. They hadn't come to pick a fight. All Enzo wanted was a single stalk, maybe a whip of it—enough to replicate with divine arts.
Of course, plans rarely went as expected.
They were lucky to have Amy with them. With her sensitivity to danger, surprise encounters could at least be anticipated, if not avoided.
Venom Tribe – The Swamp
Far from the Crimson Star camp, Jessica—silver-haired and breathless—burst into the Venom Tribe's marshland sanctum, sprinting across a raft to the central dwelling.
"Grandmother!" she cried. "Betta's gone!"
The woman she addressed, aged and serene, sat calmly among bamboo mats. This was Lucy—Priest of the Venom Tribe.
Unlike other tribes scattered across the Barren Mountain, the Venom Tribe was small. Barely fifty souls. Most of them women. Few men remained, and even fewer ever came from outside.
Lucy listened without alarm. She held her granddaughter's trembling hand and said gently, "It's alright, child."
Then she closed her eyes.
After a brief moment, she called out, "Rita—go greet our visitors. They're in the bamboo grove now."
Rita looked startled, but bowed and moved to obey.
Jessica stared, stunned. "How could they have followed me here?"
In response, Lucy opened a pouch hidden in Jessica's robe—a faint yellow powder spilled out, lightly aromatic, yet nearly undetectable to an untrained nose.
Jessica froze. Her heart sank.
Lucy did not scold her. Jessica had grown up sheltered in the marshland. Her lack of caution was understandable.
Besides, she was Lucy's heir—next in line to take the priesthood, should the bloodline remain unbroken.
At the Edge of the Marsh
Enzo crouched low among the bamboo, carefully harvesting what he needed. Behind him, Tia and Clara stayed alert, eyes sweeping for signs of movement.
They'd nearly finished when a woman emerged quietly from the shadows.
"Honored guests," she said politely. "Priest Lucy would like to meet with you."
Enzo exchanged a glance with Amy. "Any danger?"
Amy's eyes narrowed slightly. "No. It feels... calm."
Enzo nodded. "Alright. Show us the way."
They followed Rita into the Venom Tribe's heart—an ethereal place, straddling land and water. Bamboo huts rested on floating platforms. Walkways connected them like bridges across the bog. Around them, hundreds of hand-crafted items—woven baskets, racks, flutes—showed the tribe's ingenuity.
Tia's mouth fell open in awe. Clara said nothing, but her eyes gleamed.
Enzo, however, was preoccupied. These people weren't savages. They had structure. Knowledge. Discipline. This was a community with history.
When they reached a wide bamboo raft in the center of the marsh, Lucy welcomed them with grace. They were offered seats and a platter of wild fruits.
"Please," Lucy said. "Enjoy our harvest. A gift from the marsh."
Enzo thanked her but cut quickly to the point. "What do you need from us?"
Jessica answered for her. "Return Betta."
Enzo raised his brows. "The bear? It chose to stay with me. I didn't take it."
"Liar!" Jessica snapped.
Lucy's voice sliced through the tension. "Jessica. Mind your tone."
She turned her attention back to Enzo and gave a long, thoughtful look.
"In all my years," she said, "I've met many priests. Many warriors. But none like you."
Enzo blinked. "You've seen the Barren Mountain?"
"I've seen beyond it."
Lucy stood and retrieved a bundle of carved bamboo slips from a small case. The scripts etched onto them were unlike anything Tia, Clara, or Amy had seen. They leaned forward, astonished.
"Priest Lucy," Clara asked carefully. "Is this the ancient script of the Barren Mountain?"
Lucy nodded. "It is. Passed down from a tribe long gone—once the rulers of this entire region. Some of their knowledge was preserved. These are fragments of that past."
She met Enzo's gaze and added, "If you'll help us, I'll give these to you. And teach you to read them."
Jessica looked as if her heart had been pierced. "Grandmother!"
Lucy ignored her, eyes never leaving Enzo.
He frowned. "What's the price?"
"No price," she said with a smile. "In fact, it may benefit you as well. I want you to bear a child with Jessica. If she becomes pregnant, I'll reward you even more generously."
The raft fell into stunned silence.
Enzo looked at her like she had spoken nonsense. "You're serious?"
Lucy's eyes shimmered—faint gold light dancing within. She stood straighter than before, and her voice carried power.
"Jessica is my granddaughter. Her mother was from the archipelago. Her father, the greatest totem warrior of the Golden Oak. But even with all their strength—none of them compare to what I see in you."
She paused.
"You carry a force that isn't inherited... not taught... but awakened. A true totem."