HPDBC Chapter 361 - 361: Fuel
Chapter 361 - 361: Fuel
At sunrise, the camp was filled with the low hum of restless murmurs.
The soldiers, still smarting from their failed hunt, gathered near the central fire, their expressions a mix of frustration and desperation.
The chill of the morning air did little to cool their rising tempers as they exchanged heated words, their voices tinged with bitterness.
"This is pointless!" one soldier exclaimed, his arms flailing in frustration.
He was a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, his voice booming loud enough to rattle the nearby tents. "We've
"Lyerin!" he called out, his voice filled with barely restrained anger. "We need answers!"
The flap moved, and out stepped Lyerin, his crimson eyes calm and unbothered.
His presence alone was enough to silence the group momentarily, their anger briefly tempered by the unsettling aura he carried. But the moment passed, and their grievances spilled forth like a dam breaking.
"Why are you doing this to us?" the tall man demanded, his voice shaking with emotion. "We've done everything you asked! We built this tribe for you, followed your every order, and now you're making us jump through hoops just to use the portal? Why?"
Another soldier stepped forward, her fists clenched tightly. "And why does the portal only work for your so-called tribe members? What makes them so special? Aren't we the ones who made this place what it is? Don't we deserve to go home too?"
Lyerin raised a hand, silencing them with a simple gesture. His gaze swept over the group, his expression unreadable.
For a moment, he said nothing, letting the weight of his presence settle over them like a suffocating fog.
"You misunderstand," Lyerin finally said, his voice smooth and measured. "It's not that I don't want to send you back to Earth. The portal isn't some magical doorway that works on mere whim. It is… an engine."
His words hung in the air, confusing the soldiers. They exchanged puzzled glances, their anger momentarily replaced by curiosity.
"An engine?" one of them asked hesitantly.
Lyerin nodded, his crimson eyes glinting in the dim morning light.
"Yes. Like any engine, it requires fuel to operate. In this case, that fuel comes in the form of mana beast cores. The stronger the core, the more energy it provides. Without sufficient fuel, the portal cannot function."
The soldiers stared at him, their expressions a mix of disbelief and frustration.
"But we can't find any beasts!" someone blurted out. "There's nothing out there! How are we supposed to power the portal if you've already wiped them out?"
Lyerin's lips curved into a faint smile, but he said nothing, his silence only fueling their suspicions. The soldiers' frustration bubbled up again, their earlier anger reigniting.
"This isn't fair," one soldier muttered, her voice trembling with emotion. "You're keeping us trapped here on purpose, aren't you?"
Lyerin's gaze flicked toward her, his smile widening just enough to send a shiver down her spine. "Fairness," he said softly, "is a matter of perspective."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the soldiers to stew in their frustration and uncertainty.
They watched him go, their minds racing with questions and doubts. For all their complaints, they knew one thing for certain: they were playing Lyerin's game, and he was the only one who knew the rules.