Free Web NovelChapter 9: Chapter 9: The Right of Passage
After a quick breakfast of the hot root broth Maya had prepared, Kellar and his aunt finally stepped out of the primitive hut The morning air was crisp and biting, carrying the heavy scent of pine, damp earth, and woodsmoke Maya walked half a step behind him, her eyes scanning the dirt paths nervously, her long deerskin dress covering the voluptuous body Kellar had thoroughly claimed just moments before.
As they made their way toward the central gathering area of the Fire Bear Tribe, a sharp, familiar sound echoed directly in Kellar’s mind.
Ding!
The translucent blue interface snapped open in his line of sight, the sassy holographic white cat floating upside down right next to the new text blocks.
[Main Quest Triggered: The Right of Passage!]
[Objective: Complete the Adulthood Ceremony and secure the Rank #1 position among the new generation.]
[Time Limit: 3 Hours]
[Failure Penalty: Severe loss of Tribal Reputation and a 50% reduction in current Stamina.]
Kellar adjusted his gaze to read the next section.
[Rewards Disbursed Upon Success: +5 Strength, +2 Stamina, and +50 Tribe Evolution Points (Locked until Chieftain status is acquired).].
Well, five points of strength and two stamina... it’s better than nothing, thought Kellar, a confident smirk touching his lips If I’m going to take over this entire place, I might as well start by showing these cavemen who the real alpha is.
Taking no chances with his survival, Kellar paused for a brief moment to secure his gear He gripped the crooked, heavy Overlord’s Club tightly in his right hand, feeling its dense, metallic balance reassuring him He carefully rolled up the hideous, charcoal-drawn animal hide map and tucked it deep inside the waistband of his rough leather tunic Finally, he picked up the tiny, wrinkled red fruit—the Vitality Nutrient Potion that looked like a sad, deformed raisin—and hid it safely inside a secure fold of his shirt, patting it twice to make sure it wouldn’t drop out during a trial.
"Everything alright, Kellar?" asked Maya, noticing him adjusting his clothes.
"Perfect" said Kellar. "Let’s go see what the chieftain has waiting for us".
With his primitive starter pack fully secured, he picked up his pace, walking confidently toward the loud, chanting crowd gathering in the center of the village.
After walking for a few more minutes, Kellar and Maya finally reached the heart of the village The central clearing was sprawling and packed with noisy tribesmen, dominated by a massive, roaring bonfire But what caught Kellar’s attention wasn’t the crowd—it was the bizarre structure built right into the center of the flames.
Rising from the embers was a towering totem carved into the shape of a ferocious, roaring black bear with its jaws wide open.
Kellar stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening in genuine fascination The bear totem was the source of the fire Intense, blindingly hot flames were spewing straight out of the beast’s open stone mouth, illuminating the entire clearing Yet, despite being engulfed in the raging inferno, the dark wood of the totem wasn’t charring, cracking, or turning to ash It looked untouched, as if the supernatural fire couldn’t cause it a single bit of damage.
Holy shit, what kind of material is this? Kellar thought, his engineer brain immediately trying to calculate the thermal resistance of the wood That fire has to be at least 1000°C, but the wood isn’t even smoking This world definitely doesn’t play by regular physics.
"That is the Sacred Ember Bear" whispered Maya, leaning close to his shoulder, her voice trembling slightly with awe "Our tribe’s protector The Shaman says the fire inside it is the eternal life of our ancestors".
Kellar chuckled softly under his breath, keeping his gaze locked on the roaring monument.
"A wooden totem that breathes fire and refuses to burn... Fascinating" said Kellar, a sharp, calculating gleam in his eyes "Whoever engineered that thing definitely knew what they were doing".
Before Maya could ask what ’engineered’ meant, a sudden hush washed over the rowdy crowd The loud chanting and heavy thumping of tribal drums abruptly stopped The sea of brawny, leather-clad hunters parted down the middle, creating a wide path that led straight toward the blazing totem.
Walking down the center of the clearing was a towering, massive wall of muscle The man stood well over six and a half feet tall, his dark skin covered in jagged battle scars and a heavy cloak made from the thick pelt of a grizzly bear resting on his massive shoulders In his right hand, he casually carried a heavy stone axe that looked like it weighed as much as Kellar did.
His eyes were cold, sharp, and dominant as they swept over the gathered youths.
"The Chieftain" hissed Maya under her breath, stepping back into the shadow of Kellar’s shoulder, her body tense.
Kellar didn’t flinch He stood his ground, resting his lumpy, Iron-dense club over his shoulder as he stared right back at the giant leading the clan.
So that’s the current tiger on the hill, Kellar thought, his lips twitching into a cold, dangerous smile Enjoy the seat while it lasts, big guy I’m taking that spot sooner than you think.
