Outside the valley, amidst the flames above the sky, wisps of illusory, dark gas gathered together, then transformed into the shadow of a beast—the very image of the Tusked Armored Beast.

A wisp of phantom smoke emerged within the blazing flames, yet was not burned away, gathering at the very top of the fire, intertwining and once again taking the form of the Tusked Armored Beast.

The illusory beast shadow roared atop the sky, but could never escape the bounds of the flames.

Within the illusion, Ethan Brooks once again saw that deity standing atop a green dragon, the deity radiating a green light, accompanied by the sound of swallowing.

The phantom shadow of the Tusked Beast drifting above the flames was seized by an invisible force, traversed the void, and was drawn into the Totem Divine Pillar, where it was devoured by the totem spirit deep within.

Gulp, gulp.

It seemed as if it had been hungry for far too long; the phantoms drifting above the flames were devoured one by one, causing the green light of the Totem Divine Pillar to shine even brighter. Some tiny, thread-like cracks deep within the pillar began to heal under the nourishment of the green light.

At this moment, Ethan Brooks felt a warm sensation enveloping his entire body, as if he were wrapped in gentle warmth. He felt as though he had become the Totem Divine Pillar itself, standing tall within the cave.

The fire raged on, and all thirteen Tusked Armored Beasts within the blaze were reduced to ashes, giving rise to eleven illusory totem offerings—an outcome Ethan Brooks had not anticipated.

Samuel Reed stayed right by Ethan Brooks's side, never leaving him for a moment. When the golden crow rose in the east the next day, the green light around Ethan Brooks gradually faded. He opened his eyes and exhaled a long, turbid breath.

The ground below was charred black, devastated and scarred. Even though a firebreak had been set up in advance, the flames still spread outward. Fortunately, the clansmen cleared the firebreak again, preventing the fire from spreading deep into the mountains.

"Chief."

Seeing Ethan Brooks open his eyes, Reed hurriedly called out.

Turning his head slightly, catching the eagerness in Reed's eyes from the corner of his eye, Ethan Brooks couldn't help but let a faint smile curl at his lips.

See? Your chief is still your chief—just a little trick, and over a dozen Tusked Beasts are gone.

Chapter 10: The Chief Is Secure

Under Reed's reverent gaze, Ethan Brooks waved his hand grandly and said to Reed, "Let's return to the tribe."

Having taken down more than a dozen Tusked Armored Beasts, and by a stroke of luck performed a totem sacrifice, he had far exceeded the originally set goal.

"Chief."

"Leader! Leader!"

...

Passing through the narrow gap into the valley, Ethan Brooks was immediately surrounded by clansmen, all staring at him with wide eyes—some with awe, some with burning excitement.

To take down over a dozen Tusked Armored Beasts in one go was something they had never dared to imagine. In the past, when faced with such a situation, they would always shut the gates and wait for the beasts to leave, since the tribe could not afford the cost of losing totem warriors.

This time, they had wiped out more than a dozen Tusked Armored Beasts without any loss at all.

"Leader!"

"Leader!"

Looking at the clansmen before him, their eyes burning with fervor, Ethan Brooks clenched his hand inside his tattered beast robe. Wasn't he risking his life just to gain the tribe's recognition?

If you want to stop risking your life, you have to risk it first. Heaven smiled on him—he survived the first step.

His gaze swept over the crowd squeezed in front of him, finally landing on Harris.

Seeing Ethan Brooks walking toward him, Harris instinctively shrank back a little.

"Chief—"

Smack!

Before Harris could finish, Ethan Brooks slapped him on the chest and said, "Call me Chief."

"I was calling you Chief..."

Harris replied with a bitter face, feeling quite hurt.

"Chief!"

That slap did the trick. Those who had been calling him "Leader" now all shouted "Chief" instead. Ethan Brooks was very satisfied—chiefs really are easy to talk to.

"Wu!"

At that moment, a voice sounded from the back of the crowd. The people quickly parted, and Grant appeared, prompting everyone to bow in respect.

"Wu."

Ethan Brooks did the same, greeting Grant as he approached. At this moment, he understood: Grant had stayed in the cave to give him a chance, and fortunately, he had seized it.

From the burning gazes of the surrounding clansmen, it was clear that this time, he had truly succeeded.

As a witness to the scene, Bishop cheerfully grabbed the beast-hide cord hanging from his hand, pulled off a bone ornament from a clansman's ear, and tied a knot in the cord.

Better make a note of this.

"Chief."

What?

A single word from Grant nearly made Ethan Brooks lose his senses.

Where am I? Who am I?

This happiness came too suddenly.

With that one word from Grant, it was settled.

"Awooo, Chief! Chief!"

"Chief!"

"Chief!"

"Awoo!"

...

As Grant's words fell, the entire tribe erupted in cheers. All the clansmen howled, surrounding Ethan Brooks and wailing like ghosts and wolves.

Though his head buzzed, Ethan Brooks grinned widely. With Grant's approval, the tribe was now firmly in his grasp.

Damn system actually cursed him to die? We'll see about that—I'm not dying.

Sigh, he could have lived to a hundred.

...

In the cave, Ethan Brooks sat cross-legged beside the Totem Divine Pillar. He could feel that the totem spirit within the pillar had gained a trace of vitality—clearly, devouring those Tusked Armored Beasts had not been in vain.