Grim Guard Tribe

"We're here... Welcome to Grim Guard Tribe! At least what's left of it..." Celo shortly said with faint traces of sadness after leading me up to the entrance of the Green Lizardmen Settlement.

I walked in under the crudely built wooden arch sporting large skulls of wolves or bears.

I gazed at the camp and saw...

Tents... Tents everywhere.

Four meters tall and five-meter long triangular tents composed of shabbily sewn together with animal furs or hides. Pitched up using long poles fashioned out of either pine or oakwood. The flaps lining a tent's entrance had no means of sealing it shut. Allowing easy entry or exit as a Lizardman could please.

Some tents were bundled up together. Indicating how those tents near each other have some close ties between them. Families. Lovers. Or even Best friends.

At least that was what Celo explained to me.

"As you can see. We are not the best builders. We only make what we need. In the designs and building sector. We Lizardmen admit defeat to you smooth kind." Celo laughed lightly. His earlier terrifying and serious demeanor had melted.

Revealing a friendly air emitting Lizardman.

His buddies had already parted from us with anxiety written in their faces.

I wonder what they're anxious about...

Nevermind... Just follow the cobblestone path...

On the way to our destination which was the barracks section of this messy camp filled with tents. Celo would explain to me about stuff and answer questions that I had.

"What year would Lizardmen awaken their classes?" This was a troublesome topic I needed to know. Their class awakening time frames should differ greatly from humans.

"At three years old. A three-year-old lizardman is the equivalent of a twelve-year-old smooth skin."

Yikes! So that means that three years for them is actually like twelve years for humans! They mature so fast.

"Uhh, so at what age do you guys reach adulthood?"

"At five years old. The equivalent of twenty years for humans. We grow fast. Grow fast and strong to survive the wilderness." Celo kept on answering all my stupid inquisitions without a care in the world.

Combining my knowledge about Lizardfolk and Celo's interview. My early impressions weren't that far off.

They live lives of a warrior. Sustaining themselves through hunting. Not knowing how to farm or fish. Unafraid of dying in battle as that was a form of glory to them. They are stubborn and headstrong too. Grief or regret wasn't known in their vocabulary. Strong. Brave... They have many good brutish capabilities.

But they suck at magic and building. Judging from this information. A Lizardman's attributes should be skewed towards the physical end. High tenacity. High strength. Medium Dexterity. Medium speed but shit magic-related stuffs.

A little insight into their history was... Common knowledge. Lizardmen got pushed to the forests and places teeming with monsters due to a certain kingdom's rapid expansion outwards.

Cain Village. Despite sitting at the outskirts of Twin forest was relatively safe thanks to the Lizardmen. Any small scale beast tide or wandering wild animals would be dealt with by a pair of scaly hands.

They have good physical stats after all... It would be no exaggeration to say that a seasoned Lizardman can survive a fistfight with a bear.

I really wish I knew the skill appraisal to see other people's stats.

I'm envious of their attributes...

"Hey, Celo. If we could trade classes then would you want my class?" I asked... Maybe Lizardmen like supporting others?

"Healers are for the backlines! The frontlines are where real men shine!" To which Celo just snorted and started flexing his muscles out of the blue.

Ai... Dumb brutes... It's a miracle. Truly that these Lizardmen are still alive if everyone thinks with muscles.

The children... They may be fine? The muscle and glory mindset should only surface upon adulthood right?

Don. Don. Don~

A heavy stone, medicine ball landed before my feet and I looked down. A small, three feet tall green lizard child ran after it and pick it up.

Our eyes locked. A pair of reptile eyes staring at a pair of human ones.

Aw. He's so cute!

"Fwihte mhe!" The little lizard wearing animal fur clothes dropped his medicine ball and ripped his clothes off. Revealing chiseled pecks and abs. Along with well-defined muscles. My mouth hanged open.

This... Are children this buff???

"Guahahaha! Don't mind the children. It's normal for them to be strong at a young age. You smooth skins are not bad actually. You have plenty of time to get strong like us! Possibly stronger." Celo reassured me and patted the flexing child away.

Damn... I really want to be strong! I want to have muscles again. I do not like spitting out magic or supporting people!

Celo stopped. I scanned his expression and it was of great unease.

"Celo you finally had the guts to come back huh?" A deep voice called out from the blue.

"C-Chief..." Celo stammered out a greeting and fell down to his knees.

I looked at the owner of the voice. Unlike the usual four or five feet tall Lizardman. This guy was considerably taller and even more Buff.

Seven feet tall. Towering amongst most humans and all of his Lizards. His long lizard snout and the head was topped off by half of an alligator's ash-colored skull serving as a helmet.

Muscles on the arms thicker than a man's thigh. Strong legs that seemed to support a mountain. And a long-ass two and a half meter tail. Clothed with light green scales that faintly resembled emerald.

Lizardman's attire was barbaric. A mix of thick fur, straps of leather. Bones tightly tied together to resemble bracers and two, large wolf skulls resting on his shoulders.

This guy wasn't just buff. He was frigging swole to the max.

I gulped at those meaty crossed arms. No doubt. They can rip my head off my body easily.

What ran through my mind was this guy's unmatched aura. He was a Lizardman. A strong warrior. And he was their chief.

A lord among savages.

"Chief! Celo admits his mistake!" Celo lost all semblances of a happy looking lizardman and he became serious again. Without hesitation. Celo lowered his head as he started kneeling on one knee. Like a knight before his Mad King.

"Good. Truly wonderful. As a captain of a small squad. All of you are expected to go out deep into the forest and hunt Wolves or bears. But this morning you not only ditched your job. Yet you also brought back a smooth skin into our tribe." Chief spoke in a deep voice. He was mad... Pissed. And I could even feel a bit of hostility falling down on me even though I was just a guest.

"This smooth skin swore on his family name to uphold a deal with the tribe!" Celo reasoned. He was nervous. Greatly so but he didn't forget to explain my circumstance and make me bow too.

"I see... Inform me of the details later. For now. Stay here in this cobblestone road. Squat for twelve hours straight with no breaks. Understood?" The chief roared. Celo nodded.

The large Lizardman scowled. "Are you a man or are you a woman? I can't hear you!"

"UNDERSTOOD CHIEF!" Celo roared and started squatting with his arms extended out.

Chief nodded and closed his eyes. Soon. He looked at me.

A stare from a small giant Lizardman with hate-filled green eyes was scary.

This aura. This imposing presence.

I feel like I'm gonna get my ass whooped.

"An enabler knowing healing arts. Since you swore on your family name then you must either be brave or foolish. Speak. What is it that you wish from my tribe?"

"Sir! I am here to uphold my end of the bargain with Celo for him listening to me and sparing my friend from harm! My healing arts are not the greatest but I am sure I could be of a little help around these parts! And I am here to discuss the missing sacrificial animal!"

Best be respectful...

We don't want a super fed Renekton beating our ass now, do we?

Silence ensued... Striking unease in me as I felt like a hungry predator was staring at me. Ready to pounce and tear me to shreds. No doubt. The Lizardman Chief is capable of doing that without breaking a sweat.

"Enter my tent smooth skin. There may be unsavory ears listening if we were to discuss here." The lizardman chief turned and walked away with a fast speed that he looked to be as if running.

I sighed in relief. Wiped my sweat and looked at Celo squatting to the side.

"Forget going to the barracks. Follow the chief! Go on without me! I am just reaping what I sowed!" Celo spoke with conviction.

What a man.

Good luck with your twelve-hour squat then.

With a heavy heart. I pursued the Lizardman Chief... I'm worried and tired. It's already past Lunch and I haven't even eaten something yet except for the breakfast I cooked up for me and Ray.

I looked around. The forest was unusually quiet except for the loud sounds of clashing metal from Lizardmen training and the sound of children hurling profanities along with their fists against each other.

Something feels wrong here...

I just hope that whatever happens. I would be able to leave this place before everything falls down like an undesirable mudslide.