Chapter 49: Young Patriarch

Elan watched as the Chameleor Serpent's head, still etched with an expression of disbelief and surprise, rolled to a stop near his feet. The serpent's eyes, wide with shock, stared blankly into the distance, a silent testament to its final moments of confusion and realization. Elan felt a brief pang of sympathy for the creature, though he knew it had been necessary to act swiftly and decisively.

Initially, Elan had wanted his father and the clansmen to handle the Chameleor Serpent themselves, thinking it would provide valuable experience in dealing with powerful spiritual beasts. However, the serpent's ability to blend seamlessly into its surroundings made it an incredibly challenging foe, far beyond the current capabilities of his group. The potential for serious injury, or even death, was too high. Elan realized that, without intervention, his clansmen might not have even detected the serpent until it was too late. The risk was simply too great, and so Elan had no choice but to take matters into his own hands and slay the beast.

As the serpent's lifeless body lay sprawled before them, Elan's clansmen rushed towards him, drawn by the sudden and unexpected turn of events. They stopped abruptly as they reached the scene, eyes wide in awe at the sheer size of the Chameleor Serpent. The fact that such a massive creature had been concealed so effectively left them stunned and bewildered. They looked from the serpent's body to Elan, clearly wondering how he had known about the hidden threat. The clansmen marveled at Elan's perception and skill, deeply impressed by his ability to detect and neutralize the danger so swiftly. The encounter left them both awed and curious about the full extent of Elan's abilities.

Elan's father, along with his three best friends and the elders, approached him with a mix of admiration and curiosity.

"Elan, how did you know there was a giant serpent here?" his father asked, clearly amazed. "And you took it down so swiftly. That was incredible!"

Jarek chimed in, "Yeah, we didn't even sense anything! It just appeared out of nowhere."

Aiden added, "I can't believe such a huge beast was hiding so close to us. Your instincts are impressive, Elan."

First Elder Aric, chuckling, spoke up next. "At first, I thought we could split up to search the mountain more quickly," he admitted, still laughing. "But after seeing how dangerous it is here, I think it's best we stay together. It's better to take our time searching than to risk losing anyone."

Elan nodded thoughtfully, agreeing with Elder Aric's decision. He couldn't help but think back to the horror movies from Earth, where characters often made the fatal mistake of splitting up, only to end up in worse danger.

'I wouldn't want us to split up either. It's too risky, and the last thing I want is for us to end up like those characters who meet terrible fates just because they didn't stick together,' Elan thought.

'Right, anyone who wants to split up knowing the danger here in the mountain must have something wrong with their head,' Arion said, chuckling.

Elan laughed inwardly at Arion's statement, amused by the AI's blunt humor. He then looked up at the tree and noticed about seventeen Moonshadow Plums hanging from the branches, their dark, velvety skins gleaming faintly in the light. Carefully, he began plucking each one, handling them with caution due to their potent nature. Once he had all seventeen fruits gathered, Elan turned to his group.

"We'll divide these Moonshadow Plums after we've finished exploring the entire mountain," he announced, securing the fruits safely in the storage ring.

His clansmen nodded in agreement, recognizing the reason for Elan's decision. They understood that without Elan's sharp instincts and abilities, they would never have been able to approach the Moonshadow Plum, especially with the giant serpent guarding it. The elders, in particular, appreciated the situation.

The First Elder, Aric, spoke up first, "Elan, your judgment has always been sound. We trust you to decide when and how to use these fruits for the benefit of all. You don't need our permission to make decisions like these; after all, you will be the future patriarch of the clan."

Hearing this, Elan was stunned. He hadn't expected Elder Aric to mention the title of the next patriarch so casually that it caught him off guard. The significance of such a title was not lost on him. He knew that since their evacuation, the clan had been without a patriarch, and the role held immense responsibility and honor.

"But, Elder Aric, I'm still young, and..." Elan began to protest, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden announcement.

Before he could continue, the Second Elder, Mira, interjected, "Elan, don't worry about it right now. But know that the elders have already made a decision. We believe you are the best choice to lead us as the next patriarch."

First Elder Aric added, "I believe no one in this group opposes this decision." He looked around at the rest of the group, and in unison, they all nodded. The clansmen, including the other elders, voiced their unanimous support, expressing their belief that no one was more deserving than Elan to be the next patriarch.

Elan was even more stunned by the overwhelming support from the elders and the rest of the group. He stood there in disbelief, trying to process the idea that they all saw him as the future patriarch of the clan.

Daren, Elan's father, couldn't hide his wide smile. The pride he felt for his son was evident, and he thought excitedly about sharing this news with his wife. It was a proud moment for him, knowing that his son would one day lead their people.

Elan's best friends, seeing the momentous occasion, couldn't resist teasing him. "Looks like we'll have to start calling you 'Young Patriarch' now," Jarek joked, grinning widely.

"Just remember to support us if we need your help someday," Aiden added with a chuckle, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Arion couldn't resist joining in on the teasing. 'You have to admit, Elan, the title 'Young Patriarch' sounds pretty cool,' he remarked with a playful tone. 'Imagine the respect and admiration that come with it!'

Elan glanced around at the beaming faces of his father, his best friends, the seven elders, and the rest of the clansmen. He felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility settle over him. The expressions of pride, trust, and anticipation from everyone were almost too much to process. It was a lot to absorb—the realization that they had chosen him as the future patriarch.

"I... I don't know what to say," Elan finally managed, still trying to grasp the magnitude of what had just happened.

Elder Aric smiled kindly, understanding Elan's feelings. "You don't have to say anything for now, Elan," he reassured him. "Save it for the official announcement. There's plenty of time to prepare for your role. For now, let's focus on exploring this mountain and ensuring everyone's safety."

Elan nodded, grateful for the elder's understanding and the opportunity to gather his thoughts. He appreciated the support and the confidence they had in him, even though the responsibility felt immense.

"Alright," Elan said, exhaling deeply. He then led his clansmen further into the mountain, moving with careful and vigilant steps. As they progressed, they made sure to create a wide path, roughly four meters across, to ensure they could easily find their way back. This path was not only practical but also a safeguard against getting lost in the dense terrain and mist.

After some time, the group arrived at a clearing roughly halfway up the mountain. Elan and his clansmen immediately spread out to search the area, meticulously checking for any signs of danger. They scanned the surroundings for hidden threats, including potential spiritual beasts or natural hazards that could pose a risk.

Once they were confident that the clearing was safe, Elan looked up at the sky. The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting elongated shadows that stretched across the landscape. The thick mist that cloaked the mountain was making it even darker, giving the area an eerie and foreboding atmosphere. Realizing the difficulties and dangers of continuing in the dark, Elan made a decisive call.

"We should set up camp here for the night. It's getting too dark to move safely, especially with this dense mist. We'll rest here and continue our search in the morning when we have better visibility," Elan announced. 

The clansmen nodded in agreement. They began to prepare the clearing for the night, setting up makeshift shelters and gathering resources, ready to rest and recover their energy for tomorrow.

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The next day, Elan and the others resumed their exploration of the mountain. They trekked for nearly half a day, diligently searching for anything valuable. However, their efforts yielded only ordinary fruits and some common herbs, nothing that seemed particularly noteworthy or rare.

The clan members moved slowly and cautiously as they ascended the mountain, the path becoming steeper and more challenging. The climb was arduous, and the air grew thinner, but they pressed on with determination. Finally, they reached the very top of the mountain. As they emerged from the summit, they were greeted by a surprising and unexpected sight.

The scene before them was both breathtaking and startling. Half of the mountaintop was a wide, open clearing, while the other half featured a large cave entrance. The clearing was surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant flowers, a stark contrast to the rugged path they had just climbed. However, it wasn't the scenery that caught their attention and left them astonished.

What truly shocked Elan and the clansmen was the sight of numerous spiritual beasts, wolves, to be precise, spread across the clearing. These wolves were unlike any they had ever seen their fur was a vivid red color, and their size was comparable to that of horses. Some wolves stood alert, while others were walking, lying, or sitting around the clearing. The sheer number of them was intimidating.

But the most striking figure was a massive wolf near the cave entrance, standing twice the size of the others. Its presence exuded an aura of power and dominance, clearly marking it as the leader of the pack. The clansmen stared in awe and caution, realizing they had stumbled upon a formidable gathering of spiritual beasts at the peak of the mountain.

Elan was even more astonished by the sight before him. This was the first time in this life that he had seen a beast that wasn't a mix of various animals, a true representation of a single species. The vibrant red color of these wolves was striking, but to Elan, it didn't diminish their impressive presence. 

Suddenly, Arion's voice broke the silence in Elan's mind. 'It would be amazing if you could tame all these wolves. You'd have a whole new set of helpers for carrying materials when you start building infrastructure.'