Point of View: Gorilla Tribe Chief
The bar was completely reserved.
There were no outsiders, no unfamiliar gazes judging us, no unknown presences breaking the harmony of the moment. It was just us—the warriors who had fought, bled, and survived the conquest.
The atmosphere was warm. Alive.
The tables were filled with food, plates steaming with rich aromas. Large cuts of roasted meat, prepared with techniques none of us fully understood, glistened under the dim light. Thick broths, rich in nutrients, crafted by Atlantean medics, could soothe the body even after the most exhausting battles. Strange fruits, in colors that did not exist in our world, were piled onto trays beside overflowing jugs of drink.
The sound of glass clinking, claws striking wood, laughter… filled everything.
It was… a true celebration.
From where I sat, I could see members of my tribe scattered throughout the bar. Some stood, laughing loudly as they recalled moments from the battle. Others competed in strength, slamming tables or lifting each other in jest. There were even those, already completely drunk, trying to stand with a dignity they had clearly lost.
And we were not the only ones.
Other tribes had mixed freely.
Something that, outside this place… would have been unthinkable.
A group of warriors from another species—faster, more agile—stood at the center, attempting to replicate a dance they clearly did not understand. Around them, several of mine watched with curiosity… and then joined in without hesitation, triggering an explosion of laughter.
At another table, two warriors—from different tribes—spoke quietly, smiling. I didn't need to hear them to understand the tone. Nearby, a pair of my subordinates argued over who had taken down more enemies, exaggerating every detail with absurd conviction.
I shook my head slightly.
The usual tension… simply wasn't there.
For one night, there were no rivalries.
Only victory.
I leaned back in my seat, observing.
We had achieved something no one expected.
A level-one world.
Conquered.
My fingers tightened around my mug.
It wasn't just a victory.
It was proof.
We could do it.
"I've never seen them like this," one of the other leaders said from across the table.
I followed his gaze.
Our warriors.
"Neither have I," I replied.
There was pride in my voice.
And I didn't hide it.
The other leader smiled.
"Maybe we needed this."
Maybe.
For too long, we had been spectators.
Watching the great powers dominate, conquer, advance without real opposition.
But now…
We were on the board too.
I stood slowly, lifting my mug.
"Listen."
My voice wasn't loud, but it was enough.
Conversations began to fade—not completely, but enough for the general noise to drop.
I raised my mug.
"I want to make a toast."
Smiles appeared.
Approval.
"It's the first time that, as an alliance, we've attacked a level-one world… and emerged victorious."
The other leaders stood with me.
"And it won't be the last," one of them added.
A murmur of excitement spread through the room.
"Until now," I continued, "only the great powers had achieved something like this."
I didn't need to name them.
Everyone knew who I meant.
"But now…"
I raised my mug higher.
"So have we."
The silence lasted a single moment.
Then the bar exploded.
"SO HAVE WE!"
Mugs rose. Bodies stood. Voices filled the room.
"To the alliance!"
"To victory!"
"To many more conquests!"
We drank.
The liquid burned down my throat—warm, strong.
The music returned.
Louder.
More alive.
The celebration surged with even greater intensity.
I sat back down.
And watched.
A pair of my warriors were now engaged in an improvised duel, shoving each other without real intent to harm. Around them, others cheered, shouting and laughing. Near the entrance, one of the younger ones tried to speak with a warrior from another tribe, clearly nervous, while she watched him with an amused smile.
Further away, some shared food directly from the same plates, unconcerned with formality. Others simply drank, enjoying the moment in silence—rare… but not impossible after a battle.
It was… pleasant.
Real.
For a moment, everything else disappeared.
The worries.
The rivalries.
The weight of leadership.
Everything.
Only this remained.
The celebration.
The victory.
The feeling of achieving the impossible.
I lowered my gaze to my mug.
"I just need one opportunity…" I murmured.
And maybe…
We had already taken it.
That was when the door opened.
It wasn't loud.
But I noticed.
My gaze sharpened instantly.
And my body tensed.
One of those entering… was mine.
My subordinate.
The strongest after me.
He shouldn't be here.
The noise of the bar continued, but for me… it faded.
The other leaders noticed too.
Because he wasn't alone.
There was one for each tribe.
They approached.
Their steps were steady.
Their expressions calm.
And that was exactly what unsettled me.
They were too calm.
I knew them.
That calm… wasn't real.
I exchanged a glance with the other leaders.
No words were needed.
We all understood.
Something had happened.
But none of us reacted openly.
Not here.
Not now.
"We need to talk," one of them said quietly.
I nodded.
I stood.
"Keep celebrating," I said, raising my voice just enough. "This isn't over yet."
The laughter continued.
No one suspected.
Or so it seemed.
We left in silence, moving away from the noise, the music, the warmth of the moment.
We entered a private room.
The door closed.
And the world changed.
Silence fell over us.
Heavy.
I turned slowly.
"Speak."
My subordinate stepped forward.
He hesitated.
That alone was enough to worry me even more.
"The abominations…" he began.
Just that word made the atmosphere tighten.
"They've started attacking cities."
Silence.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
The mug slipped from my hand, hitting the ground.
In my mind, the celebration… was gone.
The joy of conquest, the sense of achievement…
All of it disappeared.
Only those words remained.
The abominations… attacking cities.
I knew something had happened.
But I wasn't prepared for this.
And when I looked at the other leaders…
I wasn't the only one.