"Hmm. Wait until the whole tribe has assimilated with a Morningstar Mushroom, then you may attack the lizardman. Don't worry, I have a way to help" Nexus ordered.
Leaving the remnant of the lizardmen tribe might pose some danger. It was better to kill them as soon as possible.
A good enemy is a dead enemy, as they say.
"We shall follow the Guardian's will!" Wyden replied, and the small 'ceremony' lasted for a bit longer before the nymphs dispersed.
"It seems like having ceremonies like this to worship me increases the faith generated by the nymphs. I now understand why cults and religion in my past life took some time to gather and worship together."
"Such a ceremony indeed does make faith grow stronger."
Nexus clearly sensed the significant increase in faith when the nymphs were offering their sacrifices, and it was also the reason why he didn't stop them.
He marveled at the mystery of faith for a moment before he turned his attention back to growing more Morningstar Mushrooms. They shall play a crucial role in annihilating the lizardmen remnants.
While Nexus was focused on growing more mushrooms, his attention turned to the water stone next to his main body.
If this water stone can be used, the tribe's fighting power would definitely increase. Too bad that the price to use it was quite steep, and it can only be treated as a trump card.
"Is there any way for us to use this water stone without dropping a realm?" Nexus wondered. His vision focuses on the stone and his mushrooms.
Should he absorb all the mana inside the stone? From what he could sense, the stone contains quite a huge amount of mana. He definitely could use it to create more mushrooms or increase his mycelium's range.
However, that is a short-sighted move, and Nexus is unwilling to do that.
"If not absorbing the water stone, then…" Nexus's imaginary eyes lit up, and using the senses he gained through faith, he ordered a nymph to come to him.
Faith not only provides him with an extended vision, but he can also convey his intentions to the nymphs inside the extended vision.
Of course, this type of communication was also limited compared to communicating inside his mycelium network.
But at the very least, he can have the nymphs come to him to facilitate better communication. Without it, he would have to wait until a nymph enters the range of his mycelium before communication becomes possible.
When the nymph arrived, Nexus gave an order, and the nymph immediately went to do his bidding, while he returned to his usual monotone act of growing mushrooms and mycelium.
—-
Days and weeks passed.
With Nexus's diligent effort and the sacrifices offered by the nymphs from time to time, the day has finally come for the tribe to eradicate the remnants of the lizardmen.
All of the nymphs have assimilated with a Morningstar Mushroom. Even the unranked nymphs can temporarily gain the power of an early-level Transcendent.
With around thirty nymphs that are all Transcendents, the lizardmen remnants do not stand a chance.
After all, when the lizardmen attacked the nymphs, they also only sent thirty people. Those thirty are the majority of the tribe's strength.
Now that those thirty are killed, the remaining strength of the lizardmen does not pose much of a threat.
Not to mention, aside from the mushrooms the nymphs assimilated, they also brought with them ten more Morningstar Mushrooms to aid them.
"Wyden, the Guardian Totem gave an instruction."
While the nymphs were preparing for their assault, Iruline went to the tribe's chief while holding another Morningstar Mushroom.
On this mushroom's cap, a blue stone was tied. That stone was precisely the water stone obtained from the lizardmen's chief.
"What's this?" Wyden asked curiously, and Iruline explained.
"This mushroom can use the water stone and help us attack the lizardmen. Even if its realm does drop, the great Guardian Totem can grow another one" Iruline explained, her tone tinted with great admiration.
First, it was the Blood Boiling Mushroom. The fact that everyone who consumes these mushrooms would die was shattered by their Guardian Totem.
Now, even the consequences of using the water stone can be avoided.
This is the difference between tribes that have a Guardian Totem and those that don't!
No wonder that tribes with Guardian Totems are all strong. It was not without a reason!
"Such a thing was possible?" Wyden rhetorically asked while taking the mushroom.
With such abilities, Wyden really couldn't regret his act of deceit! At the very least, he is willing to take his own life if the Guardian Totem wishes for it. At the same time, he would ensure that the tribe would always worship the Mushroom Spirit in return.
"I was also surprised when I learned it" Iruline replied, feeling even more secure.
"It was indeed surprising" Wyden agreed, and they continued their preparations.
Iruline ensured that all the nymphs were at their peak. If she were to see anyone injured, she would use her innate magic to heal them.
However, her attention was soon piqued by a young nymph. While the other nymphs are polishing their wooden poles, this young nymph was different.
Around him were dozens of small wooden sticks no longer than two inches in length. The tips of these wooden sticks were sharp, and the young nymph was coating them with something.
Some were coated with the nymph's pollen, some were coated with a dark paste, while the others were coated with purple powder.
His actions, in contrast to the other nymphs, are completely different, and Iruline was curious.
"Rezar, what are you doing? What are these sticks?" Iruline asked as soon as she stood in front of the young nymph, who shuddered after hearing her voice.
"I-Iruline… I-I am preparing my w-weapons" the nymph answered guiltily.
His constipated look, along with how much he was fidgeting, confused Iruline, and she knitted her brows.
"What are these sharp sticks for? Aren't we all using wooden poles? What can these small sticks even do?"
The tribe was quite primitive, and the nymphs only used wooden poles as weapons for some reason.
First, it was easy to create wooden poles. Even if they are damaged or broken, the nymphs could simply create more.
Another reason was that nymphs are normally a peace-loving race. They do not like seeing or shedding blood.
A weapon like spears that lizardmen used would cause visible bloody wounds on the enemy, which makes the nymphs uncomfortable.
As such, they opted to use a less gory weapon.
"T-this is something t-taught to me b-by the G-Guardian Totem" Rezar, the young nymph, answered guiltily.
This young nymph was the very same one who witnessed his father being killed by the lizardmen. He is also the one who snatched the water stone from the lizardmen's chief.
Compared to the other nymphs, Rezar has a darker personality. The nymphs, even when the lizardmen killed their own family, were only heartbroken, but they don't really hate the lizardmen.
Even their desire to kill the remnants of the enemy tribe stemmed from the simple fact that they wanted to ensure the tribe's safety.
Out of all the remaining nymphs, Rezar was the only one who genuinely hated these lizardmen. He wants to kill them not just for the tribe's peace but also for revenge!
As such, despite Wyden's warning not to disturb the Guardian Totem and preventing them from approaching it without a good reason, Rezar still hunted a wild animal and presented it to Nexus.
Just like when Wyden offered the water stone to the Spirit to put it in a good mood before asking for a request, Rezar kind of did the same.
He secretly offered a sacrifice to the Guardian Spirit on his own, but he was not as bold as Wyden. Compared to Wyden's offering, Rezar's offering was not special, just a normal wild animal.
What he planned was to constantly offer private sacrifices to the Guardian Totem in hopes that, eventually, the Guardian Totem would make him stronger to avenge his father.
Rezar had already assimilated with a Morningstar Mushroom, and he could explode with the power of mid-level Transcendent, but he was not satisfied.
He wants to be stronger and kill more lizardmen.
Fortunately, Nexus didn't disappoint him and even found him amusing. As such, although Nexus cannot elevate the nymph's realm, he gave some advice.
Seeing the nymph's small stature and the innate magic [Accelerate], Nexus felt like this kid's template was simply perfect for an assassin.
Nexus had always been particular about his safety. Throughout the time that he interacted with the nymphs, he had already sensed the innate kindness that they had.
Unfortunately, in a world where survival of the fittest is the law, kindness would sometimes cause one's own demise.
Seeing the hatred that the young nymph possessed that was not present in any other nymphs, Nexus decided to groom this nymph on his own and make him a capable weapon that could walk a more bloody path.