"How dare those lizardmen hurt our people? Where are they? I will kill them all!" A loud voice startled the nearby nymphs, and when they looked at the source, they saw Rezar's fuming face.
His cheeks were flushed, his jaws clenching, while his body trembled from rage. His family is his reverse scale.
It was already traumatizing enough to watch his own father die from a lizardman's attack. Now, another one of their people has been badly hurt.
He will not forgive these lizardmen! If given the chance, he would definitely kill all of them.
"Rezar, calm down" Wyden said with a frown. The younger nymphs' outburst is not what they currently need.
"Chief, how can I calm down when Sheino is in this state? I will not forgive the lizardmen! I would kill them all!" Rezar seethed in rage; all he could see was red.
This young nymph was already different compared to the other nymphs. He was more decisive when it came to dealing with the enemies.
Nexus knew that to change the attitude of the nymphs, he could not simply order them to be more cruel to the enemies. No, while the nymphs would listen if he ordered them, that is not the best method.
If the nymphs are forced to comply, not only would they start to grow dissatisfied with him, but productivity would also be affected.
A worker who 'begrudgingly' does their job has a lower productivity rate than those who like to do their job.
Besides, while Nexus can monitor the nymphs inside his territory and ensure they do what he told them to do, he cannot guarantee the same thing when the nymphs know he cannot see them and their actions.
Change has to start from within, and Rezar would be the start. He could be the symbol of extremity.
With his presence, there would be a crueler and more decisive voice in the tribe. Even if the nymphs don't agree with what he says and the decisions he proposes, they would compromise a bit to maintain peace.
Little by little, the line between extreme and non-extreme would blur until the nymphs can learn to be more evil towards their enemies.
"I know you are angry, and we are too, but Sheino survived. What we need to focus more on is strengthening our tribe. We must also avoid the area where they met the lizardmen to prevent the lizardmen from discovering where we live."
"But Chief, how can this be? The forest is only so large; sooner or later, the lizardmen will discover us. We must take the upper hand and attack the lizardmen to make them pay! We definitely cannot coexist with those lizardmen; we must kill them all!"
It can be said that Nexus chose the right person. Wyden and Rezar are on two completely opposite sides of the spectrum.
Wyden was more on defense, avoidance, and self-development. As for Rezar, he was more aggressive, proactive, and nipping the bud before it could grow into a flower.
However, it was clear to see who the nymphs supported. They are a peace-loving race. If they can avoid the lizardmen to keep their peace and avoid fighting, they prefer doing that.
"Rezar, we don't know how strong the enemy tribe is. Even with our blood-boiling state, we might not win, and even if we do, some of our people might die. I understand where you are coming from, but I don't want to see any of us dying."
"Then let me lead the attack! I have ways to lessen the risk for us. I can harass them with my wooden sticks and slowly grind their power, I can spread poison in their tribe or even their food. I can also make lethal traps around their territory and even ambush the lone lizardmen! With my speed, unless the enemy is a peak Transcendent, I can successfully flee!"
It can be said that Rezar's plans were more extreme than the other to the point that the nymphs were even surprised. Never in their life would they have thought of doing such a thing.
"Enough! We will not follow your suggestions. Right now, we must focus on helping Sheino recover and tightening our defenses while avoiding confrontation with the lizardmen!" Wyden insisted.
The things that Rezar suggested dissatisfied him and the other nymphs. They definitely don't want to do such things!
If they do, they might suffer from nightmares.
"Fine! If you don't want to listen to me, then at the very least let me create traps around our tribe to bolster our defense! I will make sure that any lizardman who enters our territory will be poisoned and killed!"
Seeing that his people supported Wyden made Rezar give up. And considering that his initial suggestions were heavily rejected, to at least console him, Wyden gave him permission to make traps even though it discomforted the nymphs.
"Hmph!" Rezar snorted coldly before leaving, and the nymphs watched him go to their Guardian Spirit's main body with complex emotions in their eyes.
It's not that they do not understand Rezar. In fact, his suggestions have some merit. It's just that they can't steel their hearts to do such despicable things.
When Rezar arrived in front of Nexus, the former knelt down.
"Your Highness, I hope my performance satisfies you" Rezar said humbly.
His emotion of fury was real, and if the nymphs agreed to his suggestions, he definitely would enact them.
However, he knew that at this stage, his family was still full of kindness, and he had already expected to be rejected.
Fortunately, Nexus had already long prepared for moments like this. The Dragonspine Forest is not a peaceful place.
Sooner or later, a new enemy of the nymphs will appear, and once that happens, Rezar was already taught of what to do.
They just didn't expect that the new enemies would appear this soon.
"You satisfied me, Rezar. You are indeed the nymph I have the highest hopes on."
Nexus was not stingy with his praise. Out of all the nymphs, Rezar is the one who is most willing to accept his ideas. How could he not be satisfied?
"Your praise delights me, Your Highness!" A bit of Rezar's gloom due to the pain his family suffered dissipated.
This made him even more willing to walk the dark path for the sake of the Morningstar Stribe.
"Don't be too drunk on your success. Making the nymphs slowly accept the use of poison and traps is just the first step" Nexus reminded.
Once the nymphs witnessed and enabled the use of poison, they would eventually be desensitized. A day will come when they will think using poison is normal, and that would be the time when Nexus can blacken them even further.
"Understood, Your Highness! I will make sure to work even harder!"
"Very well. Wyden's words also have merit. We must focus on the tribe's defense and development so that even if the lizardmen discover and attack us, they are the ones who would become the prey and not us."
"I am willing to listen to Your Highness!"
"Good. Aside from the traps, I want you to gather a few nymphs to help make some weapons. Make sure that they are more open-minded and not as rigid and uptight as Wyden and most of the nymphs. They would become your right-hand people."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Nexus discussed what weapons Rezar and the other nymphs have to create. The wooden poles of the nymphs dissatisfy him.
The wooden poles are great against enemies with hard shells, armor, or defense, but they are less lethal compared to other weapons like the lizardmen's spears.
Now that the tribe is facing a new enemy, this is the best time to change their weapons. Knowing the danger they are facing, the nymphs would be more accepting of the use of new and more lethal weapons.
"Hmm, this should do. If there is anything you cannot understand or need clarification, you may speak directly to my mushrooms inside the tribe. I will provide additional guidance" Nexus said after explaining some things to Rezar.
"Yes, Your Highness!" The young nymph replied affirmatively before Nexus remembered something.
"And oh, make sure to try being close to the three baby nymphs and the future newborns. Make them admire you and view you as a reliable big brother."
"The newborns? As a family, I definitely would take care of them. Is there a reason why I have to earn their admiration?"
Rezar was confused. In his mind, every nymph in the tribe is a family. He naturally would take care of his family, but why is there a need to make the newborn nymphs admire him?
"Rezar, my student, you are still indeed too inexperienced and young" Nexus replied with a chuckle, causing Rezar to be ashamed.
It seems like he still cannot fully fathom the Guardian's wisdom.
"I apologize for my inadequacy, Your Highness" Rezar hung his head in shame, causing Nexus to chuckle.