Once Ulric decided to fight against the gryphon, he moved fast and mobilized the entirety of the Alborin Tribe. Everyone finished preparations swiftly, as if they had long prepared for this moment.
Even before the warriors of Black Wolf Tribe attacked them, they already made evacuation plans.
They felt reluctant about leaving their ancestral land. However, all of them preferred discomfort over death.
Over a dozen wagons, loaded with tribesmen and supplies, traveled to the Grimjaw Mountain.
Ulric shared their plan of relocating to a safer, better location. He also didn't hide that they had to fight a Griffon to take over its nest. Both warriors and non-warriors showed unease and anxiety at the announcement, but Ulric wasn't done speaking yet.
"If we can't even defeat one gryphon, then there's no way we can fight against the Black Wolf Tribe," Ulric reiterated the same points Daedalus had told him. "Either we take this chance or we flee as far away as we can from the Borderlands.
"Of course, you all know how dangerous that is compared to a single gryphon. We have no choice. Either we make our stand now and die as warriors, or we die later from the hands of the other tribes or the monsters we will encounter if we choose to run."
His speech proved to be effective—everyone unanimously decided to take a gamble.
The Alborin Tribe only had ten warriors, including Yuni. The non-combatants, including the elderly, the women, and the children too young to fight, would remain in the wagons at the base of the mountain.
Since he couldn't leave them behind without a guard, Ulric assigned two of the less experienced warriors to protect them.
The rest would join him in subduing the gryphon.
Daedalus and Leone were currently in one of the wagons, talking about a strategy that might help the Alborin Tribe overcome this hurdle.
The young man was holding Daedalus in his hand, looking at a page with a serious expression.
Written on the page was his very first mission.
A mission that would allow Leone to establish his first foothold in the Borderlands.
—————
[Beginner Territory Mission Unlocked]
Mission Title: Establish Your Foothold
Objective: Plant a Territorial Flag and claim the land within a 500-meter radius.
Requirement: Protect the Flag for ten minutes.
Reward: +100 BP
Territory Authority (Level 1)
— Passive Buffs Applied Within Territory.
[Territory Effects – Level 1]
— Grants Minor morale stabilization effect on subordinates.
— Increase Health Regeneration by 10%
— Increase Stamina Regeneration by 10%
— Increase Mana Regeneration by 10%
— Increase Production Efficiency (farming, crafting, construction) by 10%
— When the territory is in danger, the Host may use his territory exclusive skill, Call To Arms!
[Call To Arms]
— All allies gain +10 to all of their Stats
— Raises the Health Regeneration of all Allies by 20%
— Raises the Physical Defense, and Physical Attack of all Allies by 20%
— Raises the Magical Defense, and Magical Attack of all Allies by 20%
— Raises the Debuff Resistance of all Allies by 50%
— Raises the Morale of all Allies by 50%
— Raises the Elemental Resistances of all Allies by 30%
———
"If you can plant that flag, and defend it for ten minutes, the warriors of the Alborin Tribe will gain a boost in strength," Daedalus explained. "However, you must plant it in the ideal location.
"Unfortunately, the best location is in the cliff that is right in front of the gryphon's Nest. If you can do that, half of the battle is already won."
Leone looked at the small flag in his hand, which could apparently enlarge the moment he stabbed it into the ground.
It was a small white flag with the symbol of a lion roaring to the heavens.
"Ten minutes…" Leone muttered. "Can I even survive for ten minutes?"
"If Ulric and the others can stall for time, it's possible," Daedalus replied. "We can only hope that the gryphon's rank is not too high. If it's Rank 4, Ulric and the other Warriors wouldn't find it hard to protect you until the ten-minute cooldown ends."
"What are Ranks?" Leone asked. "Are they perhaps the power level of monsters?"
The continent where Leone lived had no Ranking System for monsters and warriors.
Only the mages are the exception, but their Ranks depended on the number of magical circles they could wield.
"You're right. Ranks are a means to determine how strong a person or a monster is," Daedalus explained. "Ulric is a Rank 3 Berserker. Yuni is a Rank 1 Archer, and Maximus is a Rank 1 Mutant Kobold."
"What about me?" Leone asked. "I should have a Rank as well, right?"
Daedalus sighed. "You are Rankless. Rank 1 requires combined stats that surpass 100 Points.
"You also have no combat abilities whatsoever. But don't give up hope. As long as you are alive, we can slowly raise your stats and make you a decent Hero King."
The young man clenched his fists in frustration. However, since Daedalus said that he shouldn't give up hope, he decided to believe his partner.
"Can you promise me that you'll make me stronger?" Leone asked.
"If we survive this, I promise you can become strong," Daedalus promised. "It might take some time, but you will grow strong enough to protect yourself and those around you."
"Understood." Leone nodded. "We will survive this."
"Yes, you will," Daedalus replied firmly.
Truth be told, the grimoire also felt anxious. This was a gamble.
However, it had no intention of letting Leone and the Alborin walk toward their deaths either. It would at least check the Status Page of the gryphon before charging.
As long as it wasn't a Rank 5 Monster, they could still defeat it.
Any higher… then Daedalus would just have to come up with another way to help its Master and the Alborin Tribe survive their current situation, even if it meant using its powers to their limit.
Two days later, the Alborin Tribe finally arrived at the base of the Grimjaw Mountain.
And their arrival didn't go undetected by the gryphon who had claimed the entire mountain as its home.