The Tribulation of All Races

Chapter 3: The Warrior

"Chief! Bad news! We've encountered members of another tribe. They're trying to steal our hunted prey. It looks like a fight is imminent!"

Upon hearing this report, Luo Ji's heart skipped a beat. "Dammit, a fight already? Just a day after I arrived? Calm down, let's assess the situation first..."

"How many of them are there? Where are they?" Luo Ji asked while striving for composure.

"About eight or nine, not far from here. That way..." The scout, designated by Luo Ji, quickly pointed in a direction.

Luo Ji's heart tightened upon hearing this. Initially, he had planned to retreat if they were far away, buying time to strengthen his tribe's warriors with stone spears and axes before seeking revenge. But with the enemy so close, retreat was impossible. If they fled, the other tribe might pursue them, exposing the Mirror Lake, jeopardizing his newly established settlement—an outcome he could not accept.

"My leadership talent can boost my warriors' strength by 20%. With these two weapons and my two-star bravery, we might just pull this off," Luo Ji thought grimly. He glanced at the freshly crafted stone spear and stone axe, handed the latter to the scout, then brandished the spear and shouted, "The elders, women, and children should hide. The men, follow me!"

Despite the majority of men in Luo Ji's tribe being slender or average in build, aside from the four formidable barbarian warriors, none of the four men assisting with the campsite cleanup showed fear or hesitation. Perhaps Luo Ji's 'Leadership' ability was already taking effect. Inspired by his tribe's resolve, Luo Ji, accompanied by the scout leading the way, marched forward with a killing intent, mentally preparing for the impending battle.

While Luo Ji had experience in fights back in his world, they paled in comparison to the impending clash. He couldn't deny the adrenaline rush and the whiteness of his knuckles gripping the spear. His mind raced uncontrollably.

As they hastened towards the commotion, the sound of fierce combat reached their ears. Ahead, in a wooded area, their four barbarian warriors valiantly guarded their prey with crude wooden clubs, each bearing wounds, one with a face smeared in blood, yet steadfast.

Their resolve was simple: the tribe of thirty-four souls needed every morsel of the deer for sustenance. Losing it would mean hunger for the elders, women, and children. Thus, they stood their ground, defying the odds.

Witnessing this, Luo Ji felt a surge of bloodlust. Without hesitation, he roared, "We're here! Don't panic, brothers! Let's finish them off!"

With a fierce cry, Luo Ji lunged forward, his spear aimed at the nearest enemy warrior, a burly fighter. The sudden attack and the spear's length caught the warrior off guard, and Luo Ji's weapon pierced the air mere inches from his face, drawing blood.

The unfamiliar weapon terrified the warrior, whose panicked screams echoed through the air. Meanwhile, the sight of their chief's successful strike bolstered their morale.

"Finish them! Finish them!" The warriors roared, mimicking Luo Ji's words, their ferocity momentarily intimidating the opposing tribe. Just then, a system notification echoed in Luo Ji's mind.

System Prompt: Congratulations, Player 'Luo Ji,' for unlocking the skill 'Rally the Troops.'

The notification barely registered as Luo Ji's full attention was on the battle. The spear's jagged edges proved formidable, inflicting wounds with each swing. Yet, as the battle raged on, the enemy soon discerned Luo Ji's lack of combat experience. Despite his initial devastating strike, subsequent attacks merely grazed them, leaving superficial injuries.

The enemy recognized this, and so did Luo Ji's men. But their unwavering loyalty to their chief precluded any disrespectful thoughts. The scout, swift-witted, realized the stone axe was more potent in capable hands and deftly passed it to their foremost warrior.

Looking at the other's excited expression, Luo Ji couldn't help but feel worried. Although this young man had a natural talent for being a scout, he had never received any professional training. Such a promising seedling, if he met with any accident and died, would be a great loss.

However, confirming the location of the enemy tribe was something that had to be done. Thus, Luo Ji could only give him a few more reminders, "Your safety is the top priority. Do not engage in conflict with them. If you are discovered or feel like you're being discovered, retreat immediately. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand!"

"Good, go now."

After sending the scout off, Luo Ji led the rest of his tribe's warriors, carrying the materials needed to build the tribal camp, and began to make their way back.

On the way back, he naturally couldn't resist striking up a conversation with the first warrior of his tribe. After a round of talk, he discovered that the people in his tribe didn't even have proper names, mostly using quite casual nicknames.

"How can the first warrior of the tribe not have a decent name?" As Luo Ji spoke, an idea occurred to him, "Let me give you a name. How about taking my surname?"

They obviously didn't have the concept of surnames yet, but regardless, the chief had spoken, and based on his current level of loyalty, it was impossible for him to refuse.

"Let's call you... Luo Yong! How about Luo Yong?" After all, Luo Ji's first impression of him was his bravery! When he planned to give him a name, the first word that came to mind was 'brave' ('yong' in Chinese). Although this name was quite ordinary in modern society, it was quite fitting for this first warrior.

"Luo Yong? Thank you, Chief!" For this so-called name, while feeling fresh, Luo Yong was obviously very fond of it. More importantly, Luo Yong and Luo Ji, these two names sounded very similar to him! To be able to have a name that was very similar to the chief's was undoubtedly a matter of great honor for these tribal members!

At the same time, the system's prompt sounded again...

System Prompt: Congratulations, Player 'Luo Ji', for establishing the concept of 'Names'. You have earned 50 Civilization Points and 10 Culture Points.

Upon hearing the system's announcement, Luo Ji's attention snapped back to reality, only to find the other tribal warriors staring at him expectantly. Their unspoken message was clear, and it left him in a predicament. Naming was not his forte, as evidenced by his rather ordinary choice for Luo Yong, a spur-of-the-moment decision. The thought of seriously naming an entire tribe, consisting of thirty-four individuals, let alone the few standing before him, filled him with dread.

Yet, his quick wit came to the rescue, and with a commanding air, he declared, "Only those who demonstrate exceptional performance or make outstanding contributions to the tribe shall be granted the honor of having their name bestowed upon them by me personally. Therefore, if you seek a name, strive to excel!"

Luo Ji's words carried conviction, even though they were merely a hastily concocted excuse to evade his 'naming phobia.' Little did he know that from that moment on, this excuse would evolve into a cherished tradition within their civilization, and the privilege of receiving a name directly from him would become one of the highest honors in their society.