GREED: ALL FOR WHAT?

There are a lot of things that he isn't sure about yet. He thinks it is the demon God that is watching him but he isn't sure yet. He also doesn't know what makes the Underdark so terrifying. There have been a lot of rumors and scattered stories about some beasts or undead but nothing accurate has been determined. 

Reliable information about the Underdark is rare because there is no witness who has seen the terrifying beasts and the fact that it has been hundreds of years since they were last sighted. Warrogs have a low lifespan of 200 years without becoming mana entities and they have no record-keeping system. They don't even have written language. So most of their history has been lost or reduced to tales.

"Slow and steady wins the race." He said to encourage himself.

He would like to go all out on a killing spree to strengthen himself. He is not one to be subdued for so long, but he has to show restraint in this uncertain environment. The nail that stands out gets hammered. He doesn't want to get hammered especially when he doesn't need strength urgently. 

There are a lot of forces and powers that he doesn't know or understand so he shouldn't risk danger for quick strength. It is better to grow steadily while being relatively unknown. What he knows is already enough danger to him much less the unknown.

So he held his impulse to kill despite the daily ravings of his stomach. He doesn't need the story about the tree people eliminating suspiciously violent Warrogs to control himself. He is not a beast that can't control his instincts and impulses. The fact that he can't go about killing and eating any pack leader has only made him more cautious.

"Alright. Who is here to be blessed?" He asked the acolyte.

"It is Warrior Tesrat and her squad." The acolyte replied respectfully.

He nodded and turned towards the totem pillar. The totem pillar has become almost a hundred meters tall now due to the additions over the years. It has also become a lot more powerful than it used to be. It was moved to this peak so that everyone in the large area of the park could see it. 

He would like to use it for his own purposes but he isn't strong enough to handle Sauron yet. He has to be able to fend off Sauron if he wants to tamper with the spiritual foundation of the park. Sauron will definitely want his head for what he wants to do with the totem. 

He gave it one final glance before he turned away. He went on a path that led to his abode on the peak. There is a shelter made of felt, wood, and rocks at the end of the path. It is a tribalistic-looking large structure adorned with several animal bones. 

It is a grand structure of opulence in this pack. That's what other Warrogs think of it. He can't disagree with them more. He thinks the only thing right about his abode is that it is large enough to contain him. As for it being luxurious, it is far from it. It cannot compare to the luxury of Helios's life as the son of a god. 

Some people are waiting for him outside the shelter. They are all Betas and they are about 10 in number. They all bowed wordlessly as he passed by. None of them met his eyes or dared to look at him for too long. They fear him for his power. But they also revere him for his position as Shaman. 

That makes two very important reasons to respect him. He ignored them and entered his abode. It was after he was gone that they raised their heads.

There are three people waiting for him in the shelter. They are seated in the visitor seats. One of them is a female. She is bigger than the two male Betas sitting beside her. She smiled when she saw him. All three of them stood up to welcome him.

"Welcome, chief shaman Ragnarok." She bowed in greeting.

The other two also bowed. 

He said to them, "Welcome to my humble abode. Please take a seat."

They sat down and he sat too. She laughed and said, "You're a big shot now. I remember the day I found you at the entrance of the Underdark. You have become so strong and influential right now."

He nodded in agreement. "Yes. How time flies."

"I remember you were so small that I could smack you around. I did smack you and you almost fell. You were that small Omega Warrog that was lucky enough to survive the Underdark." 

Then she laughed and said, "Now you're twice as tall as me. I can't try to smack you around anymore. I will fail at it and might get smacked around for my impudence instead."

He is truly taller than her. She used to be the one that towered over him back then. A single clap of her hand on his back made him stumble back then. He might just break her back if he subjects her to the same treatment now.

He smiled too, "You have also become stronger."

She shook her head wistfully. "I have become stronger but not as much as you."

She has increased the number of Betas in her squad to 12. That's twice as many as her previous amount of Betas. She has become almost 2 times stronger than she was. It is a significant amount of improvement but it lacks when compared to him. 

What she knows about his strength already outclasses hers. And he was just a youngling when she found him a hundred years ago.

He encouraged her. "At least you're still alive and you still have more good years left. You too can become an Alpha of Alphas. It is just a matter of time if you continue to work hard."

He advised her like a good shaman would. It is his job and he is very good at it.