John and his companions exchanged glances, deciding to head back.
Regardless of the situation, they needed to return to the Zebra Tribe before making their next move.
The system's prompt had only indicated the completion of the main quest.
Although the main quest was now marked as complete, there was no indication that they could leave the area, which puzzled him.
This had never happened before.
He had a feeling that once all the fragments of the secret manual were fully merged, something else might occur.
However, he didn't dare speak too soon about these matters, sensing that things might not be as straightforward as he thought.
As this crossed his mind, John closed his eyes.
The impact of the recent events had been too overwhelming for him.
Despite his top-tier recovery abilities, he still felt far from fully recuperated.
He had been forcing himself to hold on, but now, he could no longer do so.
"On our way back, we might still encounter some trouble. Be on alert. I need to rest and recover properly," John said, feeling a sharp pain in his head.
The others nodded in agreement, fully aware that their fates were intertwined.
Should any unforeseen issues arise, they would quickly become apparent that their exhaustion was genuine.
The High Priest of this place possessed abilities unknown to others.
What exactly those were, they would have to discover in time, or they risked facing adverse consequences.
Meanwhile, the Zebra Tribe's chieftain had no idea what they were discussing; he simply busied himself with preparations, frequently casting eager glances at them.
The distance between their tribes was considerable, and if they could secure some mounts, it would be ideal.
Perhaps the serpents from before, or maybe the giants, could carry them back—that would be a grand return indeed.
Vincent was the first to catch on to what the Zebra Tribe chieftain was thinking.
Summoning some means of transportation wasn't particularly difficult; for instance, they could call upon the Tree Giants or the Earth Giants, but doing so would consume a significant amount of their magical energy.
Yet, a silent exchange of glances between them confirmed their understanding—they needed to do this to highlight John's significance.
"This time, we'll let the Earth Giants carry us back," Vincent said with a faint smile.
Victor, too, smiled knowingly, his expression softening as if reminded of something pleasant.
"If we encounter any more dangers along the way, they can help shield us. Some things are simply beyond our control now," Victor added, his eyes reflecting an unusual glimmer, as if hinting at something.
The Zebra Tribe's chieftain paused, hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, realizing that these matters were now beyond his authority.
Whatever happened next, he would need to fulfill his duties as chieftain.
"I understand. You all should get ready, then. When we return, the High Priest will likely ask about your experiences. I hope you'll provide good answers," the chieftain said, his expression becoming more complex, a mix of pride and unreadable emotions.
After all, this was his son—how could a father not be overjoyed at his son's promising future?
He knew these events were likely to be a significant and positive influence on him.
As they traveled back, John kept his eyes closed, resting.
The others didn't dare say much, allowing him to recover, knowing that many challenges ahead still required John's leadership.
It wasn't that they couldn't handle things themselves, but their current roles made it inappropriate for them to take charge.
If they could do everything, it would render John unnecessary.
His position as the envoy of the gods meant he should never retreat or show any sign of fear—only relentless advance would suffice, a reality that posed the greatest danger to them all.
Once they returned to the tribe, the difference in atmosphere was palpable.
Everyone gazed at them with the excitement and admiration reserved for heroes returning home.
This was, without a doubt, the greatest victory they had ever achieved.
In the past, they had always been on the losing side, their territory shrinking significantly.
They had never imagined they would one day experience such happiness.
Every person watched the returning warriors with rapt attention, raising their fists in a collective salute.
They knew their heroes had endured great hardships and never entertained thoughts of surrender.
They had even resolved that if they were to fail this time, they would rather die than live as slaves.
But unexpectedly, they had triumphed, and in such a splendid manner, crushing their enemies beneath their feet.
This fueled their desire for more; as long as they could gain more resources and a better life, no one cared about the cost, even if it meant lives lost—they saw it as a necessary sacrifice for the tribe.
The High Priest had been waiting at the altar and, upon seeing their return, raised his staff in excitement.
At that moment, everyone raised their hands, and John could see a faint green light glowing on them.
This light seemed to enhance them in some way, and they nodded in excitement, as if acknowledging something profound or preordained.
John, perched on the shoulder of the Earth Giant, looked out at the scene.
Though the landscape was ordinary, he suddenly felt a surge of emotion, likely because he now saw these people as his own.
He had originally intended to complete the mission and leave, but these people had stirred something different within him.
Wind and Fire had both been seriously injured in the recent battle, yet they still stood proudly among the others, raising their hands high.
The green light from the High Priest's staff slowly spread to them, gradually merging into a golden hue.
As John observed this, a thought struck him: these powers, in their essence, might all originate from the same source.
This suggested that they could be interconnected, possibly even interchangeable.
"Welcome home, brave warriors!" the High Priest exclaimed, raising his staff.
The others nodded emphatically.
"Welcome home, brave warriors!"