“What is Nox doing?” Thorian clicked his tongue as he conjured a waterball and launched it toward the three climbing goblins. The green creatures screamed as they fell onto their backs.
Combustion Touch.
In less than a second, Thorian leaped toward the falling goblins and struck the first one with his flaming fist. The water from the waterball evaporated, creating a small mist, while the green body of the creature turned charred and black.
Fortunately, Thorian's Flame Resistance protected him from the scorching mist, making it feel only slightly warm. He glanced around to see the other two goblins running in opposite directions.
You think you can escape?
Eager to test the proficiency of his new skill, Thorian launched a waterball at one of the fleeing creatures before chasing after the other with lethal intent. He slashed the goblin's back with his claws, eliciting one final scream as it fell to the ground. Thorian crushed its skull with a single stomp, ending its life.
Like an unfeeling machine, Thorian turned around to look at the other fleeing creature, only to find it lying on the ground. Its clothes were torn to shreds, and its skin was wounded from the waterball's impact.
Thorian rushed toward the weakened creature and stabbed through its chest with his claws, crushing its heart in his grip. Whether that was a testament to his strength or the frailty of the goblin could not be determined.
Having eliminated all the goblins that had been attempting to infiltrate the village, Thorian looked back at the walls. To his surprise, he spotted another one of the green creatures standing on the ledge. The goblin's knees shook as it took in the grisly scene Thorian had created, before it hastily descended the rope into the village.
However, Thorian was not in the mood to let the creature escape and engage in a cat-and-mouse game. With swift strides, he rushed toward the wall and scaled it in a single leap. Looking down, he could see the goblin had just barely descended the wall and was about to rush into the dense patch of trees.
You're too slow.
Thorian conjured a waterball and launched it at the fleeing green monster. The impact from the spell sent the creature soaring through the air, screaming for its life. Without wasting another second, Thorian conjured a fireball and engulfed the unfortunate monster in its flames.
Was he the only one inside? No, I need to make sure.
Thorian took a deep breath and focused on his sense of smell. The scent of flames and the corpses littered around the village were overwhelming, but as he concentrated, Thorian could make out subtle differences. After a few seconds, his keen nose was able to sift through the stronger odors and detect the scent of the escaping goblins within the village.
There are three of them… No, four.
From the goblins' scent, Thorian knew they were running as a single pack, which would make it easy for him to track them down. Sneering at their obvious mistake, Thorian rushed through the trees and tall grass at his top speed. In less than a minute, the odor of the goblins became more distinct.
Thorian emerged from the patch of trees to find a group of four goblins running through the open space in the center of the village. Upon noticing that Thorian had caught up with them, all but one of the creatures turned and brandished their stone daggers. The last goblin simply stared at the flame kobold in horror, slowly inching backward while the rest of its kin prepared to launch their final attack.
"Weak little things." Thorian waited until the green creatures rushed toward him before conjuring a fireball and launching it at the incoming goblins. The spell instantly took out the first attacker, sending its charred body flying between its two comrades. The duo glanced back at their fallen kin before Thorian rushed forward, grabbed them by their heads, and smashed them together.
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Combustion Touch.
The goblins' facial orifices burst into flames under the influence of Thorian's spell, and they were quickly engulfed in the ensuing explosion. Their bodies didn't even have time to thrash, as their nervous systems were seared by the intense heat.
With only one goblin remaining, Thorian charged at the last survivor, determined to finish the job. However, just as he reached the goblin, the creature immediately dropped to its knees and began shrieking.
"Squii! Shrii!"
Seeing the quivering goblin kneeling down and begging for mercy, Thorian conjured a fireball and was about to launch it when a thought crossed his mind.
Wait… It might be useful.
After a few seconds of contemplation, Thorian launched his fireball next to the goblin, causing it to yelp in fear. Its horrified eyes met Thorian's for a moment before it pressed its head to the ground, not daring to maintain eye contact.
"Why should I keep you alive?" Thorian asked, immediately regretting his decision to speak.
"Shrii, squii! Squii Squii!" The goblin looked up and passionately explained all the reasons it deemed sufficient to keep it alive. Unfortunately, Thorian couldn't understand any of them.
Watching the creature try its hardest to convince him, Thorian grinned in amusement.
Interesting, this is quite the lively goblin… I can have it chop wood alongside the orcs.
As the goblin remained focused on Thorian's expression, trying to decipher its fate, Thorian glanced at the Village Hall behind it.
The kobolds gained proper language once they became citizens. Maybe it will too?
With a plan in mind, Thorian looked back at the goblin and said, "Follow me."
Those two words were like an angel's choir to the green creature, as it smiled in happiness and relief. As Thorian strode toward the Village Hall, it excitedly followed behind him.
"Hello, Melina," Thorian entered the Hall and greeted the elven lady. "I have an unusual guest for you today."
Melina furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and inquired, "Who would that be, my lord?"
Her question was soon answered as the goblin entered through the door, an ugly grin plastered across its face.
Melina's confusion only deepened as she looked at Thorian and asked, "Did you bring this goblin to become a citizen, my lord?"
Thorian simply nodded in response.
The elf opened her mouth to say something, but as emotions conflicted within her eyes, she couldn't find the words and closed it.
"Go to Melina," Thorian ordered the goblin. "And follow her instructions properly."
"Shrii! Shrii!" The goblin nodded with over-the-top enthusiasm. It then walked with careful strides toward the elf before stopping at her desk.
Melina, still shocked by the events unfolding around her, absentmindedly retrieved the stamp and parchments from beneath her desk and began the procedure.
As with the kobolds, the goblin punctured its thumb with the needle in the stamp and pressed its bloodied finger at the bottom of the parchment. The piece of paper disintegrated into specks of light before being absorbed by the goblin's body.
"Huh? What was that? Magic?"
Hearing the goblin's squeaky voice, Thorian grinned.
That makes it official. Any monster that becomes a citizen gains the ability to speak.
The possibilities this discovery unlocked raged within Thorian's mind. With this ability, creating a monster kingdom would not be a dream.
"Good, now that you have learned how to speak, you will go and cut the trees alongside the rest of the orcs."
Thorian immediately turned around and walked out of the Village Hall, expecting no complaint or retort against his order. The goblin nodded and followed him without hesitation.
As the two were walking toward the dense patch of trees where the orcs were chopping wood, the goblin cautiously asked for Thorian's attention.
Master, forgive me, but may I ask you one thing?" the goblin inquired.
Thorian furrowed his eyebrows at the goblin's servile attitude. "Speak."
"Thank you, master," the goblin said, rubbing its hands together and smiling. "I believe I can be more useful to you than just by chopping wood. I came from a large tribe. I can show you where our cave is."
Thorian stopped dead in his tracks at the goblin's words before looking back at it with furrowed eyebrows. The little green creature had a smile plastered on its face as it gazed at Thorian.
This little thing, Thorian thought, raising an eyebrow in surprise. Is it really willing to sacrifice its tribe to gain favor with me?