The night was still young, the party for Skulk’s initiation as a lord was still ongoing, the beavers were loud and the goblins were dancing, harpies were singing in the air while the wolves were drowning in eating meat to the point that the goblins had to put the Dabby Cows into the barn.

Just east of the Goblin Village, three creatures were silently staring at each other, this was after Johanna, the only human in the Reed Forest told something really disturbing, some kind of realization on her part as coming from her faith.

“Why, are you telling this to us?” Lammy suddenly asked.

But it was Skulk who knew what she wanted, he was a human once, thinking by their perspective was a special kind of trait that was innate to him.

Skulk knew that humans were generally selfish, easily moved by material things, and easily influenced by power and ego. As far as he could tell, the old woman came here in the forest which was considered to be one of the most dangerous places known to man to take revenge against the Chimera.

If she hadn’t moved by ego she would have stayed back at home and retired peacefully.

“She wants a standing for the humans,” Skulk spoke it and he was right, it painted a smile on the old woman’s face.

“I’m asking something lower… just give them a fair chance,” Johanna said, she was sincere, she could tell that after a few more years, even after she had been gone, Skulk would just go on and continue to grow stronger.

The Reed Forest would grow along with him which was scary, if the humans did poke them in a very wrong way then there would be a possibility that humans might be wiped out.

“I was born as a monster and I’m listening to you out of respect… just for the record, Daigo won’t like it,” Skulk said.

Johanna could feel that Lammy was glaring at her. She was also against it, it was unfair to treat humans fairly since they are a race that is lost in their own hate and ego.

Many times during Lammy’s lonely campaign to keep the forest intact, humans would sometimes visit the forest, and their visits warranted destruction and mindless killing, she even did some resets because of their irreversible actions.

“Nicely said Skulk… but I would leave it to you, the god gave you approval, I will follow you-” Then the snake moved closer to Johanna “But I will not help you human… I don’t know what you are thinking right now, but you may try and I would remain neutral of my comments.”

Johanna gulped, she could understand that for some reason, the human’s fate was in her hands. Should she go back and ask for help? No, the state of the kingdom where she lived was still very chaotic.

“I… could fight for approval if it's possible,” Johanna’s last resort and suggestion.

“A human fighting against a lord? It's suicide!” Lammy said while laughing after.

“Doesn’t have to be like that… we don’t necessarily have to kill anyone,” Skulk said, he was the embodiment of his words and Lammy believed him.

“I’d say that would be your last course of action, there is still time, how about thinking about it after some time,” Skulk added and he looked at Lammy for any reaction but the snake just nodded.

“It must have been god’s will for me to be your teacher, imagine if I met you and you were already a lord” Johanna was honest with her words, she was a devout of the Zoryan Faith, if not she wouldn’t be able to develop her resolve.

“Sorry, I have to be fair…” still Skulk smiled.

“I understand” Johanna replied.

“Thank you!” Lammy said.

<--->

The Council of the Lords was erected just north of Lammy’s cave. 2 weeks had passed since the announcement of Skulk’s ascension into one of the lords.

The Council of the Lords was marked by a large circular stone and a tall one that was used as its mark and was called the Marking Stone. The Stone was carved by the moles who just had another round of new babies. The shape and the stone were Skulk’s idea, the last meeting that was in the Goblin’s Village resulted in damage to the house.

There the Lords meet again.

This meeting was called again by Skulk, the meeting allowed any monsters who would like to listen or even voice out their concerns so there were some beavers, wolves, harpies, and even goblins just watching around waiting for the meeting to start.

Out of the 7 Lords, Lammy, Skulk, and Razorback had already evolved.

Lammy who was a large snake became a Lamia, half snake, half-human creature. She was now more powerful than ever.

Razorback who was a Silver Mane Wolf became smaller but linings of magic were etched on his skin, he exuded saturated magic, and his eyes; went from blue to red.

Skulk the goblin looked more like a demonic spawn, though he was smaller, everybody knew that he was stronger.

Still, the other 4 Lords didn’t feel any weaker or intimidated, it was because of Skulk’s smile. The meeting was set to start as soon as the shadow of the marking stone touched the stone.

“I invited another one for this meeting, she is the reason for this meeting!” Skulk began. He then waved in a direction and a human came. Everybody knew of her, the one who weaves, the one who enjoys the hot spring baths.

“Johanna! The Serene Weaver!” it was Skulk who announced her title. The beavers clapped as soon as she walked into the council.

“...Grr…” Daigo was clearly showing his hostility and the Owl was together with him.

Johanna entered in her full armor, ready for a fight just in case or not. She stood there and waved at the Lords and even at the beavers.

The beavers loved it and even one muttered “We are friends with her!”

As she was closer in the stone she began to speak, speaking nobly was not her forte. But as her student advised her days prior she just had to speak with her heart.

She breathed hard to make sure that the words would come out clearly. “I’m here to earn a place in defending the continent for humanity! I-”

Daigo instantly slammed the ground in front of him. “No! Huuumaaans!!! Huumans should perish!” there was rage in his words, but it was still under control.

The snake flicked her tail creating a powerful snap that broke the silence that Daigo commanded, “Continue your words human!” Lammy intervened so that Johanna could finish her words.

“I understand that the humans are inconceivable assholes that don’t care about anything but themselves, sometimes I do hate myself for being one especially when I see my kind killing themselves for stupid things” Johanna was sorry that she was trying to vent her frustrations in the past few weeks. But she had to speak her mind, it was the only way.

The monsters agreed with her, it was just strange that a human was speaking against its own kind.

“Still, I believe in my faith, and I know that we are probably only under one god in this world, one way or the other we are also part of this world and we have the right to fight for it,-” she touched her chest to make a better point “-I don’t want the history to say that it was monsters that saved the world while the humans fought themselves, let us humans do our part!”

There was silence in the crowd of monsters, but Daigo who was listening silently glared.

“Words are nothing… action speaks louder than words, what can humans do better than the monsters?-” the ogre glared at Johanna. “You are weak! I could break you into pieces in a mere seconds!” it was a threat.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“I believe that you can do so… I’m not the strongest of my kind but I came here to prove a point… Daigo… fight me!” she declared and the ogre stood up.

“In honor of Skulk sparing me, I would not kill you… I accept!” the ogre looked at the approval of the lords who were silent, especially Skulk.

“No problem for me!” Skulk reacted immediately and the others began doing so in his lead.

Wolf: “I wanna watch a good fight!”

Lamia: “No problem.”

Owl: “I will bring some herbs.”

Fox: “This should be interesting!”

Dragonoid: “So be it!”

Daigo then pointed at her “Pick a place and we fight there!”

“Thank you for accepting, we have a space near my house, 2 days from now,” she said.

<--->

It was already dark and Skulk visited a familiar place, the first place he thought of as his first solace. It was already remade as a house for the old woman, the first one who taught him. There was still light there, a wolf was stationed near and it immediately recognized him.

He arrived at the door and knocked a few times. The wood of the house began to creak, it was coming from the first floor, and the old woman opened the door.

“Good evening, are you still working?” Skulk greeted and showed her a bundle of leaves, it was her favorite dried pears, the smell dictated it.

“Come on in! You’ve been busy, right? If you don’t mind me working, welcome!” Johanna said. There was a smile on her face, any visit from a friend would warrant a joy to her.

Skulk entered and there was a chair there, it had still been there since his last visit.

“You actually visited me,-” Johanna immediately opened the leaves and took one to put it in her mouth “Mhm ~ this really makes me smile!” she said flashing a vibrant smile. She placed the dried pears on the work table by clearing some of her tools, she sat back at her chair and began weaving again.

“I’m actually here to dissuade you from the battle,” a sudden declaration from Skulk.

“Really? Why?” she asked.

“My words mean something now, and humans don't even know what is happening in the forest,-” Skulk sat in the chair “-You don’t have to do this.”

“Of course… Skulk, humans only have finite lives, we are easily influenced too, but you, you will probably live longer,-” she was speaking without stopping her work “-We humans leave our legacy through our offsprings and if not through legends and myth, through time you can probably bend the truth but the dragon and the snake would know what really happen.”

She then took out the cloth that she was weaving and aimed it at the candle to check if there was anything she missed “Legends come from true events, I don’t want my legend to be a falsehood, there is also an option of me not doing anything but my faith is telling me to act for the good of mankind.” she placed back the cloth to the wooden machine. “Do you understand?”

“Yeah… do you have a plan? How would you beat Daigo?” Skulk was worried for her. Although he would act kind and an immovable stone in front of the monsters he remained vulnerable in front of the old woman.

“Got a plan don’t you worry,-” Johanna then using her mouth, pursed it behind her, there was a line of standing wooden mannequins that had some dresses on it. “The second one from the left is my burial clothes, what do you think?”

“Stop joking! I could pull some strings if you-” but before Skulk finished to voice out his worries for her she stopped and stared at the goblin.

“I’m just informing you just in case, even though I have a plan it's not a surefire, rather it is a gamble, everything is a gamble,” she said as the lines on her face relaxed, and she breathed a sigh.

The goblin was the first one to look down, he was worried for her, in some reason, she considered Johanna as his mother if not grandmother. She was an amazing person, she taught him everything that he knew. From the meaning of levels vs the hard work, the skills, and the proper usage of it.

“I still got time, I will be preparing tomorrow, the beavers even volunteered to help me when I was asking for help, those bunch is such sweet rodents!” she laughed as she remembered the first time she saw the beavers, she was glad that she knew of them “The monkeys are also drafting a new spring, the moles have already agreed to making them.” another news from the old woman.

“I see, then I will be visiting you tomorrow too!” Skulk said. It's funny how the old woman knew how to put his worries at ease.

The two began talking, the way they used to when the old woman was still training him. The ideas and perspective of Skulk really amazed the old woman, he was empathetic with monsters and humans.

<--->

The air was humid, the droplets of water played the rhythmic sound that was the background of the battle that was going to be happening that day.

The whole forest was aware of the happening, Razorback the wolf, one of the lords happily wagged his tail in anticipation of the battle. The beavers who were the eager fan of Johanna brought some kind of wooden drums to cheer for their favorite human.

All of the lords were already there except Fenn who was sleeping at the moment.

“Daigo! Have fun! I have never fought a human before but my father said that they are really crafty!” The wolf advised the large ogre who was currently meditating while waiting for the old human.

“Razorback, would you stop nagging me and stop wagging your tail, it's distracting me!” Daigo complained of the wolf’s demeanor but it just made the canine wag its tail faster.

“She’s here,-” the Dragonoid said. Horus has been keeping his Dragonoid form every time he would attend gatherings, it was really a convenient form. “-Good luck to you Daigo, I will intervene if needed.”

The old woman would never be familiar with the overwhelming feeling whenever she saw the gathering of the powerful monsters of the forest, “I’m here! I am ready!” she declared herself to the crowd, her house was just nearby but she needed time to prepare her mind.

“I Daigo! The last Ogre is here to fight you!” Daigo screamed as he snapped out of his meditation. He faced the old woman ready for anything.

“Get on position!!” Lammy screamed commanding the two to take their place.

There was no arena or walls to mark the center of the battlefield but the monsters began making space to circle the field. By instinct, they stood on whenever they willed.

“Raise your limb if you are ready!” Lammy said again as the facilitator of the battle, the two raised their hands. “Fight!!”

The crowd roared and the two responded with a rush of charge. The two began running to meet in the middle. The ogre immediately wielded his club that was hanging behind his back. The old woman drew her Mythril sword.

Daigo began with an upper swing while the woman opted to dodge the club by rolling to the side, she landed a cut on the ogre’s knees but it only staggered the ogre as the wound immediately healed.

“That is crazy healing!!” the old woman commented. She immediately dodge again as the ogre sweeps his club after hitting the ground. The old woman regained her feet and just had to ask, “Can I use magic can I?” but she already began casting magic on her sword to engulf it with flame.

This skill was not in her status screen, she learned it from the Spell Blade.

“Do what you want! I will not even use magic on you!” Daigo answered back as he began another attack.

“You said it!” Johanna smiled, the ogre was clearly underestimating her, just how it should be.

She then waved her hand, she used the droplets of the rain sending it to the face of the ogre. It blinded the ogre but it didn’t stop his charge. The next attack was a blind sweep.

“Damn! Stop sweeping!!!” the old lady complained as she controlled water magic to create a mudslide.

“Urgh!!!” Daigo slipped as he swung his club, he missed the attack as he slipped before reaching his intended reach.

It was too effective, the ogre was now on the ground, he used his other hand to remove the mud on his face but the old woman was there launching a downward attack. She was aiming for the hands of Daigo that was holding the club.

“Aargh!” she landed a clean cut severing some of the Daigo’s fingers. The searing sword effectively closed the wound as she cut. It disrupted the regenerating power of the ogre. A certain goblin’s tip was working in wonders. “Its going to grow back right?” Johanna said.

“I can still use my other hand!” Daigo muttered as he used his other hand to grab on the club.

Blinded by his rage and ego the ogre swung another attack but this time to his surprise the old woman stood her ground ready for the attack.

“Got you numb skull!” Johanna said as she carefully parried the club, aiming her sword just below the middle of the club. The club slipped out of Daigo’s hands. “This sword is great!” she screamed, if it were a normal sword then it would have bent.

Daigo understood what happened, everything was planned, him going down and him slipping his club off his hands but what’s next? The ogre closed his fist, he would bring it down to a brawl. To his surprise the old woman threw her sword and began running to him, was she mad? Still, a smile cracked on his face.

“Human!!” he screamed as he threw the first punch.

Johanna deftly dodged it by ducking down without even stopping her charge. She slid down between the ogre's legs throwing a punch there. The ogre instantly felt it when the “You know what was hit.”

“Aargh!!” the ogre who had a very high tolerance against pain screamed in pain as he held his nether regions.

Johanna using the Fire Sword

Lammy: “That’s one of your skills Skulk?”

Skulk: “Yep!”

Horus: “You can use skills that are not in your set?” the Dragonoid wondered in amazement, no wonder Skulk wanted him to teach him how he made swords.

Johanna parrying the club off Daigo’s hands

Razorback: “She parried the club! Awoo!” (Tail wagging, splashing mud to the kin of the snake who was watching)

Beavers: “War Maiden Go! War Maiden go!” (Chanting while tapping their tail in the rhythm of their chant) Author’s note: If you watched Japanese anime, high school students cheering squads, it's like that.

Low punch to the “You know what”

All the boys held their groin. Feeling empathy for the pain Daigo was experiencing.

Skulk: “It's going to regenerate right?”

Lammy: “But if it bursts from the inside then he needs to pull it off”

Razorback: “Shit!!!” Wolf whimpers just imagining it.

Daigo immediately recovered he faced back to confront the old woman but as he did she was already gone.

“Your senses are too numb from pain! You didn’t even feel me climbing behind your back!” Johanna screamed as she pulled Daigo’s ears.

The ogre reacted by trying to grab the old woman from his back but Johanna was good at dodging it and finally while waiting she grabbed Daigo’s pinky and thumb pulling it up behind him exposing his underarms. She wrapped Daigo’s arm around his neck and pulled it on the other way around.

The ogre struggled but Johanna pursed her lips to make one of Daigo’s feet slip down. The large piece of meat fell down face first.

“Yield!!!” Johanna screamed.

“No!!” Daigo remained sturdy and was still eager to fight.

“I could crush your eggs over and over again in this position… I won’t show you mercy!!” it was definitely a threat, even the boys who were watching felt the fear and pain.

“... I yield!” and Daigo had to. He just had to.