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The Leaves of Yggdrasil

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Vast plains, drained of all colour, spread as far as the horizon. Through these gray lands, a stench of decay dominated all that remained. Toxic fumes escaped the dead ground as puffs of smoke. Even the last blade of grass had long since vanished from this place.

Gashes. Crevices. Ravines. Marks of immense proportions painted these lands. Hills of rubble lay where mountains once challenged the heavens. These lands had been plundered of life. A battle of immense proportions was fought here.

'They', beings that couldn't be described, had long since left this place. And in the wake of this war, one that was witnessed by many, a silent battlefield was all that remained.

In these apparently dead plains, however, small signs of life could be found. Deep in the hills, a tunnel network spread beneath a forest of dead trees. Creatures had come to settle in this deserted battlefield.

Endless trees of a magnificent forest had been reduced to an ash-gray state. Branches frozen in place with thorns as hard as a rock, blocked any light that descended. These massive gray trees, drained of life, were the last remnant of a glory that once was.

But underneath this canopy, a colony had settled.

Small impish creatures were nimbly moving over the poisoned roots. Goblins had scattered through the demolished mountain. Scavenging for things that weren't there, and ravaging the land even further for a meal or a single treasure to sustain their colony.

Fighting was no longer their goal. If that was ever their intention. No. These creatures were waiting for something else. Something that was almost here.

Like a hive mind, these goblins all crawled over the ground.

Branches were woven together in a prison of ash-gray thorns. Not a single one worried about threats from above as this dreary land protected them from the open skies.

Massive wolves, plucked bare of fur, ran between the crowd of creatures. Marked with scars. Branded with marks. Beasts, long since been tamed from their vicious nature, now served as mounts for larger goblins.

At least five had gathered near the largest entrance to the hill, which was hidden in the darkness of this maze.

One specific goblin stood out. Striding ahead of the others. A larger physique, almost as tall as a human, was covered with a cloak of fur. Fur that was skinned from one of these giant wolves.

Underneath this cloak, a deep green coloured skin was visible. Blood red eyes. A long crooked nose. And a long slit of a mouth, filled with knife-like serrated teeth, able to rip through flesh like a shark. The goblin peeked its head out and looked upwards before turning towards the entrance of their colony.

Utterly vicious eyes stared at the goblins gathered in a great cave. Eyes as red as a ruby. Not even a pupil was visible in these mad eyes.

As per its habit, the nails scratched the skin of the wolf. Sharper than daggers, the elongated fingers left a mark on its mount every time it dismounted.

Following their captain, four other riders dismounted. But unlike them, two other wolves stood inside the cave, each with a rider as mad as this one.

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However, as vicious as this one may be. With every step it took it couldn't help but lower its head. To the point that when the captain reached the center of the cave, he knelt down in the middle of the two others.

Three captains, each clothed with the fur of their mount. Each with eyes whose mere look could kill. Each carrying a stench heavier than the plains they were surrounded with. Yet each of them now showed utmost respect towards a creature in front of them.

“KchKchKHHKchKch.” A hissing and clacking sound intermittently sounded out. A deep and heavy echo sounded in the cave.

A straight long spine adorned with a skull and golden glowing eye sockets. With a touch of this staff, the creature stood up. It was hidden behind a cloak made of thick white fur, whiter than bones. But in the shadow of its hood two eyes were visible. Shining bright like stars.

The light that broke the shadow forced every goblin in this colony to kowtow even further. The entire colony had gathered.

The moment its staff tapped the ground, an immense reverberation rang out. Light shone from the outside of the cave, seemingly in response to the goblin. Or was it the other way around?

Every goblin started clicking their tongues. Their communication seemed rather primitive. Yet they were clearly using an advanced language.

“KhKHkHKHkkkhhh,” The King's voice sounded out once more. Its eyes stared past his three captains.

The ever-so-dark forest now showered them with an unseen light. The King knew. He knew what was about to happen. And so did the three veteran goblins in front of him.

Excitement filled the air yet in the presence of their King not a single sound could be heard other than the beating of hearts.

The two starlike eyes shone with ecstasy, it had been years, it had waited for this for a long time. From the source of light, tendrils seemingly crawled forward. Roots of light completely dominated their colony. And unlike what they had become familiar with, these roots had an unknown sense of life in them.

A fervent desire was shown and heard from each goblin present.

A ghastly white hand, as bony as the staff it held, was placed on top of the head of the middle captain. And like a mark of death, the moment it touched the captain every ounce of strength disappeared.

As overwhelming as his strength was, in front of its king, it dared not show resistance.

“KrrkkkrrrkkrrKH,” The King spoke out as he looked down with two shining white eyes.

“KhKHRkRkk,” The captain sounded back. The clicking noise was soft, not daring to intrude in its master's dominance and splendor.

Seemingly satisfied, the long bony fingers and nails retreated. The King tapped the staff once more. The staff was made from the spine of a monster. Mimicking the light entering from the outside, the staff started shining with a splendid gold. And once again, the King tapped the ground.

Every goblin suddenly shouted out as they witnessed the end of the ritual.

The King had decided.

These lands were done for.

They would be heading towards their next area.

However this time the entire colony would be moving.

With the reverberation of the staff that hit the ground, the skull on top finally shattered. From his grasp, a golden leaf, which shone with a radiant force of life, drifted upwards.

The ritual was over. The spell had been completed. And the roots of light, that surrounded the colony, quickly overwhelmed the entire lair as it absorbed the leaf.

Two starlight eyes shone brightly, a vicious grin showed his excitement.

The entire colony disappeared.

No, not just their colony. The entire hill they resided in vanished.

Now, only a crater was left in this ravaged world. The last mark of life vanished from this forest. Over the boundless plains, mountains, and forests, not a single life remained. Now, not even a goblin was left. The final vestige of life had disappeared.

But they were not alone. Across the world flashes of light erupted. Having found their next target, they had left their homes. Not a single place was left untouched.