NEW LEADER

Ming looked at the butchered corpse of a Jaga, the spilled blood turning dark and coagulating onto the leafy floor. Nearby the disemboweled beast, and scattered like lifeless leaves; on the floor, bent over buttress roots or dangling from branches, a host of defeated goblins accompanied the Jaga on its final journey.

“Why?”

He said, turning to the short green companion whose legs trembled at the sight of the dangerous predator. Ming pointed to the corpses while shrugging with his talking hands.

The goblin squatted while pointing at itself and then motioned with his hands, sweeping away the leaves and twigs on the ground, clearing the path at the front. It could not help in chattering a reply.

“Goblin Tide, overrun all enemies, collect spoils later.”

Ming gazed at the scene again. These goblins had penetrating wounds or ripped throats associated with direct combat. He could not fathom what drove the sneaky ambushers to this type of ruthless suicidal killing. He did not understand the meaning of the words Goblin Tide.

“I want to follow the Leader, take me to him.”

Ming said with his hands. He became certain that the goblin army would strike at the farm. Hopefully, he may arrive in time to render some assistance.

“Let’s go Pug.”

The little companion stomped its foot in disapproval, but in the end, decided to accede to the request.

If they ended up being spotted and surrounded, it could always yell and stab the boy as a turncoat. Of course, if they succeeded in an escape, then the human would fulfill its promised agreement.

Humans, after all, did not possess the intellectual superiority to plan ahead and think about betrayal as an option. Pug inwardly sighed at this fleeting fortune. Countless goblins have dreamed of his claim-- a stupid human under his beck and call.

Hopefully, he would not end up bumping into any raiders on the way.

The journey through the forest proved uneventful for a time. Ming had never walked for so long without encountering any beast. Even the predators that frequented the trees, seemed to have vanished. Not even a whistle or hoot, resounded as the darkness fell.

Pug puffed out his chest, knowing full well all this resulted from the Goblin Tide. Soon the predators and habitual creatures would slowly prod and reclaim this void land, but for now, it belonged to the goblins. Once their numbers in the forest dwindled, then the goblins would join the list of the hunted.

They darted between trees, sneaking behind rocks and fallen trunks under the light from the full moon. With autumn close to ending, the shedding branches made way for columns of moonlight to puncture through to the forest floor.

“Wait. Keep quiet.”

Pug signaled to the shivering human.

The small goblin crept forward peaking from behind a tree. He skittled back to Ming, the faint moonlight displaying the panic on his face. Within a few breaths, he helped kick the boy into a space between some large roots of a tree, while covering him with some fallen leaves. The deed had just been completed when two goblins cautiously walked past.

"Oh, it's just another deserter. Had me going there for a minute."

Two goblins glanced over before hastening their steps. The one who spoke thumped his skeletal chest in relief.

"The vanguard is so screwed. The Shaman is going to flail Lord Pocong this time. By the way, did you eat some old human or something, you smell terrible."

Pug kicked at the pile of forest litter, indicating the time to leave. They had only taken a few steps before having to hide again. Stragglers passed by in the forest as if on the main street of a town. Some of the goblins scampered, still possessed by fear. Others crawled or limped past, with dejection and horror written on their faces.

Aware of the danger, Ming found a hollow log to crouch into as a hiding spot. Pug stood beside the fallen tree, having an animated discussion on how to proceed. The two had just decided to wait until the retreating goblins left the area before continuing on their journey.

Poor Pug could not voice or find the hand signals to inform Ming that the Goblin Tide had been crushed by the devil spawns living on a human farm. Ming, on the other hand, could not stop himself from panicking. Who knows what the goblins were doing to the farm. A harsh shout interrupted their animated discussion.

"By the Bones!"

Pug dropped his jaw while his limbs wobbled on hearing the words. His raised hands currently in the middle of chatting drooped to his side, limp and devoid of power.

Limping out into the clearing, Lord Pocong gaze fell on the goblin mime. After tasting a bitter defeat, the heavens just had to place this idiot into his path. What made it worse was that the goblin stank like refuse and seemed to take pride in performing a solo play.

"Die you creature of misfortune!"

***

Mr. Thomas walked around the walls holding onto a spear in his one hand. Prodding every goblin corpse he encountered, he made certain that no survivors lay among them pretending. The weapons remained reloaded and ready for use, while Jim walked with a box of bolts to restock the towers.

"I have finished sweeping the wall from the east gate, until here. There are no goblins alive within the walls."

Rugol said coming across. While the others rested and had something to drink, he and some of the others assigned to the east tower moved around offering assistance. The two walked towards the barn under the light from the bonfires on the ground, and torches on the walls.

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"That's good. Some of the women have decided to help in keeping watch on the walls while allowing others to rest. Toll has signaled everything is ok at the windmill. Maybe we should have some of the defenders switch with him, he must be vexed on having to miss out on the battle."

Mr. Thomas commented. He turned his head up towards the command platform, only to find Miki sulking under the lighting torch fixed onto a post.

"Where is Chu?"

He asked, the girl. The expression looking down at him told him he did not want to know the answer. For some reason, his blood pressure began to rise.

"Out in the forest, He and Lucy fled there after the retreating goblins, saying it was important. By the way, I am in charge of command, what do you need."

The clearly victimized girl did not forget to assume her role at the end. Mr. Thomas however, did not follow her words, having been lost in the very first statement. His face turned red as his blood boiled.

"Again?! What the hell is wrong with these brats!"

He roared in anger. His chest heaved for a minute as he then regained his composure.

"Exactly Elder. I told them not to go alone."

Miki said.

Mr. Thomas breathed deeply a few times, thinking he had raised at least one sensible warrior. The following words crushed that hope.

"I begged him to take me, but he refused. I should have sneaked out behind him... humph."

***

Ming saw the thin legs wobbling in front of him, before hearing the gruff voice of another goblin. He did not know the status of this goblin who spotted them, but the sight and voice of the newcomer seemed to turn Pug into jelly. He heard the crunching of the detritus, composed of leaves and dry branches.

Along with the sounds of the approaching uneven footsteps, something else dragged on the ground. Seeing the state of Pug, and not hearing the chattering that accompanied a large party of goblins, Ming decided to act. Peeking out from the hideout, Pug had a face of despair-- as if waiting on death.

Ming could not bear to lose his guide at this critical moment.

Without the scout, not only would he have to worry about being ambushed in the dark forest, but he would be lost. Ming realized that he had placed too much faith on Lucy, Dyna, and Jim when hunting in the forest.

Lord Pocong dragged his three-feet long cleaver-like sword on the littered ground, pulling it painfully behind him. He limped towards the mime, gripping the weapon with his usable hand. His right shoulder had been pierced by an arrow, while his left foot had nearly been nailed to the grassland.

"You spawn of misfortune. This time I will kill you to ease my humiliation. This will be my last action before fleeing to my tribe. The goblin Shaman will never find me... hahaha."

The large goblin roared in agony as he gripped his large sword with both hands, raising it towards the moon. In one stroke he cleaved the little goblin, paralyzed by pure fear. The only reaction Pug could courageously muster was to close his eyes.

Clang!

The sound of biting steel, rang out in the forest, shaking Pug out of his deathly trance. He stumbled backward on the first view that greeted him.

Ming held his borrowed sword above his head, parrying the blow from the ugly-looking bully in front of him. He might not be able to make out any archers hiding between the distant trees, but he could fight a melee battle under the bright full moon. Especially when the lack of leaves, encouraged the moonbeams to light the forest floor.

"Pug, is this flabby guy your cave bully?"

Ming asked while launching a kick into the exposed stomach of the bloated goblin. His foot sank into the belly, before blasting the goblin in a backward stumble.

Uffff!

Bleurgh!

Lord Pocong wanted to scream in rage, but the situation did not allow him to vent. In the middle of splitting the miserable goblin in two, a human materialized out of the forest and blocked his attack. Sneering while talking, the human then humiliated him further by kicking him in the gut.

His lungs emptied themselves with a forced whooshing sound, after which, the contents of his stomach soon followed. Recovering from the inflicted daze, he found himself sitting sprawled on his ass, and by some miracle still clutching his sword.

He saw the human making some animated movements with his hands at Pug, before pointing at him.

"Look at this guy, Pug. How can you be scared of someone like this? Even Clod would beat this bully to the ground."

Ming muttered while stepping towards the goblin brute. The large goblin struggled to stand, as if in agony, then made a sneak attack with a horizontal slash.

Years of dedicated training, however, made such attacks useless against the teen. Ming easily parried the strike before punching the goblin in the face.

Under the cracking of broken bones, the large goblin yelled in pain and retreated.

The only consolation from this strike-- Lord Pocong did not have to smell that awful stench any longer.

Pug stood at the side, witnessing this epic battle. The human, his human had the once mighty Lord Pocong on the throes of defeat. Not only did the great general not have a chance to make a successful strike, but for the first time, Pug saw fear on that face.

Comparing the two combatants, Pug wondered why he had always been so scared in the first place. The general had the same size as his human companion who he took for granted.

"Damn you, lowly scout. You sided with a despicable human. Curse you and your tribe!"

Lord Pocong screamed while holding onto his broken nose.

Pug stepped forward for the first time, his feet no longer shaking. Standing boldly at the side of Ming he corrected the general.

"Pug does not side with humans, lowly scum. This human is Pug's slave. Tremble before Pug's might!"

Before the general could react, Pug raised his hands, displaying the notched bow. An arrow whistled in short flight, embedding itself into the neck of the general. Lord Pocong tried to scream but only a gurgling sound broke through the still night.

The Vanguard hero stumbled on his weakening feet, crashing into a tree. He leaned against the trunk, clawing for support. His fingers finally released his blade as he raised them to cup and stem the spurting blood falling from his neck.

The arrow had whether by intent or luck, punctured his artery.

Blood flowed freely dying the fallen leaves black in the moonlight.

Lord Pocong finally succumbed to his wound, issuing a grunt before death. His bulging eyes showed the surprise and reluctance of dying at the hands of a lowly goblin.

Ming stabbed the goblin through his thick armor sending the blade deep into the chest of the creature. Satisfied, he leaned against a tree, listening for any signs of spectators hidden in the darkness.

Pug stood before him, the little frame offering some protection as a shield. Together they moved their hands animatedly in talk.

"Wow, so that guy was your leader huh? Wait a minute, by killing him will you become the new head or will you have to run away?"

Ming signed.

Pug gave a simple demonstration. If he took the head of the defeated vanguard back to the cave, he would gain a higher position. He grabbed his dagger and placed it by his own neck, then pointed at the late general. After some other signs, Ming understood.

A leader by force had to demonstrate strength. The teenager laughed as the goblin pointed out his lanky legs, and thin arms lacking muscular strength. The next contender might snap him like a twig.

Ming scanned the surroundings for any noise before rising. He signaled the goblin that they had wasted time and they had to hurry. He looked around before muttering out loud.

"Strange, we made so much noise and we didn't attract a single goblin. I thought by now we would have been surrounded... Pug don't you think my luck is great?"

Pug, on the other hand, stood trembling as his hands release the short bow, letting it fall to the ground.

In the darkness between the trees, but on the horizon of his vision, the yellow eyes of the legend appeared. It once scattered the creatures of the northern forest and had now returned. Even the goblin pickneys knew of the tales.

Goblin weapons were useless in the face of the wolf demon.

"Eh? What's up with you?"