Rogu and the others who left to go start working on the outpost Rick wished for, weren’t very far when Kris and Krel returned. It hadn’t even been a day since they had departed, so they were still only a couple hours away from the location.

Especially Rogu.

Who never intended to stay for the entire building of the outpost in the first place. His plan was just to help break ground on the project and secure the area before heading back towards Rick. And unlike he would usually do, he wasn’t leading the procession from the front, in fact he was hanging back about 30 yards behind the group which wasn’t moving that fast in the first place.

So even though they had been travelling for hours, they hadn’t gone all that far since most of the group was made up Tier 0 and 1 Goblins. Now combined that combined with Rogu’s distance from the group and his own natural senses befitting that of a Supreme Hobgoblin, it was no shocker that he heard the screams of Rick, or that he felt the aura that Rick was releasing in waves.

Rogu’s expression tightened the second he both heard and felt what he had. He quickly barked out some orders.

“Continue onwards and get the Outpost built with waste! The Future King is in trouble! I’ll be returning on my own!”

Of course, the second he said that all the Goblins present, especially the ones that were on his team, wanted to turn around and run with him. Of course, who could blame them? Protecting Rick, the person who will one day be crowned their King was both an honor and a necessity to them. It must be done, but they knew that they couldn’t compare to the impact of Rogu, plus regardless of any of that, his orders were absolute.

So, they pressed on with clenched fists while Rogu turned around and began rushing at breakneck speed towards Rick.

His natural superior strength to his lesser Tiered counter parts already set him far apart in terms of speed, but he then empowered his body with mana, and he was rushing through forest at a blistering pace.

If he continued at this pace, he would cut what would be a 6-hour journey for a Tier 0 Goblin down to just a few minutes.

Of course…when it came to battle a few minutes was a truly long time.

~~~

With green flames reaching from his fists to his elbows, Rick rampaged through the battlefield with a mad light in his eyes. He delivered punch after punch to even more maddened Orcs who were busy trying to kill each other with reckless abandon.

His fists danced through the battle like fireflies flying through the night sky. Though unlike fireflies, the fists of Rick were connecting and leaving a gory mess after each connection.

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Rick took off towards an Orc that had his back facing him, and with a roar he drove his flaming fist straight through his back, through his spine, and all the out of the other side. He quickly pulled his fist back, pushed the Orc’s body to the side and lunged straight at the Orc he was fighting before quickly dodging the Orc was already in the process of delivering and sent a fist straight at his head, bursting his skull in the process.

This berserk like atmosphere and rampage went on for a few more minutes, with the other Goblins having very little room to interfere or play a part.

By the end of it all, Rick was standing in the middle of the battle with a body in his hand.

This was the scene Rogu saw once he appeared.

It lit a fire in him.

To see his one’s King or leader, standing victorious in the middle of a battlefield surrounded by the bodies of his enemies, was a sight most warriors would enjoy and be empowered by, Rogu of course was no different.

But he wouldn’t allow himself to be distracted by the jubilation he felt in this moment. This was indeed a battlefield. One that wasn’t planned nor foreseen. An error on his part.

Though before Rogu could make his way towards Rick and apologize for his mistakes. Rick dropped the body in his hand and started speaking.

“Kris and Krel come here. Rogu, it’s good you made it back. Take the others and evacuate all Goblin tribes right now. Bring every single Goblin in the plains here. If you run into Orcs or any of the other races and they pose a problem, then kill them. No mercy. All Goblins need to be evacuated immediately. Geedi take the Royal Goblins and the fallen body of your member and go back to the tribe. Once there do not leave. Do not let Jaba and the others leave either. You all are not strong enough. Do not complain, just do it. This is not your battle. Move now.”

Geedi would’ve likely hesitated and complained about staying, but the tone in Rick’s voice plus the fact he even went out of his way to tell her not to complain told her enough. Even Rogu would’ve liked to give his insight here, but if nothing else he was a General, and if a General wasn’t going to follow the orders of his King, then he was no General at all.

So, after a series of “Yes, My Lord, and Yes, Chief”, a small team of Hobgoblins led by Rogu departed to the plains to carry out Rick’s orders, while Geedi and the others quickly gathered the body of their fallen companion and began the two-month trek back home to the tribe.

The only remaining Goblins in the clearing were Rick and of course Kris and Krel who he told to remain behind.

Both of whom were silently kneeling just a few feet away.

“Rest first, we will talk in a moment.”

Was all Rick said to them before he himself took a seat right where he was standing among the bodies.

[Are you sure sending them away to evacuate the tribes now is the right idea? We could’ve waited until we got information from Kris and Krel.]

‘No. The Orcs were able to send out an entire squad of Tier 4 Orcs just to chase two Goblins. They are strong. And regardless of what information they have. The chances that the Orcs have some inclination that stronger Goblins have arrived in the plains is high enough. Waiting any longer is too risky. Rogu is a Tier 5. I’m willing to bet on the fact he can handle most threats.

‘It’s not like we have other forces to back him up with. This battle just proved to me that strength matters more than I realized. Throwing tens of weak Goblins at a singular Tier 4 would be nothing but a massacre. So, there is no use in waiting. I also have no more patience for them.’