‘Do you think the fact that I only need three essence but have five to absorb will cause a problem?’

[Not sure, more information is required. Perhaps It will be left alone? Or maybe stored until your evolution is completed. We won’t know unless you try.]

‘Figures..well might as well do it. Absorb, please.’

[Understood.]

After experiencing the weird absorbing feeling that Rick still can’t get used to no matter how many times he does it, he brought his status back up.

{Name - Rick}

{Age - 20}

{Race - Royal Goblin}

{Essence - 0}

{Evo Points - 180/180} - Evolve?

{Health - 80/80}

{Strength - 62}

{Agility - 57}

{Intelligence - 53}

{Endurance - 59}

{Skills}

{Velora}

‘So it really took it all..It’s only two essence but I hope I get it back after I evolve. Also I know I just need to evolve to see, but do you think this evolution will bring about a whole bunch of changes like the previous ones? From Tier 0 to Tier 1 I, I gained these black tribal-like tattoos, and I didn’t have a potbelly anymore when the regular goblins like Jaba did. From Tier 1 to Tier 2, not only did my tattoos get bigger, I had a lucid dream with some god apparently, and I gained you. Will all my evolutions be that way? Is it because I’m a Royal perhaps?’

[It is reasonable to expect more differences as you evolve. As you’ve just stated, you are a Royal. It is ingrained in your blood to be a step above the masses of your race. I’m not currently aware of the type of changes you should expect, but I would advise you prepare for them mentally at least.]

‘Your right..well no use in delaying it, Evolve!’

[Understood.]

Going back a few minutes ago to when Rick got up from around the fire. The rest of the Goblins stayed seated for a while longer, until Kida finally spoke again.

“I don’t know what everyone thinks of everything Mr. Rick said, but I think it changes a lot..If he really is this Royal thing from birth, which I believe he is.” Kida paused a bit to let her words sink in and then continued.

“I’m not entirely sure about how important that he is a Royal is, but it sounds very important, and I think we need to change some things. First, how do we address him? He didn’t really like being called Leader, so I called him Mr. Rick, but it should be something else...there’s other things I can think of but I’m still new here, so I don’t know how everything works. Do you guys have any thoughts on this?”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Of course, It was Geedi who spoke up first. Though with a lot less animosity than she initially planned.

“You're right…you are new here. I think we need to go over in detail where you all came from and what your goals are here, but in the meantime…I agree with you…Now that the Leader is back things need to change, especially with the fact that he is this all important Royal. What do you think Jaba, you probably know how to go about this best.”

Jaba took a moment to collect his thoughts and then spoke in a somewhat serious tone.

“…I have been doing a lot of thinking about something similar since before Rick even came back. We have a lot more Goblins now since the time he left months ago but based on what I know of Rick and his personality, this won’t be the last time he runs off on some adventure, not that we would try and stop him as it seems to bring benefits. He even brought back…new…goblins. Or at least new to us.

"So I’ve long been thinking that we need to give Rick his own team or something that will follow him around and help fight his battles. I’m even more ready to do this now that we know he is a Royal, even though I also don’t fully understand everything that means, I do realize that it’s important, and for some reason I feel a strong urge to want to protect him even more. I’m not sure who will make up this squad that only follows Rick, but I really do think we should do it. What do you all think about that?”

Everyone sat in contemplation for a couple minutes digesting everything Jaba said, but it was during this time that the tent Rick entered began to shine brightly.

With the light pouring out through the many holes in the tent from the poor ‘stitching’ job to link all the rabbit hides together. Of course, all the Goblins currently in the cave noticed it, and had various looks of awe, and astonishment on their faces.

“He is evolving again…this is good, the Leader of the tribe should always be the strongest!” Said an excited Geedi.

“I evolved to Tier two before him, yet not only did he catch up but now he passed me as well. You're right Geedi, this is good, but I wonder how he is evolving so fast? I don’t really know how to explain it but I don’t really feel all that close to being Tier three…I didn’t understand the feeling even a little back then, but after I woke up when Rick brought me back to the tribe after we survived that terrible beast we ran into, my body felt like it longed for more, and I gave into those feelings and evolved right there. But it feels like that’s extremely far off for me. How about everyone else?”

“It’s the same for me too Jaba, I felt that same longing for both my Tier one and Tier two evolutions, but right now it feels like it will take a very long time to reach Tier three…I don’t really know how to explain the feeling either, but I can feel…something giving me the idea that it will be a while to evolve again.”

After Dal responded to Jaba, everyone else kind of just chimed in with their own experiences to evolving, and although they all described the feeling to evolve differently it was very similar between them, another thing to note was that the ones still at Tier one like Zargi didn’t feel that same chasm to reach Tier two that Jaba and the others felt to reach Tier three.

Instead, he described it as something that was somewhat within his reach. Of course, no one knew exactly what they were all feeling with certainty, but it did give them all somewhat of a confirmation that Rick was evolving through the Tiers particularly fast. And for some reason they weren’t too surprised by it.

They didn’t move to immediately finish discussing their previous topic regarding how to treat Rick going forward, as they all just sat there, taking a few moments to stare at Rick’s tent in admiration while awaiting the finish to his evolution.

It was Tars who woke them up for the lul of watching Rick’s tent and brought them back to the discussion.

“I think we should finish this talk before he wakes up. Jaba, I think your plan to give the Leader his own dedicated team that will follow him around and help him do things is a good one, but they can't be too weak, so one of us should do it, along with lets say..hmm…five Tier one Goblins? I will volunteer myself for the role. If no one has any complaints I will even go and pick out the five Goblins who will be a part of the team right now. Actually, I’ll just go ahead and do that.”

Before anyone could really digest everything Tars was saying, he got up and immediately left, walking briskly towards the exit before quickly disappearing outside to pick his new team members.

Of course he had a slight smirk on his face the entire time…but his plan wouldn’t go that smoothly as everyone else finally caught on, Geedi, Kida,Zargi, Jaba, Dal, and the usually quiet Lagi and Sigi all got up and ran after Tars, it was easy to tell they all wanted to be on this team following Rick around.

Which of course left Dran and Wala sitting dumbfounded around the fire pit.

“...So Dran..have you noticed the state of these..tents..” Said Wala, who was usually a little fiery but appeared somewhat disgusted.

“Yes I have..I think we have a lot of work to do.”