MONGUL

The Goblin King stood with an air of confident nonchalance. Even though he was obviously older he looked like someone in his mid teens ,his smooth, pale green skin seeming almost luminescent in the flickering light. Red markings, like intricate tattoos, danced across his exposed chest, arms, and face, accentuating his inhuman yet stunning features. His eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intensity, and his facial structure was both sharp and delicate, with high cheekbones and a pointed chin. Pointed ears, adorned with a ruby earring hanging from the left one, added to his ethereal beauty. A single red line traced its way up his right eye, encircling a short grey horn that protruded from his forehead above his eye, giving him an unmistakable aura of power. His chest was left uncovered, revealing the intricate network of runes and lines that crisscrossed his skin. A flowing, dark blue robe covered his legs, cinched at the waist by a long belt that he threw casually over his left shoulder. A loose piece of cloth wrapped around his waist, hanging freely like a banner. Golden bracelets adorned the tops of his arms, near his shoulders, and his wrists were encircled by three-part golden cuffs, adding a touch of regal splendor to his already imposing presence he also had gold rings in all his ten fingers and his fingernails were white and had a polished sheen.

The air was heavy with tension as the Goblin King turned his attention to Kojo. His eyes, like two burning embers, glowed with an inner fire as he studied Kojo. A low, menacing chuckle rumbled in his throat, sending a shiver down Kojo's spine.

"So you're the one who took down one of my generals? I must say, I'm a bit disappointed. You don't look like much."

Kojo's eyes narrowed, his grip on his sword tightening. He knew that looks could be deceiving, and he wasn't about to underestimate the Goblin King. He felt a shiver crawl down his spine. This wasn't mere intimidation.

‎"Appraisal?" Kojo thought to himself.

Sysia's voice echoed in his mind.

( Yes,He's sizing you up calculating assessment of your current condition. And what I can say is that this doesn't look good.)

" How bad is it?" Kojo asked.

( Your currently on low battery. You expended a significant portion of your energy confronting Faust, and the remainder was consumed when you attempted to face Ned Necro. You're currently operating at a fraction of your peak.)

" Hey! What do you mean attempted?"

( Nows not that time, focus.)

" Sorry."

The Goblin King nodded to himself, a sly grin spreading across his face.

‎ "You can't face me in this state. I sensed a powerful force here. You probably expended all your energy in dealing with it. It's doubtful you'd be able to face me even at your normal power levels let alone now." He said.

Kojo narrowed his eyes and flared at the Mongul. Under normal circumstances he'd have taken. That statement very personally and raced forward to beat him up just to debunk that point. But the Goblin was right,he was running on fumes.

Kojo gritted his teeth, his mind racing with possibilities. He knew that he was at a disadvantage, having used most of his energy against Faust and the remainder to face Ned Necro.

(We can't afford to take any risks.)

" I know." Kojo responded trying desperately to come up with a solution.

‎"I can use my skill 'Leach' to drain his energy and charge myself up," Kojo thought to himself. Sysia's response was immediate. (I've calculated the probability of success, Kojo. There's a 30% chance that it might work, but we don't know why he's here and what he's after. What we do know is that he's strong enough to destroy a physical body with ease. He's not to be underestimated.)

She was right he didn't know enough to just rush in and he couldn't take the chance of going up close and personal with a danger he didn't fully understand.

" Goblin King, huh?" Kojo muttered as he drew up his plans. His eyes widened as he suddenly remembered something Sasha has said a while back while they were in the Capitol.

" He's a swords man like me but uses flames to an unfathomable degree . His flames are so hot they can burn your very soul. I was able to rise the rankings by killing that Wraith dragon that appeared at our border but now I have to drop down to his level."

This wasn't just any opponent. This was one of the Ten Elites.

Kojo considered teleporting the Goblin King away using Warp, but the thought was quickly dismissed. This was no ordinary foe. They didn't know how fast he was or the mode If transportation he used.If he was able to come all the way from his nation in a matter of moments then he'd just return in the same way. Ut could also take a while and by the time he'd return Kojo would have regained some of his energy. That chance was slim and he wasn't willing to test an uncertain theory. Aside that the act of teleportation itself would drain his already depleted energy reserves further.

Kojo then wondered if he could, maybe, he could talk his way out of this.

Don't misunderstand, Kojo wasn't a coward. He wouldn't back down from a fight and was ever ready to run a fade. But sometimes, one had to compromise their convictions and in this situation, compromise was the only viable option.

(And even if you decided to fight with or without backup,fighting here would cause further devastation to the city. ) Sysia added.

"I don't really care much about Decorum," the Goblin King said, his voice cutting through Kojo's thoughts. "I know Krone was the ringleader. In answer to your thoughts,I kept him close by so as to prevent him from going too far and starting a war. I chose to ignore when he used his position as my officer to gather an army to attack the humans. If I'm being honest, he provided me with some relief from my boredom. But they more annoying than entertaining. But they were still my people. And I cannot tolerate the senseless slaughter of my people."

" Are you crazy?" Kojo asked, raising his eyebrow.

" First off I never wondered about that crap. I don't care. What I care about is getting your ass outta my city. Also how is deriving entertainment from his actions against the kingdom entertainment. If your wanted to stop a war,you did a terrible job at doing so."

" You address me that way knowing about your current situation?" The king asked with an eyebrow raised.

" Without due respect." Kojo responded.

" I see. Well since you're being honest then I'll be as well. I'm here because of the deaths of my nieces. I sensed when two of them were killed and the third is being Surpressed."

Kojo looked puzzled. Nieces?What did this guys nieces have to do with anything? Then the realization hit him and his eyes widened.

( Neph,Hagar and Heira.)

"Those were his nieces?" Kojo wondered genuinely confused.

" But I don't understand.How is he a Mongul, and they're just Orgres? Shouldn't they be as powerful as he is or at least close to his level. And why were they involved with Decorum when they were royalty?"

(Goblins have a strict caste system.)Sysia explained.

(The Mongul is the highest class, born once every few thousand years due to the unpredictable nature of their genes. They possess an innate affinity for fire magic, granting them unparalleled mastery over flames, as well as massive Arcana pools, allowing them to wield immense magical power. Monguls are also highly resistant to magic, poison, physical damage, extreme temperatures, and corrosion. Additionally, they possess 'Infernal Regeneration,' rapidly healing from fatal injuries, and have enhanced senses, including infrared vision, acute hearing, and a heightened sense of smell. They can also manipulate the earth, summoning rocks and debris to aid them in combat, and possess a special ability called 'Pyroclastic Flow,' which enables them to generate intense waves of heat and flames that can incinerate entire armies. Furthermore, Monguls can affect the world by manipulating its fundamental forces through fire, allowing them to warp physical laws as they see fit. With a deep understanding of the fundamental forces of the flow of magic, they solidify their position as the pinnacle of goblin evolution, above the Ogre, Hobgoblin, and ordinary goblin.)

"Okay, so he's overpowered. Big deal," Kojo muttered, rolling his eyes.

(Normally, this wouldn't be a significant factor when facing an opponent of equal or greater power. However...)

"I'm currently not in top form."

(And he seems to have no intention of talking.)

"Well, so much for that."

" So," the goblin King continued clapping his hands.

" For every goblin killed, two humans will die in their place. As for those you and your people captured... I will kill them myself, and then take a life for each."

The temperature of the entire city block began to rise dramatically. The Goblin King's aura erupted in a fiery blaze, engulfing him in a sea of blue flames. The snow on the ground began to melt, then boil, and finally evaporate into thin air all at once.

‎"He's holding back," Kojo noticed, his eyes narrowing.

"Don't give me that look." the Goblin King said, his voice a low, menacing growl. "I hope to thoroughly enjoy this fight. That's why I've toned down a bit. Be grateful that I have come down to your level."

"Now," the Goblin King said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation,

"come at me."

" No you come at me" Kojo yelled back. The goblin took a step forward but was engulfed by a whirlwind. Kojo had created an oxygen only vacuum around him and made a barrier around the goblin King by clenching his fist.

He watched as the goblin was consumed by his own flames.

" That's quite the interesting technique." The goblin King said from behind Kojo.

" But it doesn't matter if your too slow to implement it." He swung his arm at Kojo who was in the middle of turning. His fist connected but at that instant Kojo grabbed his arm and pulled him close. The goblin King took advantage of this and punched a hole in his chest but that was a clone.

The real Kojo appeared from the right side and swung his blade. The goblin King quickly threw away the disappearing body of the clone and blocked with his bracelet.

Kojo who had a ball of purple liquid floating in his other hand threw it and jumped back as it exploded.

" Hmm I see." The goblin said as the skin on his chest began to peel away.

" You must be quiet powerful if your able to negate my poison resistance. But." The goblin grabbed the skin of his chest and peeled it off. New skin grew over his exposed muscles instantly.

Kojo but his lip.

He'd tried to Leach some energy when he struck but the Goblin Kings arcana control prevented him from taking much and his plan to take him out with poison that he'd fine tuned with Poison King to match his durability were countered by his Regeneration.

" Now what." Kojo wondered.

His answer came in the form of a portal that opened beside the Goblin King the moment he took a step forward. He was knocked back by a drop kick from Sasha who came flying through it like a bullet.

Kojo blinked. Before he could say anything she raced toward the Goblin King who met her with a punch. She sidestepped, being replaced by a portal which swallowed the Goblin King and transported him above the city.

"That's it! Of all of us Sasha is the only one who can still fully exert herself."

( And it's all thanks to your promise to be intimate with her)

" I didn't go that far."

( But you will.)

" Not now."

( Ho. So you agree.)

" That's not the point!"

( Wimpy as always. Hmpf)

Kojo observed as the two exchanged blows in the air .

Sasha soared through the skies, her sword slicing through the air. She vanished briefly , reappearing behind the Goblin King as she struck at him with a swift and deadly blow.

The Goblin King countered with a wave of flames that erupted from his outstretched hand, scorching the air with intense heat. The flames cascaded through the air like a blazing waterfall, threatening to engulf Sasha.

Sasha dodged the inferno by teleporting again, reappearing a safe distance away as she launched a counterattack. She created a localized distortion in space-time, summoning a brief gravity wave that sent the Goblin King stumbling off balance.

The Goblin King retaliated by summoning a blazing pillar of flame that erupted from the ground, shooting high into the air as it sought out Sasha. He manipulated the flames to take on a life of their own, crafting them into a series of burning tendrils that snaked through the air, seeking to ensnare Sasha.

Sasha teleported once more, reappearing above the Goblin King as she struck downward with her sword, aiming for a decisive blow.

Kojo suddenly remembered that it was Sasha who tore a hole through space with her attack. What is she was to do it again? He has faith that she was a veteran warrior who could hold back but at the rate at which they were going, it was probably for the best that they shifted to someplace more remote.

" Sasha" Kojo spoke into her mind.

" Yes darling?" She responded as she drifted back a little from the recoil when the King blocked her attack and slashing him accross the chest with an invisible blade in her other hand, using her momentum and changing into a kick which landed in his wound.

" I think it'd be best if you took this battle elsewhere. I know you're still full of energy. So why not take this someplace you can fight without restrictions?"

" Sure thing darling." She responded cheerfully and ripped a hole in space with her sword she then stepped aside and gestured towards it. The Goblin King glanced at her then floated toward it. He paused and looked down at Kojo.

" I'll be back." He said before passing through.

Sasha blew Kojo a kiss before flying through it herself. It closed behind her.

" Will she be alright?" He wondered.

( Yeah. You didn't find her attractive because she was weak. And besides she's awakened a Supreme Enchantment. )

" Yeah you're right she'll be fine." Kojo said turning and walking away with his hands in his pockets. He related what Sysia had said paused coming to the realization.

" Wait...!"