chapther 8
The sun was setting, painting the sky red as Trogg and his warriors made their way through the dense forest. The leader was pleased with their victories so far, but knew they needed more. He led the group down a less-explored path, the black panther at his side sniffing the air for more prey.
After walking for some time, the panther stopped, its eyes fixed on a busy bush. Trogg raised his hand, signaling for the warriors to halt. Suddenly, a massive bear with gray fur stepped out of the underbrush, roaring furiously. The creature stood nearly three meters tall, and its eyes glowed with a faint trace of Qi—a level 1 cultivator beast.
"Get ready!" Trogg ordered.
The bear attacked first, crushing the ground with its massive paws. Trogg dodged nimbly as his warriors surrounded the beast. The panther lunged at the bear, biting down hard enough to rip off chunks of flesh. The bear roared in agony, swinging its claws wildly.
Trogg used his Blade of Cutting Qi ability and sent a blast of energy straight at the bear's chest. The creature staggered back, but charged again, knocking down one of the slower goblins. Before the bear could crush it, another goblin jumped in to distract it.
With a calculated leap, Trogg pierced the beast's left eye with his sword, striking the brain and knocking the bear to the ground. The fight was over, and the goblins quickly began cutting off chunks of flesh and gathering the magical plants that were around.
Stow the meat and the beast in the spirit bag, Trogg ordered, watching his warriors work. "We still have one more hunt before we return."
---
As they continued on, the goblins came across a clearing illuminated by the moonlight. In the center, a shining Qi eagle was perched on a high branch. Its golden plumage seemed to radiate an aura of power, indicating that it was a peak level 1 cultivator beast.
"That eagle will be a challenge," Trogg muttered to himself. "But it's worth it."
Trogg quickly devised a strategy, positioning the goblins around the clearing while he and the panther silently advanced. The eagle noticed their approach and flew towards Trogg with astonishing speed. Its sharp claws sliced through the air, almost hitting his face, but he dodged at the last second.
The panther leaped high into the air, trying to grab the bird, but the eagle dodged it, sending up a wave of wind with its wings. Two goblins were knocked back, but the others advanced, attacking with their makeshift spears. Trogg took advantage of an opening and used Blade of Cutting Qi, striking one of the eagle's wings and sending it crashing to the ground.
As the eagle struggled, Trogg and the panther attacked in unison. With a brutal bite to the neck and a well-aimed strike from Trogg's sword, the beast was defeated.
"Save everything and let's return to the tribe," Trogg ordered, satisfied with the results.
---
Back to the tribe
Upon his return, Trogg was met with curious and anxious looks from the goblins. He ordered that the beasts' meat be distributed to feed the entire tribe. In the meantime, he took out the magical plants from his spirit bag and called Keng and the ten level 1 warriors.
"These plants are of little use to me, but they will be valuable to you," Trogg said authoritatively. "Each of you must consume a plant and meditate. Our goal is to strengthen our strength so that we can conquer more territories." The warriors obeyed without question. One by one, they consumed the magical plants and began to meditate under the supervision of Trogg and Keng. The spiritual energy of the plants was quickly absorbed, and the warriors began to exude a faint aura of Qi. Some of them showed clear signs of advancement, approaching even level 2 of Qi Condensation.
Meanwhile, Trogg organized the rest of the tribe. He knew that he would need to train the regular goblins to form a basic fighting force. To this end, he instructed Keng to set up a makeshift training camp on the outskirts of the tribe.
"This is just the beginning," Trogg muttered to himself, observing the progress of his tribe. "Soon, we will be powerful enough to conquer anything that stands in our way."
The moonlight illuminated the tribe as Trogg watched the warriors meditate, absorbing the Qi from the magical plants he had brought. Spiritual energy danced in the air like a light mist, filling the air with a sense of rising power. Trogg knew that each step forward was crucial to the future of the tribe and, more importantly, to his own plans for domination.
The next morning, Keng approached Trogg as he surveyed the tribe's surroundings.
"Supreme Leader, the warriors are showing significant progress," Keng said. "Two of them are already close to advancing to Level 2 Qi Condensation, and the others are well on their way."
Trogg nodded in satisfaction. "That's good, but not enough. We need more strength. The goal is not just to protect ourselves, but to conquer. How is the training of the other goblins going?"
"They are learning quickly. Even those who have no talent for cultivation are being prepared for basic combat. Improvised weapons have been distributed, and we are improving our organization in battles," Keng replied, determination in his eyes.
"Excellent. Organize a group to gather more resources in the forest. I want magical plants, wood to build defenses, and anything else that is useful. And always keep scouts on the border to avoid unwanted surprises."
Keng bowed his head in respect and left to carry out the orders.
---
Trogg, for his part, decided to go out again with his panther to explore deeper into the forest. He knew that in order for his tribe to grow, he needed information about the surroundings and the enemy forces. Climbing onto the panther, he set off eastward, where Keng had rumors of a rival goblin tribe controlling a small spring of pure Qi.
"If this spring really exists, it will be a valuable resource for my tribe," thought Trogg as he made his way through the dense vegetation.
Along the way, he found signs of other cultivating creatures. Deep claw marks on trees, trails of footprints larger than anything he had seen before, and even the carcasses of other partially devoured beasts. "The forest is more dangerous than I imagined," he muttered, keeping himself alert.
As he approached enemy territory, Trogg dismounted from the panther and began moving stealthily through the woods. From a distance, he saw the rival tribe. It was smaller than he had imagined, but well organized. About fifty goblins moved around the camp, and he could make out at least five cultivators, with one of them clearly at level 3 of Qi Condensation.
"Interesting," Trogg muttered to himself, assessing the tribe's defenses.
Aside from the cultivators, he noticed that the spring of pure qi did indeed exist, glowing with a faint blue aura in the center of the village. "That will be mine," he thought, a cold smile on his lips.
---
Trogg returned to his tribe and immediately called a meeting with Keng and the warriors. He detailed everything he had seen and began planning an attack.
"This tribe has something we need: a spring of pure qi. With it, our cultivation will be much faster. However, they have strong cultivators, so we need to be strategic," Trogg said, drawing a makeshift map on the ground.
"Supreme leader, what is the plan?" Keng asked.
"We will wait until nightfall, when they are most vulnerable. We will divide our warriors into three groups: the first will create a diversion on the east side, the second will attack from the west, and the third will go with me directly to the spring. Our goal is to eliminate the strongest cultivators and seize control."
The goblins nodded, their eyes shining with excitement and loyalty.
"Prepare yourselves," Trogg ordered. "Tonight, we will advance to the next stage of our domination."
---
As night fell, Trogg's tribe prepared for battle. Weapons were sharpened, strategies were revised, and a grim determination filled the air. Trogg mounted his panther, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
"The future of our tribe begins now," he said in a low voice. "And I will accept nothing less than victory."
Darkness engulfed the Nulkar forest as Trogg's tribe took up positions around the enemy territory. The sound of leaves rustling in the wind mingled with the controlled breathing of the warriors. Trogg, mounted on his black panther, watched the camp lit by a few fires with cold, calculating eyes.
"Remember, stick to the plan," Trogg said, his voice low but full of authority. "No hesitation, no mercy."
The goblins nodded, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and determination.
---
From the east, a burst of noise arose as the first group of goblins advanced, shouting and brandishing their makeshift weapons. The enemy tribe's guards reacted quickly, rushing to the scene and leaving the other flanks unprotected.
Trogg, along with the second group, advanced from the west, moving like shadows through the vegetation. They struck with precision, slitting the throats of two sentries before they could scream. Blood flowed silently, staining the earth. Trogg led the charge into the heart of the village, heading straight for the Qi spring. However, the enemy cultivators were no fools. The tribe leader, a muscular goblin with scars across his face, was waiting. He held a spear covered in primal runes, clearly imbued with Qi. "So you are the invader," the leader said, his voice deep and full of contempt. "If you think you can take what is ours, you are sorely mistaken." Trogg dismounted and glared at the leader, his gaze as cold as death. "I am not here to beg. I am here to conquer." The leader struck first, his spear thrusting forward with astonishing speed. Trogg narrowly dodged the attack, feeling the Qi from the weapon slice through the air beside him. He retaliated with his sword, releasing a wave of Qi with the skill Qi Launcher. The blast hit the leader in the chest, but he resisted, his body enveloped in a protective aura of Qi.
The other cultivators of the enemy tribe rushed forward to help their leader, but Keng and Trogg's warriors intercepted them. The battlefield became a bloody chaos. Goblins fought to the death, their screams echoing through the forest.
Trogg and the leader exchanged violent blows, their weapons clashing with a sound that made the ground vibrate. At a critical moment, the leader managed to wound Trogg, his spear piercing the invader's shoulder. Blood flowed, but Trogg only smiled, a cold, sadistic smile.
"Is that all you've got?" Trogg taunted, activating his ability "Adrenaline Rush." His body glowed with a red aura as his strength doubled. He charged forward like a crazed predator, striking at the leader with a ferocity he couldn't keep up with.
With a final move, Trogg swung his sword and sliced deep into the arm holding the spear, eliciting a cry of pain from the leader. He fell to his knees, bleeding profusely, as Trogg pointed the blade at his throat.
---
While Trogg overpowered the leader, the rest of the battle was equally brutal. Keng led the warriors skillfully, picking off the enemy cultivators one by one. Even the common goblins of Trogg's tribe fought with desperate ferocity, outnumbering their opponents in both numbers and determination.
The ground was soaked in blood as the enemy resistance was finally crushed. The surviving goblins of the defeated tribe threw down their weapons and fell to their knees.
"Enough," declared Trogg, his voice loud and cold, echoing across the battlefield. "You have lost. All that remains now is the choice between submission or death."
The tribe leader looked at him with eyes filled with hatred, but also with resignation. He bowed his head. "I acknowledge you as the new leader."
The other cultivators followed, one by one, bowing before Trogg.
---
Trogg looked at the defeated tribe, now under his command. "You have a new purpose," he said. "Under my leadership, we will no longer be weak. You are no longer a tribe of losers. You are part of something greater. Together, we will rule this forest... and then the world."
His new followers shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the forest like a dark oath. Trogg's tribe was now larger, stronger, and he was closer to his ultimate goal. Absolute domination.
After the inspiring speech, Trogg turned away from the awed gazes of his new subordinates and turned toward the center of the camp. Something tugged at his mind—the Qi spring the enemy leader had mentioned before the battle.
He looked at Keng, who stood firm by his side after the fight. "Keng, where is the Qi spring?"
Keng pointed east, where a small rise stood out. "It's beyond that hill, supreme leader. It's the reason this tribe settled here. The spring constantly emanates spiritual energy. However, only strong cultivators can effectively absorb it."
Trogg nodded, his eyes shining with determination. He knew that a Qi spring was an extremely valuable resource.
--
Trogg walked through the camp, led by Keng and a few surviving cultivators from the ancient tribe. As they walked, the air around them began to change. A light breeze, filled with spiritual energy, caressed his skin. Trogg could feel the Qi growing denser and purer, very different from the impure energy found in most of the Nulkar Forest.
They arrived at a clearing surrounded by rocks covered in shiny moss. In the center, a small pool of crystal-clear water emanated a faint light, as if it were breathing energy. The plants around it were bright green, and exotic flowers grew near the shore.
"Impressive," Trogg muttered, approaching the spring. He crouched down, running his fingers through the water. It was cold, but at the same time, it seemed to pulse with life.
---
Trogg turned to Keng and the others. "How much of this spring did you use?"
Keng lowered his head in embarrassment. "Almost nothing, supreme leader. We don't have advanced enough techniques to harness its power. Only the former leader could absorb a tiny bit of the energy."
Trogg smiled coldly. "That changes now."
He closed his eyes and sat down next to the spring, feeling the energy flow around him. He knew that absorbing Qi directly from a spring was more efficient, but also risky—the raw energy could overwhelm his body if he wasn't careful.
"System, can I use this spring to cultivate faster?" Trogg asked mentally.
The system replied in a cold, mechanical voice:
"Yes. The energy from this spring is suitable for accelerating your cultivation. Caution is advised, as too much pure Qi can cause instability if absorbed without control."
---
Trogg stood up and looked at the cultivators around him. "You will also have the opportunity to use this spring, but only after proper training. Keng, organize a group to guard this area. If we lose this spring, it will be our doom."
Keng nodded quickly. "Yes, Supreme Leader!"
Trogg pointed to the water. "For now, I'm going to test the effectiveness of this spring. I don't want anyone to bother me until I'm done."
---
Trogg sat down by the spring, closed his eyes, and began to perform his advanced cultivation technique. He felt dense spiritual energy rushing into his body, like a torrent that quickly filled him. The sensation was intoxicating, but also dangerous—his body began to tremble as he adjusted the flow to avoid a rupture.
The Qi from the spring was incredibly pure. Within minutes, Trogg felt his spiritual core react intensely. His progress to level 3 Qi Condensation was advancing rapidly, something that would normally take weeks.
He continued to cultivate, carefully absorbing the energy, as a growing aura emanated around him. The goblins watched from a distance, whispering among themselves, in awe of their leader's power.
---
After hours of deep meditation, Trogg opened his eyes. He hadn't broken through to the next level yet, but he felt like he was at the peak of level 3, just a step away from the bottleneck that would lead to level 4.
This spring is a treasure," Trogg said, standing up. He looked at his tribe and firmly declared, With this resource, we will build a true empire. No one will be able to stop us."
The goblins cheered in unison, celebrating the rise of their leader as Trogg looked off into the distance, his mind already planning his next move.