Chapter 8
As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the forest canopy, the goblin village buzzed with activity. Luke—now fully embracing his role as "Lok"—stood at the center of the village, assigning tasks to the goblins with the precision of a seasoned leader.
"Alright, listen up!" Luke called out, his voice carrying across the village. "We've got a lot to do today, and we need everyone to pitch in. Here's the plan:"
He pointed to a group of goblins holding crude baskets and ropes. "You're on gathering duty. I need one party to collect branches and wood. Another party will gather plant fibers. Stick together and stay alert—wolves or other predators might still be around."
The goblins nodded, their sharp eyes focused on Luke as they prepared to head into the forest.
Luke turned to another group, this one armed with spears and bows. "You're on protection duty. Guard the gatherers and keep an eye out for trouble. If you see anything, sound the alarm immediately."
The hunters thumped their chests in acknowledgment, their expressions serious.
Next, Luke addressed a smaller group of goblins, handpicked for their crafting skills. "You're with me. We'll be building the makeshift wall, spikes, and tools like bone shovels and digging sticks. We need to work fast but carefully. Got it?"
The crafters nodded, their claws twitching with excitement.
Finally, Luke turned to Grut, Rok, and Zog, who stood at the front of a group of hunters. "You three are in charge of hunting. We need food to keep everyone energized. Bring back whatever you can find—fluffy jumpies, birds, anything edible."
Grut grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming. "Grut bring back big feast!"
Luke chuckled. "I'm counting on it."
As the goblins scattered to their assigned tasks, the chief sat outside his hut, observing the scene with a keen eye. His massive frame was relaxed, but his sharp gaze followed Luke's every move. A small smile crept across his face as he watched Luke take charge.
"Lok strong," the chief muttered to himself. "Lok smart. Lok… leader."
He leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "Prophecy… maybe true."
Luke, unaware of the chief's musings, was busy overseeing the construction of the makeshift wall. He demonstrated how to weave the branches and plant fibers together, his hands moving with practiced ease. The goblins watched intently, their clumsy attempts slowly improving under his guidance.
As the days slowly passed, the village transformed. One by one, makeshift walls rose at the edge of the village, their woven branches forming a sturdy barrier. A gate was also built, allowing controlled entry and exit.
Outside the wall, the goblins dug trenches, their efforts coordinated and efficient. Behind them, another group erected sharpened spikes, creating a deadly perimeter. Luke made sure to send a group of goblins to fetch water for the tired workers, giving them breaks and ensuring they stayed hydrated.
After 5 days, the defensive wall and trench were complete. Luke stood back, admiring their work. The village was now surrounded by a tall branch wall and a spiked trench, a significant improvement from its previous vulnerable state.
As he surveyed the finished project, a series of notifications popped up.
[You successfully constructed 16x Branch Walls.
+160 Tech Points. Claim the rewards on the Goblin Village Management Mail.]
[You successfully crafted 16x Spiked Trenches.
+80 Tech Points. Claim the rewards on the Goblin Village Management Mail.]
Luke raised an eyebrow. "How come they're different?"
The system responded:
[With your leadership, you successfully improved the Goblin Village's living conditions. You can still earn Tech Points indirectly from goblins.]
"Hmmm… that's… I didn't know about that until now," Luke muttered, scratching his head.
[Please claim your rewards on the mail.]
"Yeah, yeah, I'll do that later," Luke said, dismissing the notification.
The chief approached, inspecting the wall and trench with a critical eye. Luke walked over to him, a tired but satisfied smile on his face.
"It's finished, Chief," Luke said. "Until I can make a metal axe, this wall will have to do for now."
The chief nodded, his expression one of approval. "Good. Village safe. Lok… good."
Luke felt a swell of pride at the chief's acknowledgment. "Thanks, Chief. We'll keep improving. This is just the beginning."
As the goblins celebrated their hard work, Luke couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The village was safer now, and the goblins were starting to see him as a leader. But he knew this was only the first step. There was still much to do—better tools, stronger defenses, and, eventually, a proper toilet system.
For now, though, he allowed himself a moment of rest, leaning against the newly built wall as the sun dipped below the horizon.
The night wore on, and the goblin village was alive with celebration. The newly constructed wall and trench were a source of pride for the tribe, and the goblins feasted and danced around the fire, their guttural laughter echoing through the night.
Luke sat by the fire, a roasted rabbit leg in his hand, enjoying the rare moment of peace. He glanced at the chief, who was seated on his bone-adorned throne, watching the festivities with a satisfied smile. For the first time, Luke felt like he truly belonged.
But the peace was short-lived.
A goblin came sprinting into the village, its chest heaving and its eyes wide with panic. "Wolves!" it shouted, pointing toward the forest. "Wolves return! More this time!"
The celebration came to an abrupt halt. The chief stood, his massive frame towering over the village as he barked orders. "Form defensive line! Archers, behind wall! Shoot through gaps! Spear users, open gate! Hold line!"
Luke's eyes widened as he watched the chief take charge. It was the first time he'd seen the hobgoblin in action, and he was impressed by the chief's quick thinking and commanding presence.
The goblins scrambled to obey, their movements surprisingly coordinated. Archers took positions behind the wall, their bows ready, while spear users formed a defensive line at the open gate. Luke grabbed a spear and joined the line, his heart pounding.
The chief turned to Luke, a rare grin on his face. "Lok's tactics. Chief adapt. Good, yes?"
Luke nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, Chief. Really good."
The wolves emerged from the darkness, their eyes glowing in the moonlight. This time, there were at least a dozen of them, their growls low and menacing. Luke activated his Scan Enemy skill, the holographic wave highlighting the wolves' positions.
"Hold your ground!" the chief shouted, his voice carrying across the village. "Wait for signal!"
The wolves charged, their speed terrifying. The chief waited until they were within range of the trench before raising his hand. "Now!"
The archers let loose a volley of arrows, their aim steadier this time thanks to the wall's gaps. Several wolves yelped as they were hit, their advance slowed. The ones that made it through the arrows stumbled into the trench, their legs impaled on the spikes.
"Spear users, forward!" the chief commanded, leading the charge. The goblins followed, their crude spears thrusting at the wolves.
Luke led the spear users forward, his Melee Proficiency skill guiding his movements. He thrust his spear at a wolf, the sharpened tip piercing its side. The wolf howled in pain, retreating as Luke pulled his spear free.
[Wolf Defeated!
+10 EXP Earned.]
Luke didn't have time to celebrate. Another wolf lunged at him, its teeth bared. He sidestepped, using his Dodge and Roll skill to avoid the attack. With a quick thrust, he struck the wolf in the neck, ending its life.
[Wolf Defeated!
+10 EXP Earned.]
The battle was chaotic, but the goblins held their ground. Luke fought with precision, his enhanced stats and skills giving him an edge. As he defeated another wolf, a notification popped up.
[Level Up!
You are now Level 3.
+3 Attribute Points Earned.]
Luke barely had time to register the notification before another wolf lunged at him. He dodged, his movements sharp and precise, and countered with a thrust of his spear.
[Wolf Defeated!
+10 EXP Earned.]
The battle raged on, and Luke continued to fight, his spear striking true. Another notification appeared.
[Level Up!
You are now Level 4.
+3 Attribute Points Earned.]
Luke ignored the notification for now, focusing on the battle. He couldn't afford to stop and assign points—not with wolves still attacking. He fought with everything he had, his spear a blur of motion as he struck down another wolf.
[Wolf Defeated!
+10 EXP Earned.]
The battle was fierce, but the goblins held their ground. The wolves, realizing they were outmatched, the wolves began to retreat, then a larger wolf emerged from the shadows. Its massive frame towered over the others, its eyes glowing with a fierce intelligence. The smaller wolves curled behind it, their growls fading into whimpers.
Luke felt a chill run down his spine. "That's the alpha," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "This is bad."
The goblins trembled, their weapons shaking in their hands. Even Luke, with his enhanced stats and skills, felt a wave of fear. The alpha wolf's presence was overwhelming.
The chief stepped forward, his crude battle axe in hand. He removed his animal pelt cape, revealing a tattoo on his back—a intricate design that seemed to pulse with energy. The chief roared, his voice echoing through the night, and charged at the alpha wolf.
The battle was brutal. The alpha wolf was fast and strong, its claws and teeth slashing at the chief. At first, the chief was at a disadvantage, his movements slow compared to the wolf's agility. The goblins watched in silence, too afraid to intervene.
Then, something extraordinary happened. The tattoo on the chief's back began to glow, a soft light spreading across his body. His muscles bulged, his movements becoming faster and more precise. The chief roared again, his voice filled with power, and counterattacked with brutal efficiency.
The alpha wolf tried to retreat, but the chief was faster. He grappled the wolf's neck, his strength overwhelming. With a final, powerful swing of his axe, the chief struck the wolf down, its body collapsing to the ground.
The village erupted into cheers, their voices filled with relief and triumph. The chief stood over the alpha wolf's body, his chest heaving as the glow from his tattoo faded.
Luke approached the chief, his respect for the hobgoblin growing even more. "That was… incredible," he said, his voice filled with awe.
The chief nodded, his expression serious. "Chief protect village. Always."
Luke glanced at the tattoo on the chief's back, his curiosity piqued. "What was that? The glow, I mean."
The chief grunted, his tone cryptic. "Old power. Chief's duty."
Luke didn't press further, sensing that the chief wasn't ready to share more. Instead, he turned to the goblins, raising his voice. "Alright, everyone! Let's clean up and fortify the defenses. This won't be the last time we face a threat like this."