The First Challenge

The night was alive with the sounds of clashing wood, grunts of exertion, and the rhythmic stamping of feet against packed earth. The camp was evolving, no longer just a gathering of goblins trying to survive. It was becoming something greater.

The arrival of the three human scouts had shifted the atmosphere. The goblins watched them warily, some with open distrust, others with barely concealed curiosity. They had never fought alongside humans before, and despite my authority, there was an unspoken challenge between the two sides. The goblins trained harder, striking their wooden weapons with more force against the dummies and each other, as if to prove something. The humans, for their part, didn't challenge them outright, but their presence alone was enough to cause tension.

I let it happen. They needed to work this out themselves.

Gorak paced among the goblins as they trained, barking orders, correcting stances, and pushing them harder. His presence was invaluable. The goblins respected his strength, and through him, my authority was reinforced. The combat training grounds had already shown results—movements were more refined, formations were starting to take shape, and the chaos of earlier fights was being replaced by something resembling true battle discipline.

The human scouts weren't idle either. Though they had only arrived a short while ago, they had already started demonstrating their own skills—tracking, precision strikes, and moving unseen through the terrain. The goblins watched and learned, even if they didn't want to admit it. The divide between them was still present, but the gap was narrowing.

I stood at the edge of the camp, surveying my growing forces. The B-rank Guardian loomed like an unmoving titan near the perimeter, a reminder of the power backing this settlement. Its sheer presence had forced a level of respect among the newcomers, both goblin and human alike.

The Shadeborn woman emerged from the shadows beside me, her movements as silent as ever. "There is a problem," she said.

I turned to face her fully, my grip tightening on my spear. "What kind of problem?"

She motioned toward the far end of the camp, where a small group of goblins had gathered in a tight circle, their voices low and tense. "Not all of them are pleased with your leadership," she said. "A few do not believe an outsider should rule."

I frowned. "Have they done anything?"

"Not yet," she admitted. "But they are testing the waters. And if they are not dealt with soon, they may cause real trouble."

A quiet revolt. I had been expecting something like this. The goblins had fallen in line quickly under my rule, but not all of them had accepted it fully. There were bound to be those who resented an outworlder leading their kind, especially now that humans had joined the camp.

I sighed and started toward the gathering, the Shadeborn following closely. As I approached, the goblins grew quiet, their yellow eyes flickering between me and Gorak, who had already arrived.

One of them stepped forward—a goblin slightly larger than the others, his body lean and wiry, scars marking his green skin. His expression was sharp, filled with distrust.

"You make us weak," he said, his voice low but firm. "You bring humans here. You treat them as if they are the same as us. But they are not."

I met his gaze evenly. "They are fighters. And if they are willing to fight for me, that makes them valuable."

The goblin scoffed, his lip curling in distaste. "They are not like us. They will turn when it benefits them. And when that happens, you will be too weak to stop them."

Murmurs spread among the gathered goblins. This was exactly the kind of challenge that could turn into something worse if I let it linger.

I took a slow step forward, leveling my gaze at him. "And what do you propose? That we push them out? That we fight them instead of preparing for the real war that's coming?"

The goblin straightened. "I say we follow goblin strength. A leader should be one of us. Not an outsider who does not bleed goblin blood."

A direct challenge. He wasn't outright attacking me, but he was questioning my right to rule. This was how goblin hierarchy worked—leadership through strength. And if I didn't shut this down now, others might start thinking the same way.

Gorak stepped forward, his voice a low growl. "You think you can lead better than him?"

The goblin hesitated for only a moment before squaring his shoulders. "I think he should prove he is worthy to lead."

I exhaled. I could see where this was going. This wasn't about logic. This was about showing strength. And if I backed down, if I refused to meet the challenge, I would lose respect—not just from the goblins, but from the humans as well.

I tightened my grip on my spear. "Fine."

The goblins shifted, parting slightly to form an open space. The firelight flickered off the damp ground, casting long shadows around us. The murmurs died down, anticipation thick in the air. This was what they understood. A battle for dominance.

The challenger smirked, pleased that I had accepted. He stepped into the circle, rolling his shoulders. "No weapons," he said. "A real fight."

I considered for a moment before flipping my spear into the dirt. "Fine."

We squared off, the tension palpable. He lunged first, fast and aggressive, swinging a clawed hand toward my ribs. I twisted aside, my instincts honed by the system's passive enhancements. He was quick, but I was faster.

His second strike came toward my face, but I caught his wrist, twisting it sharply. He let out a snarl, trying to pull free, but I yanked him forward instead, driving my knee into his stomach. The impact sent him stumbling back, gasping.

I didn't give him time to recover. I surged forward, slamming my fist into his jaw. He staggered, his eyes wide, but he wasn't done yet. He lowered his stance, attempting a grappling maneuver to take me down.

Bad choice.

I shifted my weight, stepping to the side and bringing my elbow down against the back of his skull. He crumpled to his knees, groaning. I grabbed him by the back of his neck, forcing him to look up at me.

"You want a leader?" I said, my voice even. "Then follow strength. Or walk away."

The goblin swallowed hard, then bowed his head.

The system pinged softly in my mind.

[Goblin Morale Increased]

[Leadership Affirmed]

I released him, stepping back as the gathered goblins looked on. There was no more murmuring, no doubt. I had proven myself in a way they understood.

Gorak smirked, arms crossed. "Good. Now they know."

The Shadeborn's expression was unreadable, but she gave a small nod of approval.

The challenger stood slowly, rubbing his head before giving me a sharp nod. "You are strong," he admitted. "Stronger than I thought."

I met his gaze. "Then fight for me, not against me."

He hesitated before nodding once more, then stepping back into the ranks of the other goblins.

The challenge had been answered. The division was gone.