chapter 40 arrival

The moment the communication talisman dimmed, a strange pressure filled the air.

Kaelith barely had time to process it before a powerful gust of wind swept through the ruined hideout. The air shimmered—**as if reality itself twisted for a brief second—**then, with a crackling burst of green energy, a group of heavily armed goblins materialized before them.

Their sudden appearance was silent but overwhelming. No fanfare, no war cries—just a lethal efficiency that spoke of warriors well-versed in battle.

At the head of the group stood a towering goblin clad in dark, enchanted armor, his piercing yellow eyes scanning the room with the cold precision of a veteran.

General Draskar.

The second his gaze landed on Valtar, his expression shifted—a mix of disbelief and fierce relief.

"Prince Valtar."

In an instant, the hardened warrior dropped to one knee, his soldiers following suit. The show of loyalty was so abrupt that even Kaelith was slightly impressed.

Valtar straightened, the weight of his status settling back onto his shoulders. "General Draskar. I am safe, thanks to this man."

Draskar's sharp gaze snapped toward Kaelith, assessing him in a heartbeat. There was no gratitude in his eyes—only calculation, suspicion.

"A human saved you?"

Kaelith smirked, crossing his arms. "Would you rather I let him rot in that box?"

The goblin general didn't respond immediately, but the tension in his stance eased just slightly.

Valtar stepped forward. "Enough. We need to leave. Now."

Draskar nodded once, then turned sharply to his warriors. "Form up. We return immediately."

Without hesitation, the goblins moved, surrounding Valtar and Kaelith in a tight, defensive formation.

Then, the talisman flared again.

The world twisted.

And in the blink of an eye—they vanished.

The Journey Begins.

As the teleportation energy dissipated, Kaelith steadied himself, his boots landing on smooth, polished stone. The sudden shift from the dimly lit alley to the glowing depths of the Goblin Kingdom was jarring.

The world around him was vast and alien, an underground metropolis hidden from the eyes of the surface.

Towering mushroom structures loomed above, their bioluminescent caps casting an eerie green glow. The air smelled of damp moss, iron, and faint traces of alchemical fumes. In the distance, massive furnaces churned, spewing plumes of dark smoke into the cavern's ceiling.

Kaelith's sharp eyes darted around, scanning the goblin-built structures—stone-carved buildings decorated with intricate runes, bridges made of twisted iron and wood, and towering walls reinforced with obsidian-like rock.

At the heart of it all stood the Goblin King's Fortress.

A monstrous black-stone castle, its jagged towers spiraling upwards like twisted claws reaching for the cavern's roof. Runes pulsed across its walls, flowing with an eerie green light, as if alive.

Despite its intimidating presence, Kaelith could already see the opportunities this kingdom presented.

Immediate Reactions

The moment Kaelith and Valtar materialized on the teleportation platform, the goblin guards snapped to attention.

A squad of heavily armored goblins stood stationed nearby, their eyes widening as they recognized the figure beside Kaelith.

One goblin, taller and broader than the others, stepped forward. His armor was adorned with silver engravings, and a curved sword rested at his hip. His voice trembled with shock.

"Prince Valtar?!"

Gasps erupted around them. Murmurs spread like wildfire.

"He's alive!"

"By the ancestors… the prince has returned!"

Some goblins dropped to one knee, fists pressed to their chests in salute. Others stared in sheer disbelief.

Kaelith barely resisted the urge to smirk.

Looks like I just walked into something interesting.

The Commander's Arrival

From the far end of the platform, a group of goblins clad in dark green armor rushed forward. Their leader, a scarred, battle-hardened warrior, looked like he had seen thousands of battles. His golden eyes gleamed as he took in Valtar's form.

"Your Highness! We feared the worst!" His voice was laced with relief.

Valtar's expression remained steady, his royal demeanor taking over.

"I was kidnapped while traveling. Bandits attempted to sell me, but this human freed me."

At that, the commander's gaze snapped toward Kaelith. Suspicion. Calculation.

Kaelith simply met the stare with a lazy smirk, folding his arms across his chest.

"No need to thank me all at once," he said, voice smooth.

For a second, the goblin commander said nothing. Then, after a beat, he gave a sharp nod.

"Your actions will be remembered. But we must move—quickly.**"

Valtar nodded in agreement. "Take me to my father immediately."

"Of course, Your Highness! Follow me!"

The guards quickly formed an escort around them, leading the way toward the castle.

Kaelith's Thoughts

As they walked through the Goblin Kingdom's streets, Kaelith observed everything.

The way merchants bargained in hushed tones, the way warriors trained in designated arenas, the faint presence of hidden eyes watching from the shadows.

This place was a kingdom of power, secrecy, and wealth.

And Kaelith intended to make the most of it.

His gaze flickered toward Valtar. An indebted prince.

A smirk tugged at Kaelith's lips.

Time to make myself indispensable.

The procession moved swiftly through the Goblin Kingdom, the escort of armored goblin warriors leading Kaelith and Prince Valtar toward the massive fortress at the heart of the underground city.

Kaelith took in everything.

The closer they got to the fortress, the more disciplined and organized the goblins became. Unlike the chaotic marketplace filled with traders, thieves, and alchemists, the castle district was heavily patrolled. Goblins in dark green and obsidian armor stood at attention, their curved weapons gleaming under the bioluminescent glow of the cavern.

At the fortress gates, a squad of elite guards awaited them. Each wore enchanted armor, their weapons crackling faintly with magic. The one at the front, an older goblin with a long scar running down his cheek, stepped forward and saluted.

"Prince Valtar! We are honored to see you return safely!" His sharp eyes briefly flickered to Kaelith, scrutinizing him, but he said nothing.

Valtar, maintaining his regal demeanor, nodded. "I must speak with my father immediately."

The guard commander hesitated for only a moment before barking orders. The massive black-stone gates creaked open, revealing the grand hall within.

Inside the Throne Room

Kaelith stepped into the Goblin King's throne room and immediately sensed the shift in atmosphere.

The hall was vast, illuminated by enormous chandeliers made from glowing crystal shards embedded in the ceiling. Thick black stone pillars lined the chamber, each carved with ancient goblin runes.

At the end of the hall sat the Goblin King.

He was a towering figure, even by goblin standards, clad in dark ceremonial robes embroidered with gold thread. His piercing golden eyes bore down at the newcomers, his face unreadable behind his thick, braided beard. A heavy crown, adorned with emeralds, rested upon his head.

To his left stood several high-ranking goblin officials—each eyeing Kaelith with barely concealed curiosity and distrust. To his right, a goblin general in full battle armor crossed his arms, his face cold and unreadable.

Silence fell over the hall as the Goblin King's deep voice rumbled.

"Valtar."

The weight behind that single word was immense.

Valtar bowed low before his father.

"Father, I have returned."

The Revelation

The Goblin King's gaze flickered briefly to Kaelith before returning to his son. "I received word that you had vanished. Explain yourself."

Valtar straightened. "I was ambushed and kidnapped by surface-dwelling bandits while traveling. They sought to ransom me or sell me off. I do not know how I ended up trapped inside a box, but I awoke to find this human freeing me."

Murmurs spread among the officials.

The general at the Goblin King's side scoffed. "A human? Why would a human go out of his way to save our prince?" His sharp, suspicious eyes locked onto Kaelith. "What do you seek, outsider?"

Kaelith grinned inwardly but kept his face neutral. Now was the moment to solidify his position.

He took a deliberate step forward, keeping his posture relaxed yet confident.

"Your Highness," he addressed the Goblin King directly, ignoring the general's hostility. "I happened upon Prince Valtar by chance, bound and trapped. It would have been dishonorable to leave him in such a state."

He let those words linger. A subtle challenge.

The Goblin King's golden eyes narrowed slightly. "And yet, here you stand, having accompanied him all the way to my throne."

Kaelith dipped his head slightly, feigning humility.

"Prince Valtar wished to return to his home safely. It would have been rude of me to refuse his request."

A lie, of course, but a well-placed one.

Some of the officials exchanged glances. They were beginning to see Kaelith not as a mere traveler but as someone who had leveraged the prince's gratitude to gain entry into the kingdom.

The Goblin King leaned back on his throne, expression unreadable. Then, after a moment, he spoke.

"You will be our guest for now, outsider. But understand this—my patience is not infinite."

Kaelith smiled inwardly.

Perfect.