Chapter 11 - The Alpha

The alpha goblin—an undefeated ruler in its time of dominance—towered over the corpses of its kin. Standing at nearly six feet tall, it was a monster unlike the rest. Muscles taut, skin rough like stone, and in the center of its chest, a glowing purple stone, pulsing with power.

It closed its eyes.

Then opened them—gleaming with night vision.

What it saw was carnage. Its underlings, sprawled across the cold cave floor, lifeless. And standing just meters ahead… was a lone figure. Small. Human. Holding a stone drenched in blood.

Jed.

The alpha let out a roar that shook the cave. Its fury echoed through the walls like a beast from a nightmare.

But Jed did not flinch.

His eyes were locked forward. He knew this was it—kill or be killed. There was no room for doubt. No room for fear. Only murder was on his mind.

Then—without warning—the alpha vanished from his sight.

In a flash, a heavy fist crashed into Jed's stomach.

CRACK.

His body launched out of the cave like a ragdoll. He slammed into the soaked earth outside, coughing up blood, the wind knocked clean out of him.

He couldn't move.

He hadn't realized how terrifyingly strong this thing was.

Rain poured from the sky. Thunder rolled overhead.

From the darkness, the alpha emerged. Roaring again—this time louder, shaking the very trees. A monster. A true predator. A goblin with a single horn, glowing purple at its core, barehanded because weapons were beneath him.

Jed groaned. His limbs trembled. The only reason he was still alive… was the strength he gained from those glow stones. But it wasn't enough.

Not against this.

Still, he rose.

Bloodied. Drenched. Hands trembling as he reached into his pouch made of monkey skin.

He pulled out two stones.

With a desperate growl, he hurled them at the alpha's head.

But the alpha moved. Swift as a shadow. The stones missed.

And suddenly—it was in front of him again.

A hand wrapped around Jed's neck. Lifting him. Squeezing the air out of him.

Jed's vision blurred. Is this how I die…?

Then—something shifted.

The alpha paused.

Its head tilted.

From above, red monkeys had gathered in the trees. Dozens of them, watching in silence. Eyes glowing in the rain.

And then…

A monstrous roar.

Far, distant… and terrifying.

It echoed across the forest.

Something else was coming.

And even the alpha—feared leader of the goblins—hesitated.