Loruk ran for a long time.

  A very long time.

  He ignored the staggering pain that plagued his legs.

  He ignored the lack of mana and the encroaching feeling of mana sickness that was plaguing his body.

  He ignored the screams of pain and sorrow of his fellow Goblins.

  He ignored the moment when he knew a few more of his brethren went to sacrifice themselves.

  He ignored just whoever was left of the group that ran with him. In fact he no longer knew if there was anyone who was still running with him.

  He ignored the catastrophic feeling of power and the everlasting feeling of dread that washed over his body from the clashes that were taking place behind him.

  He ignored it all.

  His entire being, his entire purpose, his deepest most sincere wishes, his needs, his desires, his everything was dedicated to only one task.

  To run.

  To keep running, until the Future King of Goblins whom he carried on his back was safe.

  This was his moment. This was his honor. This was his duty. One he had no intention of failing.

  His body could fail him. His mana could fail him. His fellow Goblin could fail to protect him. The world itself could fail him. But his will…his will cannot and will not be denied.

  There would be nothing that would stop him from carrying out his duty.

  He ran and he ran and he ran and he ran.

  For a very long time did he run.

  At some point he was no longer even running.

  But his legs never once stopped moving forward. No matter how slow they now moved. They never stopped.

  Not once.

  His eyes were closed. His breathing had long since reached past the point of being haggard.

  Mana sickness had taken hold of his body.

  Hunger, thirst, and a few other ailments had taken hold of him, but none of it was enough to deter him.

  He might’ve been slowed, but he was never stopped.

  This was the determination of a Goblin who was willing to give their all in service to their King.

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  Two full days.

  That was how long Loruk ran before he was finally forced to stop.

  Not because of any force acting on him, and not because his body had finally given out.

  No, it was only because the being he was carrying finally began to stir.

  It took two full days for Rick to regain consciousness. Of course, if Rogu knocked him out regularly, with Rick’s increased vitality, he would have likely woke up in minutes.

  But Rogu knew that perhaps more than Rick, and it was through careful use of mana that he was able to ensure Rick would stay unconscious long enough to hopefully be removed from the battle.

  All he could do was hope that by the time Rick woke up, he would be too far, and it would be too late for him to return to the scene.

  Because he knew all too well, that Rick would never have left the scene if it was up to him, but he also couldn’t allow Rick to die. He was to their future and all their hopes and dreams were pinned solely on him.

  He couldn’t die.

  No matter what else happened Rick couldn’t die.

  But of course Rick himself wouldn’t think that way.

  The second Loruk felt Rick stirring on his back, he finally allowed himself to stop and very quickly the adrenaline and willpower that was barely pushing him along seemed to run out almost instantly and he collapsed to the floor right then and there.

  He did his best to stay awake, but his body quite literally shut down. It was operating in the red for quite some time now and it demanded rest.

  So, as one Goblin fell into a slumber, another stumbled out of theirs.

  POV Rick

  ‘Ugh…my head…Velora…what’s…where…ugh…’

  [Rick. I need you to remain calm. You will soon remember a few things, and when you do I beg of you to remain calm. Do not run off Rick. Please.]

  ‘What are you…ugh my head….why…why is Loruk layi…’

  “WHERE IS EVERYONE!! WHAT HAPPENED?! VELORA WHAT IS GOING!! WHERE IS EVERYONE ELSE?! WHERE ARE WE?! WHAT HAPPENED TO LORUK!?”

  [Rick, please calm down. You are screaming.]

  “Calm down?! How can I calm down?!”

  [RICK!!! YOU ARE SPEAKING TO ME OUT LOUD!! CALM DOWN FOR A MOMENT!!]

  “I..”

  ‘I’m sorry Velora…’

  [It is okay, please check on Loruk. Over the last two days he has pushed his body far more than he should.]

  ‘Two days…? What do you mean by two days Velora?’

  [We will get to it, just check on Loruk for now.]

  ‘…O…okay…’

  Rick then spent a few moments examining Loruk to the best of his ability.

  ‘I think he’s experiencing mana sickness of some sort, and he is likely extremely exhausted.-’

  BOOOOOM!!!

  ‘What the hell was that noise?! Velora what is going on?! And where is the rest of my Village?!’

  [Rick. Promise me. Promise you won’t go back no matter what I tell you.]

  ‘Velora…what are you talking about?’

  [Promise me Rick. Please.]

  ‘Vel-‘

  [Rick. Please.]

  ‘…I promise.’

  [Rick. You and your entire Village was in the process of moving north in an effort to exit the forest. But as you crossed the lake and reached the north, disaster struck. A massive flying creature flew in from the west, while carrying the Orc we saw before in it’s talons.

  [The Serpent attacked the flying creature, and it dropped the Orc in our direction. This meant there three higher Tiered beasts in close proximity to us, and one of them was focused on killing Goblins.

  [But before all of that could happen, and the reason you were unconscious is because of Rogu. He knocked you unconscious and used a small bit of mana to weaken you, to ensure you would stay unconscious for a while.

  [That is why you were unconscious for two days as Loruk ran with you.]

  ‘…He ran with me…’

  [Yes. After you lost consciousness, your body was given to Loruk, and he spent the last two days running as far and as hard as he could.]

  BOOOOOM!!!

  ‘…And these explosions I am hearing. One’s strong enough to shake the trees around me. What are they?’

  [Likely from the fighting between the Orc, the Serpent, the flying creature and likely the Fox.]

  ‘…What else happened Velora. Where is Rogu. Where is Jaba. Where are the rest of the members of my Village Velora?’

  …

  ‘Why are you hesitating Velora. Where are they?’

  […I don’t know for sure about everyone, but…most of the Goblins are dead Rick. Whether it was from the residual effects of the clashes of the truly powerful, or from the direct attacks of the Orc. Most of them died… ]