‘I didn’t bother waiting for a response from Velora and I looked up at the massive Serpent. I didn’t need anyone to speak for me, and I would rather fight with all I had than watch Rogu try to sacrifice himself.’

  “They are protecting me, because I’m a bit different from my peers. Do you mean us harm?”

  [Rick…are you sure about this?]

  ‘I can’t cower here Velora. If the King of Goblins can’t stand tall in the face of danger, then how can I ask my fellow Goblins to do it?’

  [You are more important than them. Goblins cannot advance as a race without the presence of a Monarch. That’s why they are willing to sacrifice themselves for you, Rick. Don’t let that be lost on you.]

  ‘It still doesn’t sit right with me Velora.’

  The rumbling of a chuckle that was released by the Serpent snapped Rick out of his conversation with Velora.

  “Hahaha. Do I mean you harm. Not yet. You should thank the Fox. Though, there is a fool who doesn’t know their place who will be here shortly that would like to bring you harm. I wonder if I should let him.”

  ‘Wait, what is it talking about? There is someone coming who wants to bring us harm? An Orc? So, we’re surrounded? It even asked if it should let them bring us harm…Velora can you sense anything around us?’

  [No. Nothing at all!]

  “Rogu! Can you sense anything around us?”

  “No, My Lord!”

  “Don’t bother, neither of you are strong enough to sense them. Don’t worry, it won’t be long before they arrive. Now in the meantime…the stronger one called you Lord…I find that interesting. Why would a Goblin be referred to as Lord? Especially by someone stronger.

  “Especially in the presence of myself. Who are you to be called Lord in front of me?”

  “I already told you who I am.”

  A rumbling laughter shook the forest for a moment before the Serpent spoke again.

  “Do you not fear me Goblin? Do you think I won’t kill you all right this second?”

  “…Do you mean us harm?”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “And if I did? Goblin.”

  “Then we will fight.”

  “We will fight, is it? The Fox was right. Goblins are interesting. Hmm, the fool is here.”

  Rick immediately looked all over the forest expecting to see a group of Orcs closing in on them, but no matter how much he looked he never saw anything.

  Of course, that was only until the person the Serpent mentioned quite literally crashed down in between the gathering of Goblins, and the Serpent itself.

  The person in question took one hard look at the Goblins before letting out an annoyed grunt and then turned to face the Serpent.

  “My soldiers made a mistake. They did not know of the agreement.”

  ‘Velora…that’s…that’s an Orc, right?’

  [Yes, I believe so. It might be safe to assume that it might be their leader. He seems to be speaking on equal footing with the creature before us.]

  ‘Velora. Let alone the creature before us. That Orc isn’t something we can fight. I can feel it in my body. We will die. A dog’s death.’

  [Then do your best to ensure a fight doesn’t happen today. And based on his opening words to the Serpent, things aren’t so simple.]

  “And whose fault is that Orc? Do you think pitiful excuse will work?”

  “Do not push it snake. I admitted my fault. That should be enough for you.”

  “Or. What. Orc.”

  “I do not fear you. Snake.”

  “That is the second time I have heard that today…have I slept for so long that my name has been forgotten? I? DO YOU NEED A REMINDER OF WHO I AM YOU PITIFUL CREATURE?!”

  The empowered voice of the Serpent not only reverberated throughout the forest for miles, but it also lingered in the air as a feeling of oppression began to envelop the area.

  All of the Goblins below Tier 4 immediately began to fall to their knees. Unable to stand up in the face of such overwhelming power.

  Rogu and the rest of the Royal Retrieval Team gritted their teeth and held on. Every single one of them is still at the peak of their readiness and focuses with nothing but the will to protect and guard Rick with everything they had at the forefront of their minds.

  ‘VELORA LOOK AT MY GOBLINS!! LOOK AT MY PEOPLE!! I CAN’T JUST SIT HERE AND DO NOTHING AS THEY ARE FORCED TO BEND THEIR KNEES.’

  [RICK THINIK OF THE BIGGER PICTURE! THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH TAKING A STEP BACK NOW SO THAT YOU CAN LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY! YOU ARE NO HELP TO THEM DEAD.]

  While Rick was going through inner turmoil, he was unknowingly releasing the presence of a Royal Goblin in the area.

  It was fueled by his wrath and heartache for the Goblins before him and before he realized, it flooded the area and although it was nowhere near as potent enough to combat against the presence of the Tier 7 Serpent, it was enough to grant the Goblins with him a slight reprieve from the pressure. They weren’t able to stand again, but the pressure bearing down on them was held back to some extent.

  Both the War Chief and the Serpent immediately shot a sharp look towards Rick.

  With the gaze of the War Chief narrowing dangerously.

  “As I said before. I do NOT fear you Snake. And I will leave this forest after ridding it of its infestation. We seek no quarrel with you.”

  The War Chief released the hold onto its own presence, pushing the Serpents back ever so slightly before turning to face the Goblins.

  “Did I give you permission? Did you pay the price for transgressing against me? Do you think your apology, or your so-called lack of fear, is enough to sway my decision? Leave. Immediately. The next time an Orc enters this forest without my permission I will visit you myself. I will not ask twice.”