《REVERSE DUNGEON BREAK》 CHAPTER 1: THE PROPHECY CHAPTER 1: THE PROPHECY Ding! Ding! The sound of the bell reverberated throughout the village, signifying that it was finally night. As nocturnal creatures, this was the time the goblins thrived. ¡°Ookru! What are you doing! Quick! The teachings of the elder are about to start!¡±¡± Ookru ran even faster when he heard those words. Three feet tall. Bulbous nose. Pointy ears. And dark green, rough-looking skin. Ookru was just like any other goblin children in the village. The only distinguishing characteristic he had was his dual-colored pupils. The left was red, while the right was white. It was a stark contrast to the other goblins who were normally born with slit-like yellow pupils. Fortunately, the goblins did not think much of his eyes. They did not consider the child cursed or a source of bad luck. Instead of calling him sinister names, the goblins of the village embraced his peculiarity. They simply considered Ookru as a ¡®special¡¯ child. ¡°Huff¡­ Huff¡­¡± After running with all his might, Ookru arrived in time for the elder¡¯s teachings. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Seeing their willingness to hear the teachings, the elder nodded approvingly. She sat on the same log by the campfire, right in front of the statue of their god. The voice of the elder was raspy yet dignified. ¡°It seems everyone is here.¡± Eef was the oldest goblin in the village, and she naturally held the position of an elder. In their entire village, her authority was next only to the chieftain. ¡°Then, let¡¯s start. Around thirty years ago, it was prophesized that the gate to the other realm will open on this land.¡± The goblin children gathered around the campfire had heard this innumerable times before, but they¡¯d been indoctrinated to pretend as though it was their first time. Everyone attentively listened as the Elder spoke. ¡°According to our god, Systema, gates will open in this village in the second month of the year of the sun. That is exactly fifteen years from now.¡± ¡°The reason why our warriors are training hard each day is because of this prophecy.¡± ¡°This is also the reason why everyone gathered here today should hone themselves, all for the sake of fulfilling the will of our god.¡± The elder looked up and softly smiled at the statue behind her. It was the statue of a faceless goblin. The statue of Systema, the god who ruled and guided their race. ¡°The moment this gate opens, it is god¡¯s will for our race to enter the other realm and explore the world outside.¡± The elder added that they would meet the so-called humans there. And it was their duty as the warriors of god to eliminate them. ¡°It is by the grace of god Syst¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªHaah, I can¡¯t listen to this any longer. It¡¯s the same stupid teachings every time.¡± All of the children looked at the goblin who spoke. It was a sinister-looking goblin sitting at the farthest back of the group. It was Chukru, the problem child of the village. Despite being young, he was almost as large as an adult. Ookru said in a hushed voice, ¡°Chukru! What are you doing!¡± Chukru ignored Ookru. Without flinching, he voiced his opinions out loud. ¡°Elder, if that god Systema really cares about us, he wouldn¡¯t open that gate in the first place.¡± The other children glared at Chukru for his disrespect for the elder, but he didn¡¯t care. ¡°We¡¯re already living the best life,¡± said Chukru. ¡°Abundant food. Fertile land. A peaceful village. Even the settlements near the foot of the mountain maintain a harmonious relationship with us. Why is this god Systema so insistent in destroying the life we currently have?¡± ¡°Chukru!¡± snarled Ookru. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± The elder softly smiled. She shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine, everyone. I understand where the child is coming from.¡± ¡°Do you really, elder?¡± retorted Chukru. The Elder said wisely, ¡°Of course, I do. I had the same thoughts as you when I was younger. But child, mere goblins like us can¡¯t dare to fathom the wisdom of a god. We can only surmise, but no matter how intelligent we are, we will never guess the thoughts of a god.¡± ¡°Sounds like you just gave up understanding things, elder.¡± ¡°Chukru!¡± By now, most of the goblin children were glaring at Chukru, ready to pummel him to the ground if he continued overstepping his bounds. On the other hand, the elder remained calm, unperturbed by the child¡¯s remarks. ¡°Chukru, god Systema could have chosen not to divulge this information to us. She could have chosen not to give us this prophecy. But because she took pity on us mere goblins, we are given enough time to prepare for the gate¡¯s opening.¡± It was a valid point. The elder stood up. Slowly, she knelt before the statue of their god. ¡°God Systema is benevolent. There is no need to think, we only need to obey. It is only by her grace that we are alive and prosperous today. If it is her will, we shall eliminate the humans once the gate opens.¡± *** After the teachings were over, Ookru went back to his house. It was the largest mud hut at the center of the village. This mud hut belonged to the current chieftain, Ookru¡¯s father. ¡°Father!¡± Ookru ran to his father¡¯s arms the moment he entered the house. The chieftain was five times the size of Ookru. His face looked chiseled, and bulging veins were visible on his muscular arms. Numerous tattoos filled his body, signifying the years he¡¯d served as their village¡¯s chief. The chieftain was a hobgoblin. The strongest in their entire history at that. The chieftain¡¯s frightening appearance visibly softened upon seeing his son. ¡°Hahaha! Ookru, my precious son! So, how¡¯s it? You listened intently to the elder¡¯s teaching, yes?¡± ¡°Of course, I did, father.¡± The child couldn¡¯t conceal the disappointment in his voice. The chieftain smiled knowingly. ¡°Did something happen?¡± ¡°Hmph! That stupid Chukru! He started questioning the teachings again!¡± Chukru was a well-known delinquent in the village. Although skilled, he would always say that he would never step into the portal once it opened. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Recently, he even started telling everyone that the god Systema was probably a sinister monster who wished for the goblins to be annihilated. They¡¯d tried punishing him by solitary confinement several times before, but they did nothing to change the child¡¯s demeanor. ¡°Kakaka! Chukru, huh?¡± The chieftain gently rubbed Ookru¡¯s head. ¡°No wonder the advisor wants to take him in. That child is smart despite being just a goblin.¡± ¡°Smart? Father, he¡¯s blasphemous! You should punish him!¡± ¡°Ookru, you¡¯re aware of it already. I may be the chieftain, but I can¡¯t punish goblins for their lack of faith. That is under the jurisdiction of the elder.¡± ¡°But¡­!¡± ¡°Now, now. Don¡¯t you want to become a hobgoblin in the future? Don¡¯t you want to grow up to be a strong warrior?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Then, let us sleep. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll teach you more of my techniques.¡± The eyes of Ookru glimmered from excitement. A lot of goblins and hobgoblins wished to learn the techniques of the chieftain, yet here he was, learning it for free because he was his father. ¡°Really, father?!¡± The chieftain boisterously laughed. ¡°Kakakaka! Of course! When did I ever lie to my precious son?¡± It was a blissful life. It was only for a moment, but Ookru also secretly wished that the gate to the other realm would never come. *** Fifteen years quickly passed by. Two major changes had occurred in Ookru¡¯s life during this time. First, he finally became an adult. His body had grown to five feet in height, and his limbs had become a bit more muscular. Second, his father, the chieftain, had fallen ill. The chieftain was the strongest warrior in the village, but he suddenly became unable to walk a month ago for some unknown reason. It was a really strange phenomenon, Ookru thought. Even the shamans couldn¡¯t identify its cause. Before this, his father was perfectly healthy. He was so strong that even if all the hobgoblins in the village ganged up on him, he would easily emerge victorious. Even the other goblin villages located at the foot of the mountain respected the strength of their chieftain. ¡°It¡¯s probably the work of that Systema, or whatever you call that goblin snot, god or whatever.¡± Chukru suddenly said those words to Ookru one day while they were sparring. ¡°¡­What?¡± Despite their contrasting personalities, Ookru and Chukru had become close friends over the past fifteen years. Ookru thought he¡¯d gotten used to Chukru¡¯s delinquency, but he never expected the goblin to blame their god for the illness of his father. Chukru lowered his dagger. He said, ¡°Think about it, Ookru. In the holy book, how many times were humans mentioned?¡± Ookru thought hard about it. ¡°A¡­ lot?¡± Chukru nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. I don¡¯t understand why the goblins still think favorably of that so-called god. But one thing is clear, it¡¯s not looking out for us goblins. Its favorability is leaning towards the humans.¡± Chukru looked in the direction of the largest mud hut in the village. ¡°If I were Systema, I would weaken the chieftain before the gate opens. He¡¯s too strong. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be able to easily kill those humans if they fought.¡± ¡°W-What¡­ What are you saying, Chukru!¡± It was a both preposterous and blasphemous. Ookru couldn¡¯t even understand how his childhood friend connected the illness of his father to god Systema. ¡°Don¡¯t let your emotions get the better of you, Ookru. As I¡¯ve said before, if that god truly cares about us goblins, it wouldn¡¯t let the gate open in the first place. Three days from now, the gate will open! Are you really planning on entering the other realm!?¡± ¡°But¡­ I-It¡¯s the will of god¡ª¡± Chukru raised his voice. ¡°Oh, goblin snot! God this, god that! Think for yourself, Ookru! Even our holy book praised the humans as strong, intelligent creatures! We¡¯ll die if we fight them in their territory!¡± ¡°Words of a coward!¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying this as your friend! I don¡¯t want you to end up dying, believing in some false deity!¡± ¡°Haah¡­ just stop,¡± said Ookru, disappointment and anger evident in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m disappointed in you, Chukru. If you¡¯re that afraid of humans, go and hide. Although I failed to become a hobgoblin, I¡¯m still a warrior. And tomorrow, I will fight as one.¡± ¡°Then go and die out there, for all I care!¡± Chukru kicked the stone in front of him, sending it flying. ¡°Damn this shit. Everyone is too absorbed by the teachings they can¡¯t even see the reality of the story!¡± ¡°Hey, where are you going!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to hide, where else? I¡¯m not going to die for the sake of a false god.¡± ¡°W-Wait, Chukru!¡± After that day, Ookru didn¡¯t see Chukru again. Some of the goblins said Chukru went down the mountain and left the village, but Ookru believed that his friend wouldn¡¯t abandon them. Ookru believed that Chukru was probably around here somewhere, watching over the goblins of their village. Ookru believed that although Chukru had an odd personality, he wasn¡¯t cold-hearted. *** The day written in the prophecy finally came. Under the lead of the deputy Chieftain, the goblins and hobgoblins marched toward the top of the mountain. According to the holy book of Systema, this was the place where the gate to the other realm was going to open. As a devout believer, the elder came with the army despite her age. A cane in hand, she trudged toward the prophesized place. Including the warriors from the other villages, there were roughly ten thousand goblins and forty hobgoblins gathered here today. As someone who¡¯d failed to become a hobgoblin, Ookru was positioned at the middle of the army. ¡°OOOHHHH! IT¡¯S HERE! IT REALLY APPEARED!¡± The voice of the elder resounded as the space before them started twisting. A crack in space appeared and slowly expanded, turning into a white vortex. A portal had appeared before them. ¡°OOOOH GOD SYSTEMA! IT IS AS YOU¡¯VE PROPHESIZED! THE GATE TO THE OTHER REALM HAS OPENED!¡± Seeing that the prophecy had come true, the faith of the goblins to god Systema further solidified. The deputy chieftain, who acted as the leader of the army due to the deteriorating health of the chieftain, loudly spoke. ¡°Warriors of the Goblin Mountain! We¡¯ve gathered here today to fulfill the wishes of God Systema!¡± He was met with fervent response from goblins and hobgoblins alike. Everyone was wearing leather armors, daggers strapped to their waists. And the hobgoblins were even holding large axes. ¡°HOOOAAH!¡± ¡°Today, we enter the other realm! Today is the day we offer those humans to our god!¡± ¡°HOOOAAH!¡± ¡°Today, we fulfill the prophecy! Today, we prove our faith to our god!¡± ¡°HOOOAAH!¡± ¡°Today, we ¡ª hm?¡± The deputy chieftain stopped midway his speech when the portal suddenly glowed brightly. And seconds after that, creatures clad in metallic armor emerged from the portal. The one leading the armored creatures spoke. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± It was a strange language. And none of the goblins present here could understand it. ¡°Ahh, fuck, damn it. The association sent us here to take care of mere goblins?¡± Behind the armored creature, a dozen others started emerging one by one. Elder Eef¡¯s eyes widened upon seeing the armored creatures. She uttered in a trembling voice, ¡°H-Humans¡­¡± In a louder voice, the deputy chieftain repeated her words, ¡°Humans? Them?¡± It was music to the deputy chieftain¡¯s ears. He¡¯d been waiting for this day for so long. How could he not be excited? The deputy chieftain sinisterly grinned. Upon hearing that the ones who emerged from the portal were humans, he fearlessly stepped toward them. As a hobgoblin who stood three meters tall, the deputy Chieftain easily towered over the humans. ¡°Humans? These puny things?¡± The leader of the humans looked straight into the deputy¡¯s eyes. He frowned and said, ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. That kiik kiik sound, it¡¯s fucking annoying. And your breath stinks.¡± The deputy chieftain couldn¡¯t understand human language, but he was certain the human was insulting him. ¡°This human¡ª!¡± But before he could even raise his axe, the deputy chieftain found himself frozen. He couldn¡¯t move even his fingers. An invisible pressure was suppressing every muscle of his body, rendering him incapable of doing anything. ¡°W-What¡¯s this¡­?¡± The leader of the humans spat on the ground. ¡°Fuck, that breath! I told you already, stop speaking!¡± The human leader waved his hand once, and to all of the goblins¡¯ surprise, the deputy chieftain¡¯s body was cleanly split vertically in half. Blood splattered and the deputy chieftain¡¯s cleaved body landed on the ground with a soft thud. Silence descended. The goblins were too stunned and terrified by what they¡¯d just witnessed. Their god wanted them to fight these creatures? These were the so-called humans written in the holy book? Another human, this time a female, spoke, ¡°Vice Guild Master, what are your orders? Although there are thousands of them, most are only goblins. And there are only a few dozen hobgoblins in their ranks.¡± ¡°Tch,¡± the Vice Guild Master replied, ¡°That fucking Association. They sent us here since the portal is abnormally big despite its white color. This is totally a beginner zone.¡± The Vice Guild Master scanned the goblin army before him. The goblins who met his gaze cowered, and some even peed in their pants from fear. Subjected to the murderous aura comparable to the chieftain¡¯s, even Elder Eef was visibly trembling. ¡°Sending an S-ranked hunter to a goblin dungeon. Funny. Fucking funny.¡± ¡°They¡¯re probably worried that the Osinshiku Incident will be repeated, Vice Guild Master.¡± ¡°I know. But it doesn¡¯t change the fact that we¡¯re wasting time in a beginner dungeon.¡± ¡°But Vice Guild Master, isn¡¯t this a good opportunity for us?¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean Cressida?¡± ¡°Look around you, Vice Guild Master. This is a huge mountain, and I¡¯m sure there are several goblin settlements scattered around this place.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°What I mean is we could use this place to train our recruits. A beginner hunter training zone, to be exact.¡± Hearing this, the Vice Guild Master grinned. ¡°I¡¯m really glad to have someone as smart as you around.¡± The Vice Guild Master raised his voice. ¡°You heard her! Since those fucking bastards from the Association forced us to this dungeon, we¡¯re taking over this place! Do not kill all of the goblins! Let a few escape back to their village! And if you see the System¡¯s statue, don¡¯t break it!¡± ¡°Yes, Vice Guild Master!¡± ¡°You know already that this dungeon will close it you break the statue! Mark my words! I will cripple those who breaks it even if by accident! Understood?!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After relaying his orders to his subordinates, the Vice Guild Master finally turned his attention to the goblin army. Even now, the goblins were frozen by fear. They still couldn¡¯t believe that the deputy goblin chief ¨C a hobgoblin second only to the chieftain in strength ¨C was killed so easily. Other goblins would have already run away by now. It was already amazing that they held their ground this long. ¡°Hey, fucking critters,¡± the Vice Guild Master said to the goblins, ¡°you¡¯ll make me puke if you keep clustering like that. Damn nasty.¡± The Vice Guild Master raised his hand. From the sky, a massive ball of lightning the size of twenty mud huts combined appeared. ¡°We¡¯re taking over this dungeon. It¡¯ll be a nice training ground for our newbies. Now, run, if you wish to live, fucking goblins.¡± The Vice Guild Master pulled down his hand, and the ball of lightning flew toward the ground at a frightening speed. The ball of lightning struck the ground and exploded into numerous lightning serpents, burning hundreds of goblins at once. The prophecy of the goblin god had become the prelude of a massacre. CHAPTER 2 REVERSE DUNGEON BREAK: CHAPTER 2 ¡°N-No, it can¡¯t be!¡± Ookru couldn¡¯t stop his body from trembling. Everything their tribe dreamt of was crumbling before his very eyes. The goblins of their village couldn¡¯t even fight and die like warriors, as the humans who¡¯d entered the portal were slaughtering them mercilessly. Although they couldn¡¯t understand the language, they could feel that the humans were jeering at and toying with them. It wasn¡¯t a battle, but a one-sided massacre. ¡°N-No¡­ S-Stop! STOP!¡± His cry was drowned by the sounds of explosions and death throes. Positioned in the middle of the army, Ookru could see the remaining hobgoblins trying to rally the warriors. The fearless ones charged straight toward the human who killed the deputy chief, only to meet the same fate in the end. With just a single swing of that human¡¯s hand, the hobgoblins were vertically cleaved into two pieces. From here, he could see the humans beheading his friends from the village. The humans were proficient not only in swordsmanship, but also in magic. An ice spear shot forward, impaling the chest of a goblin. A wind blade whizzed out, cutting the head of another. The goblins, who¡¯d been training for over a decade just for today, had become live target practice. ¡°Damn it.¡± Ookru believed he was no coward, but faced with overwhelming might, his body refused to move, and all he could do was stand there, helplessly watching as the humans slaughtered his kind. ¡°Move.¡± Ookru bit his lips so hard it started to bleed. He clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms. ¡°I said move!¡± It took some time, but Ookru finally overcame the fear enveloping his entire body. He opened and closed his hands several times, and after several seconds of hesitation, grabbed his axe. Although his instinct was screaming at him to flee, his simple brain told him that he should fulfill his duty as a warrior. Even if he were to die here, so what? He was no coward, he reminded himself. And he would not run away from here, even if it meant breathing his last. ¡°I am the chieftain¡¯s son! I will die fighting! I will kill the humans!¡± Uttering those words, Ookru ran ahead, toward the front lines. Behind him, several goblins started fleeing in all directions, but there were also those who held the same feelings as him and started charging toward the humans. ¡°I AM THE CHIEFTAIN¡¯S SON! I WILL DIE FIGHTING!¡± he repeated in a loud, desperate voice. ¡°I WILL KILL THE HUMANS!¡± Thud! A second after that, Ookru felt the most excruciating pain in his entire life. His body flew, and he bounced and rolled on the ground several times before skidding to a stop. His vision turned black. *** It hurts. His head, down to the tips of his toes, felt burning. It felt as though thousands of needles were piercing his skin. Where was he? What happened? It was gradual, but the memories of the previous battle started returning to him. No, could one even call that a battle? They couldn¡¯t do anything against the humans. His fellow goblins were so helpless against their spells that they couldn¡¯t even touch their opponent¡¯s armor. Tasting the soil, Ookru realized he was currently sprawled, face-down on the ground. He heard voices. Unknown language. Humans. ¡°Hey, Jack. Don¡¯t you think we killed too many?¡± ¡°I simply followed the Vice Guild Leader¡¯s lead. And besides, what do you expect of goblins?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. It¡¯s really overkill to send one of the S-ranked hunters in the country here. Just what are those stupid bastards from the Association thinking?¡± Ookru couldn¡¯t understand a single word they were saying, but he listened regardless. ¡°The Association made the right call this time.¡± ¡°The goblin chieftain, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah. If the Association didn¡¯t send the Vice Guild Leader here, we would have lost more people.¡± ¡°Tch. I still get shivers when I think of it. That damn chieftain, how is that a hobgoblin? It even killed five B-ranked hunters before the Vice Guild Leader arrived at the scene.¡± ¡°The Vice Guild Leader said that chieftain was undergoing Monster Evolution Restriction, so it was in its weakened state when we fought it. If it had been given around half a year more, it would have evolved into a Unique monster.¡± ¡°Haha, weakened state, my ass. Had I not known that the portal we entered was white, I would have mistaken that goblin chief as an A+ ranked mutant. Is that the reason why this portal is abnormally big?¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± ¡°Hah¡­ we¡¯re lucky then. We managed to kill the bastard before he managed to finish his evolution. Fighting a Unique monster? Haha¡­ fuck that.¡± The voices slowly faded away, together with their footsteps. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! After several minutes, Ookru deemed it was finally safe to move. Mustering all of his remaining strength, he pushed his body from the ground and stood up. ¡°Haah¡­ Haah¡­.¡± Ookru had lost vision in his left eye. Looking at his chest, he realized he¡¯d been impaled by a sharp rock when he was sent flying back then. The rock barely missed his lungs. It was already a miracle he was still alive. Ookru looked around him. ¡°W-What¡­ n-no¡­.¡± And his mind went blank by what he saw. Corpses. Hundreds of them. The bodies of his fellow goblins were sprawled here and there. Most of their bodies were dismembered, twisted, torn by the impact of the humans¡¯ spells. Entrails, severed limbs, and dried blood blanketed the ground. Seeing that most of the bodies were now filled with squirming maggots, it seemed that several hours had passed since the portal opened and the battle started. Ookru¡¯s stomach churned. ¡°Uuuaghh! Haah¡­ Haaah¡­¡± He puked on the ground. He looked at his fingers ¨C they were bent and trembling. Looking up, Ookru saw the red moon partially shrouded by the clouds. ¡°Uhh¡­ hic¡­ hicck!¡± His vision became blurry. Ookru couldn¡¯t stop the tears from flowing. He felt powerless, helpless. For fifteen years, he¡¯d been training to become a warrior just for the sake of today¡¯s battle. But what¡¯s this? Not only did he fail to fulfill his duty, he even failed to die honorably. He should have died back then, together with the other warriors. Why was he still alive? Why was the world so cruel, letting him see the aftermath of the battle between the goblins and the humans? ¡°Hick¡­ Hicck¡­.¡± For almost an hour, Ookru stood there, sobbing. He no longer cared even if the humans spotted him. By now, he was so consumed by despair that he no longer wished to live. What use was living anyway now that his fellow goblins were dead? Ookru heard footsteps. They were probably from the humans. How perfect. Finally, he would meet his end. Come. Kill me. These were the thoughts of Ookru as he gazed in the direction where the footsteps were coming from. But to his surprise, the one he saw wasn¡¯t a human, but a hobgoblin. ¡°Chukru?¡± It was the delinquent of the village. The problem child. The goblin who constantly questioned the teachings of god Systema. Although he looked different now that he¡¯d evolved into a hobgoblin, Ookru was sure that it was his friend, Chukru. ¡°Is that you? You¡­ became a hobgoblin, finally.¡± During the short time he hadn¡¯t seen him, Chukru had successfully evolved into a hobgoblin. Chukru¡¯s face was grim. He quickly scanned the surroundings. ¡°I¡¯m glad I checked if there are survivors.¡± Chukru quickly approached Ookru. ¡°What are you doing, just standing there? Come! We should hide!¡± ¡°Chukru, you¡¯re a hobgoblin now¡­.¡± ¡°Why does that matter!¡± Chukru said angrily. ¡°Do you really want to die?! Let¡¯s go before the humans return!¡± Chukru groaned. He realized that Ookru was still out of it. He even felt that the goblin was purposely staying here so the humans would spot him. ¡°Argh! Damn it!¡± He lifted Ookru and placed him over his shoulders. ¡°What are you doing!¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be painful, but endure it.¡± And without waiting for Ookru to utter another word, Chukru ran down the mountain, ignoring the fact that his friend was seriously injured. Ookru¡¯s injuries were the least of their priority right now. Their primary focus was to get out of this place in case the humans returned. Chukru kept running. After reaching the edge of a cliff, he jumped down. While falling, they saw the entrance to a large cave. Chukru stretched out his hand and grabbed the wall of the cliff, stopping himself from falling down. Using the strength of a hobgoblin, he climbed up until he reached the cave¡¯s entrance. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Chukru placed Ookru on the ground. He lit the kindling and set the firewood ablaze, making a campfire. Wind blew, fire crackled, and their shadows danced. Chukru tossed clean clothes to Ookru. ¡°Chukru¡­ this is?¡± ¡°Spare clothes, what else?¡± ¡°No, I mean this cave¡­.¡± Chukru sat opposite to him. ¡°It¡¯s my hiding place. Don¡¯t worry, we should be safe here.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Ookru remembered. After their disagreement three days ago, Chukru left and was never seen again. It seemed he really went into hiding and didn¡¯t participate in the battle that led to the goblins¡¯ slaughter. It seemed that this cave was the place Chukru had chosen as his haven. ¡°All of the hobgoblins are dead, I¡¯m probably the last one,¡± said Chukru. ¡°The humans hunted them all down. But for some reason, they spared the goblins. I heard from one of the survivors that the village near the brook is untouched.¡± ¡®I¡¯m probably the last one¡¯ ¨C Ookru didn¡¯t miss this statement. After all, the chieftain was also a hobgoblin. ¡°What do you mean dead? Then¡­ f-father?¡± Chukru looked up, bit his lips, and sighed. ¡°The Chieftain is dead.¡± Chukru shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ookru.¡± ¡°No¡­ N-No! No! NO!¡± Ookru clutched his head and even started pulling his ears, nearly tearing them. He cried and wailed, unable to accept that his father was dead. ¡°That! That can¡¯t be! My father is strong! He¡¯s the chieftain! Surely!¡± ¡°I understand what you mean. The Chieftain killed several humans before he died. His death wasn¡¯t in vain, unlike the other warriors of our village.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying! Chukru, you bastard! My father is alive!¡± Unable to accept reality, Ookru decided to let his rage consume him. He glared at Chukru, as though doing so would bring back the dead. ¡°The humans took his head and heart as a trophy, but his body remains in the village. I¡¯ve seen it with my own eyes, Ookru.¡± ¡°No! I said stop lying! My fa¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªSnap out of it, Ookru!¡± It was only now that Ookru noticed: his friend seemed to be on the verge of crying. He realized Chukru¡¯s calm and composed appearance was a mere fa?ade. He was as shaken as he was. ¡°We can¡¯t bring back the dead! And those damn humans are out there to kill us! If only¡­ if only that god Systema didn¡¯t open the portal! Damn it! Damn it!¡± Silence fell after that. The two of them sat by the campfire, their eyes lifeless as they watched the firewood burn. For several minutes, only sound of the howling wind and the firewood crackling were heard in the cave. ¡°Your injuries,¡± said Chukru. ¡°Let¡¯s tend to them first.¡± Skillfully, Chukru pulled out the stone that had been lodged in Ookru¡¯s chest. Thankfully, the wound wasn¡¯t that deep, and it didn¡¯t hit any vital part of the body. Chukru spread grounded herbs on Ookru¡¯s injuries, preventing them from festering. He also wrapped Ookru in bandages, preventing his wounds from opening. ¡°Chukru¡­,¡± said Ookru. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen to us now?¡± It was a question both of them couldn¡¯t answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Chukru. ¡°Maybe if I sleep and wake up, everything will turn out to be just a dream,¡± muttered Ookru. Chukru wryly smiled. How wonderful it would be if this was merely a nightmare. ¡°Sleep, Ookru. Let¡¯s think about everything once tomorrow comes.¡± *** The next day came. ¡°You¡¯re going out?¡± Chukru was clad in leather armor, weapons strapped on his back and waist. ¡°I need to see the state of the village,¡± said Chukru. ¡°Who knows, maybe the humans already left.¡± ¡°Take me with you.¡± ¡°No, stay here.¡± ¡°But!¡± Chukru said to him frankly, ¡°You¡¯ll just be a baggage Ookru. Unlike me, you¡¯re still a goblin. You can¡¯t run fast, you can¡¯t climb cliffs. If the humans spot you, there¡¯s no escape.¡± Ookru bit his lips. Although the words were harsh, they were all true. ¡°Just stay here and recover your strength.¡± Chukru pointed at a wooden box next to the cave¡¯s wall. ¡°There are fruits and dried meat inside. It should last us half a month.¡± ¡°Y-You¡¯re coming back, right?¡± said Ookru. ¡°Of course,¡± said Chukru. ¡°So, just stay here and wait for my return.¡± When Chukru was about to go out, he halted. He turned around and handed Ookru one of the daggers on his waist. ¡°Take this.¡± ¡°Why are you giving me one of your daggers?¡± ¡°Just accept it.¡± It felt like Chukru was giving him the dagger as an insurance in the event that he couldn¡¯t return. With this, Ookru would have at least something to defend himself with, even if Chukru wasn¡¯t around. ¡°T-Thank you.¡± Chukru stared at Ookru for a long time. ¡°Ookru.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Did you know? I used to hate you.¡± What was this now? Ookru didn¡¯t expect a confession like this to suddenly come out of Chukru¡¯s mouth. ¡°I¡¯m an orphan, unlike you. At a young age, I had to scour the forest for anything to eat. I didn¡¯t learn to hunt animals because I want to, but because I need to.¡± ¡°Chukru¡­.¡± ¡°As the chieftain¡¯s son, everything was provided for you. Even the greatest warriors of the village wished to learn the chieftain¡¯s techniques, but he refused to teach them, saying it¡¯s reserved only for his successor. But what about you? Just because you¡¯re his son, the chieftain passed down his techniques to you.¡± Chukru laughed mockingly and then continued. ¡°Funny, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s funny how unfair the world is. The talentless son of the chieftain was given everything. While I, who learned how to become a hobgoblin at a young age was born with nothing.¡± ¡°Hobgoblin?¡± ¡°I was already capable of evolving into a hobgoblin twelve years ago. I simply chose not to since I would be forced to participate in the war if I revealed my potential.¡± Ookru¡¯s eyes widened. He realized why Chukru suddenly appeared as a hobgoblin mere days after they parted ways. Chukru must have deemed it necessary to become a hobgoblin to survive against the humans. ¡°But Ookru, when we grew closer, when we became friends, I realized,¡± said Chukru. ¡°I am already living the best life. I was an orphan, so what? You were the chieftain¡¯s son, so what? The mountain we live in is abundant with food. The villages are peaceful, and there are hardly any monsters that feed on us goblins.¡± Chukru clenched his fists. He said angrily, ¡°I came to accept my circumstances. And I started treasuring you as my friend. But! That damn god chose to open that portal and fuck with us goblins!¡± ¡°Chukru¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t have any plans of dying soon. So, just wait for me.¡± Chukru went to the cave¡¯s entrance. ¡°Tend to your wounds. Rest well, my friend. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± After that Chukru went out to survey the current status of the villages in the Goblin Mountain. Five days passed after that. Chukru didn¡¯t return. CHAPTER 3 REVERSE DUNGEON BREAK: CHAPTER 3 When Chukru didn¡¯t come back on the fifth day, Ookru decided to go out of the cave and look for him. The idea that Chukru had abandoned him never once crossed his mind. Although Chukru was the problem child of the village, Ookru believed he wasn¡¯t someone who would abandon his friends. The mere fact that he searched for survivors and saved Ookru was a testament to that. The goblin waited until it was midnight before coming out. ¡°Chukru¡­ please be safe.¡± After wrapping his wounds with fresh bandages, Ookru went out of the cave and started climbing the steep cliff. If he fell here, the sharp rocks below would impale him. ¡°Huff¡­ Huff¡­.¡± His broken fingers have yet to fully heal, and it felt painful just climbing. Still, Ookru persisted and eventually reached the surface. Anxiously, the goblin looked around. ¡°No humans¡­.¡± Thankfully, there were no humans around. ¡°But I should be careful, just in case.¡± As silently as possible, Ookru entered the nearby forest and headed toward the direction of the village. He knew this place like the back of his palms, and traversing it was especially easy during the night. Goblins were nocturnal creatures, and unlike humans, they were capable of seeing clearly even in the dark. As Ookru went deeper into the forest, he started seeing goblin corpses. They were already rotting, and the putrid smell made the little goblin¡¯s stomach churn. Judging by the position and the injury of the corpses, it seemed these were the goblins who fled the battle after the deputy chieftain was slain. These goblins fled, their backs to their enemies, and died without knowing what hit them. Before, Ookru would have rebuked them, calling them dishonorable cowards. But now, after experiencing firsthand the strength of the so-called humans, he could understand why these goblins did that. Who could blame them? Even he couldn¡¯t think of any way to defeat the human who killed the deputy chieftain in a single strike. When faced with such overwhelming might, the only reasonable course of action was to run. ¡°I¡¯ll see all of you soon,¡± he said to the corpses. ¡°Let¡¯s meet again in paradise.¡± The goblins believed in paradise. After death, the goblins would ascend and enter a glittering world filled with gold and precious gemstones. A world where there was no hunger, and each goblin could bath in a sea of treasures. In that world, the goblins would experience nothing but eternal bliss together with their ancestors. After uttering a short prayer, Ookru continued walking toward the village. ¡°Chukru, where are you? Where did you go?¡± Thankfully, none of the corpses he passed by belonged to his friend. The bodies had already decayed to the point that it was impossible to know who it belonged to, indicating days had already passed since they died. If the corpse belonged to a hobgoblin, Ookru would be able to tell right away due to the size of the body. ¡°!¡± Ookru immediately stopped in his tracks when he heard rustling sounds. By now, he could already discern whether or not it belonged to a human. ¡®A human is coming!¡¯ Should he hide behind the trunk of that large tree over there? Should he climb up? Or should he hide behind the bushes? ¡®I don¡¯t have enough time.¡¯ Eventually, he decided to hide behind the bushes. It was during moments like these that Ookru appreciated having a small body. A few seconds later, a human appeared from the deepest shadows of the forest. Ookru recognized him. It was one of the first humans that entered the portal. And judging by how he conversed with their leader back then, this human held a fairly high position among the group or probably close to the higher-ups. The human pulled down his pants and started pissing on the trunk of a nearby tree. Ookru touched the hilt of his dagger. The human looked vulnerable currently. If he attacked now, maybe it would be possible even for him to kill him. At least, that¡¯s what Ookru¡¯s goblin brain told him. ¡®No. It¡¯s too risky. I still need to search for Chukru.¡¯ In the end, Ookru decided against it. He decided to prioritize finding Chukru first. A shout was heard, echoing in the forest. ¡°Hey, Lucas! Are you slacking off again! Where did you go, bastard!¡± The man pulled up his pants. He spat on the ground and angrily replied. ¡°Fuck, I can¡¯t even take a piss in peace! I¡¯m gone for a minute and you¡¯re already looking for me!¡± Ookru felt relieved that he didn¡¯t attack the human. After that exchange, he realized he had a companion nearby. ¡°Tsk. I¡¯m a C-rank hunter. Why did they assign me to a goblin dungeon? At my level, I should be hunting kobolds!¡± Ookru couldn¡¯t understand what the human was saying, but he seemed really angry for some reason. ¡°Haah, this night exploration is driving me¡ªhm?¡± The man was about to go back when he suddenly halted in his tracks. Abruptly, he looked back. He stared at the place where Ookru was hiding at. ¡°Hiding like a rat!¡± And without warning, the man threw a dagger toward Ookru. The goblin couldn¡¯t even dodge it out of fear of being discovered. The dagger struck Ookru¡¯s left shoulder. The goblin almost cried out in pain, but at the last second, he managed to endure it. His instinct told him that if he made even the smallest sound, he would meet his end here. Ookru held his breath. Afraid that the human could hear even his heartbeat, he did his best to calm it. ¡°Am I imagining things?¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The man stared at the bushes for several more seconds. Just when he was about to approach it, another shout echoed in the forest. ¡°Lucas! I know you¡¯re just slacking off! Come back here!¡± The human frowned, clicked his tongue, and went back to where his companion was. ¡°Tch. So annoying. Why did they partner me up with her?¡± After the footsteps had vanished, Ookru finally breathed out. ¡°Haaaah¡­.¡± That was scary. For a moment, he thought he was going to die. Ookru wasn¡¯t afraid of death itself. What he was afraid of was dying without knowing what happened to his friend. Ookru pulled out the dagger embedded on his shoulder. Unlike the dagger given to him by Chukru, this dagger seemed to be far better in terms of quality. It was sharper, and the metal it was made of seemed sturdier. Seeing that the human didn¡¯t even bother retrieving it, Ookru came to the conclusion that for the humans, this dagger was a disposable thing. ¡°Two daggers now,¡± said Ookru. ¡°Human, I¡¯ll use this well.¡± Avoiding the path the human disappeared to, Ookru continued his way toward the village. And after a couple of hours, he finally arrived at his destination. ¡°What happened here!?¡± The entire village had been blown into smithereens. What remained of the houses had been scorched, and massive craters and fissures were seen on the ground. It looked as though two giants fought each other here, rampaging and destroying the village in the process. Ookru saw marks that seemed to be from the battleaxe of his father. But then, who was the other one? Who was the person who fought his father on equal grounds? ¡°The statue¡­.¡± Strangely, only the statue of god Systema remained standing. There wasn¡¯t even a single scratch on it, as though those who fought here purposely avoided damaging it. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± It was faint, but Ookru could see a translucent bubble enclosing the statue and its nearby surroundings. Should he approach it and check what it was? After looking around and making sure there were no nearby humans, Ookru approached the statue. With his index finger, he touched the translucent bubble. It was solid. ¡°An egg? No, it¡¯s transparent.¡± Did Elder Eef make this? The elder was a shaman, and she was capable of spells similar to this one. ¡°But the elder died back then¡­.¡± The elder was at the front lines when the humans started their massacre. The chances of her surviving were almost none. His goblin brain couldn¡¯t understand what it was. He knocked on it several times, and after seeing that it was sturdy, he started slamming the bottom of his fist against it. His curiosity piqued, Ookru took out his dagger and stabbed the translucent bubble. Just like before, his attack did nothing to it. The bubble did not budge; it did not form cracks. Seeing that there was nothing he could do against the bubble, Ookro decided to investigate what remained of the village. According to Chukru, the body of his father should be here. But after looking around the destroyed houses, he did not see any corpses. Did Chukru lie to him? Maybe his father was still alive? ¡°Father¡­.¡± Clinging to this sliver of hope, Ookru searched the vicinity of the village. He found traces of battle here and there, and he also saw a couple of rotting goblin corpses. Chukru kept searching, and after an hour, he felt a gust of wind behind him. ¡°What¡¯s this? Another one? They really like going back to this village, huh?¡± Looking back, Chukru saw a familiar human hovering in the air, his hands behind his back. His feet, crackling with lightning and enveloped by wind, wasn¡¯t touching the ground. He was floating. ¡°Y-You!¡± Ookru shrieked, horrified upon realizing it was the same human who killed the deputy chieftain with a single strike back then. Ookru¡¯s entire body froze from fear. He wanted to flee, but his legs refused to listen. ¡°Good thing I enclosed the statue with a barrier. It¡¯ll be a shame if a random goblin accidentally breaks it and this dungeon closes.¡± The man rubbed his chin, staring at Ookru for a long time. His eyes also darted toward the dagger strapped on Ookru¡¯s waist. ¡°A disposable dagger. Did this goblin kill one of our members before coming here? No, impossible. I ordered only C-ranks and above to explore the area during the night to avoid accidents. But how did it get its hands on it?¡± The man was lost in his thoughts. He did not even seem to consider Ookru an opponent as he continued to mumble. ¡°Well, no matter. I¡¯ll ask about the dagger later. Let¡¯s see. It¡¯s about time we open the training center for the newbies.¡± The human pointed a finger at Ookru, and the goblin felt an invisible force restrict his entire body. It was the same technique that restricted the movements of the deputy chieftain. For a mere goblin like Ookru, getting out of this binding was close to impossible. Slowly, Ookru¡¯s body floated up. The goblin screamed. ¡°Stop! Let go of me! I¡¯ll kill you! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± The man frowned. ¡°Again with the kiik kiik shouts. Fucking noisy.¡± He snapped his fingers and the binding became several times stronger. Now, Ookru couldn¡¯t move even his mouth, and the forest finally regained its silence. ¡°Be honored,¡± said the human condescendingly, ¡°for you¡¯ll be given the chance to become our newbie¡¯s first practice target.¡± After that, the human took Ookru to a nearby camp and asked his subordinates to lock him up in a steel container. *** Days had passed since then. Huddled in the dark inside the steel container, Ookru felt his body tremble from cold and hunger. The humans didn¡¯t even give him food, and aside from the occasional rattling sounds, he couldn¡¯t hear anything outside at all. He had no idea what was happening, where he was, and what the humans planned to do to him. ¡°Is Chukru alright?¡± Although Ookru had been captured by the humans, he sincerely wished that at least Chukru managed to escape. Ookru didn¡¯t know where his friend was, but he hoped he was alive out there somewhere. After what seemed like an eternity, the door of the steel container finally opened. Ookru covered his eyes from the blinding rays of the sun that poured into the container the moment the door was opened. ¡°And now! To celebrate the opening of the Celestial Guild¡¯s Third Training Center!¡± Ookru was startled when a human¡¯s voice echoed. After stepping outside the steel container, he looked around and was stunned upon seeing numerous people. Humans. Over a hundred of them. Forming a circle, they surrounded Ookru and the metallic container. ¡°We¡¯ll have a match between the newest recruit of the Celestial Guild and a goblin the Vice Guild Leader personally captured!¡± The crowd cheered. Subjected to numerous stares, Ookru instinctively shrank his shoulders. From the crowd, a human stepped out and approached Ookru. The human looked young, inexperienced, and nervous. Unlike others, he was wearing only leather armor. Ookru could even see several beads of sweat flowing down the human¡¯s forehead. ¡°Haha! Newbie, it¡¯s just a goblin! You can do it!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll clean the camp for a week if you lose! Gyahahaha!¡± ¡°Hey, stop bullying the poor boy!¡± ¡°Newbie, don¡¯t think and just kick the goblin! That will send it flying!¡± Hearing those words, the newbie nodded resolutely and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best!¡± ¡°And now, since our newest recruit seems ready! Let the opening ceremony match begin!¡± With those words as the cue, the newbie ran toward Ookru. ¡°Hiyyaaah!¡± It was a very straightforward movement. No faints, no irregular attacks. Ookru leapt back and dodged a vertical slash from the newbie¡¯s sword. Although Ookru wasn¡¯t considered talented among his peers, the attack was so sloppy he was able to dodge it despite his emaciated state. ¡°Stop dodging! You damn goblin!¡± The newbie kept swinging his sword at Ookru, but the goblin evaded all of his strikes by sidestepping, ducking, or rolling on the ground. ¡°Hahaha! The newbie can¡¯t hit him!¡± ¡°At this rate, I¡¯ll win our bet.¡± ¡°Argh! Shit! Hey, newbie! What are you doing! I told you, just kick him!¡± Frustrated that he could hit a mere goblin, the newbie decided to listen to his senior¡¯s advice. After making a vertical slash, using his right foot, he kicked Ookru right in the stomach. Ookru groaned, and he stumbled backward. The wound he¡¯d sustained on the day the portal appeared started opening again. ¡°Finally!¡± The newbie broadly smiled when the attack connected. Without missing a beat, he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and slashed at the goblin. The sword made a shallow cut on the goblin¡¯s shoulder. Ookru gnashed his teeth. He leaned forward, firmly planted his feet on the ground, and shot toward the newbie. Ookru realized by now that the human lacked experience. He was probably weaker than even Ookru. The goblin decided to use this to his advantage. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Ookru¡¯s declaration sounded nothing but ¡®kiik kiik¡¯ to the spectators. Still, everyone felt the goblin¡¯s desire to kill the newbie before him. Subjected to killing intent for the first time in his life, the newbie¡¯s body froze for a full second. And that single second was enough for Ookru to close the distance. Using the dagger given to him by Chukru and the one he stole from the human, he leapt and stabbed at the newbie. He tried to. Clang! To Ookru¡¯s surprise, an invisible force repelled his attack. The newbie fell down butt-first on the ground. The necklace on his neck glowed for a few seconds and dimmed down. ¡°Haahh¡­ Haaah¡­ t-that was close!¡± The newbie was trembling. The spectators laughed. ¡°What are you so afraid of, newbie! We already told you! You¡¯ll be safe as long as you¡¯re wearing the artifact!¡± ¡°Only hobgoblins and above can pose a risk to you if you¡¯re wearing that!¡± ¡°Go on, newbie! Show us what you got!¡± Slowly, the newbie stood up. After confirming that he would be safe from the goblin¡¯s attacks as long as he was wearing the defensive artifact, he became bolder with his strikes. Now that the fear of dying was out of the way, the human relentlessly attacked Ookru. It was gradual, but the newbie¡¯s movements started getting more fluid as time went by. Having not eaten and drank anything for days, Ookru quickly lost strength in his body. The hands holding his daggers felt heavy, and his movement became sluggish. He could no longer dodge properly, and cuts started appearing on his body. Eventually, the decisive blow came. The newbie thrusted his sword and pierced the goblin¡¯s chest. The crowd cheered once again. They were ecstatic. ¡°Good job, newbie!¡± ¡°Hahaha! It took him ten whole minutes to kill a single goblin!¡± Ookru looked up and locked eyes with the newbie. Within those eyes, Ookru couldn¡¯t see even the slightest hint of remorse. He realized that to this newbie, he was nothing but a practice target. An opponent to prove his worth. The newbie pulled out his sword, and blood spurted out. Ookru collapsed on the ground. ¡°Ah. Chukru. I hope you¡¯re safe. I hope these humans don¡¯t find you, my friend.¡± Ookru¡¯s vision blurred. His world turned black. He heard the humans laughing in the background. Finally, he would meet his ancestors and fellow goblins in paradise. Ookru thought it was the end of that life. But to his surprise ¡ª ¡°Ookru! What are you doing! Quick! The teachings of the elder are about to start!¡±¡± ¡ª he suddenly found himself standing at the center of the village. Fifteen years ago before the portal opened. CHAPTER 4 REVERSE DUNGEON BREAK: CHAPTER 4 Ookru¡¯s goblin brain couldn¡¯t comprehend what had just happened. Even now, he could still vividly remember the sensation of the sword as it pierced his chest. He could still remember the sensation of warm blood incessantly pouring out of the gaping wound on his body. He could still recall the remorseless eyes of the human that killed him. The laughter, the cheers. ¡°Ookru!¡± Ookru jolted. He looked at the little goblin before him. It was Kahaku, the goblin who died young after carelessly exploring a cavern that turned out to be the territory of a devouring worm. It felt strange seeing him again. ¡°If you¡¯re not coming, I¡¯ll leave you behind!¡± Although confused, Ookru managed to utter the words ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡±. He¡¯d never missed the teachings before during his younger years, and attending it had already been engraved in his body. ¡°You¡¯re too slow! Faster! Run!¡± Following the lead of the little goblin, Ookru arrived at the place where the teachings were held by the elder. Unlike the last time, the teachings had already started by the time they arrived. ¡°We¡¯re sorry, Elder Eef!¡± Kahaku glared at Ookru. He whispered angrily, ¡°This is your fault. I should have left you behind!¡± The elder gently smiled. The campfire cast a shadow over her wrinkled face. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Sit down, children.¡± ¡°Yes, elder!¡± Ookru chose the nearest seat, his mind still muddled by the events he¡¯d experienced. What¡¯s happening? Was that all a dream? As though he didn¡¯t want to be associated with him, Kahaku chose a seat far away from Ookru. ¡°Seems everyone is here,¡± said Elder Eef. ¡°Then, let¡¯s start.¡± ¡°Around thirty years ago, it was prophesized that the gate to the other realm will open on this land.¡± ¡°According to our god, Systema, gates will open in this village in the second month of the year of the sun. That is exactly fifteen years from now.¡± ¡°The reason why our warriors are training hard each day is because of this prophecy.¡± ¡°This is also the reason why everyone gathered here today should hone themselves, all for the sake of fulfilling the will of our god.¡± As Ookru listened, his face started contorting with fear. The sky, the campfire, the number of goblins, the story of the elder ¨C everything was the same. Ookru shook his head. No, it would be stranger if the words of the elder differed from the norm. After all, these were the same teachings she always preached to the villagers. It was just a dream, Ookru convinced himself. A nightmare so horrible and vivid he mistook it for reality. ¡°The moment this gate opens, it is god¡¯s will for our race to enter the other realm and explore the world outside.¡± While Ookru was convincing himself that everything would turn out alright, familiar words suddenly came out of a goblin¡¯s mouth. It was Chukru, his friend who saved him from the humans. ¡°¡ªHaah, I can¡¯t listen to this any longer. It¡¯s the same stupid teachings every time.¡± Hearing Chukru¡¯s words, Ookru felt shivers run down his spine. His eyes widened, almost popping out. ¡°N-No¡­.¡± mumbled Ookru. He was afraid of hearing the next words of Chukru. He was afraid that his greatest fear would come true. ¡°We¡¯re already living the best life,¡± said Chukru. ¡°Abundant food. Fertile land. A peaceful village. Even the settlements near the foot of the mountain maintain a harmonious relationship with us. Why is this god Systema so insistent in destroying the life we currently have?¡± Ookru trembled. Those words. He was certain they were the exact same words uttered by Chukru back then. Even Elder Eef wore the same calm expression as she listened. ¡°N-No!¡± Ookru abruptly stood up. He frantically looked around, his gaze eventually landing on the statue of god Systema. It was only for a moment, but the faceless goblin statue formed a mouth and grinned at him. Seeing that smile, Ookru shuddered. He felt like going insane. He felt the world spinning. ¡°NOOOOO! THIS ISN¡¯T REAL! T-THE PORTAL! T-THE HUMANS! THEY¡¯LL KILL US!¡± Ookru¡¯s sudden outburst caught even Chukru off-guard. Elder Eef looked at Ookru worriedly, and the goblin children stared at him bewilderedly. ¡°ELDER! IN FIFTEEN YEARS! THE PORTAL! THE HUMANS THAT WILL COME OUT OF IT WILL KILL ALL OF US!¡± The elder said, ¡°Calm down, child. Talk slowly and clearly so we can understand.¡± ¡°HOW CAN I CALM DOWN! ELDER! I¡¯M TELLING YOU! I¡¯VE SEEN EVERYTHING! I¡¯VE¡ª¡± His little goblin brain unable to take it any longer, foams formed at the corner of his mouth and Ookru collapsed. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. *** ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Ookru¡¯s head hurts. Looking at the ceiling, and smelling the scent of herbs, he realized he was in the medicine hall of the village. ¡°Your father had just left. The chieftain, he¡¯s really worried.¡± Ookru looked at the shaman, stirring a large cauldron while speaking, his back to the young goblin. It was Taru, one of the healers in the village and the younger brother of Elder Eef. ¡°Child, what happened?¡± Ookru recalled the things that happened that night. The teachings of the elder. The words of Chukru. The smiling statue. His sudden outburst. ¡°Elder Taru¡­,¡± said Ookru. ¡°I returned to the past. I¡­ I experienced it all. The portal. The humans.¡± The goblin healer stopped with his stirring. He turned around, approached the bed where Ookru was lying, and placed a hand on his chest. After a quick inspection of the young goblin¡¯s body, he said, ¡°Child, do not confuse dreams with reality.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a dream!¡± The goblin healer chuckled, ¡°Then you¡¯re telling me you came back to the past? Everything you¡¯re saying goes against the teachings of our god, Systema. According to god, paradise awaits his devout believers after death. There¡¯s no such thing as going back to the past in our holy book.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m telling the truth!¡± The goblin healer shook his head. ¡°Be careful, Ookru. My sister is benevolent, that¡¯s why she let the incident last night pass. But it¡¯ll be different if the other elders hear those words. Even if you are the chieftain¡¯s son, if they suspect you¡¯ve been possessed by an evil spirit, you¡¯ll be sent to the chopping block.¡± Hearing those words, Ookru finally shut his mouth. Elder Taru was right. Although rare, there were cases before when goblins were executed for being suspected as evil spirits. ¡°You don¡¯t want to cause trouble for your father, no?¡± Ookru remembered his father. Until the end, even after he fell ill, he never stopped believing in his son. Tears started forming in the corner of his eyes. He really wanted to see him. ¡°No, Elder.¡± Elder Taru smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll tell the other elders that you¡¯re simply exhausted that night. From now on, stop telling others about that dream you had, understood? There¡¯s no such thing as going back to the past, child. What you had was a vivid dream, nothing more, nothing less.¡± What it really a dream? Maybe Elder Taru was right. Thinking about it now, it was absurd for a goblin to be sent back to the past after dying in the hands of a human. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it in mind, Elder.¡± *** After being discharged from the medicine hall, the first thing Ookru did was visit his father. In his dream, his father became bedridden after suffering from a strange sickness. And later on, after the portal opened, he was killed by the humans. At least, that was what the adult Chukru said to him back then. ¡°It¡¯s just a dream,¡± muttered Ookru to himself. ¡°I should forget about it.¡± Convincing himself that everything was just a dream and that the future would be alright, Ookru went to the training grounds. His father was there, overseeing the sparring match of two hobgoblins. ¡°Father!¡± Immediately, his father stood up upon seeing his son. ¡°Ookru!¡± Ookru ran toward his father, leapt into the air, and hugged him tightly. ¡°Father! I missed you so much!¡± His father laughed. ¡°Hahaha! What are you talking about! You¡¯re speaking as though we haven¡¯t seen each other in years, my son!¡± The chieftain was so big that Ookru couldn¡¯t wrap his arms around his neck. ¡°Hm? What¡¯s this? Are you crying?¡± ¡°Mm¡­ I-I¡¯m not!¡± The chieftain patted the head of Ookru gently. The wet sensation on his chest was already a dead giveaway that his son was weeping. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re not,¡± said the chieftain. ¡°But what happened to you, Ookru? I heard about the incident last night. And to think you¡¯ll suddenly lose consciousness¡­.¡± Ookru wiped away the tears and snot on his face. Although Elder Taru told him not to tell anyone about his nonsense of going back to the past, his father was an exemption to this rule. If there was one goblin who he could safely confide with in the village, it would be his father. ¡°Father¡­ I had a dream.¡± ¡°A dream?¡± Ookru nodded. ¡°Yes. In my dream¡­ you and everyone in the village died, father.¡± Ookru then proceeded to tell the chieftain everything about the dream he had. He told the chieftain about his illness, the portal, and the massacre that ensued after that. ¡°A nightmare,¡± muttered the chieftain. ¡°It must have been terrifying, my son.¡± Again, tears started forming at the corner of Ookru¡¯s eyes. He bit his lips and nodded. ¡°I was so scared, father!¡± The chieftain hugged Ookru tightly. ¡°I understand. It¡¯s alright now, my son. Everything will be alright. As you can see, I¡¯m strong. Absurdly strong. I will never fall ill. As long as I¡¯m alive, even if the portal opens, the humans will never be able to defeat us.¡± Hearing such words from the strongest warrior in the entire mountain really felt reassuring. ¡°I will protect you, my son. So, stop worrying. And besides, it¡¯s just a dream.¡± ¡°Yes, father!¡± After that conversation, Ookru decided to forget about everything. He convinced himself that it was simply a nightmare, and dwelling on it would do nothing good to him and his father. His blissful life went on for an entire year. Worry-free, carefree. Until ¡®that¡¯ event happened. ¡°Kahaku is missing?¡± When Ookru heard this news from one of the villagers, he felt something shatter within him. The unpleasant memories of that time when the portal opened and the humans slaughtered the goblins started surging into his mind like a wave. Just like in his dream ¨C if that was a dream at all ¨C the little goblin called Kahaku went missing. The villager said, ¡°It¡¯s been more than a day, and the Council of Elders started contacting the other villages in the mountain.¡± Although the eighteen villages in the Goblin Mountain maintain a harmonious relationship with each other, there were rules set in place that prevented an outsider from entering a territory without permission from that village¡¯s council. This was the reason why the Council of Elders needed to coordinate with the head of each village first if they wished to send rescuers for the missing goblin. In his dream, this stupid rule was one of the reasons why Kahaku died. Maybe if they¡¯d sent out a rescue unit sooner, the child would have survived after getting lost in the cave where the devouring worm lived. Although he didn¡¯t see the corpse himself back then, he heard that the body of Kahaku was mangled beyond recognition. It seemed that the devouring worm played with its meal before killing it. ¡°No, it¡¯ll be too late if we wait for the councils¡¯ approval!¡± said Ookru. ¡°W,Wait, where are you going!¡± ¡°To the chieftain! Where else?!¡± Leaving behind the flustered villager, Ookru ran toward the training grounds. Unfortunately, his father wasn¡¯t there when he arrived. He asked one of the hobgoblin warriors, ¡°My father. Where is he?¡± ¡°Ooh, if it isn¡¯t little Ookru! Your father left for the council. He should be meeting with the elders right now as we speak.¡± ¡°I see. Thank you!¡± Ookru ran again. He felt that every second wasted could mean the death of Kahaku. With his entire might, he ran toward the large thatched house that served as the convening place of the elders of the village. ¡°Wait, you can¡¯t just barge in like that!¡± Ignoring the goblins that guarded the entrance, Ookru kicked the door open. Ookru huffed, numerous beads of sweat flowing down his face. He looked around him. The seven elders of the village and the chieftain were currently seated at a round wooden table. All of the chatters before coming here died instantly. Everyone stared at Ookru. ¡°Ookru?¡± His father was the one who was surprised the most by Ookru¡¯s sudden intrusion. Ignoring the elders, Ookru shouted, ¡°Father! I know where we can find Kahaku! We need to go there now! If we wait for the response of the other village councils, we won¡¯t be able to save him on time!¡± There was palpable desperation within that voice. Everyone in the room could see that the little goblin was close to crying. Elder Rama, a goblin known for his stringent personality, spat angrily, ¡°Argos,¡± he said to the chieftain, ¡°What is your kid doing? To suddenly barge into our council and demand that we leave right away to save the missing child! I will not tolerate disrespect in this council! Even if he¡¯s your child!¡± Argos looked troubled. He apologetically said, ¡°As you¡¯ve said, he¡¯s just a kid¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªThis council is a sacred gathering under the name of god Systema! Age is no excuse when it comes to our god!¡± ¡°Ookru, as you can see, we are in the middle of an important meeting,¡± said Argos. ¡°What is this about?¡± Ookru ran to his father, grabbed his arm, and said, ¡°I told you already! I know where Kahaku is! And if we don¡¯t go there now, it¡¯ll be too late to save him!¡± ¡°Enough! This child really has no respect for the council!¡± When Elder Rama was about to get up and issue an order to the guards outside, Elder Eef spoke. ¡°Elder Rama,¡± said Elder Eef. ¡°Why don¡¯t we listen first to the child?¡± Elder Eef held the highest position among the elders of the village. In matters that needed decision-making, she held the final say. Of course, in military matters, the chieftain had more authority than her. Elder Taru added, ¡°I agree with Elder Eef. Let¡¯s listen first to what the child has to say. We can decide on what to do next after that.¡± Ookru muttered, ¡°Elder Taru¡­.¡± He didn¡¯t expect the healer to take his side, too. ¡°Hmph.¡± Hearing the words of Elder Eef and Elder Taru, Elder Rama conceded. ¡°If the child ends up babbling nonsense, as members of the council, we should mete out appropriate punishment,¡± said Elder Rama. ¡°Of course,¡± said Elder Taru. ¡°Chieftain Argos?¡± The chieftain closed his eyes. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll personally see to it, Elder.¡± After coming to an agreement, Elder Rama decided to leave the inquisition to the head elder. Elder Eef observed the huffing young goblin. ¡°Ookru, tell us again about what you know about Kahaku. I wish to hear all of it in detail.¡± Under the gazes of the elders and the chieftain, Ookru started recounting his story.