《Cruelty of one Man》 Awakening A blinding light Flooded my vision a Large pale green Pyre of Fire rose to the skies. My eyes burned, a searing which was not very welcoming to my return. My return? I was here before. Who am I? Trying to recall Who I was my head started to beat like a drum as a migraine took over, leaving me unable to recall anything except Sorrow. Why sorrow, Of everything why was that what came to me of everything I could remember all I can remember is a feeling of sorrow. Moving my hand up to rub my temples, My hand didn''t respond but a pile of bones mashed together. Scanning over my body the same thing was repeated all over my body where skin and muscle were supposed to be, Bones took their place tightly wrapping around each other being held in place by a crudely made rope and at my feet was a small green creature in a headdress made from some large animals skulls as it completely engulfed its head hiding it from the view of others except for two Glowing yellow eyes that pierced through the skull. Its eyes shimmered with excitement, fear and reverence. Looking around there were hundreds more of these little creatures all staring up at me with the same look on their faces. Dressed in various types of animal skins. Taking a step forward it was funny to watch as they all backed up in synchronization. Then a loud Screeching overtook the gathered Green things as they all waved makeshift clubs and staff in the air. Hearing a crackling of bones snapping there were several effigies similar looking to me strung about around me I would say 12 ish more around me and a couple that has fallen apart on the ground. They simply looked around for a little before getting down on their knees allowing a small green thing to walk up to them and paint a few markings atop of their skull. before standing up once more. Gazing at the small little thing in front of me it was tensing up in fear as it stared at me as the green things around it slowly readied their weapons as they moved their way around me. Soon a small plump green thing waddled its way over adorned in bone necklaces and a cane made of a twisted wooden root with a large eye adorned in its center. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "melgargr, Krish belk?" Staring up at me a few words that scratched my ears on the way out. They just sounded crude and forced. "I''m sorry, I don''t quite understand what ya said there." As I responded to the little thing. The words came out slowly but they made their way out. Giving them quite a shock as they scrambled away. Rushing back with another but this one was only a few inches shorter than me and was wearing crude leather armour with a rusted sword in its hand. looking very similar to a human except for its pale green skin and blood-red eyes. "Obey, Do you?" The words were familiar if not different. But they were understandable. But the meaning was preposterous it wanted me to obey, I LEORIC TO OBEY IT. I HAD KINGS BEGGING ME FOR MY SERVICE AND IT WANTS ME TO OBEY IT. Noticing it flinch back under my stare. it snapped me out of my stupor. With a single piece of information a name, My name. "I will not Obey you, But I will stay and you will answer my questions in return for whatever you needed my help with. A simple exchange." It stood there stunned as it squirmed, before nodding its head and beckoning me to follow it through the crowd. Following behind it, we arrived at a small wooden wall looking closer to a large wooden fence it opened up allowing us to enter. Which was quickly closed behind us, what was revealed to me was the remains of a town crumbling apart and many more of the little things scurrying about carrying materials and crudely made weapons to and from buildings. Soon we arrived at a building in the center of the town with a high pitch screeching emanating from it. Being lead in there was many more of the taller green humanoids around a table yelling at each other in their language as the one I was following started talking to the others as all their attention became glued on my figure. Soon the only one in the room in a robe and a large staff came over staring up at me. "Questions, Ask." "First off, Where am I and what are you." Seemingly confused it gestured with its arms spread out. "We Goblin nation of twisted forest. Now you answer, Whats your beings name." "Leoric. What do you need me and those others for." "Protect, from humans they take us for the big portal, you stop." "I''m guessing you just want me to beat them to death or something along those lines." "Correct." "I am not a fighter." "Not fighter, Mage?." "No." "Scout?" "No." "Then what you." What am I? I''m a bone golem for one. but what was I before, A human yes but I was more. Was I truly more. I don''t know. It just doesn''t seem right, I wasn''t a mere mortal human I was beyond that. Just what? "I think it broke." "It broke, no response." "One less strange one, Good?" "Is good, This one asks too many questions." "I AM NOT BROKEN. It''s not my fault your pathetic minds can''t see what I can." Lowering it to the ground. "If you need me, I will be somewhere around." Glancing at their raised weapons I just shook my head. "And as this is now we won''t get anywhere." Simpletons It''s been a week since I have awoken. I have spent most of my time going through a large pile of junk the goblins have collected trying to find anything about the outside world. To see how it changed. Something that drew my attention was a large number of polished objects, they have a trigger like that of a crossbow and a hollow part but the Goblins have no arrows small enough to fit into the hole so they are completely useless. along with quite a bit of torn clothes and battered armour too big for most of the goblins. Along with the junk, I found a few books nothing special about the books something I would read in my downtime. But practically every book was on a monster or a particular monster. Nothing on a subject I wished to find a single book on history something to give me a clue how long I''ve been dead for, And the goblins are completely useless in that regard as they do not have any care for history. I have been collecting things in the pile that I would potentially find useful. A larger cloak, A few of the different types of metal crossbows, a few pieces of a different type of fabric seemed to be weaved with metal or something else along those lines as it is very sturdy only problem is how hard it is and how small pieces are. but looking at how I''ve only gone through about an eighth of the pile of junk I should be able to get enough of this piece of fabric to potentially make something or at least learn what it''s made of. hmm, what''s that. there is a soft beating sound as if someone was swinging a club around in the air. Glancing above me to where the sound was coming from, A large oddly shaped metal bird was lowering itself over the center building, its sides opened up revealing, humans in some weird black suit started jumping out of it. Quickly and methodically clearing out all the goblins in the area around them with the metal crossbows a single trigger pull and it would kill a goblin. As the metal Bird landed more people came charging out with thin sticks as they went around beating goblins with them and bringing them back into the metal bird along with one of the larger goblins that I met. Being dragged into the metal bird as the group of people started moving back into the metal bird as a bunch of barely clothed humans corpses were dragged out and thrown on the ground as the metal bird took off albeit a little slower than when it landed. After the metal Bird was out of view I got up and made my way over to the human corpses or well the pile of goblins beating the corpses with their clubs. moving over to one of the corpses it wasn''t a corpse per se as her eyes were jetting about with tear brimming in them as she watched the goblins clubs coming swinging down on her. Stolen story; please report. "She can''t fight back, You don''t have to beat her so." Watching as they completely ignored me and kept swinging their clubs. "Grabbing one of the Goblins I lifted him mid-swing and threw him back getting the attention of all the goblins as they stared over at me. "If you''re going to kill her just do it, but if you continue on this way she might as well be dead she won''t live much longer. She''s defenceless what''s the point." The goblins turned and glanced at her body. After noticing it wasn''t moving they started getting giddy as a bunch of goblins started to drag her body away along with a few other bodies that I didn''t notice under the pile of goblins. Just something wasn''t right. This wasn''t right if they are here to capture them why, leave people behind for the goblins what would the point of that, unless, the goblins need females of other race to breed, an all-male race something like the incubus, So they need to find people of other races. but they aren''t raiding, and they way too hideous to be able to charm another race. So that''s where the humans come in they drop off some people. They are farming these goblins for something. It''s all under their control they could easily wipe these goblins out if they wanted to nor did they have to leave this woman here unable to fight back. Portal. they mentioned a big portal, are they using the goblins as scouts or cannon fodder. A soldier that no one cares if they die but then where are they getting the people they are abandoning. Slaves, Maybe, could also be people from a slum. I guess I have some more questions. Moving over to the center building. I could hear the cheerful voices of the larger goblins. Pushing open the door they were excited about not being the one taken. "So they take one of you each time." "You failure you were supposed to stop the humans." "And how do you reckon I do that. They could have killed me in a matter of seconds. With how fast they were killing the goblins." "Distract it for us to hide." "Now why would I do that. It''s not like you raised me from the dead. From my peaceful eternal slumber and doing a shotty job at it fragmenting my memories while you were at it so I can only remember a select few things or whatever just so happens to slip from my tongue. But maybe that''s was your plan, to begin with. But whatever, I said I would help and So I will. I can help you kill them and I won''t even have to lift a finger only the smaller ones will have to do anything and you will rid yourself of them." They spent a little looking at each other before happily shaking their heads. Simpletons. A Plan Leaving the center building with the so called Goblin Chieftains as they adamantly wanted to be called in our last discussion, I have some preparations to complete myself. As they get to work protecting themselves using the masses. Arriving at a house where moans and screams were abundant. I made my way in glancing around looking for the woman from this morning and it was just a giant roofed area with women lying on the ground as goblins surrounded them relieving themselves of all their little bits of pent up stress. But it wasn''t just humans in here, Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, Ogres and some races I haven''t seen before they look like humans only they have the ears of an animal and a tail. I''m guessing a beastmen race with heavily diluted blood only showing minor animal characteristics, I wonder if they still have the heightened senses of the beastmen or more human like senses. I guess I can take one with me. That''s when my attention was drawn over to a side of the room where a few people being held down as they tried to flail and swat the goblins away from them moving my way over some of the goblins noticed me and started to clear a path as I made my way through until I was at where the woman was struggling. No one noticing my presence except for the woman who was staring at me in horror. Doubling down on her efforts to try and break free. "Move." The goblins holding her glance my way earning him a heel to the jaw sending him toppling over. "If you don''t stop struggling I will break a few bones until your cooperative. I just need you to come with me for a little. A much better deal than your current predicament, No?" Glancing her over, she was still struggling to get free from the goblin''s grasps. "Release her, and if she tries anything I''ll find someone else more willing." the Goblins still not releasing her I grab one of the goblin''s hands closing my hand around it causing a sickening crunching. "What did I say." The goblin grasped its hand as it let go yelping as it scampered away causing the ones around it to release a crackle at their friend''s misfortune. Get up and follow me, this is not a desirable place to talk. Watching as she got onto her feet she moved just a hair away from me glancing wearily at the goblins. I made my way out of the enclosure moving over to the junk pile. "Sit." She dropped to her knees before the words were even fully formed with a soft plop. "So, I''m going to need you to answer a few questions and if I find them satisfactory I''ll keep you as a pet or something. So to start what''s your name." She stared at me, before opening her mouth. "What do you want, ooh." She has no tung or well she missing most of her tung all she has is a small stub. Did the goblins do it, no the cut was clean and has healed so it must have been done beforehand, an injury or was it done to her before she was left here. It''s just a simple fix I can just stimulate her cells with some mana and she should have a new tongue in few hours. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere."If I healed your tongue would you be able to tell me what this is?" Holding up the metal crossbow, she nodded. "Ok, In one week, I''ll come back, for you and maybe a few others. But first, you must know what I am saving you from, Ooh and try and get pregnant I will need some labourers and test subjects." Glancing at her panicking eyes darting about looking for a way out. "Now, Will you go back willingly or will I have to heal more than your tongue?" She just looked down trembling with tears brewing in her eyes. "Now that''s a good girl. I thought I was going to have to heal a bit more but it seems you have a brain in that head of yours." Bringing her back, she quietly went to a corner and just laid face down. Leaving once more I made my way back to the junk pile. I got to work. It''s been 4 days since the last raid and I have roughly gone through all the junk. I''ve turned a cloak into a ruffly made bag. I have found a few weapons of my era a few large maces and axes too big to be wielded by the goblins the only problem was the state of the weapons, they weren''t in a bad state but rather almost perfectly fine. I don''t think old weapons would still be in a good state so if I had to guess these weapons are relatively new, but why would they need these weapons when they have those fancy crossbows, maybe sport, recreation. Then why do the goblins have them? More questions I need to be answered. Loading all I could fit into the bag I picked it up and did some light shaking of the bag to see how well it would hold up. Sadly it was subpar as the binding holding it together came slightly loose. I''m gonna have to double the layers and try and make the binding tighter. lowering the bag I went to do some simple checkups. The woman was laying currently laying on the ground near the edge of the room trying her best to ignore the goblins doing as they please with her as she just stared in my direction. With a small glimmer in her eyes. after checking up on her and a few other women that still had a wisp of life in their eyes. then I made my way to the center building as all the land around the area has been dug up and being recovered with a shoddy wooden roof that was being relayered with dirt. They might finish on time. Smiling I started towards my final destination. A small hut near the edge of the camp was built not too long ago by a small tribe that joined. What I wanted was the goblin that made their residence. In particular, their homebrewed version of alchemy, it was very different from what I knew from what seemed right. it was an effective quick and wasteful version of alchemy but it had a 100% success and I wanted to learn as much of it as I could before they came back. Luckily the larger goblin was more than happy to spread his knowledge to others and he wasn''t the only one in the small tribe but several others in his tribe were also capable of this alchemy but none as good as he was. Also what was intriguing about this small tribe they were split into two groups one the Alchemists smaller but they all had a more sickly green tone to their skin and were a lot slower than other goblins and the second group had a darker skin tone than most goblins and were more avid hunters and gathers compared to the rest of the goblins. The talks with these goblins were interesting to say nonetheless, Something I would have to study more. The beginning of the plan. So today is apparently the day they come back for some more goblins. Every seven moons or so they say. The chieftains are giddy to rid themselves of the human menace. Getting goblins in positions since the moment the spot was ready all in wait for the Metal bird to show up. I''ve made my stops at places continuously checking to make sure everything is ready and the few women that will be leaving know. Each one chosen due to something I need from them 2 of the woman are pregnant with the different goblins known as variant goblins as one of the books has called them. Goblins are known to have variant tribes. It doesn''t explain what causes it, just they do. Book''s which are supposed to hold answers to your questions and valuable information, But no these books only hold basic information which could all be put into a book about basics like for example the book Monsters of the promthian has an entire page with Beware the Gruffalo. I have no idea what this Gruffalo is supposed to look like only just beware or how to avoid it, Just Beware. Fucking useless! Taking a breath I had rounds to make. I had no time to get upset over such a trivial thing, despite how valid my point may be. Looking to the sky as I moved to the village center hoping to catch a glimpse of the mettle bird they travel in. The area surrounding me looked as if nothing changed. Which I found very surprising comparing it to the small huts they have built which looked ready to fall apart. It was a wonder how they did this at an acceptable level. I am worried that they have someone watching the goblins from somewhere, but I have told the goblins to move some of their valuables down there, hoping it''s enough to fool them as it seems these goblins aren''t smart enough to set off a trap. Then again maybe goblins have in the past so I better be ready the moment they show. It is nearing the end of the day and they have not shown up yet. It is slightly worrying that they haven''t. But from what the goblins say they have shown up every week before nightfall. I have made my rounds everything is ready everything is in place. I just need to be patient. The sound of the wind being beaten shocked me out of my stupor as I stared off into the sky in a trance. They have arrived, Abliet a little late as the moon is high in the sky now. But this will have to work. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Getting up I pushed my way through the goblins that were rushing around getting to the places they were supposed to be. Arriving just outside their little makeshift brothel. I just had to wait for a little more it just has to land, The moment it lands. Checking the bag hung over my shoulder along with checking the cloak wrapping around me was in place secured tightly. I am ready to leave. As it got close to the ground blinding lights lit up all around the metal bird illuminating the surrounding area as if it was day. Then once again the same scenario started repeating its self. The men hoped out of the metal bird and secured the area. Queuing my turn to act. Swinging open the door to their brothel. I was shocked to see 4 women standing there with small packs and cloaks of their own standing there ready to leave. I couldn''t help check behind them to be greeted by a blood bath as more than half the women in there were laying in a pool of blood and the other half were cowering in a corner or laying on the ground as unresponsive as always. How? Scanning the women up and down they had no magic radiating from them. But they all held in their hands one of the small crossbows. But there was no noise Was there a bang? Whatever more questions for later I can''t waste my time. "Follow me." Quickly moving along the side of the wall I made my way to the wall. Upon reaching the wall. Not a single goblin was atop it. "It seems like they are fully committing to it. I didn''t think they would have listened in pulling all of them." Turning around I got down on one knee. "Ok, up ya go." Looking at their hesitant appearances. It''s confusing you offer a form of salvation to people and they don''t know if they should take it. To go back to what they know or what they were forced into because of the fear of the consequences or failure, Or maybe they fear if it''s better with the goblins than with me. "Will you let me lift you over or will I have to throw you over or do you want to know of the consequence of your action by killing those other women in their the goblins wouldn''t like that." Glancing at the woman, one stepped forward. Nodding at me as opened her mouth pointing into her mouth. "Not Yet, Once we are out of here I will heal you." Sending me a glare she stepped onto my outstretched hand then onto my shoulder before pulling herself onto the small platform along the wall. "Next." Quickly they repeated until all four were on the wall. Pulling myself up I lowered them onto the ground outside the wall hoped over and ran the simple part of the plan to create as much distance as we could. The only problem was humans have a finite amount of stamina before they get tired. Meaning I will have to carry multiple people once they get tired. Hopefully, we will reach the first checkpoint without any hiccup. Exposition and the such, maybe, I think(Chap 5) We have been running for about 30 minutes. A simple run so far I''ve heard a few howls of wolves and the rustling of bushes but nothing as of yet has made itself known. Our running has slowed down to a jog as they are showing signs of fatigue and we are only a third of the way there. We are fine to slow down tho as I can hear the echoing of the crossbow fire throughout the woods. "Ok, we can stop here for a moment." Glancing at the women they halted almost instantly collapsing with heavy breathing. "Let''s heal that inconvenient injury of yours." Moving over to the first woman she was about as tall as me with blond hair crudely cut short barely reaching her neck a common thing among the women in the goblins brothel. But I believe not done by the goblin but the people delivering them. I guess as a way to disrespect them. What surprises me is shes a beautiful elf if you ignore how unnourished she is and how she''s covered in scars but shouldn''t be hard to fix, all in all, I don''t know why they handed her over to the goblins when someone could very easily heal her and sell her to a high end brothel or a noble. "Ahh, yes. Open your mouth. We will heal all those scars later. When I have more time." Opening her mouth a little too eagerly I stuck my finger into her mouth pressing it down onto the stump of her tongue. It was a simple spell in the necromancy school of magic it restores the body to the last state it remembers, it''s usually used in combination with raising zombies to restore it to as healthy a state as possible. The fun thing is when this spell is used on the living restore the body part to what the soul looks like. I remember when I learned this spell that hard head of a necromancer, he... he, He did. What did he do? I can see that smug grin and the, I just can''t remember. Hearing a gasp, I refocused on the woman before me as a wave of dull grey mana washed over her clearing away the scars coating her working its way down her body. Pulling my finger out of her mouth. "Well, That was a little more than I was intending." Opening my bag I pulled out some of the crude jerky the goblins made handing it to her. "You''re going to start feeling fairly hungry soon when you do eat this." Turning To the next women I repeated the spell this time stopping once the tongue was fully healed continuing for the last three of the women allowing them a little more time to rest and talk to each other once I finished. "Time to get moving. Also, you come with me we have a bit to talk about." Pointing over to a woman with short messy brown hair and brown eyes. Quickly she left the other women coming to my side as I started to jog once more. After jogging only 20 feet I turned to check if they were in tow. They were only a few feet behind me sticking much closer to me than before. It seems a simple spell is all it takes to earn a little trust. Continuing forward I matched the pace of the women beside me. "So, First would you mind telling me how you got the cloaks and packs I assumed the goblins took them." Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings."The goblins, let us rest for some time during the night, that''s time I would make my way over to where you took me originally. The Goblins didn''t stop me out of fear of you. So I grabbed a few of the cloaks and such you got rid of." Her speech was a little slurred but something she should be able to get over as she gets used to speaking again. I didn''t notice her. That would explain why my piles were messed up a few times but I thought the goblins were just going through it, Again I was wrong. "How do those metal crossbows work. I haven''t been able to figure it out.." A confused look passed across her face before realizing what I was talking about."You mean the guns. How could you not know." "Well these guns of yours are nothing like anything I''ve seen nor do I have any memories of them so they would have had to been made more recently." "Guns have been around since our earliest date of recorded history. So for a few thousand years. We don''t know if they were around before the hero war as all records from the beginning and before era was destroyed or lost." Heros, The otherworlders. "It worked. You''re saying it worked." Turning to the woman she jumped back in shock. "Wait what worked." A suffocating feeling of pride was overwhelming me at the mention of the heroes. But Why. "What can you tell me of the heroes." Looking over at her she had a slightly shocked look on her face as a few different emotions flashed across her face from shock, fear to awe before finally settling on shock. "Your from the old world? You helped with the summoning of the heroes." "I don''t know, I can''t remember it that well. Visual or verbal cues bring back these flashes of memories or ideas. So, What can you tell me about the heroes." Continuing for the rest for the next few hours slowing down to a walk as the women were exhausted. For the last little bit of our walk, I''ve been going over what she told me. It seems I''ve been dead for at least 1000 and during that 1000 plus years, there was a grand war between the heroes and the nations of our world, forcing a begrudging truce among the alliance, the Demon King, the Undead Legion and the Chaos tribes. This truce which many thought wouldn''t last became stronger over the years of war eventually to the point the council of man and the elder God council was made, Truly uniting the world under one banner which has remained strong till now. The war against the heroes ended about 100 years ago ever since then the councils have been preparing to counter strike at the heroes'' homeworlds along with adapting to the changes our world is undergoing due to the mass amount of mana the heroes introduced to our world. Goblins being one of those newly muted lifeforms from the mana increase. Along the line of goblins, it seems that the tribe was a part of a small scale farming operation by a numbered guild. This guild was buying reject women from a slave tribe and giving them to the goblins to help keep the goblin numbers up. Sadly the women didn''t know why their tounges were removed before being given to the goblins Snapping me out of my thoughts was a low howling of wolves. just a little more Listening to the low howling of the wolves, we were close to the first checkpoint. Slowing down turning towards the woman they were glancing around nervously. "Slow down and pay attention to the bushes around us and do not use those guns. On anything without my approval or the consequences are yours to deal with." It didn''t take long for a soft snapping of branches and the rustling of leaves for a small animal to come waddling out to our feet happily sniffing and prancing about at our feet. Kneeling I pick up the small animal. It has dark red skin that tightly hugs its body. With a few small black spines that trialled from the tip of its tail leading up to the bass of its head revealing the head of a young wolf with two setts of nostrils and a lack of eyes and ears. It happily wiggled about in my arms. Moving over to one of the women I handed her the small Demon hound. Noticing the fear in her eyes as she stared at the small animal in her arms. I couldn''t help but sigh. "Just hold onto the little guy, He won''t bite." Moving around the area it didn''t take long for us to find four more of these pups. Making sure everyone had a pup in their arms we moved deeper into the forest closer to the sounds of the howling. A low growling sounded out all around us as A large demon hound moved out of the bushes towards us. Moving forward I put the pup on the ground in front of it before backing up. Lowering its head it sniffed the pup before licking it a few times and ushering it into the bushes behind it. Turning towards the women "Your turn." One by one the women offered the pups one of the pups didn''t get sniffed but the women carrying the pup got checked. She was the partial beast woman that I choose to bring along. The Demon hound let out a low howl cause two demon hounds to leave their hiding spots and start leading the way deeper into the forest as the rest left. "Follow along." Moving towards the beast women. "So your ancestors a wolf beast?" Giving me a quick quizzical look."I am a model 38 Wolf beast woman." "You were made." "No, a group of heroes made my ancestors in fascination with animal ears and tails on humans." "It would be pointless then unless you had qualities of the beast your based off. Otherwise, they would only be cosmetic." She noticeably drooped at my comment."I am a failure. I show traits of the wolf so I can''t be a servant but I don''t show enough potential to be a battle slave, making me a failed product." "Now why would that make you a failed product. Wouldn''t you want your servants to have some strength. You know if you get raided, someone tries to assassinate you. They could put up a fight or even stop the intruders. What''s the point in having weak servants." "Stronger servants are more expensive so only the wealthiest will have an entire servant body of battle-ready servants." Why the hell would you purchase servants. You cant guarantee the loyalty of the servants. So why would you trust a servant that wasn''t trained by people to be loyal to you. It just doesn''t make sense. I wouldn''t be surprised if there is an entire information network connected through these purchased servants. Shaking my head at their stupidity. I turned to the beast women. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Well, it seems you might get a lot of attention while we are staying here. You are enough of a wolf for them it seems." Glancing towards the demon wolf leading us. The wolf led us to a clearing in the forest with demon wolves constantly patrolling the area along with a handful of other animals roaming in the middle of the clearing, Predators and Prey alike. Once we were in the clearing the wolves stared at us for a little before heading back into the forest. "Follow me and remember don''t attack Anything in this clearing, no matter how close it comes to you how freaky it seems to you and if anything attacks you run to a demon wolf and Don''t fight back I can''t stress that enough." Moving to a corner of the clearing there was a small pile of cloaks and sacks I''ve brought here for them over the weak in preparation. "You can switch out to one of these cloaks. They are better than those. Also after you switch cloaks I want you to teach me how these guns work." Glancing around us the beasts were giving us a wide birth as they glanced at us from a distance. Checking on the woman they doubled up on the cloaks instead of switching them out and were digging through the bags checking what is in them. Waiting for them to finish the woman with the brown hair came over holding two guns of a smaller handheld design. Before sitting down in front of me. "There are two types of Guns you should know about." Pointing at the two guns she put on the grounds I sat down to get a closer look. She also seems to be taking this very seriously "You have the Gunpowder or black powder weapons and Mana weapons. your black powder weapons are going to be easier to use and cheaper to buy they also excel in dealing with fleshy targets. And the bullets you use in these guns can be enchanted but that increases the cost exponentially and become something only the rich can afford. Also in the long run gunpowder weapons will cost more in the long run." Pointing over to the other weapon she picked it up and pressed the side of the handle releasing something from within the handle. "Next you have mana Weapons that instead of using bullets use a mana battery to fire They cost a lot to purchase upfront but you won''t have to buy ammo for them and depending on the mana charged into the battery the bullets can have different effects. Like if you have Fire mana charged into the battery it will shoot balls of fire or if the trigger is held it will spray a jet of flame." "So you''re saying that with the mana Weapons you can have an army of mages that haven''t put the time into learning their spells but just point the gun at something and pull the trigger." Pausing for a bit she pondered a bit before continuing. "That''s not entirely correct Mana weapons can Fire weak versions of any bolt type spells but a similar bolt spell cast by a mage will be a lot stronger. There are also a few exceptions to this For example being the Shotgun wizard of the Capital or the Deadly rose Witch coven." She continued for a while Naming Organizations and Artifacts that allowed for the use of more powerful spells. It got me wondering why she knew so much about this for if she was truly from the slave clans from what I know then why does she know so much. But then again the Wolf beast woman mentioned her being a failed battle slave maybe this is some of the basic knowledge for the battle slaves. Looking at her happily Ranting on About different types of guns. I could just ask her instead of guessing and get a direct answer or Glancing over to the beast women she could also possibly answer for me. "And How do you know all this." Freezing mid-sentence she stared up at me. "My Previous master''s had me clean their library and I liked to read when no one was around." "Then let me guess they caught you and sold you off." "No, I Struck the young master and my punishment is as you see." She lowered her head in shame or fear. I could not tell. But that''s not the entirety of the story. She had to have done something more. she seemed to be a prized slave. "Ok, you can continue." The night slowly passed by as the women took turns answering my questions as three would sleep as the other stays awake to explain things to me. Chapter 7 It''s been a week since we left the checkpoint I set up at the demon wolf''s clearing. A few hours ago we passed by a road, It was, interesting, made of something they called asphalt it was leading to the capital of the region but I decided not to follow it as I have been following a feeling to say. There''s a place I feel I need to be. I don''t know its importance to me only a feeling of belonging and that we are close. It bothers me to be following a feeling but I have nothing else I can follow right now that can answer any questions belonging to who I am, I get some glances between each other and a glare from the last. The only answer I get is from the elven woman and she says she won''t answer my question until she knows for sure that''s who I am. Once we arrive at this feeling I will get some answers. I am wondering if I am being too kind to the women that they may have forgotten their place I saved them because I needed them for answers and to act as guides. But they haven''t proven completely useless as two of the woman gave birth to a small litter of goblins a few days ago and it is amazing to see them grow up in only a few days reaching the same size as the other goblins from before along with how easily they are moldable as I introduced these goblins to a few of the demon wolf Cubs I took with us upon leaving their territories and they have started showing signs of primitive training technique''s without any outside help. It does seem their base nature has not changed as this morning I had to forbid the goblins from going after the women but they didn''t go after their mother and even brought a small amount of their food for their mothers. "Can I get your attention for a little?" Looking up from my journal the elven woman was staring at me fidgeting in place. Closing my journal I stood up from my sitting position. "What do you need." Taking a deep breath she stared into my eyes. "What do you plan to do with us." "Guides, servants, mothers what I need of you at the moment." "Y''you want me to have.." Cutting her off. "Yes, when the goblins population becomes low or only valuable goblins are left I will need more along with someone to answer my questions." "Will you treat me well if I obey?" It would be helpful if she doesn''t try to run or fight. "That would be acceptable." She smiled slightly. "I can work with that." Glancing towards a bush behind her as it slightly rustled. "I will offer this deal to all of you. If you do not wish to take this deal you better be long gone before I get back." A last little bit of kindness couldn''t hurt. Glancing to the side a few goblins were playing with a dead rabbit. Turning to check on the woman they left their hiding place and were talking in hushed voices. "Tell the others to watch them and capture any that try to run. Otherwise don''t bother the woman." They simply looked at me for a little before scurrying off. Now time to find this feeling. Setting off In the general direction of this feeling. The forest was becoming denser to the point where I was almost brushing against the trees as I walked past them. Stoping, the trees stopped leaving a clearing with a small run-down wooden cabin radiating a thick layer of mana littered all around the small cabin laid corpses strewn about. Many split down the middle, bodies were torn from their waste and a few looked as if they have been torn to shreds from the inside out leaving bits and pieces of entrails pouring out from holes all over their body. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Moving to the door of the cabin. Pressing my hand on the door it slowly creaked open. Revealing the trashed interior of the cabin. Cupboards torn from the walls or tables and chairs smashed glancing away from the pile of rubble the room was fairly large except for three rooms along the left side of the doors ripped from their hinges. Moving over to the leftmost room it was a rather plain bedroom except for the remains of a large bed centred in the room that still glistened barely with its old splendour. Small pangs of pain pricked at me as I looked upon the bed. Moving away from the room. I turned to the next taking a deep metaphorical breath and moved to the next room. The walls were glistening with a magical gleam as runes flickered about around the room. Looking about the room everything was intact and even in prime condition, there was a small crib in the center of the room with a small box near the back of the room filled with various sorts of toys. Just to the left of this toy box was the body of a scantily clad demon with a thin leather like tail that ended in a heart and a small pair of wings sprouting from her shoulders. Her body was completely intact except for a slash from her ear to lower jaw removing the top of her head leaving a trail of blood trailing down the side of her body to the top half of her head which was crushed into a paste at her side with still the imprint of a large boot in the remains of her skull. A small growing flame of anger was welling up inside me. Turning around I moved onto the next room trying to quell the anger. This room was in the same state as the living room with all the furniture smashed to bits in a corner the only difference was the staircase in the center of the room. The staircase was alight by small magical flames flickering about along the staircase. Moving down the winding staircase it was like a drill into the earth it took me almost 10 minutes to reach the bottom of the staircase. Where it ended, Opening up to a large lobby like area. With the stairs in a corner of the room. Unlike the upper rooms along the wall were neatly stacked chairs and a desk unlike the neat appearance of the chairs and desk the rest of the room was in disarray much like outside corpses littered the room their deaths for the most part were much cleaner either being from a large hole in their chest or a clean decapitation the corpses lead into large double doors at the back of the room that had the center of the doors blown open. Passing the doors corpses were pushed to the sides of doors leaving enough room for a single file line of people to walk through. The bodies piled up on the sides were unlike the others the armour was no longer leather but switched to Full platemale moving down the hallway there were a few rooms I tried to enter but a glowing red magical circle blocked the door slowly as I moved down the hallway trying the doors near the end of the hallway was a door that was reduced to a fine powder on the ground moving into the room it was empty except for a large magic circle carved into the ground. Or mostly empty, there are 5 large glass containers sitting in a star shape along the edges of the circle that contain a pale purple liquid with a pale purple crystal floating about in the liquid. Moving over to one of these jars I bent down to pick up the jar. As I lifted the jar the crystal bounced about letting a small spark of light every time it came into contact with the edge of the jar. Sticking my pointer finger into the liquid. A jolt of mana rushed through my body. Pulling my finger from the liquid I wasn''t able to move my finger much as the bones that made up my hand had purple crystals bursting out of cracks that formed along my finger. My finger has more than doubled in size. Grabbing my cloak ripped a piece of it off. I covered the top of the jar tying it tight with a small strand of leather I used to keep the top of the pack closed before pushing the jar into the pack. Throwing the pack back onto my back. I made my way out of the underground area but not before trying all the doors once more. Once I left the underground area I stopped in the kid''s room on my way out. I felt hollow while looking about the room like there was a void. Turning around I moved out of the room and made my distance into the forest before turning around getting a last little glimpse of the clearing. I don''t need this. Chapter 8 After leaving the clearing it was getting rather dark out so I decided to make my way over to where I last left the woman. As I made my way over the sounds of hushed chatter; grunts and yelps of a woman along with a trail of slurs. As I drew closer several large men were wrestling the elven woman I partially healed trying to force her into a leather suit. But she wasn''t making it easy as she flailed about kicking and biting. Glancing among the men there was four total, I could see, all of them concentrating on the woman trying to force her into the suit. Concentrating on my hand a small ball of fire started crackling in my hand as it came to life taking shape of a small fireball. Quickly it multiplied till several small fireballs were rotating around my hand lighting up the darkening forest. "Finally some fucking help. Get over here and help hold her down." As he glanced over to me a sharp kick landed onto his jaw causing him to stumble back. As he stabilized himself before he could utter a complaint a fireball detonated in his chest releasing a crisp sizzling. A soft Pop along with a small stream of blood burst out of his chest followed by a jet of flame. Listening to the pops following the initial one. I made my way over to the bodies to the sound of sizzling flesh. Once I got closer to the bodies they were all laying lifeless. But it was odd as only one of the improved fireballs struck its mark striking the heart. The rest were stuck in the shoulder or the far side of their chest from their heart. Yet they were all were laying as lifeless as the first. Raising my foot I pressed it down onto the head of one of the bodies and slowly started pressing my foot down letting a slow crunch as it gave under out under me. Glancing among the other corpse for any reaction I moved onto the next, then the next over and over I watched for any reaction. Yet even on the last one, there was no reaction. Sighing I turned around. Pondering on why were they so weak. I turned my gaze towards the elf as she sat up gazing at me with love? No, Admiration, devotion, worship maybe a mix I couldn''t tell. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "Either take that off and throw on some clothes from these guys or finish putting that on your choice." Once more I went over all the bodies grabbing anything loose on their bodies. They had almost nothing on them except for a small platform a cylinder with a button on its top and a metal card with bright blue runes carved upon its surface. Noticing a drop of blood I moved my hand brushing along the face of the card wiping the blood off. Turning towards the elven woman to hurry her along she was fully in the leather suit it was a thick leather that clung to her body tightly making it hard to tell whether she was male or female from just a glance at her body. She was grabbing her pack which was significantly less full and her cloak throwing them on before coming to my side looking up to me. Getting the way the slavers came from we started to make our way away from where the slave traders came from and the ruins we started making distance as I would like to be out of there before any of their friends showed up but I doubt they would be much trouble if they would be any trouble based on their friend''s strength. But I didn''t want to risk it. We travelled for a little while in silence. Until I finally broke the silence. "Why did wish to not tell me who I was, and what happened to the goblins." Fidgeting a little she looked at me. "I don''t know exactly why they didn''t wish to tell you what they know outside of trying to keep you in the dark until we arrived at or near a city. All I know is some of the titles you were given. If they are correct in believing who you are some of your titles are, The Traitor, Teacher of Calamities, The Great Betrayer, The Master of many skills, The vengeful...." she went on with many titles of similar nature for a little while before stopping nodding to her self that was all of them. "The goblins." Panicking a little she started explaining everything. The other woman killed a few of the goblins near them and ran for the highway as the goblins gave chase then an hour-ish later the slave traders came for her and she ran in the direction I ventured off before getting caught. Hmm, I thought the goblins would have been enough to stop them but I guess they were out-armed and got unlucky with the slavers. I should have given them guns instead of the weapons they made. Lesson learned such a simple but obvious mistake. Mumbling to myself "Now were too" was just loud enough for her ears to perk up hearing what I said. Quickly hurrying in front of me she turned to face me. "I know of a place that you could go." "Tell me of this place." chapter 9 Chapter 9 We have been travelling for nearly 2 week''s we have passed by one city in which I waited outside the city by the road as I did not wish to register for citizenship just yet as I was told it could be a very lengthy process for the newly raised. She sold most of our excess guns and took the platform and cylinder intruding them as an older model of personal shopping carts. Pressing the button on the cylinder a small beam of mana came from the bottom of it to the raising short barriers around the cart for transporting goods. When she returned she held a small piece of metal similar to the card I grabbed early just on one side there was the ''UB anywhere any time you need us'' carved onto it. A debit card I was told it holds money so one doesn''t have to carry the coins another convenient invention. She made just over 100 dollars after expenses. She ended up buying some food and ammo along with a book with the title "History: THE TRAITOR or Greatest Patriot" In which she gave me but I haven''t read it yet I don''t know if I will, but I will hold onto it. The place we are heading to is a village that failed to overcome a monster tide and was abandoned. I asked what these monster tides were and apparently when a village, town and city hit certain sizes the world itself tests these places creating Swarms of monsters to charge at the settlement and if it passes the test the settlement is rewarded with an abundance of raw materials If it fails new species of monsters are released into the wild. This one failed as a Nobel wanted a secret city to train an army at but underestimated the monster tide and was forced to abandon it and everyone who knew about it was quickly deposed of even his once prized elven slave. She said a few of the buildings were complete but most were largely incomplete making it not the most attractive spot for bandits as there were many more such projects that were almost complete. And then most monsters didn''t like the concrete fortresses. Making it an ideal place for me as it seems I am a wanted man or was a wanted man if that is truly me. Scribbling in my journal as we marched our way through the woods bashing into trees here and there. We eventually arrived in a clearing that was heavily grown over grass coming to my shoulders and plants snaking their way up these large stone buildings refusing to give way to nature. The clearing wasn''t large only supporting a few buildings one of them a warehouse that covered half the already small clearing. Making my way through the houses they were ransacked leaving almost nothing of value if anything. The warehouse was no exception large crates were strewn about all over the floor stacked upon each other disorderly as they were torn from the shelves in the search for anything of value. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Moving around the warehouse a weak pained moan echoed quietly from just ahead. Moving towards the sound was a young man laying in a pile of charred corpses. .... Panicking as I glanced around. He disappeared one moment he was in front of me and I glance away and he''s gone. Hurrying around the warehouse a loud thud drew my attention. Fearing for the worst I made sure the gun was loaded and bolted towards the sound slowing down once I got close I peered around one of the metal shelves. And there he stood lumbering over a young man flailing about as he was pinned down trying to kick and push the giant hand of the bone golem I have come to call my master off of him. With his spare hand, he grasped one of the young man''s arms gripping it tightly as the sound of bones crunching and crackling emanated from the grasped arm as at the elbow the arm snapped back before completely detaching from his body coating them both in his blood as his arm was dropped to the floor to flaming bony hands pressed onto his new stump the other a bony finger implanted in his mouth emitting a grey pale light. The man was thrashing about kicking at IT. After what felt like an eternity IT moved ITS hand to the next arm before starting the process once more. The man''s head fell to the side tears and snot freely falling from his face until he made eye contact with me and it all stopped for the briefest of seconds as I watched the pain clouding his eye disappear slightly to be replaced with hope. Breaking eye contact and shuffling back I heard a soft bang. Glancing down towards my foot it was pressed against a toppled container. Taking a slow deep breath calming myself down. Closing my eyes, I repeated "My master is correct, My master is my God, My master knows best," As I repeated I felt safe, but also all the scars along my body ignited in a burning itch even the ones I believed to be gone, healed itched all the same. Opening my eyes there he was my master. H-he was towering over me his hand ignited in flame. I didn''t even surpass the entangled mess of bones that was his ankle. Moving my arms to push myself up I only ended up rolling over. Glancing to my left. Where my arm and leg should have been was a gaping hole, trying my best to move my arm it wouldn''t move. I know it''s not gone I can still feel it moving. "I, I just, I just had. . . Hope. I thought. I''m Jjust a worthless bastard after all." "Ohh, now, now, don''t need to be so down you will be fine. But for now, rest." Struggling to keep my eyes open he bent down picking me up. Chapter 10 Jolting awake as I felt something pouring down my throat. I felt my head jolted up as something was being pulled out of my throat. Opening my eyes, a metallic nozzle hanging swaying in front of me connected to a large writhing intestine like appendage hanging from the ceiling with pieces of muscle pulsating about it, synchronized with its movements as it recoiled, wrapping the appendage around a beam before going limp. Attempting to move my right hand to my stomach to soothe the bloated feeling. To much my dismay with the lack of movement from my arm. My arm was separated almost 2 feet from my body, crudely pinned to the wall by my side with thin strands of muscle connecting it to my body. Turning my head to my leg, it was lying separated into three pieces on the floor, twitching with movement, trying to reciprocate my desire to move my leg. "Ahh, She awakes. How was the nap?" Waltzing up to me, his arms looked sanded flat as the bones jetting out of it were pressed down, or nubs of bones were broken off, leaving his arms with a relatively smooth look. In one hand, he was carrying a large skinning knife. "Uhh, Umm, it was fine. Wha, What happened to my." Struggling to get out my words in fear as I glanced down at him as he kneeled before my leg. He raised his head, looking me in the eyes as a loose eye in one of his eye sockets came spinning around until it made contact with my eyes refocusing on me as a magical circle spun about, making up his pupil. "Just some research, my dear. I can''t very effectively repair your body if I don''t know how elves evolved over the years. So I''m going to need to do a little dissecting." Looking back down, He pinched a group of muscles before lowering the knife to my skin. I felt a searing sensation along my thigh as he started working the knife under my skin, peeling it from my skin with untold efficiency, making a neatly folded pile of my skin. Quickly moving onto my shin, then foot lastly, he stuck the knife to my thigh, Cutting out a large chunk of flesh before releasing the pinched strands of muscle. An overwhelming rush of pain quickly flushed over my body, only allowing a gasp of pain before everything faded. Weakly opening my eyes to the sensation of ribs being prodded, he was standing over me. Turning my head slightly to get a glimpse of my ribs, he placed new rib bones into my seared left side with a soft Pop as he put another rib in its place with a soft pop slowly until all were in place. Once were all in place, he held two large piles of flesh in his hands. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings."Which one." He was holding the piles in front of my face. One seemed almost alive, twitching as tiny tendrils of flesh reached out, trying to grasp onto the air around it. While the other, there was nothing special about it. It looked like an ordinary pile of flesh if that was even a thing, But it scared me. I didn''t know what he did to it, but something must have been off with it. I couldn''t tell. Forcing down the saliva gathering in my mouth with an audible gulp. I looked him in the eyes. Weakly smiling. "Whatever you would prefer." Lowering the blobs revealing the lower half of his face. Skin stretched across his lower jaw to his nose, showing a crooked grin as he stared at me. Pulling an upturned container closer, He pressed the two piles of flesh together before starting to knead them as if they were piles of dough. Slowly and methodically, he Kneaded the two until they became a uniform mass showing nothing special outside of the occasional tendril that reached. He kneeled, getting close to my newly exposed ribs taking bits of the flesh applying it lightly around the burns from where the fireball passed through my body. It felt oddly refreshing as tiny tendrils from the flesh dug into my skin, melding into my injured body, becoming one with it. Once he finished, he took a handful of flesh and started bridging the gaps between my ribs. Before moving onto my skin, he previously applied the flesh, making it as if my body was never injured in the first place, discounting the slight discolouration compared to my skin. I looked almost hole. "Now time for the final touches." Locking my eyes onto his frame, he walked off behind the shelves before reemerging, carrying four wooden limbs. He started with my left leg, pressing a wooden limb to the newly formed stump and twisting it slightly as a red glow came from the stump as thin splinters went from the wood digging into my leg, making it look like roots ran along my hip. Grabbing the next wooden leg, he Jammed it more forcefully into the stump as I felt my entire body jolt up slightly. As he moved to my arms, I sputtered out a question I wanted to know. "Master, what happened to my Arm and Leg." Turning to glance at me, his one eye holding a cold, piercing glance. "I mean my right leg and arm." Turning my gaze away, hoping the piercing silence would pass faster. "I needed material to make your new side of as I didn''t freeze the human previously, and his body was mostly decomposed or already fed to you for me to do anything worthwhile with it. But these wooden limbs should do you good enough for now." After he finished, he Moved quickly, Attaching the wooden arms with a forceful shove a twist making sure they were fully attached. "Get up and follow me. I need you to complete something for me." "What about testing if the limbs work." A low chuckle came from him as he kept on walking. "Funny As if you are implying something, I, made, Wouldn''t Work." "NO, Absolutely not, I would never." "Good, then follow." Pushing myself up, I forced myself to walk, hobbling every step to get used to my legs.