Troubles During Evolution

*Tip*

*Tap*

"My king, the troops have finished training and are now prepared for the attack! They await your order to launch." A stubby armed goblin reported to King Aslan, who was methodically tapping on the armrest of his throne.

*Tip*

*Tap*

"...Yes... The time is near, tell the troops to gather. We will begin our march tonight." King Aslan slowly said as he continued to tap on his armrest.

*Tip*

*Tap*

...

'Seems that all my planning and preparations are in order. Why is it that I have this sinking feeling in my stomach? It couldn't be fear, could it? The great me no longer feels fear!' King Aslan roared internally, throwing that feeling away as he stopped tapping and stood up. He gathered his equipment and stormed out of the throne room.

"My people! The time has come for us to take what is rightfully ours! No longer will we struggle, for we will be on top! No longer will our people be enslaved, for we will be the ones enslaving. No longer will our people starve, for we will be the ones hoarding the resources! No longer will we lack women, for we will claim them all!" King Aslan bellowed out his speech.

"RAAAAAAA! KING! ASLAN! KING! ASLAN!" The crowd began cheering and chanting King Aslan's name.

A wide and wicked smile slowly crept onto his dark green face. 'Soon... soon this whole forest, no... this whole continent will be cheering my name just like this!' King Aslan fantasized, as he turned to walk back to his carriage.

It was a simple carriage, pulled by a bison. It was the most advanced technology the goblins had developed so far. King Aslan looked at this in contempt, knowing of the wonders that he had seen as a slave in the Fairy Kingdom.

'It will all be mine soon enough...'

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

An eerie feeling began to wash over all the creatures living in the goblin territory of the Forbidden Forest. They didn't know why, but a foreboding feeling washed over them. As if a noose was around their necks, waiting for the lever to be pulled and the floor to open.

Roy too, felt this as his consciousness swayed in the cocoon. He tried to awaken, but the fluid inside the cocoon kept his consciousness safe and asleep. Unable to think clearly, Roy soon gave back in to the fluid and went back into a deep sleep.

It had already been fifteen minutes since he had entered the cocoon, and the kobolds continued to watch it nervously. They didn't know what the feeling was, but they could sense danger. Terren, who was one of the closest to the cocoon, was standing right next to Solus. They looked at each other and nodded, staying alert of their surroundings.

If they had made their Mana Hearts, they would have been able to see that the feeling came from the mana in the air being stirred, and filled with malice. The only thing capable of doing so was a tier three or higher entity.

The mana in a twenty mile radius was affected, making everyone feel the intense killing intent.

'Wake up soon, Roy...' Solus thought, while staring at the cocoon nervously.

...

Around ten minutes later, the ground began rumbling. The kobolds looked towards the forest, in the direction the feeling was coming from and soon, they could see a small stampede.

"Everyone, prepare for battle!" Terren yelled out in alarm. All the kobolds prepped their gauntlets and stared at the oncoming hoard.

"One... five... ten... There are 13 boars coming, Solus take care of Roy!" Terren yelled after confirming the numbers, using hand signs to make it easier for Solus to understand.

"O-kay!" Solus yelled back, her English having improved once again, making it easier for her to say simple words.

The other kobolds all ran forward to meet the hoard, with Terren in the lead. She had earlier, formed a party with all of the kobolds from her tribe, after Roy taught her how. This way, they could all reap the benefits of their kills.

Terren was the first to launch an attack, using [Scratch] she targeted the neck of the first boar.

"SQUEEE" it squealed in pain, as the other boars soon noticed their attackers coming as well.

The battle soon became a full blown melee, with the boars on the losing side. The kobolds used their gauntlets, and the newly obtained gauntlet arts to their advantage. They targeted the weak spots of the boars, causing large amounts of damage.

The battle wasn't an easy one though, many of the kobolds received injuries. After all, this was their first real battle. Even with the instinctual knowledge granted to them with the [Gauntlet Arts] skill, it still required practice to acclimate.

At the end of the battle, all the kobolds survived, but were exhausted. Many were laying on the ground, panting. Unfortunately, fate had other plans in store that didn't involve rest. The ground began trembling once again, but this time the quakes became more pronounced.

Knowing a much bigger enemy was approaching, Solus stepped forward and pointed to Roy's cocoon. "Pro-tect" she said in Koboldese as fluently as possible.

Nodding their heads in understanding, the other kobolds slowly lifted their exhausted bodies and approached Roy. As Terren was passing Solus, she handed over Inbellis. Terren looked at Solus with wide eyes, as the only people that has been allowed to touch their pet so far was Roy and Solus. Roy was extremely protective of Inbellis, as he was very weak physically.

"Don't worry I'll keep it safe." Terren said to her softly, seeing the worry in Solus' eyes. She grew to care for this little land isopod just as much as Roy, and often enjoyed playing with it.

'Please, wake up soon Roy...' Solus pleaded, more desperate than the last time she asked as the giant boar slowly came into view.

She hid to the side and prepared to launch a preemptive assault.