Free Web NovelChapter 401: Powerplay
The constant sound of metal striking crystal echoed throughout the cavern, causing the young wolves to become increasingly restless. Some whined and pressed themselves against the Matriarch, while others wandered around nervously, clearly unsettled by the sudden activity.
Watching them, I quickly came to a decision.
It would be better to move them now.
I had already planned to bring the wolves back to the settlement anyway.
"Might as well start with the pups."
A few nearby goblins exchanged nervous glances when I gave the order.
The wolves might have accepted me, but that didn’t necessarily mean they would tolerate being picked up by strangers.
Still, the goblins obeyed.
To everyone’s surprise, the pups didn’t resist much at all.
A few let out confused noises as they were lifted off the ground, but none of them attempted to bite or scratch. If anything, they seemed more curious than frightened.
That made the process significantly easier.
One by one, the pups were carefully placed inside the baskets, where they immediately began crawling over one another and investigating their new surroundings.
With that taken care of, I began transporting everyone back.
Starting with the Matriarch.
As expected, she was cautious the moment she arrived at the settlement.
Her ears remained perked, and her eyes constantly moved as she observed the unfamiliar environment around her. Fortunately, that didn’t last long.
The moment Sheera approached, the tension in the wolf noticeably eased.
I watched the interaction with mild surprise.
The Matriarch, who had been wary of nearly every goblin she’d encountered, allowed Sheera to approach without complaint.
It didn’t take long to figure out why.
Apparently, Sheera possessed a title that increased her affinity with animals. Suddenly, her earlier confidence made a lot more sense.
At the time, I’d assumed she was simply experienced. Now I realized she had a genuine advantage when dealing with creatures like these.
With the wolves effectively handed over to Sheera’s care, another problem quickly presented itself.
They needed somewhere to stay.
Fortunately, Doro handled that issue.
Using his abilities, he began constructing a temporary shelter near the outskirts of the settlement. It wasn’t anything elaborate, but it would be more than enough until a proper home could be built for the pack.
Once I confirmed everything was under control, I returned to the Manacore cave.
The miners had made good progress during my absence.
Several baskets had already been filled with crystal fragments and neatly arranged near the entrance, ready for transport.
I stopped for a moment and looked over the growing pile.
A smile slowly appeared on my face.
This was only the beginning.
The crystals alone would strengthen the clan considerably. Weapons, armor, tools, construction materials—there were countless uses for a resource this valuable. And that wasn’t even considering the Manacore Heart Crystal still resting deeper within the cave.
For the first time in a while, I felt genuinely optimistic.
The King’s Games were approaching. Threats were gathering. Enemies would come. But as I stared at the baskets filled with crystal, I couldn’t help but think that the Emerald Midget Clan had just taken another massive step forward.
And we were only getting started.
*
Elsewhere...
Raghul knelt before the Chosen hidden within the darkness.
The chamber was silent.
No torches burned. No decorations adorned the stone walls. Only darkness stretched in every direction, concealing the figure’s appearance.
His identity remained unknown.
But there was one thing known for certain. The individual before him was a Chosen.
And not just any Chosen. One who had already secured a place in the King’s Games.
"I heard Caius was defeated and that you are now the chief," the mysterious figure said calmly. "Why have you come? To challenge me?"
Raghul lowered his head.
"Quite the contrary. I have come to request an alliance."
For a brief moment, silence filled the chamber. Then the figure laughed.
"An alliance?"
Disbelief dripped from his voice. Then the laughter faded.
And when he spoke again, his tone had turned cold.
"I didn’t take you for a clown, Raghul."
Raghul felt his throat tighten. Something had changed.
The atmosphere itself seemed heavier. More oppressive.
The darkness surrounding the figure appeared to stir as though responding to his mood.
The mysterious Chosen leaned forward slightly.
"When I told you that you could have Caius’ clan if you managed to eliminate him, I expected you to kill him yourself."
Raghul’s expression stiffened.
"But..."
The word echoed through the chamber.
Suddenly, an immense pressure descended upon him.
Raghul’s eyes widened. His body was forced downward as though an invisible weight had been dropped onto his shoulders. The stone beneath his knees cracked as he struggled to remain upright.
Veins bulged across his neck. His teeth clenched. Yet the pressure only continued to increase.
"Not only was an external factor responsible for you becoming chief..."
The darkness around the Chosen thickened.
"Not only is Caius still alive and now working alongside that same bastard who happens to be my competition..."
The pressure intensified further.
Raghul let out a strained grunt. Sweat formed across his forehead.
"But you..."
The figure’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"...you also lost the Garnets."
Raghul’s pupils shrank.
The chamber fell deathly silent. Then the Chosen rose from his seat.
"And after all of that..."
Another surge of pressure crashed into Raghul.
"...you dare come before me asking for an alliance?"
Raghul groaned as the pressure intensified.
His body was slammed flat against the stone floor, cracks spreading beneath him like a web as the ancient rock struggled to withstand the force bearing down upon it.
Pain shot through every part of his body. Even breathing had become difficult. Yet despite that, he forced his mouth open.
"SSS!"
The word escaped as little more than a strained gasp.
The effect was immediate.
The crushing pressure didn’t disappear, but it lessened enough for Raghul to draw a proper breath.
The darkness stirred.
"SSS what...?"
Raghul sucked in a lungful of air and slowly raised his head.
His muscles trembled from the strain.
Sweat dripped from his face onto the cracked stone below.
"The goblin who defeated Caius..." he said, his voice hoarse. "Had an SSS-rank ability."
For the first time since the meeting began, the mysterious goblin seemed genuinely surprised.
The darkness surrounding him paused. Then he frowned.
"That is not possible."
His answer came immediately. Without hesitation. As though the very idea was absurd.
Raghul had expected that reaction.
After all, he had felt the same way when he first learned of it.
"I thought so too."
The mysterious figure remained silent.
Raghul continued.
"But Caius confirmed it himself."
The chamber grew quiet.
"Caius identified it?"
"Yes he did," Raghul said. "How else do you think a monster like Caius fell?"
The chamber fell silent.
The mysterious goblin didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, he sat motionless upon his throne, fingers tapping slowly against the armrest as he considered the possibility.
An SSS-rank ability?
Even now, the idea sounded absurd. Yet the more he thought about it, the more it explained Caius’ defeat, and the rapid rise of an unknown Chosen.
Eventually, the tapping stopped.
"A Chosen with an SSS-rank ability, huh?" the figure murmured. "That’s rather attractive."
Raghul remained silent.
He knew that tone. It was the same tone predators used when discussing prey. The same tone ambitious men used when discussing opportunity.
An SSS-rank ability?
That was the kind capable of changing the outcome of an entire King’s Game. The kind worth killing for. Or following.
The goblin slowly rose from his seat. This time, there was no mockery in his eyes. No amusement. Only naked greed.
The darkness surrounding him seemed to shift in response to his emotions, twisting around his body like living shadows.
"Tell me everything you know."
