The smell of charred wood and blood still lingered in the air as the goblins retreated into the dense forest. Kevin led them back to their den, his mind racing with the aftermath of the raid. The village was left in ruins, and his tribe had taken everything they could carry—food, tools, weapons. It was a victory, a decisive one, but as they pushed deeper into the woods, a strange heaviness settled over him.
He had accomplished his goal. The goblins had transformed from scavengers into predators, and they had followed his orders without question. Yet, despite the thrill of victory, Kevin couldn't shake the growing unease gnawing at his mind.
Behind him, the goblins chattered excitedly about their success, their green faces glowing with pride as they jostled to show off their spoils. Grom, always the loudest, laughed as he recounted his part in the attack, exaggerating how many humans he had taken down. Rax, who had once doubted Kevin, now kept a respectful distance, his sharp eyes filled with admiration.
Kevin glanced at the ragtag group of creatures that had become his tribe. They were loyal, yes, but something had shifted after the raid. He had pushed them to become killers, and in doing so, he had crossed a line. The scent of blood on his own hands felt different now—not like the wolf hunt, which had been necessary for survival, but like something darker.
As they reached the cave, Kevin stopped abruptly, turning to face his tribe. The goblins quieted, sensing the shift in his demeanor.
"We succeeded," Kevin said, his voice calm but heavy. "Tonight, we showed what we're capable of. The humans will remember us. They will fear us."
A cheer went up among the goblins, but Kevin quickly raised a hand, silencing them.
"But this is only the beginning," he continued, his eyes narrowing as he scanned their faces. "This was a small village. A stepping stone. There are larger settlements out there, better defended, with more resources than we can imagine. We're going to need to be stronger. Smarter."
Rax stepped forward, his face serious. "What's the next move then, Kevin? What are we building toward?"
Kevin held Rax's gaze for a long moment. It was a good question, one he had been asking himself since the raid. He had promised the tribe power, promised them dominance, but what was the endgame? What did he truly want beyond their next conquest?
"We're not just a group of goblins anymore," Kevin said, his voice growing harder. "We're becoming something more—a force. But we can't do this alone. We'll need allies, new strategies, and new ways to grow stronger. We can't be content with small victories."
Grom, always quick to speak, interjected. "So we find more humans to kill? Bigger villages, maybe even a town?"
Kevin shook his head. "Not just more humans. Humans are one part of the world. There are other creatures out there—other tribes, other factions. We need to start thinking like predators. We can't just attack blindly and hope for the best. We need to plan. To form alliances where it benefits us, and to crush those who stand in our way."
The tribe fell silent, the weight of Kevin's words settling over them. Some of the goblins exchanged uncertain glances. This was a new direction, one they hadn't anticipated. They were used to fighting for survival, raiding for food or treasure. But now Kevin was talking about something bigger—something more calculated.
Grom frowned. "Alliances? With who? No one's gonna want to team up with us, we're goblins!"
Kevin's eyes flickered with cold amusement. "They'll want to if we make it worth their while. Strength attracts strength, Grom. We offer something of value, and we'll find allies. And if they refuse, we'll take what we need by force."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the goblins, though Kevin could sense the unease in some of them. The brutality of the raid had ignited their bloodlust, but Kevin's plan was more than just blind violence. It required strategy, patience, and a vision that stretched beyond immediate gratification.
Kevin clenched his fists, his thoughts racing. He was evolving, changing into something far more dangerous than the goblin he had once been. But he knew the path he was on wasn't just about personal power. His tribe was growing too, and with them, the burden of leadership.
"We'll rest tonight," Kevin said, his voice lowering, "but tomorrow, we start preparing. This was a taste of what we're capable of. The next raid will be bigger, and we won't stop there. The world will know who we are."
The goblins nodded, some more eagerly than others, and began to disperse into the cave. Kevin lingered at the entrance, watching them settle down to rest or sort through their loot. The fire of their excitement had dulled slightly, replaced by the reality of what they had done. They had taken lives—innocent or not, it didn't matter anymore. The tribe had crossed a threshold, and there was no going back.
As Kevin stood alone in the moonlit clearing, his thoughts drifted. The faces of the villagers flashed in his mind—fear, shock, pain. He hadn't hesitated when his goblins had killed them, hadn't flinched as their blood soaked the dirt beneath his feet. But now, in the quiet of the night, the weight of his actions began to sink in.
He had chosen this path. He had chosen power, ruthlessness, and ambition over the weakness of his old self. But what kind of leader was he becoming? What kind of monster was he shaping his tribe into?
Kevin clenched his jaw, pushing the doubts aside. This world didn't reward hesitation or weakness. He had been pulled into this reality, and the rules were simple: kill or be killed. If he didn't seize power, someone else would, and they wouldn't hesitate to crush him and his tribe.
A rustle in the trees caught Kevin's attention, pulling him from his thoughts. Rax emerged from the shadows, his movements cautious as he approached.
"Couldn't sleep?" Kevin asked, not turning to face him.
Rax shook his head, stepping up beside him. "No. Too much going on up here." He tapped the side of his head. "We did good tonight, but I can't help but wonder… what's next?"
Kevin looked at him, seeing the same flicker of doubt he had felt earlier. Rax had grown since their first encounter—he was more than just a follower now. He was thinking beyond the raid, beyond the immediate victory. It was a good sign.
"We build, Rax," Kevin said, his voice firm. "We build a tribe that can't be ignored. We take what we need, and we don't stop until we're at the top."
Rax nodded slowly, though his brow furrowed in thought. "And what happens when we get there? When we're at the top?"
Kevin didn't answer right away. His eyes drifted back to the horizon, where the distant mountains loomed like silent sentinels in the night.
"When we get there," Kevin said quietly, "we make sure no one ever dares to challenge us again."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with the promise of violence and ambition. Rax said nothing more, only giving a short nod before turning and disappearing back into the cave.
Kevin remained where he was, standing at the edge of his camp, looking out into the darkness. His mind churned with the possibilities of what was to come—alliances, battles, conquests. His tribe was growing stronger, but so too was the weight of his decisions. Every step forward brought him closer to the edge of something vast and dangerous.
But that was the nature of power, wasn't it?
Kevin exhaled slowly, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He had chosen this path, and he would see it through to the end. There was no room for doubt anymore. The first blood had been spilled, and the course was set.
With one last glance at the quiet forest, Kevin turned and walked back into the cave, ready to prepare for the next stage of his rise.
Tomorrow, the world would learn to fear them.