Kevin woke before the sun, his mind sharp and restless. The air in the cave was thick with the smell of damp earth and the quiet snores of his tribe. He sat up slowly, his eyes scanning the sleeping goblins. They had grown stronger under his command, but strength wasn't enough. Kevin knew that if they continued on their current path—raiding small villages and stealing what they needed—they would only survive for so long. The real power in this world lay beyond the forest, and if they were to evolve, they needed to expand their reach.
As the first pale light of dawn filtered through the cracks in the cave's entrance, Kevin quietly rose and made his way outside. The chill of the early morning air hit his skin, but it was refreshing. His body had grown since his first days in this world, muscles denser, reflexes sharper, but it wasn't just his physical form that had changed. His mind, once consumed with the confusion of being thrust into a fantasy world as a goblin, was now calculating, strategic.
He stood at the edge of the clearing, eyes focused on the distant horizon. There, beyond the trees and hills, was a human city. They had heard rumors about it from the villagers they had raided—fortified walls, markets bustling with wealth, and most importantly, an organized militia. It was far beyond the strength of his tribe to conquer directly. Kevin knew that brute force wouldn't work against a place like that.
No, their next move required something different. Something smarter.
He turned his head slightly as he heard soft footsteps behind him. Rax appeared, his expression grim but alert.
"You're up early," Rax said, standing beside Kevin and glancing at the horizon. "Planning something?"
Kevin nodded, his gaze still locked on the distant city. "I've been thinking. We've gotten stronger, but we're not invincible. That last raid went well, but the humans will retaliate. It's only a matter of time before they track us down or send someone stronger after us."
Rax frowned, crossing his arms. "You think they'll come into the forest? They're too scared of the woods, the beasts, the other tribes."
"Maybe. But maybe not," Kevin said, his voice steady. "Humans aren't cowards. When they're pushed, they'll push back. We've been underestimating them. That's a mistake."
Rax was silent for a moment, considering Kevin's words. "So, what's the plan? We can't take on a city, not yet."
"No, we can't." Kevin's lips curled into a small, calculating smile. "But we can infiltrate it. If we can find a way to blend in, gather information, and weaken them from the inside, then we'll have the advantage."
Rax blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Infiltrate? You're talking about going into a human city?"
"Exactly," Kevin replied. "We can't conquer what we don't understand. If we want to grow, we need to know our enemies better than they know themselves. Their strengths, their weaknesses, the things they fear."
Rax rubbed the back of his neck, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. "But how? We're goblins. They'll kill us on sight if we get too close."
Kevin turned to face him fully, his eyes gleaming with cold intent. "That's why we need to be careful. We won't go in as a tribe. Just a few of us, disguised, staying low. I'll lead the group. We'll scout, gather what we need, and return before anyone knows we were there."
Rax looked at Kevin, then back toward the city. "It's risky. But if you think it'll help us, I'm in."
Kevin nodded, satisfied. "We'll need more than just brute force from now on, Rax. We'll need to play the game smarter than anyone else. And for that, I need people I can trust."
Rax gave a crooked grin. "Well, you've got me. Just tell me what to do."
Kevin clapped him on the shoulder. "Good. We leave tonight. Gather a small group—five, no more. Tell them to be ready for anything."
The hours passed quickly, and as dusk settled over the forest, Kevin and his small team of goblins set out. He had chosen Rax, Grom, and two others—Sark and Jiv. They were the most capable fighters, but more importantly, they were the ones Kevin trusted to keep their heads in a stealth operation. This wasn't a raid. It required precision.
The city loomed ahead as they reached the outskirts of the forest. Its walls were tall and imposing, torches flickering along the battlements. Kevin crouched low in the brush, observing the guards at the gate.
"We can't go in through the front," he whispered to the others. "Too many eyes."
"What's the plan, then?" Grom asked, his voice hushed but excited. He lived for the thrill of action, and Kevin could see him itching for a fight.
"There's a sewer system that runs beneath the city," Kevin explained. "I saw it during the raid. We can use it to sneak in, stay hidden."
The goblins exchanged uneasy glances. Sewers were not exactly their idea of an ideal infiltration route, but Kevin's word was law now, and they would follow him.
Kevin led them around the perimeter of the city, moving silently in the shadows. Eventually, they reached a grate—old and rusted, half-hidden behind overgrown vines. Kevin pulled it free with a grunt of effort, the metal groaning as it gave way.
"One by one," he instructed, motioning for the others to follow him in.
The stench hit them immediately as they descended into the sewers, the foul air clinging to their skin. The tunnels were narrow and dark, the only sound the faint drip of water echoing around them. Kevin pressed forward, his senses heightened, every nerve on edge.
After what felt like hours of navigating the twisting passageways, they emerged into a quiet alleyway within the city walls. The streets were empty at this hour, but the distant clatter of boots on stone told them that guards were patrolling nearby.
"We move fast and stay low," Kevin whispered. "We're here for information, not bloodshed. Spread out, gather anything useful—maps, plans, anything that tells us how this city works."
The goblins nodded, splitting off into pairs. Kevin stayed with Rax, the two of them creeping through the narrow streets, their senses sharp. They passed darkened homes, their windows shuttered against the night, and occasionally heard the distant murmur of voices from inside.
They reached the central square, a wide open space surrounded by merchant stalls and government buildings. Kevin's eyes were drawn to the large stone tower at the far end of the square. It was clearly a place of importance—likely where the city's leaders resided.
"That's where the real answers are," Kevin murmured to Rax. "We need to find a way inside."
Rax nodded, but before they could move, a sound caught their attention—a faint shuffling from the alley behind them. Kevin's heart skipped a beat, and he pressed himself flat against the wall, motioning for Rax to do the same.
A shadow emerged from the alley, moving slowly toward them. At first, Kevin thought it was a guard, but as the figure stepped into the moonlight, he realized it was a child—a young human boy, no older than ten, clutching a small bundle of rags to his chest.
Kevin froze. The boy hadn't seen them yet, but his eyes were wide with fear, and he was clearly running from something. Before Kevin could decide what to do, the sound of boots echoed down the alley, and a group of city guards appeared, chasing after the boy.
"There he is!" one of them shouted.
The boy darted away, his small form disappearing into the shadows as the guards pursued him. Kevin's eyes narrowed. This was no ordinary chase—there was something more going on here.
"We follow," Kevin whispered to Rax.
They moved quickly and silently, keeping a safe distance as they trailed the boy and his pursuers through the winding streets. After several minutes, the boy disappeared into a small side door, slamming it shut behind him. The guards cursed but didn't bother to follow, muttering something about "the rats" before turning back toward the square.
Kevin and Rax exchanged a glance. Something strange was happening in this city, something that went beyond the usual human politics and guard patrols.
"We need to find out what's going on," Kevin said, his voice low but determined. "This could be exactly the leverage we need."
Rax grinned, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Lead the way, boss."
Together, they slipped into the shadows, following the boy into the unknown.
The shadows grew longer, and the deeper Kevin ventured into the city, the more certain he became: power was not just about brute force. It was about understanding the intricacies of the world around him, exploiting the cracks in the system, and using every resource—human or otherwise—to his advantage.
This city held secrets, and Kevin intended to uncover them all.