Kevin sat in the corner of the dimly lit warehouse, his sharp eyes tracing the edges of the cracked stone walls as he listened to the steady hum of his goblin tribe. The embers of rebellion burned brighter with every word exchanged, every plan forged in the shadows. They had gathered resources, honed their skills, and observed their enemies long enough. The time for small strikes was over. The time for true chaos had arrived.
Rax stood nearby, his confidence infectious. "The guards have no idea what's coming," he said, pacing back and forth as the rest of the tribe listened intently. "We've scouted their routes, their weakest points. We know their patterns. They're overconfident. They're ripe for the taking."
Kevin leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he studied the goblins around him. Each one was fierce in their own way—some swift and cunning, others strong and relentless. But what united them all was the same hunger for power, the same desire to break free from the chains of mediocrity.
"We need to hit them where it hurts," Kevin said, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Not just in small skirmishes, but in a way they'll never forget. We need to remind them that we are not pests—they are. And this city is our territory now."
The goblins cheered softly, their enthusiasm tempered with the understanding of the gravity of the mission. This was no ordinary raid. This was a declaration of war.
Kevin stood up, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows behind him. "Rax, Grom, and I will take a team and hit the main supply depot. Without their weapons and food, the guards will scramble to maintain control. While they're distracted, the rest of you will spread through the city—cause confusion, strike from the shadows, and make sure every guard knows that we are everywhere."
The goblins broke into excited whispers, their anticipation palpable. For many of them, this was the moment they had been waiting for—the chance to prove their worth, to rise above the lowly existence they had been born into. Kevin could see it in their eyes: they were ready for war.
"We leave at dawn," Kevin continued. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, we make our mark."
Dawn broke over the city, painting the sky in shades of crimson and gold. Kevin, Rax, and Grom led a small group of their best goblins through the winding streets, sticking to the alleys and hidden paths they had memorized over the past weeks. Their target was the central supply depot, a heavily guarded structure nestled in the heart of the city. It was where the guards stored their weapons, rations, and anything of value—anything that kept the city under control.
As they approached the depot, Kevin signaled for the group to halt. They crouched behind a crumbling stone wall, surveying their target. The building was surrounded by a wooden fence, and a handful of guards stood at the gates, lazily leaning on their spears. The guards were clearly bored—complacent, even. It was exactly what Kevin had hoped for.
"We go in quiet," Kevin whispered to Rax and Grom. "No need to alert them until we're inside. Once we're in, we take out the guards, grab what we can, and set the place ablaze. By the time they realize what's happened, it'll be too late."
Rax grinned, his sharp teeth glinting in the early light. "I like the sound of that."
Kevin turned to the others. "Stay sharp. Stick to the plan, and we'll be out before they even know we're here."
With a nod, Kevin signaled for the group to move. They crept forward, sticking to the shadows as they approached the fence. One by one, they scaled the wooden barrier, dropping silently into the depot yard. The guards at the gate hadn't noticed a thing.
Kevin motioned for Rax and Grom to take the lead, their stealthy approach honed by countless raids. They moved like shadows, slithering behind the first guard and dispatching him without a sound. A dagger to the throat, a quick motion to lower his body to the ground. Efficient. Clean.
The second guard had no time to react before Grom's club smashed into the side of his head, crumpling him to the ground. Two guards down. No alarm raised.
Kevin led the rest of the group deeper into the depot. Inside the wooden structure, rows of crates lined the walls, filled with swords, spears, armor, and enough rations to supply an army. It was more than Kevin had expected. They were on the verge of something huge.
"Take what you can carry," Kevin ordered in a low voice. "Move fast."
The goblins scattered, grabbing weapons, bags of rations, and anything of value. Kevin, meanwhile, set about his next task. He pulled a small vial of oil from his pouch, pouring it onto the crates and wooden beams that supported the building. Grom joined him, carrying a bundle of torches.
"Light it up when we're done," Kevin said, his voice tight with urgency. "We need to be out of here before the smoke hits the sky."
But just as Kevin turned to move toward the exit, a shout rang out from outside. His blood turned cold. They had been spotted.
"Goblins! Sound the alarm!"
Kevin's mind raced. There was no time to retreat, no time to hide. The guards outside would soon pour into the depot, and they would be outnumbered. He turned to his tribe, his eyes sharp with focus.
"Change of plan," he barked. "We fight. Grom, light the fires! Everyone else, form up!"
The goblins moved quickly, their earlier confidence now sharpened by the sudden threat. Grom ignited the torches, tossing them onto the oil-soaked crates as Kevin drew his stolen sword.
The guards burst into the depot, their spears gleaming in the dim light of the rising flames. Kevin stood at the front of his group, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Show them no mercy!" he roared, charging forward to meet the first wave of guards.
The clash of steel echoed through the depot as goblins and guards collided. Kevin's sword flashed in the firelight, cutting down the first guard who lunged at him. The flames were spreading now, licking at the walls and filling the air with thick, black smoke.
Rax fought by Kevin's side, his daggers flashing as he darted in and out of the fray, his strikes precise and deadly. Grom, wielding his heavy club, took down another guard with a single, crushing blow. The goblins fought with a fury that surprised even Kevin. They had come a long way from the cowering creatures he had once known.
But the guards were relentless, and more of them poured into the depot by the second. Kevin knew they couldn't hold out forever.
"Fall back!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the flames. "To the exit!"
The goblins began to retreat, moving toward the gate as the fire consumed the depot. Kevin stayed at the rear, cutting down any guard who dared get too close. The heat of the flames was unbearable now, and the smoke stung his eyes, but he refused to back down. Not yet.
Finally, they reached the gate, and Kevin gave the signal to retreat. The goblins scrambled over the fence, disappearing into the shadows of the city. Kevin was the last to leave, pausing only to watch the depot collapse in on itself, engulfed in flames.
As he ran through the narrow streets, the taste of victory burned in his throat, mixed with the acrid smoke of their destruction. They had struck a devastating blow. The guards would be scrambling now, their supplies reduced to ashes. But Kevin knew this was just the beginning. The city would soon be in chaos, and he planned to take full advantage of it.
When they finally regrouped in the warehouse, the goblins were breathless but triumphant. Kevin stood before them, blood and soot staining his skin, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"We've crippled them," he said, his voice low but fierce. "But this is just the start. The guards will come for us. We'll be ready."
The goblins nodded, their confidence bolstered by their victory.
Kevin took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle over him. He had led them to victory, but the path ahead was fraught with danger. The guards would not rest until they had crushed the rebellion, and Kevin knew he would need to be smarter, faster, and more ruthless than ever before.
But as he looked around at the faces of his tribe, he felt a surge of pride. They were no longer the weak, scared creatures they had once been. They were warriors now—united, dangerous, and ready to fight for their place in the world.
"Tomorrow," Kevin said, "we strike again."
The goblins roared in approval, their voices echoing through the warehouse as the flames of rebellion burned hotter than ever before.
And Kevin, with the city at his feet, knew that this was just the beginning of his rise to power.