The marketplace massacre had cemented Kevin's rule over the city, but he knew that fear alone would not hold it forever. As the crowd had dispersed, their eyes haunted by the image of the man's severed head, Kevin felt a strange calm settle over him. He had won the first round. The city was his. But deep down, Kevin understood that victory on the battlefield was only one piece of the puzzle.
Now came the hard part: ruling.
Kevin stood in what was once the lord's throne room, a wide chamber carved from stone, with high arched windows that let the pale morning light in. The previous lord had fled, leaving behind the throne and the trappings of power. The goblins had cleaned out the building, scavenging what they could, but Kevin had ordered them to leave the throne untouched.
He stood before it now, staring at the large seat made of polished wood, its edges adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures—dragons, gryphons, and lions—symbols of nobility and strength. Kevin scoffed at the irony. The previous ruler, who had surrounded himself with these symbols of grandeur, had fled at the first sign of danger.
A part of Kevin still felt the pull of his old life, the life of fantasy comics and escapist daydreams. He had often read about kings and conquerors sitting on thrones like this. Yet, as he stood before it now, something about the seat seemed almost... comical. He, a former human now inhabiting the body of a goblin, stood ready to claim a throne meant for a mighty lord.
"Doesn't look so impressive now, does it?" came a familiar voice from behind him.
Kevin turned to see Rax, the sly grin never far from his face. The smaller goblin had a habit of sneaking up on people. "The city's in hand, boss," Rax said, approaching the throne and circling it like a scavenger eyeing prey. "But you're right about what you said before. Fear's a good leash, but it'll snap sooner or later. What's the next move?"
Kevin didn't answer immediately. He approached the throne and slowly lowered himself onto it, feeling the weight of the carved wood beneath him. It wasn't a comfortable seat, but that didn't matter. It wasn't built for comfort—it was built for power. He tapped his clawed fingers on the armrests, feeling the grain of the wood as he thought.
"We can't just rule with violence," Kevin said after a long pause. "The people are scared now, but they'll rebel the moment they think we're weak. We need to turn this city into something more than just another conquered territory."
Rax raised an eyebrow. "You've got their riches, their nobles in chains, and enough goblins to crack heads. What more do you need?"
"Order," Kevin replied. His voice was quiet, but the weight of his words filled the room. "We need order. Not just goblin chaos, but structure. We have to make the people believe that things can get better under our rule. If we make their lives worse, they'll rise against us. But if we give them something—safety, stability—then they'll hesitate. They'll think twice before rebelling."
Rax tilted his head, considering this. "So you're saying... we let them live their lives, but under our thumb? Keep them just comfortable enough so they don't bite the hand that feeds them?"
Kevin nodded. "Exactly."
There was a moment of silence between them as Rax scratched his chin, clearly impressed. Kevin had come a long way from the goblin who had simply wanted to escape his newfound life. The man who once dreamed of being the hero was now shaping himself into something far more dangerous: a ruler who understood the power of fear, but also the value of control.
The chamber doors creaked open, and Grom lumbered in, his massive frame casting a shadow over the floor. He nodded respectfully to Kevin but gave the throne an appraising glance. "Looks like it fits you."
"Maybe," Kevin muttered. "But there's a lot more to do."
Grom's tone shifted. "The humans in the city are already starting to stir. They're scared, but some of them are organizing—trying to form little resistance pockets. They think we're distracted by the victory."
Rax cackled. "Fools. They don't realize this is just the start."
Kevin's mind raced. Resistance was expected. He had expected to crush a few rebellions before he could truly call this city his. But if the humans were already organizing, he needed to act swiftly.
"How widespread is it?" Kevin asked.
Grom shrugged. "Hard to say. A few of the shopkeepers were whispering about gathering fighters in the eastern districts. Nothing major yet, but it'll grow if we don't stomp it out."
Kevin frowned. "No. We can't just stomp out every flicker of rebellion. If we do that, we'll only fan the flames."
Rax squinted. "So what do we do? Let 'em take a swing at us?"
"No," Kevin said, standing up from the throne, his claws clinking softly against the armrests. "We outthink them. I want you to send in some of our best fighters, but tell them to disguise themselves. Pretend to be part of the resistance. Get close to their leaders. Learn what they're planning."
Grom's eyes lit up. "Infiltrate them?"
"Exactly," Kevin said, pacing now. "If we can learn who their leaders are, we can cut them off before they even make a move. Better yet, we can turn their own people against them. Spread rumors, create mistrust. Make them paranoid."
Rax's grin grew wider. "I like it. Cause chaos from the inside. Goblin-style."
Kevin nodded. "And when they're divided, we strike. But not before we've sown enough confusion that they won't know who to trust."
Grom and Rax both nodded, clearly excited by the plan. Kevin could see the hunger in their eyes, the desire to crush the humans outright. But Kevin knew that brute force wouldn't work in the long term. He needed to think smarter, not just harder.
As Grom and Rax turned to leave, Kevin caught Rax's arm. "One more thing," Kevin said. "What about the nobles? Have they given us any trouble?"
Rax shook his head. "They're terrified. The hostages are keeping them in line for now."
"Good," Kevin said, though his mind continued to churn. He wasn't satisfied with simple compliance. Nobles were slippery. They knew how to play the long game, how to bide their time until an opportunity presented itself. Kevin needed to make sure that no such opportunity ever came.
"Keep an eye on them," Kevin said. "If any of them start acting too clever, let me know. We'll make an example of one or two if we have to."
Rax nodded, his eyes gleaming with approval. "Got it, boss."
As the two goblins left, Kevin returned to the throne, sitting down again and leaning back into the cold wood. The room was silent now, the distant sounds of goblin activity echoing from the streets outside.
Kevin's mind was far from at ease, though. He had won the battle, yes, but war was a different beast. Keeping control of the city was going to require more than fear and violence. He had to be one step ahead of the humans, always anticipating their next move, always making sure they were too scared or too confused to act.
And yet, even as Kevin plotted his next moves, he couldn't help but feel a strange pull deep within him. The thrill of power was undeniable, but with it came a growing sense of responsibility. He wasn't just leading a band of goblins anymore—he was shaping the future of an entire city. What had started as a quest for personal survival had turned into something far larger. He was no longer just Kevin, the goblin who had been thrust into this world against his will.
He was a king now.
But kings had enemies. And Kevin knew that his reign would be short-lived if he didn't continue to evolve, to grow stronger, smarter, more ruthless. He had to become more than just a leader of goblins. He had to become the kind of ruler that even the strongest warriors and the wisest minds feared to challenge.
And that, Kevin thought with a grim smile, was exactly what he intended to do.
The fires of conquest burned behind his eyes as he stared out at the city through the narrow throne room window. The humans might resist, they might fight, but they would never escape the shadow of the Goblin King.
Not as long as he still drew breath.