The air in the city had grown thick with tension. Though the goblin forces had taken control swiftly, Kevin knew that true conquest wasn't achieved through fear alone. A city held by force was a city poised for rebellion. The humans, though subdued for now, were clever creatures, and Kevin could feel the pulse of resistance building beneath the surface.
Kevin stood at the window of his throne room, looking out over the once-grand city, its stone towers casting long shadows in the setting sun. Goblins patrolled the streets below, barking orders and shoving humans out of the way as they reasserted control. Though his soldiers were vigilant, Kevin's mind was far from at ease.
His thoughts drifted back to the conversation he'd had with Rax and Grom earlier in the day. The idea of an organized resistance was inevitable. Humans were always stubborn when it came to losing their freedoms. But the key to crushing them wasn't brute force—it was infiltration, subterfuge, and sowing distrust among their ranks before they could fully organize.
As the last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon, Kevin turned to face the room. The flickering torchlight illuminated the dark stone walls, casting ominous shadows that danced around the chamber. A handful of his most trusted goblin warriors waited in the corners, ready to carry out his commands.
Rax had been particularly eager about the plan to infiltrate the resistance, and Kevin had sent him out to gather intelligence. Now, as night set in, Kevin waited for the sly goblin's return. Rax had a gift for moving unseen, blending into the background of any setting, and if anyone could get close to the resistance, it was him.
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hallway, and soon Rax appeared in the doorway, a wide grin on his face as he strode into the throne room. He looked pleased, which meant he had news.
"Well?" Kevin asked, leaning forward on the throne. "What have you found?"
Rax gave a theatrical bow before standing upright, his grin never faltering. "As you suspected, boss, the humans are stirring. I slipped into one of their taverns in the eastern district—the place where most of the grumbling's happening. They're trying to organize fighters. Small groups for now, but they've got a leader."
Kevin's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"A blacksmith by the name of Harrod," Rax said. "He's been working behind the scenes, gathering what weapons and supplies he can. The humans see him as one of their own, someone strong enough to lead. He's got a small following already."
Kevin leaned back in the throne, tapping his fingers against the armrest. A blacksmith? It made sense. The humans would rally behind someone they considered strong, someone who could provide them with the means to fight back. But Kevin wasn't concerned about one man. What worried him was how quickly the resistance could grow if they weren't stopped now.
"Have you found out what they're planning?" Kevin asked.
Rax's grin widened. "Oh, they're planning alright. Harrod's gathering his people in secret, aiming to strike one of our supply routes in a few days. They think hitting us where we're vulnerable will force us to spread our forces thinner, make us easier to attack."
Kevin stood, his mind already calculating the best way to handle the situation. "Good. If they're planning to strike, we'll be ready for them. But I don't want this Harrod leading any more attacks."
Rax tilted his head. "You want us to take him out?"
Kevin shook his head. "No, not yet. Killing him now would just make him a martyr. We'll deal with him, but first, we'll make his own people turn on him."
A glint of understanding flashed in Rax's eyes. "Ah, you want to create chaos in the ranks."
"Exactly," Kevin said. "I want you to get close to Harrod's followers. Spread rumors, create doubt. Make them think he's leading them to their deaths for his own glory. Make them question his loyalty. And when the time is right, we'll strike."
Rax nodded, already eager to put the plan into action. "Consider it done."
As Rax turned to leave, Kevin called after him. "And Rax—make sure no one knows you're there. If they catch wind of our plan, we'll lose our advantage."
Rax gave a confident smirk. "Don't worry, boss. They won't see me coming."
As Rax disappeared into the shadows, Kevin sat back down on the throne, his mind still churning with thoughts of the coming rebellion. He knew the humans would fight back—he expected it. But what they didn't understand was that Kevin wasn't just a goblin warlord. He had the mind of a strategist, and he would turn their every move against them.
The city was his now, and he wasn't about to let a group of disgruntled humans take it from him.
The following days passed with an unsettling calm. Kevin remained vigilant, keeping a close watch on his patrols and the movement of supplies throughout the city. He had ordered his forces to act as if nothing was amiss, maintaining the illusion that the goblins were unaware of the brewing rebellion.
Meanwhile, Rax was working in the shadows, feeding misinformation to Harrod's followers. As the rumors spread, Kevin could feel the tension growing in the city. Word of the resistance had not yet reached the wider population, but Kevin knew that if Harrod's attack succeeded, the humans would grow bold, and more would join the cause.
On the third night after Rax's return, Kevin received word from one of his scouts. Harrod and his group had gathered in the eastern district, preparing to launch their assault on a supply caravan headed for the city's outskirts. It was time to act.
Kevin summoned Grom and a small band of elite goblin warriors to his side. "We're going to let them think they've won," Kevin said, his voice low and cold. "Harrod's men will strike the caravan, but we'll be ready. Once they think they've got the upper hand, we'll cut them down. And Harrod..."
Grom's massive fists tightened around the haft of his axe. "You want me to take him out?"
"Not yet," Kevin said, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "I want him alive, for now. We'll let him see the consequences of his failure. Then we'll decide what to do with him."
Grom grunted in approval. He didn't care much for subtlety, but he trusted Kevin's judgment.
As the goblin warriors prepared for the ambush, Kevin's mind was already five steps ahead. If Rax had done his job, Harrod's followers would already be questioning their leader's decisions. All it would take was one well-timed defeat to shatter their confidence completely.
Night fell, and the eastern district was quiet—too quiet. Kevin and his band of goblins crouched in the shadows of a narrow alleyway, watching as the resistance fighters gathered near the supply route. Harrod stood at the front, a hulking figure with a hammer slung over his shoulder. His followers moved with purpose, but Kevin could sense the hesitation in their movements.
The caravan appeared in the distance, its wagons loaded with supplies, guarded by a few goblins who had been deliberately left vulnerable. As expected, Harrod and his men moved in to strike, ambushing the caravan with swift brutality. The goblin guards fell easily, giving the humans a brief moment of victory.
But that moment didn't last.
From the shadows, Kevin's forces descended. The ambush turned on itself as goblins leapt from the alleyways, catching Harrod's men off guard. Kevin watched from a distance, his eyes locked on Harrod as the blacksmith fought to rally his forces. But it was clear that the rumors had done their work—some of the resistance fighters hesitated, casting glances at Harrod as if unsure whether to follow his lead.
In the chaos, Kevin saw his opportunity. He gave the signal to Grom, and the massive goblin charged forward, swinging his axe with deadly precision. Harrod fought back fiercely, but the doubt in his eyes betrayed him. His followers were already faltering, and Kevin could see the fear taking hold.
With a final, bone-crushing blow, Grom disarmed Harrod, sending him crashing to the ground. The remaining resistance fighters fled in terror, leaving their leader behind.
Kevin approached the fallen blacksmith, his eyes cold and calculating. Harrod glared up at him, his breath ragged, blood dripping from his mouth.
"You should have known better," Kevin said quietly, crouching down to meet Harrod's gaze. "Your people didn't trust you. And now look at where you are."
Harrod spat blood at Kevin's feet, defiant even in defeat. "I'll die before I kneel to you."
Kevin smiled, a cruel, predatory smile. "Oh, you will die. But not yet. First, I'll show your people what happens when they follow a weak leader."
As Grom bound Harrod in chains, Kevin stood and looked out at the darkened streets of the city. The resistance was broken—for now. But Kevin knew that more challenges would come. And when they did, he would be ready.
He always was.