The night was alive with the sounds of celebration. The goblins feasted on smoked meat, their laughter and chatter echoing through the village. The chief, Shiki, had temporarily moved into the pit house Luke had built, his massive frame filling the space as he lounged on a makeshift throne of branches and pelts. Around them, the village was transforming.
Goblins were busy repurposing older huts into storage areas, while others worked on building new clay huts. The females, some visibly pregnant, moved about with a sense of purpose, their bellies a reminder that the village was growing—fast.
Luke sat by the fire, his back against a log, and pulled up the Goblin Village Management interface. The new functions were a welcome surprise, and he couldn't wait to dive in. The glowing screen appeared before him, displaying a wealth of information.
[ Goblin Village Management
Population: 47
List: (Tap to see the list)
Goblin Village Attribute Points: 50
Morale: High
Resources: Moderate
Defenses: Moderate
Tech Points Income: 58 - 79 TP per day
Infrastructures:
Village Hall - Upgrade in Progress
Latrine - Tier 2 (31 - 52 TP per day)
Workshop Area - Tier 1
Pit House (1) - Tier 1 (3 TP per day)
Mud Hut (5) - Tier 1
Clay Hut (13) - Tier 1
Wall - Tier 1 (12 TP per day)
Spiked Trench - Tier 1 (15 TP per day)
Upgrades and Infrastructures Available:
Clay Reinforced Wall - Tier 2
Watch Tower - Tier 1
Well - Tier 1
Cook House - Tier 1
Storage House - Tier 1
Armory - Tier 1 ]
Luke scanned the list, his eyes lingering on the Tech Points income. The wall and spiked trench are generating points now. The system must've recognized their importance. He felt a small surge of pride. The chief's hut, now labeled as the Village Hall, was still under construction, but it was already a step up from the ramshackle structures that had defined the village just days ago.
His thoughts turned to the watchtower. A watchtower would be useful, but I think rebuilding the wall with walkways would be better. More versatile. He frowned, thinking about the labor involved. The goblins were hard workers, but their strength was mediocre at best. If we're going to survive, they'll need to get stronger. A lot stronger.
Then he noticed it—the new function that allowed him to improve the stats of the goblins. His heart skipped a beat. This changes everything. He tapped on the list, and a new screen appeared, displaying the names, stats, and loyalty of each goblin.
The first name on the list was Shiki, the chief. Luke's eyes widened as he read the hobgoblin's stats:
Shiki (Hobgoblin Chief)
Strength: 34
Agility: 29
Perception: 25
Vitality: 35
Resilience: 34
Intelligence: 4
Magic: 0
Available Attribute Points: 15
Damn, Luke thought. His stats are insane compared to the others. But Intelligence is only 4? And no magic at all. Still, he's a powerhouse. He noticed that Shiki's stats never dipped below 21. That must be the baseline for hobgoblins. If my stats hit 20, I'll need to evolve to go further.
Next, he checked Grut's stats:
Grut (Goblin)
Strength: 5
Agility: 7
Perception: 9
Vitality: 5
Resilience: 4
Intelligence: 1
Magic: 0
Available Attribute Points: 6
Luke sighed. Grut's Perception is solid, and he's quick, but the rest… yikes. Strength and Vitality are abysmal. No wonder they struggle with heavy labor. He glanced at the Goblin Village Attribute Points—50 in total. Universal points I can allocate to anyone. But the goblins also have their own points. Interesting.
He decided to start with Grut. He's one of the most reliable goblins I've got. If I can make him stronger, he'll be even more useful. Luke assigned 3 points to Grut's Vitality and 3 to his Strength. The changes took effect immediately, and Grut, who had been gnawing on a bone nearby, suddenly froze. His eyes widened, and he flexed his arms, as if testing his newfound strength.
"Grut feel… strong," the goblin muttered, a grin spreading across his face.
Luke chuckled. "Good. You're going to need it."
Next, he turned his attention to Shiki. The chief had 15 attribute points of his own. Might as well dump them all into Intelligence. If he's smarter, he'll be a better leader—and maybe even easier to reason with. Luke allocated all 15 points to Shiki's Intelligence.
The effect was immediate—and dramatic. Shiki, who had been lounging in the pit house, suddenly stumbled to his feet, clutching his head. He staggered outside, his massive frame swaying as if he were dizzy. The goblins nearby stopped what they were doing, watching their chief with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Chief okay?" one of them asked.
Shiki blinked, his eyes clearing as the dizziness passed. He looked around, his gaze sharper, more focused. When he spoke, his words were clearer, more deliberate. "I… am fine. Better than fine." He turned to Luke, his expression unreadable. "What's happening to me?"
Luke acted concerned, trying to play innocent. "What happened chief? ."
Shiki studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I don't know, It just came to me."
The goblins murmured among themselves, clearly impressed. Luke leaned back, a small smile on his face. This is going to be fun.
Luke's eyes scanned the glowing interface, his mind a whirlwind of strategies and possibilities. He tapped on Rok's stats, his brow furrowing as he studied the numbers. Higher agility than Grut, but strength is lacking. Perception is impressive, though. He'd make a great scout or hunter.
"Rok, come here a second," Luke called out, waving the goblin over. Rok trotted up, his eyes bright with curiosity. Luke assigned 3 points to Rok's strength and another 3 to his vitality. As he watched, Rok's posture straightened, his muscles subtly defining.
Should see a noticeable difference, Luke thought, rubbing his chin. "Feel any different, Rok?"
Rok flexed his arms, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Rok feel strong! Like can lift big rock!"
Luke chuckled. Good. That's exactly what we need.
Next, he turned his attention to Zog. High strength, low agility and perception. But his vitality and resilience… he's a tank, alright. Luke allocated 3 points to Zog's agility and another 3 to his perception. Zog's eyes widened as he felt the change, his movements suddenly more fluid.
"Zog, you're on crowd control from now on," Luke said, clapping him on the back. "With your stats, you'll be able to take a hit and keep on going."
Zog puffed out his chest, pride gleaming in his eyes. "Zog protect village!"
He's got the spirit, that's for sure, Luke thought, smiling.
He moved on, checking each goblin's stats, his mind constantly calculating. The females and kids have lower stats, but higher intelligence. They'll be crucial for tasks that require more thought than brawn. He assigned their available points, focusing on strength and vitality for the males. Longer work hours, more efficient hunting. That's what we need.
As he finished, Luke looked around the village. The change was tangible. Goblins moved with more purpose, their steps surer, their eyes brighter. This is just the beginning, he thought, a sense of satisfaction washing over him.
Shiki watched all this with a keen eye. He knew Luke was behind the changes, behind his own sudden intelligence boost. He's smarter now. He knows I'm involved, Luke thought, meeting Shiki's gaze. But the chief merely smiled, respecting Luke's silence.
He's got his suspicions, but he's not pushing it. I'm glad he understands. Luke leaned back, allowing himself a moment of respite. Tomorrow, we finish constructing the village hall. His mind raced with plans, but for now, he let the feast, the laughter, and the dreams of a brighter future wash over him. Tonight, we celebrate. Tomorrow's going to be another day.
The Next Morning
The night passed in a blur of celebration and camaraderie. As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, several goblins were already assigned to hunting duties. Luke watched them set off, a sense of anticipation coursing through him. Those extra stats should make a difference. Hopefully, they'll bring back more than just scraps this time.
"Alright, listen up!" Luke called out to the hunters, his voice firm. "Remember, use your new strengths. Rok, you're scouting. Zog, you're on crowd control. Bring back something good."
Rok nodded eagerly, his eyes bright. "Rok find big game!"
Zog puffed out his chest, pride gleaming in his eyes. "Zog protect hunters!"
As they set off, Luke turned his attention to the village. Shiki was already busy, his massive frame moving with a purpose that was new and impressive. The chief was directing a group of goblins sorting materials, his voice booming with authority.
"You, take those pelts to the storage hut. You three, start reinforcing the walls. We need them sturdy," Shiki commanded, his eyes sharp and focused.
Luke approached him, a smirk playing on his lips. "You're really taking to this management thing, aren't you?"
Shiki turned to Luke, a grin spreading across his face. "Feels good, Lok. Like I'm finally doing what I'm meant to." He clapped Luke on the back, his voice lowering. "I know you're behind this. Behind my… change. I won't pry, but thank you."
Luke nodded, respect in his eyes. "You're welcome, Chief. You're a good leader."
The chief chuckled, turning back to the goblins. "Alright, enough standing around! Back to work!"
Luke left Shiki to his tasks and focused on the construction of the village hall. The frame was up, and the goblins were working diligently, their movements coordinated and efficient. Luke climbed up a ladder, inspecting the work.
"Make sure those supports are secure," Luke instructed, pointing to a beam. "We don't want the roof caving in on us."
A goblin nearby nodded, his eyes serious. "We make strong, Lok. Promise."
Luke smiled, climbing down. They're taking real pride in this. It's not just a building to them anymore.
As he walked through the construction site, Luke noticed the chief's personal request—an office for Luke. He stepped inside the framed room, imagining the finished space. A place to plan, to strategize. This is more than just an office. It's my very own command center.
Shiki approached him, holding out rolls of parchment. "For your plans, Lok. You need a place to put your thoughts."
Luke took the parchments, gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks, Chief. This means a lot."
The chief nodded, his expression serious. "You're the heart of this village, Lok. We all see it. You deserve a place to work."
As the sun rose higher, Luke felt a sense of contentment. He looked around the village, seeing the progress, the determination in the goblins' eyes. This is just the beginning. We have a long way to go. But for the first time, I truly believe we can get there.
With that thought, Luke rolled up his sleeves, ready to dive into the day's work. First things first, though. Let's get this village hall finished. And with that, he set to work, his mind and heart fully invested in the future of his new home.
Meanwhile, in Holmuia
Far from the bustling village, in the heart of a grand city, a different scene unfolded.
The city of Holmuia sprawled beneath a towering white spire, its streets teeming with life. The spire, a beacon of magic and knowledge, housed the esteemed Mages' Tower. Inside, the office of the Magister was a sanctum of ancient tomes, glowing artifacts, and the faint scent of old parchment.
Magister Solmund, a man in his forties with a stern face and eyes that held the weight of years, stood at the window. His red robes, adorned with intricate sigils, rustled softly as he gazed down at the city below. The view was a tapestry of stone buildings, bustling markets, and the distant glimmer of the sea.
A knock at the door broke his reverie. "Come in," he called, his voice steady and commanding.
The door creaked open, revealing a young mage, her eyes wide with urgency. "Magister Solmund," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "F-Rank Mage Selina and E-Rank Support Solus… their life signatures have faded."
Solmund turned from the window, his expression grave. "Where was the last known location of their signatures?"
The young mage swallowed hard. "The Far East of Virnham Dire Forest, just south of the Dragon Lermullo's den."
Solmund's brow furrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. This needs to be investigated immediately. The Culto Demonica has been active lately, and their involvement cannot be ruled out.
The young mage nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "I will gather a team at once, Magister."
Solmund watched as she hurried out of the room, his thoughts already turning to the darker implications of the news. The Culto Demonica, a shadowy organization known for their ruthless tactics and sinister rituals, had been a thorn in the side of the Mages' Tower for too long.
As he turned back to the window, his gaze swept over the city. Holmuia, a beacon of light and knowledge, now threatened by the encroaching darkness. He clenched his fist, resolve hardening in his eyes. We will not let them win. Not on my watch.
With a heavy sigh, Solmund moved to his desk, pulling out a map of the Virnham Dire Forest. His fingers traced the path to the dragon's den, his mind already formulating a plan. The Mages' Tower would not stand idly by while their own were threatened.