The morning light filtered faintly through the cracks in the underground nest, casting a dim glow over the chamber. Asher stirred awake, his arms still wrapped tightly around Sana like a koala clinging to a tree. His dick, still semi-hard, twitched inside her pussy as he shifted, eliciting a soft moan from his mother. Sana's body responded instinctively, her hips grinding against him as she woke to the sensation of him filling her once more.
"Mmm… Asher…" Sana murmured, her voice thick with sleep and lingering pleasure. Her hands reached back to grip his thighs, urging him to move. Asher didn't need much encouragement. With a lazy grin, he began thrusting into her again, the wet sounds of their coupling filling the chamber.
The pair moved slowly at first, savoring the warmth of the moment. But soon, the pace quickened, their bodies moving in sync as the pleasure built. Sana's moans grew louder, echoing through the caverns, as Asher's thrusts became more urgent. He could feel her pussy clenching around him, her body trembling as she neared her peak.
"Cum for me, Mother," Asher whispered, his breath hot against her ear. Sana shuddered, her back arching as she came with a muffled cry. Asher followed soon after, his hips stuttering as he emptied himself inside her, filling her with another hefty load.
For a moment, they lay there, panting and tangled together, before Asher finally pulled out. Sana turned to face him, her eyes soft with affection and something deeper—something unshakable. She reached up to caress his cheek, her touch tender. "My son," she murmured, her voice filled with pride and devotion.
Asher smiled, kissing her forehead before disentangling himself from her embrace. "I need to check on the others," he said, standing and stretching. Sana nodded, watching him with a mix of admiration and longing as he dressed and left the chamber.
---
Asher walked through the underground nest, his footsteps quiet on the dirt floor. The nest was dimly lit, with only a few rays of light sneaking through cracks in the ceiling. He passed by Kiko, Risu, and Emi, who were still asleep in their corner. This surprised him a little—they usually woke up early. He didn't realize that the loud noises from his and Sana's activities the night before had kept them awake for hours.
Asher shrugged and moved on. His next stop was Noa and Roan. Noa was sitting on her bed, her face calm but serious. Roan, her son, stood beside her, his arms crossed and his eyes sharp. He looked like a little guard, ready to protect his mother from anything—or anyone.
Asher stopped a few steps away and smiled. "Good morning, Noa," he said politely. "How are you feeling?"
Before Noa could answer, Roan stepped forward. His small body was tense, and his hands were clenched into fists. "Stay away from her!" he shouted, his voice shaky but loud. "I won't let you hurt my mom!"
Asher blinked, surprised by the boy's boldness. Roan was a bit older and bigger than him, but it was clear the younger goblin was scared. Still, Roan stood his ground, his love for his mother stronger than his fear.
Asher's smile softened, he gave a smile almost too kind for a goblin. "Big brother," he said gently, "I'm not here to hurt your mom. I just wanted to check on her, that's all."
Roan hesitated. He glanced back at Noa, unsure if he should believe Asher. Noa gave him a small nod, her face calm.
Asher continued, his voice steady. "And even if I wanted to do something, I couldn't. Your mom is strong. She's the leader of our hunter group. If I tried anything, she could kick ass."
Roan's eyes widened. He looked at Noa, who gave him another nod, this time with a tiny smile. "He's right, Roan," she said. "I can take care of myself."
Roan's shoulders relaxed a little, but he still didn't move. He kept his eyes on Asher, watching him carefully. "Just… don't try anything," he muttered, his voice low but firm.
Asher chuckled and reached out to ruffle Roan's hair. "You're a good son," he said. "I like that."
Noa watched the whole thing quietly. She had always thought Asher was different from other goblins—weird, even. But when he summoned the monstrous ant queen, her suspicions were confirmed. He wasn't just different; he was something else entirely.
The loud sounds from the night before weren't unfamiliar to her. As a goblin, she was used to such things. Goblins were creatures of lust, after all. They lived for pleasure, and sex was a normal part of their lives. Even though Asher was young, it wasn't surprising that he was already acting this way. It was just how goblins were.
But Roan was different. He hadn't grown up in the clan like she had. He'd been sheltered in the cave, away from the chaos and noise of goblin life. He hadn't been exposed to this side of their nature yet. Noa didn't explain it to him because she liked how he stood up for her. Besides, as a goblin, he would learn about it sooner or later. There was no need to rush it.
Asher turned to Noa again, this time taking a good look at her. She had smooth, pale green skin and a slender, athletic build. Her long, toned legs were built for speed and agility, perfect for a hunter. Her golden eyes shone with curiosity, framed by short, messy black hair. She was sharp, strong, and undeniably beautiful.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice calm and steady. "Does it hurt?" He reached out slowly, his fingers brushing over the small cuts on her legs. The wounds were almost healed, but he could still feel the smooth, delicate skin beneath his touch. It didn't feel like the skin of a hunter—it was softer, almost fragile.
Noa shook her head. "I'm fine," she said. "Just… tired."
Asher's touch lingered for a moment longer before he pulled his hand away. His golden eyes flickered with a mix of desire and calculation. He wanted to take Noa too—he knew she wouldn't resist much, given how goblins were. But now wasn't the time. She was still recovering, and her body wasn't in the best condition. Besides, there was the human issue. They didn't have the luxury of wasting time.
"Please get better fast," Asher said, his voice calm but firm. "We'll be needing you."
Noa gave him a brief nod, her golden eyes meeting his for a moment before he turned and walked away. She watched him go, her expression thoughtful. Something about the way he spoke to her—like he was in charge—didn't feel as strange as it should have. Normally, she would have been offended. She would have put a young goblin like him in his place, maybe even kicked his ass to remind him who was stronger. But this time, it was different.
Instead of feeling angry or disrespected, Noa felt… motivated. She wanted to get better, to heal quickly so she could be useful to him. It was a new, unfamiliar feeling, and it left her bewildered. Why did she care what he thought? Why did she feel this urge to prove herself to him? She didn't understand it, but she couldn't ignore it either.
Roan, still standing beside her, noticed the look on her face. "Mom?" he asked, his voice hesitant. "Are you okay?"
Noa blinked, pulling herself out of her thoughts. She turned to her son and gave him a small smile. "I'm fine, Roan," she said. "Just thinking."
Roan didn't look convinced, but he didn't press further. He trusted his mother, even if he didn't fully understand what was going on. Noa reached out and ruffled his hair gently, her mind still racing.
_______________________________
Before heading out, Asher checked on the progress of the underground tunnel leading to the goblin village. The ants had managed to dig about a third of the way, but there was still a lot of work left. Satisfied with their progress, he decided to go hunting today.
The humans were still far away. Even if they decided to come this way, it would take them at least a few days to reach the area. That meant now was the perfect time to gain more experience and level up.
He took Cybele, two elite soldier ants, and a few regular ants with him. Cybele was already level 9, while he was at level 6. So far, they hadn't encountered any strong monsters in the area, so he felt confident that they could handle anything they came across.
With their preparations complete, they left the cave and entered the forest.
---
Asher had been hunting in the same general area for some time—a spot not too deep into the forest but also not too close to the cave.
So far, they'd killed a decent number of monsters, but one thing frustrated him.
He was hoping to find something like a beast core after defeating monsters, so he could gain some useful skils. But none of the creatures they'd slain had dropped anything of the sort. Maybe only certain monsters had them? Or perhaps only stronger beasts carried them?
He had too little knowledge of this world, and that ignorance annoyed him.
'Well, no use thinking about it now.'
The area was home to a few low-level monsters, creatures that weren't too dangerous but still put up a fight.
- Grimfang Rats
- Green Slimes
- Venomthorn Hares
- Blade Rabbits
- Large beetle-like bugs about the size of a small dog
Today, they were specifically hunting Venomthorn Hares.
These creatures resembled rabbits, except they had a single sharp horn on their foreheads, coated in a potent venom. Their defense was weak, but they were fast, making them difficult to catch. The real danger, however, came after they were wounded. If injured, they would abandon all thoughts of fleeing and attack recklessly, trying to impale their enemy with their venomous horn.
Despite the risk, their venom was much stronger than the Stingreaver Ants' poison, making it a valuable weapon, even though it looses its luster after a few uses.
Using the ants' keen senses, they tracked down a Venomthorn Hare quickly.
Asher crouched low in the underbrush with Cybele, observing from a distance. Since he didn't have any combat skills yet, he had no intention of fighting directly. Cybele remained beside him, ready to protect him from any surprise attacks.
The hare's long ears twitched.
It had sharp hearing, and it was already becoming aware of something moving nearby. If it sensed danger fully, it would bolt. They had to act fast.
One of the elite soldier ants took position behind the hare, hidden among the bushes. Another lurked a short distance away, prepared to strike if needed.
Asher gave a small nod.
In an instant, the first ant lunged, its powerful mandibles flashing under the forest light.
The hare reacted instantly, leaping to the side with an incredible burst of speed, narrowly avoiding the attack. But just as it landed—
Snap!
The second elite soldier ant struck from behind, its mandibles clamping down on the hare's hind leg.
The creature let out a shrill, panicked screech, thrashing violently as it tried to escape. Its poisoned horn stabbed wildly at the air, but the ant held on, refusing to let go.
Then, the hare's instincts changed.
Rather than running, its injured state triggered its aggression. With terrifying speed, it turned its rage toward the ant holding it down.
Asher watched its muscles tense.
"Now," he whispered.
The remaining ants swarmed in.
One bit into the hare's neck, while another latched onto its torso, pinning it completely. It struggled violently, its horn inches away from stabbing into one of the soldier ants.
But then, the paralysis venom took effect.
The hare's movements grew sluggish, and within seconds, its body went limp.
It was still breathing, but it was completely immobilized.
The ants stepped back, leaving it for Asher.
Grinning, Asher stood up from the bushes and walked over shamelessly.
He had grown used to this—claiming the final blow after his ants did all the work. His thick skin made it easy to ignore any sense of guilt.
He was ready to deliver the finishing strike to the Venomthorn Hare.
But before he could move—
A crushing force wrapped around his torso, yanking him backward.
"Wha—?!"
The next thing he knew, his feet left the ground.
The wind was knocked from his lungs as his body was flung backward with brutal strength. Cybele had grabbed him.
Then—
THUD!
They crashed into the dirt several meters away, the impact jarring his bones. The moment he hit the ground, a piercing CRACK rang through the air.
Asher barely had time to process what happened when he saw it—
A massive, jagged limb had slammed into the exact spot where he had been standing.
The ground split beneath the force. The sharp, spear-like leg sank into the earth, creating a small crater. If Cybele hadn't pulled him away, he would have been skewered instantly.
His stomach churned as he struggled to sit up.
Then, he looked up—
And his breath caught in his throat.
A colossal, nightmarish spider towered over him, its massive legs digging into the forest floor. The thing had to be at least five meters tall, its body covered in sleek, segmented armor.
But what struck Asher the most wasn't its sheer size.
It was the colors.
Unlike the dull, earthy tones he had expected, its exoskeleton shimmered in the dim light, shifting between deep purples, iridescent blues, and streaks of gold. It was almost… beautiful.
Deadly and beautiful.
Eight gleaming eyes locked onto him, emotionless and calculating. Its sharp mandibles clicked together, oozing venom that sizzled as it dripped onto the ground.
A wave of primal fear shot through Asher's body.
This was no ordinary monster.
This was a predator.
A creature that saw him as nothing more than prey.
His heart pounded. His muscles tensed.
Cybele, still standing protectively in front of him, let out a deep, menacing hiss.
Asher didn't need to think.
They had to move. Now.
Stones?