Preparing for War
The scent of roasting boar filled the air as the goblins tore into their meal with feral hunger. For the first time, they had hunted as warriors, not scavengers. Their bellies were full, their spirits high, but Xander knew that this was only the first step.
Food was not enough.
"A kingdom is built on more than full stomachs."
They needed weapons, armor, discipline.
And most importantly?
They needed fearless warriors.
Xander observed his goblins, their faces smeared with blood, their hands gripping crude wooden spears and jagged rocks.
Pathetic.
"If we fight humans like this, we'll be slaughtered."
His red eyes glowed as he stood, his towering form casting a long shadow over his followers.
"Eat your fill, rest for now." His voice was calm yet commanding. "Tomorrow, we train for real."
The goblins exchanged glances. Uncertainty. Fear. Excitement.
And then, slowly, they nodded.
The Goblin Tyrant's first army was about to be born.
---
The Birth of a Warband
As dawn broke, Xander wasted no time.
The goblins were gathered into a clearing, their expressions ranging from groggy confusion to burning anticipation.
"Weapons are the foundation of war." He paced before them. "But a weapon is only as strong as the one who wields it."
And so, the true training began.
Step 1: Strength and Endurance
Xander forced them to run through the dense forest, dodging trees, leaping over fallen logs.
Any goblin who fell behind was beaten until they learned to keep up.
Their bodies burned, but they did not complain.
Step 2: Hand-to-Hand Combat
Xander paired them off in brutal sparring matches.
No weapons. No tricks. Just pure survival instinct.
Blood spilled. Teeth were lost. But weakness had no place here.
Step 3: Weapon Mastery
The goblins carved crude spears, clubs, and makeshift shields.
Xander demonstrated techniques—how to stab properly, how to block, how to kill efficiently.
Those who learned fast were promoted. Those who failed were forced to keep training until they dropped.
Days passed.
And slowly, the weaklings became warriors.
Their bodies hardened.
Their eyes sharpened.
Their fear of death turned into hunger for battle.
And when Xander looked at them, he finally saw it.
"This… This is an army."
But an army needed one last thing.
---
Weapons of War: The Forge Awakens
"Wooden spears and rocks won't be enough against armored soldiers."
Xander's mind worked furiously. He had modern knowledge buried in his memories, but in this primitive world, he had to start from scratch.
But then—he remembered something crucial.
Goblins were naturally skilled in crafting, but they had never been taught properly.
That was about to change.
"I need the smartest goblins."
Four stepped forward. Thin, wiry, intelligent eyes.
"You are now my Blacksmiths."
A new spark of ambition lit up in their expressions.
And so, the Goblin Tyrant's first forge was born.
Step 1: The Discovery of Fire-Hardened Weapons
By charring wooden spears in fire, the tips became stronger, deadlier.
The goblins practiced stabbing with their new weapons—each strike hitting deeper, harder, faster.
Step 2: The First Metal Discovery
Xander had scavenged iron scraps from dead adventurers in the forest.
Using crude stone hammers, they began beating metal into shape.
The first rough iron daggers were made.
Step 3: The Goblin Armory Begins
Simple shields of wood and bone were reinforced.
Stone axes, metal daggers, and crude armor were crafted.
Xander oversaw everything, correcting flaws, perfecting techniques.
And soon—
The goblins no longer looked like savages.
They looked like a real warband.
---
The Raid on the Human Village
"Now, we hunt real prey."
Xander led his goblins to the edge of the forest, overlooking a small human settlement.
It was a farming village—no walls, only a handful of poorly trained guards.
"Perfect."
His army of twenty warriors, equipped with fire-hardened spears and crude shields, crouched in the shadows.
The humans had no idea death was watching them.
"Tonight, we spill human blood."
A dark grin spread across Xander's face.
This was the first step toward something greater.
A goblin kingdom.
A goblin empire.
And soon—the world would fear the name of the Goblin Tyrant.
---
System Notification: Evolution Unlocked!
As the goblins prepared for battle, a new blue screen appeared before Xander.
---
[Evolution Path Unlocked: Goblin Warlord]
"You have successfully created an organized warband. You may now evolve into a higher form of goblin."
Options:
1. Goblin Warlord (Strength-focused, leads larger armies)
2. Goblin Shadowblade (Stealth-focused, master of assassination)
3. Goblin Shaman-King (Magic-focused, ruler of dark forces)
---
Xander grinned.
"Evolution, huh?"
The choice would shape his destiny.
And the conquest was just beginning.
A Goblin's Evolution—The Path to Power
The moment the blue system panel appeared before him, Xander felt a surge of something primal—an awakening, a shift in reality.
[Evolution Path Unlocked: Goblin Warlord]
"You have successfully created an organized warband. You may now evolve into a higher form of goblin."
Options:
1. Goblin Warlord (Strength-focused, leads larger armies)
2. Goblin Shadowblade (Stealth-focused, master of assassination)
3. Goblin Shaman-King (Magic-focused, ruler of dark forces)
Xander stared at the glowing choices before him.
Each path would change his destiny forever.
He considered the options carefully.
Goblin Warlord would make him physically powerful, allowing him to command massive hordes of goblins. But his magic potential would remain low, and he'd be more dependent on sheer numbers.
Goblin Shadowblade would turn him into a deadly assassin, capable of striking from the darkness, eliminating key targets, and leading goblins in stealth warfare. But direct battles would be a challenge, and growing a kingdom would be harder.
Goblin Shaman-King intrigued him the most. Magic was the great equalizer. If he gained spellcasting, he could fight against stronger enemies without relying only on brute force. Plus, magic could help in creating weapons, defenses, and even summoning more goblins.
"A king must rule not just with strength, but with wisdom."
Xander made his choice.
→ Selected: Goblin Shaman-King
The system flashed. A sudden rush of heat, energy, and pain filled his body.
His veins burned, his skin twisted, his bones cracked and reformed.
The goblins around him gasped as his small green body began to grow.
Xander's spine elongated, his limbs stretched, and his once-thin frame became taller and more muscular. Dark tribal markings burned across his skin as a hidden power awakened within him.
[Evolution Complete: You are now a Goblin Shaman-King!]
New Traits Acquired:
Goblin Mystic Bloodline: Allows natural affinity for magic.
Dark Invocation: Can commune with ancient goblin spirits for guidance and power.
Mana Core (Stage 1): Unlocks basic spellcasting abilities.
Goblin Domination Aura: Lesser goblins now instinctively obey your commands without question.
Xander gasped as the transformation settled.
He flexed his fingers—feeling raw mana surging beneath his skin.
Power.
Real, tangible power.
His goblins knelt instinctively, sensing the change in their leader.
"So this is evolution…"
But there was no time to admire his new form.
Because tonight, they would spill human blood.
---
The First Raid—Striking the Human Village
Xander crouched behind a large fallen tree, his warband of twenty armed goblins hidden in the dense foliage.
Across the field, the human village stood defenseless.
Wooden huts. Small fences. A few weakly armored guards patrolling the dirt paths.
"They think they are safe."
They were about to learn the truth.
"Listen." Xander's voice was low but commanding. The goblins leaned in. "We strike fast. We kill without mercy. Take weapons, food, anything useful. But burn nothing. We want them to fear us, not destroy the land."
His warriors nodded.
The hunt was on.
Xander raised his hand, fingers glowing with his first spell—Silent Veil.
A wave of darkness spread outward, muffling all sounds within a 30-foot radius.
Now, they were invisible to sound.
The attack began.
Two goblins slipped into the guard post, slitting the throats of the drowsy sentries before they could react.
Three goblins crept into the storage barn, stealing sacks of grain, meat, and tools.
The main force moved through the village systematically, striking down farmers and unarmed civilians in seconds.
A guard finally noticed them, his scream piercing the night—but it was too late.
Xander lifted his hand, channeling his mana into a spell he instinctively understood.
"Shadow Bind."
Dark tendrils shot from the ground, grabbing the guard by his limbs, locking him in place.
Before he could even struggle—
Slash!
Xander's dagger sliced through his throat.
Blood sprayed across the dirt.
"This is just the beginning."
---
The Aftermath—A Kingdom's Wrath
By morning, the village was empty.
The goblins had stripped it bare, leaving only bloodstained walls and the stench of fear behind.
They had tripled their food supply, stolen iron weapons, and taken two human prisoners for questioning.
Xander sat on a stolen wooden throne, his goblins feasting before him.
But then—
A new notification appeared.
---
[Alert: Human Kingdom Response Detected]
"Your attack on the village has drawn the attention of the local Baron. A small force of fifty trained soldiers is marching toward your location."
---
Xander grinned.
"Let them come."
His army had tasted blood.
And soon, they would taste war.