The Aftermath of the Raid
Xander sat upon his makeshift throne—a broken wooden chair salvaged from the human village, now adorned with bones and cloth banners taken from the defeated.
Around him, his goblins feasted upon the spoils of their first conquest. The stolen bread and smoked meat filled the air with a satisfying aroma, mixing with the lingering scent of blood and burned wood.
They had tasted victory.
But now came the real challenge.
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The Human Counterattack—A Kingdom's Response
Xander's sharp yellow eyes scanned the glowing system panel floating before him.
[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 smirked.
"Only fifty? They underestimate us."
But he knew better than to be overconfident.
These weren't simple farmers with pitchforks. Fifty trained human soldiers meant warriors clad in iron armor, carrying longswords, crossbows, and possibly mounted cavalry.
And his army?
Twenty goblin warriors (armed with stolen human weapons).
Fifteen goblin scouts (fast, agile, good at ambushes).
Ten goblin apprentices (basic magic users, newly trained by Xander).
Five goblin engineers (skilled at crafting traps and fortifications).
It wasn't a bad force, but in a direct clash, they would still be outmatched.
"I need a plan."
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Xander's War Strategy—Turning Goblin Weakness into Strength
Step 1: Terrain Manipulation
Xander ordered his goblin engineers to set up traps in the nearby forest where the humans would march through.
Spiked pits, falling log traps, and tripwires were scattered across the main pathways.
The goal? Weaken and disorient the humans before they reached the goblin stronghold.
Step 2: Psychological Warfare
Xander commanded his scouts to harass the enemy at night, striking their camps with hit-and-run attacks.
No direct engagement—just arrows from the darkness, poisoned blades slicing throats, and stolen supplies to lower morale.
He wanted them sleep-deprived, paranoid, and exhausted before the real battle even began.
Step 3: Divide and Conquer
Xander planned to split the human army by forcing them to chase fake targets into goblin-controlled zones.
Once separated, his warriors would ambush and overwhelm the isolated groups.
---
The Battle Begins—Human Forces Enter the Kill Zone
Daybreak.
The human soldiers, clad in chainmail and steel, marched through the dense forest, unaware that they had walked straight into a death trap.
The first group fell into spiked pits, their screams echoing through the trees.
The second group was crushed by falling logs, bodies shattered in an instant.
The third group—the largest—was now separated from their commander.
Xander watched from the shadows, a dark grin on his face.
"Now, we strike."
He raised his staff, channeling pure mana into his hands. The markings across his green skin glowed as he unleashed his first large-scale spell.
"Dark Storm!"
A surge of black lightning erupted from the sky, crackling down upon the human soldiers.
The forest lit up with violent energy, metal armor sparking and sizzling as the deadly arcane storm tore through the disorganized human ranks.
The moment the first screams of agony rang out, Xander's goblins charged.
Goblin warriors leaped from the trees, blades flashing.
Scouts flanked from the sides, cutting down isolated soldiers.
Apprentice spellcasters hurled firebolts, setting the forest ablaze.
The once-confident human army was now in pure chaos.
---
Xander vs. The Human Captain
In the middle of the carnage, a tall armored man stepped forward.
Captain Reynard, a seasoned knight, stood with his greatsword drawn, his eyes scanning the battlefield.
"A goblin shaman? Leading a real army? Impossible."
He spotted Xander, who stood tall, his dark robe flowing, his eyes glowing with mana.
"Monster," Reynard snarled, charging forward.
Xander smirked.
"Let's see how strong a 'hero' really is."
CLANG!
The knight's greatsword swung down, but Xander sidestepped, barely avoiding the deadly arc of steel.
He retaliated, thrusting his staff forward, releasing a blast of shadow energy.
BOOM!
The impact sent Reynard skidding backward, his armor cracking from the sheer force.
But he didn't fall.
He gritted his teeth, standing tall once more.
"You're strong… for a goblin."
Xander chuckled. "And you're weak… for a human."
With a wave of his hand, Xander activated his Domination Aura.
The weaker human soldiers began to hesitate, fear creeping into their hearts.
"Submit," Xander's voice echoed, infused with dark magic.
Some of them dropped their weapons, too afraid to fight.
Reynard's eyes widened.
"This isn't just a goblin… This is something else."
But he had no time to process it.
Because Xander had already moved.
SLASH!
Xander's dagger found its mark—piercing through a weak spot in Reynard's armor.
Blood spilled.
The knight gasped, dropping to his knees, his vision blurring.
He looked up at the goblin shaman-king, who now stood over him, victorious.
Xander smiled.
"Your kingdom is weak."
Then, with one final thrust, he ended Reynard's life.
---
Victory—And The Dawn of a New Goblin Empire
The battle was over.
The human army lay in ruins, their commander dead, their morale shattered.
Those who survived had surrendered, now prisoners of the goblin warband.
Xander stood at the edge of the battlefield, his eyes gleaming with ambition.
"This is only the beginning."
A new notification flashed before him.
---
[Congratulations! You have successfully won your first major battle.]
Rewards:
+500 War Points (used to strengthen your army).
+1,000 EXP (Next Evolution Progress: 30%)
New Title: Goblin Warlord
Unlock: Goblin Stronghold Upgrades
---
Xander turned to his army.
The goblins roared, raising their weapons in celebration.
Tonight, they feasted.
Tomorrow, they marched.
Because the Baron's castle—and the rich human lands beyond—were now within their reach.
And soon, all of them would kneel before their new king.
The Goblin Empire had begun.
A Throne of Stone and Fire
Xander sat atop the rough-hewn throne in the cavernous depths of the goblin lair. The crude stone chair, carved from the very bedrock of the underground stronghold, was nothing compared to the luxurious seats of power he once commanded as a human businessman. Yet, for the first time since his rebirth, he felt something resembling satisfaction.
The goblins knelt before him, their glowing yellow eyes reflecting the torchlight. The strongest warriors of the tribe, those who had survived the brutal training and purges, were now loyal to him alone.
"My lord, the warriors await your command," Gurok, the most skilled among them, spoke with reverence.
Xander glanced at his new army—fifty goblins, each armed with crude but effective weapons. Their once frail and cowardly bodies had become hardened through training, their muscles lean, their reflexes sharp.
But it was not enough.
If they were to conquer the surface world, they needed more than just numbers. They needed strategy, innovation, and leadership.
And that was exactly what Xander would provide.
The First Forge
The goblin caves were rich with iron ore, but until now, the tribe had only used stone and scavenged weapons from fallen enemies. That changed today.
"Bring me all the metal you've gathered."
The goblins obeyed without hesitation. Soon, a pile of raw iron sat before Xander, ready to be shaped. He had already constructed a makeshift forge, using his knowledge of metallurgy to design a primitive but functional furnace. The goblins watched in awe as he worked, smelting the ore and hammering it into stronger, sharper weapons.
The first true iron sword of the goblin horde gleamed in the firelight.
"This is only the beginning," Xander murmured, gripping the weapon tightly.
With better arms and armor, the goblins would no longer be mere scavengers. They would become a force to be feared.
The Expansion Begins
Xander knew they could not remain in the caves forever. They needed resources, food, and territory.
"Our first target is the human village to the west," he declared. "We will take what is ours."
The goblins roared in approval.
The age of the goblin overlord had begun.