Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 30: Dealing With Gaylord (4)

The word hung heavy in the air after Magnus spoke it. A thick silence descended upon the assembled goblins, each staring at the others in bewildered confusion. What could Magnus possibly mean?

As far as they knew, their two successful ambushes against the Lancaster territory had severely depleted the enemy’s forces. Doubt gnawed at them. What was Magnus implying? Uncertainty paralyzed them.

Many would have dismissed his statement as a bluff, but the presence of the awakened human standing behind Magnus gave them pause. A flicker of belief ignited within them – perhaps Magnus did have a hidden advantage. The unwavering confidence radiating from his grinning face was too bold to ignore. They needed to tread carefully.

After a brief moment of contemplation, the goblin who had previously stepped forward gestured to several men behind him. They were Gaylordia territory soldiers and guards. He directed them to investigate the situation outside their territory borders.

Without hesitation, the men obeyed. The crowd of goblins parted, creating a path for them to pass through.

Magnus made a mental note of the goblin’s apparent authority. He wondered why Nutgrove and his men hadn’t included this goblin’s name on their list of influential figures.

’Perhaps his influence wasn’t deemed significant enough to be a threat,’ Magnus mused, quickly shifting his gaze back to the crowd of goblins, his expression calm.

A heavy silence blanketed the gathering. No sound emanated from the goblins or Magnus. A grim atmosphere permeated the air.

Lost in thought, the goblins were too preoccupied with their current predicament to utter a word.

Despite the inherent similarities between all intelligent races in the world of Aetherium, tensions inevitably arose. Different cultures, different beliefs – these disparities bred friction. Even within the same race, conflicting ideologies could spark conflict, let alone between entirely different races.

They knew that if they conquered the Lancaster territory, the consequences for the Lancaster people would be dire, likely resulting in enslavement and forced labor. Now, faced with the possibility of their own subjugation, they contemplated their potential fate. Would they lose their homes, their freedom? The grim mood deepened.

Even the children, though lacking a full understanding of the situation, sensed the gravity of the moment from their parents’ expressions. They instinctively refrained from making any noise. The only sound that punctuated the oppressive silence was the grim dripping of blood from the heads impaled on stakes, further amplifying the tension.

Just as the tension reached its peak, the dispatched men returned, breathing heavily, having evidently sprinted back to deliver their message. They followed the path the goblins had made earlier, reaching the front of the crowd. All eyes turned towards them expectantly.

"What did you find? Anything we should be worried about?" the goblin who had sent them inquired.

"Yes," one of the men replied, his voice strained as he struggled to catch his breath. "There are over one hundred fully armed soldiers right outside our territory walls as we speak," he added, his face grim. However, in the tense atmosphere, his expression was dismissed as an attribute to exhaustion from the run rather than alarm by the goblins.

The moment these words were spoken, a wave of relief washed over the goblins. They realized there was seemingly nothing to fear. A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd.

"Imagine, I almost fell for the bluff of that weak, foolish young lord of the Lancaster territory!" one goblin exclaimed, relieved, amidst the laughter.

"What did you expect from him? His father was just as much of a show off, just a bit more cunning," another chimed in. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Pff, a mere hundred men? What did he think he could accomplish with such a small force? It seems he’s brought them here to be slaughtered, just like before," another added, followed by another wave of laughter from the crowd.

Mocking remark after mocking remark echoed through the air, punctuated by bursts of raucous laughter from the goblins. Amidst the chaos, Magnus stood impassive, a calm presence in the eye of the storm.

But the laughter and relief soon subsided, replaced by a brewing anger that swept through the crowd like a tempest. This human dared to venture into their territory and eliminate their leaders! He deserved death – no, something far worse.

A torrent of curses rained down, filling the air with venomous noise.

Just then, the goblin who had spoken earlier, his sword still drawn, raised it again, pointing it towards Magnus. The gesture silenced the raging crowd. "You filthy human!" he roared, his voice thick with rage. "How dare you come here, kill our leaders, and then have the audacity to demand our surrender with such a pathetic force! How dare you!" His words ignited the crowd, who echoed his fury.

"Kill him!"

"Feed his corpse to the beasts!"

"Cut off his head!"

"Castrate him!"

"Yes! Cut off his manhood! Cut off his balls!"

"Show him no mercy!"

"Attack him now!"

"We must avenge our leaders! Raze his territory to the ground! Kill them all! Burn their houses! Take their women as pleasure slaves and their men as laborers! Feed their children to the beasts!"

The crowd roared their bloodthirsty intentions, their fury directed at Magnus.

Some began drawing their weapons: soldiers their swords, farmers their crude tools, miners their picks, and some even clutched simple sticks, all pointed menacingly at Magnus, ready to attack.

Throughout the uproar, Magnus remained calm, the grin on his face widening.

His composure shocked the goblins even more. Was he not afraid of death?

"What’s so funny?" someone yelled from the crowd. "Does he think we’re joking? He takes us for clowns! Take his head!" The cry ignited another wave of rage and agreement as the goblins prepared to attack.

Before they could act, Magnus finally spoke. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked, his grin unwavering. "Why don’t you listen to what your messengers have to say? They seem to have more to add." He gestured towards the men who had been sent to scout outside the walls.

A stunned silence fell over the crowd. All eyes turned to the messengers, and the goblins immediately noticed the horror etched on their faces as they witnessed the mob’s bloodlust.

The goblin who had questioned the messengers frowned, unease replacing his rage. He gestured towards the men, his voice tight with apprehension. "Well? Speak!"

One of the messengers swallowed hard, his eyes darting nervously between Magnus and the enraged goblins. "Th-they aren’t...they aren’t just soldiers," he stammered, his voice barely audible.

The goblin leaned forward, his grip tightening on his sword. "What do you mean? Explain yourself!"

The messenger took a shaky breath, the words tumbling out in a rush. "They’re... they’re Awakened. All of them. Over a hundred Awakened humans." His voice was filled with dread.

Silence descended like a shroud. The news hit the goblins like a bombshell. Their rage instantly transformed into horror as the gravity of the situation sank in.

They were confident in facing one Awakened human, perhaps even two, three, or even up to ten. But one hundred? That was an insurmountable force. A mere quarter of that number could obliterate their entire territory, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake. And this human before them, the young lord of Lancaster, the one they had dismissed as weak and foolish, the one whose father and thousands of soldiers they had slaughtered – he was leading this force. A chill ran down their spines.

How was this even possible? How had this young man amassed such power? But there was no time for such questions. They had just threatened to kill him. What would become of them now? Terror filled their hearts.

Magnus watched, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips, as horror contorted the goblins’ faces. Their fear was palpable.

With a firm voice, he declared, "Now, consider your choice. Surrender now, kneel before me, and you will receive mercy. Defy me, and your lives, and the lives of all you hold dear, will be forfeit."