Chapter 71: All According to Plan

Chapter 71: All According to Plan

“Warlord Dreigno!” A kobold rushed to a hulking lizardman. “There’s a group of our brethren fighting each other. It has spread to the far reaches of our sanctuary!”

“Gather the armoured knights and slaughter them,” Dreigno said with a hiss. “With the help we were given, no one shall stop our expansion.”

Warlord Dreigno could only be loosely called a Kobold. His size resembled that of an orc and the thick, wiry muscles expanded and contracted at every slight movement. Large horns spiralled from his head, thorn like appendages branched off from the main trunk. His scales were a blackened red, and they contrasted sinisterly against his fluorescent orange eyes.

Warlord Dreigno leaned on the metal bannisters that overlooked the sprawling workshop. A constant surge of heat wafted through the dry air. It was often hard to breathe from the thick smoke that clung to their lungs, but they had gotten used to it quickly.

Two smaller kobolds stood in front of a larger one. It was a sub-leader, one that had just evolved. They helped the largest by hosting a massive breastplate onto its chest. Their little arms trembled under the weight. With a grunt from the evolved kobold, it grabbed hold of the bottom and pushed it up. The smaller kobolds quickly tightened the straps, securing it to its chest.

The sub-leader clanged its knuckles against the solid breastplate. Smoke emitted from its maw and, unlike the smaller kobolds, large horns sprouted from its skull. It was a sign of its greater heritage and power.

It was a common scene within the production hall. Smaller kobolds attached Armours made of strange ore to the stronger ones, all while the smithing kobolds were busy making weapons. They were crude and often held weird shapes. Sharp, thick metal attached to long sticks, or a simple wide blade designed for chopping. They were unbalanced. Sharp in some areas and dull in others, but they could still kill, and that’s all that mattered.

A commotion blasted at the entrance. Dreigno stood to attention as a group of kobolds smashed into the production hall. They held weapons of their own creation, and their savage eyes held no attempt at hiding the bloodlust within.

“For what reason do you have to rebel?” Dreigno shouted, his voice boomed across the hall. “I gave you everything and now we have a chance at rebirth, yet you bite the hand that feeds you. I will tear you all limb from limb and savour your blood.”

“Ah god damn, so loud aren’t you?” the leader of the invaders said and stepped forward.

Dreigno thought his eyes were deceiving him. Now and then, the leader’s head would sprout some fine golden hair from the cracks in its scales. They flickered, as if it was an illusion. That, and the female voice was grating on his ears. He did not know what she was saying, but it was shockingly similar to human speech.

“My fellow knights, attack, regain your freedom from those that have enslaved you!” The kobold shouted, but no one reacted.

“My lady, they can’t understand you,” the kobold next to the golden-haired leader said. Metal encased most of its body.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

“Right, I know that,” the leader said. “It’s harder than I thought to inspire monsters without my Mind Domain. Leena, if you will.” it sighed helplessly.

“Yes, my lady!” the kobold shouted and flashed forward. Its metal lance thrust at the stomach of one of the armoured evolved. Its eyes widened as a clang rang throughout the workshop. The lance had failed to penetrate the strange armour. Not even a mark.

Dreigno’s laugh boomed through the hall. “You think your measly weapons can pierce our treasured mineral? The gods themselves bestowed it upon us! We will take back this town and rise into the human world! No wait, stop!”

The kobold thrusted its lance forward at a speed that Druigno could no longer track. It tore through the unarmoured throat of the evolved and it crashed to the floor in a puddle of dark, viscous red.

“What was it laughing about?”

“I’m not sure, my lady. Maybe it doesn’t like its own people?”

“Huh, do you think? That’s quite heartless.”

“I agree, my lady. It’s making me quite angry.”

“You are free now. The forests are safe and clear. Make your way there for a new life,” Astrid said.

The kobolds looked at eachother, then thumped their chest with their small fists.

“Great warrior, are you not coming with us?” one kobold asked.

“I’m afraid not, young one, for my life's purpose lays beyond the verdant forest, and past the boundless mountains, all towards the unfettered clouds that lay above!” Astrid stood tall, as if she was the centre of the world.

What the hell am I saying? Oh well, I bet I look damn cool right now. Astrid silently chuckled.

“Take us with you, great warrior, to the skies above!” The other kobold hissed. “We will bleed for you, die for you if needs be!”

“I can’t,” Astrid thumped her chest. “You need to remain here, gather our brethren from around this land and one day you will rise with me!”

“We will do as you command!” The kobolds all thumped their chest with furore.

“Begone!” Astrid commanded, and she collapsed the Mind Domain.

The kobolds said something in their lizard tongue, then ran off with blazing fire ignited within their eyes.

Uh, what did I do? Did I just recruit a damned kobold army? Ah, whatever, I'll never see them again, anyway. Farewell, brave warriors. Astrid gave a final salute as they disappeared into the distance. Thankfully, the forest they entered was far away from the other Wayfarers.

“Should we go after them, my lady?” Leena tightened her grip around her lance.

“No, let my children fly free and soar.” Astrid shook her head.

“My lady?” Leena looked at her master in confusion.

“Hmm? Ah, shi–nothing.” Astrid almost forgot that she had returned to the real world.

Talking like that was rather addicting... Astrid coughed.

“Cover me,” Astrid said. “I’m going to enter my system.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Sinking away from her embarrassment, the system messages greeted her.

You defeated - Level 34 - Crackled Wolf

You have levelled up!