The True Vampire and the catkin were sitting with their backs against the wall of the newly reinforced barricade, catching their breath. They had found a little crevice hidden between one of the makeshift watchtowers and some sort of hut. If someone were to ask them why they were there, they would make up some sort of excuse but the truth was simple.

They were hiding from Og.

The goblin assassin had seemed friendly when they started their training but they now knew it was all a lie. He was not their friend. He was seriously trying to kill them!

“Do you think he’ll find us here?” Lexi gasped, panting as she tried to catch her breath.

“I don’t know…” Raymond replied, “But he hasn’t appeared yet so I think we should stay here for a moment.”

After killing a few more Greater Cave Trolls, Raymond had reached level 18 and unlocked her Shield Wall and Steel Skin Guardian abilities. Lexi, for her part, had capped her Acolyte class at level 10 and received the Language of Magic passive ability.

Og then shepherded them back to the camp and ordered them to rest, assuring them that the training for the next day would be harsh and that they needed to be well rested.

Raymond felt that harsh did not even begin to describe the hell he was putting them through. She woke up with a dagger in her eye.

In. Her. Eye. It hurt like hell!

He was being more careful with Lexi because she couldn’t regenerate like Raymond could, but he had still managed to put thirteen cuts on her body throughout the last forty minutes that they had been desperately fleeing from him.

The other goblins simply watched, moving out of the way so as not to interfere. A few of the little kids would laugh and point. Maybe this was a normal way of training in this camp…

“I really hate mornings…” Raymond mumbled, “What should we do?”

Lexi shrugged, “He’s too fast. We can’t do anything to him.”

Raymond groaned, leaning her head back against the wall. She pounded the ground with her fist. “And he said he couldn’t beat a single silver ranker with his entire team. What the hell are we supposed to do when they attack?”

Raymond turned her head.

“Hey Lexi, you were a slave of the adventurers. Do you know anything about the silver rankers from Cairel?”

Lexi stiffened. “Umm… not a lot…” she muttered.

“Anything you know could be helpful.” Raymond urged.

Lexi shifted uncomfortably. “There is only one regular silver rank team in Cairel. There are no registered Gold, Legendary or Mythical rankers here. The silver rank team here is very standard. They have a Warrior, a Rogue, a Green Mage and a Wizard. The only one I know of is the Wizard because he was friends with J..Jantzen. He’s close to level capping…”

“Level capping?”

“Each class caps at level 50, after that you have to merge it with another level 50 class to raise the tier.”

“So he’s almost a level 50 Wizard then… sounds like it would be dangerous for anybody except me.”

“What do you mean?”

Raymond smiled. “I have a really high magic resistance… I don’t think his spells can affect me.”

“Won’t he just use more powerful spells then?”

Raymond’s smile widened. “I have really high magic resistance.”

Lexi shrugged, “I saw you take Peter’s spells and be unaffected so I’ll take your word for it.”

“If I get the chance, I’ll show you in the battle tomorrow.”

Lexi grinned. “I’ll look forward to it.”

Raymond stared up at the sun as it approached the peak of the sky. The soft, wispy clouds partially covered the bright orb. Raymond reached a hand out, clasping her fingers as if to grab it.

“You know, something Og said yesterday has been bothering me.”

“What is it?” Lexi asked.

“He said that Evelyn killed the mythical rankers, right?”

“Right…?”

“How? Why didn’t they respawn?”

Lexi paused. “Huh… I’m not sure. I’ve never thought about it…”

“If we can figure out how she did it, that might be a major key to winning future conflicts.”

Lexi scratched her ear, “We should look into that after this battle. That could be important.”

Raymond nodded.

After a minute of silence, Lexi jolted, as if realizing something.

“Wait… where’s Mort?”

Raymond froze. She had completely forgotten about the stupid bird. She hadn’t seen him around in days! She tried to contact him through her mental connection. She could feel that he was very far away.

“Mort, where are you?”

“My Lady! Can I ask you to call me another time? I am currently engaged in securing your inevitable victory!”

“Huh?”

“If everything goes according to my grand plan then you should discover the results of my magnificent service on the ‘morrow!”

Raymond shook her head, cutting off the connection. “He’s insane. I guess I’ll leave him for now… he said we should see the results of what’s he’s been doing tomorrow.”

“Is that so?” came a casual response. Raymond and Lexi jumped to their feet, looking around desperately.

“Where are you?” Raymond hissed.

She heard a sound behind her and twisted at an incredible speed, swinging her fist. She found only empty air. A brief pain flared as a dagger pierced her neck, severing her spine. She collapsed to the ground like a marionette with its strings cut, her body completely numb.

However, she did not blackout. She did not want to and forced her mind to remain aware.

“I stopped chasing and gave the two of you ample time to prepare. Instead, I find you chatting like old maids behind a shed?” Og said angrily, stepping out of the shadows.

“Uhhh…We...we…” Lexi stuttered.

“I don’t need excuses, I need results.” Og cut her off. “Goblins are going to die tomorrow. Permanently. You two need to start taking this more seriously.”

Raymond felt the feeling return to her body as her spine healed. She unsteadily pushed herself up onto her hands and knees. She coughed, clearing her blood out of her throat.

Lexi kneeled beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. Og simply stared furiously as he watched the small girl recover from the flesh wound.

His eyes softened. “I apologize for losing my temper. I was dwelling on my frustrations and I took it out on the two of you. It is clear that both of you have been through some hardships individually but nothing of this scale. I can’t blame you for not realizing the gravity of the situation.”

“Frustrations?” Raymond whispered.

Og stepped past the two of them and placed a hand on the barricade.

“We have been hunted for over a thousand years… they always come for us. It is our plight. I am just frustrated at my inability to change our fate.”

Lexi shook her head. “It is not our responsibility to manipulate fate… that is the realm of the gods. We are to do our best within our own realm of influence.”

Og gave Lexi an appraising look. “Wise words.”

Lexi gave a sad smile. “I had a wise mother.”

Og patted Lexi on the arm. “Thanks. Don’t think I’ll go easy on you just ‘cause you can say nice things.”

Lexi shivered. “You’re scary, but you’re not as bad as the slavers.”

Og whistled. “Should I take that as a compliment...?.”

He grabbed her left hand and twisted it, facing the palm upwards while keeping a firm grasp on her wrist.

“Or an insult?

Lexi tried to pull her arm free but he was too strong. Og held her hand against the barricade and raised the dagger with his free hand.

“Missy, I can be a lot scarier than those weaklings.”

He plunged the dagger towards her hand but stopped as a firm grip caught his wrist. He smiled.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Raymond hissed, brimming with rage.

Og released Lexi, turning to face Raymond.

“Are you finally ready to take this training seriously?”

“Oppression Aura.” a weight seemed to settle on their surroundings, pushing down heavily on both Og and Lexi. The catgirl collapsed to the ground.

Raymond squeezed Og’s wrist tighter. He grimaced as the bones in his wrist snapped.

He pulled a dagger out of thin air with his free hand and thrust it under her chest.

“Steel Skin” Raymond growled.

The dagger ricocheted off of her skin, slicing the fabric of her borrowed t-shirt but otherwise leaving no sign that he had stabbed her.

“Oh dear…” he muttered, “I might have miscalculated a little bit…”

Raymond twisted, swinging Og with all her strength into the shed. The small structure collapsed as Og disappeared into the hail of shattered wood.

She turned and saw Lexi collapsed on the ground, huddling in a ball with fear in her eyes and tears on her cheeks. Raymond felt concern overwhelm her anger as she kneeled down beside the girl.

“It’s okay now.” Raymond said softly. She reached out as if to touch Lexi’s shoulder but the girl hissed, striking out with her claws. Raymond felt a sharp pain and she withdrew her hand, examining the bloody furrows.

“Alright, no touching then.” Raymond muttered. She turned, jumping to her feet. She stalked towards the ruined building.

“Og, you went way too far.”

There was no response.

Raymond grimaced, returning to kneel by Lexi once more.

“Where did he go? … and why did he do that?”

***

“How was the training?” Shaman asked, leaning back into her chair tiredly.

“They performed exceptionally well while hunting Greater Cave Trolls but their performance in the second training was abysmal.”

“Which exercise did you do this time?”

“Fear and Pain. I was testing their awareness and mental fortitude.”

Shaman drew a hand across her face. “They have a long ways to go before they will be accepted as paragons. Goblin children can pass that training.”

Og nodded in agreement. “ I believe they only failed because they have not experienced how terrifying it is to fight higher ranked adventurers. They are too relaxed.”

Shaman sighed. “Well, they will get plenty of experience very soon.”

“I see potential in them, though. Raymond, in particular, showed improvement at the end of the exercise. I believe that given more time to experience the realities of this world, she will grow and become our new beacon.” Og said.

Shaman leaned forward. “So that’s how it is. You want to join her in following the new Overseer?”

Og flinched. “I… am not sure. I do believe that this opportunity seems to be exactly what we’ve always needed…”

“But our ultimate loyalty must always lie with Demestrix.” Shaman finished. “Og, I have lived many years… much longer than almost any other goblin. I am too old to change my ways and constrain myself to an endless cycle of death and pain. If you feel that this is the right path for the goblins, I will leave it in your hands.”

“What about you?”

Shaman raised a hand, generating an illusion of a small candle. The flame flickered weakly as if struggling to maintain itself. However, since it was an illusion, Og knew Shaman had made it that way on purpose.

“It’s been 1595 years since Demestrix disappeared. Several generations have passed on this dream of finding her and returning to our former glory… but... perhaps you should move on. I feel that our dream should die with me.”

“Huh?” Og protested, “You still have at least five decades left. Goblins can live into their four hundreds…”

Shaman snapped her fingers and the illusion shifted, the fire vanishing in a puff of smoke while the candle wax simmered.

“All things have a beginning and an end. My life has been long and fruitless… I failed to change our fate. It is time to pass the flame on to a new generation.”

Og kneeled, bowing his head. “My Queen, we will not abandon thee. Though death is inevitable for us mortals, I implore thee to not speak such words. You are irreplaceable.”

Shaman smiled sadly. “We shall see.”

***

Raymond and Lexi’s conversation intrigued me. Particularly the part where Raymond noticed that Evelyn managed to kill the Mythical rankers permanently. There was a lot about this ‘respawn’ system that was unknown to us.

With a battle looming over our heads, it started to hit me how big of a deal it was that we didn’t have a Temple.

What Og said stuck with me as well. Some of these goblins will be dead tomorrow and I can’t save them because I don’t have a Temple. But, of course, I have no way to claim one yet...

“Auto, is it possible to build my own Temple?”

“Negative.”

“Is there some special component that I can’t get my hands on.”

“Affirmative. You could build a ‘temple’ but without the terminal it would be a mere decoration. It is impossible for any but a Precursor to create a KAT.”

“KAT?”

“Kravelozonian Access Terminal.”

“There’s that term again… what is ‘Kravelozonian?”

“Of or relating to Kraveloz.”

I sighed, “And who is Kraveloz?”

“A Precursor, one of the creators of this world. Father of the True Vampire race and creator of the inferior ‘level-based’ magic system used by the continent of Nathea.”

That sounded important.

“So what does this Kraveloz have to do with Temples? Do the Precursors manage Overseers?”

“Negative. Kraveloz placed limitations on the powers of Overseers that have influence over this world by forcing them to channel their divine power through his access terminals.”

I flashed back to the time in the High Priestess Eileen’s room when she had registered me on---

“The computer.” I groaned. “Duh, the building itself isn’t important. I need to get me one of those computers.”

“Ahem,” Auto interjected, “that is not a ‘computer’ it is a KAT. It merely shares a similar appearance to your Earth technology due to the...”

Auto’s voice cut off. “Excuse me, I almost strayed beyond my boundaries.”

Oh? Interesting.

“And what are these ‘boundaries’?” I asked curiously.

“Reporting. Entering standby mode to avoid confrontation. I will return in two hours.”

Damn.

I returned my attention to my current draft of commandments. A few more finishing touches on the wording and it might be ready to run by Raymond to see what she thinks…

I sighed. I now had mad respect for those guys who created entire books of rules back on Earth. My current draft was basically a compilation of my personal philosophies accumulated through twenty years of living as a human.

Still, this part of being a god… is quite tedious.

***

As the sun began to rise over the distant horizon, Raymond walked out of her tent, yawning. As she looked around, she saw goblins. There were goblins lining the barricade, some armed with wooden shields and stone spears and others with bows. She saw goblins behind the sealed gate with their incomplete sets of armor. She saw goblins rushing back-and-forth bringing provisions and relaying messages. She saw goblins prepared for war.

She walked towards the command post, a slightly raised structure near the center of the camp.

As she entered, she heard a horn blow from the direction of the gate.

Shaman motioned for Raymond to follow her.

“Come, child,” Shaman said, “Let us show you our plight.”