《The Goblin Nation》Vol 12 Chapter 6: The River Is Gone
Advertisement
Shuja got on Olhos' back. He carried her upstream on the river wall, past the first dam. Pawns tried to stop her, but her bow was far deadlier and Olhos' thick fur protected them. Crocker stood in front of their path, firing his rifle. The closer Olhos got, the more the bullets began to penetrate his fur, but it did not matter. Shuja summoned a wind on her arrow and fired it towards Crocker. The wind formed a twisting wall that blew away Cocker's attack. Fortunately for him, he was shorter than what Shuja estimated, and she missed his head by an inch.
But there was still Olhos, who was ready to maul Crocker. The wind disoriented Crocker, and he didn't see the werewolf reaching its claws to him. Cooke tackled Crocker out of the way, saving him from Olhos' death grip. Olhos stopped and was about to turn around to finish the job, but Shuja urged him to keep moving forward.
Shuja felt an odd change in the air. The plan was simple: they would move swiftly and break open the first dam to get to the next section. But not only did they ignore the gates, but Stick took control of the dam instead. As if breaking through the gates would be bad for them.
Olhos broke through enemy goblins until they reached the section behind the dam, and what she saw surprised her. The river was dry and empty, leaving a black river bed filled with trash. And in the middle of the river was Smoke and Rock surrounded by goblins. The two were struggling to fight them, which surprised her until she and Olhos got closer. The goblins were slaves and wore the same collars like the ones underground.
Shuja took out the master stone and raised it in the air, "Stop fighting them!" The slave collars stopped shocking the goblins, and soon the wearers collapsed from exhaustion.
"Smoke, look!" Rock pointed at Shuja riding Olhos.
"What is she doing here?"
Olhos jumped over the weary goblins and over to the brothers. "What's going on?" She asked them.
"We're trying to the castle." Smoke answered, "One of Cossack's horsemen got lost and stumbled there."
Advertisement
"So, is this some rescue mission?" Shuja jumped off Olhos.
"No, he came back," Rock scratched his head, "But with some bad news."
"The lake and its dam are frozen solid," Smoke said. "Even if we get the ship through the last gate, we'll still be stuck on ice."
"It's the last weeks of spring! How is there still ice?"
"We don't know. But we decided to go there ourselves while Stick defends the ships and the first dam. But that asshole," Smoke pointed at a large figure standing in front of the second dam wearing blue armor, "Is blocking our way. If you can distract him for us, we can get to the city center faster."
"Wouldn't it be faster if I ride on Olhos to the castle?"
"Yeah, it would, but that lost goblin spotted two more goblins similar to us. And I bet my warclub that they're the ones responsible for the ice."
"And just imagine how strong they must be to freeze an entire lake," Rock added. "I bet I can take both of them down!"
"So you want me and Olhos to kill the grunt for you guys? Are you guys serious? Us two fighting that thing over there?"
"Hahaha," Rock laughed, "Does he look that strong that you're getting scared?"
"Screw you, Rock! I can kill that armored giant with one arrow. I'm just worried Olhos will have cold feet."
"If I can maintain my monster self, I think I'll be able to take him down. In fact," Olhos glanced at Shuja, "He looks lighter than a pink skin goblin I know."
"Weeeeell Excuse me, mister!" Shuja yelled.
Both Rock and Olhos laughed, but the fun quickly disappeared when the earth shook. Rook started jogging towards them, and he gained speed for every foot he covers. His acceleration was slow, but they could tell that he is unstoppable regardless of how slow or fast he may seem. But Olhos howled with confidence, for the monster in him is equally formidable. He just hopes he knows when to stop before he loses his will.
Advertisement
Shuja ordered the slaves to seek shelter with the Orgut and Maston warriors fighting on the first dam. Once they left, the four charged. Olhos led them. He strode across the river and tackled the moving tank in front of them.
Rook did not stop, but he did slow down, which startled him. He did not expect the werewolf's strength to be enough to hinder his path. Olhos crunched his armor with his powerful jaws and tried to reap it apart. Rook pulled him over his shoulders to throw him against the ground, but Shuja shot an arrow imbued by mana that pierced his thigh.
He released Olhos, letting the werewolf land behind him, and got trapped in an armlock. Shuja shot another arrow, but this time Rook saw the attack and quickly turned his body, using Olhos as a meat shield. The arrow dug itself deep in Olhos' butt and the poor wolf dropped to the ground, wriggling in pain. "I'm sorry!" She yelled.
Meanwhile, the brother slipped past the armored menace and made their way towards the center of the city. A swarm of goblins tried to stop them from breaching the inner city walls, but Smoke made quick work of them with his electric attacks while Rock simply ran through the goblins like a raging bull. Once they demolished their way through the walls, they finally reached the frozen lake. And in the middle of the lake was the city castle with its purple dome, the color of royalty, stand out in the grey colored city.
And looking around on the surface of the lake did the brothers realize how dirty the city was. The frozen waters could not hide the black waste that polluted the waters, and black clouds came out from large chimneys over the horizon.
The only things devoid of such filth was the castle and two goblins standing before the brothers. Their pink skins were flawless and complexion, gentle and unassuming. The unwanted scraps littering the frozen lake did not taint their bodies. And they wore matching white v-neck sweaters, black pants, white masks, and black hats overly decorated with coloful flowers. Bishop, the twin brother, waved at the brothers. "WELCOME, OUTSIDERS, TO THE CITY CASTLE DISTRICT!" He yelled.
Smoke and Rock had no time for pleasantries with the enemy. "Whoever lands last will have to fight the girl!" Rock announced.
"Are you that scared to fight the loud one. I bet you two would fit perfectly for each other." Smoke joked. They leaped over the wide lake and landed in front of the twins. Smoke was the first to land and he quickly charged towards Bishop. He pointed his war club at Bishop's direction and shot a lightning bolt at him. Bishop took a deep breath and screamed, creating a sound barrier that blocked the attack sent Smoke flying back to the frozen lake.
'I HOPE THAT WASN'T TO LOUD!" He yelled.
Rock was the second to land, "Darn it, why do I have to fight the girl?"
Queen teleported behind Rock and leaned close to his ears. "Why? Do you think I'm weak?" She whispered softly.
Rock turned around and was about to punch her but stopped a moment before hitting her face. "Rock, why'd you stop?" Smoke asked.
"I can't,"
"Can't what? What do you mean?" Queen wondered.
"I can't do it! I can't hit a lady. It's just not right!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Smoke shouted, "You've sparred with Dawn. What makes this any different?"
"I don't know!"
Queen smiled. "But I do," She pulled a gun out from underneath her sweater and shot Rock on the chest. The shot pushed Rock back and made him drop on one knee.
"Rock!" Smoke yelled.
"Did your mother ever tell you to wear a mask over your mouth? It helps prevent the foul stench from infecting your body with diseases. And with how disgusting the river is with the waste we dump in it, you wouldn't believe how easy it is to get sick."
Advertisement
- In Serial27 Chapters
Eldest: Awakening After the End
The world's mana is deeply corrupted. The archmages who held the balance have met their end. And in a lonely, forgotten dungeon, a simple beast receives a Title - for being the eldest creature left alive. The title comes with sapience, the knowledge of a thinking creature. It comes with a desire to learn and grow that can only be met by venturing into the world beyond. And so Grae Mangefur sets out on his adventure, seeking the reason why. Why the world ended. Why magic has gone wrong. Why the Elder Powers are dead.
8 237 - In Serial37 Chapters
Vaewolf System
[participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] Textbook Definition of a Vaewolf; Hybrid, of Vampire and Werewolf. When the FAE, creatures of fantasy and long-lost history, rushed out of the depths of the earth, sick of how humanity had destroyed the world, no one had expected it. Unable to contend against their magic and advanced technology, Humanity was soon on the verge of extinction. Until, one ambitious man, invented the Fae Serums. And thus, a new world of Fae Humans was born. Miles Lykaon was meant to live a life of absolute comfort and power, as the next heir to Lykaon Industries. But when he was still a child, his parents passed away. Even with his Butler/Guardian watching over him, in order to protect what his parents had left, he was forced to grow older beyond his age. But he failed, and his inheritance fell into other hands. Until one fateful night, when two mysterious strangers, monsters, crashed into his home. He was meant to die, but a ghost saved his life, sacrificing the two monsters in his place. When Miles woke up, he had been granted a mysterious system, with a strange feature called forms. And so begins the Legend of the Vaewolf, the Lord of Blood and Shadow, the Huntsman of the Wild. Discord Server: https://discord.gg/sPEJKm9Cover Art: Drawn and Designed by me. So expect more art. Updates: I will do my best to update daily. This story is inspired by the glitch in Skyrim, and the general coolness of the idea. --------------------------------------------------------------- Just in case you're looking for something a bit more serious, a bit more real, with longer chapters, perhaps you'd like to check my twin brother's book? It is Project Vaewolf by SomethingStinks. He only updates once or twice a month, but I really like it. Plus, we built the world together. :)
8 318 - In Serial15 Chapters
The Cost Of Your Crown
Empress Eris Scotus has unrivaled knowledge, wealth, and control in the world she governed. Managing her domain as a just ruler giving her subjects happy lives that she had promised when she told them to follow her lead. Giving everything in her life just to change the revolting system in her world for the better. Only to meet her end by betrayal from her own family. The same family she swore to protect and have forgiven, had betrayed killed her by igniting a Coup d'état killing innocent people along side her in the process. But at the end of her painful journey came face to face with a god named Chronos that given her a chance to be reincarnated in another world for reasons unknown. Adamant of the offer the god has no choice but to forcibly reincarnated the empress, resulting her having to relive her life from zero. Now left with a new life Eris was given a choice; whether she'll lose her way once again or change anew a choice left in her fragile hands. Unbeknownst to anyone the young empress has taken the first step to yet another bloody road.
8 150 - In Serial32 Chapters
Fallen
Hundreds of years ago, the servant god Elsyn declared that they would destroy humanity entirely, explaining it as their duty as humanity’s peacekeeper. When the gods saw it fit to send someone to oppose the fallen servant, Iztris—the gods’ own servant and follower—visits Cheryn. Iztris requests the aid of Alyson and Jacob, the oldest two heirs of Cheryn and the only ones given the gods’ offer of the ‘assurance of victory,’ and the heirs agree. There will come a time when humanity does fall—but none of them would allow that to happen by the hands of a being just as flawed as mortals. I recommend reading the story by volume, instead of by the order the chapters were posted. This story was beta read by Mad Sadie. Many thanks! Please note that some characters use different pronouns depending on the chapter’s view and the speaker. Iztris, for example, is referred to with neutral pronouns by Elsyn (in most cases) and themself, and after being introduced as such they are referred to with male pronouns by Alyson and Jacob.
8 97 - In Serial7 Chapters
Demon Driven
A variety of people have a variety of reactions to this exact conundrum. Some scream and cry about how hellish it is, some balk with madness, raging to get sent back to their worlds, some spew arrogant trash about how they’re going to be heroes and rule the world or such. Me? I took it with a smile. I’ll show you why. Marvel Self-insert/reincarnation fic
8 105 - In Serial10 Chapters
The Tragedy of the Hanged King
Ameni is the child of a wealthy merchant, with a bright future ahead of him, however when an eldritch monstrosity named 'The Hanged King', which claims to be the 'God of Misfortune and Madness' forces itself into him, he is banished from his family, is exiled from the city-state that he called home, is deported to a work colony in a far-off land. Having lost both his future and his family, he is on the precipice of suicide, however realizes that doing so would only validate those who have wronged him, he decides that he is going to build the best life possible in this strange new world, even if it is only out of spite. This is my first work of fiction, so expect things like grammar errors and inconsistent chapter lengths Set in a 1700s version of a 'Fallen London'-esque America with magic, expect steampunk, and wild west elements with a focus on world building and dark ambiance
8 147

