Author's Notes:

Hey guys, I was feeling a little inspired today so I wrote another chapter. This begins the arc of the goblins. Please let me know what you think about the chapters.

As always please rate/review/follow my story.

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Chapter 44: Goblins

Hiro and his group entered the cave. The cave was dark but it had been dimly lit with torches. Hiro could smell the scent of blood in the air. He used his sense energy to ascertain the situation. He noticed that there were only about 3 dozen energy signatures in the cave other than their own. The energies he felt were not very powerful at all but he wanted to get a closer look to ascertain the situation.

The group continued to walk deeper into the cave until finally they reached what appeared to be living quarters. Upon seeing the invaders the goblins quickly took up their meager weapons. Some had clubs, others had some pathetic looking swords or spears.

“Stay back and wait for me outside of the cave” Hiro told the group.

He continued to walk forward and the goblins readied themselves to strike. Hiro was unphased by their bloodlust and continued walk closer. The goblin group was spread out except for about 10 that huddled tightly around something that Hiro could not quite see. He could feel several tiny energies in the circle but he didn’t know what it could be.

Hiro got closer and began to speak in the goblin language, “I mean you no harm. I have come in peace.”

“What you mean you come in peace, human!” said one of the goblins who carried a club that was larger than some of the others.

“Are you their leader?”

“Yes and I will kill you if come closer.”

“You will not have to attack as I have come to extend friendship to you and your people.”

“What do you mean friendship? Humans kill my people and my people kill humans.”

“It doesn’t have to be that way. I want you and your people to live in peace. If you agree to peace I will make sure no harm comes to your people. All I ask is that you help us in battle when the time comes.”

“My people are not strong in battle we can barely defeat the weak monsters in this forest to eat.”

“I was weak at one point too but I trained to protect myself and those I love and now I am strong. If you join me, I will train you so that you may one day become strong.”

“You train us! No way I listen to a pitiful human. You are not strong enough to do anything with us!” yelled one of the goblins holding a spear.

“Shall I prove my strength?”

“Yes you will have to prove it”, said the spearman.

“If you wish but here are my terms. I will fight any amount of your warriors that you wish, if they win we will leave you alone and never return. If I win, your group leaves this cave and returns with me to the human town to train and become part of my army.”

"I agree to your terms human!", said the leader.

The leader made a gesture and 10 of the goblins stepped forward. Hiro took a southpaw fighting stance and began bouncing on his toes. He motioned for the goblins to come at him and they did. They immediately launched themselves at him to attack all at once. Hiro moved like lightning. By the time they hit the ground he had moved out of their path and gotten behind them. He quickly struck 3 of the goblins in vital place causing them immediate critical damage. He could have killed them but he was only trying to make a point. They laid on the ground twitching or unconscious.

Hiro then moved quickly in towards the group as the other 7 realized where he was. He countered each swing with quick accurate strikes. Each blow incapacitated the enemy that he struck. Quickly he whittled the numbers down until only the leader and the spearman were left.

“Had enough yet?” Hiro said with a smirk on his face.

"No, I will not kneel down in front a human."

"First, I don't want you to kneel because I will not treat you like a slave. I only want you to yield and acknowledge my stength. Second, I like that you are proud but don't be stupid. Even if you are stronger than all of the rest of your men combined, you are not my match. Now submit before I force you."

The goblin clenched his teeth then lowered his club and said“Yes… I recognize your strength. My people and I will follow you.”

“I only have one question, what are they all huddled around back there?”

“Three of our females gave birth yesterday so we were all protecting the newest addition to our clan.”

“Oh what is the name of your clan?”

“Our clan’s name is given to us by the clan head. My name is Blackrock so while I was chief we were called the Blackrock Clan. Now that you are the chief you should give us a name.”

“I am just a friend and my name is Hiro. I did not come to take over as the clan chief. You are still the clan’s chief. I think you should keep your clan’s name.”

“Thank you.”

Blackrock turned and told the news to his clan. Many had faces full of distrust. Hiro went to Leo and Leara.

“Can you go hunt in the forest and bring back some meat. They all look like they are starving.”

“You can count on us.”

Hiro went back to black rock and they began to talk again.

“I think only a few of your people should come first. It will take some time before they trust humans and before the rest of the humans trust them. The ones that come will train with my army in the town so that they may increase their skills.

Pick 3 of your best warriors.”

“Hiro, if I go and take 3 of my best then who will bring food to the rest of my people?”

“I have taken care of that. My two companions who you have not seen yet will be bringing your people enough food for awhile.”

“I can’t thank you enough.”

Black rock called 3 of the warriors over. They all looked basically the same except for some small distinguishing characterstics like Blackrock had 2 horns protruding from either side of his temple. A female who was called Shera carried a sword and had a single horn and blue eyes. Another one of the males that carried a club like Blackrock was named Argus. Argus had green eyes to match his green skin but he did not have a horn. Finally, the last of the group was named Ash. His green skin had some strange grey marking going down his arms and legs. Ash was the spearman who thought Hiro was a weakling.

“Nice to meet all of you.”

“Nice to meet you, Hiro”, replied the group in unison.

Hiro inspected the group and found that they all ranged between level 4 and 8 with Blackrock being the highest and Shera being the lowest.

Just then Leo and Leara entered the area. Both were carrying large forest panthers in their jaws. They both dropped them on the ground. The goblins readied their weapons to attack the big cats.

“Tell them to put down their weapons, Hiro” said Leara angrily, “or I will rip them apart.

“Wait,wait, wait. Hold on guys lower your weapons. They are my friends and they bought this food for your people to eat.”

“You mean the meat from these animals is for us?”asked Blackrock

“Yes”, replied Ash with a smile.

The group lowered their weapons and began dancing about. Hiro quickly skinned the animals and allowed the goblins to begin to eat the meat. Hiro then went about quickly making some clothes for the goblins from the panther leather.

He had just enough as their small bodies required very little material. Hiro made 4 sets of panther leather and then presented it to each of his new soldiers. They all shrieked with excitement. They had never been on the receiving end of such generosity before. They quickly equipped the armor and now they looked more like soldiers than overgrown green babies with weapons.

“Alright we need to get moving so that we can make it back to the town.” Said Hiro.

Blackrock and his group of soldiers said their goodbyes and then went to meet the rest of Hiro’s party outside of the cave. Hiro introduced the goblins to the rest of his party. The goblins’ eyes widened as they saw the beautiful ladies.

“Blackrock, tell your friends not to get any ideas as these ladies are 10 times stronger than you guys at least. If you anger them who knows what they might do”, said Hiro with a smirk and then turned to his group. “I want to train the goblins on the way back to town so do you guys mind going home with out me?”

“Yeah we can do that”, Foria said with a smile.

“Can you also prepare the villagers for the arrival of our new comrades by letting them know that these guys are

coming in peace as friends and having them build a small place for these guys to live on the edge of the village?”

“You are asking a lot but I will do my best to get it done, What is my reward for doing this difficult job?”, replied Foria

“Hmmm....I will have something special for you when I get back”, said Hiro with a pervy grin

“I like the sound of that!” Foria said as her cheeks began to turn red

They all embraced Hiro and the two groups parted ways.

The goblins hung their heads but they complied with Hiro's terms of not bothering the ladies. The group went through the forest as they ran into various monsters including night vipers and forest panthers. Hiro let the goblins fight against the monsters. As they were injured or getting beaten badly, Hiro would either heal them or he would defend them until they got themselves a better plan of action.

These guys aren’t very bright. It’s like they think they can overpower every enemy with sheer numbers or brute strength. I’m gonna gave to teach them some tactics or they are going to die. I guess taking all of these hits will improve their endurance and resistance but this is not efficient at all.

“Blackrock, call your people over I want to talk to them”, said Hiro.

Blackrock rounded up his people and then they fell in a single file line.

“You guys have to learn to fight together", said Hiro

"What do you mean?" asked Blackrock.

"Well you guys are not stronger than the monsters here one on one so you have to work as a party. Everyone has to do a job in the party. For example, their should be someone to occupy the enemies attention. This will allow the others to attack the opponent from an advantageous position. That person is called the tank.”

“I think that should be me!” said Blackrock.

“I agree you are the strongest at this point. Just be careful you will have to take on the enemy directly at the most dangerous place. Next, some of you should move to the sides and the rear of the enemy and do as much damage as possible. These people are the damage dealers. That is everyone else right now. Behind the tank should be a support person preferably a healer if you have one to make sure the party stays healthy.”

“We get it!” said the goblins.

“We don’t have a healer though”, said Ash.

“I will perform that role for now”, said Hiro with a big smile. “Alright now, let’s get back to your training.”

The goblins cheered and they resumed their hunting. The next monster that came their way was a black wolf. The goblins formed a triangular formation with Ash and and Argus were on either side of Blackrock while Sheera kept to the shadows and managed to find her way behind the wolf. As soon as she was behind it Blackrock charged in the fierce battle began. The wolf jumped at Blackrock but he managed to back step just enough to avoid being crushed by the wolf. As soon as the wolf landed he was surrounded by the 4 small attackers. The plan was going just as Hiro had said it. Blackrock was occupying the wolf’s attacks while the other 3 goblins pummeled the wolf from the sides and rear until it eventually fell. Once the wolf fell the goblins fell down from exhaustion. Hiro inspected the goblins and noticed

that they had grown nearly 30 levels in one day.

What is up with this insane growth rate? They must need very little experience or these monsters don’t have levels like I do. Anyway this is good.

“Do you guys know what level you need in order to rank up?”

“Rank up?” asked Sheera

“Yes, we need to be level 100” replied Argus.

“That’s not too bad, you guys are already in your 30’s now. I can tell because I have a skill that let’s me see your information like levels and health.”

“That sounds great, I think this was really good. We are definitely much stronger than we were before we met you” said Ash

“Don’t thank me yet.”

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Author's notes:

This ends the first chapter in the goblin arc. Please feel free to include any other races you think Hiro should meet and try to befriend. As of right now I have planned out goblins and dwarves.

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