Maui and Naruz couldn't shut up about it, their voices echoing through the air like a triumphant drumbeat that refused to fade. The space was alive with the aftermath of the spar—two orcs praising Byung and his superior strength, the air thick with the scent of crushed grass and sweat carried in from the open field outside. Maui paced back and forth, her green eyes shining with a mix of pride and disbelief. Naruz leaned against a support beam, her massive arms crossed over her chest, a wide grin splitting her tusked face as she retold the story for the third time to a cluster of wide-eyed goblins who had gathered around them along the road.

Byung rolled his eyes, the goblins needed something to believe in and he had proven himself to be more than capable so all of this was unnecessary.

He couldn't believe he was this strong, a lot of things were about to change as it stood because he had no plans to wait until they were attacked again. He needed to subdue the orcs as soon as possible.

This would not only increase his influence but strengthen them, they could have more offspring as well that contained a mix of goblin and orc blood, a new species because this time, the goblins could assimilate the DNA of the mother.

"Can you believe it?" Maui boomed, her voice rumbling like thunder rolling through the tunnels.

"The goblin king—our Byung—beats two full-grown orcs with his bare hands! I swung my swords like a whirlwind, and he caught them! Caught them like they were twigs! And Naruz here, with her axe that could fell a tree—he stopped it cold, yanked me off-balance like I was a pup!" Maui kept on praising him but Byung was beginning to feel embarrassed now, it was clear from his flustered cheeks.

Naruz laughed, a deep, belly-shaking sound that made the nearby crates vibrate.

"And that kick! Sent me flying like a rag doll. I've fought warlords, giants, but this goblin? He overpowered us both. Alone. With sheer strength. Not tricks, not inventions—just raw power. The goblin king himself couldn't have done better!" Naruz hyped him up.

The goblins around them murmured in agreement, their green faces lit with wonder. It happened but the way they told it, one would think it was propaganda but thankfully, these goblins believed anything they were told about him at this point in time.

"He's king! Do anything!" one shouted.

"No legend has a goblin beating orcs like that!" One of the supervisor muttered under his breath, turning into chants that bounced off the stone walls, the energy electric, like a spark igniting dry tinder. Maui and Naruz fed off it, their voices overlapping in excitement, recounting every dodge, every punch, every moment where Byung had turned their attacks against them.

"He adapted so fast," Maui said, gesturing wildly.

"One minute he's testing, the next he's predicting every move. Like he was born for it!" Maui continued.

Byung wondered why she kept doing this but he hated to admit it, it did give him a big head as this was something the system he had made possible.

Byung stood a few paces away, rubbing his temples, wishing they'd just shut up. The spar had been exhilarating, but the constant replay was wearing him down because he knew it wouldn't be enough to handle the Chieftess.

It showed he had evolved beyond measure—his new body, toned and powerful, handled the system's strength like it was made for it. No more running out of breath or his body breaking down after a few bursts; he could exert full power now, punches landing with force that cracked the air. But there was a downside: against the Chieftess, he couldn't rely on brute force. She was a legend, her speed and skill unmatched. The plan was to survive—dodge, endure, wear her down. The original strategy hadn't changed: outlast, not overpower.

He doubted he could even if he wanted to, the stories he has heard about her and how Kraghul ran like a scared dog with his tail between his legs. Not just any orc could accomplish this, they had to be scared of the orc for this to be possible because she didn't even lift a finger.

"Enough," Byung said finally, his voice cutting through the noise like a knife. The area fell silent because he had serious matters to attend to.

"I appreciate it, but we've got work. Maui, Naruz—give me some private time. I need some time to think," Byung knew he needed to calm his mind because his heart was thumping.

The two orcs exchanged glances, their excitement dimming to concern, but they nodded.

"As you wish, king," Maui said with a wink, though her green eyes lingered on him a moment longer. They left, the crowd dispersing with them, leaving Byung alone in the fading echoes.

Byung realized there was no going back, he had reached a stage where a sense of responsibility had been instilled in him.

Before, he could afford to slack off because he knew there was an authority above him but that luxury no longer existed.

He was responsible for all these lives and had to live to make sure they did too.

Byung knew they would be erased from existence should he fall.

This mine still stood because of the Chieftess presence but if he falls, she would leave allowing the orcs to return to finish what they started.

He wandered deeper into the mine, the cool air brushing his skin, the distant drip of water a soothing rhythm. The stares didn't follow him here—goblins were not allowed to wander in these parts and rarely came here to begin so Byung could finally be himself, his human-like features was something he was still adjusting to.

He was headed to the restricted lower levels where the punishment cage waited to meet the goblin who had seen the other side of the world.

Vrognut was still there, slumped in the iron bars Byung had forged himself. The cannibal goblin looked up as Byung approached, his tired-looking eyes gleaming with amusement despite the crusted blood and festering wounds.

"The king returns," Vrognut rasped in a mocking voice.

Byung didn't respond. He had come for clarity, but seeing Vrognut in this state made not only made him realize the wounds had festered faster than he would have thought, he could smell it all the way from his position even without the perks of his enhanced smell. He wouldn't last much longer at this rate but if he could live long enough to hand him over to the humans for the bounty—collect gold, show Rodell he could keep goblins in check, prove allegiance while building his own power. It would show control, but also paint a target on his back. Byung knew Rodell would see him as a threat but he had to have his army behind him to deter him from acting out on his impulse.

Byung sighed upon realizing he had to heal him, at least extend his life for the next couple of days.

"You look... different. Stronger. Like me, but prettier." Vrognut didn't plead but Byung didn't pay him any mind.

He instead walked towards the cage and undid it, Vrognut was surprised for a second but Byung just defeated two orcs in a contest of strength. This was the least threatening creature to him right now.

Byung wanted to check his wound and hoped he would be able to stop the infection from spreading but was also curious if his blood could heal him.

It had made birth possible and this meant it affected those that consumed it on a cellular level, Vrognut would be quite the experiment to see the limits his blood could reach.

Byung met his gaze and Vrognut had on a creepy smile etched on his lips.

"The war's not over. You'll show them we're civilized—by facing judgment," Byung blurted out.

Vrognut grinned, blood flecking his teeth. "They'll come for you too, king. You're a threat now."

Byung ignore this as he reached into the cage to drag him out by the foot, he weighed almost nothing but this could also be due to Byung's newfound powers.

He inspected Vrognut's wounds and realized the infection didn't spread as far as it should but this was due to Vrognut's unnatural high tolerance to bacteria.

Vrognut noticed his hand was open and thought about biting Byung, if he could paralyze him and consume his flesh.

He should gain enough strength to escape this hell hole because what the humans would do to him was worse than death itself.

"Go ahead," Byung said and Vrognut recoiled in shock.

"Can he read my mind?" Vrognut questioned but soon realized he was salivating and foaming at the mouth. He wasn't exactly doing a good job hiding it.

This was an offer he wasn't going to turn down, Vrognut opened his mouth and bit into Byung's arm.

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