"Midas Kyrios Stars. That is my name." Midas said, pausing, "Tell me your name... and also why all of you goblins are here."
’Surely, Gool could not have known about this place. I refuse to believe that he led me straight to my doom.’ Midas thought.
But then again, this was the first goblin group he had seen. It could have very well been Gool’s base.
’I trusted him completely blind... he never attacked me even once, so I thought there was no reason to not trust him. But... if his goal was to lead me here, it makes sense that he wouldn’t attack me...’
Midas was far too conflicted on Gool’s identity.
"Oh? Demanding answers already, ey? I think you have mistaken your role here, boy." The goblin said, "Midas... you will now be our slave!" He grinned.
Midas felt his heart drop to the pit of his stomach.
Death was one thing... but a defeat as shameful as becoming a slave? It was laughably disgusting.
"I’d rather die," Midas said with a viper-like gaze, striking instant fear into the heart of the tall goblin.
"Humph!" The crowned goblin harrumped, "Shut your trap! You will do what I say!" He turned, "I am King Yemo of the goblin town of Oga. Since you are not from this world, you won’t have heard of it. But long ago, it was the greatest goblin city in all of Demadur Island. We even helped in the great war between orcs and serpents." He seemed proud of this fact.
"Through generations, my forefathers failed to lead our kin effectively. Now, bastards rule large towns while I, the rightful heir to the greatest town, am reduced to a mere vagabond..." He paused for a long time.
In between this silence, many goblins made their thoughts heard.
"Don’t say that about yourself, King Yemo!" A goblin cried from the stands.
"You are our king!"
"You are our savior!"
"You will be the greatest king once again!"
"We are no longer vagabonds because of you!"
Midas was surprised to hear all of this commotion around him.
’Looks like these goblins have a great connection to this Yemo guy...’ He thought.
"That’s right... I--no, we were all vagabonds with no home. Wandering this island in search of a place to settle. Now, however, I have destroyed that name that we once had! Our new home has already been established outside of the Ashen Hollow." He smiled, "One day, I will rebuild the Oga town. For now, only about 50 goblins are within my ranks."
"Why here? Why at the Ashen Hollow?" Midas asked.
"Why? Because of the history of this place. Don’t you know? That place... the monks within. Their job was to protect a great technique sealed within. One that no one knows about... one that made them sacrifice their own lives." Yemo said.
Midas smirked inwardly, ’No one knows about it, ey? I have a clue...’
"Despite having no knowledge... I know that settling here is a great idea." Yemo’s words began to lift the morale of the crowd, "I once ventured into the Ashen Hollow when I first arrived here. With only a small group of goblins, we attempted to retrieve the technique that lies within. However... we quickly discovered that what lies within that monastery is beyond beasts and powers. A cursed spell lies within that place... one that eats away at the mind of a mortal."
Midas narrowed his eyes with intrigue as he listened to this valuable information.
"Even though we failed to retrieve that technique of power, we are not fools. The monks protected it with their lives for a reason. That power, we know from our experience, is the path to enlightenment! To immortality! That power is not just a technique... but God itself!" With this final cry, a roar erupted from the crowd of goblins.
"All hail the technique of life!" All of the goblins yelled in unison, "All hail the power of death!"
It was clear that they were all talking about the Nine-Breath Circulation breathing technique within the Ashen Hollow.
Yemo delightfully partook in the chanting, raising both arms in the air. After a moment, he lowered his arms.
Another hush fell over the coliseum.
"Now..." He turned to Midas, "What brings you here, human?"
"I... want to take the technique that exists inside that monastery," Midas said, his goal in the most straightforward manner.
Gasps echoed around the arena.
"Is he serious!?"
"He’s lost it."
"Pfft! Hahah!"
"What a fool."
"Yeah, right!"
Hearing these replies, Midas grinned inwardly, ’Perfect! They think I’m a fool! Saying that I want what they treasure most would be a direct decree of war in most cases... but right now, it will be my way to succeed! These stupid goblins are so sure I can’t survive that place that they might even let me go for free!’
"Is that right..." Yemo said in a low tone, "Hmm..."
Midas was at the edge of his seat in anticipation. ’Just say yes, you bufoon!’
"Nah..." Yemo said, "It’s useless to send you there. I know both the glories and the horrors of that place. It will teach you that it is God, and it will also teach you that it is overwhelming enough to decay your mind. It’s not of use to send you there..."
Midas was devastated, ’Fuck...’
"Instead, you will be our entertainment for the night! Of course, we won’t let a player die. However, a few limbs being torn off isn’t going to hurt anyone! We only need your abilities to succeed, after all!" Yemo laughed as the crowd followed.
"W-what if I need my limbs to use my abilities!?" Midas shouted, trying anything at this desperation point.
"Argh..." Yemo grunted, annoyed, "Fine then... damage which you can heal from is fine, I suppose."
"Aww!"
"Damn it!"
"We wanted bloodshed!"
The crowd seemed to be displeased.
"Don’t worry, my people!" Yemo declared, "There will be bloodshed... and plenty of it! Mmhaha!" He said while turning and walking out of the arena.
"W-what will you have me do?" Midas asked.
All of the goblins in the area except Yemo made their way out quickly--as if something bad was coming.
Yemo turned to face Midas. He didn’t say anything, smiling.
Then, the crowd slowly began to cheer...
"Skullsmasher!"
"Skullsmasher!!"
The cheers became louder, turning into full-on chants.
"Headsmasher! Skullsmasher!"
"Headsmasher! Skullsmasher!"
"Headsmasher! Skullsmasher!"
Yemo grinned, "Bring out the Skullsmasher!" He ordered before speaking to Midas, "You will face our strongest creature. Not a single man or beast has faced it and won." He smiled.
Midas immediately replied, "What if I am the first one?"
"W-what?" Yemo raised an eyebrow in confusion, "First one? Don’t be so preposterous. Not even I could fell such a beast. It’s simply impossible."
"Then let’s bet on it," Midas smirked inwardly.
"Hmm? You want to propose a deal?"
"Exactly..."
"I’ll hear you out. After all... the odds are quite heavily stacked in my favor... hahah!" Yemo laughed his ass off.
"If I defeat the beast... the Skullsmasher... you will let me into that monastery. Nothing more, nothing less." Midas said.