The elder goblin studied him, his yellow eyes surprisingly clear despite his condition. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he ignored it.
"Child of prophecy..." the elder whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant sounds of battle. "Do you... truly have a way... to help us escape this sudden death?"
Satou met his gaze without flinching. "Yes, I do."
Murmurs rippled through the group. Some goblins exchanged skeptical glances. Others scoffed under their breath.
The elder’s eyes narrowed. "Speak plainly, child. What is your plan?"
Satou took a breath. "There’s a narrow passage at the back of the cave—the crack I tried to escape through days ago. It’s tight, but small enough that the humans won’t be able to follow us. It leads outside, into the forest."
"I can’t tell them the crack was as a result as my fight between me and another Goblin a while ago, its better i keep this details a secret" said Satou in his mind.
"The forest?" one goblin interrupted, his voice rising in panic. "That’s suicide! Humans patrol those woods! We’ll be picked off one by one!"
"Better than staying here and getting roasted alive!" Satou snapped back.
Another goblin, this one missing an ear, shook his head violently. "Even if we make it outside, what then? We’re wounded. Slow. The humans will hunt us down like animals!"
"They’re already hunting us!" Satou shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber. "The difference is, out there, we have a chance. In here? We have nothing."
The elder coughed again, blood splattering onto his chest. His breathing grew more labored, but his eyes never left Satou’s face.
"You speak... of a chance," the elder said slowly. "But I hear... something else in your voice. What aren’t you telling us?"
Satou hesitated. The old goblin was sharper than he looked.
"It will require... heavy sacrifices," Satou admitted, his voice quieter now. "Not everyone will make it. Some of us will have to slow the humans down. Act as decoys. Buy time for the others to escape."
The murmurs grew louder. Angry. Fearful.
"Decoys? You mean bait!"
"He wants us to die for him!"
"I knew it! This runt’s just trying to save his own skin!"
Few goblins complained
The scarred goblin with the chipped tusk stepped forward, his hand gripping a crude axe. "You’ve got some nerve, whelp. Why should we trust you? Why should we throw our lives away for your plan?"
Satou’s yellow eyes burned with intensity. "Because the alternative is guaranteed death. At least my plan gives us a shot—no matter how small."
The elder raised his hand again, silencing the protests.
"Enough..."
He locked eyes with Satou, and for a long moment, neither spoke. The elder seemed to be weighing something—searching for something in Satou’s gaze.
Finally, the elder’s lips curled into a faint, weary smile.
"You have... your mother’s eyes, child," he whispered. "Eyes that refuse... to surrender..."
Satou blinked, confused. My mother? What does he—
The elder turned his head toward the other goblins, his voice growing stronger despite his injuries.
"Listen well!" he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "From this moment... you will all follow... the orders of this young one. His word... is my word."
The goblins stared in shock.
"But Elder—!"
"He’s just a newborn!"
"This is madness!" Few Goblins complained
The elder’s eyes flashed with anger, and he coughed violently before rasping out, "Do you... dare... question me?!"
The goblins fell silent immediately, though their expressions remained dark. Some clenched their fists. Others looked away, jaws tight with barely suppressed rage.
But none dared speak.
The elder’s authority was absolute.
Satisfied, the elder’s gaze returned to Satou. His breathing was growing shallower now, his skin paler.
"Go, child..." he whispered. "Lead them... to survival. Fulfill... the prophecy..."
Satou swallowed hard, his throat tight. He nodded once.
"I will."
The elder’s eyes closed, a faint smile lingering on his lips.
Satou turned to face the bunch of goblins , few were wounded, exhausted, resentful. Most glared at him with barely concealed hostility. A few looked uncertain. None looked hopeful.
Great. Now I’m stuck leading a bunch of goblins who hate my guts.
But there was no time to dwell on it.
BOOM!
Another explosion rocked the cave. Dust rained from the ceiling. The sounds of battle were growing closer.
"Push forward! Clear every chamber!"
"No survivors!"
Satou’s jaw tightened. He raised his voice, projecting every ounce of authority he could muster.
"Alright, listen up! We don’t have time for arguments. If you want to live, you follow my lead. Understood?"
Few nodded affirmative , few just kept quiet but satou took hat as a yes
Then, slowly, grudgingly, a few goblins nodded.
The scarred goblin with the chipped tusk spat on the ground but nodded as well. "Fine. But if this plan of yours gets us killed, whelp, I’ll drag you to hell with me."
Satou smirked despite himself. "Deal."
He turned toward the back of the cave, where Jessica and Kelvin waited.
"Now let’s move."