"Lord, you have returned," the old goblin exclaimed, pivoting and rushing forward.
'He's safe…' Goblin Baby mused, his body relaxing as a weight lifted off his chest. 'The adventurers?' he wondered.
His eyes narrowed as he spotted the Goblin Lord clutching his armless shoulder while walking forward.
"Lord… your arm?" the old goblin stammered.
"It's fine," the Goblin Lord said, glaring at the old goblin.
Elder Goblin paused under that stern glance.
The Goblin Lord took the Goblin Baby from him with his remaining hand.
His stern face broke into a smile as he glanced at the baby.
'He doesn't stink like others,' Goblin Baby thought, complex emotions flashing in his eyes. 'And he likes me a lot.'
He was impressed by Goblin Lord's efforts, but he couldn't bring himself to return that affection as a son.
"He lost his arm…" Gabu muttered, his lips curving up a little.
He mused with narrowed eyes, 'My time has come… avenge my son and take the position of lord.'
"Goblin Lord, you discarded all the weak goblins—then why were that piece of flesh and those puddles spared?" he yelled, pointing at the Goblin Baby and other goblins who were holding their own babies.
'What now?' The Goblin Baby frowned. He wanted to find out about the adventurers, but someone couldn't control himself.
Goblins holding their babies spoke up, stepping back and hiding the kids behind them. "They are newborn. They cannot fight."
"But they are tiny pieces of flesh—worthless," Gabu barked, clenching his fist.
"Yes, Goblin Lord, you have to answer us," all the goblins who lost their kids roared from behind, supporting Gabu.
"Is that so?" the Goblin Lord muttered plainly.
He cast, "Demonic Reforge."
Dark energy erupted from his severed arm as new green flesh regenerated violently under its power.
In a flash, a new arm formed—good as new.
'Good spell…' Goblin Baby mused, planning to acquire it.
"Demonic Surge."
Goblin Lord's body flared with demonic force, creating wind gusts.
Boom!
All the goblins broke into a cold sweat. The ones supporting Gabu silently backed away, shaking their heads and muttering bitterly.
"Gabu forced us."
"We are just helping him out."
"Those punks should've gotten strong."
"Yeah… useless brats."
"Idiots," Gabu muttered, glaring at the trembling goblins.
They turned their heads away, not daring to glance back at him.
'Is he still that powerful? I thought he would be weakened or severely injured,' he roared internally, keeping a calm front. 'Those worthless human toys could only take his arm away.'
"You want to fight?" Goblin Lord narrowed his eyes, holding the baby.
'Incredible… he's at his peak,' Goblin Baby thought, frowning. 'Even though my senses have weakened, I can still read power through energy.'
Despite being in the Goblin Lord's arms, the demonic force didn't harm him due to refined control.
'They shouldn't be this weak…' His mind clicked in understanding. 'They must've retreated.'
"No, my lord… no, no," Gabu shook his head, trembling.
'I'll make sure my next child crushes your child… and I'll kill him with my own hands in front of you,' he thought, glaring at the goblin baby.
The goblin elder sighed. "Leave this punk Gabu aside. What happened, Lord?"
"I killed another adventurer," the Goblin Lord replied plainly. "Seeing the death of another fellow member, they retreated with tails behind their butts."
"As expected of you, Lord," the Goblin Elder nodded with a wide grin.
"Let's shift our place," the Lord said, patting the Goblin Baby—who fell asleep, taking small breaths.
After hearing the adventurers had escaped, he finally relaxed, letting sleep take over.
"Everyone, pack up. Let's move!" the Goblin Elder yelled.
The Goblin Lord glanced at Gabu with a frown.
"It's your fault that you didn't train your son well…" he said sharply.
"If you were weak, I wouldn't have hesitated to sacrifice you for the well-being of those babies," he pointed at the newborn goblins.
He narrowed his eyes, continuing, "One day, if things fall apart, I wouldn't hesitate to throw my life for the future kids."
He patted Gabu's shoulder with his newly regenerated arm.
"You are strong—that's why you weren't thrown into battle," he said with a piercing glare.
Gabu clenched his fist, veins popping around his forehead.
Noticing the temper, the Goblin Lord plainly asked, "If you were such a loving father, why didn't you join the fight yourself?"
With a grin, the Goblin Lord patted Gabu's shoulder once again and left.
Gabu stood frozen in place, his hand shaking.
'I was afraid of death,' he admitted bitterly.
He poured out his emotions on the Goblin Lord because he knew the Goblin Lord was capable of handling the adventurers.
A few hours later, Goblin Baby opened his eyes, his body stretching involuntarily.
"Where are we?" he muttered.
He noticed goblins marching forward, weapons strapped to their waists and backs. A few carried leaf baggage on their shoulders.
'It's food,' he mused, smelling it.
He was bored as time ticked by.
Due to energy boosts and everyone being at least Tier 2, they covered a large distance.
They quickly reached a green hill.
"This is the place, my lord," the Goblin Elder said, pointing toward a few caves beneath the hill.
The Goblin Lord glanced at everyone and roared, "Get to work. Dig the tunnel and a few more caves."
Bang!
He flashed near the hill and punched a hole through the rock with his aura-enhanced fist.
Soon, a few days slipped by as every goblin stayed busy with work.
"Here, here," the Goblin Lord played with the Goblin Baby using his firm, veiny index finger.
'Stop it… Stop it, goblin freak,' Goblin Baby mused with a scowl as he was poked in the face.
His hands raised a little, but he couldn't even touch the index finger.
"It's lunch time," the Goblin Lord muttered, glancing at the golden sun reaching its peak.
He took out a small lump of red meat from the leaves packed nearby and carefully placed it near the Goblin Baby's mouth.
'I'm hungry,' Goblin Baby thought as his stomach sounded.
Grr! Grr!
"Hmm…" He ate it with relish, his eyes watering.
"What's wrong?" Goblin Lord asked softly, wiping away the tears.