Desolate World

"Anyone could talk with us?" Ace asked.

The goblins talked among them and a male goblin stood in.

"Yes… Thank you for saving us by killing the crabs. My name is Kira," The goblin said.

"Okay, Kira… We honestly don't know that the monsters attacked this place. We came here to tell you that there is a village near a big lake in the West. Many races make the village their home. There are food, places to live and the most important thing is, it is safe. Thus, I invite you all to live there," Ace said.

"Please wait for a minute. I need to discuss it with my family," Kira said.

"Okay. Take your time," Ace said.

Kira then discussed with several goblins near him with low voices. However, Ace could catch them clearly. In short, they didn't believe Ace and Noah. They were afraid of being exploited like before by the vampires.

However, some different voices appeared. They said there was no hope of living in the cave. Although they were safe inside the bars, they couldn't get any food there. And someone said that the crabs would come again. After the vampires left, there were no longer people who could face them.

They were debating among them about it for some time. Noah, who was bored waiting, then said in a soft voice, "I don't think they will agree."

Ace smirked. He then said, "No, they will. They didn't have any choice."

Noah sighed, "I hope so…."

Then Kira came back. He asked, "Do you have proof that the village is safe? We have been living in this forest for hundreds of years. We were forced to live in the cave because many powerful monsters appeared on the surface a few years ago. We also found that a terrifying monster lives not far in the North. 

Every several weeks, it wakes up and makes the monsters around here go crazy.

If you can show us that the village that you told us about is safe. We don't mind serving you as we served the vampires before."

Ace was surprised and Noah seemed so. He had never thought the goblins served the vampires voluntarily.

"Did I hear it wrong? You were willing to become the vampires' food?" Noah asked with a disbelief tone.

Kira sighed. With a bitter expression, he said, "Then what can we do? We are weak. You don't know, before the vampires come, we are already in a desperate situation. The crabs and some stronger creatures inhabited the cave. Every day, dozens of us were killed by the monsters when we searched for food.

Our numbers were initially tens of thousands in this forest. We lived in some villages and lived in harmony with elves in the East and Dwarves in the West. Our villages prospered as they became the transit points for merchant caravans from West and East.

Then, the disaster struck. The plans grew and mutated at a rapid pace, strong monsters appeared one by one, and then the forest was covered with thick mist.

One by one our villages were destroyed. Tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters died. Then, we were forced to leave the surface and lived in this damp and dark cave. 

There were many monsters here, but they were relatively weak. We somehow could survive here, although many of us died in the process. Now, we are just a few hundreds left.

Then the vampires and many skeletons came here. They cleaned the monsters but they didn't kill us. Many skeletons were killed in the process but after making sure no monsters were left, they also left with the carcasses of the monsters.

Only the vampires stayed. They then detained us in these few fortifications that we made before. They also let us plant the mushrooms in the field. As a price, we must serve them, and once in a few days they take some of us."

"I'm sorry to hear that…," Noah said in a low tone.

Ace also took pity on the goblins. He couldn't imagine how they, who were initially tens of thousands, became several hundreds. And how many of them were sacrificed so they could survive?

Then he recalled Ardian's story, about how hundreds of thousands of innocent were sent to the battlefield as cannon fodder. Weren't they more pitiful?

"Don't worry. You can live normally after this. I assure you. We will protect you. By the way, we have healers and even dragons and angels in our village. And our village head is a dragon. A dragon lord," Ace explained.

After that, the goblins agreed to follow them to the village. Ace was surprised they took so many belongings. They took all of the things that they could move. Tools, furniture, mushrooms, and even some ores and strange stones. They also dismantled the wooden doors and even the iron bars. They kept them in their inventory. 

Ace could only say that they were too thrifty. He couldn't find the most suitable words.

After two hours of working hard, although Ace suggested they take a rest for a while, they didn't agree. After they knew there was a better place for them, they wanted to leave the cave immediately.

Ace thought their journey would be slow, but to his surprise they could walk pretty fast. Ace and Noah gladly walked a little faster.

Midway, he got a call from Cloud, <Do you still need a long time there?> 

<No, what the matter, ma'am?> Ace asked back.

<For half an hour, many monsters have been attacking us. Many refugees look tired. Can you come a little faster?> Cloud asked.

Ace was shocked. It seemed the monster attack didn't only happen in the cave. Even on the surface, the monsters became crazy.

'Is it because the monster in the North like the goblins said? Even Geo also said that Red and Blue didn't dare to fly at high altitude, because they felt danger in the North. It seems the situation is worse than I initially thought,' Ace said in his heart.

<We will come in a few minutes. Have you already taken shelter inside the cave? You can defend better by using the narrow entrance,> Ace said.

<We have. But they have never stopped to attack. And their levels vary between 5 to 15. Hurry up!> Cloud said with a little irritation.

<Got it!> Ace answered. 

He then told Noah about the problem. Noah insisted on going immediately. Ace didn't mind. He then asked him to ride Red. He would arrive faster with Red's speed. Ace then looked at Noah and Red flew at high speed. 

The goblins asked Ace what had happened. Ace chose to say honestly. He also said that they could manage that.

***