Wondrous goblin of magic

Chapter 2: A Single Strike, Beyond All Expectations

The stench of blood—or perhaps the sound—drew the attention of the wild boar. With a deafening roar, the massive creature pivoted, charging straight at Alex.

Seeing the boar barreling toward him, Alex didn’t flinch. That slap earlier had been too casual. This time, he wanted to test his strength, to see how far the Dragon Sovereign Technique would take him.

The ground trembled beneath the boar’s thunderous steps, the forest seeming to shake with its approach.

Alex stood his ground, the boar closing in. He wasn’t frozen in fear, despite appearances. No, he was calculating—assessing.

Ten meters. Nine. Eight. … Three. Two. One.

The wild boar, tusks gleaming like twin blades under the moonlight, was upon him.

Alex smirked. "Maybe I shouldn’t go all out. I don’t need to waste a good meal on testing my power."

With a flick of his wrist, Alex’s palm shot forward to meet the beast’s head.

Boom!

The impact was explosive. The boar flew backward with terrifying force, its massive form tearing through trees, rocks, and everything in its path. It smashed through the forest like a ragdoll—leaving destruction in its wake—until it finally came to a crashing halt, its body scattered across the forest floor in chunks.

Alex blinked, looking at his hand in mild disbelief. "I swear, I barely used any force."

He couldn’t deny it—the Dragon Sovereign Technique was more powerful than I thought.

The goblins that had been watching from the sidelines, their faces pale with terror, were paralyzed in shock. Alex turned toward them, his voice cutting through the silence.

“You lot, come here,” he called, gesturing toward the goblins.

Shivering in fear, the goblins slowly inched closer. Despite being bulkier than Alex, they obeyed without question. For goblins, strength was the law. What Alex had just displayed put him on par with their strongest—a goblin chief.

"Collect the meat from that boar," Alex commanded. "We’ll roast it."

After all, he had saved their lives. It was only fair they repay the favor.

His stomach growled loudly—louder this time. The Dragon Sovereign Technique was making him ravenous. The technique allowed him to convert food into energy at an accelerated rate. He was going to need more than just a quick snack.

The goblins, though used to menial tasks, set to work immediately. In no time, they had a fire crackling and boar meat sizzling over the flames.

Impressed by their efficiency, Alex tossed them a small share of the meat. What happened next was… unexpected.

The goblins, who had been working together so smoothly, suddenly descended into a frenzied brawl. Mud and leaves flew as they tore into each other, grabbing scraps from one another’s hands and even snatching pieces straight from each other’s mouths. It was a chaotic scene of savage gluttony.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "How long has it been since they last had meat? They’re more desperate than I was after three thousand years in that damn banner."

He watched with a mix of amusement and slight disgust as the goblins fought over the scraps. Then, as he took a bite of his own portion, a thought crossed his mind: This world was starting to get interesting.

As his hunger subsided, Alex felt a strange weight settle in his stomach. He wasn’t full—but it was a pleasant sensation. This place had its quirks, and he was starting to get the hang of it.

The next step? A proper shelter. Since these goblins seemed to have a settlement, why not visit? Maybe he could find something useful there—perhaps even some answers.

"Show me to your lair," he instructed the goblins.

After a brisk walk, they arrived at a massive cave, its entrance standing over ten meters tall. Alex’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected something this... grand. The opening appeared to be naturally formed, as though the earth had simply swallowed a chunk of the landscape whole.

As they entered, the stench hit him like a freight train—a nauseating mix of filth and decay.

Alex’s nose scrunched. "Is this place a cesspool?" he muttered under his breath. But there was no turning back now. He pressed on, determined to get what he came for. Soon, either his nose grew numb to the smell, or the breeze shifted, carrying the stench away.

The tunnel ahead was long and winding, its walls lined with dried bloodstains—obviously from goblin skirmishes. Finally, the corridor opened into a vast hall, and Alex was greeted with the sight of goblins milling about. Most were shirtless, proudly displaying their round, bloated bellies.

It was... an odd but customary sight, it seemed.

Just as Alex was trying to figure out how best to introduce himself, a loud thud echoed across the hall.

One of his goblin escorts dropped to the floor, flattened by a massive stone hammer wielded by a colossal goblin standing over five meters tall. The beast’s belly jiggled with each swing, reminding Alex eerily of the wild boar he’d just slain.

The hammer rose again, claiming another goblin’s life with ease.

Alex stared, dumbfounded, his mind struggling to process the brutality. These goblins were killing their own. But before he could even think further, the hammer swung toward him, the massive stone crashing toward his head.

Without hesitation, Alex raised his left hand.

Clang! The giant hammer stopped dead in its tracks, coming to a screeching halt in Alex’s grip.

He looked up at the gargantuan goblin brute towering over him, unfazed by the show of strength. Smirking, he said coolly, “I’ll give you ten seconds to convince me not to crush your skull.”