The Goblin Nation - 91 A New Challenger Approaches

Mari sat next to Sun and Flute with her arms crossed and feet tapping on the dirt floor. Flute was applying ointment made from the extract of the horny toads for seven days. The purple lotion was applied to Sun’s open wound. This method was supposed to mitigate the side effects, but Sun has been unable to move his lower body for days.

Both Mari and Flute wanted to stop before Sun becomes paralyzed, but the wound was closing at a remarkable rate, encouraging Sun to continue with the treatment. And there was also the possible cure to the side effects. After going for a walk with his mother, Smoke told Sun and Mari of the heart pill, which is made of a fruit shaped like a heart. The surprisingly fat goblin had one such fruit hidden under his cupboard. Where he acquired the fruit was a mystery, but what matters is that they insurance in case of the paralysis does not disappear in time for the duel.

But Smoke could not help to feel that telling him this information was wrong. It was like giving a safety net for Sun to be more reckless. That’s not to say Sun was never reckless. He’s always been reckless, letting emotions take over him, such as the time he took the challenge of hunting the timberwolves despite waking up from a coma not long ago.

Now its been five days, and the paralyzing side effect was taking a toll on Sun’s body. “Can you feel anything?” Mari asked, “Can you feel any pain? Can you feel my hand?” Mari reached out and grabbed her son’s hand.

“No, I can’t feel anything. My body feels numb, and I can barely move.” Sun answered. “And sometimes it aches, but a troll’s backhand is far more painful than this.”

“Flute, are you sure this treatment will not harm Sun.”

“Yes, it won’t.” Flute answered with a shaking voice.

“Then why is he experiencing the side effects. Did you put too much, maybe?”

“No, I put as little as possible.”

“Then why is it still,”

“Mom, calm down,” Sun said. Both of the ladies were sweating and nervous. Mari and Flute’s hair were a mess, and their hands were shaking. “Why are you guys so nervous for?”

“Because this wasn’t supposed to happen. The ointment shouldn’t be this strong, and the way we apply it on you shouldn’t be giving you the side effect.” Flute said. “The horny toads we have must have eaten something. And maybe that pill Smoke mentioned might not work with how strong,”

“It will work,” Sun interrupted, “I trust him.”

“Do you really?” Smoke entered the tent with Stick. “Then, if you really trust me, why can’t you just me fight for you?”

“Oh come on, don’t start this now,” Stick said. Smoke and Sun have been arguing for the past three days. Smoke wanted Sun to rest and let his brothers substitute for him, but Sun insisted that it was his responsibility to fight as the tribe’s Chief.

“Stick is right. We shouldn’t be arguing today,” Sun said. “Today is the fight, and we have to prepare.”

“The guards are already making the pills.” Smoke said with a stern voice. “But it still bothers me that you’re putting yourself in so much pain, and you could have easily had us fight on your behalf.”

“Its because I have to carry this burden.” Sun yelled back, “Do you not know how heavy this responsibility is for me? I’m doing this for everyone as their Chief. Because if Cala couldn’t do it, then I will. As a better a Chief.”

“Fine, as their Chief.” Smoke turned around, but before he leaves, he turned his head and said, “But a better Chief would lead the tribe, not carry it.”

Stick ran after Smoke and wanted to say something to him, but couldn’t. He doesn’t know how to comfort his brothers because this is the first time they ever argued. Usually, Smoke would agree with Sun’s decision, no matter how absurd and risky those were, but now he was openly challenging Sun.

“I know what you’re thinking, Stick.”

“Huh,” Stick looked up.

“Yes, I do want to fight, and that’s because I’m worried about Sun’s safety.”

The two walked outside the camp’s wall, where the goblin guards were busy making the pills. The ingredients were crushed in a mortar bowl then rolled into two round balls before being coated with sticky maple syrup.

The guard handed Smoke the pills, “Pills eat pair. Eat one, not heal body, only heal half body. So eat two, yeah?”

“Got it,”

Smoke and Stick walked back, but Smoke stopped immediately in front of the camp’s front gate. Smoke opened his hand and stared at the pair of yellow pills and took one of them, tucking it in his pocket. Then he walked towards Stick and gave him one of the pills. “What are you doing?” Stick asked.

“Give this to Sun, tell him if he wants the other one, come to the duel while leading the tribe.”

“The tribe?”

“The whole tribe. After all, I need an audience when I fight that long nose Chief.”

“What?”

Before Stick could react, Smoke turned around and ran towards the Lev tribe. Stick tried to run after him, but he almost dropped the pill Smoke gave him. He managed to catch before it hit the floor, but when he looked back up, Smoke was gone.

Stick ran back with the pill, telling everyone to come with him. He entered the tent with the tribe waiting outside. He told Sun what just happened, angered Sun. He took the pill, and after a few minutes, he regained some semblance of control of his body. Mari and Flute clasped their hands together laughed off their stress that built up after days of treating Sun.

Using his sword as a cane, he limped out of the tent. Meeting him outside was his tribe waiting for him; nearly everyone stands before him. His legions were carrying a large wooden plank with handles on its side. “Are you serious?” Sun yelled.

“He told me to get everyone,” Stick said.

Sun refused to get on even if it means catching up to Smoke faster. He walked his way through the tribe and continued walking past the wall with the tribe following him close behind. Shuja rushed to his side, along with Stick and Rock. Mari and Flute watched over Sun as they walk behind him. May and the other caretakers watched far in the distance standing outside the human mothers’ tent. Natasha poked her head through the blinds and saw the goblins moving out. “Should we follow them?” She asked the caretakers.

“Oh yes,” May said.

“Where are they going anyway?” Cyrus stuck her head as well, “Is Sun going to fight now. I hope he’s ready. We don’t know what could happen?”

“Oh no, Sun no fight,”

“What?” The mothers said in unison.

“Yes, Sun, no fight,” May repeated, “Sir Smoke fight.”

“What?” Cyrus yelled in shock.

While the tribe marches towards the dueling ground, Razin’s Cheif, Cossack, waited on the ring. And he grew impatient. He started playing with his gloves that were hiding his hands, but the more he played with them, the more anxious he grew. He played with his ponty tail but too made him anxious.

To ease his nerves, Cossack turned to tell his audience the time and started telling them the time he killed a troll by himself. Everyone knew he was lying, with one of them calling them him out for it. But before he could refute, Smoke came out from the forest and entered the ring. “So you killed a troll, did you?” He yelled at Cossack.

Cossack turned around, and instead of the tall Lev Chief, it was a red conqueror that entered the ring. “Who the hell are you?” Cossack asked.

“You’re opponent.”

Please go to to read the latest chapters for free