Chapter 44: Leader Of One, Leader Of All
Standing before several unfamiliar faces, Ka’z found himself genuinely stunned. He had expected perhaps five or six volunteers at most, but the tragedy of the previous night had ignited something throughout the colony.
More than fifteen kobolds stood before him, ranging from four to ten years old. They were workers, gatherers, farmers, builders, craftsmen and apprentices. Some had spent their entire lives hauling stone, repairing tunnels or tending underground farms. Others specialized in setting traps or collecting herbs.
Lan’ka stood before the gathering with both hands resting proudly on his waist. The grin on his face never faded as he admired the volunteers.
"Alright, kid... they all came because they heard they’d have the chance to serve under the Child of Prophecy. Go through them and choose whoever you want."
Ka’z slowly walked to Lan’ka’s side before quietly surveying the crowd. His eyes paused for a moment whenever they landed on one of the female kobolds. Despite living in Athedal for over two years, his mindset from Earth still lingered. He simply disliked the thought of women fighting on the front lines. It wasn’t because he believed they were weak. He simply didn’t want to watch women die before his eyes.
He let out a quiet sigh before turning toward Lan’ka.
"Can I do this alone?"
Lan’ka blinked in confusion.
He had actually wanted to remain behind and observe how Ka’z intended to select his warriors. Watching another leader’s thought process was valuable experience in itself.
Still, seeing the serious expression on Ka’z’s face, he eventually nodded.
"Very well."
Without another word, Lan’ka turned and disappeared back into the cave entrance, leaving Ka’z alone before the volunteers.
Only after the hunter had completely disappeared did Ka’z step forward. He suddenly realized something awkward.
Every single person standing before him was older than he was. Ordering them around already felt strangely uncomfortable.
"I want everyone to introduce yourselves and tell me why you want to become part of my team."
He looked across the line.
"So...who wants to go first?"
The volunteers glanced at one another, then a female kobold confidently stepped out from the line.
Ka’z’s expression froze.
She was around four years old and possessed an unusually mature figure by kobold standards. Her black scales were smooth and healthy, her amber eyes carried a naturally alluring look, and every step caused the curves of her body to sway ever so slightly. More importantly, she stared directly at Ka’z as though nobody else existed.
For several awkward seconds, the entire gathering simply looked at her. Even Ka’z couldn’t deny she was probably the most attractive kobold he had seen since arriving in this world.
"My name is Mi’ya."
She bowed politely.
"I’m four years old. I trained under La’to as a scout. Honestly... I want to join because I want to become part of your story."
Ka’z felt heat rush into his face and his ears twitched nervously. He wasn’t prepared for that answer.
"O... okay..."
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Mi’ya’s smile widened before she quietly stepped aside, her tail gently swaying behind her. Before Ka’z had fully recovered from that embarrassing introduction, another kobold stepped forward.
This time Ka’z had to physically tilt his head upward.
The newcomer towered over nearly everyone present. He was almost five feet tall despite only being nine years old. His shoulders were nearly twice as broad as the others, while his arms looked more suited for carrying boulders than throwing spears.
Ka’z recognized him immediately.
"Bigi?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"You seriously want to fight too?"
Everyone knew Bigi.
He was practically a celebrity within the colony. Whenever tunnels collapsed, people called Bigi. Whenever massive logs needed moving, people called Bigi. Whenever new watchtowers were constructed, people called Bigi.
Despite possessing frightening physical strength, everyone also knew Bigi possessed the innocence of a hatchling.
"Bigi help build things... now Bigi fight too!" He proudly beat his chest.
He threw one fist triumphantly into the air and determination blazed within his eyes.
Laughter immediately erupted throughout the volunteers. Even Ka’z had to suppress a smile.
Looking at Bigi honestly felt like looking at an oversized puppy trying his best to appear intimidating. Ka’z could already imagine the destruction that giant would cause swinging a stone club.
Unfortunately, he could also imagine how impossible it would be to hide someone that size during reconnaissance missions.
More importantly, Bigi was genuinely kind. Watching someone like him die would probably haunt Ka’z for years.
"Bigi, go back inside." Ka’z rubbed his forehead.
Bigi immediately shook his head.His answer came without even a moment of hesitation.
"No. Bigi build and fight with you!"
The volunteers burst into cheers while several clapped enthusiastically. Ka’z slowly lowered his face into his palm.
’This is ridiculous...’
Without waiting for permission, Bigi simply walked over and stood beside Mi’ya with folded arms and an expression so serious it somehow became even funnier.
Ka’z eventually sighed in defeat.
"...Fine."
Bigi immediately grinned so widely his entire face lit up.
One after another, more volunteers stepped forward. Each introduction revealed a different reason for standing there.
Gradually, Ka’z noticed something.
Very few had actually come because they wanted to become warriors. Most had come because tragedy had forced them to grow up overnight.
Apart from Mi’ya and Bigi, Ka’z selected Gruk, a former gatherer whose incredible sense of direction had made him one of the colony’s finest foragers. Gruk claimed he could navigate unfamiliar sections of the Evergreen Forest simply by observing moss growth, tree roots and the movement of insects. Ka’z immediately recognized how valuable someone like that could become during long expeditions.
Then came Tark, an energetic five year old whose confidence far exceeded both his size and ability. The young kobold practically vibrated with excitement while declaring that one day he would become famous simply by following Ka’z into battle. His enthusiasm alone lifted the spirits of everyone around him.
Next was Drak.
Unlike the others, Drak already carried himself like a soldier. He had once served among the colony’s warriors before eventually leaving to become a trap builder.
"I came back because my teacher isn’t coming back. Someone has to continue what he taught me."
Ka’z immediately understood out of everyone standing here Drak would become the backbone of this squad. He would also be a perfect early stage tutor for his team.
Korv followed soon after. He specialized in slingshots. Despite his average build, his confidence bordered on ridiculous. Apparently, he had once struck a squirrel directly in the eye from nearly sixty meters away.
Whether that story was true or not, nobody could deny his aim.
Standing beside him was his inseparable friend, Thrak. Unlike Korv’s cheerful personality, Thrak rarely smiled. His answers remained short and he didn’t seem very social. They were the polar opposite of each other yet remained close friend.
Ka’z found the pair fascinating.
Bruk was another surprise. If Bigi resembled a moving mountain, Bruk resembled a rolling boulder.
Slightly shorter than Bigi but noticeably broader, his muscles had been forged through years of farming rather than combat. Every inch of his body reflected endless hours digging stubborn underground soil.
Finally came Kren and Luk. They were the only Vaal’kor colony twins and had only recently become soldiers before volunteering to transfer into Ka’z’s squad. Everything about them matched, their posture, speech and timing.
Even when answering questions, they somehow spoke almost simultaneously without interrupting one another.
Watching them almost felt unnatural.
By the time Ka’z finished, ten names had been chosen. The remaining volunteers accepted the decision far better than he expected. While disappointment lingered on several faces, nobody argued. Instead, many congratulated those selected before quietly returning toward the colony.
Soon afterward, the newly formed squad followed Ka’z toward a secluded clearing hidden safely within Vaal’kor territory.
The area had been cleared years ago and used for training.
Stacks of newly acquired equipment from the goblin raid had already been arranged neatly nearby.
Short spears, steel swords, wooden shields and even daggers.
Ka’z quietly examined every face before raising one hand.
The earth beneath him trembled and a platform slowly rose from the ground until he stood above everyone else.
Immediately, several recruits stared with sparkling eyes. Some whispered excitedly while others openly admired the display of earth magic.
Ka’z couldn’t help smiling. It appeared his speech already had competition.
He cleared his throat and the murmuring instantly ceased.
"With the gifts the Greater Kobold has given me I can become whatever I wish. I could spend my life building and managing this colony. O’nil would gladly accept me."
"I could lock myself inside the shrine forever. Tong’a would welcome me because I now receive visions."
His gaze gradually sharpened.
"But I chose this bloody path. I chose to stand before you and put my life on the line because I believe every gift I possess would be meaningless if I couldn’t use it to protect our people."
His voice gradually grew firmer.
"I refuse to build another squad of ordinary soldiers who will die within a few months. No. I want to create something different."
"I want to build an elite force. A force capable of protecting this colony. I want to build an elite force capable of hunting down and destroying our enemies."
The recruits unconsciously straightened. Even Drak found himself paying closer attention.
"I want to build an elite force so powerful that one day our people will no longer need to hide inside caves. I want children to grow up beneath the sun instead of beneath stone. I want families to build homes beneath open skies. I want our people to walk beneath rain without fearing extinction."
His voice softened. These were wishes he had carried since the day he opened his eyes in this world.
He slowly stretched one hand toward them.
"Will you help me build that future?"
For a heartbeat, nobody moved. Then the clearing erupted and cheers exploded from every direction.
The recruits rushed forward almost simultaneously.
Only Drak, Kren and Luk remained where they stood, watching everything unfold with amused smiles. Before Ka’z even realized what was happening, Bigi had already reached him first.
The giant effortlessly lifted him onto one shoulder.
"Captain!"
The others laughed before surrounding them.
"No, Put me down!"
Ka’z protested but nobody listened. Instead, they tossed him into the air repeatedly.
Ka’z let out increasingly panicked squeaks every time he flew upward while the entire squad roared with laughter.
Hidden among the branches of a nearby tree, Lan’ka quietly supported the still recovering Tud’or while O’nil and Tong’a stood beside them.
Despite Ka’z requesting privacy, none of them had managed to resist their curiosity.
For several moments, the four elders simply watched.
Lan’ka smiled proudly while Tud’or’s tired eyes softened. There could no better start to a man’s military career.
Tong’a quietly closed his eyes in satisfaction and O’nil chuckled.
"Alright, let’s give our little champion the privacy he deserves." O’nil said and everyone nodded in agreement.
Ding!
[New Achievement Unlocked: Leader of One, Leader of All]