Chapter 143: Dawn Sanctuary
The first pebbles fell.
Then stones and then enormous chunks of the cavern ceiling.
Arthur shouted, "GET DOWN!"
Nobody had time.
Then all of the rubbles, crackles of lightning, and clouds all froze. Silence filled the areas as the floating rubble began glowing.
Blue. Yellow. Crimson. White. Black.
Every color of lightning wrapped around the rocks, and then they began moving. Millions of stones spiraled together, and the storm itself began compressing, lightning twisting around the rubble like enormous serpents.
Magic condensed until the air began screaming.
Crack!
Leon slowly looked upward to see space itself fractured, thin black cracks spreading through the air.
Leon quietly muttered, "It’s breaking space."
Arthur’s expression finally became serious.
Even Vedas tightened his grip around his sword and his golden spear.
The entity had finally stopped playing.
Above the city.
The hurricane compressed into one colossal spear, made of lightning, stone, mana, pure destruction. The Beast Army completely stopped moving. Even they understood that nothing would survive this.
Just before despair completely overwhelmed everyone, golden light flooded into Eden. The crown shone brilliantly, thousands of ancient voices, thousands of memories, centuries of Dawn all rushing into her.
She gasped, and then she smiled. "I know," she said.
Everyone immediately turned.
Arthur asked, "Eden?"
She giggled. "I understand now."
Hope returned. Only slightly.
Arthur immediately asked, "What do we do?"
Instead of answering, Eden slowly looked around the room, then quietly said, "Before that. I want to thank everyone."
The room became completely silent.
Eden lowered her head. "I only met everyone today," she said, "but none of you wanted to give me away. Thank you."
Silence.
Then an elderly Goblin softly smiled. "You’ve only just been born," he said. "How could we abandon a child to save ourselves?"
One Goblin child immediately snorted. "Hmph! Don’t get full of yourself! We’re older than you! So it’s obvious we’d protect you!" The children behind him immediately nodded. "Exactly! You still have lots of growing up to do!"
Laughter spread.
Sun stretched. "Besides," he said, "like hell that thing would’ve let us live afterwards."
Kong crossed his arms, snorted, and then spoke. "What Sun means," he said, "is we’d rather die than lose one of our friends."
Sun grinned. "See? My partner gets me."
Athena smiled. "You’ve become part of this family," she said.
Mara giggled. "And family doesn’t abandon each other."
Melo slowly wrapped one fluffy tail around Eden, her voice gentle. "You’ve already made all of us smile," she said. "So now it’s our turn to protect you."
Vedas knelt, gently rubbing one finger across Eden’s hair. "As your older brother," he said, "protecting you isn’t something I choose. It’s simply what I do."
Athy quietly walked over and spread one wing over Eden, saying nothing, simply shielding her.
Mithra knelt beside her, smiling softly. "You’re the youngest," she said, "so let your older siblings protect you." She flicked Eden’s forehead. "We still promised to show you the world. We’re not breaking that promise."
Leon quietly watched everything, then smiled. "Arthur," he said. "Your group really is unbelievable."
Arthur laughed. "I’ll accept that," he said.
Around the room, every Goblin began speaking, one after another.
Goblin Healers.
Goblin Mages.
Goblin Riders.
And every other Goblin kept speaking out.
"We won’t abandon you."
"No matter what."
Outside, even the Stone Guardians slowly knelt. The Goblin Statues placed fists over their chests. The Spectral Goblins quietly bowed. Even they acknowledged Eden.
Eden completely broke, laughing through tears. "Thank you," she said, "everyone. I’ve only been alive for one day... I thought I would be alone."
She looked around the room.
At Arthur.
At Vedas.
At Mithra.
At Leon.
And everyone was smiling back at her.
"But..." A tear rolled down her cheek. "...I found a family."
[Synchronization Increased]
[Synchronization: 5% —> 10%]
And it was then Arthur could feel Eden’s emotions rushing through to him. Her overwhelming joy, relief, and feeling to meet everyone’s expectations.
Then one little Goblin suddenly shouted, "You’re part of our family now!"
"Yeah!"
"We’ll protect you!"
"You still have lots of growing up to do!"
The children immediately grinned at her or gave her thumbs up, making her laugh, and the adults in the room smiled.
Eden wiped away her tears and looked toward the crowd. "The final defense doesn’t use mana," she said.
Everyone blinked.
"It doesn’t use life."
Arthur tilted his head. "Then what?"
Eden smiled. "It uses trust."
Nobody understood.
She continued. "King Halburn realized that kingdoms aren’t protected by walls. They’re protected by the people who believe in each other." She slowly looked around. "The Sanctuary requires someone everyone truly believes in."
Nobody spoke.
Instead, everyone slowly turned toward Arthur.
Arthur blinked. "Why are you all looking at me?"
Then one finger pointed. Then another. Soon every single person in the room pointed toward Arthur.
Arthur finally realized. "Me?"
Arthur looked around the room, at Athena, at Vedas, at Mithra, at Leon, at Sun, at every Goblin. Every single one of them was looking back at him. He slowly pointed toward himself. "...You’re serious?"
Nobody answered.
Arthur looked to his left to see them still pointing. He looked toward the right and saw them still pointing. He slowly turned around to even see the Stone Guardians outside... One enormous finger pointed toward the throne room.
Arthur let out a helpless laugh and scratched the back of his head. "I think all of you are giving me way too much credit."
Silence filled the throne room.
He looked toward Athena. "You awakened Dawn."
Then toward Vedas. "You became the Goblin King."
Toward Mithra. "You protected the wall."
Toward Leon. "You fought beside me."
Toward Sun. "You helped protect the wall and took down a Beast Chief with Kong."
Toward Melo. "You calmed an entire city."
Toward Athy. "You carried the weight of Dawn on your shoulders."
Finally, he looked down at Eden. "And you’re the one who’s about to save everyone."
Arthur smiled. "So if a miracle happens today, it’s because every one of you made it possible."
The room became quiet.
Mithra laughed softly. "You really don’t see yourself the way everyone else does."
Arthur blinked. "...Should I?"
She immediately shook her head. "No." Her smile became warmer. "Just keep being yourself. That’s the Arthur we all believe in."
"Still, you guys say you believe in me but acted like my actions were insane before."
Sun rolled his eyes. "There’s a difference between calling you insane and believing in you."
Athena nodded. "Both are true." Then she smiled faintly. "You’re reckless and somehow always seem to have a knack for finding the greatest secrets."
Leon folded his arms. "You’ve made my life far more interesting than it ever was."
Mithra smiled warmly. "You dragged me into your world, and I don’t regret following you."
Sun laughed loudly. "You dragged me into the greatest adventure I’ve ever had. I’d gladly follow another."
Vedas smiled proudly. "I trusted you from the very beginning. And everything that I have accomplished started with you."
Arthur scratched his head. "I honestly don’t understand," he said.
Vedas laughed. "You don’t have to. Just keep being yourself."
His eyes widened before he then felt a surge of trust, respect, and pride coming from Vedas.
Before then, a notification appeared.
[Synchronization Increased]
[Synchronization: 65% —> 68%]
With the appearance of the sync, he could only accept that it was the full truth and everyone expected.
Arthur smiled. "Fine."
Eden smiled. "Now everyone hold hands," she said.
Immediately, hands began reaching. Children. Hunters. Mages. Archers. Riders. Healers. Stone Guardians knelt, allowing Goblins to touch them. Goblin Statues extended stone hands. Spectral Goblins gently placed transparent hands upon living Goblins.
Arthur stood at the center, Eden clutching his collar.
Arthur grabbed Mithra’s hand, his other hand reaching Vedas. Vedas reached Suri. Suri reached Gruk. The chain continued until every survivor, every tribe, every Guardian, every spirit, every heart became one.
For one brief moment nobody looked toward the sky.
Nobody thought about the attack or death that was descending on them. They only felt the warmth of the hands beside them.
Some were rough.
Some were soft.
Some were stone.
Some weren’t even physical anymore.
Yet somehow every hand felt equally warm.
Eden softly smiled. "Now everyone trusts Arthur," she said.
Nobody hesitated. Not for even a heartbeat.
Eden clasped the crown and whispered, "Go. The everlasting bonds that connect Dawn protect everyone."
Instantly the golden light exploded.
It spread throughout the city, not as power, but as memories.
Beautiful moments began appearing one after another.
Arthur arrives at the Mu Tribe and saves them.
Helping the Mu Tribe convince the Guardian Spirit to accept the name they gave him, helping Goblins evolve, teaching them hope, finding medicine for Voro, and showing the Yan Tribe Yasha’s memories.
Arthur froze as, for some reason, he wasn’t just seeing those memories but was experiencing them again. One moment he was in the throne room, the next he was back in the Mu Tribe, and then he was standing beside Voro.
And it kept changing as it showed him helping Vedas achieve the impossible, and finally the awakening of Dawn City.
Arthur slowly whispered, "It was because of all this... They trusted me?"
He never knew these moments were creating such a strong trust. He only did what he wanted to because he found it interesting and knew it would be a good story to tell.
Then more personal memories from his friends, all echoing the words they had just spoken.
Mithra and Melo patiently comforted the Goblin children and others who were freaking out. Athy pushed through the pressure of the crown to activate the City defense. Athena spread the history of the Kingdom of Dawns to each Tribe and commanded the City.
Melo acted as the Guardian Spirit for the Su Tribe and their children. Leon stood beside Arthur as they battled against the Thunderbird Chief. Vedas became the Goblin King and descended into the city.
Every smile.
Every promise.
Every impossible victory all became part of the reason all of them were standing here together.
The light became brighter.
Outside, something impossible happened.
One Stone Guardian slowly lifted its massive stone hand and stared at it. Then a memory surfaced: a tiny Goblin girl laughing while sitting on that same shoulder.
Another Stone Guardian remembered carrying the elders towards this place and hearing them thank them over and over again. Another remembered the day he willingly became stone, giving up his future so someone else could have one.
Soon every Stone Guardian recalled memories of the current generation, and they were all extremely satisfied. Not because it meant their duty had ended, but because these goblins were truly worthy of all that effort.
The Stone Guardians smiled for the very first time.
The Goblin Statues began trembling. One smiled and then another. Soon every Statue began laughing, not loudly, but warmly, like old warriors finally witnessing the future they had prayed for.
The Spectral Goblins quietly watched, golden tears slowly rolling down their transparent faces. Hundreds of years they had waited, and now they finally saw it. King Halburn’s dream had finally been fulfilled.
For a brief moment, the golden memories faded, and Eden suddenly found herself standing somewhere else. The city was quiet. No Goblins. No laughter. No footsteps. No lights. Only endless silence.
At the center was King Halburn standing alone, one hand resting upon the ancient throne, his eyes quietly overlooking an empty kingdom. He stared at everyone who was holding their hands, and his expression softened.
He walked over before gently tapping Eden, who blinked at him with confusion and a bit of recognition.
Instantly, the memories of the Goblin children laughing, the others standing up and saying they would protect Eden appeared. Then it shifted to the Stone Guardians walking through the streets. Goblin Statues laughed together, and Spectral Goblin watched proudly.
It then shifted to Arthur scratching the back of his head while everyone pointed at him. Sun laughed loudly at Kong pushing the Town-sized boulder away and hurling the Ape Chief down. Mithra smiled at finally seeing the invading Beasts pushed back. Athena wiped away tears, and Vedas led his goblins through the city.
The empty city filled with life once more.
Halburn slowly closed his eyes, a genuine smile appearing across his face. "Ah... So this is the city now."
Halburn slowly began to fade away. "You were right, Arthur. Vedas was the one who would succeed where others failed. I thank you for bringing him to me, and I hope you keep looking after him."
And then his presence slowly disappeared forever.
Above them, the entity unleashed Judgment.
The spear descended.
Space tore apart.
Lightning screamed, and the cavern began collapsing. The Beast Army disappeared beneath endless light as the Mountains around crumbled, and everything became white.
At exactly the same moment, Eden finished her words. "Dawn Sanctuary."
Golden light spread from the crown, racing through every golden line beneath Dawn. Roads glowed. Buildings awakened. Ancient lanterns lit one after another.
Then countless threads of golden light rose from every corner of the city, intertwining above Dawn like millions of hands weaving a blanket across the sky. Slowly, gently, they wrapped around the city until the Sanctuary was complete.
Every Goblin suddenly felt it.
The warmth like someone placing a blanket around them.
Or like returning home after years away.
And even being embraced by family.
Nobody felt fear anymore because inside Dawn Sanctuary they were safe. It didn’t look like a barrier, but felt like the city itself was embracing them.
The attack crashed into the Sanctuary, and everyone still held on.
Arthur looked upward with a smile and quietly said. "Looks like our miracle arrived first."
Then—
Boooooooooooooooooooooom!!
The entire underground world disappeared beneath blinding white light.
No one could see.
No one could hear.
Only endless white remained.
Then somewhere within the light...
A single sound echoed.
Crack.