Chapter 153: Cronwall Evolution
Arthur clapped his hands together. "Alright," he said. "I think we’ve stayed inside long enough."
The Cronwall Tribe immediately straightened. Several Hunters grinned. Suri rolled her shoulders. Gruk spun his spear once. Even the Direwolves stood up.
Arthur laughed. "You all look more excited than I expected," he said.
Gruk scratched his cheek. "We’ve been waiting," he said.
Suri nodded. "You promised," she said.
Arthur smiled. "You’re right. Let’s make all of you stronger," he said.
The entire tribe erupted into cheers.
They left Dawn City.
Behind them the rebuilding continued. Builders continued repairing homes. Stone Guardians carried enormous slabs of stone toward the wall. Goblin Mages carved ancient runes into the newly rebuilt defenses.
Soon the forest surrounded them once more. The Southern Region greeted the Cronwall Tribe.
Several Goblins smiled. "Feels like home," one said.
Another laughed. "I missed real trees," he said.
Even the Direwolves became noticeably more energetic. Some immediately began running between the trees. Others sniffed the air.
Gruk smiled. "Good," he said. "They’re happy."
Arthur chuckled. "Looks like someone else missed home," he said.
Nearby several wild beasts noticed them. A group of Iron Fang Boars froze. The moment they sensed Vedas they immediately lowered their heads before slowly backing away. Another Beast quietly turned around and left.
Arthur laughed. "Looks like your reputation has spread," he said.
One Hunter proudly grinned. "Not bad," he said.
Eventually Arthur stopped in a large clearing. "This should work," he said.
Everyone gathered. The atmosphere became excited.
Arthur smiled. "Let’s begin," he said.
Arthur walked toward Gruk and he immediately stood straighter.
Arthur laughed. "Relax. I’m not judging you," he said.
Gruk scratched his head. "Easy for you to say," he said.
The surrounding Hunters laughed.
He recalled the requirement for Gruk.
[Species: Goblin]
[Goblin Spirit Master] → [Goblin Elemental Master] → [Spirit Monarch]
[Goblin Spirit Master]
[Evolution Requirements]
[Earn the acknowledgement of four elemental spirits. [3/4]]
[Protect your Tribe during a crisis: 1/1]
"I think your evolution may require a connection with the elemental spirits."
"A connection? Why would... Wait!" Gruk’s eyes widened.
"Did you recall something?"
"I... I recall small balls of light talking to me and mentioning I was on the right path when I got their acknowledgement back when I was young."
"But you thought they were crazy?"
"I just didn’t know what they meant."
Arthur laughed. "Well it’s fine. Do you know how to gain their acknowledgement?"
Gruk suddenly smiled. "I do! Plus I know where to find them."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Suri laughed. "He has," she said.
Arthur looked over. "You’ve seen this?"
One Hunter immediately nodded. "Oh, countless times," he said.
Another laughed. "Whenever Gruk disappeared, he wasn’t hunting. He was talking."
Arthur blinked. "Talking?"
Suri smiled. "To little glowing lights. The last time I saw this was a week after you and the others got teleported out of the village."
Another Goblin chuckled. "I once asked him about it and he told me."
"We thought he was crazy."
Gruk awkwardly rubbed his head. "I thought everyone could talk to these spirits..."
Another Goblin immediately burst into laughter. "No, Gruk. Most of us can’t."
The Cronwall Goblins began sharing stories.
One laughed. "He once disappeared for an entire afternoon," he said.
Another nodded. "When we found him he was sitting beside a river. Talking to water."
Another Hunter added, "Then the river suddenly started flowing backwards."
Arthur laughed so hard he nearly bent over. "You’ve had adventures I never even heard about," he said.
Gruk smiled sheepishly. "They were nice," he said.
Arthur nodded. "Then let’s meet them," he said.
Gruk slowly walked toward a quiet stream. He sat down, crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and then the forest gradually became quiet. Even the Direwolves laid down as everyone watched.
Nothing happened.
Then the breeze gently picked up.
Tiny green lights floated through the air.
Moments later little flames danced across nearby rocks.
Earth slowly rose into tiny floating pebbles.
Finally ripples spread across the stream and tiny blue lights slowly emerged.
The Hunters quietly gasped. Arthur’s eyes widened. "They’re beautiful," he said.
The tiny elemental spirits curiously circled Gruk. One gently landed on his shoulder. Another happily bounced on his head.
Only the little Water Spirit hesitated.
It slowly floated closer.
Gruk smiled without opening his eyes. "It’s okay," he said. "I’d like to be your friend too."
The little spirit happily touched his forehead.
[Requirement Completed]
[4/4]
White light exploded upward.
Gruk’s body grew slightly taller and deep emerald armor trimmed with bronze appeared over his body. Wooden totems formed around his waist. His spear dissolved into light, and a magnificent Spirit Staff appeared in its place. Four elemental crystals slowly orbited around its head.
The tiny spirits continued circling him. Unlike before they no longer looked like visitors but companions. The surrounding mana itself became calmer and leaves gently swayed despite there being no wind.
Gruk slowly opened his eyes. "They’re talking," he said.
Arthur smiled. "Congratulations," he said.
The entire Cronwall Tribe erupted into cheers.
Arthur smiled. "Your turn," he said.
Suri confidently stepped forward. "I already know," she said.
Arthur checked.
[Goblin Huntress]
[Evolution Requirements]
[Lead ten Goblins into battle as their Commander: 5/10]
[Have your commands save another Goblin: 1/1]
Arthur smiled. "I think you should lead the others in completing their own requirements."
Suri blinked. "Really?"
Arthur looked toward the forest. "Yeah. Alright, the tribe is yours to command now."
"W-What!?"
The Hunters all smiled.
One laughed. "We’re listening, Commander," he said.
Suri lightly glared at Gruk.
"Don’t start calling me that."
Gruk only laughed harder.
Arthur looked around the forest before his gaze settled on three nearby Goblins. He suddenly pointed toward a pack of Wind Wolves wandering between the trees. "...Why don’t you three try taking those down with traps?"
The three Goblins blinked. "With traps?"
Arthur shrugged. "I’ve just got a feeling."
The three exchanged confused looks before nodding. "If Arthur says so..."
They immediately hurried off.
Suri didn’t question it either and simply raised her blade. "You heard him. I’ll lead."
The entire group followed behind her.
Several minutes later...
The Wind Wolves entered the forest path. Hidden vines suddenly tightened around their legs and sharpened logs swung from above. The panicked beasts stumbled directly into another concealed pit before the three Goblins rushed forward together and finished them.
Silence.
Then—
A pillar of golden light burst into the sky.
The surrounding Goblins immediately cheered. "It worked!"
The three Goblins stared at themselves as leather armor wrapped around their bodies and lighter equipment formed in their hands.
[Goblin → Goblin Scout]
Arthur smiled to himself.
Suri immediately pointed somewhere else. "Next!"
Arthur looked toward another group and then his eyes landed on six large Stone Bears resting beneath a cliff.
He quietly walked over.
The Stone Bears slowly stood.
They immediately became wary.
Arthur smiled. "Sorry about this."
The next moment—
BOOM!
One Stone Bear rolled across the ground.
BOOM!
A second crashed into a tree.
The remaining four immediately roared before charging together.
Arthur didn’t even draw his sword. He simply punched one, kicked another, grabbed the third by the leg and tossed it into the fourth.
The entire Cronwall Tribe watched with twitching lips. Within moments, all six Stone Bears lay piled on top of each other.
Bruised.
Dizzy.
Completely defeated.
Arthur dusted off his hands and then casually pointed toward the six Goblins standing nearby. "Just become their partners and I’ll stop hitting you."
The six Stone Bears immediately froze.
They looked at Arthur.
Then at each other.
Tears slowly welled up in one of their eyes.
"Rooo..."
It hurriedly nodded and the other five followed almost instantly.
Anything...
Anything was better than fighting that smiling human again.
The six Goblins immediately ran over.
"O-Our apologies!"
"We’re really sorry!"
"We didn’t know Arthur was going to..."
Another quickly bowed. "We’ll take good care of you!"
The Stone Bears blinked and then slowly looked back toward Arthur. He blinked before waving at them with a beaming smile with one hand. And the other hand was clenching his fist.
Their bodies trembled and they immediately moved behind the Goblins instead. Compared to that smiling demon... These Goblins suddenly looked unbelievably kind. One cautious Stone Bear gently bumped its forehead against its new partner.
Golden light erupted.
Then another.
And another.
Six brilliant pillars rose one after another.
The surrounding Goblins gasped.
[Goblin → Goblin Rider]
The newly evolved Riders laughed as heavier armor formed around them while saddles and reinforced spears appeared beside them. Even the Stone Bears looked noticeably stronger as they proudly stood beside their new partners.
Arthur nodded with satisfaction. "Looks like it worked."
One Goblin scratched his head. "How did you even think of that?"
Arthur simply smiled. "Lucky guess."
The Cronwall Tribe all nodded seriously. "Of course. It’s the power of the Prophet!"
At this point...
No one questioned Arthur’s "guesses" anymore. Suri couldn’t help smiling before raising her blade once again.
"Everyone! We’re not stopping until every last one of us grows stronger!"
The Cronwall Tribe answered with a thunderous roar as they charged deeper into the forest, one miracle after another waiting to unfold.
It’s then Arthur saw a notification.
[10/10]
Golden light erupted.
Green and gold combat armor formed around Suri. A crimson commander’s cloak. Twin hunting blades formed at her waist. Golden markings spread across both arms. Her posture subtly changed. Without realizing it the Hunters immediately looked toward her, waiting for the next order.
Arthur smiled. "Even her presence changed," he said.
Suri looked around. "I like this," she said.
Gruk laughed. "Commander," he said.
She immediately glared. "Don’t," she said.
The entire tribe burst into laughter.
One evolution naturally led into the next.
The newly evolved Spearman sparred with another Goblin.
The Mage protected the Archers while they landed precise shots.
The Riders charged alongside their newly evolved Stone Bear partners.
Every completed evolution made helping the next Goblin even easier. The forest became filled with one brilliant golden pillar after another. Each time one appeared, the entire Cronwall Tribe stopped to cheer before immediately helping the next person.
Nobody complained.
Nobody grew impatient.
If one Goblin succeeded it felt like everyone had succeeded. Arthur slowly walked through the clearing with a smile that never seemed to leave his face. Sometimes he laughed. Sometimes he congratulated someone with a pat on the shoulder and sometimes he lightly teased them after watching them fail the first attempt.
But more than once...
He quietly looked across the tribe and said, "You’ve all grown so much."
Several Hunters scratched the backs of their heads before smiling sheepishly. "Thanks, Arthur."
By the time the sun had begun drifting lower, nearly the entire Cronwall Tribe had evolved. New armor gleamed beneath the sunlight. New weapons rested proudly in their hands and excited voices echoed throughout the forest as everyone tested their new abilities together.
It was then that Arthur noticed another group quietly waiting beneath the trees.
Arthur gently rubbed its head before the familiar screen appeared.
His eyes lit up.
[Species: Direwolf]
[Dire Fang Wolf] → [Moonfang Alpha] → [Primal Wolf King]
Another screen appeared.
[Species: Direwolf]
[Swift Direwolf] → [Shadow Wind Wolf] → [Storm Wolf Sovereign]
Then another.
[Species: Direwolf]
[Stonehide Wolf] → [Mountain Guardian Wolf] → [Titan Earth Wolf]
And finally—
[Species: Direwolf]
[Spirit Wolf] → [Moon Spirit Wolf] → [Celestial Spirit Wolf]
Arthur couldn’t help smiling. "You guys really do have amazing futures."
The Direwolves tilted their heads before wagging their tails even harder.
Arthur laughed. "Let’s start with a little pack hunt."
Soon, the Direwolves split into groups beneath the command of their Alpha, surrounding a nearby Beast pack with perfect coordination.
The battle ended almost as quickly as it began.
The moment the Alpha let out a victorious howl—
Golden light exploded around its body.
Its dark gray fur lengthened into a magnificent silver mane that flowed down its neck, while its body nearly doubled in size. Saber-like golden fangs extended from its jaws, and its amber eyes became deep gold. The instant it stood upright, the other Direwolves instinctively lowered their heads before their new Alpha.
The remaining Direwolves quickly followed, each completing their own final challenge.
One raced through the forest until a far stronger beast finally gave up chasing it. Golden light wrapped around its body, streamlining its frame as dark silver fur replaced its old coat. Wind constantly swirled around its paws, and every step became almost completely silent.
Another threw itself in front of a younger packmate during battle. And its body broadened dramatically, thick stone-like plates spreading across its shoulders and forelegs while its claws became heavy enough to crack rock with a single swipe.
The last quietly protected its companions until the very end. Golden light revealed soft silver-white fur covered in faint glowing patterns. Gentle wisps of mana drifted around its body, and its calm blue eyes seemed to shine with quiet intelligence.
One after another, brilliant pillars rose between the trees until every Direwolf stood taller, stronger, and prouder than before.
The Cronwall Goblins immediately rushed forward, laughing as they hugged and patted their newly evolved partners, while the Direwolves answered with joyful howls that echoed throughout the forest.
Gradually...
The forest became peaceful once more.
The Cronwall Tribe spread throughout the clearing, testing new weapons, comparing skills, and laughing together as if they were children again.
Arthur simply stood beneath the shade of an ancient tree.
Watching.
Smiling.
Proud of every single one of them.
Then his gaze drifted toward Eden. She had spent the entire day flying around from Goblin to Goblin, clapping, cheering, laughing whenever another pillar of golden light appeared.
He gently patted her tiny head.
The familiar screen appeared.
[Species: Time Fairy]
[Chrono Fairy] → [Fairy Queen of Seasons] —> [Empress of Time and Space]
Only the first requirement appeared.
[First Requirement]
[Obtain the Recognition of Time: 0/1]
Arthur quietly stared. "Recognition. Of Time..."
He read it again and then smiled. Looks like we’ll have quite the adventure ahead of us.
He gently rubbed Eden’s head. She happily giggled, unaware of the impossible path waiting before her.