I Can See Evolution Paths

Arthur and Halburn walked together through the frozen white streets.

Their footsteps were oddly silent against the pale stone. Arthur glanced around at the colorless world surrounding them.

"So," he said, "why is everything white?"

Halburn smiled faintly. "Dawn Sanctuary," he said. "It doesn’t simply protect. It suspends. Time itself pauses within the barrier so the city can heal from what would otherwise destroy it."

Arthur slowly looked around the frozen city again. "So... if everyone wakes up. Does all this disappear?"

Halburn nodded. "The white world exists only while Dawn Sanctuary endures."

Arthur scratched his cheek. "...That’s a shame."

Halburn looked at him, and he smiled. "I kind of like it. It feels peaceful."

Halburn chuckled. "I thought you preferred excitement."

Arthur nodded. "I do." He looked around once more. "But... I think everyone deserves somewhere peaceful to rest afterward."

Halburn laughed as he held his stomach and said. "Ahh, that’s something I wished I didn’t learn so late."

Arthur smiled. "Is Dawn Sanctuary a Relic?" he asked.

Halburn shook his head. "It was my own skill," he said, "as Goblin King."

Arthur blinked. "Your skill? Not something you found?"

Halburn continued walking. "Gold Rank beings can leave behind fragments of their abilities," he said. "Relics are created this way. A piece of power, stored and passed down."

Arthur immediately started thinking. "So," he said slowly, "if someone reached Gold Rank, they could leave behind an entire inheritance?"

Halburn nodded. "If they wished it," he said.

Arthur whistled low. "No wonder every civilization wants Relics," he said.

Then Arthur suddenly turned. "Wait," he said. "I’ve wanted to ask someone this for months."

Halburn chuckled. "Go ahead," he said.

Arthur’s eyes lit up immediately. "When Gruk translated those records," he said, "it mentioned Dawn negotiated with a Dragon. Was that actually true?"

Halburn laughed. "It was," he said.

Arthur froze. "Seriously?"

Halburn nodded. "She disliked fighting," he said. "So we traded instead."

Arthur blinked. "You traded with a Dragon?"

"Quite often," Halburn said.

Arthur thought for a moment. "What exactly do you trade with a Dragon?"

Halburn answered without hesitation. "Books."

Arthur blinked. "That’s it?"

Halburn nodded. "The Dragons knew the best food recipes, such as their Lifebringer Tea... It was marvelous."

Arthur stared. "You defeated kingdoms... and made tea for Dragons?"

Halburn smiled. "Quite often."

He laughed and said, "Man, I wish I was there."

"I’m sure you would have loved it."

Arthur suddenly remembered something. "Actually..." He scratched his cheek. "There’s one thing that’s been bothering me for a long time."

Halburn looked over. "What is it?"

Arthur’s expression became serious. "Every history book says Dawn was a Human Kingdom. But everything I’ve seen says otherwise." He looked around the white city. "The people. The armor. The architecture. The Guardian Spirits. The throne. They were all Goblins. So why does the world think Humans built this place?"

Silence.

Halburn’s smile slowly disappeared. For several long seconds, he simply walked. Finally he spoke. "...Because we wanted them to."

Arthur blinked. "...What?"

Halburn looked toward the silent city. "The Kingdom of Dawn truly belonged to Goblins. But when our civilization realized what was coming, we erased ourselves."

Arthur stopped walking. "...You erased yourselves?"

Halburn nodded. "Our names. Our history. Our achievements. Our existence."

Arthur stared. "...Why?"

Halburn closed his eyes. "Because it was safer for the world to forget us." He opened them again. "But..." A faint smile appeared. "I still believe someone remembered."

Arthur quietly whispered, "...The experiment."

Halburn didn’t answer.

He simply kept walking.

Arthur immediately asked another. "Your journal also mentioned peace with the Storm Giants. How?"

Halburn smiled. "They respected strength," he said. "We respected promises. So we became allies."

Arthur blinked. "That actually worked?"

"For several centuries," Halburn said.

Arthur scratched his head. "Why does that sound easier than negotiating with people?"

Halburn laughed. "It often was," he said.

Arthur suddenly remembered something else. "The Sky King," he said. "The butterfly. Was that your pet?"

Halburn immediately laughed. "No," he said.

Arthur sighed in relief. "I was beginning to think every legendary creature belonged to you," he said.

Halburn smiled. "It simply enjoyed sleeping above Dawn," he said.

Arthur blinked. "That’s somehow even stranger."

Arthur suddenly lifted Dusk. "This," he said. "Did your blacksmiths actually make these?"

Halburn nodded proudly. "They did," he said.

Arthur immediately asked, "Can we recreate them?"

Halburn smiled. "If Athena reads the journals," he said.

Arthur pumped his fist. "Yes," he said. "The Goblin Builders won’t riot."

Halburn raised a brow. "Riot?"

Arthur nodded seriously. "If they can’t remake these," he said, "they’ll blame the Fire Lizards. Then the Crystal Serpents. Then probably me."

Halburn laughed harder than before.

Arthur suddenly remembered the Evolution Statues. "Those weren’t natural either?" he asked.

Halburn shook his head. "No," he said. "We created them."

Arthur froze. "You WHAT?"

Halburn smiled. "We wished every future Goblin to continue evolving," he said.

Arthur slowly looked around Dawn. "You people really prepared for everything," he said.

Halburn quietly said, "We tried."

Arthur asked, "Why didn’t you just make more Stone Guardians?"

Halburn smiled sadly. "They protected buildings," he said. "Not hearts." Arthur looked confused, and Halburn gestured toward where the Spectral Warriors had stood. "When Goblins saw their ancestors fighting beside them," he said, "they remembered what they were protecting."

Arthur slowly nodded. "Morale," he said.

Halburn smiled. "Exactly."

Arthur thought back over everything Halburn had described. "So," he said, "collect the fragments, unite the tribes, restore the Guardian Spirits, awaken Dawn. Vedas becomes Goblin King." He paused. "That’s the trial for your candidates?"

Halburn chuckled. "Yes."

"It was a lot..."

"It had to be." Then Halburn’s expression grew more serious. "Without you," he said, "Vedas would never have become King."

Arthur quietly smiled. "So I was support," he said.

Halburn nodded. "The greatest support."

Arthur tilted his head. "If your plan was this good," he said, "why did nobody succeed before now?"

Halburn opened his mouth to answer. Nothing came out that sounded convincing, and after a moment he simply sighed.

Arthur grinned. "That’s what I thought," he said.

Arthur looked ahead. "If you could start over, what would you change?"

Halburn laughed quietly. "So many things."

Arthur waited.

Halburn smiled sadly. "I spent too much time preparing for tomorrow, and too little time enjoying today." He looked toward the white streets. "I believed protecting a Kingdom meant building stronger walls." His eyes softened. "But it was simply eating dinner with my people. Watching children play. Hearing soldiers laugh."

Arthur quietly listened.

Halburn smiled. "If I had another chance, I’d spend less time preparing for the future, and more time living in the present."

Arthur slowly nodded. "I’ll remember that."

Halburn suddenly raised one hand. The white streets shimmered, and color slowly returned.

Arthur froze.

Children sprinted through the streets laughing.

Merchants called from colorful stalls.

Goblin blacksmiths hammered glowing weapons inside the Forge District.

Stone Guardians carried children on their shoulders.

Goblin Statues stood proudly at intersections while civilians decorated them with flowers. Above the city, golden butterflies drifted lazily through the sky, and far beyond them the enormous Sky King slept peacefully atop the cavern ceiling.

Music echoed throughout the city. Laughter followed.

Arthur stared. "...So this was Dawn."

Halburn smiled. "...No." Arthur looked over. "It wasn’t." He watched children chasing each other. "It was home."

The illusion slowly disappeared and only white remained.

Arthur closed his eyes for a few seconds before another question suddenly surfaced in his mind. "Actually."

Halburn looked over.

"In your treasure room... beneath the King’s Temple." Halburn nodded. "When I found Eden... I saw a memory."

Halburn’s expression changed ever so slightly.

Arthur frowned. "You were the one who placed her egg there."

Silence.

Arthur looked directly at him. "Who is she? And why did you hide her there?"

For the first time since they began walking, Halburn’s smile became strangely sorrowful, and he lowered his eyes. "...I cannot tell you."

Arthur blinked. "Are you kidding me?"

Halburn suddenly laughed. "I am serious."

Arthur folded his arms. "...That wasn’t funny."

Halburn chuckled before shaking his head. "I truly don’t know."

Arthur frowned. "...What?"

Halburn looked toward the endless white streets. "I am only a wisp. A fragment."

"I remember the parts of my life that were necessary to complete Dawn’s final plan." His voice became quieter. "The rest has already faded."

Arthur stared. "So even you don’t remember?"

Halburn slowly shook his head. "I remember placing her there."

"I remember believing it was the correct decision. But..." He closed his eyes. "I no longer remember why."

Silence settled between them.

Arthur sighed. "...That’s incredibly frustrating."

"It is."

Arthur scratched the back of his head. "I’m guessing. You don’t recognize whatever that thing in the sky was?"

Halburn’s expression immediately became serious. "No."

Arthur waited.

Halburn slowly continued. "But... I can already tell you one thing."

Arthur looked over.

"It will return."

And his smile disappeared.

Halburn looked toward the white horizon. "Once it realizes all of you survived... It will begin searching again."

Arthur frowned.

"...For Eden."

Halburn nodded once.

Arthur immediately asked, "Can it actually sense her?"

Halburn was silent for a moment before answering. "Most likely."

Arthur felt his stomach tighten.

Halburn calmly explained. "Gold Rank beings can leave marks upon living creatures."

Arthur frowned. "...Marks?"

Halburn nodded. "Every skill leaves behind traces of the user’s magic. Normally they disappear, but a Gold Rank being can follow those traces."

Arthur slowly understood. "...Like a scent."

Halburn smiled faintly. "Exactly."

Arthur immediately thought of how that thing with blue eyes locked onto Eden. "So if Eden starts using powerful skills..."

Halburn finished the sentence for him.

"...it may eventually find her."

Silence.

Arthur quietly exhaled. "So what do we do?"

Halburn answered without hesitation. "Hide."

Arthur blinked.

Halburn continued.

"Do not allow Eden to freely use her abilities."

"Not until you’re certain it cannot reach you."

Arthur frowned. "...How certain?"

Halburn looked toward him. "If you’re inside a Secret Realm, make sure it is not the same one. If you’re outside, don’t use them unless your lives truly depend on it."

Arthur slowly nodded. "...Got it." He looked toward Eden once more. "I’ll keep her safe."

Halburn smiled. "I believe you will."

Then both quietly continued walking through the frozen streets.

After a while, Arthur asked, "What do you think Vedas should do first?"

Halburn smiled. "Nothing," he said.

Arthur blinked. "Nothing?"

Halburn nodded. "Kings who rush usually fall," he said.

Arthur nodded slowly. "So, build. Learn. Strengthen."

Halburn smiled. "And protect."

Arthur quietly repeated, "Protect."

Halburn looked toward Dawn. "The Kingdom isn’t its walls," he said. "Or its throne. It’s the people willing to call it home."

Arthur smiled. "I’ll remember that," he said.

Halburn immediately looked at him. "No," he said, smiling warmly. "Tell Vedas."

Arthur laughed. "I almost forgot. I’m not the King."

Halburn laughed too. "No," he said. "But every great King needs someone willing to stand beside him."

Arthur scratched his cheek. "Guess that’s my job," he said.

Halburn nodded. "And you’ve done it well."

Halburn’s form began to fade at the edges, golden light replacing the solid lines of his body. He thanked Arthur for making the impossible possible.

For giving Vedas the chance to become the Goblin King.

For taking care of the Mu, Su, and Yan Tribes.

For letting King Mu, Voro, and Yasha finally rest after over a thousand years.

And finally for proving that the Goblins still had a future.

Arthur’s expression softened as he looked toward the silent city. "I’ve made up my mind."

Halburn waited.

Arthur smiled. "When Vedas rebuild the Goblin Kingdom, it will be something even greater."

Halburn raised an eyebrow.

Arthur’s eyes became determined. "A place where the Goblins and other Beasts who wished to join can stand together. And this time, this kingdom will last even longer and never be forgotten!"

Silence.

Then Halburn laughed. "...Good."

Arthur blinked. "You’re not upset?"

Halburn smiled. "If the next generation isn’t greater than the last, then we failed."

Arthur smiled back. "We won’t disappoint you."

Halburn chuckled. "I expect nothing less."

Arthur grinned. "And unlike you, we’ll try not to leave impossible homework for the next generation."

Halburn rubbed his forehead. "You really had to get one last jab in," he said.

Arthur shrugged. "I couldn’t let you leave thinking you won."

Halburn laughed one final time, then suddenly snapped his fingers. "Oh." Arthur looked up. "I almost forgot."

Arthur immediately leaned forward. "What?"

Halburn smiled mischievously. "I hid one last gift."

Arthur’s eyes lit up. "WHERE?"

Halburn laughed. "You’ll find it... Eventually."

Arthur stared. "...You’re impossible."

Halburn grinned. "I learned from watching you."

"I wish you didn’t." Arthur sighed.

Halburn laughed and then looked back. "...Arthur."

Arthur looked up.

"If Vedas ever doubts himself," Halburn said, and Arthur quietly listened, "tell him he already became a better King than I ever was."

Arthur froze. "...I’ll tell him."

Halburn nodded once. "I know you will."

Then his body dissolved into countless particles of golden light. No words remained. Only silence.

Then his form faded completely, and a notification appeared before Arthur’s eyes.

[Title Obtained]

[Successor of Dawn]

[Given to one acknowledged by the final King of the Dawn Kingdom.]

[Effect: All Goblin-type beings instinctively recognize you as a trusted ally. Your compatibility with Goblin Evolutions, Goblin Relics, Goblin Authorities, and Goblin Kingdom Skills is greatly increased.]

Arthur smiled. "...Nice."

Then, ding. A fourth notification appeared.

Arthur frowned. "...Huh?"

[King’s Mark Authority Increased.]

[New Function Locked.]

[Requirement Not Yet Met.]

Arthur blinked. "...Locked?"

No explanation appeared.

He sighed before quietly smiling. "I’ll make sure Vedas builds a Kingdom that even you would’ve wanted to live in," he said.

Arthur began heading back to the throne room but then paused and looked over his shoulder.

The white city stood quietly behind him.

No voices.

No footsteps.

No King.

Yet somehow...

It no longer felt lonely.

Arthur smiled. "Rest well. You’ve protected Dawn long enough."

Then he turned away.

"Dawn Awaken."

The white world instantly began cracking apart. Golden sunlight poured through the fractures, spreading wider and wider until the Sanctuary itself dissolved completely.

Outside, the city awakened once more.