Chapter 103: Prophet Wants More Evolution
The battlefield lay behind them now, though the air still smelled faintly of smoke. Broken horns littered the ground beside patches of burned earth, and lightning occasionally danced across cracked stone as the last of the storm’s residue drained away.
Arthur followed the golden trail from the King’s Mark as it wound between enormous boulders. Everyone stayed alert, and nobody spoke louder than a whisper. Luka kept glancing toward the northern forest, her expression tight with worry.
Arthur noticed and gently tapped her shoulder as she walked beside him.
[Species: Goblin]
[Goblin Spirit Channeler]
[Goblin Shadow Hunter]
[Goblin Wind Scout]
Arthur smiled to himself. "Another one," he murmured.
[Goblin Spirit Channeler]
[Requirements]
[Be recognized by a spirit: 1/1]
[Reach Level 10]
Arthur glanced at her sideways. "That shouldn’t take long," he said.
He suddenly remembered Mara nearby and reached out to check her as well.
[Species: Goblin]
[Goblin Rider → Goblin Beast Master → Goblin Beast Cavalier]
[Goblin Rider]
[Requirements]
[Tame any Beast: 0/1]
[Reach Level 8]
Arthur looked around at the rest of the group. "Looks like there are more," he said.
A young Goblin hesitated. "Arthur?"
Arthur looked over. "What is it?"
The Goblin swallowed. "Can all goblins evolve?"
Silence.
Arthur slowly looked around at everyone and then smiled. "Every Goblin I’ve looked at so far has one."
Nobody spoke.
One elderly Goblin quietly wiped away a tear. "Then can all of us become something helpful?"
Arthur nodded. "Of course. Don’t worry, everyone will evolve one day and look amazing."
Then one Mu Hunter whispered proudly. "The Prophet sees what the world can’t."
Arthur lips twitched at those words.
[Evolution Paths Analyzed: 10]
[Evolution Paths Discovered: 22]
Arthur stopped walking. Everyone turned to look at him.
Sun raised an eyebrow. "Problem?" he asked.
Arthur shook his head. "No," he said. "Opportunity."
One Mu Hunter immediately smiled. "The Prophet smiled."
Another nodded seriously. "That means someone is evolving."
Several Su Goblins looked around in confusion. "How do you know that?"
The Mu Hunter blinked. "Because that’s what always happens."
Another added proudly, "Remember he smiled and stared at one of you guys last time."
"Wait... he really did."
"When he does that, it means an evolution. It’s practically a law now."
Athena immediately opened her notebook.
Arthur looked toward Luka. "You’re one level away," he said.
Then toward Mara. "You too," he added.
He started scanning the rest of the group, one after another, and more windows appeared before his eyes. Several combat capable Goblins were all sitting exactly one level away from something waiting for them.
Arthur smiled. "We’re not reaching the Yan Tribe yet," he said. "So let’s get stronger first."
One of the Mu Tribe Hunters immediately spoke up. "No need to explain, Prophet," he said. "If you say it’s time to grow stronger, then it’s time to grow stronger."
Another nodded firmly. "The Prophet knows the path even the Su Tribe can’t see yet," she said.
The Su Tribe Goblins exchanged glances, some still uncertain, though a few were already nodding along with the same conviction as the Mu Tribe.
Sun smiled. "I like this plan," he said.
Several Crystal Boars emerged from behind a nearby rock formation, tusks lowered and hooves already digging into the dirt.
Arthur pointed. "Luka. Your turn."
She blinked. "By myself?"
Arthur nodded. "We’re here," he said.
She breathed deeply, gripping her bow, and stepped forward alone.
The first Crystal Boar charged, and she rolled aside, firing an arrow into its flank before it could recover.
A second boar came from the side, and she pivoted sharply, driving the point of her bow into its throat before finishing it with another shot.
The last one she brought down with a single clean arrow through its eye.
[Level Up!]
Blue light gathered around her instantly.
Faint figures briefly appeared behind her.
Old Goblin Hunters.
Ancient Archers.
Warriors carrying bows carved from bone.
They didn’t speak.
They simply smiled.
Then one by one they dissolved into light and flowed into Luka’s body. The spirit markings along her arms glowed brighter.
Athena forgot to write. "Beautiful..."
Even Vedas lowered his head slightly. "The ancestors accepted her."
Luka slowly opened her eyes.
For just a moment, they glowed pale blue.
[Spirit Arrow]
[Ancestor’s Guidance]
Everyone stared. Luka touched the markings along her arm. "Beautiful," she whispered.
Arthur smiled. "I knew you could do it," he said.
Luka slowly looked at him. "You really are a blessing to us Goblins."
"Nah, you guys are more of a blessing. Every since I met a Goblin, I been seeing so many amazing things."
Luka laughed and says. "What a humble person... No, a prophet I suppose."
Another nodded. "I told you."
The Mu Hunters all looked extremely satisfied.
[Evolution Paths Analyzed: 11]
[Evolution Paths Discovered: 23]
Athena wrote everything down without looking up.
A group of Iron Antelopes appeared next, and Arthur let Mara lead the fight herself. She moved quickly, using her daggers to weave between the charging beasts, and within minutes she had reached Level 8.
When Arthur asked what kind of Beast she wanted to bond with, Mara surprised everyone by saying she wanted a Crystal Deer. Arthur only grinned. "Sure," he said.
They found one after a short search through the rocks, and Arthur spent the next several minutes wearing it down while Melo healed it between each exchange, trying to coax it into accepting Mara. But partway through, Mara suddenly stepped in front of it, arms spread.
"I can find another beast," she said quickly. "No need for anymore."
Arthur blinked. "Are you sure? This one does look good."
Mara smiled, though her hands were trembling. "I’m," she started, unable to finish.
The Crystal Deer nuzzled gently against her shoulder, staring at her the way something stares at whoever just saved it.
It accepted her completely.
Arthur grinned. "Guess that settles that," he said.
One little Goblin gasped. "It chose her."
Another smiled. "The Prophet knew."
Sun raised a brow. "... They did see him beat up the deer right?"
"Details." Mithra says with a giggle.
"Beside the end result is the deer accepting. It’s acceptable." Athena says with an amused smile.
Sun groaned. "Why do I even bother... Also who keeps spreading the Prophet rumor?"
One of the Goblin Historian adjusted his robes. "A true prophet never accepts praise."
Sun stared and simply sighed in resignation.
[Goblin → Goblin Beast Rider]
Her leather armor shifted subtly, new reins forming across her shoulder.
[Beast Link]
Mara gasped the moment the skill activated. "Whoa," she said, feeling the deer’s calm settle over her own mind like a second heartbeat.
Arthur laughed. "Better?" he asked.
She grinned. "Much," she said.
[Evolution Paths Analyzed: 12]
[Evolution Paths Discovered: 24]
From there, the Chapter of the journey sped up. Arthur began checking Goblin after Goblin as the group continued moving, and every few minutes another evolution unfolded.
[Goblin Spearman]
[Goblin Spear Hunter]
[Goblin Javelin Thrower]
A quick skirmish against a pack of Ridgeback Wolves left the Spear Hunter breathing hard but victorious, his final javelin throw pinning the last wolf to a tree. Light wrapped around him seconds later, his spear splitting into three collapsible javelins strapped across his back.
Vedas quietly watched the Hunter testing his new javelins. "Stronger."
Arthur nodded. "And he’ll become even stronger."
Vedas looked toward Arthur. "You’ve changed everyone."
Arthur looked around.
The Hunters.
The children.
The new evolutions.
He smiled. "They’re doing that themselves."
Vedas didn’t argue and simply smiled.
[Evolution Paths Analyzed: 13]
[Evolution Paths Discovered: 25]
[Goblin Herbalist]
[Requirement]
[Gather 20 rare herbs 20/20 ]
[Reach Level 7]
The Herbalist gathered glowing moss from beneath a boulder while two Hunters distracted a small mana beast, and once she landed the final blow herself, alongside their support, green light wrapped around her hands, new markings spreading up her wrists.
Several Goblins immediately surrounded her. "Can you really identify herbs now?"
"Show us!" "What changed?"
The Herbalist laughed. "I know... I somehow just know."
Athena immediately interrupted. "Excellent. Please tell me everything."
The Herbalist laughed even harder.
[Evolution Paths Analyzed: 14]
[Evolution Paths Discovered: 26]
Arthur paired the next Goblin, a young Guard, with Sun for a short fight against a pair of aggressive Ridge Hawks. Instead of attacking, the young Goblin spent the entire fight shielding an injured Hunter who had been caught in the opening exchange, taking hit after hit without complaint.
[Level Up!]
[Goblin → Goblin Shield Bearer]
Arthur nodded approvingly. "You protected everyone," he said.
The young Goblin smiled proudly, straightening beneath his newly formed plated shoulder guard.
[Evolution Paths Analyzed: 15]
[Evolution Paths Discovered: 27]
Throughout all of it, the group never stopped moving. The leveling happened naturally as they traveled deeper into the mountains. Athena couldn’t stop writing. Mithra smiled every time another Goblin evolved in front of them.
Sun laughed. "You’ve turned this expedition into a mobile training camp," he said.
Arthur scratched his cheek. "Seems efficient," he said.
Athena glanced over at him after the fifth evolution in a row. "You’re looking at everyone now," she said.
Arthur grinned. "I can’t help it," he said. "What if I miss someone?"
Sun laughed. "You’re addicted," he said.
Arthur didn’t even bother denying it. "Maybe," he admitted.
Melo nodded seriously from his shoulder. "Evolution addict," she said.
Mithra smiled. "I think he’s been addicted since the Historian."
Arthur immediately answered. "No."
She raised an eyebrow. "...Really?"
Arthur thought. "Maybe it was with the Mu Tribes?"
Sun laughed. "So earlier."
Arthur sighed. "Definitely earlier."
Everyone laughed.
One Mu Hunter nodded. "So the Prophet does love helping others evolve."
The Historian shook his head. "The Prophet guides destiny."
Sun looked horrified. "He absolutely does not."
"Well... That would be pretty cool–"
"You shut up."
"Well it’s not like I can but it would be nice."
The Historian smiled. "Such humility."
Sun pointed at him. "You. You’re the problem."
The Historian looked genuinely proud. "Thank you."
Mithra burst into laughter.
"... This is all your fault Arthur."
Arthur scratched his cheek. "It wasn’t intentional, whatever I did."
Eventually Arthur noticed something shift beneath his skin. The King’s Mark grew warm, and then hot, the golden trail suddenly shining brighter than it had all day. Instead of continuing straight ahead, it curved sharply around an enormous cliff face.
Arthur slowed his pace. "It’s changing," he said.
Everyone followed close behind him as the trail grew brighter and brighter, until finally it stopped completely.
Arthur stepped around a massive boulder, and everyone followed.
They froze.
Dozens of Goblins stood hidden among the enormous rocks surrounding them, spears raised, bows already drawn, their camouflage so perfect that nobody had noticed them until this exact moment.
Several Yan Goblins blinked in surprise. "Visitors?" one of them said.
One lowered his spear slowly. Another turned toward Luka, recognition spreading across his face.
"Luka?" he said.
Luka’s eyes went wide. "They’re," she said, "they’re alive."
Relief swept through the Su Tribe instantly. Some laughed. Some cried outright. Mara wiped at her eyes.
"Thank goodness," she said.
Raku let out a long breath he seemed to have been holding for days. "This," he said. "This is the Yan Tribe."
Arthur didn’t answer right away. He turned slowly, looking back toward the destroyed battlefield they had just crossed, then back toward the hidden village tucked among the rocks. His brow furrowed.
"Wait," he said.
Everyone looked at him.
"Were they always here?" he asked.
The Yan Goblins exchanged strange glances among themselves. An old Goblin near the front smiled.
"You’ve got good eyes," he said. "Most people never find us."
One Mu Hunter nodded. "The Prophet knew the way."
One Mu Hunter immediately smiled. "I told you."
Another nodded proudly. "The Prophet always finds the way."
Arthur just laughed.