Pokey scurried backward as his vision darkened. Once again, the swordmaster's strike hurt.
A lot.
This wasn't some simple sparring session. This was the fight of their lives. A chance to prove themselves to the Chief Deity, a privilege not even the greater tribes ever enjoyed.
Simply dodging wasn't enough. His attempts to buy time were the entire reason he was struck.
Narrowing his eyes, Pokey gripped the spear tighter, watching the swordmaster's approach carefully.
An approach that, once again, offered no openings he could see.
"Fight! Fight!"
The crowd clamored, completely enthralled by the match.
As the swordmaster approached, Pokey slowed his breath. Waiting for the inevitable, he noticed everything surrounding him slow down.
The crowd, the swordmaster, even his still breath.
All that remained was his spear and the swordmaster's guard.
His sword hung a few inches ahead of his torso, raised at an 80-degree angle. The swordmaster's dominant leg led the charge, giving him ultimate balance.
However, with his heightened focus, Pokey found something.
A potential break.
Instead of running away, this time he would go toward the swordmaster.
This was because a spear's length wasn't its only strength.
"Grah!!!" Pokey screamed as he charged, raising his spear to the top of his torso.
Once he was just a few feet away, Pokey thrust forward with all of his might. Out of instinct, the swordmaster raised his sword and blocked the spear like he had a million times before.
This time, Pokey didn't stop there.
Using the momentum he gained, Pokey turned around in a complete 360-degree arc, instantly changing levels.
Thwack!!
The spear collided directly with the side of the swordmaster's thigh.
He swung his sword in response, striking from the top.
Instantly dropping to a squat, Pokey raised his spear handle at the same time. Continuing its indomitable swing, everyone gasped.
Did they have a winner?
Was Pokey not fast enough?
For just a moment, Pokey grinned.
Somehow, the slightest edge of his handle had caught the sword. Somehow, he was still in it.
More than that, the swordmaster's guard was wide open. All he had to do was raise his spear and angle it properly.
Swish!
Colliding directly with his chest, the swordmaster's boot sent Pokey sprawling. He had been far too focused on the sword to notice the kick.
'No!' Scooting backward, Pokey did his best to rise to his feet again.
All the while, the swordmaster casually picked up Pokey's spear before approaching.
"You've grown stronger," he said, his voice dripping with pride and not mockery. It was like a mentor finally seeing his favorite student rise to the challenge.
But Pokey didn't want to be a student.
Digging his hands into the sand, Pokey glared at the approaching defeat. There had to be something he could do.
Anything.
'Me fails our god,' Pokey thought with disgust as a shadow loomed over him.
Looking up at the swordmaster, Pokey saw only one way to victory. A dishonorable one surely. However, he would regain that honor by becoming the greatest goblin leader ever.
Scooping a pile of sand in his hand, Pokey hid it until the last moment when the swordmaster raised his sword and asked, "Do you surrender?"
"Never! Me never surrenders!!" Pokey screamed, flinging the sand into the swordmaster's eyes with everything he had.
Thud.
Pokey's spear landed on his chest at the same time the swordmaster's now free hand held Pokey's at bay. Of course, he had seen through his own pupil's deceit.
More than that, though...
He had technically won using Pokey's own weapon.
"It's I," the swordmaster said as he moved aside Pokey's spear with his sword. "I never surrender. Or I'll never surrender. Either works here."
Then he gently tapped Pokey's chest, a gesture he knew all too well. It was how the swordmaster ended every spar he won.
Because he knew the other side would never give up. He knew that until defeat was assured, the opposition would fight.
Therefore, he never counted his victory until there was no question who really won.
Tears welled in Pokey's eyes as reality settled in.
He wasn't a great goblin and he couldn't make it up. He would never be something he's not: a leader.
All he could ever do was follow. Even if the order was something horrible, like capturing their god for food.
"Quit crying," his new leader commanded. "Our god approaches. It would not look good if his second in command was a sniveling mess."
'Se-'
'What that mean?' Pokey thought, too confused to continue crying.
...
[Lukas's PoV]
'That was a very close fight,' Lukas thought as he walked down from his platform, led by a few goblins. Alara followed shortly after.
When he approached the two fighters, Lukas raised an eyebrow at Pokey. For some reason, he didn't seem nearly as distraught as Lukas thought he would.
'Good. Even if he lost, he fought valiantly.'
Turning aside to the victor, Lukas cast a wide smile as he said, "Congratulations on your victory, uh... What's your name?"
A collective gasp emerged from the crowd, as if he had just asked the goblin's biggest secret. The winner and Pokey both shared a disbelieving gaze with each other.
For a second, they shared some sort of mental conversation—hopefully one that wouldn't end with 'Eat god!'—before the victor turned to Lukas.
Speaking low but deliberately, he said, "S-sorry sir, but we have none. The Goblin Lord and higher tribes strictly forbid it."
With this revelation, multiple things were swirling through Lukas's mind. Now that they were revealed, such as there being other, stronger goblin tribes that held some sort of authority over them, he still couldn't wrap his head around no one here having names.
Wasn't that simply stupid?
"Well, is there a name you would like?" Lukas asked, casting a signature smile.
The second he asked the question, both of the goblins became overwhelmed with emotions. They quickly placed their hands to their chests and then rose to attention, like Lukas was some kind of drill sergeant.
Only they were operating purely from loyalty, not fear.
Trembling but doing his best to keep his composure (and failing miserably), the victor said, "Whatever name you would designate to me!"
'So eloquent,' Lukas thought with a smile before continuing, "Okay then. Uh, let's do Fred."
Almost instantly, Lukas silently cringed. He had subconsciously chosen one of the dumb names his brother gave to his sims. One of the few gaming things he actually remembered.
However, Fred seemed to love it. His entire body trembled as he said, "Thanks," over and over.
At the same time, his system notifications started assaulting him, one after another.
[Leader: Fred chosen. Unlocked Divine Army interface]
[Name: Fred assigned to [Whelp] Goblin]
[Beginning evolution process]