The fog that once blanketed Goblin's Grove slowly dissipated, revealing a land soaked in blood, ash, and silence.
Lee Jun stood in the middle of what used to be farmland—now nothing but a battlefield. The scent of iron mixed with burnt soil filled the air. By his side, Kang Minho sheathed his blade, chest rising and falling with exhaustion.
"...Did we win?" Jun muttered.
Godon limped toward them, his body drenched in both enemy and ally blood. His red eyes weren't filled with rage—but grief. He knelt before Jun, head lowered, as if apologizing for failing to protect everything they had built.
But before Jun could speak, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[System assessment: Goblin's Grove successfully defended against a high-level assault.][Calculating individual contribution...][Top contributors: Lee Jun, Kang Minho, Godon][System rewards granted!]
Jun swallowed hard. After battles like these, something always came… but he hadn't expected this much.
🎁 System Rewards – Lee Jun
[Tameable goblin limit increased: 25 → 35][Summonable goblin limit increased: 5 → 10][New function unlocked: Assign Goblin Roles][Special item received: Evolution Needle x1]
A shimmering blue screen appeared in front of him, only visible to his eyes.
`[Assign Role]
Farmer
Guardian
Scout
Craftsman (Locked)]`
Jun stared at the menu. This was no longer just a field. It was a village. A community. And maybe now… a fortress.
A glowing item floated into his palm—the Evolution Needle, no larger than his thumb but pulsing with intense magical energy.
"With this… I can force the evolution of a goblin," he whispered.
He looked over at Godon, still kneeling. His grip on the needle tightened. "I'm not ready to decide just yet."
🪙 Loot from Gho'lran
Gho'lran's body lay collapsed among the wrecked herbal fields. Minho crouched beside the corpse, prying open the goblin leader's chest and pulling out a Crimson Mana Core—dark red and radiating mana.
Minho whistled. "This alone could sell for hundreds of millions. But feels too valuable to just cash in, huh?"
When Jun touched it, he felt an overwhelming surge of energy. Even Godon flinched from afar—his eyes flickering as though recognizing something ancient and terrifying.
From Gho'lran's belt, they retrieved a massive weapon—Gho'lran's Greatblade. Too heavy for humans, but possibly usable by an elite goblin. And beneath the armor, a strange black triangular shard—the Crown Fragment.
As Jun touched it, a single system message flashed:
[Unknown item detected. Function: Unavailable.]
But Godon—he reacted. Violently. His knees buckled, his teeth clenched. Something… awakened. Was it memory? Bloodline? Or something else entirely?
⚔️ Elite Goblin Loot
From the fallen elite goblins, they recovered:
2 obsidian daggers from the assassins, perfect for a Goblin Thief.
1 intact shaman staff, a rare tool—possibly for creating the first goblin healer.
1 damaged brute armor set, repairable for a frontline guardian.
"With these, we can finally form a proper defense unit," Jun murmured.
🛡️ System Reward – Kang Minho
Once again, the system's voice echoed—more respectful this time.
[Non-owner hunter detected: Kang Minho][Significant contribution to defense: Confirmed][Limited access granted][System reward issued]
Minho raised an eyebrow. "Huh? I get one too?"
[Access granted: Permission to enter Goblin's Grove without the owner][New skill acquired: Goblin Slayer's Insight (Passive)][Item acquired: Hunter's Pact Token]
A small medal appeared in his hand, etched with the symbols of a goblin and a shield.
"If I give this to one of your goblins," Minho said, "we'll be able to share training routines and even synchronize movements in combat. Wanna try it with Godon?"
Jun nodded silently. For the first time, he didn't feel alone here.
Nightfall crept over Goblin's Grove. In the distance, surviving goblins lit bonfires in memory of their fallen. Some cried. Some just stared at the sky in silence.
They had fought.They had bled.They had survived.
Jun stood amidst it all. In his left hand: the Evolution Needle. In his right: the Crown Fragment.
And within his heart… a whisper:
"This is only the beginning."