Island God: Going From Level 1 To World Ruler-Chapter 88: Risk
***EXTRA LONG Chapter***
He then glanced toward Bzzrt. "I know I can trust you to run your system well, Bzzrt. There is not much more I can ask of you. However, your Blood Essence sacks will be much more necessary during the game. The bog bombs were very effective during our orc siege mission. We will need many more for the battles in the game event."
Bzzrt nodded in acknowledgment.
"However," Midas continued, "You won’t need to sacrifice as much as you think. The blood we will harness from our enemies should be plenty enough to not only refill our lost sacks but also get extra essence for the future."
A slightly surprised look appeared on Bzzrt’s face for a split second.
"I hadn’t really thought about it, but now that you mention it, you’re right! Since we will be participating in actual warfare, we will attain much more blood than that of daily hunts done on the island." Bzzrt said, his tone optimistic.
’Thats settled too.’ Midas said inwardly, nodding to Bzzrt and turning. ’Everyone under me should be ready now. Or at least on the path to getting ready.’ He was relieved slightly. But then his brows furrowed. ’However, I can not take this event lightly. It is a dangerous event, not just a silly game with no stakes. Bloodshed will occur... I will need to slay many beings, including other humans.’
He hadn’t really faced this dilemma head-on before. Sure, he had gone through many things ever since coming here to Fell-Terra.
But he was still human after all. Slaying another person wasn’t something he was completely comfortable with.
’Hmm... but if that’s what it takes. I guess it is what it is.’ Midas coldly shrugged the thought off. He thought back to when he was facing the skeleton knights in the Ashen Hollow.
The quest was painful. It took him everything to not quit. His ambition proved itself that day.
Compared to that, a mere human life was something he was easily willing to give up.
’I can’t play by the rules of Earth. Many lives will need to be sacrificed for my victory.’ He sighed, looking down at his palms.
’It is a cruel fate though...’ He thought to himself, ’These primordial beings... why are they hosting this game? Is it for fun alone? Sure, victory over all others in this world is my goal, but it all feels slightly more dull when you realize it’s a scheme by other beings who are just as conscious as I am.’
His thoughts got pretty deep.
’But at the end of the day, it boils down to whether or not you try. We have all been forced into this game whether we like it or not. It’s not about finding out what the best outcome or path is. The path has already been laid down. Either I will die for the victory of another, or I will kill for my own triumph.’ He surmised that thought with this final line.
’Speaking of deaths...’ He glanced back at his subordinates, ’I don’t want many to die in this challenge. If possible, I want none to die.’
This thought supported his desire to recruit all the other goblins on Star Island. He wanted to unite the Star Island goblins eventually, anyway, but doing so before this challenge arrived was of utmost importance.
’On top of that, to guarantee my victory and the least amount of deaths possible, I also need to recruit one more being for this challenge.’ He grit his teeth, ’Sergalas... I will need to somehow convince him to help me. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet broken through into the second breath. By the time the event comes, I can only pray that I break through. After all, that will most likely strengthen me enough to at least have a better chance against Sergalas. Still, I doubt the second breath alone will be enough. I will need to convince that serpent using other tactics... but I don’t know how much he is willing to listen to me, since he probably hates me more than anything right now.’
The first and most important thing on Midas’s mind was breaking through into the second breath of the Nine Breath Circulation technique.
"Gool!" He called out, "Yemo!"
The two quickly presented themselves in front of Midas.
"How can I help!" Gool said, standing straight like a soldier.
"Yes, Master?" Yemo bowed.
"I’m giving a task to both of you. It is an important one, so I need you two to make sure it goes to plan." Midas prefaced. "All of the goblins on Star island... I need them under my rule by the time the event comes. That is my task given to both of you. Whether by diplomacy or by an iron fist, make sure all of the goblins on Star Island are unified under me."
Gool’s eyes lit up with awe as he heard this.
Yemo looked quite excited for it as well. He was the heir to the throne of being the goblin king, after all.
"Of course!" They both shouted in unison.
"Gool, you will be the leader. Make sure everything goes to plan." Midas said as his final orders.
Gool nodded, the two goblins quickly splitting from the rest of the group and exiting the scene.
Gool blew a whistle, calling for a mosquito to pick up both him and Yemo as they began their journey.
"To the southern shores! Let’s go to the goblin caves of Oga..." Gool said with a smile.
’Now then...’ Midas turned, preparing to depart.
"Lord Midas!" Dorhal called out, walking forward.
"Hmm? Whats the matter?" Midas asked nonchalantly.
"I know things are settled, but It still bothers me why our meeting was cut short. Just who is this Dorian guy?" Dorhal asked, a bit on edge.
"Oh... Dorian? He’s a man I summoned. Someone who was locked in a curse thousands of years ago or something like that. Don’t mess with him... he isn’t an ally or an enemy. Just a force of nature that I don’t want to poke at." Midas said, his tone serious a the end to showcase his intention.
He did not want Dorhal being arrogantly and potentially pissing Dorian off. He couldn’t imagine that going well in any way...
"I see... I won’t bother him then. But the main reason why the meeting being cut short made me uncomfortable was because I don’t think we have finished discussing all those who are yet to be captured under your rule, my liege." Dorhal said politely.
"What do you mean? When it comes to intelligent groups, are goblins not the last species we have yet to capture?" Midas asked, slightly confused.
"I wouldn’t exactly call them intelligent, but the cave trolls of Dema--Star island are also a commodity that I believe we should harness. They are strong. I’ve seen their might with my own two eyes. Their strength rivals that of a great white orc. I believe that when it comes to labor, they can assist us a lot. They may not be common, since they don’t ever like leaving their caves unless its to hunt for food. But still, they are out there in plentiful numbers." Dorhal addressed an issue that seemed to have been weighing on his mind.
Midas’s eyes widened with surprise, "I see... I guess thats another group I overlooked."
Since he had gotten the main four, he felt complete. But as time passed, he realized more and more that this island was still wild.
"Hmm... since I do not know, I will ask you. Do you think we will need another siege to subdue them?" Midas asked.
"Not at all. Those trolls are foolish. They would rather all perish than to surrender to anyone who is not their leader. They have no care for emotions, life, and death. They are morons, only following their natural urges and the orders of their leader." Dorhal replied.
"What do you suggest we do then? Since you said there are a lot of them, it will most likely need to be a high stakes operation." Midas retorted, his cogs beginning to spin.
However, Dorhal interjected.
"Send me alone. I should be plenty for those trolls." Dorhal instantly replied with a stone cold demeanor.
"What do you mean? Didn’t you say they were very strong?" Midas asked, slightly confused.
"Yes, but that’s a perfect reason for me to go. You see, they follow their leader above all else. But... that leader can change. The only thing that determines the right to rule in the troll world is... power. If I am stronger than their leader, I will gain control of all their ranks." Dorhal replied with a confident smirk, "So like I said... I should be plenty."
Midas was quite impressed by Dorhal’s self esteem. After talking it over with Bzzrt and the others, the commander was granted the task he desired. He accepted it humbly with a bow.
Midas was picked up by Bzzrt and taken to the main basecamp near the south.
By now, the place had completely transformed.
It was several times larger than before. The two bases looked incomparable.
Now, Midas’s base was a small village. Streets began at the outskirts, where miles of unforested land gave way to farming bog plants and food vegetables as well.
Several small huts were scattered across the outskirts of the main base, with small river systems and sewage canals flowing throughout.
As you got closer, you were met with a long wall of spikes that guarded the main base.
