Battlefield- Evolution

by Daniel Dragon

  “Are you sure? I could try and hide you in these mountains… If you go deep into the caves, the werewolf shouldn’t be able to smell you.” Dracon replied, cracking his knuckles as he looked into her brown, beady eyes.

  In just a single day with him her eyes had turned brighter and were pleasant to look at, so because of that he thought of alternatives to bringing her to the city… Could he really just leave her in the mountains, or wait… would he just be able to leave without telling the werewolf? However, if he did try and run from the werewolf, that might cause suspicion and make him its target…

  With his scent, even if he changed form, he’d still smell the same unless get got a class with an anti-tracking skill! Unfortunately, he needed to learn more skills to be able to deceive more demons before he thought of trying to flee from this territory.

  “I’m coming with you… Just let me sleep 5 hours a night and I’ll make sure I keep working from dusk to dawn…” Waal responded as he finished his thoughts. “However, what do you have to do to turn into a kobold… Also, where are you going to find a kobold?”

  “I… I need a reason to kill demons to transform into them, and perhaps in this town I’ll find one that’s an easy kill,” Dracon looked around the mountains before he sighed, lashing the horses forward as the sun started to set in the sky… “However, look… do you see that?”

  Dracon made it to the top of the hill before he saw the ruins of an old city a few miles away, full of large skyscrapers, that shattered his illusion that the old world didn’t exist.

  He’d seen history books in his classes with demons, filling him with tales of how humans had destroyed themselves and asked for the demons to invade because of their stupidity. However, to him, it was a half fallacy since he’d never seen any remnants of the previous humans…

  Now, though, by the ocean a few miles away there were dozens of large buildings and houses covered in sand and full of various lush plants. He turned away from the city, trying to stay calm, as he went further up the hill with Waal by his side.

  At the top, surprisingly, only three hobgoblins were in front of the gates.

  Chapter 9: MEss Hall

  “Leader Najd just went to his other village… What are you doing here hobgoblin?”

  “I just spoke to a werewolf on the way here… He said come here because he needs someone to transport the delicious meat…”

  “Heh, you scum bag,” The goblins pointed him towards the large wrought iron gates as he pushed Waal onto the floor. The hobgoblins all laughed as he entered into the city, finding the familiar smell of blood and dirt in the air as Dracon made it past a large series of tents…

  These tents were much larger than the tents he lived in previously before he fought in the battlefields, but they were still full of the same cots and the same dreams and the same disgusting scent.

  He walked past the tents and towards the large series of buildings in the distance. In his dreams in the past, he had wished to always go to these buildings when he was back in BlackRock City, and now he was pulling his cart into one of them.

  “Give me a rope so I can tie this thing up!” Dracon said, pulling Waal by the neck as a few goblins laughed and ran over to him.

  He was only level 5, but by being a hobgoblin he’d earned their respect. They all knew because of the hierarchy system that if he said a word to Najd, they could be sent away to their deaths.

  The goblin’s showing him to his room in the mess-hall were thus extremely nice, and took his carriage into a nearby barn…

  “You… you must be the replacement for the hobgoblin we lost a few weeks ago in the woods. They say he was eaten by an extremely ferocious wolf!”

  “What kind of wolf could kill a hobgoblin… Watch your mouth!” Dracon replied, pulling out his sword and putting it against the a goblins neck – it seemed to have both green and red skin… “Tell me where you heard this!”

  “It’s because of the the mana that we goblins brought to earth… Some of the creatures high up on the mountains were exposed to more mana than others… Because of that, they are sometimes bigger, faster, and stronger than normal creatures… A few wolves have even tried to attack orcs and kill them!”

  So… so the rumors were true… There really are other things out there that the demons have to worry about… Dracon thought as he nodded his head. “Tell me… will I be safe here?”

  “Heh… as long as Najd is around, you’ll be fine, however, what’s with the girl? Most hobgoblins would disdain traveling with something they have to feed—”

  “I get bored, and she entertains me… Do you see how thin she is? Come here Waal!”

  Dracon pulled on the rope around Waal’s neck and grabbed her by the head before pulling on her hair. She instantly looked terrified before Dracon grabbed at her neck.

  “You see that look of terror… That’s entertaining!”

  “Hah, I like you, but I still wouldn’t keep anything I have to feed… Anyways, I’ll show you to your room.”

  Dracon nodded his head and pulled Waal by the string, picking up some food to his side and eating it as all the goblins cleared the way for him.

  He made it a few minutes later to a modest sized room on the second floor of the mess hall. It was a small wooden room with just a bed and a sink and toilet. For him, however, it was like a dream come true, and it even had its own bath for him to wash off in any time he wished…

  “This is your place… In the morning, you’ll transport all the food that we get from the battlefield to either Grande City or Staverton Hill… Now… would you like us to bring up food, or would you like to come down to eat…”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Dracon raised his hand, sitting on the bed as he tied Waal into the corner, wrapping the rope around her neck… “I’ll be down in a few minutes… I want to rest before I eat any meal…”

  ‘Try not to hurt her too much… If she screams, Najd might kill her in the middle of the night… Also, don’t make any sounds when the moon is out…”

  “Does he transform like the tales speak of?” Dracon said, waddling his eyebrow as the half hobgoblin turned to leave the room. “Does his level increase like I’ve heard so much about?”

  “It not only increases, but it can double depending on the type of full moon and the werewolf. Once a year, on the harvest moon, they can even get as strong as a level 50 vampire… Most werewolves, however, peek at level 35 max on the full moon…”

  Dracon smiled and let the half hobgoblin leave before he immediately walked over to Waal and took the rope off from around her. Her face had turned red from how he’d wrapped the rope around her, and he could only sigh as she coughed on the floor…

  He pulled some food out of his pocket and passed it to her, at this moment, trying his hardest to apologize in anyway he could for his horrible treatment…

  “You’re being too nice… It’s going to haunt you,” Bob appeared in his head, causing him to suddenly jump back… “If she gains too much weight, they are going to realize you were overfeeding her…”

  I can always come up with something else to say when that happens… Now… Do you mind telling me if there is any way you can download a map now that I’m level 5…? I’d eventually like to get as far away from BlackRock as possible…

  “You’re sort of screwed… Until either the werewolf dies or you get a stronger master, you’ll probably forced to work here… However, I got an idea… Why don’t you go kill some of those wolves in the forest… They probably give just as much experience as kobolds…”

  I don’t know if I want to risk it… I don’t really have anything that the hobgoblin I replaced probably had in terms of weapons, and he still died… The only thing I have is the skill silent feet, which I’m pretty sure hobgoblins can learn…

  “You… you need to find somewhere to get stronger fast, though…” Bob replied, sounding somewhat aggravated as he replied to Dracon… “Someone is probably chasing you right now, and you have to be careful�
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  “Are… are you okay,” Waal said, getting up and bowing… “If there is something I can do to help you, please tell me now…”

  “Waal… clean everything in this room until I can see my reflection in every single part of it… Do it or I’ll hoist you up on the wall and make a sculpture out of your body!”

  “Yes! Sorry Drack….” Waal bowed and immediately rushed over to get a cleaning supply, tripping on the way to it and hitting hard against the bed.

  Dracon covered his head with chagrin and walked over to her, picking her up and placing her on the bed. He sighed and sat next to her, rubbing her genlty on the head as blood dripped from her skull…

  “Sleep and recover,” Dracon whispered as lightly as he could, feeling sure that no one was listening. “When you wake up, however, clean until you can barely move… I promise to give you two meals until I’m stronger…”

  “I… I’m sorry… My leg… It—”

  “I’m getting out of here now wench!” Dracon got up and crossed his arms, walking to the door and slamming it on his way out.

  He sighed, looking left and right, before heading down and exiting the mess hall. When he made it outside, Najd had already returned, and dozens of humans were being put in various tents as he approached. It took Najd just a moment to walk past him, and he smiled as he looked down at Dracon.

  “You aren’t eating any humans, are you? I smell their blood on your hands…”

  “Ah, That’s just Waal… I chocked her till her blood spilled on me… It’s the least I can do for fun!”

  “You’re like me but in hobgoblin form… I love eating the flesh of women… How much do I have to give you to take her off your hands…?”

  ‘Take her off my hands? What do you mean?” Dracon replied, raising his brow as he looked at the werewolf in front of him and his brown frightening eyes.

  “I like the scent of that girl… I smelled her when I passed by your carriage… She has a rare scent on her that I hardly sense on humans… I’m not sure what just happened to her, but— would you mind bringing her down for supper…”

  “I…I borrowed her from a vampire that she used to serve… I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, but I can’t give her without permission!”

  “I see… well, werewolves and vampires are almost on the same rank… Tell me who your master is and—”

  “Sir… come quick… A werewolf is here to see you…” An orc ran over, wiping sweat off his head as Dracon bowed his head… The werewolf sighed and walked away, turning to Dracon as he lowered his head to him…

  “That girl can remain yours for a few more months before I find your master and make a deal,” the werewolf smiled and walked off with the orc. “However, fatten her up a little bit so I can enjoy the meal more!”

  “Yes, of course! Of course!” Dracon replied, wiping the sweat of his head as a feeling of panic rose up inside of him…. Najd now wanted to eat the one girl he’d gone out of his way to save!

  Would he be able to save her? Only if he got stronger!

  Suddenly, his fear of the woods diminished rapidly, and he turned and looked at the mountains as tons of horrible outcomes surfaced in his mind… He had his sword in the bag that he’d acquired from the hobgoblin he’d killed at the farm, and latched onto the strings as he took a step towards the lush growth.

  I guess you were right Bob… Looks like I’ll be hunting my own meat for a few nights… However, do you think the sword would let me transform into a wolf?

  “I… I can’t read anything new about the sword with the low amount of mana you have…” Bob replied, sounding somewhat pissed at himself for his lack of ability. “I… I usually have access to roughly 1000 mana at each terminal… Until you have that, you won’t have access to half of my abilities…”

  I’m going to try and see if I can transform into a wolf… That would make it much easier to travel around, right? If I can turn into a big wolf, I heard I’d be able to travel as fast as the wind…

  “Are you talking about the tales you learned back in school at BlackRock? Those are all exaggerations to make you scared of the forest… I’m sure that hobgoblin probably just died because he was careless… Either that, or he’s still alive and trapped underneath a large rock…”

  Dracon stopped thinking about it, and traveled towards the mountain with large steps. Since he didn’t have any missions from Najd, there was no reason he couldn’t head in that direction and enter the forest…

  If someone asked, he could just say the half hobgoblin had told him about this place…. Still, he started to get nervous the further he got into the thicket. A few meters in, he could hear the howls of beasts that were most likely the wolves he’d heard about during that earlier conversation…

  I’m guessing there is a reason these wolves are alive… Perhaps because we live in the territory of a werewolf he’s sympathetic to them?

  Maybe if I kill them, he’ll end up killing me because of it?

  “Don’t worry,” Bob said, making a spitting sound as Dracon walked forward. “You… you think he cares about animals on Earth? He probably just didn’t want to kill anything that would keep humans from escaping…”

  “I still don’t trust you…” Dracon said as he passed by more and more trees. In a few minutes, he actually found himself getting closer and closer to the top of the mountain. Because of his sharp nails on his lower appendages, he was able to walk up large hills no matter the inclination.

  He made it further and further up the mountain until he finally saw what looked like a large brown beast currently fording a small stream… He gulped as he saw its massive body, standing almost 3 meters tall from head to toe…

  What the hell is that?! Dracon thought as it slowly started charging towards him. He… He really wished at this moment that he learned Mana Arrow… He instantly transformed into a goblin and climbed up to the top of a nearby tree…

  Turning back into a hobgoblin he looked down at the large beast as he shook in fright… What the hell was that thing, and why the hell was it so fast?

  Chapter 10: nature vs pride

  Waal stayed in the room cleaning as she heard a knock on the door. She was frightened from the knock, but also couldn’t say a word because that would be disrespectful to Dracon….

  A few seconds later, though, she heard a sigh, and a gentle voice entered through the door like a waft from a vase of roses…

  “Dear… I know you’re in there… I came to ask you who the vampire you used to work for was because that would mean you’re special to him… I wanted to come and ask why you’re with a hobgoblin now…”

  “I… never learned his name… Please… please come in!” Waal walked over and opened the door, trying her hardest to hide her limp as she turned the knob. She leaned back and saw a man standing in front of her that was seven feet tall…

  The man had hairy arms and a muscular physique that made him look especially handsome under the setting sun. However, judging by the large amount of hair on his arms, she was instantly wary of him.

  Werewolves could transform into humans and were also able to transform into what was called their enhanced state… She could tell he was a werewolf because of the silver and black hair on his wrists as well as his strangely yellow eyes.

  Najd walked in a second later, and sat down on the mattress, feeling it and inviting the girl to sit next to him…

  The atmosphere seemed to grow only stranger as he took a rose out of his pocket and passed it to the girl…

  “You… you smelled like this when I found you,” Najd said, putting the flower by her as she sat down and looked towards him… “This smell reminds me of my childhood… It is one of my favorite smells in the entire world… What would I have to do to get you to come work for me?”

  “I… I’m flattered, but I can’t do that… If I do that, my master would be troubled… Now… what else did you come here to ask?”

  “Ah, about the reason why you smelled like this flower, and what
vampire chose you… I… I was hoping to send a messenger to him and ask about you… I’d normally be able to pick up the scent of a vampire, but I can’t smell it on you…”

  “Ah, he gave me to Dracon when I was fifteen after having me for two years… However, as for the flower, I used to pick it in the back of the barn I used to work at… I never told Dracon because it would’ve got me in trouble…”

  ‘So… It’s all just a coincidence… I actually thought you belonged to this famous vampire that lives by the Baltic sea. He lives by what used to be called Germany,” Najd brushed back Waal’s hair before he noticed a strange smell pervading the air…

  What was that hobgoblin doing?

  Was it worth saving him if what he was smelling was correct?

  After a moment, he decided it would be better to try and save him, considering finding a good hobgoblin to transport supplies was tough.

  “Heh, your boss is fighting a bear!” Najd said, getting up and turning to look at the window… “I’ll be back for you in two weeks so we can talk again about your experience with the vampire… I have to go make sure our new guest doesn’t’ die…”

  “Thanks for visiting,” Waal said, getting up and bowing as Najd walked out the door. A moment later, though, she had to hold back her tears as she felt the strange sensation of death lingering around her.

  That werewolf wanted to eat her, and he wasn’t hiding it, but at the same time was charming like he wanted to make her happy before she died…

  This reminded her of what she used to think about all the time…

  Who would get to devour her if she failed? She grabbed onto the pillow and covered her face before turning to look out the window…

  She saw a blur heading towards the forest, and could only wonder if Dracon would be okay… What could he possibly have done in an hour to get in trouble?