Lord Of Goblins

"Who da f.u.c.k do you think you are, tiny!?"

Says the leader of the three goons before spitting on the ground - aiming at Gherm even though he's too far away for it to reach him, his warts covered face contorted into an ugly sneer.

Rak had to agree, why would a small and cowardly creature such as Gherm stand in the way of Vyrga's minions. As far as he knows, there is no relation between Gherm and any of the other weaklings. Even if there was, the reason he chose to target Gherm is because he's the type that wouldn't stick their neck out for anyone, no matter their relation. The only person Gherm would try to save is Ghorza, but even for her, he wouldn't clash face to face against any adversaries. Instead, he'd try to placate them into leaving her alone.

"I asked you who da f.u.c.k you think you are!?", repeats the peeved thug as he glares at the silent tiny fellow greyborn who's showing a bemused expression.

The ugly brute takes a few steps closer trying to up his pressure to no avail. His anger turns into confusion as to why he's not getting a response from his strange adversary. He takes a thorough look at his adversary and can easily tell that he's no warrior, he then looks at what were supposed to be his victims only for them to flinch for grabbing his attention once again. He can tell from their confused gazes that they don't know who this bogey is.

Rak is now extremely confused. First, three of Vyrga's cronies try to pick a fight in his territory, but then Gherm stands in their way, and then the thugs threaten him to no avail as he just stares at them like if he's looking at garbage but does nothing. Rak bets that no one among the crowd that's gathering around those four, which includes him, can tell what's going on. This situation is just… bizarre.

"Hey, boss. I think I know who this is." declared the fatter one of the goons standing behind their bewildered leader.

"Finally some f.u.c.k.i.n.g info! Lay it on me, mate!" says the leader back, hoping to finally rid himself of this mystery and continue their assignment to please their master.

"This bugger's that bird Ghorza's brother! You know, the slag who refused to work for Vyrga.", answered the goon with a grin, not noticing the change in Gherm's expression - but his boss did.

"Oh! Look at this dipshit, you made him mad!", laughed the warty bastard out loud, displaying his rotten teeth to the world.

Then he suddenly stopped and glared at Gherm: "So what? We insulted that bitch sister of yours, what're ya gonna do about it? Nothing, cuz now I know who you really are. A bludger who got hurt when the tunnel collapsed. Guess you're now a mute and a retard too.".

Now Gherm was livid, but who wouldn't be if he's a powerless weakling getting barraged with insults by those stronger than him?

'At this point, he'd usually flash a harmless smile and try to apologize or something. Did the damage from the collapse really affect his mind? Should I interfere?', thought Rak, since though he hates weaklings, he has nothing against those who were forced to be weak due to either physical or mental ailments - he hasn't fallen that far yet. Like everyone, he's starting to pity the silent Gherm, but something in his mind told him that this isn't right. There's something wrong about this scenario and it's not what it appears to be. His instincts are telling him that there's something different about Gherm, and it isn't weakness.

The thug approaches Gherm and lowers his head to stare face to face with this nuisance before opening his mouth: "Do you wanna know what'll happen to her? After Vyrga clears this place from all the rabble standing in his way, she and all who refused to stand in their rightful, will suffer. If she refuses to become one of his c.o.c.k suckers, she'll become the local c.u.m dumpster!".

The rat-faced boss whispers in Gherm's ear: "It will be really fun when I root your future knob jockey of a sister. She'll be so overused that no sane man would want to touch her, but don't you worry. I'll keep her as my piggy when I kill your sorry a.s.s after I f.u.c.k her right in front of your eyes and there's nothing you can do, is there, ya walking head job?".

"There is one thing.".

"Oh, so you can ta- ghrrrrr!!!", gurgles the leader from his own blood while grabbing his slit throat. He backs away a few steps and turns to his stunned compatriots for help before Gherm grabs him by the c.h.e.s.t.

"It's ridding this world from unneeded filth.".

Gherm repeatedly stabs his enemy's stomach with the obsidian knife that no one knew he had on himself, spilling his guts on the floor.

"Ah…", the dying thug utters one last gasp with bloody tears falling down his face as he departs from this world to the next.

"So… Wanna join your boss?", Gherm asks nonchalantly as he looks at the two remaining thugs.

"You killed him… You killed Varg!", yelled the fat one with his silent and easy to overlook companion nodding with a look of shock at the current events.

'Can't blame him.', thought Rak, as who would have imagined the small and meek Gherm to butcher someone in cold blood. It's not something uncommon around here and the guards wouldn't care if a couple of slaves die in a fight, but what's uncommon is that Gherm, who should have been a cowardly weakling, not only took on a group of Vyrga's men but also took out their leader in one blow - it being a cheap shot doesn't matter.

"Yes I did and I also asked a question. Wanna join your boss?", replied Gherm in a slightly irritated manner - as if he was a scholar forced to deal with a foolish peasant.

"You don't realize what you just did, do you?", growled the thug as he could stand neither the sight of his friend's killer nor his attitude.

"I do. I not only interfered with Vyrga's business, I also killed one of his men, a lowly expendable subordinate sure, but still his subordinate; which means I'm now a target, but since he's already after my sister, am I not already a target? ARE WE NOT ALL TARGETS!?", roared Gherm shocking the crowd further. Then he points his finger at the thugs and continued his speech: "Every time! Every single time, you attack us, harass us, and abuse us! And for what!? Your stupid turf war!? You keep targeting us despite the fact that we're not Rak's men only to pretend that you aren't the cowards that you really are, thus making our already miserable lives as slaves more miserable! Even though you are also fellow slaves, fellow greyborns, you prey on us to inflate your own ego; but I say enough is enough!", he declares, spreading his arms wide in the air, and as he gazes at the crowd, he continues his speech, but with a soft tone that kept rising to a crescendo. "Though I do not have the right to represent you, I am one of you. I suffer from what you suffer, I feel the same pain that you feel, I curse our fate like you all do, and I despair as you all do. Don't we suffer enough due to the sins of our ancestors? Do we need more suffering in our life? Do we need more pain in our life!? DO OUR LOVED ONES NEED MORE LOSS IN THEIR LIVES!?".

"No!", yelled one slave, an old man with one eye; returning life into the stunned crowd.

"We've had enough!".

"Get out of here you bastards!"

"Pick on someone else, you pieces of shit!".

"Don't f.u.c.k with us!".

"ENOUGH!", yelled the silent one seething with rage as he points his knife at Gherm.

"You think just because this wanker managed to kill Mog that you can take us on!? Do you think that if you even think about taking us on, we'll let you go!? If you forgot who we work for, let me remind you of who we work for. We work for Vyrga! One of the sickest f.u.c.ks in the entire world! Heck, he even skinned his own parents alive and left them to bleed to death in public for trying to stand in his way! He even sold his wife and two daughters to the upper class just to gain an advantage over his enemies! You think that if you defy us, defy HIM, it'll end pretty!? No, it won't! So once I gut this f.u.c.ker like a pig, you better be ready to learn your place! You're weaklings and your only value is to serve those who're stronger than you!".

The crowd started to waver as fear gripped their hearts. They tried to act strong and stand up to their bullies, but in the end, it's an act. After all, they are what they are.

'So, in the end, they lower their heads. Typical.', thought Rak to himself as he looks in disgust at the weak cowards. It was over, he told himself. He knows that these people would never stand up to themselves against a stronger entity, as long as they're not backed by another strong entity. And he won't pull out his neck for their ilk. Never again…

"So what?", asks Gherm, surprising everyone once again. "So what if we're weak? so what if you're stronger than us? Does that mean we should serve you? Does that mean we should grovel in the mud and let you step on us, feed off of us, **** our loved ones, and make our lives a nightmare for as long as we live? No! I refuse to live such a life!", he declared. "When I almost experienced death, my life flashed before my eyes and can you guess what I found out?", he paused for a moment catching the attention of the crowd, then he yelled: "It's not worth living! An existence where I slave away for the likes of your master isn't a life at all, it's hell! And since I'm already in hell, I'll fight! We should all fight! Yes, we're weak! Yes, we're cowardly! But together we can accomplish the impossible! If against all odds, we can't stand on our own two feet, we can lean on each other! For in unity there's strength. SO LEND ME YOUR STRENGTH AND I'LL LEND YOU MINE!".

"Gherm! Gherm! Gherm! Gherm!", cried the crowd in unison; with enough strength to stun the thugs and make them quake in fear.

The fat one was backing away while his companion took a deep breath, steeled his nerves and charged at Gherm; his knife ready to reap a life in his left hand!

"Look Out!", cried the old man from before, but he didn't need to. Gherm already prepared his stance and held his knife in a hammer grip.

The thug struck down with his knife, only for Gherm to dodge to his right out of the blow's way and slash with his own knife aiming for his opponent's wrist. The thug managed to move his arm just in time to evade the attack and backed away.

Both of them were circling around each other, waiting for their adversary to show any weakness that they could exploit. And it seems that Gherm slipped as he focused his guard mostly on his right side, leaving his left exploitable to any attacks.

The thug suddenly charged again at Gherm and managed to close the distance in a moment. He slashed with his knife at Gherm's left arm managing to score a nasty gash on his lower arm. He originally aimed at Gherm's wrist, but Gherm managed to deflect the blow, but not fully alter its trajectory. He instead initiated a counter-attack and successfully stabbed the thug in the right shoulder and twisted it before kicking him away, breaking his foe's stance and causing him to fall.

Gherm immediately jumped at the fallen thug and grabbed his knife with his left hand, while trying to stab him in the upper c.h.e.s.t, only for the thug to grab his wrist.

The thug struggled and almost managed to free his left hand, but in the end, he failed as the damage done to his right arm led to him being unable to keep control over Gherm's knife as it stabbed him in the c.h.e.s.t.

The thug howled and let go of his knife from the sheer pain, which led to his downfall as Gherm immediately thrust his blade into the thug's heart.