Thorian heightened his senses to their limits, his ears perked up and he sniffed the air continuously. However, he could neither hear nor smell anything but the natural sounds and scents of the wilderness.
I should still take the long way, just in case.
Thorian handed the makeshift bag to the kobold and said, “Hold this for me. Be careful not to drop it, or you will get hurt.”
The kobold grumbled but took hold of the axes as instructed. Nox, on the other hand, looked at Thorian with confusion.
“Sound not understand. Humans not understand,” Nox tapped Thorian, who returned a puzzled look. “Thoreen human understand?”
Thorian's mind went blank at Nox's statement before he regained his composure.
Of course, this should be the natural reaction. Low-level kobolds shouldn't be able to understand human speech.
“Yes, I do understand the words of the humans,” Thorian responded confidently. “I’m sure you will too when the time comes.”
Once you become a Kobold champion, you definitely will.
Thorian then turned to the two humans and said, “We will be going to our cave. That will be your residence for the next few hours.”
With their destination set, Thorian guided the group through the longest path possible to the cave, confusing his two followers. However, Thorian wanted to provide as many opportunities for potential ambushers to reveal themselves before they reached a sensitive area like their home cave.
It took an hour to reach their destination, and by the end of it, the old man could barely walk, even with Thorian's support. Though his frame was sturdy due to his menial job, this level of exertion would tire anyone, regardless of age.
By the time they reached the cave, it was already deep into the afternoon. Though he didn't have an accurate clock, Thorian estimated that they had three to four hours before dusk.
“Consider this place your home for the next few hours,” Thorian guided the old man and sleeping child inside. “I apologize for the slight mess.”
As the old man entered, he immediately scrunched his nose and furrowed his eyebrows. Despite his fatigue, the lingering smell took him aback.
I would clean this place, but I have neither the tools nor the time to do so. Oh well, today will be our last here.
“Gentlemen,” Thorian announced to the kobloids sleeping and resting. “I'm afraid the time for rest will be short today.”
The pack of monsters groggily woke up, much to the old man's terror. His eyes widened as he saw the monsters from folktales filling the cave.
Thorian turned to the night kobloid and asked, “Can I trouble you with a task?”
Nox frowned before guessing, “Humans me protect?”
“Yeah, I want you to keep an eye on them,” Thorian replied.
The night kobloid thought for a few seconds before nodding, “Me humans protect.”
“Good,” Thorian then turned to the kobold who was eyeing the human pair, “You can put down the axes, we’re going to distribute them now.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The kobold set down the makeshift sack with a grunt, the sixteen axes clanging on the hard ground. Thorian, on the other hand, looked back at the kobloids who were slowly standing up and stretching.
“Everyone, come here.” The pack of monsters walked toward Thorian with grunts and growls, nearly waking up the little child. “All of you, take one axe each.”
The kobloids looked at the unfamiliar tools, unsure of what to do. One of them approached and grabbed the axe by the edge of its blade.
“Stop,” Thorian interrupted the display of ignorance and stupidity before him. “What in all the seven hells are you doing?”
Do I need to explain everything?
Thorian sighed and properly grabbed the axe from its handle, then swung it a couple of times in the air to demonstrate its use. “This is how you grab it. This is how you handle it.”
With Thorian’s demonstration, the kobloids were at least able to hold the axes properly by their handles. However, using them was another matter entirely.
One of the kobloids grasped the axe handle with a smile, attempting to swing it as Thorian had demonstrated. However, after just one swing, the axe flew from his hand and hurtled toward Thorian’s face. For a second, Thorian saw his short life flash before his eyes as he ducked, narrowly dodging the projectile.
Thorian’s mind went blank at the incredible turn of events.
Is this a rebellion? Thorian glared coldly at the perpetrator before noticing the kobloid's frozen expression. No, he is just stupid.
“Okay, some training is in order here,” Thorian concluded. “None of you swing the axes, just hold onto them. Is that understood?”
Thorian made sure to say the last three words as clearly and slowly as possible. Only when all the kobloids nodded did he breathe a sigh of relief.
After all the kobloids took one axe each, there were three axes left. They were for Thorian, Nox, and the large kobold. However, since Nox was staying in the cave for the time being, Thorian handed an axe to the large kobold and kept the last two for himself.
No need to keep a weapon here. It will just bring trouble.
With the preparations in place, Thorian led the small army of kobloids toward the Territory Altar. On their way, he noticed the large kobold looking at his axe and grumbling to himself.
I should clear the air now before whatever is in his mind brews any longer.
“What’s on your mind?” Thorian gestured at the kobold with his head. “Is something troubling you?”
The kobold looked at Thorian before growling, “Axe useless! Claw strong!”
“Oh, so that’s what it was,” Thorian chuckled at the simplicity of the comment. He then pointed at a nearby tree, its trunk large and sturdy. “You see that tree, do you think you can cut it with your claws?”
The kobold’s eyes widened for a second as he looked at the tree before puffing out his chest and saying, “Claw strong! Tree weak!”
The kobold took a stance before charging at the tree with all his might. He then used all the kinetic energy and momentum he had to deliver a powerful strike with his claws.
“Awoo!”
Thorian covered his forehead with his palm and shook his head as the kobold screamed in pain. Observing his pitiful appearance, Thorian couldn’t help but wonder, Is he a kid?
The pack of kobloids circled the kobold, who was rolling on the ground in pain. Some looked concerned, but others chuckled under their breath.
Looking at the tree, the kobold’s strike wasn't without effect. It left a deep gash in the trunk. However, it was far from enough to cut it down, and certainly wouldn't have resulted in a clean cut.
After a minute or so, the pain subsided, and the kobold stood up with a neutral face. He would have almost made everyone believe he was fine if not for the fact that he was hiding his hand behind his back and his legs were slightly shaking.
“Okay. Now that you've seen what happens if you do that, check out the power of using an axe,” Thorian did not comment on the kobold’s obvious state and just walked leisurely toward the tree.
He grabbed the axe’s handle with both hands and took a stance in front of the damaged tree. With one fluid motion, he struck the same area the kobold’s claws had damaged earlier.
Seeing that the tree wasn't cut from one strike, the kobold painfully chuckled, “Axe weak. Claw stronger.”
Thorian rolled his eyes at the comment but didn't address it. He simply struck again, and the cut went a little deeper this time. One strike followed the next with a stable rhythm, and before long, the large tree fell to the ground.
The sound of the tree crashing onto the rocks and dirt provided the perfect backdrop for the kobold’s shocked expression. Both his eyes and mouth opened wide at the sight before him.
“This is the power of an axe,” Thorian explained, his eyes scanning all the kobloids. “Even though one strike might not be strong, you can do many. With each strike, you can cut a little bit deeper, until even the largest and strongest trees fall.”