CHAPTER 214: SUBMISSION

Eli came to a halt a few paces from them, his expression unreadable, his voice cutting cleanly through the thick air.

"Your chief is dead," he said, his tone calm but heavy. "Along with every other goblin from your clan who isn’t standing here right now."

The words landed like stones in still water—no one spoke, no one dared to move. The surviving goblins could only stare at him, their bodies trembling despite the stillness. To them, Eli wasn’t a savior or a conqueror; he was the demon who had singlehandedly destroyed everything they had ever known.

"You’re probably wondering what happens next," he continued, beginning to pace slowly, his gaze sweeping over them one by one. "Whether you’ll end up like the others... or if you still have a place in this world."

Silence followed, thick and suffocating.

Then, a voice broke it.

"If you’re going to kill us, then just get it over with," Zivra said.

Eli stopped mid-step, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The voice hadn’t come from Gork or Nira, as he’d expected—it came from Zivra, the fallen chief’s daughter.

She glared at him, her small hands clenched into fists, grief and defiance mixing in her gaze.

Nira immediately reached out, trying to cover Zivra’s mouth before she could say anything else reckless, her hand trembling as it brushed against the younger goblin’s face. But Zivra refused to look away, jerking her head free, her glare locked firmly on Eli. The hatred in her eyes was raw and unfiltered—she wanted him to see it.

How gutsy.

Eli’s lips curved into a faint grin, the sound of a quiet chuckle slipping past them. "Bold," he muttered under his breath, almost to himself, before straightening.

"I’m not going to kill any more of you," he said finally, his voice firm but steady. "Instead, I’ll give you options. You can either stay and serve me as your new chief... or you can leave. Right now."

Zivra blinked, disbelief flickering across her face. "What?" she whispered.

Around her, the others began to murmur, voices rising in cautious surprise. They exchanged glances, hesitant, uncertain if they had heard correctly.

They could leave?

They didn’t have to die?

"You heard me," he said, his tone calm but carrying enough weight to silence the murmurs. "You can leave if that’s what you want... or you can strip away whatever loyalty you still cling to for your dead chief and join my clan."

He let the words sink in before continuing, making sure everyone of them understood that this wasn’t a threat—it was a choice.

"My clan is small," He said, pacing slowly before them. "Too small for the kind of goal I intend to achieve. But great things demand numbers—strong ones. That’s why you’re being given this chance."

Their eyes followed him as he moved, their fear slowly giving way to a flicker of curiosity.

"Join my clan," he went on, "and you’ll rise in strength. You’ll grow beyond what you ever thought possible. You’ll reach heights, wield power, and become something far greater than what this fallen clan could have ever offered you. Power that only those chosen by Drugar himself can attain."

"Drugar’s Chosen?" one of the goblins whispered, disbelief coloring his voice.

A wave of murmurs rippled through the group as they exchanged glances, uncertainty written across every face.

Zivra let out a small scoff, crossing her arms, her bitterness returning. Even Nira turned toward him with a look that suggested she wasn’t sure if he was serious or just mocking them.

"You mean... you not going kill us?" one of the goblins asked, his words broken, voice trembling as if afraid the question itself might provoke me.

Eli turned to him and shook his head.

"No," I said evenly. "There will be no more deaths—unless you attack me first."

"Or me," Ariel added from behind, her tone casual but her eyes sharp enough to make them all flinch.

Another goblin hesitated before speaking, his voice cautious but curious.

"You... going to be new chief?"

Before he could say anything more, Zivra’s voice cut through the air.

"Don’t believe his lies," she said, her tone sharp with fury. "He killed the chief—and half of us along with him. He’ll use us for his own gain, then kill us when he’s done. Let’s just leave before it’s too late!"

A few of the goblins shifted uneasily, her words clearly striking a nerve.

Their eyes turned toward him, waiting for a reaction, for a reason to believe her or to fear me.

"You can leave if you want," Eli said, his tone calm and deliberate. "Like I told you before, I’m not here to slaughter anyone. There’s nothing to gain from that."

Zivra turned sharply toward Nira, desperation flickering in her eyes. "Let’s leave," she urged. "Together we can convince the others to come with us."

Nira lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her cloak. Her voice came out low, almost reluctant. "I can’t," she said.

Zivra frowned, confusion cutting through her anger. "Why not?"

"The option to leave isn’t available to me or to Gork," Nira replied after a brief pause, her tone flat.

"Why?" Zivra pressed, frustration edging her words.

Nira sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as she avoided Zivra’s eyes. "Just accept him as chief," she said quietly. "It’s the only way to live."

Zivra’s voice broke, a mixture of rage and grief twisting her expression. "How can you say that? He killed the chief! He killed my father!"

"And that," Nira snapped back, her tone suddenly sharp, "is exactly why he’s worth serving. He’s strong enough to do what no one else could. Strong enough to protect us."

Zivra shook her head, her jaw tightening as tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

"Then I’ll just leave with them," she said quietly, her voice trembling but firm. "Without you."

Nira lifted her gaze, her expression a mixture of pity and frustration. "You won’t survive out there," she said.

Zivra’s glare sharpened. "Are you calling me weak?"

Before Nira could respond, a sudden movement broke the tension.

One of the goblins from the group stepped forward, his face pale but determined.

He raised his hands high, trembling as he dropped to his knees before Eli.

"I..."