Chapter 266 Crushing Defeat

With a glance over her shoulder, she called out to Larry, "I have a plan for how to turn Hermit into a true actor who will fool the evil goblins! Leave it to me."

Behind them, tiny hatchlings scuttled in a desperate scramble, their movements a chaotic dance of fear and haste. Their tiny legs scuttled in a blur as they tumbled and rolled on the ground, their tiny forms struggling to keep up with Suzuka's swift pace as they chased after Hermit.

Inside the shed, Suzuka faced the goblin with a cold stare. Her eyes bore into his, her gaze unwavering as she spoke with a voice that brooked no argument.

"You can rest assured, Hermit, I won't hurt you, I know how much you like the pain and torture. Hurting you is pointles, so, here's the deal."

With a swift motion, she yanked a hatchling off the ground, holding him tightly in her fist. His tiny head peeked out from her grasp, his mouth gaping open as he struggled to draw a breath.

"Listen carefully because I will say this only once. If you don't do what I say, I'll crush your precious hatchlings, one by one."

Hermit's shoulders slumped in defeat, his ears drooped low against his head, and his usual meek demeanor intensified with a sense of resignation. With a heavy sigh, he nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the ground in front of him. It was a silent admission of defeat, a recognition that resistance was futile. 

For his beliefs, Hermit was ready to endure any pain or torture but what hurt him the most was the pain of his precious kin.

"P-please, I beg of you, spare these poor, innocent hatchlings. I'll do anything you ask, I swear it. I'll do it. Just... please, don't hurt them. I'll obey your every command. Just please, spare the little ones. They're all I have left." With a defeated sigh, he bowed his head in submission.

His words were tinged with defeat, his spirit broken by the weight of Suzuka's threat. At that moment, Hermit knew that he had no choice but to comply with her commands, no matter how much it pained him to do so.

With a broken heart, he cast one last glance at the tiny hatchlings, his eyes filled with sorrow and regret. Then, with a resigned sigh, he turned back to Suzuka, ready to carry out her orders, no matter the cost.

A few hours ran past and Suzuka finally emerged from the shed, a triumphant grin stretched across her face, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction and delight. With a flourish, she gestured towards Hermit, who followed closely behind her, his appearance transformed. 

His attire consisted of a mishmash of goblin guard shabby armor, the leather straps holding it together so tattered and worn that they looked like rabid squirrels had gnawed on them. His tunic was a ragged mess of patched leather and frayed fabric, barely clinging to his scrawny frame, and his ragged shorts were reinforced with patches of worn-down cloth. His boots, a mismatched pair of worn-down relics from a forgotten era, clung to his feet like loyal puppies, their soles worn thin from years of servitude.

 His boots worn to the point of disintegration squelched with each step, while atop his head sat a ludicrous tin helmet, adorned with a blown-out hole in the top, as if to mock the very purpose of protection. In his trembling hands, he clutched a crudely made wooden spear, its splintered shaft barely holding together under the weight of his trembling grip.

Suzuka had taken it upon herself to enhance Hermit's fearsome appearance even further by painting goblin war paint on his face. With a few bold strokes here and there, she had transformed him from a meek little goblin into a menacing terror of the forest, a sight to strike fear into the hearts of even the bravest.

As Suzuka proudly presented Hermit to Larry, the latter could hardly believe his eyes. Gone was the timid little goblin he had known; in his place stood a creature straight out of a nightmare, a vision of an evil goblin. 

"Behold, Larry, the transformation is complete. Hermit now displays the very essence of the evil goblin, a look that no one will doubt."

Larry's eyes widened in genuine surprise as he took in Hermit's transformed appearance, a grin spreading across his face.

 "Well, I'll be damned. You look the part, Hermit. Never thought I'd see the day you'd look like an evil goblin guard!"

Jake chimed in, his expression mirroring Larry's astonishment.

 "Yeah, I gotta hand it to you, Hermit. You look like you mean business now. I wouldn't want to cross paths with you in a dark alley, that's for sure."

Max offered a nod of approval, his eyes alight with newfound respect. 

"Impressive. You've certainly come a long way. I'd say you're ready to give those evil goblins a run for their money."

Hermit's reaction to their praise was one of overwhelming embarrassment, his cheeks flushing crimson beneath the layers of goblin war paint. He shuffled awkwardly, unable to meet their gaze, a deep sense of shame gnawing at his insides.

"Oh, um... thank you. I-I don't know what to say. I... I never wanted to look like this. It's... it's not who I am."

His words faltered, his voice trembling with emotion as he struggled to articulate the turmoil raging within him. He had never sought to embody the role of an evil goblin guard; it was a guise thrust upon him by Suzuka's well-intentioned efforts. And now, faced with his companions' praise, he couldn't help but feel like a fraud, a mere shadow of his former self hidden beneath layers of paint and armor.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his eyes downcast as he spoke.

 "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just... I just wanted to help. But now... now I feel like I've lost myself in the process."

With a heavy heart, Hermit turned away, unable to bear the weight of their admiration any longer. In that moment, he felt more alone than ever, a solitary figure adrift in a sea of uncertainty and regret.

Suzuka's response was firm and direct, her tone leaving no room for argument as she turned to face Hermit, her eyes piercing through the layers of shame and doubt that clouded his gaze.

"Now is not the time for self-pity. You've come too far to let your insecurities hold you back. You need to stay focused and stay in character. No more whimpering or sniveling like a pathetic worm. You are stronger than that, Hermit. You are fierce, you are capable. Remember everything we practiced in the shed."

Before turning away to face Larry, she softened her tone, her voice taking on a gentleness that Hermit had never experienced from her before.

"Listen to me, Hermit. I will be by your side every step of the way. You have nothing to worry about. Just focus on your part, and everything will be alright. Trust me. This time, we will save them all. And that is a fact and not an empty promise."

With that, she turned away, her gaze fixed on Larry as she prepared to move out. With Suzuka's words ringing in his ears, Hermit's heart swelled with a newfound sense of purpose.

 With delicate care, he gathered the precious hatchlings, cradling them in his arms like fragile treasures. Each tiny form was wrapped snugly in a soft blanket, their tiny faces peering out with a mixture of curiosity and trust.

With gentle hands, Hermit nestled them into a makeshift basket, ensuring they were cocooned in warmth and comfort. He tucked the blankets around them with a gentle touch, whispering words of comfort and reassurance as he worked. To each hatchling, he offered a tender kiss on the forehead, his lips brushing against their green, wrinkled skin with a touch as light as a feather. As he surveyed his handiwork, a soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips, his heart swelling with affection for these tiny creatures entrusted to his care.

 Meanwhile, Larry, Jake, and Max sprang into action, they attended to the injured goblin slaves. With gentle hands and careful touch, they helped the wounded creatures onto the four-wheelers, ensuring their comfort and safety for the journey ahead.

With their preparations complete, Suzuka and her companions loaded their supplies onto their magic-powered four-wheelers as they prepared to embark on their next mission. Hermit, now clad in his makeshift goblin guard attire, took his place at the head of the convoy ready to lead the way, his newfound feeble confidence shining through despite the lingering doubts that weighed heavy on his heart.

The journey was long and arduous, the path fraught with peril as they navigated through dense undergrowth and treacherous terrain of the forest. But with Hermit's keen instincts guiding them, they made steady progress, each mile bringing them closer to their destination.

Finally, with the sun's last light, they reached their destination: the goblin breeding farm. The air hung heavy with the stench of decay and despair as they surveyed the grim scene before them, the run-down structures casting long shadows in the fading light.

As they approached the goblin breeding farm, they stopped and hid their transport amidst the dense foliage of the forest, ensuring that their presence remained undetected. Hidden from view by the dense foliage of the forest, Larry and his team paused to survey their surroundings. From their vantage point, they could see that the farm was indeed smaller than the previous one they had failed to raid, confirming Hermit's word. But despite its size, a sense of danger lurked within its walls.

While Larry and the rest of the team scanned the perimeter for any signs of patrolling evil goblins, Suzuka took the time to prepare. She disguised herself as one of the enslaved, donning a filthy sack for clothing and tying a makeshift rope around her neck to serve as a leash for Hermit to lead her. As she emerged from the underbrush, her appearance transformed into that of a pitiful slave, her demeanor submissive and obedient. 

Her hands bound and movements restricted, she turned to Larry with an earnest warning.

"Remember, Larry. This time, wait for our signal. No matter what you see, do not rush in. We will be fine. When you see the farm in chaos, that's your cue to attack and deal with any stragglers."

Larry nodded in agreement, his expression grave as he clasped Suzuka's shoulder.

 "I understand. Just... be careful out there. We'll be waiting for your signal, Helen. And may the gods watch over you."