Chapter 44 Box Prison

Looking at the pitiful sight that goblins were I began with an inspirational speech, "Little goblins, today, you stand at a crossroads of destiny. For too long, you've been typecast as mere silly goofballs, looked down upon and mistreated by the world. But today, my dear goblins is your chance to rewrite that narrative, to show the world that goblins can be heroes, that you are brave and capable, and that your hearts burn with the same fiery spirit as any other race!"

The goblins stirred and listened with their ears raised high, I continued, "Remember, it's not the size of the body that defines a hero, but the size of the heart. Today, you rise to the occasion, and you show the world what you're made of! You fight not just for yourself but for all goblins, past, present, and future. You fight to rewrite your story, to create a legacy of bravery, and to inspire generations to come just like Hermit did."

As I looked at confused goblin faces, it became apparent that my inspiring speech had little effect. It seemed that the goblins had only grasped two words from my entire speech: 'Hero' and 'Hermit.' Nonetheless, this was a start, and it was enough to light a spark in their curious minds.

We huddled beneath the table, hidden from prying eyes as we discussed our plan. It was a simple one: the goblins would act as a distraction, drawing the attention of Valerius' minions, while I would use that opportunity to dispatch them swiftly. However, as we delved deeper into the details, it became clear that the goblins were hesitant, their doubts surfacing like ripples in a pond.

Goblinworth, with a nervous tremor in his voice, said, "But, Master Kazuki, we're harmless. We've always been against violence. We can't defy our Masters or resist them."

Gobblar nodded vigorously, his eyes filled with uncertainty as he uttered, "Yes, yes! We're not warriors. We're not even fighting back when we're mistreated or insulted."

I sighed, realizing that I had underestimated the complexities of their situation. These goblins had spent their lives in servitude, adhering to their Masters' commands, and the notion of rebellion was foreign and frightening to them.

But I couldn't give up on them. I leaned in closer and spoke softly but firmly, "I understand your fears, and I respect your principles. But this isn't about violence or defiance; it's about protecting yourselves and proving your worth. You don't have to become warriors, but you can be heroes in your own way. You can show that goblins, too, have the courage to stand up against injustice."

The goblins exchanged glances, clearly unsure about the plan. Gog, with a worried expression, chimed in, "But heroes... fight. We do not fight. We are harmless and peaceful. We seek friendship and affection. We long to be in peace with everyone."

Snik, clearly conflicted, spoke up, "Master Kazuki, it's not that we don't want to help, but we're just not cut out for violence. We're more into cooking, eating, and singing. We love to hold hands, warm hugs, and soft cuddles."

Another goblin, Zib, chimed in, "Yeah, we're all about fun and games, not fighting. We're not brave like you, Master Kazuki. If someone stomps the ground we cover in fear, if someone sneezes we run and hide."

I smiled, trying to alleviate their worries, "That's okay. You don't have to fight directly. Just be yourselves, be charming, and distract them. I'll handle the rest. Think of it as an act, a performance to protect Luminecia. We'll do it together."

After a moment of hushed thinking, Goblinworth turned to the others and nodded, and they seemed to reach an agreement.

 "Alright, Master Kazuki, we'll give it a try. Just point at the baddy and we will lick him and whip him with our ears. Maybe even nibble on his toes or tickle his feet."

In a stroke of fortune, the minions had unwittingly formed a perfect lineup right beside our hiding spot at the table. With a swift gesture, I pointed at the first quartet of minions, signaling goblins to launch their audacious assault. They scuttled across the ground with the wild, unbridled energy of kittens on slippery ice.

Leading the charge was Gog, the chunkiest of the goblins, who hurled himself at the first minion's back. Like a tiny, raging bulldozer, he slammed into the back of the minion's knee, shattering the minion's balance. The man stumbled to the ground, a surprised gasp escaping his lips. But before he could react, I was upon him, delivering a devastating punch that escorted him to the ground and straight to the realm of unconsciousness.

Snick, a slim and agile goblin scuttled toward another minion. In an astonishing feat of acrobatics, he leaped onto his back. Like a serpent, he let his elongated tongue snake its way around the minion's head, all the while captivating his attention with its bizarre display. And then, with a leap of full strength, I executed a spinning kick that could have rivaled a tornado. The unfortunate minion's head became the hapless target, and he was sent hurtling to the ground.

Zib chose a gruesome approach, latching onto one minion's hand and commencing a ferocious chew. But the minion's response was swift and brutal, as he retaliated with a devastating fist to Zib's face, sending him crashing to the ground. But this sacrifice served as the perfect distraction, allowing me to launch a blistering combo of punches with precision and finesse, targeting the minion's vital points. Resulting in a knockout.

Goblinworth and Gobblar, the dynamic duo of absurdity, leaped into action next. Their strategy was as baffling as it was ineffective; they latched onto the fourth minion's feet and proceeded to whip his shins with their ludicrously elongated tongues. It was a bizarre display that only succeeded in inviting the minion to stomp on Gobblar's unfortunate face. Yet, this comedic diversion achieved its purpose: While the minion's attention was diverted, I seized the opportunity to deliver a punishing kidney shot. The minion crumpled like a discarded ragdoll, and I avenged Gobblar's sacrifice.

Two goblins went down with a crash, their gambit foiled by the sheer power of the menacing minions they had challenged. Unfazed, three remaining goblins lunged at the next minion with an audacious display of goblin unity. Seizing the moment, I decided to take a daring gamble of my own - I engaged a different minion, isolating him from the group while the goblins tangled with their formidable foe.

As the targeted minion swung his sword at me, I deftly sidestepped the attack, feeling the rush of air against my skin as the blade whizzed by. Capitalizing on the opening, I delivered a punch that felt like an explosion of force, connecting squarely with the minion's face. His eyes seemed to spin as he staggered backward, floored by the ferocity of the blow. With the immediate threat dispatched, I darted towards the ongoing skirmish with the goblins.

The goblins, driven by sheer desperation and a touch of madness, unleashed their elongated tongues as if they were whips, lashing out at the menacing minion before them. With wild vigor, they struck with all their might, but to their shock and dismay, it did absolutely nothing. The minion, seemingly undisturbed, casually grabbed their flailing tongues, his grip like an iron vise.

With a malevolent grin, the minion began swinging Snick and Gog in the air, their tiny green bodies flailing helplessly like rag dolls on a string. And then, in an act of brutal savagery, he smashed them to the ground with an earth-shattering force. The impact left them sprawled, broken, and defeated, their limbs bent at unnatural angles, and their spirits crushed.

Meanwhile, Goblinworth, the last goblin standing, was left in a desperate frenzy, flailing his hands in a futile attempt to defend himself against this relentless onslaught.

While the minion gloated over his apparent victory, his back to me, I seized the opportunity to strike. With a thunderous kick to the back of his head, I sent him tumbling to the ground, his menacing presence extinguished.

As the dust settled and the hall fell silent, Valerius, the mastermind behind this sinister encounter, made his grand entrance. He stood there, clapping sarcastically, seemingly unruffled by the fact that his minions had been soundly defeated.

"Well, well, well," Valerius sneered, a twisted smile tugging at his lips.

 "Isn't this Lumi's new mysterious friend? I was beginning to wonder where you'd disappeared to. Frankly, I was hoping that you'd disappear for good just the way you appeared. You know, it is still a mystery to me how and when Lumi and you became friends without me knowing. Kazuki Silvercrest!"

His nonchalance sent a shiver down my spine, for it was clear that Valerius had more tricks up his sleeve. Something felt not right, the minions were easy to take down even if we caught them by surprise. As if their fate was of little consequence to him. He didn't even spare a glance for the panicked guests who scurried to escape the chaos that unfolded around them.

Determined to uncover his true intentions, I confronted him, "What is your grand plan, Valerius? What could possibly be the point of trapping Luminecia's leaders and brazenly revealing yourself? Do you truly believe that they won't eventually escape your trap and hunt you down? What disgraceful endgame are you seeking?"

He responded with a chilling, humorless laugh that seemed to echo ominously through the hall.

 "Oh, my dear Kazuki, my plan has already triumphed," he declared with an unsettling calmness.

 "The containment field, or as we officially call it, the 'Box Prison,' has been meticulously designed to ensnare even the mightiest of box power users. There is no escaping its confines. In less than an hour, they shall run out of precious air and suffocate within those inescapable shielded walls. No air shall pass, and no sound shall escape. You needn't worry; you won't have to listen to their agonizing screams as they suffocate. I'm afraid they will never see the light of day again, let alone embark on any pursuit of me. All that remains now is to deal with young Lumi. Ah! And speaking of the devil, where did she run off to?"

With a heart heavy, I urgently turned to the goblin, "Goblinworth, go to Lumi's side. Do whatever it takes to protect her. Keep her safe! I will do my best to stop Valerius!"

Without even a fraction of hesitation, Goblinworth, with a swiftness that belied his spindly goblin form, darted away like a bolt. He was on a mission to reach Lumi, his devotion to her safety unwavering. Yet I couldn't help but harbor concerns about his ability to protect her in the face of such dire circumstances. The odds were stacked against him, and that weighed heavily on my mind. I knew I had to stop Valerius at any cost.

As Valerius attempted to gloat further, his sinister grin stretching wider, I couldn't bear to stand idle any longer. In a sudden surge of resolve and daring, I lunged towards him, aiming to catch him off guard with a surprise attack. However, my audacious punch seemed to pass right through him, as though he were nothing more than a wisp of mist that vanished into thin air.

Then, without warning, I heard a sharp and ominous swish, the unmistakable sound of a blade cutting through the air. My instincts took over, and I moved swiftly, narrowly avoiding the deadly trajectory of the blade. It grazed my suit, leaving a tear as evidence of its lethal intent.

Moments later, Valerius reappeared, materializing seemingly out of nowhere. It was then that I began to piece together the cruel trickery at play. Illusions.