Chapter 300 Bright Future

The goblins squealed in delight, dragging Suzuka by her arms towards the cave. Suzuka, maintaining her facade, allowed herself to be hauled away, her mind calculating every move, waiting for the right moment to strike. 

Inside the breeding cave, the atmosphere was dank and oppressive. The goblins, their eyes filled with twisted anticipation, began to tear at her clothes. Suzuka remained limp, biding her time, knowing she could overpower them all in an instant.

Hermit, maintaining his guard persona, stood by, trying to keep the other goblins from suspecting anything. Meanwhile, Larry's group moved silently, positioning themselves for a swift and efficient extraction.

With Suzuka gone from his sight and into the dark cave, Hermit knew he had little time to act. Mustering all his courage, he approached the larger goblin who had initially shown interest in Suzuka.

"I... I am Hermit, the torturer of slaves," he stammered, doing his best to appear confident.

 "I perform my duties with precision, making the slaves squeal just right."

The boss goblin, barely paying attention to Hermit's words, was far more interested in their new acquisition. His lustful gaze remained fixed on the cave where Suzuka had been taken.

"Whatever," the boss goblin said dismissively, waving his hand.

 "Just don't kill the slaves or the hatchlings. We need them for now. Go and give them an introduction beating if you must."

Hermit seized the opportunity and jumped into action. He went from tent to tent, whispering the plan to his fellow goblin slaves. Each goblin, their eyes widening with a mix of fear and hope, nodded in understanding. Hermit relayed the sign, a loud whistle that would indicate when to act.

Once the message was spread, Hermit made his way to the cave to check on Suzuka. The darkness of the cave swallowed him as he ventured deeper, his heart pounding in his chest. He found Suzuka waiting patiently, her red eyes glowing in the dark, a small smile playing on her lips as she stood beside a heap of dead goblins.

"Master Helen," he whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and fear.

 "Everything is ready. The others are prepared to act.

"Good," she said softly. 

"Let's not waste any more time."

Hermit took a deep breath, his heart pounding, and let out a loud whistle. The sound echoed through the goblin camp, slicing through the tense air like a knife. In an instant, the goblin slaves burst from their posts and tents, scuttling as hard as they could with their hatchlings clutched tightly in their hands. The camp erupted into chaos, with the slaves moving like a tidal wave toward the cave where Suzuka and Hermit awaited.

Most of the slaves managed to reach the cave safely, their eyes wide with fear and hope. However, a few unfortunate souls were grabbed by the goblin guards, their desperate cries piercing the air. But then, from the shadows, Max's arrows flew with deadly precision, each one blowing holes through the skulls of the evil goblins. The guards hit the ground, their brains splashing in gruesome arcs as the slaves sprinted to safety.

The camp descended into panic. The evil goblins darted around, looking for cover as their comrades fell, their heads split by Max's relentless arrows. The boss goblin, his face twisted in fury and fear, tried to establish order, barking commands that fell on deaf ears. His reign of terror ended abruptly as one of Max's arrows pierced his skull, splitting it with a sickening crunch. He toppled to the ground, his authority shattered along with his head.

The remaining evil goblins scattered, their eyes wild with terror. They sought refuge behind trees and rocks, but it was futile. The last of the slaves had reached the cave, and Suzuka stood at the entrance, her eyes blazing with fury. She unleashed her gravity magic power, a force so potent it rippled through the land like an earthquake.

The ground trembled violently, cracks snaking across the surface as if the earth itself were tearing apart. Trees toppled, their roots wrenched from the soil, and rocks split with thunderous cracks. The evil goblins were thrown off their feet, their screams of terror swallowed by the roar of the earth splitting beneath them.

Suzuka's magic surged forward, a wave of destruction that left nothing in its path. The evil goblins, caught in the maelstrom, were crushed by the collapsing ground, their bodies swallowed by the earth. The camp was obliterated, reduced to a landscape of jagged fissures and scattered debris.

As the evil goblins who survived the initial devastation attempted to flee in all directions, they were met with swift and merciless justice. Olivia, alongside Larry and his team, quickly hunted them down, their movements precise and lethal. Arrows whistled through the air, and blades flashed in the rising dawn, cutting down any goblin that dared to escape. The slaves watched as once-feared tormentors were dispatched without mercy.

With the last of the evil goblins eliminated, Suzuka shed her disguise as a slave. The tattered rags she had worn fell away, revealing her true self. She donned her usual outfit, a striking ensemble that exuded both power and grace. Her armor, polished to a gleam, hugged her form, accentuating her commanding presence.

The goblins huddled in the cramped cave, their eyes wide with awe. They watched in silent reverence as Suzuka transformed before them. To them, she was no ordinary human. After witnessing her immense power they were convinced she was a goddess of mercy who had descended from the heavens in response to their desperate prayers for salvation. Their hearts brimmed with gratitude and devotion.

One goblin who knew a bit of human language stepped forward and fell to his knees before Suzuka.

 "Goddess of Mercy," he whispered, his voice trembling. 

"We are unworthy of your grace, yet you have saved us from our tormentors. How can we ever repay you?"

Suzuka, her eyes softening at the sight of the humbled goblins, knelt to meet the goblin’s gaze.

 "Rise, brave one," she said gently, lifting him to his feet and putting on an act of a savior.

 "You owe me nothing. Your freedom is all thanks to this brave goblin," she said pointing at Hermit, "He led me to your aid, he is your hero."

The goblins erupted in cheers, their voices echoing through the cave. They chanted Hermit's name, their cries of adoration filling the air. Some wept openly, their tears a mixture of relief and joy. Others clasped their hands together in prayer, offering thanks to the goddess they believed had come to their aid.

Hermit, standing beside Suzuka, quickly threw his disquis of the evil goblin guard, and spit on it, then he even kicked some dirt on it. He rubbed his skin with his hands to rid the filthy sensation of wearing the guise of an evil goblin. To him, even if it was all pretending and for the better good, it was as if his skin was on flames. 

While putting on his tank top and shorts Hermit said, "Thank you, Master Helen. You’ve given them a reason to believe again, to hope."

Suzuka smiled warmly.

"This is just the beginning, Hermit. We will rescue even more of them, we will create a haven for them, a place where they can live without fear. I think they will like it when we show them what we are building."

The goblins gathered their hatchlings and followed her out of the cave. The dawn light bathed them in a golden glow, symbolizing the new beginning they were about to embark upon. Hermit, their savior and leader, walked at the forefront, a beacon of hope and strength. The goblins followed him with unwavering faith, ready to build a new life under the protection and guidance of the goddess who had answered their prayers.

With the goblins marching behind them, Suzuka and Hermit met up with the rest of the group. Larry and the others looked at the newly freed goblins, their expressions a mix of pity and sadness. The goblins were a pitiful sight, starved to near death, their bodies covered in bruises and scars from daily beatings. The hatchlings clung to the skeletal hands of their adult counterparts, their tiny, withered limbs barely able to move. Yet, even in such dire conditions, a spark of hope flickered in their eyes. Their patience and endurance had finally paid off.

As the group marched back to Suzuka's camp, Suzuka immediately began giving orders.

 "Tend to the wounded and make sure everyone gets enough food," she instructed, her voice firm. She had unloaded supplies provided by Valerius, enough to sustain a hundred goblins for several months.

Hermit rushed to Silvia, who was already preparing makeshift bandages and mixing healing herb paste. They worked together to create goblin healing potions, though these remedies were barely more than temporary pain relief. The sight of Hermit and Silvia working so diligently brought a renewed sense of hope to the goblins. By the end of the day, everyone had been tended to, and the healing process had begun.

As dusk settled, the camp was filled with the murmurs of over two hundred goblins, a mix of adult slaves and hatchlings. Isaac and Jacob stood close to Suzuka, ready for whatever came next. Olivia found a cozy seat on a nearby rock, her eyes never straying far from Suzuka. Silvia and the dwarves stood by the tents, their expressions showing a mixture of fatigue and relief. Larry and his team stood nearby as well, their vigilance unwavering.

Suzuka stepped forward, her presence commanding the attention of every goblin in the clearing. She raised her hand, signaling for silence.

 "Today marks a new beginning," she began, her voice carrying across the crowd.

 "You have endured unimaginable hardships, but you have shown incredible strength and resilience. Your suffering is not in vain. From this day forward, you are free. Free to live, free to hope, and free to build a future for yourselves and your hatchlings."

Hermit and a few others who knew the human tongue translated her words to the rest. The goblins listened intently, their eyes wide with awe and gratitude. For so long, they had been told they were nothing, treated as less than dirt. But now, Suzuka's words were giving them something they hadn't dared to hope for: a future.