Chapter 198: A Banquet For Invaders

A banquet was already underway in Galoria by the time the sun disappeared completely beneath the horizon. What had begun as a formal gathering to welcome the Halfling army had quickly turned into a celebration that seemed to involve nearly the entire clan.

Drums echoed across the uneven landscape while Gnolls danced around several large fires, their movements energetic and unrestrained. Others sat around long wooden tables eating roasted meat, drinking, laughing, and exchanging stories with the Halfling soldiers.

Some of the younger Gnolls had even gathered in an open section of the settlement to wrestle, with the surrounding crowd cheering whenever one managed to throw another onto the ground.

The atmosphere was so lively that it was difficult to believe the same people had been preparing for war only a few days earlier.

At the largest table in the center of the gathering, Ka'z sat between Wolvrac and Bao, with Pumba seated across from him. Charles was nearby alongside several elite members of Pumba's personal guard.

Boris sat farther down the table, as quiet as ever, his face partially concealed by the piece of cloth wrapped around his nose. He had barely spoken since arriving in Galoria, and even while eating he would occasionally pull the cloth higher over his face before taking a bite or drinking. Ka'z had also noticed that Boris possessed a Silver Core, but unlike Charles, whose core was bright and relatively developed, Boris's was considerably more refined.

Pumba, meanwhile, had been drinking steadily throughout the evening.

Bam!

The elderly Halfling suddenly slammed his fist against the table, making several cups jump and forcing some of the people around him to turn toward him. His face was red from the alcohol, but the anger in his expression seemed genuine.

"I always believed Prince Luther died alongside the expedition team to the monster of the central continent. If I knew he lost his life to some low life goblins, the goblins would have ceased to exist in this Evergreen Forest already!"

Ka'z sighed heavily and shook his head. "Prince Luther's diary covers what happened after a handful of them escaped the mountain and were pursued, forcing them to go east. His last entry was on their first night in the east, and then it went silent. The Ashmork Clan suddenly had his diary in their hands, and it helped grow their clan into a superpower that terrorized the entire east and even threatened the west. Their dominance only ended when they led an army of a hundred and thirty warriors down south and were crushed by Teacher Kong'gong, who led our final resistance."

Hahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahaha!

Pumba threw his head back and laughed loudly, the anger on his face disappearing almost immediately.

"It's good to know Brother Kong'gong has not lost the spark in his eyes despite old age. If we were aware of the Ashmork Clan's tyranny, we would have obliterated them ourselves." Pumba took another drink before turning his attention toward Boris at the other side of the table. "After we are done here, I want you to take a small force and wipe out the remnants of the Ashmork Clan. I don't even want to give them the chance to repopulate. Every one of them must die, do you hear me?"

Boris simply bowed his head in silence.

Ka'z studied him briefly. Unlike the other Halflings he had encountered, Boris was unusually reserved. A piece of dark cloth was wrapped around his nose and lower face like a mask, leaving only his eyes visible.

Since arriving in Galoria, he had barely spoken a word. Even when eating or drinking, he always kept his face partially hidden, pulling the cloth into place before taking a bite or swallowing his drink. His Silver Core was also considerably stronger than Charles's, despite the younger Halfling being far more vocal.

"So how did you, a mere Bronze Core kobold at the time, burn down and destroy a village of over three hundred people? Enlighten us." Charles finally asked, his voice carrying an obvious note of mockery.

Several faces turned toward Ka'z with understandable curiosity. Even those who did not share Charles's attitude were interested in the answer. The story was difficult to believe from the outside. Ka'z had supposedly been only two years old at the time, possessed a Bronze Core, and somehow led ten warriors against a settlement containing more than three hundred goblins before destroying the entire village without losing a single person.

Ka'z simply shrugged. "Because I am the chosen one of my people."

Charles blinked.

"What?"

It wasn't just Charles. Nearly everyone at the table wore the same confused expression.

Ka'z calmly picked up his cup and took a small drink before continuing. "My people have a belief that the Greater Kobold will send down his champion who will bring the kobold race out of obscurity and into prosperity, and my people believe it's me."

For a moment, nobody reacted. Then laughter exploded across the table.

Several Gnolls nearly choked on their drinks, while some of the Halflings exchanged amused glances. Charles laughed the loudest, apparently convinced that Ka'z had finally revealed the ridiculous explanation behind the stories.

Pumba and Boris were the only ones who didn't laugh. They simply stared at Ka'z.

"What kind of bullshit is th..." Charles began, but his voice suddenly trailed off.

Ka'z's body had begun to change.

His scales expanded across his body, becoming thicker and more pronounced until they formed jagged plates. His silhouette grew larger, and the scales along his arms and shoulders became noticeably harder and more defined. The transformation happened gradually, but the effect was enough to wipe the amusement from every face around the table.

The entire table fell silent.

Ka'z calmly lifted his cup and took another sip of wine.

"First of all, despite being a kobold, I possess a draconian bloodline. I can see everyone's cores on this table, and I can tell your strength." His crimson eyes slowly moved across the gathering. "I also have a photographic memory, which allowed me to learn the Words of Power and runes in one glance."

Buzz!

Several people rose from their seats. Their eyes remained fixed on Ka'z's enlarged scales.

They wanted to call him a liar, but none of them had ever seen a kobold capable of strengthening and enlarging their scales like that. As far as their knowledge went, such an ability was exclusive to dragons and those with genuine draconic bloodlines.

Ka'z allowed them to stare before calmly continuing.

"Not to mention my ability to take instructions directly from the heavens and potentially see the future. This in particular helped me defeat the Ashmork."

He placed his cup down and turned his attention toward Charles.

"Let me tell you the story of how I defeated the Ashmork Clan without losing a single warrior."

The laughter around the table disappeared completely.

Ka'z began explaining.

He told them about the first attack against Vaal'kor, the death of Suki, Tud'or's final battle, the decision to retaliate, the gathering of his warriors, and the long preparation before their first major assault. He explained how they destroyed the Ashmork's food sources, released their livestock, ambushed their hunting parties, and slowly reduced their military strength before launching the final assault.

He explained the battles in detail, including the final duel between himself and Loki.

He even explained how he had learned to exploit the terrain and the mistakes made by the Ashmork leadership.

The only difference was that every System notification was described as a vision or voice from the heavens.

Ka'z's account was so detailed that it became increasingly difficult for anyone listening to dismiss it as an exaggerated story. He remembered the smallest details, from the positioning of warriors during individual battles to the spells his enemies had used and the decisions he had made in response.

The wine only seemed to make the atmosphere more relaxed as the story progressed, and gradually even those who had initially doubted him became completely absorbed.

By the time Ka'z finished, the banquet had nearly gone silent.

Everyone stared at him.

Even Bao and Wolvrac, who already knew the general story, were visibly taken aback. They had known that Ka'z had defeated the Ashmork, but hearing the entire sequence of events in such detail made the achievement seem even more unbelievable.

Ka'z finally turned toward Pumba.

"It was with the information in Prince Luther's diary that we finally built our village outside the caves. The Prince is indeed very insightful and smart."

Pumba nodded proudly.

"Of course he is." The elderly Halfling's expression became nostalgic. "Since you are done with the diary, I wish to claim it for my race and read the thoughts of the Prince we all once admired."

The request sounded less like a request and more like a declaration, but Ka'z understood why Pumba wanted it. The Red Scripture contained the final thoughts of a prince the Halflings had personally known and admired. Keeping it from them would accomplish nothing.

"Of course. It would be an honor to help your people recover what is rightfully yours." Ka'z agreed readily.

Pumba burst into laughter and nodded approvingly.

"I like this kid! Kong'gong really raised you well!"

Ka'z smiled faintly.

Across the table, however, Charles was fuming.

His hands were clenched tightly against his knees beneath the table, and his murderous gaze remained fixed on Ka'z. Every compliment Pumba gave the young kobold only seemed to make his resentment grow.

Bam!

Charles suddenly slammed both fists onto the table and rose to his feet and the surrounding conversations immediately died down as everyone turned toward him.

"If you are as good as you say you are, then come and fight me. Let's see if all your words are the truth or just empty boasts!"