Chronicles of Vearth-Chapter 15: The Weight of Growth

The air inside the ruins was thick with dust and lingering decay. The stale scent of abandonment mixed with something more primal—something old. Leav could feel it, a weight pressing against his senses, as if the very stones carried echoes of past battles and forgotten struggles.

The remnants of the previous night's battle still lay scattered outside—shattered weapons, broken bones, and the bloodstains of those who had fallen. His forces had taken control of the ruins, but claiming territory was not enough. Control was only real if it could be held.

Leav stood atop the crumbling remnants of an old stone platform, surveying the goblins beneath him. His warriors, once scavengers and disorganized survivors, now moved with discipline. Even the weaker ones had begun to understand—survival under his rule meant growth, or it meant death.

The weak had no place here.

Tear, his most ruthless enforcer, stood to the side, arms crossed as he observed the warriors going through their drills. His presence alone was enough to make any goblin push beyond their limits. Every mistake was met with punishment—bruises, exhaustion, and sometimes broken bones. But none dared complain. Under Tear's merciless training, goblins who had once cowered behind stronger fighters now held their own.

Frot, ever the schemer, leaned casually against a broken column, his smirk betraying his amusement at the whole scene. He thrived in chaos, but Leav knew he understood the importance of structure. Without it, their so-called "army" would collapse under its own weight.

Weal sat nearby, hunched over a small pouch of vials. The acidic stench of his latest poisons burned Leav's nostrils even from a distance. The alchemist was getting better—more precise, more dangerous. His work would be crucial for what was to come.

And then there was Yorl.

Leav's gaze shifted toward the berserker, who was pacing along the edge of the ruined courtyard. He had been restless since the last battle, his wounds healing faster than expected, but his frustration had only grown. His strength was undeniable, but it was still unfocused—wild. Without guidance, he would become a liability.

Leav exhaled slowly. They were all growing, but it wasn't enough.

Not yet.

[Leav's Status]

Level: 9

EXP: 94%

Next Evolution: [Pending Level 10]

Current Race: Enhanced Goblin

Skills: Adaptive Mutation, Warborn Instinct, Shadow Tactics (New)

Physical Enhancements: Increased Reaction Speed, Enhanced Night Vision

Leav clenched his fists. He could feel it—his body was on the verge of another evolution. His muscles tensed with restless energy, his instincts sharper than before. He had always been different from the others, but now, the gap was becoming undeniable.

At Level 10, he would evolve again.

But he wasn't the only one.

Tear, Yorl, and even Weal had been gaining experience rapidly. If they continued at this pace, some of them would also reach their next evolution soon. Stronger goblins meant stronger warriors, but it also meant potential rivals. Not all evolutions were equal. Some would rise higher than others.

Leav intended to make sure he stayed on top.

By midday, the ruins had settled into an eerie silence. The goblins were restless, their blood still hot from the previous battle. They needed more than training. They needed a real fight.

Leav decided to give them one.

"We're hunting tonight," he announced, standing before his gathered warriors. "The Bonefangs won't attack again so soon, but we can't sit and wait for them. There are stragglers—survivors from last night's battle. We find them. We finish them."

Yorl bared his teeth in anticipation. "About time."

Frot tilted his head, intrigued. "Do we capture them, or just clean up the mess?"

Leav's gaze was cold. "No survivors."

No hesitations. No mercy. The Bonefangs needed to understand—his tribe wasn't prey.

The forest beyond the ruins was shrouded in darkness by the time they moved. A small hunting party—Leav, Yorl, Frot, and three of their more seasoned warriors. They moved with purpose, their steps light, their breathing controlled. Even Yorl, for all his raw aggression, had learned to restrain himself when necessary.

It didn't take long to find their prey.

The Bonefang remnants had set up a weak camp in a shallow ravine, unaware of the danger stalking them. Five of them, all wounded from the previous battle. They whispered among themselves, their fire barely more than embers, as if afraid of being found.

They were right to be afraid.

Leav raised a hand, signaling for his warriors to fan out. Weal had coated their weapons with a mild paralytic poison—one cut was all it would take to slow their movements.

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Yorl twitched beside him. "Let's kill them already."

Leav's voice was barely a whisper. "Control yourself."

But this time, he had no intention of holding Yorl back.

His grip tightened on his weapon. "Go."

Yorl didn't need to be told twice.

The berserker lunged forward, tearing through the underbrush like a predator unleashed. The Bonefangs barely had time to react before he was upon them. The first fell without a sound—Yorl's club shattering his skull with a sickening crunch.

The others scrambled to their feet, panic in their eyes.

Leav moved next, his blade flashing in the dim firelight. One goblin tried to flee, but Frot was faster—his dagger found its mark, and the enemy collapsed, gasping as the poison took hold.

It was over in seconds.

Yorl stood in the center of the carnage, his chest heaving, his hands dripping with blood. His eyes gleamed in the darkness, something feral lurking beneath the surface.

Leav studied him carefully. He was close. Yorl's growth was accelerating—his strength, his speed. He was already stronger than most goblins.

And soon, he would evolve.

Leav turned away from the bodies. "Burn them. Leave no trace."

The message was clear. The Bonefangs would never know what happened to their scouts.

But they would feel the consequences.

That night, Leav sat alone, staring at his hands.

The battle had pushed him past the threshold.

[Leav's Status]

Level: 10

EXP: 100% (Ready for Evolution)

New Evolution Available: Choose One

Goblin Warlord – Enhanced Strength, Increased Leadership Abilities

Shadow Goblin – Enhanced Stealth, Poison Resistance, Silent Movement

Goblin Tactician – Increased Intelligence, Battle Awareness, Tactical Vision

Leav's breath was steady, but his heart pounded with anticipation.

This was it. The next step.

The decision would shape his future—and the future of the tribe.

Would he embrace sheer dominance, leading through strength?Would he become a ghost in the night, striking unseen?Or would he sharpen his mind, guiding battles with unmatched precision?

He exhaled slowly.

By morning, he would no longer be the same.

And neither would the world around him.