Chapter 23: Rescued

Chapter 23: Rescued

I was here for its life.

But even as I raised my sword, heart pounding like a war drum, something unexpected echoed louder than the Mooncat’s growl—my own words.

"You’ll pay for touching my wife."

Wife.

Wife.

Wife.

Wife.

The word echoed in my head like a dropped stone rippling across still water.

I hadn’t meant to say it. Not consciously. But in that split second—when rage had overridden caution, and instinct took control—my feelings had slipped free, unfiltered and raw.

I turned toward Zarah, half-dreading the look on her face.

She groaned softly, clutching her side as she tried to rise. Her bow dangled from her fingertips. She didn’t seem to have caught what I’d said... or maybe she had, but didn’t understand it.



Did goblins even use the word wife?

Probably not. They weren’t exactly known for romance or marriage ceremonies. Their culture was more about survival and dominance. But that word—it had come from me, from the human I used to be.

Still, whether or not she grasped the meaning of the word, it didn’t matter.

The look she gave me said more than any title ever could.

I saw a swirl of emotions: confusion, exhaustion... but above all, relief.

Relief that she was still alive. That I was here.

That she wasn’t alone.

I felt something stir, subtle but undeniable, deep in my chest.

A pull.

The kind of feeling that makes you want to kneel beside someone, cup their face in your hands, and promise them everything’s going to be okay—even if you’re not sure it is. I wanted to reach out, to brush the dirt from her cheek, to tell her she was safe now.But I held back.Because this wasn’t a moment for softness

I turned away from her, jaw tightening as I faced the beast again.

The Mooncat was already upright again, pacing slowly, shoulders rolling with each step. That kick had rattled it, sure—but not nearly enough

It stared at me now, not like prey, but like a rival.

Those eyes...those eyes weren’t wild.

They didn’t belong to an animal. They weren’t mindless.They watched me the way a person sizes up an opponent—cold, focused, and deliberate.That wasn’t a predator.That was a thinker. A killer that knew it was smarter than most things it hunted.

Calculating, intelligent and dangerous.

"You’re different," the Mooncat said, its voice deep and resonant, vibrating through the quiet forest.

I blinked, caught completely off guard.

It could talk?

The last thing I expected was for it to talk, and talk like that—calm, measured, almost... curious.

No—wait.

I remembered understanding the troll earlier too.

Now, I wasn’t sure if they were speaking, or if my goblin physiology was what was letting me understand monsters somehow.

A mental translation filter? I didn’t know.

But for some reason, I understood this creature perfectly, and it understood me too.

A mystery for another day.

"Listen, pal," I said, raising Gravefang and pointing it toward him, "I don’t want to spill any more blood tonight. So, how about you slink back into the shadows and find something else to terrify?"

For a heartbeat, it was silent.

Then it laughed.

A deep, hearty sound—unexpectedly rich, even cheerful. It echoed through the trees like it had all the time in the world.



"You... spill blood?" it said, voice suddenly amused.

The laughter faded. And in its place?

Cold.

Its fur bristled. Muscles tensed. That relaxed posture vanished, replaced with deadly stillness. Its eyes narrowed to glowing slits.

"Goblin," it growled, voice vibrating like a purring engine. "You have no idea what you’ve invited."

Its tone wasn’t loud. It was smooth, confident—like a knife being unsheathed slowly.

Then its presence shifted. Heavier. Darker. Like gravity had doubled.

The very air around us seemed to sink. Breathing got harder. Moving felt like I had weights tied to my legs. It was like the forest itself bowed its head in fear.

My skin prickled. My knees wanted to buckle.

Every instinct screamed at me to run.

But I stayed rooted. I clenched my jaw, exhaled, and steadied my grip on Gravefang.

I wasn’t here to play brave.

I was here to win.

In a flash, the Mooncat moved.

Faster than anything I’d ever seen.

One second it was standing still, the next, it was in motion. No warning. No sound. Just pure speed and intent—claws drawn, body coiled, ready to end me in one clean stroke.

But...

Its speed wasn’t enough to beat my Danger Sense.

Time seemed to slow, and my body reacted before my mind could.

*Warp.

I vanished, and reappeared behind Zarah.

Then grabbed her shoulder, and without wasting a moment—Warp again.

We vanished, reappearing back in the safety of the cave.

Right in front of Narg who I had placed my seal on.

The sudden burst of light and movement startled the goblins inside. Several flinched. One even fell backward with a squeak.

Flogga’s eyes widened the moment she saw us. "Z-Zarah?!"

Before Zarah could collapse, Flogga sprinted forward and caught her in a fierce embrace.

Zarah smiled weakly, then slumped against her grandmother’s chest.

I didn’t stay.

I warped again.

Back to the clearing.



The moment I reappeared, I heard snarls and saw the Mooncat—now furious—slashing into the young troll. The poor creature was bleeding heavily, its claws swinging in desperation.

The troll had fought bravely. I’d give it that.Swinging with everything it had, clawing and snarling, even with blood pouring from its arms.But it was outmatched. Smaller, slower. It didn’t stand a chance against something like that.

The Mooncat wasn’t just trying to kill it—it was punishing it.

Taking out its frustration because I’d slipped away.

Seeing this pissed me off more than I thought possible.

My fists clenched on instinct.

"You bastard," I yelled using warp.

The Mooncat struck the troll again, sending it sprawling.

Then it pounced, mouth wide, ready to rip its throat out.

But...

*Warp.

I blinked behind the troll—hand extended—grabbing the troll’s shoulder, and with a pop of displaced air, we vanished, the Mooncat’s jaw...