The stench was the first thing that struck César.
It wasn't just filth.
The cell had been carved deep within the cave, far from the areas where the high-ranking male goblins lived. There were no torches. Only faint light filtered through natural cracks in the rock, illuminating damp walls and a floor blackened by time.
César moved in silence.
Walking beside him was Lina, a recent addition to his group—the only female goblin of the second generation. He had discovered her only hours earlier among the latest batch of goblins to reach adulthood.
Female goblins were rare, but not nonexistent.
Perhaps in the past none had been born in the tribe.
Or perhaps they had… and simply died.
In this generation, at least, one had survived.
After bringing her under his control, César had given her a name: Lina.
Like the recently captured Sasha, she had been chosen to become a goblin mother and was under his control—devoted to him without reservation, without doubt, without fear.
As César walked, he couldn't help stealing a few glances at Lina, forcing himself to suppress the desire rising within him.
At first glance, she could pass for an elf… if one ignored her green skin, her yellow goat-like pupils, her sharp fangs, and the curved claws in place of nails.
"Damn it," César muttered under his breath, trying to calm himself.
He hadn't had time to enjoy being with Sasha—or with the newly acquired Lina.
The moment he secured control over Sasha, he had returned to investigate the reason behind the noticeable lack of goblins in the base.
In the process, he discovered a pleasant surprise among the newborns: a female goblin.
Without hesitation, he brought her under control, named her Lina, and continued investigating.
To his surprise, he learned that the Goblin King had disappeared along with a large group of goblins—explaining the reduced numbers in the cave.
When César learned that, he had only one thought:
"It's time."
He decided to infiltrate with Lina.
Why not bring his controlled goblins? Because it was unnecessary. Though fewer in number, the remaining goblins were still strong enough to fight, and he had no intention of engaging in an avoidable battle.
He brought Lina because she was the only reason they could approach the cells without raising suspicion.
Male goblins did not allow others near the prisoners' quarters. They feared someone might steal their turn to mate or attempt to claim the captives.
But the rare female goblins who happened to be born were an exception.
They were not considered a threat—and could even be allowed to join.
As Lina walked ahead, César followed a few steps behind, concealed within the shadows. Watching her silhouette, he couldn't help thinking about the situation of female goblins.
One might assume that their existence—giving the tribe the ability to produce more female goblins without resorting to the dangerous act of abducting females of other races—would grant them protection.
But the opposite was true.
They were ignored, considered weaker than males.
Only when they reached adulthood would they receive attention… and that was the worst part.
The only difference between them and the captives was that they were not locked away or physically restrained.
They would be used by every goblin as breeders.
And after that came the harshest stage.
In goblin tribes, where the strong killed the weak, a pregnant female—slower and more fragile—had no priority. Many died of starvation or exhaustion during the process.
Between their low birth rate and constant deaths, female goblins were almost never seen in a clan.
As César walked, he passed several improvised "rooms" carved into the cave.
Another possibility crossed his mind.
His mother might already be dead.
Not by her own hand. Those under the Goblin King's power never considered ending their lives.
They only desired to serve him. To belong to him. To be used by him.
But the males did not care about prisoners. She could have died from infection, malnutrition, or exhaustion.
Or, by some miracle, if she had become the king's favorite, he might have fed her just enough to keep her alive… and nothing more.
As Lina advanced, any goblin who saw her would become distracted by lust—perhaps even attempt to grab her.
At that moment, César would step in from behind and render them unconscious with precise strikes.
He did not kill them. One less goblin meant one less future servant.
Nor did he control them immediately.
Mind control took time.
Time he could not afford—especially if the Goblin King returned.
So they advanced, leaving sleeping bodies behind.
At last, they reached the chamber reserved exclusively for females.
Lina pushed open the heavy wooden door reinforced with bones and rusted nails. It creaked like a drawn-out lament.
Inside…
Silence.
Too much silence.
César frowned.
"This isn't right."
The cell was large—larger than expected. Built to hold many.
But the floor was covered in corpses.
Rat women.
Orange-skinned. Grotesque features.
César could not identify other races among them.
What mattered most was that none were breathing.
Some had been dead for days.
Others showed clear signs of having taken their own lives.
Empty eyes. Marked necks. Dried blood.
Lina, still new to the world and only days old, covered her mouth.
"They're… dead."
César did not answer.
His eyes swept over the bodies with forced coldness. This was normal for goblins. They did not care about captives. They did not treat wounds or prevent infections.
Food.
Water.
Nothing more.
If they survived, fine.
If they died, so be it.
He continued toward the final chamber—the largest one. A private cavern reserved for the Goblin King.
There.
At the back.
Chained to the wall, separated from the others.
Luna.
His mother.
She was breathing.
Her eyes were not empty. They glowed with an unnatural pink hue. Thick saliva dripped from her mouth, and her body swayed slightly, as if yearning for something that was not there.
César moved immediately.
"She's the only one alive," he said quietly.
Even if others had survived, he would not have rescued them. It would have been inconvenient. It would have increased the risk of being caught.
Lina nodded, her face tense.
Though the earlier scene had shocked her, she had adapted quickly. After all, she was still a goblin.
She had already lost empathy for the other females.
But learning this woman was the mother of the male she loved stirred something unfamiliar within her.
She did not understand why.
So she watched, trying to comprehend the strange feeling.
César ignored her and knelt before Luna.
Her body trembled. Pupils dilated. Breathing fast—charged with artificial desire.
The lingering effects of the Goblin King's ability.
Addiction.
An uncontrollable urge to mate.
A curse crueler than any physical wound.
"Mother," César whispered.
He tried to feel pity.
Instead, he felt… nothing.
He studied her gaze and sighed.
Perhaps, without that ability affecting her, she would look at him with disgust.
With hatred.
It would not surprise him.
But it did not matter.
Soon, everything would change.
He would erase the painful memories. The addiction planted by his father's power.
He would replace them with new memories.
New emotions.
"Family."
César knew what he was about to do was twisted.
But he was determined to repair—and unite—this broken family.
Not only for his darker desires.
But for what was coming.
To face future enemies, any weapon would be necessary… even the strange ability of his dear "father."
That power was the ultimate weapon against women—even powerful ones.
César broke the chains with ease.
"Lina, cover her."
Lina removed her cloak and draped it over Luna's bare shoulders.
"We can't stay," César warned. It was safer to leave before acting. This place was not secure. He did not know where his so-called father had gone—but he could return at any moment.
They exited the main cave with difficulty and made their way to a secondary hideout through tunnels known only to César, his brothers, and his controlled men—passages carved for access and escape.
The hideout lay some distance from the main lair: a natural chamber shielded by roots and living rock.
There, at last, César examined her calmly.
The damage was not physical.
It was worse.
The Goblin King's ability did not merely alter the mind.
It corrupted it.
And created dependence.
"If I don't handle this carefully… she'll never be the same," César murmured, narrowing his eyes. He needed her lucid.
He needed her as his teacher.
He closed his eyes and activated his mental control.
He began erasing memories.
Inserting new ones.
Luna whimpered softly, as if resisting.
Lina watched in silence before asking quietly,
"Will she… be all right?"
César nodded.
He looked at his "mother."
She slept peacefully, as if nothing had happened.
Now only one thing remained.
'Now I just need to bring back my dear father,' César thought, a fierce smile spreading across his face.