Preparing to attack his father, the Goblin King, Caesar refined every detail in his mind.
That was when one of his men returned in a hurry.
More precisely, it was his second brother: the thinnest of the group, but also the most agile and fastest. Precisely because of those qualities, Caesar had assigned him the role of scout and spy.
He brought important news.
The Goblin King had returned.
And he had not come back empty-handed.
He had returned accompanied by a Dark Elf.
At that instant, all the pieces fell into place.
That was why his father had not emerged when the gnolls attacked the cave. He had been outside, hunting something far more valuable. However, the most important information was not that, but something even better.
The Goblin King had been wounded during the capture.
That did not surprise Caesar in the slightest.
In fact, it was the perfect opportunity.
Just as he was about to give the order to attack, two figures approached him.
Lina and Sasha.
Both clearly intended to accompany him and fight at his side.
Caesar quickly shook his head.
He knew all too well that the Goblin King's innate ability was lethal to women.
The two stopped, their expressions tightening with frustration. Anguish was reflected in their eyes as, in silence, they reproached their own weakness for being unable to help the man they followed.
Caesar noticed immediately.
He approached and reassured them with a firm voice.
"You have nothing to worry about. Even if they call him the Goblin King… in the end, he is nothing more than a common goblin with a dangerous ability for you."
With those words, Caesar departed alongside his brothers and men, while a small group remained behind to protect them.
Under that gaze filled with concern, both women made a silent vow: they would train, they would grow strong, and they would never feel helpless again.
The Goblin King advanced, satisfied.
His prize was secured, and his mind already indulged in what he would do upon returning to his lair. He smiled, imagining the moment he would enjoy his capture.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed movement.
Shadows.
His expression changed.
He immediately ordered his men to investigate.
When they prepared to fight, they discovered that they were goblins… goblins from his own lair.
That was enough for everyone to lower their guard.
Although a faint unease crossed the Goblin King's mind, upon confirming they were from the same nest, he decided to ignore his doubts. He ordered his men to lower their weapons and advance toward them.
Just as he was about to ask why they were there waiting for him…
A wooden mace came crashing straight toward his face.
Under other circumstances, he would have dodged it without difficulty. But not this time.
He was injured.
He had exhausted his strength capturing the dark elf and facing those who had protected her.
He had no time to react.
The impact was brutal.
As darkness began to envelop him, the last thing he heard was the voice of one of the goblins, accompanied by an unsettling smile:
"Dear father… soon we will be a happy family."
..
Caesar could not help twisting his mouth as he contemplated the bizarre scene before him.
It was grotesque.
It was unnatural.
And yet, it had been created by his own hand.
His mother, Luna—the lycanthrope who should have hated the goblin sitting in front of her, or rather all goblins, after the cruelty she had suffered—looked at them with a serene, almost devout love, as if she were an exemplary wife sharing a meal with her husband.
And his father…
A goblin.
A creature who, by nature, saw females as nothing more than breeding sacks, looked at Luna as if she were the love of his life. In his eyes there was no lust or domination, but something even more disturbing: sincere affection. An aura of a good husband surrounded him—steady, protective.
He even cast a paternal glance toward Caesar and his three brothers.
There they were.
Five goblins and one lycanthrope, seated around a family meal, sharing food, gestures, and silence…
as if everything were normal.
Caesar knew he might have gone too far.
Perhaps he only wanted to feel something resembling a family.
Even if it was a twisted version.
Even if it was disturbing.
Was it wrong?
Yes.
He knew it.
Did he care?
No.
Because he could do it.
And when one has power… why not use it?
He set that thought aside.
Once he had brought his dear father and his closest men under control, taking over the rest of the old guard goblins was a mere formality. No resistance. No glory. No epic struggle.
And now he was there.
Sharing a meal, while Sasha and Lina accompanied the newest member of his "family":
a beautiful dark elf, still silent, still observing.
Caesar focused his attention on his mother.
He narrowed his eyes.
The information he obtained upon subjugating her confirmed his suspicions:
there was no trace of humans on the continent…
and Luna had still not managed to form her mana core.
A pity.
Without a core, she could not help him as he needed.
To open mana veins, strength or will alone was not enough. Guidance was required. A mage had to feel another's flow, traverse it with their own mana, and show the correct path.
Humans had manuals.
Maps.
Inherited guides.
But a race that had never cultivated…
how could it distinguish, among thousands of veins, which was the correct one?
Someone with a core was needed.
Someone who would place their hands upon the practitioner's body, who could feel the subtle difference, guide the flow, and show the exact path.
Luna could not do it.
But not all was lost.
He had to thank his dear father.
The woman he had brought with him, the dark elf, did possess a mana core. Barely formed, weak… but sufficient.
That was enough.
Speaking of family…
He had decided to name them.
His father was now Gab Gron.
His mother, Luna Gron.
An original surname, right?
He thought sarcastically.
He was Caesar Gron, the middle brother.
Goby Gron, the eldest.
Gabe Gron, the second.
And Get Gron, the youngest… the chubby one.
Now that the family was "united and loving."
Now that the home existed, even if it was an aberration.
It was time to act.
For real.
To create a true force.
A pillar for the plans to come.
A base capable of resisting protagonists, demon gods… everything.
Just thinking about it made his blood boil.
And this time,
there was no turning back.