I raised the portcullis.
GRIND. CLANK.
"GORO! GORO!"
"MIMIYA DADA!"
The two goblins flinched hard, jumping backward several steps as their ugly faces twisted in confusion and sudden alarm. Their beady eyes widened, and they clutched their crude wooden clubs tighter, raising them forward as if bracing themselves against some monstrous, invisible foe. Their scrawny green limbs trembled visibly.
It seemed the mere act of raising the gate had spooked them.
But that wasn't my true intent at all.
My real goal was to lure them inside.
So I waited patiently. I allowed their fear to linger in the air, just long enough for curiosity — and greed — to begin creeping back in.
And it did.
Slowly, as their initial apprehension started to fade, the taller goblin straightened his back, puffed out his narrow chest, and took one hesitant step forward toward the open gateway.
(Haha!)
(Excellent!)
(Come closer!)
However, the smaller goblin, still gripped by fear, quickly grabbed his companion's arm and yanked him back.
"GORO! GORO!"
At that moment, I realized I needed something more — something powerful enough to stoke the burning greed in their little green hearts and override their caution.
(Very well.)
(Let's see if this works!)
I opened the shop and exchanged a single Point for 1 Food. A familiar soft chime sounded, and ten small, vibrant red apples appeared inside my inventory.
(Now then, little goblins… would you like an apple?)
I rolled one apple out through the open gate.
Then another.
Then a third.
They came to rest just beyond the raised portcullis, perfectly placed in the sunlight.
Instantly, the taller goblin's eyes lit up like lanterns, gleaming with raw hunger as if I had dropped a pile of shiny gold coins at his feet.
"YARRR! APA! APA! YUM YUM!"
He shouted in pure delight and, with a sudden violent jerk, wrenched himself free from the smaller goblin's grasp, lunging desperately toward the fruit.
The shorter goblin, however, remained deeply wary.
"NARRR! NARRR! GORO! GORO!!!"
Its shrill cries were filled with panic as it clutched its companion's arm once more, trying desperately to pull him back to safety.
And just like that, the two goblins stumbled backward a few steps, locked in a heated, noisy dispute. They snarled and barked at each other, their voices overlapping in a chaotic frenzy, their clubs trembling wildly in their fists.
"YARRA! YUM YUM! RARA!"
"NAAAAARRR! NAAAAARRRR! GORO!!!"
Their shouts echoed loudly across the clearing.
(Hmm.)
(Perhaps it is time to sweeten the deal even more.)
(If apples aren't enough… how about meat?)
I spent my last 3 Points to purchase one kilogram of meat. As I selected the option, a small menu unfolded before me.
I could choose between five two-hundred-gram beef steaks or one kilogram of assorted chicken parts.
The decision was obvious: steak!
(Muahaha.)
(Now let me see how these wretches could possibly resist such a temptation!)
With a soft chime, a thick, juicy slab of red meat materialized right beside the apples, its fresh scent probably already wafting toward the goblins.
And my god! The reaction was instant and explosive!
"WAAAAAAA!! MYAT! MYAT! YAARRRRAAA! YUM YUM!"
The taller goblin, now completely consumed by greed, swung his club backward in a wild arc —
THWACK!
— and smashed it straight into the smaller goblin's head with brutal force!
The smaller one yelped in pain and crumpled instantly to the grass.
But the moment its eyes locked onto the tempting slab of meat, it quickly scrambled back onto its feet and shouted angrily in protest.
"YARA! MYATT! MYAT LA MIIII!!!"
Now, both goblins charged madly at the food!
And then, it was total chaos!
As they reached the bait, the scene even surpassed my wildest expectations!
The taller one got to the meat first, snatching it greedily.
But then—
BAM!
A wild, overhead swing from the shorter goblin's club shattered several of its teeth! A bloody tooth flew through the air in a wide arc, and its ugly face twisted in agony.
The steak arced upward from the impact, landing perfectly in the shorter goblin's outstretched, clawed hand.
"KAKA! MYAT! MYAT LA MI MI!!!"
It screamed triumphantly as it caught the prize!
Of course, the taller goblin would not concede so easily. It got up utterly pissed, eyes blazing with rage.
BAM!
A powerful return strike!
"BLARGGHH!!"
The shorter goblin was sent hurtling ten meters away, crashing hard into the grass and rolling several times before skidding to a stop! Its nose now bleeding a river a blood.
(Damn!)
(This is so fucking crazy! It's messed up!)
After all, who could have thought that a single piece of bait would incite them to turn on each other with such savage ferocity?
And just like that, the two greedy goblins engaged in a vicious fight to the death right in front of my gate.
BAM!
THWACK!
BAM!
Blood spurted from fresh wounds, and more teeth flew through the air like tiny white projectiles. The taller goblin appeared stronger and bulkier, but the shorter one moved with far greater speed and agility, dodging and countering with surprising quickness.
I found myself secretly favoring the smaller, faster combatant though.
Eventually, the brutal fight reached its dramatic climax. With a swift dodge to the side, followed by a club swing of astonishing speed —
THWACK!
The shorter goblin struck the taller one squarely in the face, the impact so violent it dislocated its neck with a sickening crack. Its head spun a full three hundred and sixty degrees in one grotesque motion! And then, its body fell onto the ground with a thud, convulsing a few times before it truly died.
The sheer brutality of the scene was staggering.
(Holy!)
Even as a castle, I was genuinely shocked!
The smaller goblin panted heavily, chest heaving, as a wide, triumphant, and utterly deranged smile spread across its bloody face. A guttural, victorious scream tore from its throat.
"YARAAAAAA!!!!!"