The Goblin Nation

Smoke entered the red ring while cracking his fist. He threw his leather jacket out of the ring and rested his hand on his hip. "So, when are we starting?" He asked nonchalantly.

Cossack took his shirt off and threw it out the ring. "Before we start, I'll explain the rules." Cossack slowly removed his leather gloves, revealing his hideous hands.

"What the?" Smoke said in disgust.

"Oh this," Cossack raised his right hand, showing its purple swells to Smoke, "This is nothing. Now before you get too distracted, let me tell you the rules. No weapons allowed, to win you have to throw your opponent off the ring or knock them out. And to make it fair, best two out of three wins."

"I don't get how that will make things fair, but ok," Smoke pulled his long hair back and tied it into a ponytail.

An old goblin walked inside the ring, holding a short stick with a flag attached at its end. He ordered both contenders to bump fist at the center of the ring before returning to their respective sides. The crowd sitting on the bleachers behind Cossack looked at the thin goblin with pity. Not only is he lighter than Cossack in weight, but he doesn't realize Cossack's grotesque purple hand is the famous death touch, pioneered by Cossack.

It was during the winter when they first saw those hands. When he fought the previous Chief so he could keep the woman outsider within their walls, they all thought he was foolish for challenging the man that fought with Lev's former Chief. But then, when he entered that ring, he was no longer a scrawny green goblin, but a conqueror. They always wondered how he became a conqueror. Cossack claimed he ascended into one when he killed a troll, but they never found the body of his victim, and it was hard to believe a lone green goblin can achieve such a feat. But they do believe that his ascension is connected to his death touch technique.

When Cossack fought the Chief, he immediately took the upper hand. In just one exchange, their former Chief stood in the middle of the ring paralyze from head to toe, with only his mouth yelling from the excruciating pain. Cossack walked behind him and wrapped his arms on his neck. He squeezed his arms tightly for ten seconds before the Chief dropped unconscious on the ground. The Chief tried to fight back and escape the rear-n.a.k.e.d chokehold, but the poison had him chained still.

When the Chief woke up, he handed Cossack the Krepkiy Club along with the title of Razin Chief. Then he left never to be seen again, leaving Cossack as the new leader of the tribe. But despite his high status, the majority of the tribe did not respect a cheater and liar like him. They were not afraid to show their contempt at Cossack. But, sitting on the highest level of the bleachers was Violin, and they are afraid of Violin. As the head priestess, she could upend the tribe's food supply if angered, so most keep their opinions to themselves.

The old referee stood in the middle of the ring and raised its flag. "Two ready?"

"Ready as always!" Cossack yelled.

"Same here," Smoke responded.

Just before the referee drops the flag to signal the duel to begin, Smoke's tribe stepped out the forest with Sun leading the way. The Razin tribe was surprised to see the entire Lev tribe standing in front of them. They looked thin and malnourished, except for the Chief and the larger red conqueror. But despite their helpless appearance, they looked confident and proud, for they overcome far greater obstacles. They treated this duel as if it was merely a stepping stone in comparison.

"You're late!" Smoke laughed

"Late my a.s.s." Sun said, "You think doing this is better than me fighting him?"

"Yes,"

"You know I could have been the substitute." Rock proclaimed, "These muscles are still rock solid even if I barely ate in the cave."

"Dude, you ate more than the entire tribe did," Stick argued.

"Hahaha! That's true." Smoke added.

Sun g.r.o.a.n.e.d at his brothers having such a normal conversation during a very dire situation. "What's wrong, can't say anything because you're a glutton yourself," Shuja teased Sun.

"Don't worry too much," Mari said, "He's your brother after all. You should trust him."

Behind the crowd, Cyrus pushed herself through the sea of goblins. She kneeled next to Sun, facing her son standing on the ring. "Come back. You shouldn't be there!"

"Mama, don't worry, I got this." Smoke reassured her.

Cyrus could not contain the shaking in her body. Mari and Natasha stepped forward and tried to calm her down. Mari's gentle glow did the trick, but Cyrus' mind was still clouded with fear and worries. Smoke may not have been the light that brings her hope like Mari, but he was her key to escape the pain she went through.

"Can we start this already?" Cossack asked.

"Hell yeah!" Smoke screamed, "Let's see what you got for me."

"Ready!" The referee yelled, "Go!" He slammed the flag on the ground, and the two charged towards each other.

Cossack arrived in the middle of the ring first, leaping at Smoke hitting his c.h.e.s.t with a flying knee. Smoke stumbled back, but otherwise still standing strong. Cossack did not stop and tackled Smoke, digging his nails on Smoke's t.h.i.g.hs. "Got you!" Cossack yelled. Blood began to drip out from Smoke's leg, and then Cossack bent his back and tried to lift Smoke's skinny body, but he couldn't.

Smoke gathered his mana and condensed them in one single point. The denser he made it, the heavier he gets. Smoke learned this skill after their fight with the trolls. He wondered how a bunch of green goblins could hold back a troll, and he realized it was because of the mana swirling inside their body become denser. Smoke and his brothers tried to replicate this skill during their time learning the light spell. Sun surmised it's best used as a defensive measure, making it difficult for enemies to carry and throw them to the ground. And Smoke demonstrated that Sun's theory was right. Cossack could not push, shove, or throw Smoke to the ground.

"Why can't I," Cossack whispered under his breath.

"What's wrong?" Smoke asked Cossack, "You broke you're back or something? Here let me help you." Smoke grabbed Cossack by the hip and lifted his body into the air. Smoke rolled his body, resting Cossack's upper back on his left shoulder. Cossack stared at the blue sky while the Razin tribe was in shock, seeing a skinny conqueror carrying their heavier Chief on his shoulder.

"What the?" Smoke threw Cossack to the ground.

"I'm not done yet?" Smoke rushed at Cossack.

"Cossack, get up!" Violin yelled on the sidelines.

Cossack pushed himself up. Smoke tried to deliver a left hook, but his swing was strangely slow enough for Cossack to dodge. The poison was taking effect, and Cossack could not help but smile before delivering a counter with his left hand, hitting Smoke's chin. The punch was nothing to Smoke. In fact, Smoke was surprised at how weak the blow was, but his legs felt numb, so Smoke wasn't sure if the much was truly weak, or if he was mistaken.

His brothers, on the other hand, knew the punch was nothing. Cossack's form was wrong. His legs to close and his back wasn't straight. "He didn't even lean in for the punch," Rock said. "You won't be able to hurt anyone, let alone Smoke if you don't put your weight into it."

"But look, Smoke's legs looked shaken up," Stick pointed out, "His attack must have done something."

Cossack continued to dance around Smoke, hitting him with his fist from time to time. Smoke struggled to keep up. Smoke wasn't sure if it was due to his dense mana or the punch that he felt his body was heavier than before. Then his right arm suddenly stopped moving and went limp on him, followed by a shocking sensation coming from his legs.

The Lev tribe was astonished to see Smoke's arm become lifeless, but the Razin tribe expected this outcome. The poison was now traveling through Smoke's body, rendering his muscles useless. Eventually, he will be paralyzed, unable to do anything but breathe and scream from the pain. Sun stared at Cossack, wondering how those weak punches could render Smoke's arms unable to move. Then he saw Cossack's strange purple swollen hands. "Oh, f.u.c.k!" Sun ran towards the ring. The enemy tribe's guards stopped him from entering the ring, or else, Smoke would be disqualified. Unable to enter the ring, Sun yelled out to Smoke to warn him, "Smoke! His hands are poisonous!"

"A little too late for that warning," Cossack said. Cossack stopped dancing around him and slowly walked behind him, facing the Lev tribe. "Watch Lev Chief, for this conqueror, the slayer of trolls, seducer of women, and the goblin that wields in his hand death itself win this duel." He taunted at Smoke's brothers.

Little did he know, it was not too late for Smoke. Before his left hand was rendered useless, he reached into his pockets and took out the pill he kept from Sun. He ate and swallowed just in time for Cossack to turn his back on the Lev tribe.

"Cossack do same thing before." One of the Razin audience said.

"Cossack win again."

"Cheater win, oh no!"

Cossack wrapped his arms around Smoke's neck when suddenly, Smoke grabbed his right arm and bringing it over his head and on his right shoulder. "Who said you're winning." Smoke whispered. Smoke's lower body was still paralyzed, but his upper body could move again. Smoke tucked in his chin and pinned Cossack's elbow between his cheek and shoulder. He pushed his h.i.p.s up and grabbed Cossack's purple hand, and pulled him over his shoulder, throwing Cossack on the ground.

Cossack closed his eyes on the way down and yelled out in pain when his back slammed against the ground. But he did not stay long on the ground. Cossack rolled over and crawled away, but Smoke grabbed a hold on his pants.

Smoke's legs were still unable to move, so he simply shifted his body weight so he would fall on Cossack's back. Once on top of him, he wrapped his arms around Cossack's neck and trapped him in a rear-n.a.k.e.d chokehold. Before Smoke could squeeze his muscles, Cossack tapped on his arm, signaling to everyone that he gave up.

The referee ran towards Smoke and helped him stand up. He lifted his hand and yelled to the crowd, "Smoke winner!"

"Hell yeah!" Rock jumped on Smoke, and the two fell back on the earth. Sun, Stick, and Shuja joined the pile.

"Get off. You guys are heavy!" Smoke yelled. Cyrus got on all four in front of Smoke and embraced his head. "I told you I got it, mom."

"What are you guys celebrating for?" Violin got in the ring interrupted their celebration, "Did you forget, best two out of three. It's not over yet, right Cossack?" She turned to face Cossack, but he was gone. "Where did he,"

"Cossack run away!" One of the Razin audience yelled.

"Leave Cossack, he no win!"

"Hey, old man where did he go?" Violin asked the referee.

"There," The referee pointed under the bleachers.

Violin exited the red ring, but before she left to look for her friend, she turned around and faced Smoke, "This isn't over yet!" Then she ran, looking for Cossack. She ran through poles and nails under the bleachers looking for him. Suddenly she heard a faint sobbing coming out from the bleachers.

She left the shadows and saw Cossack sitting under a maple tree, hiding his head behind his knees. The glossy green leaves rustled from the air blowing gently. Violin took a deep breath before walking up to her friend. Cossack is their only hope of keeping the barbaric goblin tribe from the north from stealing their homes. And he needs is little push, and Violin will deliver it to him.