Chapter 29: The Birth of a Nation
Morning sunlight filtered through the thick canopy above, casting dappled shadows over the small goblin village. The tension from last night's battle had completely vanished, replaced by a strange mixture of awe, celebration, and curiosity. The goblins whispered among themselves, sneaking glances at the new rulers of their village—the dragon, the slime, and the ever-growing army of Pokémon and Direwolves.
Drake sat cross-legged near the elder's hut, surrounded by goblins and his companions. Rimuru bounced beside him, casually resting on his shoulder like a loyal mascot.
"Brother," Rimuru said, "they've been staring at us all morning. Maybe we should break the ice?"
Drake nodded, then stood up and looked over the gathering of goblins. "You've shown courage in the face of danger. From this day forward, you're not just survivors—you're part of our family. I'll give you something no one else has: names."
The goblins gasped. The elder stepped forward with trembling hands. "You… you would name us? Truly?"
Drake grinned. "Yes. But fair warning—it's going to make you stronger… and hungrier."
He walked up to the elder and placed a hand on his shoulder. "From now on, you'll be known as Rigurd."
A powerful wave of magic pulsed from Drake's body, washing over the goblin elder. Rigurd's small, hunched frame trembled, then began to shift. His muscles expanded, his green skin gained a healthy glow, and his eyes sharpened with newfound intelligence. In mere moments, the once-weak goblin elder had transformed into a proud Hobgoblin.
Rigurd blinked at his new reflection in a nearby water basin, then flexed his newly bulked arms and gave an exaggerated grunt, "I feel... amazing! And... hungry. Very hungry."
"Good," Drake said with a smile. "That hunger means you'll keep growing stronger."
As the naming ceremony progressed, Rimuru's enthusiasm became infectious.
"This naming thing is awesome! My turn!" Rimuru declared gleefully.
He bounced over to a group of young goblins and began tossing out names with glee. "You'll be Gobta, you—Rigur, and you—Lilyna!"
Each name was followed by a burst of magic, and one after another, the goblins evolved into Hobgoblins or Hobgoblinas, their forms becoming larger, stronger, and more refined.
One small goblin named Gobta immediately perked up, showing off his new muscles by accidentally tossing a rock too hard — it flew and hit a nearby tree, knocking a startled squirrel into the bushes. "Oops! Sorry, little guy!" Gobta grinned sheepishly.
Another young goblin, Lilyna, spun around, admiring her newfound height and strength. "I can finally reach the fruit in the trees! This is great!"
Rimuru giggled, then tried to lift a heavy log to show off—but ended up wobbling and nearly falling over. "Okay, maybe not all of us got stronger equally!"
Drake chuckled, shaking his head. "Give it time, Rimuru. Even you will keep evolving."
Meanwhile, the Direwolves gathered around Drake, their eyes fixed on Maugrim and Ranga. The effects of naming were even more dramatic for them—and the entire wolf pack.
Maugrim's body had grown significantly in size, now towering over most creatures in the village. His black fur shimmered like liquid void, with streaks of purple energy dancing across his massive form. Two long, curved horns sprouted from his skull, and his eyes glowed with deep, unwavering loyalty. His transformation from Direwolf to Void Howler Alpha was complete.
As Maugrim exhaled a low, rumbling howl, a wave of dark, magical energy pulsed outward. The other wolves in the pack shivered and then began to shift. Their fur darkened to a deep shadowy black, streaks of purple energy flickering over their sleek bodies. Their size and strength increased noticeably, their eyes glowing faintly with the power inherited from Maugrim. The pack was evolving—becoming stronger and more fearsome by following their Alpha's lead.
Ranga had changed just as drastically. His youthful body had grown sleeker and more agile. His fur was a midnight blue, broken only by the brilliant white star marking on his forehead, now glowing faintly. Lightning crackled softly around his paws, and his speed had become a blur even for trained eyes. He had evolved into a Storm Fang, a Direwolf variant infused with elemental speed and shock.
When Ranga let out a sharp, electrifying bark, sparks of lightning arced outward, crackling through the air. The other younger wolves howled in response, their own forms shifting as blue tinges and faint electric sparks danced along their fur. Their bodies grew leaner and faster, now echoing Ranga's elemental storm powers.
Drake approached the now kneeling Direwolf pack. "From this day forth, you are not just wolves. You are our warriors. You will defend this village—and in return, you will grow strong with us."
Maugrim lowered his head solemnly. "Yes, Master. We serve with honor."
Ranga barked excitedly, nuzzling Rimuru's side. "We'll protect everyone!"
The entire wolf pack, empowered by the evolutions of their leaders, looked fiercer and more united than ever before.
Village Life and Laughter
The Pokémon mingled effortlessly among their new allies. Infernape sparred lightly with a few curious Hobgoblins, his fiery fists creating harmless sparks that made the goblins jump and laugh. One goblin tried to mimic Infernape's moves, only to trip and land in a comical heap.
Lucario meditated under a tree, keeping a silent watch. Occasionally, he'd open one eye and shoot a warning look at any goblin who got too rowdy.
Jigglypuff, the village's unofficial singer, decided to give a training performance. Her lullaby was so powerful it accidentally knocked out two wolves and a goblin who weren't prepared for her... "training."
A goblin nearby muttered, rubbing his head, "Next time, maybe warn us first, okay?"
As evening approached, Drake gathered everyone near the village's center. A new fire blazed, surrounded by warriors, wolves, Pokémon, and proud goblins.
Drake stood beside Rimuru and spoke with a voice that echoed across the clearing. "We've defended this place, we've named and grown stronger—but that's just the beginning."
He paused and looked at the stars overhead. "There are other tribes, monsters, and beings in this forest. Some might become friends—others, threats. But I say this: we won't wait for trouble to come to us. We'll unite this forest, tribe by tribe, under one banner. Our banner."
Rimuru's slime body bounced in agreement. "We'll create a place where monsters, Pokémon, and everyone else can live in peace and strength!"
The goblins, wolves, and Pokémon let out a cheer—howls, roars, and cries filling the forest air. For the first time, they weren't just a group of survivors.
They were the beginning of something far greater.
A family.A force.A nation in the making.