Chapter 31: Path of Ash and Echoes
The morning sun cast golden streaks through the forest canopy as Drake adjusted the leather straps on his travel gear. Gardevoir stood quietly at his side, her eyes closed, reading the ambient magic of the land. The goblin riders mounted their wolves in loose formation, their spears crudely polished, armor still a patchwork of scavenged metal and leather. Rimuru bounced onto Maugrim's back with an excited squeal.
"First real mission! I feel like an actual ruler now," Rimuru said, half-joking, half-thrilled.
Drake grinned. "Try not to fall off. Maugrim doesn't come with seatbelts."
"I'll just bounce if I do. You, on the other hand, will need a healer."
The wolves growled softly in agreement.
They moved through the forest in disciplined silence, Staraptor and Pidgeot circling above. The forest was alive with the usual chatter of birds and bugs until, just past midday, Staraptor dove down, letting out a sharp, urgent cry. Drake raised a fist, halting the party.
"What is it?" Rimuru asked.
"Smoke. That way."
They rode toward the source, weaving through trees until they reached a cliff overlooking a small goblin village nestled in a clearing. Fire had already begun to eat at the outer huts. Screams echoed faintly. Dozens of goblins fought in vain against a horde of lizard-like monsters — all scale and fangs, with glowing red eyes and acidic breath that melted wood and flesh alike.
Drake's eyes narrowed. "They're not bandits. These things are organized."
Rimuru hopped to the ground. "I'll shield the villagers. You clear the mobs."
Drake smirked. "Greninja."
There was no sound, just a blur. One moment Greninja stood beside him. The next — nothing.
The monsters advanced toward the village center, where goblin women and children had clustered beneath a burning archway. One lunged — and was sliced in half mid-air by a blade of compressed water.
A second hissed and turned. Silence.
Then — flash. A spinning arc of shuriken carved through three more. Shadows flickered. The monsters began dropping, one after another, falling to precise, surgical strikes.
A creature turned to flee — only to be pinned to a tree by a spear of water, its glowing red eyes fading into stillness.
From the treetops, Greninja dropped, crouching in the ash, his eyes calm. Behind him, a wave of mist rolled in — summoned by Gardevoir — veiling him as if the forest itself bowed to his movements.
Drake leapt into battle behind his Pokémon, Garchomp crashing through the underbrush like a tank, flames trailing behind as Infernape blazed forward.
Ten minutes later, it was over. The goblins stared in stunned silence at their saviors.
Rimuru extended a tendril to a shaking elder. "You're safe now."
The goblin fell to his knees. "Why? Why would you help us?"
Drake approached, wiping blood from his claws. "Because we don't just build kingdoms. We protect the forgotten."
The elder looked at the burning remains of his village. "We have nowhere to go."
Rimuru nodded. "Then come to Tempest. We have food, shelter... a future."
"And wolves," Gobta added helpfully, still upside down on his mount.
The elder hesitated, then nodded solemnly. "We will follow."
While the goblins prepared to march, one of the village scouts approached Rimuru and Drake with wide eyes.
"There's... something else."
Drake raised an eyebrow. "Speak."
"The monsters came from a cave nearby. We thought it was just a burrow. But it pulses. Like it's alive."
Rimuru's eyes flickered. "A dungeon?"
Drake's lips twitched. "Finally."
They followed the scout through dense underbrush until they reached the edge of a cliffside ravine. A wide stone maw yawned open before them — ringed with overgrowth and glowing faintly with runes that pulsed a soft green.
Gardevoir stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "Spatial energy. Folded space. It's... breathing."
Rimuru floated closer. "Looks dormant. But not for long."
Drake stepped onto the threshold, feeling the air thrum beneath his boots. The dungeon was old, powerful — and calling to him.
"We'll deal with it. Later."
He turned to the rescued goblins. "Head to Tempest. Tell Rigurd you're under our banner now."
The elder bowed. "We will serve. We will grow."
That night, campfires lit the forest like stars below the trees. The goblins shared food with the riders. Wolves dozed near Pokémon. And Greninja, back in his calm silence, meditated beneath the moon, the scent of water and blood still clinging to the breeze.
Drake sat beside Rimuru, the firelight dancing in their eyes.
"You think Tempest can really become something bigger?" Drake asked.
Rimuru leaned back against Maugrim. "I think it already is."
Drake stared up at the stars. "And this dungeon?"
"One step at a time," Rimuru said. "But I have a feeling... it's more than a cave."
Gardevoir silently agreed with a nod, her eyes reflecting the distant green glow.
Drake closed his eyes.
Tomorrow, Dwargon.
But tonight — they had saved lives.
And that was enough.