"He... he’s back," one of them whispered, his voice shaking violently. "Half a year... he’s been hiding for half a year..."

Their leader and idol had abandoned them. He hadn’t cared for their suffering. He had forgotten their existence. This had convinced the young Hobgoblins that Moku did not care for them at all, and that his heart belonged only to the Asuras.

And when they heard Moku recount the Oath of Dawn, their convictions deepened. He only remembered the Asuras; Moku had indeed fulfilled his promise to them. But what of his promise to the Goblins? Had he not made a vow to Hoddurt in that cave? Were they truly beneath his notice, considered nothing more than slaves to be used until their utility was spent?

The Hobgoblins’ fury reached a breaking point. They didn’t even care for Moku’s warning that the entire world wanted them dead.

"Fuck them! Fuck them all!" one Hobgoblin screamed in a fit of rage, though tears continued to stream down his face. Every Hobgoblin in the room was a war veteran. They had stared death in the face more than once or twice. Yet, their tears fell freely at the sound of Moku’s voice, which seemed to confirm they no longer mattered.

But Moku did not stop. He began to speak of the Promised Land—the place where every monster’s dream would be realized. Eternal combat alongside their comrades. To the Hobgoblins, however, this only made the air turn more bitter.

There was a reason they had all stopped praying to The One. There was a reason they no longer asked to fight together again in The One’s Heaven. It was because of a nagging thought in their hearts: that they would never be accepted there. How could they possibly have the right to fight in an eternal battle with their weak bodies? How could The One accept a feeble Hobgoblin—one who could only serve as cannon fodder and possessed no utility beyond that?

They had trained until they vomited blood. They had broken their bodies and rebuilt them. Not to become as strong as an Asura, but at least to be more useful than a mere lure. Yet, no matter how hard they tried, in the end, they were still just bait.

Moku’s next words seemed to validate their darkest thoughts.

[I know that in this world, the Asuras are the most complacent. They think they alone have the right to enjoy the grandeur of battle. Meanwhile, the Goblins and Sylphs have served only as the support team and spectators to the stage of combat enjoyed by the Asuras. I know this.]

But Moku wasn’t finished.

[I know you resent the Asuras who can feast in the fray, thinking that they will be the ones to dominate the fighting in the Promised Land. But I say to you: NO! THE COMBAT IN THE PROMISED LAND WILL BE ENJOYED BY EVERY MONSTER THAT EXISTS! I saw Hoddurt! I saw Alex! I saw Goblins, I saw Sylphs! They all enjoy the eternal, grand battle there!—]

At the mention of those names, the room erupted in a cacophony of confused voices.

"How is that possible? Hoddurt? Didn’t he die while still a Goblin?"

"And he didn’t even die in battle, did he? He died of old age!"

"Alex? Isn’t that the name of one of Nerphyl’s subordinates? But didn’t he pass away as a Sylph, never having evolved into a Druid?"

"He’s lying! He has to be lying! There’s no way a weak Goblin is worthy of fighting in the Promised Land!!"

But their voices were cut short as Moku concluded his words with a vow.

[—And because of that, hear my vow. My New Oath of Dawn for all monsters!]

Instantly, the room erupted into an uproar. As Moku spoke of the Nest of Calamity, the Hobgoblins finally understood why even a weak Goblin could taste the glory of battle in the Promised Land. Combat was not merely a contest of raw strength; it was a matter of sacrifice. Hoddurt and Alex had been weak, dying before they could evolve into more powerful forms, yet there was not a single history book that did not exalt their sacrifices in the founding of the Wilwatikta Kingdom.

With his frail body, Hoddurt had led the Goblin forces to surround powerful mages. He had never retreated from battles that were, in truth, nothing short of massacres. The young Hobgoblins bowed their heads in silent reflection.

What was the true source of their discontent and rebellion? Had they truly revolted simply because they couldn’t find mates? Was it because their wives had left them for the Asuras?

Deep within their souls, they knew the answer was no. Every monster—be they Goblin, Sylph, or Orc—craved one thing: to enjoy the thrill of fighting a formidable foe. But the reality was that they were so weak that "combat" was just a pretty word for their own slaughter.

They marched into battle only to serve as decoys, being butchered by the enemy until the Asuras arrived to save them. This was the true wellspring of their resentment. Ez had been right. They were simply jealous. Not of the Asuras’ strength, but of the Asuras’ ability to actually find joy in the fight itself. To the Hobgoblins, the battlefield was a place where they were merely bait.

In their heart of hearts, they had even felt a pang of envy toward the wives who had left them. Had they been born female, they would have had the chance to become Valkyries. Then, at least, they could have savored the glory of the front lines instead of being fodder.

Their true dream was to be acknowledged. As Hobgoblins, they had always been the "spectators" or "servants" of great wars. They set the traps or lured the enemy while the Asuras reaped the honor. But now, a new hope had emerged.

The Nest of Calamity.

The altar that proved why a weak Goblin was worthy of fighting in The One’s Heaven.

The altar Moku had brought back from the Promised Land as a gift for every monster. It was their one and only chance to truly feast in battle within this mortal world. Perhaps the combat they would enjoy here would fall short of the splendor in The One’s Heaven, but it was far better than their current existence.

If the Nest of Calamity could truly be built, then every ounce of their pain, despair, and suffering would finally mean something. But the question remained...

Did they still have the right to hope? Could they still dare to believe? Could they trust the strongest monster, whom they had assumed no longer cared for them? Could they believe in a kingdom they thought had turned a blind eye to their misery?

Moku answered them.

[Hear my oath!]

[I SWEAR TO BRING YOU ALL INTO THE GRANDEST BATTLE!]

[I SWEAR THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU SHALL TASTE ITS GLORY!]

His voice thundered, filling their hearts. It forced their bowed heads upward, eyes bloodshot with emotion. Their bodies trembled, fists clenched so tightly their knuckles turned white.

Two new vows were proclaimed after the strongest monster had fulfilled his old ones. Having honored the Oath of Dawn, Moku did not sit idle in his pride. He declared a New Oath of Dawn. And this time, he did not swear it only for the Orcs and Asuras, but for every monster alive.

The basement plunged into a total, heavy silence. Even those whose hearts had been blinded by hatred and distrust stood still, their breath hitched. The young Hobgoblin who had been clutching the makeshift dagger stared at his own rough, calloused hands. Tears fell, soaking into his green cheeks.

Without a single order being given, every Hobgoblin filed out of the basement in full gear. But they did not emerge with hatred or suspicion. As the morning sun pierced through the heavy storm clouds looming before them, the Hobgoblins looked up. Warmth washed over their faces and into their hearts. The weapons in their hands no longer felt heavy and cold, but light and ready.

They would believe. They would trust in the vow of their Light, their Guide, and their Way. They would trust the strongest monster who had not forgotten his word. They would trust Moku.

The voice of their leader returned, filling every corner of their burgeoning spirits.

[And after that, after we have finished the grandest battle in this mortal world, we shall return and fight together again in the Promised Land! I may not get there with you. But I assure you all, one day, I will fight by your side once more!]

Every Hobgoblin’s heart hammered against their ribs. Their faces flushed as their breathing quickened. Their pace increased until they were almost rushing to leave the basement, which now felt far too small to hold them.

[But before that happens, come with me to feast in the fires of battle in this mortal world!]

They marched toward the capital gates. They were not alone; the entire population of Wilwatikta seemed to be pouring out in droves, carrying whatever weapons they possessed. There were Goblins with hoes and crowbars; Sylphs with shortswords the size of their own bodies; Alraunes dragging their floral limbs; Valkyries with infants strapped to their chests; and elderly monsters leaning on their walking sticks.

No one commented on the sight. No one told the weak to stay behind. No one organized their movement. There were no logistics, no strategy, no formations, and no guerrilla tactics. No one commanded them. Yet every monster knew exactly what Moku wanted from them. And every monster answered his call.

[Because we all... are MONSTERS!]

Yes, because we are all monsters.

"May we battle together!" the first Hobgoblin shouted, uttering a war vow that hadn’t crossed his lips in far too long.

"In The One’s Heaven!" the others roared back in unison.

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Bonus Chapter Event: Let’s Finish TROC This Year!

It looks like sticking to just one Chapter a day won’t be enough to hit my goal of completing TROC by the end of the year. But here is the good news: I currently have a stockpile of over 20 Chapters locked and loaded!

To speed up the releases and show my appreciation for your incredible support, I am officially opening a Bonus Chapter System!

You can unlock additional Chapters instantly by hitting any of these milestones:

- 10 Power Stones = +1 Bonus Chapter

- 5 Golden Tickets = +1 Bonus Chapter

- 1 "Ice Cola" Gift (or any gift worth 10 Coins) = +1 Bonus Chapter

Let’s break the limits and reach the climax of the story together! Drop your stones, tickets, and gifts, and I will unleash the stockpiled Chapters. Thank you for reading and for your massive support!