Tap! Tap!

Everyone's attention turned to the lithe figure that walked out from the crowd. Bok, garbed in naught but a pair of shorts, pauldrons, and armor covering his upper thighs, weathered the curious gazes as he calmly made his way to the base of the stairs.

'So high.' Bok swallowed hard. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he looked up to the Primates. That was where he needed to be. He needed at least that much power if he wanted to change the dire fate of goblins.

Bok strengthened his resolve, and then took the first step. DUN! He nearly choked under the pressure that suddenly assaulted him. He could tell that this was some sort of test. He would not be allowed to present himself if he could not even make it up these stairs.

Bok gritted his teeth, and then took the next step, and then the next. The pressure increased with each step, at a point almost forcing Bok to double over as he climbed. Many times, the goblin wanted to give up. But, each time, he would recall the dead bodies he hid under. He would remember that Summoned warrior's disdainful eyes as he destroyed his tribe. Each time, he would dig his fingernails into his palms, and then forcibly carry on.

"Bok. Stop."

Suddenly, a voice forced the goblin out of his near-trance like state. Bok looked up to see Myra two steps ahead of him. The wisben wore a proud smile as she observed the pale goblin. Primates needed more than just strength and uniqueness. A Primate needed a few loose screws in their heads. They had to be willing to challenge an unfair world, no matter how terrible the odds may be. One could not change the world without that kind of mentality.

Myra nodded, but then ordered with a stern glare, "What are you waiting for? Greet Her Highness!"

Bok panicked. He swiftly looked at the daeben woman at the top of the stairs. Brrrr! The goblin shivered upon making eye contact with the daeben queen. He felt like an insignificant bug beneath the heel of a great shoe. He had never felt this type of suffocating feeling. Not even when he looked at that damned warrior.

Bam! Bok obeyed his instincts. He knelt and greeted with a humble tone. "It is Bok's honor to finally meet the Great Queen." Evidently, the goblin's intelligence had grown. But he still could not shake the habit of referring to himself in the third person.

"Mm." Queen Alia's eyes shone with a red light as she activated one of her secret skills. [Talent Reader] allowed Queen Alia to judge the potential of a person before her. Queen Alia's ability exposed a person's current strength, as well as how much room was left for improvement.

"Oh?" Queen Alia blinked in shock. The goblin was emitting a golden light. This was just a level below the highest grade she knew, Platinum. This goblin was shining gold. This meant, he, at the very least, hade what it took to be a Primate. She seductively smiled, pleased with the find. She looked at Myra. "How long did he last?"

Myra scratched her cheek, and then confessed with an embarrassed smirk, "Ten days, two hours, thirty minutes, and four seconds."

A collective gasp rang out. The Primates looked at the goblin with shock in their eyes. They then turned to look at the cloaked figures behind Queen Alia. Precisely, they were looking at a single man. That figure took off his robe, revealing a hulking, Nordic man, who looked to stand around 8-feet tall. The man, whose gray beard suggested he was in his fifties, had dozens of bells strapped along his arms, chest and legs.

Strangely, though, the bells made no sound as he walked forward.

Queen Alia smiled as she looked at the man. "What's the matter, Bellmaster Rene? Are you annoyed that your record has finally been cracked?"

"The future belongs to the young." Bellmaster Rene observed Bok with a pair of curious eyes. "But, I didn't expect a goblin to break my record." Rene recalled the excruciating pain he endured in the reformation pool. There was no way the pool suddenly got faulty. So, that could only mean... "You are a resilient one." Rene praised the goblin. "But, resilience is not enough to become a Primate. What can you add to the Chaos Order."

Bok trembled. This man's voice was loud, yet rung low at the same time, like the churnings of a church bell. It shook the goblin to his core. Bok hesitated. He looked at Myra, who smiled and then nodded, assuring him of her trust. Bok thought about it. There was no reason for Myra to trick him. If she brought him here, then she believed his newfound ability to be of use to the Chaos Order.

"Bok's Blood." Bok swallowed hard, and then fixed Rene with a determined gaze. He held out his bleeding hand. "Bok's blood can increase the intelligence of lower species." He glanced at Myra once more, and then continued. "Dark men run tests. Proved that goblins and kobolds experienced increased intelligence."

"Oh?" Queen Alia stared at Bok with renewed interest. "Is this true, Myra?"

"Yes, my Queen." Myra had been shocked herself. As per standard procedure, the daeben ran tests on Bok's blood when he emerged from the pool. The aim was to help Bok quickly find what area he should specialize in, and find out if there was any uniqueness in his blood. Through the unbeatable power of science, the daeben found that Bok's blood increased the intelligence of goblins and kobolds. Further tests were scheduled post-war to see just how far-reaching the effects were.

Queen Alia's lips curled in a happy smile. "How much increase are we talking?"

"The test subjects achieved the mental maturity of an early teenage child." Myra reported with a wide smile. "The only caveat is that they become loyal to Bok."

"Not bad." Rene scratched his chin. "At that age, they can listen to orders, and understand the importance of coexistence." He looked at Queen Alia. "I'm all for it. There are only profits and no downsides if we can recruit the scattered lower species." That's right... kobolds, goblins and many more like them were like rats. Numerous, but scattered, making it hard to catch them or form a coherent army. However, with Bok, these scattered forces could be pulled together to form a terrifying force!

Of course, there was the risk that Bok would betray the Chaos Order after gaining a strong army. However, the Order was not worried about that. Betrayal and loyalty were both beautiful aspects of Chaotic Nature. The Order would deal with whomever betrayed them, just as they would serve the interests of the loyal members. That was the simple rule by which the order operated.

Queen Alia smiled and then extended her hand outward. "Step forward, Bok."

Bok swallowed. He steeled his nerves and then began ascending the stairs. He passed by the Primates, and then stopped when he was one rung below the Queen. The goblin bowed his head, not daring to look at neither the Queen, nor Rene.

'Ho... He's better up close.' Queen Alia could feel the pulsing mana flowing through the goblin's veins. Bok had not quite reached the required level, but his potential was practically as high as it got. Pleased by his body, the young queen placed her hand on Bok's shoulder. "As a Primate, you will be tasked with furthering the Chaos Order's ideals on the continent. You will receive from other Primates should you need it, and you too must assist if asked. Otherwise, you are free to do as you wish. Do you agree with these terms?"

Bok fervently nodded. A desperate shout roared from his heart, "I accept, my Queen! Please, instruct me!"

Queen Alia grinned. "Then, Bok. From this moment onwards, you cease to be a common goblin. Your task shall be to find and rescue the lower species from their ignorance. Bring them into the arms of Chaos, and build a kingdom that they might reside in." Queen Alia's eyes glowed as she proclaimed. "Rise! Goblin King, Bok!"

Bok's blood boiled with fervor and excitement. He could see it! He saw himself stood on a platform overlooking a horde of monsters as far as the eyes could see. A magnificent crown rested on his head, and he held a relaxed smile as he watched the monsters peacefully going about their day.

BOOM!

A menacing aura exploded from Bok's body. The shockwaves could be felt for several miles. Bok's eyes glowed with a sinister light as he slowly raised his head. Eventually, he made eye-contact with Queen Alia. This time, however, he did not cower. His conviction to produce that reality did not let him cower.

Even though Queen Alia's pressure weighed down on his bones. Even though looking into her eyes, felt like peering into Hell's Chambers. Bok would not hide in fear! No longer!
"Good! This is how a Primate should be!" Surprisingly, Queen Alia was not offended by Bok's newfound confidence. Rather, she was pleased. "You need at least this much arrogance if you plan on transforming the world."

Bok's heartbeat quickened. He gazed upon Queen Alia's dangerous smile, and just knew. This woman will win. No matter what life threw their way, she would win! Bok, at this moment, decided. He would do his utmost to make this woman's desires come true. Because, if hers came true, then, no doubt, she would help him get his.

Bok recalled the daebens' salute. He placed his palm on his chest, and then bowed to Queen Alia. "Bok swears that Bok will do Bok's best to make Queen's dreams a reality."

Queen Alia grinned and patted Bok's shoulders. It was surprising. Her eyes held neither disdain nor pride. It was like she saw Bok, a goblin as an equal worthy of standing before her. "Do not worry about my dreams. Focus on building your kingdom. Make your own dreams a reality. That is how you shall help me."

Bok's heart burned with pride and joy. Ah, yes. If it was this woman. If it was her, then there could exist a world where his kind were not looked down upon. Clenching his fists, the Goblin King made a silent vow. 'Just wait. I will carve our place in this world.'

Queen Alia noticed Bok's clenched fist. Mm. She liked the look in his eyes. This was a goblin who was ready to tread on a field of corpses to ensure his dream became reality. That was good enough for now. "Alright." Now that this business was taken care of, it was time to move on to the next.

Queen Alia looked at the Primates. "You can begin climbing Oni Hill. There are sixteen of you, and eight floors. So, that's two per floor. How you split yourselves is up to you." She paused, and then added. "Be careful. Each and everyone of you is precious to me. You are not permitted to die without my say so. Understood?"

"AH!"

Cathek watched with a thin smile. Queen Alia was the Chaos Order's true strength and pillar. The reason the Order could grow to its current height was because of her policies in accepting all species regardless of race or gender. Also, she promoted loyalty and camaraderie, rather than strife and competition.

These policies created an organization as loose as sand, yet, somehow, tightly bound together in the container that was Queen Alia's ambition.

Cathek had to admit. He was proud. That little teenager who ran from her mother's death had grown into an extremely powerful and wise woman. A part of him really wanted to see how far she would go.

Also, he was curious.

Who would win?

Cathek's Champion, or his brother's Champion?

The kafu's furs bristled in slight anticipation.

A/N: Please check the next chapter for a Very Important Announcement!!