Chapter 9: Goblins vs. Chicken

“Goblin find chicken, chicken far over there, many chicken big and a big one but dangerous.” 

“Even the scout can talk!” Leo uttered in surprise and held his temples. The absurdity of it all left him dumbfounded. 

He wondered if it was because the goblins were being human like in some ways, was why they were capable of speech compared to the cockatrice. 

Suddenly, the boss goblin rose sharply to his feet, its demeanor more serious.

“Today we hunt down chicken. And when we kill them and after, we have a feast!” he declared, his words met with enthusiastic cheers from his troops.

“You lead the way.” The goblin boss commanded the scout and took its weapon. A crude oversized axe that fits its strength. The scout goblin navigated, and the boss followed, leading the packs towards the cockatrice.

Leo decided to flee before he got spotted. 

The goblins were going to war with the cockatrice, but from the fight he saw earlier, he knew the goblins didn't stand much of a chance. 

Leo wasn't concerned about the outcome, he was simply thinking of how he could take advantage of the chaos they would cause, and become the winner of it all.

While distancing himself from the goblins, Leo was suddenly assailed by the distinctive sounds of cockatrices in the distance. 

It seemed that the cockatrices, too, had decided to take the fight to the goblins.

He hurriedly climbed a nearby tree to watch how the chaos would play out from above. 

The two groups, goblins and cockatrices, met in a standoff, glaring menacingly at each other. In a provocative display, the goblin boss hurled the severed head of a cockatrice toward the herd, eliciting angry screeches that reverberated through the forest. Despite their visible agitation, the cockatrices held their ground, unwilling to charge just yet.

Amidst the flock of cockatrices, Leo spotted one that stood out – larger, leaner, and exuding an air of undeniable authority. Its feathers gleamed like blades, its eyes radiated intelligence, and its every movement was regal. It was unmistakably the leader of the cockatrices, the reason the birds hadn't made their move, and the system identification confirmed his suspicions:

[Cockatrice Boss (Rank)]

[Proceed with caution]

Leo was surprised. This was the first time the system had issued a warning, which meant this cockatrice was the real deal.

“Great, we don't have to walk so far to find chicken. We kill the bird here and party here!” The goblin boss yelled. 

“Stupid goblin, you dare hunt one of our own in cockatrice territory. Today, you pay with your life.” the cockatrice declared threateningly.

Leo double blinked. 

“The cockatrice could speak as well?” 

Leo accepted it was because it was a boss. It was weird, but Leo didn't mind it, as it could also make things more interesting.

The goblins had killed one of their own, and the cockatrice were here for revenge. He got the plot and was ready for the action.

“Chicken talk now, chicken in my belly later,” The boss goblin chuckled, undeterred by the cockatrice's warnings, and raised his axe defiantly. “Troops attack!” 

The boss charged forth and the rest of the goblins followed. If it were just them, they would have been terrified by the cockatrice size, but their boss gave them confidence.

They clashed with the cockatrice and began to fight. Weapons clanging against beak and talon. Tail stabbing into green toddlers. The skirmish erupting in a frenzy of chaos and fury.

Leo sat cross-legged on the tree, as he watched the battle. It was going exactly as he had imagined. 

A single cockatrice was able to take out about three goblins, and when one of the cockatrices was about to be surrounded, another came to its rescue. 

They covered each other back and gave the goblin no chance to utilize their numbers--which was the only way they would be able to defeat one. 

One after another, the goblins fell, and including the scout from earlier, lying motionless with a fatal wound to its head.

They didn't stand a chance.

Leo shook his head at the one-sided onslaught. He had to admit, the goblin fought bravely for some cockatrice meat, but it was foolish bravery.

Only the boss goblin was able to hold its own, engaged in a fierce duel with the cockatrice leader. 

The cockatrice boss was fast using its blade for feathers, and scorpion tail, to rain deadly assault. 

The goblin, battered and bloodied, continued to fight relentlessly, but it was only a matter of time before he too would succumb to his injuries. 

Enough time for Leo to carry out his plan. He opened his inventory, which was filled with the stones he had collected earlier, in his search for cockatrices.

One by one, he took them out and swiftly hurled the stones onto the battlefield

Since the cockatrice and goblin were busy fighting, they didn't notice the stones dropping.

It had even struck a goblin on it's head, but it was too busy trying to survive, to take it seriously.

Once Leo had thrown enough, he seized three and aimed them at the battling bosses.

The cockatrice, boss, sensed some projectiles hitting the ground. It halted for a moment, but the goblin boss charged forward, forcing the bird to engage. As the goblin was shoved backward, the cockatrice used the chance to look upward, sensing something was off.

His sharp eyes caught Leo standing nonchalantly on the tree branch, and it glared suspiciously.

Leo simply responded with a playful wave, a sly smile on his face, and then a deafening cacophony of explosions erupted.