Barnon wanted to live a simple life. Get a house, a wife, raise children, all of those peaceful stuff you do in a normal life. Maybe even be in a religion. Yes, that certainly reeks of normality. Unfortunately for him, it’s not easy to achieve.

Shackles cling and clang as Barnon walks along a dirt path in a forest, alongside his fellow kobolds. He was located at the far side of the enslaved group, the group being kept in check by the numerous guards walking along with them in the perimeter. Chains drag on the ground, steps produce thuds on the dirt. They were the only noise they could hear from the silence the kobolds and guards have.

There were 25 kobolds in the group, while there were 23 guards around them. The kobolds drooped their shoulders from the weight of the chains and their exhaustion from walking, while the guards marched straight with their spears on their sides. The kobolds all wore white ragged clothes in contrast with the leather chest plates, iron helmets, and blue dull uniforms underneath, while walking on leather boots and their hands wear leather gloves. One look and you can easily tell that the humans were superior than the slave kobolds.

Barnon was one of them, evident by the collar he possesses, and wearing only white, ragged shorts. The collars mark their positions as mere slaves, locked by a chain they could not break. It was normal for a slave to be chained, it was normal for their perspective of the world. Their beliefs and attitude has been downgraded so much that they truly believed that they were nothing more than a slave.

But Barnon won’t have any of that. He is the only one from his people that had the capability to free his people. From his very birth till currently, he has been regarded by people of higher ranks as nothing but slaves. He was kicked and abused almost every day by people who thinks their priorities are much higher than his life.

Such were the fate of monsters. Kobolds are monsters in the truest of senses. They are a savage species that only hunted and killed for their tribe. They never knew love or fear, until they were utterly humbled by the humans. Humbled is an understatement. They are more broken than just being turned passive. Their very minds were shattered to the point where they believed their lives are worthless.

Because of this, kobolds were now regarded as ‘slave monsters’, living only for the use and disposal of their masters. The humans believed that they deserved it. After all, kobolds have taken thousands of life before their race’s enslavement.

That was very true for generations until Barnon’s generation came. Some of his kin were the same in mindset with Barnon. The kobolds wanted freedom. Unlike their other peers who would not even think of rebelling, they would reject the commands of their masters. This resulted in Barnon’s and his brother’s frequent abuse from their masters. Some even died due to others that actually intended to kill them. However, those who survived are now walking along the dirt path.

These kobolds have been regarded is ‘malfunctioning’ slaves. Apparently, they doubled the security for the slaves by brainwashing the generations to believe that their masters were their gods. They even placed an everlasting curse upon them that would make them beg for a master if they have been left with no commands for long enough. Barnon’s generation somehow had resistance against the brainwash, marking them as malfunctioning slaves.

To remedy this situation without spending much resources, the humans decided that it would just be better to make them do forced labor. And so the order was set in motion.

These rebellious kobolds were then gathered as a one large group and was dragged towards their grounds of labor. It has been an hour of walking, and the sun seem to be setting. From the weight of the collars and chains, the untrained bodies of the kobolds were exhausted from their long walk. Barnon was sure that they could have crossed the kingdom borders by now.

Unbeknownst to the humans, he actually has taken something essential for his planned escape. Kobolds were not very clever because of their race’s history, but Barnon was clearly an exception. His cleverness has given him an opportunity. During their gathering, Barnon snuck a crystal bomb inside his mouth from the house of his master he used to serve. The crystal was 1 centimeter in diameter. Judging from its size, it’s more or less serves just a distraction. However, that’s all Barnon needed.

His fellow kobolds then started falling to the ground. Their exhaustion has gotten to them. The commander, the leader of the guards who obviously wore much grander garments, ordered the whole group to rest. The guards were exhausted too since they too have been walking nonstop for 5 hours. As for why they are not using carriages and carts, let's just say that this group's sponsor is mentally challenged.

Barnon was waiting for this moment. Barnon and the kobolds were ordered to stay put as some of the guards set up a camp for themselves, leaving the enslaved kobolds having the shades of the tree for their shelter. The kobolds were all chained together on their collars and handcuffs to prevent individual kobolds rom running away from the group. Although their chains are indeed durable, their locks can be undo by anyone who can lockpick.

Although the humans were smart enough to double their security on the kobolds loyalty, which only lasted for a limited time, they weren’t smart enough double the complexity of their locks. If one were to look in the lock’s inner components, a simple push to a button inside was needed for it to unlock. It was unbelievably stupid for the humans to implement such a lock to these kobolds. Their decision was justified however, because the kobolds were hopelessly robotic when they are slaves, never doing anything unless said so. They also did not want to spend more quality and resources to slaves that won’t even benefit them. This kind of thinking was an annoyance to their masters because they have to manually order them to do things necessary for their survival.

And as probably have guessed, these locks will be the cause of this particular group’s escape. Barnon already knew how to unlock the locks of his collars and cuffs. He gained the knowledge so, by happening to be in front of a mirror in his previous master’s home and finding out that there is a hole on his collar. Curious, he put his finger in to see if there were any reaction. There was. He unknowingly pushed the button inside and the collar unlocked by abruptly opening sideways and falling unto the ground. The dumbfounded Barnon was still for a good few seconds, before realizing that he has been freed.

The clever Barnon then donned the collar back since it knew what would happen if they find him out from his collar. He wanted to escape, but there are times for things. If he tried now, his untrained body would very much slow him down and would eventually cause his death. He waited, until the time finally came.

He heard about the news of him and his kin being planned to get out of the kingdom and be forced to do labor by mining in a mountain on the west four days from now. With the news in mind, he then started planning his escape in secrecy. During the first night, he went to some of his brothers and sisters to teach them how to unlock their locks, and made them keep it as a secret for their plan. During the second night, he educated the rest with the help of others. Finally, during the last night, he told his plan to all of them.

Back at the present, the exhausted kobolds sit down and rested their legs. The camps have finally been set up at around the same time the sun has fully set. It was now dim, the area being lit up by the torches around the camp. 7 guards station themselves around the group, turning their backs from the kobolds as if they were an easy kill even if they try to hit them in the back. They know full well that the clangs of the chains would tell them that a kobold has moved. Surprisingly, all of the kobolds were all staying still, waiting for the signal to come.

“They’re quite tonight huh?” Said one of the guards to the other guard to his right side.

“Yeah, sounds like they finally know their place.”

The two guards looked back at the quiet kobolds behind them, and turned around again once they have checked up on them. They continued to talk to each other, while Barnon patiently waited for a moment to strike. Fortunately for him, he was located near one of the tents of the camp. This tent was very big, probably holding a lot of people inside. All he needed now was to wait till they were deep in the evening and make a… ‘distraction’.

*PTACK!*

A sudden explosion was then heard, and when the guards turned around to look, it looks like one of the tents has bursted up in flames. Screams can be heard inside the tent, as some of the humans inside started coming up. The startled guards then began running towards the tent to help them, but to their surprise, some found themselves on the floor. And dead.

“Help! The tent’s on fire!”

Yelled on of the humans while another throws a bucket of water unto the flames, but it seemed like it did little to stop it’s spread. The fire eventually spread to another tent, causing it to fire up too. The humans continued to try and kill the fire, but were stopped short.

“AHHHHHHH-”

A scream was heard before it was cut. The humans near the camps on fire turned around to realize that the kobolds have been set free, and armed. The panic that ensued after the explosion apparently made them unaware of the kobolds freeing themselves. Taking the spears of the 7 dead guards, they quickly rush in to go and fight the other humans. 11 of the men were unarmed as they were soundly sleeping inside their tents when it caught on fire, and only 4 were armed, including the commander. One of them also died from being trapped inside a burning tent.

The commander then immediately ordered the 11 men to go and take out their weapons from the armory, but a third party seems to not want for them to get to their destination. The ground rumbled, and both the kobolds and humans were stopped on their tracks.

“An earthquake!”

But it was no earthquake. The rumbling of the ground became stronger and intense, which scared the kobolds shitless. After all, this was not part of the plan. They have no idea what’s coming to them, but looks like the humans have. The humans widen their eyes in realization. That explosion and screams has summoned a Night Guardian.

“To Arms! The Night Guardian is upo-”

The commander was cut off, as a gigantic worm sprang out of the ground, making 3 of the humans disappear from their positions. The kobolds, who had no idea what was happening, was overrun with fear and started running from the opposite direction of where the Night Guardian sprouted, and was also what Barnon did. Despite his cleverness with the formation of the plan, he never took random variables into consideration, including the chance of THAT thing appearing.

As a result of having no experiences with plans, improvisation was quickly thrown out the window and him and his kin just booked it for their lives. It’s not like they can do anything else. Unfortunately for them, the worm was still in the air, and it seems like it’s aiming for in front of the group.

“Guys! STOP!”

Barnon shouted, and many did, but a three in front were too late when the worm has already landed on them. The kobolds recoiled from the sight, as the worm moves through the soil like it was water. Barnon and his kin were in utter shock, so much that they have become stiff and still. The humans however were scrambling about after finally getting their weapons out. Barnon realized that they can’t run unless the worm comes out into plain sight.

The torches were the only things lighting up the are under the night, but those weren’t even enough to locate the worm. Of course, it’s still underground. The rumblings on the soil continued as the people in the area anticipated it’s next appearance. These people knew that it wasn’t done just yet. And so it was. This time however, the worm seemingly targeted the humans who were running around like a chicken. The kobolds were so still they you could say they looked like beautifully detailed statues. They did so for 10 minutes until the commander was finally gobbled. He was no match for the Night Guardian, as the commander didn’t even have an Arc to help him fight off the monster.

The almost-petrified kobolds waited for their deaths, but the shaking on the ground seemed to have become lesser and lesser, until it finally stopped. Looks like the Night Guardian has stopped his hunt. Of course, there were no more distinct vibrations it could detect, so now it wanders off from the area. Now the kobolds are free to move.

“What just… happened?”

One of the kobolds asked. It was Barnon’s close friend, Khrus. Like Barnon, he wore a ragged white shorts. His face was also closer to resembling a wolf than a dog, and his fur was dark grey. Though his appearance gives off a vicious aura, he is actually quite the coward.

“W-we are not going to f-face any m-more of t-t-those right?”

Khrus wanted to make sure. Who could blame him for being horrified from that worm? It’s humongous size coupled with its destructive power was nothing to laugh at. Even the other kobolds seem like they also wanted to ask the same question. That worm ate 3 of their kin and the remaining humans after all.

Barnon didn’t know the answer to his friend’s question, but assured them it won’t come back as long as they keep quiet. Barnon hasn’t discovered why the Night Guardian didn’t try to eat them next, and only wanted to keep his kin quiet because noise would surely attract other monsters in the night other than that worm. The kobolds trusted their leader, and they didn’t question him any further.

Barnon and his kin then salvaged the corpses of the humans and took their equipment. They wore their clothes and armor for themselves and moved on to the north, where the forest kept on stretching farther. Days turned nights and nights turned days as weeks pass by after their escape. They could only be on the run as they believe the humans would be after them. Their survival however, was very lacking due to them being an inexperienced and untrained lot from combat. As a result, 8 of them died from the vicious monsters they have encountered in the forest. 4 died from the first few days, 2 with a wide gap between days, then finally it reached to the point were only one died in increasingly bigger gap between days. The encounters have obviously given them enough experience to finally survive in their own. Except for the Night Guardians, the monster commonly found here are small fries anyway.

As smooth as things were going, the curse that have been placed unto their race started to kick in. They have been out without being given a command for so long, that their minds began to beg for a master. As days went on, they are starting to unconsciously let out begs just for someone to go and give them commands. Barnon was not exempt from this. His generation’s resistance was only for the brainwashing, not the curse. The curse would give them increasingly painful headaches. It would also not register any kobolds as a master. Barnon, although he wanted freedom, could not deny that they would never live long without a master.

One bright morning, just as when the curse was getting worse, Barnon suddenly felt a feeling rush in him during when their group was walking. It feels like it’s beckoning him to somewhere. Leaving the others to Khrus for a while, Barnon followed this feeling. Through the thick foliage of the forest, he then came across a clearing. In the middle of it was a giant tree, and under it, was a tall stone with glowing pulsating blue markings on it. It was such a sight to behold and a feeling to savour, as seeing the altar made him somewhat light. He felt warm, protected, like the altar gives off aura of that of a guardian.

Barnon believed that a spirit dwelled within that altar. Although spirits of the forest are hot headed and sometimes rude, they are undoubtedly benevolent as they would never harm anyone without good reason. This, this spirit should become their master. A master that will finally show them love and respect.

And what surprise did they have, when they found out the the spirit was actually a god.