Subash arrived at the next settlement—a small goblin village. The houses were crude but reinforced with rune markings, the paths winding unevenly through the terrain.
"So this is the goblin village," Subash murmured as he released his dragon haki. "Come out—I know you're hiding behind those trees, waiting to attack."
At once, the goblins leapt from their hiding spots and fell to their knees, pressing their foreheads to the ground.
"Ohh, great Void Dragon-sama, please forgive this foolish goblin who dared to attack you!" the goblin leader pleaded, trembling violently.
Subash smiled. "I will forgive you—but only if you become my subordinates. Otherwise, I will kill you all."
Draven, standing behind him, looked more serious than usual.
"If the great Void Dragon-sama wishes for a weak race like ours to serve, then we gladly accept," the goblin leader replied. "We would be honored."
Subash glanced at Draven, who nodded once.
"You all have the will to serve Subash-sama," Draven said calmly. "I will name you and teleport you to the Kigen Village, where you will help build the Monster Nation."
The goblins bowed deeply. It took Draven over an hour to name all two hundred of them. When he finished, he snapped his fingers. A teleportation circle expanded beneath their feet, and in a flash, the goblins vanished.
"Lilithra, I've sent two hundred goblins. Assign them their roles," Draven said through telepathy.
"I'll handle it," Lilithra replied. She stood before the goblins as they arrived, smiling.
"Go to the village leader. He will assign your duties," she instructed.
The goblin leader—now named Chang—bowed. "Yes, my lady," he said before heading to Velkan, who was already organizing the village's structure.
Lilithra surveyed the land thoughtfully. (This forest is the perfect foundation for our nation. Water, mountains, natural concealment… everything is ideal.)
Meanwhile, Subash and Draven stood before a lizard-man leader who knelt respectfully. Subash sat on a simple chair while Draven stood behind him like a shadow.
(These lizard-men were born from my magic… no wonder they share dragon-like traits—wings, tails, purple eyes.) Subash thought.
"So, will you serve me—or—" Subash began.
"We will serve you, Void Dragon-sama," the leader interrupted immediately. "You are our god. We will follow you even if the world stands against you."
Draven smiled faintly. (If he hadn't spoken properly, I would have ended him for interrupting.)
"Very well," Subash said. "I will give you a name."
The leader trembled in awe. "Void Dragon-sama is naming us… our loyalty will finally be rewarded."
"Gather all lizard-men," Subash ordered.
Hours later, a thousand lizard-men kneeled before him.
"You don't need to kneel," Subash said. "Stand." They obeyed instantly.
"Your name shall be Ravon."
Power surged from Subash into the leader. His body transformed into that of a young man with long purple hair, horned features, and black armor.
"Thank you, Lord Subash-sama. I will never disappoint you," Ravon said, bowing.
Another lizard-man approached.
"You also possess great potential. I will name you," Subash said.
The lizard-man knelt, and Subash spoke: "You shall be Zarvex."
Purple energy wrapped around him, and he too evolved.
(My son… he's stronger than me already.) Ravon thought proudly.
"Thank you, Lord Subash-sama," Zarvex said respectfully.
Subash continued naming the rest, many evolving into humanoid forms. Draven watched, satisfied.
"You are prepared," Draven announced. "I will teleport you all to Kigen Village." With a snap of his fingers, the lizard-men disappeared.
Subash let out a breath. "How long has it been since we began recruiting?"
"Not long, Subash-sama. Walking took a month, but teleportation would have been far quicker," Draven replied.
Subash nodded. (Even if it took time, the peaceful forest made the journey worthwhile.)
"We've recruited every race except one," he said.
"Yes, Subash-sama. Once we secure them, every monster in the forest will follow you."
They sensed a powerful aura ahead. "Let's finish this," Subash said, and they continued onward.
Hours later, an attack suddenly erupted from the shadows. Draven reacted instantly, forming a shield around them.
"How dare a filthy creature attack my master," he said coldly.
Subash raised a hand. "Calm down, Draven. Killer Rabbit—come out before I drag you out myself."
He released a wave of dragon aura that shook the ground.
A rabbit-like humanoid, clad in leather armor with glowing crimson eyes, crawled out from underground and knelt.
"Void Dragon-sama! Please forgive us—we didn't know it was you!"
"You are forgiven," Subash said. "Serve me—or die with your kind."
The rabbit leader hesitated only briefly before lowering his head. "I will serve you, my lord."
The rest of the killer rabbits emerged, trembling.
(Their numbers are low… only a hundred left.) Subash noticed.
"My lord, humans hunt us for our meat and cores," the rabbit leader said, voice shaking. "We are nearing extinction."
Subash's expression darkened. "Humans dare harm the forest's monsters? Unacceptable."
"Which village harmed you?"
"A new human settlement at the forest's edge. Four level-15 humans slaughtered many of us."
"Then I will name you. After that, you and Draven will destroy that village. I will not allow threats to this forest to remain," Subash said.
Draven smirked. The rabbits' eyes filled with gratitude.
"You will be Kael'thar," Subash declared. Power surged from him into the rabbit leader, transforming him into a humanoid with dark fur and purple eyes.
Subash named the rest from morning until night.
"Most of you will go to Kigen Village. Kael'thar, Draven, and I will take care of the humans," Subash said.
They vanished with wind magic and appeared before the village.
"Kael'thar, avenge your people as you see fit. I won't intervene," Subash said.
Kael'thar nodded and summoned tornadoes with his wind manipulation, sparing only the children. Subash smiled faintly.
After the matter was settled, they returned to Kigen Village. Subash paused in shock.
"When did this village become so big?"
The gates opened, and Lilithra emerged, bowing slightly. "Welcome home, Subash-sama."
"This is mine? How did you finish all this so quickly?"
"We used magic to construct everything," Lilithra explained. "It's far stronger than normal materials. Powered by magic, it will never collapse."
Subash smiled. "Excellent work, Lilithra."
"Please, come inside. The leaders of each race have gathered—they want a meeting regarding our nation."
Children of different races ran through the streets, others worked with smiles. When they saw Subash, they knelt respectfully.
Subash offered them a warm, gentle smile as he walked deeper into his newly-born Monster Nation.