As Amigel's words resounded, a thunderous cheer erupted across the heavens and earth!
Every heart surged with exhilaration!
They had vanquished the once-mighty gods!
The races of the Goblin Alliance erupted in jubilation, their spirits lifted by the promises of their Goblin King, Amigel.
In contrast, the races aligned with the Titan Alliance stood ashen-faced, their confidence shattered, having bet on the wrong side.
High above in the sky, Jarius, ever mindful not to spoil the moment, joined the celebration. He raised his bronze longsword triumphantly, his wings beating in rhythm, heralding the dawn of a new era.
Yet, he and his Winged Clan lacked the strength to claim this era as their own—not yet.
Basking in the adulation of the myriad races below, Goblin King Amigel gazed upon the cheering throngs on the ground and the soaring Winged Clan in the sky. Overcome with joy, he proclaimed loudly:
"My people, my allies of the Goblin Alliance, at this very moment, we have together defeated the Titans, who ruled over Felander for countless years, and claimed our place as masters of the land!"
"Henceforth, no longer will our kin be conscripted into endless wars, nor will any be enslaved by Titans or Dragons. Our people shall dwell in peace!"
"Looking back to times past…"
Perhaps swept up in his elation, the Goblin King, despite his exhaustion, delivered a lengthy oration from the heavens.
At last, he outlined plans for the future.
"I shall honor my oath to erect the Goblin Capital in Proadas and, upon its completion, be crowned Goblin Emperor. At that time, I shall apportion lands to all races!"
"Moreover, the Titans' legacy shall be shared among all races!"
His words ignited even louder cheers from the races across the continent.
Was this not the very reason they had rallied behind the Goblins to overthrow the Titans?
In the aftermath.
The Goblin Alliance's continental coalition moved to capture as many of the Titan-aligned races as possible.
These captives would become spoils of victory, distributed as slaves among the continent's races.
That evening.
The Goblin King distributed vast quantities of beef, mutton, fine wines, and delicacies, hosting a grand victory feast within the encampment.
The kings and leaders of the various races were invited to a lavish banquet outside Amigel's grand tent, centered around a massive bonfire.
As Jarius arrived with a few trusted guards, he caught sight of an enormous hand roasting over the colossal fire.
A group of Goblin chefs scurried about, frantically seasoning the hand with spices.
Jarius immediately recognized it as the hand of the Thunder Titan, Yatri.
"This Thunder Titan Yatri is truly unfortunate—dead and now being roasted for the Goblins' feast!"
He muttered to the small turtle perched on his shoulder.
The turtle nodded, sharing his unease.
Leave some room for grace, for future dealings, Jarius thought.
He found the Goblins' actions questionable.
Perhaps a clue to why the Goblin Empire later fell into such decline.
Before taking his seat.
Jarius approached the Goblin King Amigel's throne to pay his respects.
Amigel, brimming with pride, was attended by eight Goblin maidens, while his loyal yellow-robed guards stood at a distance.
The legendary White Spear, renowned across the continent, stood planted beside the throne, a symbol of the Goblin King's authority.
Jarius's eyes lingered on the spear with envy.
From his throne, Amigel beamed as Jarius approached to offer his respects.
The Winged Clan had been one of the few races to fully commit their strength to his cause.
"Jarius, you've arrived! Come, take your seat—the banquet is about to begin!"
Amigel's tone had shifted; no longer addressing him as the Winged King, but simply Jarius.
Unfazed, Jarius seized the moment to state his purpose.
"Your Majesty, with the Titans now vanquished, what plans do you have for those races that sided with them?"
"They shall be subdued and eradicated. The establishment of the Empire demands a vast number of slaves!" Amigel declared.
"And if they submit a letter of surrender, pledging their allegiance?"
Jarius pressed.
Amigel paused, frowning in thought, before responding.
"If they are not diehard loyalists of the Titans, they may be permitted to survive. I am not a tyrant!"
The races allied with the Titans were numerous and scattered across vast territories. Eradicating them would be a costly and time-consuming endeavor. Submission would be far preferable.
Moreover, as the Emperor of the continent, Amigel aspired to the prestige and authority of the Titan King, considering matters with broader perspective.
The more races under his rule, the better.
Hearing Amigel's stance, Jarius reflected that even Goblins, like men, could change.
Seizing the opportunity, he spoke swiftly.
"Your Majesty, the Winged Clan harbors an irreconcilable blood feud with the Eagle Court. Should the Eagle Court offer a letter of surrender, I beseech you not to accept it!"
"The Eagle Court shares a blood feud with the Winged Clan?"
Amigel asked, visibly surprised.
He held no fondness for the Eagle Court, which had opposed him, and favored the loyal Winged Clan.
"Your Majesty, my ancestors and forebears perished because of the Eagle Court and the Titans!"
Jarius stated plainly.
"I understand. The Eagle Court has no place living alongside us on this continent," Amigel replied. "However, should you march to eradicate the Eagle Court, will you require the aid of our legendary champions? I hear their Old Eagle King is a legendary warrior."
"My thanks for Your Majesty's concern, but the Old Eagle King is no threat. I can handle him," Jarius assured.
"Very well!" Amigel nodded.
As Jarius departed, a white-haired Goblin elder hurried forward from behind the throne.
"Your Majesty, your words just now were ill-advised!" the elder cautioned.
Amigel frowned.
"How so?"
Unfazed by the king's displeasure, the elder continued.
"The Eagle Court must not be wholly eradicated. Should they be wiped out, the Winged Clan would become the unchallenged sovereigns of Felander's skies, with none to balance their power!"
Griffins, horned eagles, and twin-headed wyverns were mere magical beasts, incapable of rising to prominence.
Of course, this was also because the profession of Griffin Knight had yet to be developed.
"But I have already given him my word!"
Amigel wavered.
"Your promise was merely to allow him to raze the Sky Mountains and dismantle the Eagle Court," the elder replied. "If one or two Eagle Princes escape, it would be entirely expected."
"With so many Eagles scattered across the continent, rebuilding an Eagle Court would be no great challenge."
"But would that not seem like breaking my word?" Amigel hesitated.
"How could it be breaking your word? Your Majesty is now the supreme ruler of the continent, the King of Kings. Your decisions must reflect that stature!" the elder urged.
Amigel's heart swelled at these words, fully convinced.
"The Grand Sage speaks wisely! So it shall be done!"