My Goblin System : Levelling up with my SSS Class Devouring skill-Chapter 292

"Oh, and one more thing." Kelvin’s expression shifted to something more serious. "A messenger arrived at dawn. From the lizardfolk tribe you rescued two months ago."

Satou’s attention sharpened. "What did they say?"

"They’re coming. The entire tribe—two hundred and thirty-seven members. They’ll arrive next week." Kelvin handed over a sealed letter. "Their chief sent this. Said you saved their lives when the humans burned their original settlement. They’re repaying that debt by standing with you."

Satou broke the seal and read the letter quickly. The writing was formal but carried genuine gratitude:

Lord Satou,

You saved our people when we had nothing. You offered us help and hope when we faced extinction. Though we have spent these past days rebuilding our new settlement, we cannot stand aside while humans threaten those who showed us mercy.

The Lizardfolk are coming. Two hundred and thirty-seven warriors, hunters, mages, and healers. We will stand with you against the human tide. Our debt demands it. Our honor requires it.

We arrive within seven days.

Chief of the Lizardfolk

Satou felt something tight in his chest loosen slightly. Two hundred and thirty-seven lizardfolk. Combined with the reinforcements from Loki and Seraphina, his settlement’s own forces, and the defenders already here...

We might actually survive this.

"That’s good news," Jessica said, reading over his shoulder. "Lizardfolk are exceptional defensive fighters. Their scales provide natural armor, and their cold-blooded nature makes them resistant to many attack types.

"Plus," Lyra added, her tactical mind already working, "they’ll have experience fighting humans. The tribe you rescued was fleeing Serpent aggression. They’ll know human tactics, formations, weaknesses."

"Two hundred and thirty-seven more reasons to hope," Satou murmured. He looked at Kelvin. "Send a response. Thank Chief Ssk’thar for his loyalty. Tell him we’ll have accommodations ready when they arrive, and that his people will be honored guests—not just soldiers."

"Will do." Kelvin saluted casually. "Anything else?"

"Yes. Gather the settlement leadership. Everyone important. Main courtyard in thirty minutes. We need to address everyone about what’s coming." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"On it."

As Kelvin jogged off, Jessica moved closer to Satou. "Are you going to tell them everything? About the four heroes? The specific timeline?"

"Not everything," Satou said carefully. "I’ll tell them what they need to know to prepare. But some details—like TheReaper being sealed, or his warning—those stay between us and the demon lords."

"Why?" Jessica asked, genuine curiosity in her voice rather than challenge.

"Because," Lyra answered for him, "the fewer people who know that TheReaper actively helped us, the safer that information stays. If word gets out that the legendary hero warned a demon lord candidate about a human attack, the political ramifications would be... complicated."

"Plus," Satou added, "I want to keep TheReaper’s interest in me quiet. Having a three-hundred-year-old battle-obsessed hero fixating on you isn’t something to advertise."

Jessica nodded slowly. "Fair point. So what do we tell them?"

"That humans are mobilizing against us. That we have advance warning. That reinforcements are coming. That we have four weeks to prepare." Satou straightened his shoulders, feeling the weight of leadership settle onto them. "And that we’re going to survive this, no matter what it takes."

[SETTLEMENT ASSEMBLY]

Thirty minutes later, the main courtyard was packed.

Every resident who could walk had gathered—goblins, hobgoblins, orcs, the handful of vampires who’d joined under Cassius’s recommendation before he left on his mission. Over two hundred and fifty beings, all looking to Satou for guidance.

The morning sun was fully risen now, beating down on the assembled crowd. Satou stood on a raised platform that had been hastily constructed for announcements like this. Jessica and Lyra stood slightly behind him on either side—visible positions of support and authority.

Urgak stood at the front of the orc contingent, his massive form radiating controlled strength. Kelvin was with the hobgoblin warriors, grinning despite the serious circumstances. Other faces Satou recognized—Grimnir, the veteran fighter who’d been with him since the earliest days. Young Kira, who’d been captured by orcs before the alliance.

These weren’t just soldiers. They were his people. His responsibility.

The weight of that pressed down on him, but he didn’t let it show.

"Thank you all for gathering," Satou began, his voice carrying across the courtyard. He’d learned to project authority without shouting—something about his evolution to dragoblin had given his voice a resonant quality that demanded attention.’

"By now, most of you have heard rumors. Speculation about human armies, about attacks, about war. I’m here to tell you the truth."

The crowd went completely silent. Even the wind seemed to pause.

"The humans are mobilizing against us," Satou said clearly. "Three thousand soldiers, siege weapons, mage support, and four newly summoned heroes. They’re coming to destroy our settlement, kill everyone here, and erase what we’ve built."

He let that sink in. Watched fear flash across faces. Saw hands move unconsciously to weapons. Felt the tension ratchet up several notches.

"They’re coming because they’re afraid of us," Satou continued. "Afraid of what we represent. For the first time in generations, monsters aren’t just surviving—we’re thriving. Goblins and orcs working together instead of fighting each other. A settlement that grows stronger every day. A community built on cooperation instead of conquest."

He paused, scanning the crowd.

"The humans see us as a threat to their dominance. They see our success and fear what it means for their comfortable worldview where monsters are just beasts to be exterminated."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Anger. Determination. Fear being slowly transformed into resolve.

"So they’re sending an army," Satou said, his voice hardening. "Three thousand soldiers who think we’re easy prey. Heroes who’ve trained for weeks thinking that’s enough to face warriors who’ve been fighting for survival their entire lives."

His draconic features showed clearly in the sunlight—iridescent scales, sharp eyes, the unmistakable aura of power. He let them see what he’d become through constant struggle.

"They’re wrong."

The declaration rang across the courtyard.

"We are not prey. We are not victims. We are not going to lie down and die because some human king decided we’re inconvenient."