The elder stared at Atlas, waiting for a reply. Atlas stared back and responded
"Tribe elder, I have been blessed by the gods."
"What?! Don't joke about that thing, young man!"
Amma, beside him, looked at him in shock. Her mind wandered back to his arm and now this unexplained blessing
In the tribe, being "blessed" means you were born with unexplainable magic, like the masters, which these people believe to be god's work.
Atlas thought, but there was only one way to prove it to the elder: show, not tell.
He outstretched his hand. Light gathered in his palm, and the light turned into flames. Even though it was his first time casting it, it came as easily as breathing.
He released the fireball, and it traveled at high speed, hitting the ground behind the elder, causing a loud "pop" sound.
The elder looked behind him in shock as he saw the charred earth. The smell of fire reached his nose.
"How…? You truly are blessed!"
One must know only a few blessed ones have appeared in the entire history of the tribe. And those who appeared have all been killed off.
[ding]
[You have gained the respect of the tribe elder.]
[Reward: Forge Equipment Blueprint.]
Atlas ignored the pop-up screen and continued talking.
"Elder, I have to talk to you privately."
Atlas glanced at Amma, and she understood the assignment. She walked out of the tent. But just before she left, she stared at the burned ground once more before finally leaving.
After her departure, Atlas turned his focus back to the elder.
"Elder, I have heard the voice of God!"
The elder swallowed hard, his wrinkles tightening as he said,
"What did you say…?"
Atlas took a deep breath, preparing to tell a half-truth and a lie.
'The system did tell me to make the kobolds the most dominant race on the planet… so it's not really a lie.'
"He said, I quote: 'Atlas, the chosen. Your race has suffered for far too long under the human race. My chosen has awakened, and I will bless you on your journey.'"
The tribe leader's face stiffened. His breathing quickened, and his heart raced as he leaned forward.
"Atlas… you do know what you are saying, right? This could destroy the tribe—or lead us somewhere better."
The village leader's face returned to an expressionless state as he tried to hide his excitement.
"We will have to discuss this with the other elders… Now go back to your room. I will summon you at night… when surveillance is low."
The last part of his sentence was quiet.
'The fear of humans… it is rooted deep', Atlas thought as he walked out.
…..
Back at his tent, he sat down on the fur bed and began to think about future preparations.
'The humans will be back in 27 days. Is that really enough time to arm these kobolds?'
As his mind wandered, a screen suddenly popped up.
[Gain the respect of the village. Reward: Bronze Sword Blueprint.]
"This makes the process a lot easier… but the mission…"
To gain the full trust of the tribe would be difficult. To disobey their masters—who they had served their entire lives—and the tribe that had been under them even longer, would not be easy.
The only reason Atlas told the tribe leader now was because the humans came every 30 days to collect ores, and there are only two supervisors in the village.
The village leader was not foolish enough to fully believe Atlas, but not trusting a blessed one would also be foolish.
"At least let me check my forge blueprint… System, show me the blueprint. Oh yeah, I've been so focused I forgot—system, show me my stats first!"
Atlas said excitedly.
[Of course.]
=== STATUS WINDOW ===
Name: Atlas
Race: Kobold (Transmigrated Host)
Title: None
— BASIC STATS —
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Endurance: 7
Intelligence: 8
Magic: 5(Awakened)
— CONDITIONS —
Status: Stable
Injuries: None (Left arm fully restored)
"My stats seem kinda weak. System, what is the strength of an average adult kobold male?"
Atlas asked curiously.
[Stats are around 8, with the exception of Magic at 1 and Intelligence at 4–5.]
"I guess I am weak… but I seem to be smart though, hehe."
Atlas chuckled a bit as he lay on his bed.
Everything that had happened so far replayed in his mind.
I didn't really think about it before, but I'm really in a magic world!
Atlas shouted, but finally quieted as his eyes closed and he fell asleep.
At the other side of the tribe, the elders gathered in secret, hiding from the supervisors.
Inside the tent, a small candle flickered. A group of kobolds—around six—sat around a table.
"Oswald, you called us here all of a sudden. Can you give us an explanation?" a rather skinny man said. His eyes bulged outward, and his hands shook occasionally.
The other elders also looked toward the tribe leader.
The tribe leader took a deep breath, his eyes sweeping over everyone. He steadied himself and spoke.
"I… in the tribe, I found a blessed one."
"A blessed one?!"
An elder at the back shouted and stood up, and another immediately shushed him.
"Shh! This is a secret gathering. Do you want us killed?"
The elder sat back down.
The shushing elder turned back to the tribe leader.
"Is what you are saying true, tribe leader?"
"Yes… and there is more. He said that God spoke to him."
Shock spread through the elders. Some even shifted uneasily in their seats.
The elder named Wang questioned again.
"This is hard to believe… what if this is the magic of the masters to root out traitors?"
A few elders nodded in agreement.
The skinny elder, Fang, spoke.
"It might even be some kind of trick… something trying to manipulate us. Or the blessed one is lying. Did you confirm he is blessed?"
All eyes turned to the tribe leader.
"Yes. I confirmed it with my own eyes. But the God part… is hard to believe. The boy might just want power, and it could doom us all."
Elder Wang tapped his fingers on the table.
"A kid, huh… let's summon him and question him. This is a big chance to free ourselves from our 'masters'."
"Does everyone agree with this course of action?"
Fang shook his head.
"This kid might get us all killed. Do you really trust him?"
His tone rose as he hit the table—not hard, but enough to show his fear.
Wang scoffed.
"Your fear is deep. This 'kid' might be our only chance."
Fang stood up.
"What did you—"
"Enough!" the tribe leader shouted.
The room went silent.
"We are not enemies to each other. Our enemy is outside."
Fang slowly sat down.
"I decide. We will meet this 'kid'… Atlas."
Fang muttered,
"Atlas… isn't that the coward who tried to run away?"
The tribe leader's veins bulged slightly.
"Yes. And he is also the blessed one."
He turned toward the disheveled guards.
"Guards. Summon Atlas."
"Yes, tribe leader!"
The two guards responded and quickly ran toward Atlas's tent.