Goblin King: My Innate Skill Is OP

Near one corner of the settlement, I spotted something else.

Mounts.

Several goblins rode through the streets atop massive rodent-like beasts, creatures the size of small horses. Their gray fur bristled along thick bodies built for speed, and leather harnesses wrapped around their torsos. The goblins steered them with reins while crates and supply packs hung from their sides.

The beasts moved quickly through the settlement, weaving between buildings as goblins stepped aside to make way.

Whoever ran this clan had logistics figured out.

Further inward, I saw training grounds where goblin warriors sparred under the watchful eye of veterans. The clash of weapons echoed faintly even from my position above.

Then my gaze drifted toward the center of the base.

And I found the structure that stood above everything else.

A massive building constructed entirely from thick stone bricks, far larger than the surrounding houses. The craftsmanship alone made it obvious that this wasn’t an ordinary structure.

This was the heart of the settlement.

Its walls rose high and solid, reinforced with dark stone pillars at each corner. Wide stairways led up to a heavy entrance guarded by massive goblins clad in layered armor.

Banners hung from the upper levels, dyed in deep crimson and marked with the clan’s symbol.

Even from the air, the place radiated authority.

I studied it for a moment before exhaling slowly.

That had to be it.

The residence of the clan leader.

The base of the Chosen, who had used the garnets he earned to fortify his settlement.

If I were to simply warp directly to the central structure and catch the leader by surprise, that would be the most efficient route.

”But the barrier...”

I had a feeling it wouldn’t be that simple.

The dome wasn’t just decorative protection against beasts. It felt layered, responsive. If it was tied directly into the walls and powered by invested garnets, then it likely wasn’t going to let me casually bypass it despite my ability being so high-ranked.

But I couldn’t know for certain unless I tried.

So I decided to test it.

I locked my focus onto the space directly in front of the large stone building—the heart of the settlement—and activated Warp.

Space folded.

And then...resistance.

It wasn’t a subtle rejection.

The moment I attempted to materialize inside the dome’s boundary, I felt a sudden, concentrated force push back against my transition point. It wasn’t like hitting a physical wall. It was like space itself refusing to complete the fold.

And the rejection detonated outward.

BOOM!

Instead of phasing in smoothly, I was expelled backward mid-transition, thrown with such abrupt force that I didn’t have time to stabilize myself. The world snapped back into solidity as I was flung out of the barrier’s perimeter, my body slamming into the ground outside the walls with a heavy, earth-shaking thud.

I rose slowly.

Unharmed.

My durability and reinforced stats absorbed the force without injury, but the pushback wasn’t something to dismiss. The pressure embedded in that barrier had weight behind it.

And any ordinary creature attempting the same maneuver would have been injured severely.

I brushed dirt from my shoulder and glanced back up at the shimmering dome.

So this was the effect of the garnets.

A barrier that didn’t merely shield, but actively repelled intrusion.

Experiencing it firsthand made the concept far more tangible than simply observing it from above. The force behind that rejection wasn’t decorative magic; it was structured authority embedded into the dome itself. It recognized spatial distortion and denied it.

I couldn’t help the small spark of desire that formed at the thought.

A defense like this around my own clan…

But first, I needed to deal with the one who possessed it.

Movement caught my attention from above, and I lifted my gaze and saw several goblins along the wall’s platform leaning forward, weapons raised, eyes fixed on the point where I had just crashed. One of them cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, and moments later, a sharp, guttural horn call echoed.

An alarm.

Well, there goes any hope of subtlety.

I glanced sideways toward the tree line where Gork remained concealed, and without wasting time, I warped toward him.

From the perspective of the goblins atop the wall, I simply vanished.

I heard startled exclamations ripple along the rampart.

”He disappear!”

”Where did he go?!”

But the commotion didn’t subside. If anything, it intensified. More figures rushed onto the wall, weapons drawn, scanning the perimeter.

Appearing beside Gork, I spoke calmly.

”Since your job is finished here, how about we get you back to the clan?”

I didn’t need him here anymore. His role had been clear from the beginning—to guide me to the rival settlement. He had done that well. Keeping him at my side now would only expose him to danger he wasn’t equipped to handle.

And I wasn’t here for reconnaissance anymore.

I was here for confrontation.

Gork visibly relaxed at my suggestion, though he tried to mask it. His shoulders loosened slightly, and the tension in his jaw faded.

”Are you sure… you might need some sort of help or something,” he said carefully.

I gave him a long look.

We both knew he wasn’t volunteering out of confidence.

It was courtesy. Maybe a hint of pride.

”Alright,” I replied evenly. ”Stay then.”

His eyes widened immediately, the relief vanishing as quickly as it had come.

”What...I...Hmm…” He swallowed, clearly re-evaluating his life choices. ”…Okay, chief.”

The words came out stiff, and his expression betrayed him completely, making me chuckle.

I crouched slightly and pressed my palm to the ground beneath the tree, etching a faint dimensional seal into the soil. The mark wasn’t visible to the naked eye, but I could feel it settle into place, anchoring the coordinates so I could return precisely to this spot.

Then I rose and placed my hand on Gork’s shoulder.

”I appreciate the concern,” I said, my tone softer, ”but I don’t need you here.”

He lowered his head.

”I’m sorry I couldn’t be more useful, chief.”

”No,” I replied firmly. ”You did well.”

Without further delay, I activated [Leap].

Space folded cleanly this time, and in a blink, we reappeared within the familiar territory of our clan. The shift was smooth; Gork barely had time to inhale before the scenery changed.

”Brief Narg and the others about the situation,” I instructed. ”I’ll be back.”

He nodded quickly and hurried off, already scanning for Narg.

I was about to activate [Leap] again when movement at the edge of my vision made me pause.

A female goblin stepped out from one of the huts, looking slightly disheveled, hurriedly straightening her clothes as she moved. The moment her eyes landed on me, she froze, then immediately bowed deeply before scurrying off in the opposite direction.