Goblin King: My Innate Skill Is OP

Chapter 396: Nursery

The wolf stared at me warily, a low growl rumbling from deep within its throat.

Ariel responded immediately, baring her fangs as she stepped forward, her body tense and ready to intercept the matriarch if it made a sudden move.

I raised a hand to stop her. Then I stepped past her and began walking toward the matriarch.

The growling intensified almost immediately.

Its lips curled back further, exposing rows of sharp teeth as it watched my approach without blinking. Every instinct in its body seemed to be warning me to stay away.

I ignored it and continued forward at a steady pace.

The distance between us gradually disappeared until, within moments, I found myself standing directly in front of the wolf.

The growling was loud and aggressive, but despite all the noise, it never attacked.

The realization became more obvious the closer I got.

It wasn’t behaving like a creature preparing to lunge. It was behaving like a creature trying to keep me away.

It was afraid. Or perhaps simply cautious.

Slowly, I lowered myself into a crouch and extended a hand toward its head.

The matriarch immediately snapped at the air between us, its jaws closing with enough force to produce an audible crack.

A warning. Nothing more.

It wanted me to back off. I didn’t.

Keeping my movements slow and deliberate, I continued reaching toward it.

The wolf let out another threatening growl, but this time it didn’t snap again.

And a few seconds later, my hand finally came to rest on its head.

I could feel how tense she was beneath my hand.

Every muscle in her body remained tight, ready to react at the slightest sign of danger. But as the seconds passed and nothing happened, the tension gradually began to fade.

And when I looked into her eyes again, the aggression that had been there moments ago was gone, replaced by something closer to curiosity.

It was almost as if she were trying to understand me.

I continued running my hand through her fur, scratching lightly behind her ears and along the side of her neck. To my surprise, the matriarch leaned into it.

The massive wolf lowered her head slightly and allowed me to continue, showing none of the resistance she had displayed earlier. If anything, she seemed perfectly content standing there while I scratched wherever I pleased.

Then a notification appeared before me.

[Inferno Wolf Matriarch has accepted you as the Alpha]

[You can now view her profile]

A grin spread across my face.

"That is great."

Without hesitation, I opened her profile.

[Inferno Wolf Matriarch]

Description:

The true ruler of the Inferno Wolves. Unlike the Alpha, who serves as the pack’s guardian and warrior, the Matriarch is responsible for the pack’s growth, evolution, and survival. Her presence strengthens nearby wolves and accelerates their development.

Rank: Elite Boss

Level: 55

Loyalty: 100

Skills: [Inferno Breath (A)] [Shadow Leap (A)] [Shadow Domain (A)][Pack Command (A)] [Greater Regeneration (B)] [Heat Aura (B)] [Maternal Bond (Unique)]

My eyes immediately moved toward the skill list.

Most of the abilities were exactly what I expected from a creature responsible for leading an entire pack. But two of them stood out immediately.

[Shadow Domain (A)] and [Maternal Bond (Unique)].

[Shadow Domain] (A-Rank)

Creates a region of living darkness that suppresses vision, muffles sound, and empowers allied wolves. Wolves within the domain gain increased speed and stealth.

[Maternal Bond] (Unique)

Maintains a spiritual connection with all members of her pack. Can sense injuries, locations, and emotional states of nearby offspring. Grants minor regeneration and increased growth rates to wolves under her care.

Shadow Domain was similar to the Alpha’s domain skill, but it functioned differently.

A target wouldn’t be dragged into a pool of darkness like I had been. Instead, they would remain exactly where they were while their surroundings became engulfed in living shadows. Within that darkness, the wolves became faster, stealthier, and far more dangerous.

As for Maternal Bond, it allowed the Matriarch to maintain a connection with her pack, sensing their condition and providing support when needed. It was the kind of ability that perfectly suited a creature responsible for the growth and survival of an entire pack.

Both skills were impressive, and that was before considering the rest of the abilities on her profile.

However, there was something else that caught my attention.

The Matriarch’s loyalty.

I had wondered whether the Matriarch held some resentment toward me for killing her mate, but that concern proved unfounded as her loyalty sat at one hundred.

At that point, I could only assume wolves were simply more straightforward than most intelligent species. Things like grudges, pride, and complicated emotions probably mattered far less to them than strength, hierarchy, and survival.

Or maybe there was another reason entirely.

Either way, I wasn’t about to complain.

The Matriarch eventually pulled away from my hand and turned around.

At first, I thought she was leaving.

But after taking a few steps, she glanced back at me and lowered her head slightly in a clear gesture. Follow.

I frowned.

"Where are we going?"

The wolf obviously didn’t answer. Instead, she repeated the gesture before taking another few steps deeper into the cave.

I looked toward Ariel.

The fox merely shrugged.

I looked back at the Matriarch, who was still waiting expectantly.

After a brief moment of hesitation, I decided to follow.

The Matriarch led us deeper into the cavern, moving through a narrower passage hidden behind one of the crystal-lined walls. The further we went, the warmer the air became.

Eventually, the tunnel opened into another chamber, and the moment I stepped inside, my eyes widened as the sight before me forced me to a halt.

The room was filled with wolf pups.

I gasped.

There had to be at least two dozen of them scattered throughout the chamber.

Most were tiny. Some still lacked proper fur, their skin visible beneath a thin layer of soft fuzz, making them look like they had only recently been born. Others were slightly larger and more developed, though none of them appeared old enough to survive on their own.

The entire chamber felt less like a den and more like a nursery.

A few of the pups were sleeping in small piles against one another. Others crawled clumsily across the ground, stumbling over their own paws as they explored their surroundings.

One of them let out a tiny yip before tumbling face-first into another pup.

I stood there staring for a moment. Then I slowly looked toward the Matriarch.

"...These are all yours?"

The wolf stared back at me calmly.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I had expected to find hidden inside this cave. But it definitely wasn’t this.