Lord of the Foresaken

The fortress no longer belonged to nobles.

It belonged to monsters.

Reed stood atop the balcony, overlooking his growing forces. Below, goblins trained with stolen weapons, armored in scavenged steel. The former soldiers of Lord Darin, once proud knights, were now stripped of their titles and reforged into killers.

The weak had been culled.

The loyal had been reborn.

This was no longer a band of goblins and prisoners.

This was an army.

And soon, it would be unstoppable.

[Current Forces]

• Goblins (F-Rank): 80

• Evolved Goblins (E-Rank): 50

• Goblin Berserkers (D-Rank): 20

• Goblin Champions (C-Rank): 5

• Subjugated Human Soldiers: 150

• Shia (Hero – Rank D, Growing Stronger)

• Lady Velka, Lord Felix, Lord Hadrin (Noble Vassals, Marked by Blood)

Shia stood beside him, watching the soldiers clash in brutal sparring matches.

"They're adapting fast," she murmured. "Fear is a good motivator."

Reed smirked. It was.

Every soldier who resisted? Executed.

Every noble who hesitated? Marked in blood.

Every goblin who proved itself? Strengthened.

There were no weak links.

Only warriors.

Velka approached, her face unreadable.

"We have a problem," she said. "Word has spread. The southern nobles are preparing to march."

Reed's eyes gleamed. Good.

"How many?"

"At least three lords, each with an army," Velka said. "They'll be here within a week."

Shia grinned. "More bodies to feed our evolution."

Velka hesitated. "…If we lose, they'll burn everything."

Reed laughed.

"Lose?" He stepped past her, gripping the fortress railing.

The soldiers below stopped training. The goblins looked up.

His army listened.

"They think we're weak," Reed called out. "They think we're nothing but vermin."

Silence.

A low growl rippled through the goblins.

"They come with their banners, their golden armor, their meaningless titles." Reed's smirk widened. "But what happens when monsters stop hiding?"

The goblins roared.

The soldiers—**once nobles, now his slaves—**raised their swords in unison.

Reed turned back to Velka. "Tell them to come."

His eyes burned with hunger.

"I want to see them kneel."