Lord of the Foresaken

The night was alive with fire.

Lord Alric's army marched through the dense woods, torches lighting their way. Three hundred soldiers, their banners held high, moving with the confidence of men who believed they had already won.

They thought they were hunting a monster.

They had no idea they were walking into its jaws.

From the shadows, Reed watched. Silent. Unseen. Waiting.

His goblins were spread throughout the forest, hidden in the underbrush. Waiting for the signal.

Shia knelt beside him, eyes gleaming with anticipation. "The Holy Knight is near the front."

Reed smirked. Perfect.

A system message flickered before his eyes.

[Battle Quest: Slay the Holy Knight]

Reward: Increased Evolution Potential for All Goblins

Reed exhaled slowly. Time to begin.

He raised a hand.

And dropped it.

The first arrows struck before the soldiers even realized they were under attack.

Goblins hidden in the trees rained down volleys of poisoned arrows, the crude tips finding gaps in armor. Screams erupted as men collapsed, convulsing from the venom.

Then came the berserkers.

Massive goblins, twice the size of normal ones, rushed from the darkness. They didn't fight like soldiers. They fought like demons.

They didn't block. They didn't dodge.

They just killed.

Lord Alric roared orders, trying to rally his men.

That was his mistake.

Because Shia was already moving.

The Holy Knight barely had time to raise his shield before Shia's daggers were on him.

CLANG.

Her blades slammed against his glowing armor, the blessed magic repelling her first strike.

He retaliated, his sword bursting with divine light.

Shia dodged by inches.

Her grin widened. A challenge.

They clashed again. Sparks flew as steel met steel. Shia was faster, sharper, relentless. But the Holy Knight's magic shielded him, dulling her strikes.

He gritted his teeth. "Filthy monster—"

Shia cut his cheek.

His eyes widened. His magic was fading.

And then he understood.

She wasn't trying to kill him immediately.

She was wearing him down.

While Shia toyed with the Hero, Reed made his next move.

He reached into his cloak and lit the first torch.

With a flick of his wrist, he threw it into the dry brush.

The fire spread instantly.

Within seconds, the forest became an inferno.

Smoke choked the air. Flames roared around the battlefield.

Soldiers panicked. Their tight formation collapsed.

Reed watched them break. His smirk widened. Now they were his.

Lord Alric stumbled through the smoke, coughing. "Hold the line!" he roared. "Regroup—"

A shadow moved behind him.

Reed's voice was calm.

"You lost."

Lord Alric spun, sword raised—

Too slow.

Reed's dagger slid into his throat.

The noble choked, eyes wide. He dropped to his knees, gasping.

Reed leaned in close. "This is what happens," he whispered, "when you think goblins are weak."

Then he ripped the blade free.

Lord Alric collapsed.

A system message flashed.

[You Have Slain a Noble Lord!]

[Infamy Increased!]

[Goblin Evolution Accelerated!]

Reed exhaled. One down.

And the night was still young.