Lord of the Foresaken

The forest burned.

Flames roared through the trees, black smoke choking the sky. Soldiers screamed, their formations shattered, their bodies trampled in the chaos.

And at the center of it all, Shia and the Holy Knight clashed.

His blessed sword swung in deadly arcs, golden light cutting through the smoke. Each strike was heavy, precise, unstoppable.

Shia moved like a shadow.

Too fast to catch. Too sharp to ignore.

She danced around him, her daggers biting deep— but his divine aura kept him standing.

His breath was ragged, his magic flickering.

Shia grinned.

He was weakening.

The knight panted, his grip trembling. His once-pristine armor was cracked and bloodied.

"You fight well," he gasped.

Shia tilted her head. "I know."

Then she vanished.

A blur in the smoke.

The knight swung wildly—missed. His magic flared one last time.

Then—

A dagger slammed into his knee.

He screamed. His leg buckled.

Shia appeared behind him, her blade pressing against his throat.

"Say a prayer," she whispered.

Then she cut deep.

Blood sprayed into the dirt.

The Holy Knight collapsed, gurgling. His divine aura flickered… then died.

A system message flashed.

[Shia Has Slain A Holy Knight!]

[Evolution Triggered – Rank C Achieved!]

Shia exhaled. Then she smirked.

"Holy men always die the same," she muttered.

She turned to find Reed watching from the shadows.

"You took your time," he said.

Shia grinned. "Wanted to enjoy it."

Reed chuckled. "Let's finish this."

By the time the fire died down, so had the last of Alric's soldiers.

The battlefield was nothing but burnt corpses and broken steel. A few survivors crawled through the ash, moaning.

Reed stepped among them, unbothered.

The nobles had sent an army to destroy him.

Instead, they had fed his horde.

A system message flickered.

[Victory Achieved – Alric's Army Destroyed!]

[All Goblins Receive Battle Experience]

[New Evolution Paths Unlocked]

Reed turned to Shia. "How many prisoners?"

She gestured to a small group of cowering soldiers. "Maybe twenty."

Reed rolled his shoulders. "Good. Take them back to the fortress."

Shia nodded. "And the dead?"

Reed smiled.

"Feed them to the goblins."