Lord of the Foresaken

Reed sat on a crude stone throne, watching his goblins devour scraps of stolen food. They fought over bones, gnawed on raw meat, and ripped cloth from the looted noble robes to wear like trophies.

It was disgusting.

But it was also potential.

Shia stood beside him, as still and sharp as a drawn blade. Behind them, the human prisoners huddled in fear, their hands bound with rope.

Reed leaned forward. "How do goblins evolve?"

Shia didn't hesitate. "Two ways, my lord. Through time… or through blood."

Reed smirked. "Then we won't wait."

He rose from his throne, his voice cutting through the noise.

"Listen up!"

The goblins froze, their yellow eyes snapping toward him.

"You're weak," Reed said bluntly. "You're nothing but vermin to the rest of the world. They'll hunt you. Kill you. Spit on your corpses." He let the words sink in. "Unless you change."

One goblin, larger than the rest, growled. "Weak… but we survive."

Reed drew his dagger.

He moved so fast the goblin didn't even flinch before the blade slashed across his chest.

The goblin screeched, staggering back as green blood splattered the cave floor. The others hissed and growled, shifting nervously.

Reed didn't stop.

He grabbed the wounded goblin by the hair and forced him to kneel.

"Surviving isn't enough," Reed said coldly. "I don't want creatures that hide in the dirt. I want monsters that make the world fear the dark."

The injured goblin shook, its body trembling… then something changed.

A system message flickered in Reed's vision.

[Goblin Has Experienced Near-Death Combat – Evolution Triggered]

[Rank F → Rank E]

Reed's smirk widened as the goblin's body twisted. Its muscles swelled, its claws sharpened, its hunched frame straightened just slightly.

The other goblins stared in awe.

They had just witnessed it.

Reed turned back to the horde. "Pain makes you stronger. Blood makes you evolve." He gestured to the prisoners.

"You want to stop being weak?"

He tossed a sword into the dirt.

"Then kill."

Silence.

Then a single goblin lurched forward, grabbing the blade.

The human prisoners screamed as the slaughter began.

Reed sat back down, watching his monsters shed their weakness.

This was just the beginning.