After such a humiliating loss by what looked to be a single magic goblin. Lucius's life had been in a sort of downward spiral. His status was lowered in the military losing his title as general. He was thrust down to the lowest rank as punishment for losing so many men to goblins. while kragnack and his friends were traveling he was making his way back towards the rank of general with the one-goal commander. His days were spent training his sword arts on small dummies.Painted green to resemble goblins. every vital strike he yells kragnacks name with a burning conviction. His afternoons were spent in hot saunas to train himself for fighting in extreme heat, but one thing was nagging him who was kragnack. what did he look like? His dreams and every waking moment were haunted by a faceless goblin with flames shooting from his fingers. That's all he could think about the anger the pain the humiliation of losing everything to this lowly goblin. the use of his right side was majorly impaired but substituted by magic prosthetic limbs.the man sits ruined by this tiny creature. After a few weeks of training, he regained some form of prowess. Although his movements are still a bit sluggish and unrefined. Lucius decides to head to the town hall. He approaches the counter where a small woman with brunette hair stands dressed in a plain-looking uniform. Hello miss I'm looking for jobs involving the subjugation and removal of goblins in the area. Yes, sir Mr.Lucius. she pulls out a large book and flips through the pages. Ah. Here's one. We have a request to exterminate a group of goblins to the east. Also, a job to retrieve stolen goods from a possible nest not far from there. Those will do fine thank you miss go ahead and put my name down for both of those missions. Alright sir we have a few goblins from that area I could give to you that would help you find the hideout easier. That would be lovely miss how much would I owe you for that. Just for you mister, it'll be on the house.You saved me from a group of wild monsters once it's the least I could do. Thank you mam I will always strive to keep our people safe from those filthy creatures. now sir if you'd come with me. She takes Lucius into a large back room stacked top to bottom with cages each has a different type of Demi-human in it. There are some Elves, trolls goblins, and even dragon-kin. she takes him to a fairly packed cage and writes something on a metal slate connected to the cage. A goblin is pulled by some magic force to the front of the cage the rest are ripped to the back and restrained magically. The goblin struggles and tries to get away she snaps her finger and he is stunned. Alright, you green-skinned bastard. You are going to help this man find your home. His collar glows faintly.Yes mam I will do as you say. The woman looks to Lucius. A few rules before I hand him over. First never remove his collar. It is magical and will kill him when removed if not done by the correct spell. Next, if you wish to know something or make him do something there are two spells in the collar a average level charm and a high-level truth spell just imply intent when speaking and one or the other will activate. Lastly if you wish to punish the little thing just say pain and the part you want to hurt. The pain is phantom in nature and will not harm his body allowing for you to punish him without losing any real usefulness. Watch as i demonstrate. she yells loudly Pain legs. at that moment screams of eminence pain can be heard as every creature is brought to the ground in agony. The pain will last less than a minute then they will be back to normal ready to complete any task you need.they leave the cell room and head back to the counter. Lucius is there anything else you would need from us. No thank you mam Lucius grabs the chain leading from the goblins collar and drags him out of the shop he waves to the woman. Have a nice day mam and stay safe I hear there is more activity from those filthy sympathizers. they would more than likely target this place to free those filthy creatures. he leaves the building and heads to his home. So goblin have you ever heard of a goblin with the ability to use magic. the collar glows a golden light. No sir goblins have no natural aptitude for magic. So just as I thought Kragnack would have had to survive the assimilation process. How strange most humans can't survive such a process and the powers gained are usually much stronger than the mage who gave up their body for the process. that makes finding him a little easier he should have some sort of mark on his skin indicating the success of the ritual. he starts to get some things together for his journey to the east. he loads a few bags onto his horse and heads out. the goblin following behind by foot.It takes about two days for the goblin to show him to his home. It is in a dense forest between two trees up against a mountain. The goblin points to the trees and says.you see that patch of vines between the trees there is an opening that leads to my nest. Lucius gets off his horse and takes off his riding gloves. thank you for bringing me here you filth. he smiles widely and says. Pain full body. the goblin drops to the ground and screams for a second the pain becomes too much for his mind to take and he passes out. well, thats disappointing I wanted to hear his screams a bit longer. he pulls out his sword I guess ill just have to torture his loved ones and show him their bodies when he wakes. Lucius walks to the trees and cuts down the vines. he screams into the cave.you bastards thought you could hide from me. he heads inside were two goblins jump from the shadows to ambush he grabs one and throws it into the other. how pitiful he steps on top of the two and plunges his sword through them quickly dispatching them. As he walks goblins rush him he calmly strikes them down and moves through the cave. he rounds a corner and sees a goblin in a cloak holding a crossbow with a flaming bolt. Lucius is sent into a blind rage mistaking the bolt for magic and rushes the goblin he throws his sword to the ground. I've found you kragnack the goblin fires missing Lucius.the bolt clatters off the wall. Lucius overpowers the goblin and pushes him to the ground. Lucius begins to pummel the goblin punching and punching not noticing the others running out of the cave. he spends hours punching the body of this goblin till it is nothing more than a bloody pulp on the ground. He stops covered in blood and viscera. He screams loudly and begins to cry. everything you've taken everything from me you filthy goblin he makes his way through the cave looking for more goblins frantically searching throwing cups and tables around the cave. He searches the entire cave and finds where they were hiding their treasure. piles of copper, silver, and gold are strewn about a small room in the cave system. he finds jewels and other small things along with a sword that curves and looks like the wing of a bat and a set of brown armor. he picks up the sword and a wave of hatred and grief flows through his mind. he hears a creepy and drawn-out voice. Yooou have so much hate in your heart it feeds me. It nourishes me I want more. your hatred and grief have awakened me from my slumber. Don my armor and use me to gain what you seek. Lucius strips down and discards his armor he starts to put on the brown suit but his prosthetic won't fit the voice speaks again. you do not need those toss those aside I shall be the power you need. he throws the prosthetic arm and leg aside and dons the armor. a surge of power rushes through him. he passes out on the floor of the cave. he dreams of tearing through goblins but it feels weird. it feels like he's just watching as his body tears through the flesh of his enemies. then he's face to face with a cloaked goblin unable to see any part of his face, but with a toothy smile the goblin shoots a fireball at him and he is jolted awake. sitting next to his horse and the body of the goblin who brought him here it is severely beaten, but still breathing. All the money and jewels from the cave are already loaded onto the horse. What happened to me? he looks to his right side and opens and closes the gauntlet of the armor. how can I do this I can't feel my hand at all? the voice comes back. I have connected you to my armor your body will work better than it ever has your reflexes and combat abilities have been increased as well. who are you? don't worry about who i am just what i can do for you. His mind is flooded with visions of ripping apart all manner of Demi-human. He can feel the raw power coursing through him. I will ask no further questions. He throws the goblin's body onto the horse and shouts pain full body.the goblin shakes and convulses as he hops on the horse. He rides back to the capital and heads back to the woman he got the mission from. I will have to give up on those missions I have been called for something greater. She nods and takes his name from the book. would you like us to take back the goblin? no mam ill keep him I have plans for this one. As Lucius walked through town his anger swelled within. even seeing the humans of the empire stoked the flames of hatred inside. What is this the amount of hatred I feel is overwhelming. I can't take my mind off of it. oh, don't you worry boy you will soon see the power it brings. images of kragnack flood Lucius's mind. lucius allows the anger to well up within him. when a loud scream can be heard from the alleyways of the city. HELP its the sympathizers. lucius can't help but smile as he runs off in the direction of the screaming dragging the goblin behind.as he rounds the corner he sees a group of people running into what looks to be a hidden wall behind a popular pub. so i have stumbled upon a hideout of sorts looks like i should report this and the business that harbors such filth. The voice floods his mind. Why give someone else the credit for what you have found today this find should help you gain back your standing in the army. Lucius looks down at his hands and doubts his abilities. the voice reassures him of its power. I told you that you would be even more powerful than you used to be. allow this to be my proving ground to show you what i mean. lucius takes up this offer and marches towards the hidden entrance. the hatred pulses through him as he puts his hand on the wall.he wants nothing mor than to burn the whole building to the ground. In that moment the wall blows open as if it was hit with an explosion a cloud of red lingers in front of him. what the hells is that. that's my magic boy that is your hatred. with this power we shall subjugate everything that opposes us. as the cloud fades lucius looks around he sees two bodies laying on the ground dead from the explosion. there's a large metal door at the end of the walkway. He walks up to the door and knocks. in a cruel voice he says. helloooo well well well look what I have found your hideout has been located and your lives have been forfeited. on the final knock, the door is blasted from the henges and thrown to the wall 15 or so people stand in a room covered in the sympathizer insignia. the tables all covered in stolen goods and collars used on the demi-humans. the people are a mix of demi-human and human Lucius walks into the room and tells them to line up against the wall. as they do a woman looks at him in utter destain she spits at him and he loses it he punches her in the face and she collapses. he begins to speak you scum think that I'm going to let you off easy you believe ill just turn you over to a court full of hidden friends and allies. you'd be wrong I have no intention of letting any of you live. once I find out what information you hold I shall break each and every one of you. he puts his foot on the neck of the unconscious woman and presses down losing sight of anyone else in the room as he pushes down on her neck an older bearded man screams for him to stop and attempts to stab him with a blade. It's as if the suit itself lets out a snarling growl stunning the man in fear and a loud snap can be heard as the woman's neck could hold out no longer. everyone else lets out a gasp as guards flood the room from the alley sir Lucius we'll take it from here. he pulls his foot from the neck of the girl and walks out to the alley. I shall never fall again. I believe in your strength tell me your name so that may thank you properly. the voice laughs triumphantly my name is trox. demon knight trox I have been confined in this armor for centuries I was dormant until I felt your anger and hatred then I was woken from my slumber and for that, I thank you and I you sir trox new demon knight of the empire. as time passes trox and Lucius make their name as the most ruthless and powerful general of the imperial army. meanwhile, in a completely different kingdom, another name wrang out with hope and power KRAGNACK!!!