The scythe flew from Noah's hand, impaling itself in the chest of one of the two hobgoblins guarding the entrance.
"Gozen, handle the other one."
"As you command, my lord."
In an instant, the skeleton moved to face the enemy. Its hand hovered over the katana's hilt, barely a flicker of motion.
*Clack-Cluck!*
In the blink of an eye, the blade was drawn and resheathed, as if it had never moved. Only the hobgoblin's severed head, now rolling on the ground, was evidence of what had just happened.
"Rise."
Noah's voice rang out, commanding both fallen enemies. But only one corpse was enveloped by the familiar dark mist.
Huh... just like the Necromancer's power... fatal wounds like decapitation prevent transformation. Good to know, Noah mused as he glanced at the headless body.
With a new addition to his undead battalion, Noah stepped into the village—or what passed for one. Crude huts and hastily built shelters were scattered with no apparent order.
I don't have time for this... Death Flame!
At his mental command, a small flame appeared in the palm of his hand. With a casual flick, Noah sent it toward one of the huts. The dry wood ignited instantly, flames consuming it until only ash remained.
___
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE RECEIVED 80 EXPERIENCE POINTS!
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE RECEIVED 80 EXPERIENCE POINTS!
___
Through the smoldering ruins, two charred, lifeless bodies lay motionless. Without hesitation, Noah pressed on, reducing everything before him to ash and ruin. In a corner, a hobgoblin hunched over a fresh kill, oblivious to the chaos around it.
"Augh? Aught mun untimoto?!"
"I don't care what you're saying. Goodbye."
The scythe wrapped around the monster's neck in one swift motion, slicing cleanly through.
*Splat!*
Blood sprayed across the ground as Noah continued his relentless march through the village, sowing death and destruction in his wake. The air was filled with the sound of screams and silence, a grim melody of fear and death.
A group of hobgoblins finally gathered in front of Noah, trying to form some sort of defense.
Gozen stepped forward. The chilling sound of his katana being drawn echoed through the air, causing the hobgoblins to flinch.
"Horizontal Slash!"
A bright flash enveloped the blade for an instant, followed by an invisible force ripping through the air in front of the skeletal warrior. The space itself seemed to split open, and within seconds, the heads of the hobgoblins several meters away were severed, toppling to the ground.
Only the women and children were left now, huddled in terror. With no way out, they had sought refuge in the village chief's hut.
*Crunch.*
*Crunch.*
Noah's footsteps echoed across the hardened sand, the only other sound being the frightened cries of the young hobgoblins from inside the last standing shack. The village, once full of life, was now a distant memory.
*Boom!*
The door to the hut burst open, and from behind it, a hobgoblin, larger and of a different color than the others, stepped forward.
"Why are you doing this, human?! What have we done to you?! Why are you slaughtering my people?!"
"So you speak my language..." Noah replied, his tone casual, as though this was all perfectly routine. "Well, let me ask you the same thing. Why did you ambush us? Why did you kill my comrades and the people on the beach? Did you stop when you saw women and children? I doubt it. And I'm sure if I had been weaker, you'd have done the same to me. Sorry, I've got nothing personal against you. But know this— you, and everyone else in that hut, will end up just like the others. Life follows the law of the strongest, and you were just unlucky to meet me."
The hobgoblin snarled. "So there's no reasoning with you, human... Fine. Then it will be my pleasure to rip you apart!"
The battle erupted.
Noah gripped his scythe, his eyes locked onto his next target. The scent of burning flesh filled the air, and the wreckage of the village served as a graveyard for the fallen.
"Ascenme Turgus!" the hobgoblin shrieked.
Around the creature, several fireballs materialized, rotating in midair. With a wave of its hand, the flaming orbs shot off in all directions, blazing toward Noah like arrows.
Noah dodged, twisting his body through two of the fireballs. But as soon as his feet hit the ground, another orb was in his path.
"Death Flame!"
Noah summoned his mana, forming a flame of his own and launching it toward the incoming fireball.
*Boom!*
The two orbs collided, detonating in a cloud of smoke. Noah darted into the haze, disappearing from the hobgoblin's view, only to reappear within striking distance. His muscles tensed, veins visible beneath his skin, as he swung the scythe down toward his foe.
*Splat!*
Blood splattered across Noah's vision, and a sharp pain seared through his side.
Noah glanced down. His torn shirt revealed a deep gash in his right side.
*Shit.*
He jumped back, trying to create distance between him and the hobgoblin. But the creature wasn't going to let the opportunity slip.
___
*Krigdok POV*
The human vanished into the smoke from the explosion, leaving Krigdok on edge. He quickly refocused his mind, preparing for the next attack.
Werelo Beneedio.
The magical circuits in Krigdok's body surged to life, flooding his limbs with mana.
When the human reappeared, Krigdok was ready. With a swift motion, he released a pulse of mana into the ground, raising his hand toward the sky. The earth beneath the human's feet trembled before a massive spike of rock shot up, impaling him in the side.
The boy staggered, caught off guard. Krigdok seized the moment, preparing to finish him off.
___
The hobgoblin conjured another spell, summoning a crackling bolt of lightning into his hand. He braced his legs, twisted his torso, and hurled the lightning like a javelin.
The bolt sliced through the air, aimed directly at Noah's face.
With barely human reflexes, Noah twisted his body, dodging the lightning by mere inches.
I need to close the distance... He's got the advantage at range.
Noah suddenly dashed to the side, ignoring the hobgoblin for the moment.
"Death Flame!"
A fiery sphere formed in his hand once more, and this time, he hurled it at the last standing hut.
"Bastard!"
Krigdok snarled.
The hobgoblin's muscles tensed like a sprinter's, and in a flash, he dashed toward the flame. But that was all the time Noah needed.
Now, Gozen!
The skeletal samurai, who had stood still until now, sprang into action, appearing behind the hobgoblin. Gozen's katana gleamed as he drew it from its sheath, then thrust it straight through Krigdok's back, piercing him through the chest.
"Coward..." the hobgoblin muttered, blood dripping from his mouth.
"I just played my cards right. And look—I'm still standing, while you... not for much longer."
As the hobgoblin's body fell lifeless to the ground, Noah approached and placed a hand over it, his voice calm but commanding.
"Rise."
At his command, a dark mist thicker than before began to envelop the hobgoblin's body. Its skin and muscles withered, peeling away to reveal the skeletal form beneath. The mist dissipated slowly, leaving behind something entirely new.
_________
CONGRATULATIONS! THIS SUBJECT HAS ALREADY EVOLVED!
PLEASE NAME YOUR SKELETON MAGE.
[Morholt]
___________
The skeleton that emerged bore some resemblance to Noah's previous minions but was different in key ways. Where the others had been nothing more than bare bones, Morholt retained patches of skin along his arms and hands. His knobby, gnarled fingers had remained almost intact. Sharp, jagged spikes protruded from his upper limbs, and his collarbones had twisted, growing into shapes resembling the antlers of a great stag.
But the most striking change was in his face: a vivid green flame burned around the hobgoblin's skull, glowing with the intensity of an eternal torch.
_____________
Name: Morholt
Race: Skeleton Mage
LV. 17
Stats:
Strength: 22 (+2)
Agility: 28 (+2)
Intelligence: 51 (+2)
Stamina: ∞
Magic Power: 45
________
Skills:
FAST CASTING LV.2 – The measure of a mage is in how quickly they can cast their spells. Reduces the time required to manifest magic. Casting speed increases with skill level.
ELEMENTAL MAGIC LV.3 – Can utilize all elemental types (fire, water, air, and earth). Elements can be combined to create derived effects. Mana cost decreases with skill level.
MANA CONDUCTIVITY [EX] – Your body was born to master mana. Your spells require less mana and are more powerful.
____________\
Morholt knelt before Noah, his voice eerie and obedient.
"My lord, please give me an order."
Noah looked ahead at the last remaining hut, where the hobgoblin women and children huddled, terrified.
"Destroy that hut. Let none escape."
"As you wish, my lord."
With an almost graceful movement, Morholt rose and took a step forward. Without uttering a word, a massive ball of green fire formed above him, lighting the area like a second sun. Slowly, the skeleton mage extended his bony finger toward the hut, and the fiery orb launched toward it.
*Boom!*
The impact was swift and devastating. No screams came from inside, no cries for mercy. There was only silence as the fire consumed the last remnants of the village, turning everything into ash.
___________
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE TITLE 'COWARDLY KILLER'!
Cowardly Killer – A killer without scruples. You have no qualms about using deceit and underhanded tactics. Intelligence (+2)
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE TITLE 'MASS KILLER'!
Mass Killer – You've lost track of how many lives you've taken. Stamina (+2)
___________
No... I haven't lost count...
Noah looked up at the sky, his heart heavy.
"The law of the strongest, huh... Today, maybe I can afford to be weak."
The flames continued to devour everything around him, consuming the village he had razed to the ground. As the heat from the blaze warmed his face, a single tear slipped down his cheek like a drop of water on a windowpane.