The air crackled with an electric tension as Finn leapt into action, his feet barely touching the earth before he was moving again. He focused his energy, letting his magic surge through him. He had learned to harness his newfound strength, the power of the Hobgoblin Mage coursing through his veins, and now was the time to show it.
The first of the new Cobalt warriors, a towering figure wielding a massive battle axe, came charging at him with terrifying speed. Finn twisted in the air, narrowly dodging the overhead swing that would have cleaved him in two. His heart raced, but his mind remained calm. He couldn't afford to lose focus now.
With a deep breath, he pushed his magic into his legs and made a powerful leap backward, putting distance between himself and the Cobalt. The warrior swung again, but this time Finn was prepared. He held his hand out, summoning a shield of shimmering magic just in time to block the force of the axe. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, knocking him back several feet, but he regained his footing quickly.
"Nice shield," came a voice from behind him, the red-skinned leader's approval ringing clear even above the chaos. Finn didn't take time to respond. His attention was on the Cobalt warrior before him, whose furious growl vibrated through the air.
The Cobalt's eyes burned with the promise of violence as it swung its axe once more, faster this time. Finn grinned. This was what he had been waiting for.
With a quick motion, he leapt to the side, his body moving fluidly through the air, dodging the axe's deadly arc. As the Cobalt shifted its weight, Finn closed the distance, throwing a magical Arcane Blast directly into its chest. The explosion of energy caused the warrior to stumble back, but it didn't fall. Instead, it roared in fury, the sound shaking the ground beneath them.
In the distance, the other Cobalt warriors closed in, their malicious blue eyes glowing brighter with each passing second. But Finn wasn't alone. The red-skinned leader moved like a force of nature, cutting through their ranks with ruthless precision, his massive weapon carving through them effortlessly.
But Finn wasn't about to be outdone.
He raised his hand again, focusing his magic. This time, he felt the power building within him—greater than ever before. With a shout, he unleashed an even larger Arcane Blast, a concentrated beam of raw energy that hit the advancing Cobalt warrior square in the chest. The blast erupted with a violent force, sending the Cobalt flying back into the trees with a heavy crash.
[You have killed a Cobalt warrior, +9 XP]
Finn barely had time to celebrate before another warrior, this one armed with twin blades, lunged toward him. It moved faster than any Cobalt he had encountered, a blur of steel and speed. The warrior slashed at him in rapid succession, forcing Finn to raise his shield in defense, the metal-like blades scraping against his magical barrier.
But Finn wasn't about to be cornered. Using his new agility, he ducked under one of the slashes and, with a swift motion, drew his knife. He twisted in the air and drove the blade deep into the Cobalt's side, just below the ribs. The warrior grunted in pain, but Finn wasn't done. He pulled the knife free and quickly slashed across its throat. The Cobalt gurgled in surprise, collapsing to the ground in a heap.
[You have killed a Cobalt warrior, +8 XP]
Another warrior emerged from the shadows, this one taller and more menacing, wearing armor covered in sharp, jagged spikes. It brandished a long, curved sword that seemed to hum with dark magic. This one moved with purpose, its every step calculated and deadly.
Finn's heart skipped a beat. This one felt different. Stronger. Darker.
The red-skinned leader seemed to sense it too. "Get back! That one's a champion!" he barked. "We need to work together on this one!"
Finn nodded, his magic already gathering around him. But he didn't wait. The champion lunged first, its sword crackling with dark energy. Finn leaped backward, barely avoiding the strike. The force of the sword's swing split the air, sending a wave of energy crashing through the trees behind him.
He raised his hand, trying to summon a barrier, but the champion was relentless. It pressed forward, swinging its sword in deadly arcs. Finn summoned more magic to keep up, blocking as best he could, but the dark energy seemed to cut through his defenses, forcing him to retreat.
"Don't give up, Muck!" the red-skinned leader shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Strike at its weaknesses!"
Finn gritted his teeth. He wasn't about to back down now. He focused, drawing on the power of his transformation. The ground beneath him trembled as he summoned a massive Arcane Blast, more powerful than anything he had unleashed before. With a yell, he thrust his hand forward, sending the magical surge directly at the champion.
The blast hit with a deafening explosion, knocking the Cobalt back, its armor crackling with energy. The warrior staggered, its glowing blue eyes flickering as if losing focus. But it wasn't done yet.
Finn wasn't waiting for it to recover. He charged forward, his knife in hand, and aimed for the weak points in the champion's armor. With a swift strike, he slashed across the creature's leg, crippling it. The champion roared in pain, but Finn followed up with another quick strike to its chest.
[You have killed a Cobalt champion, +17 XP]
Panting, Finn stood over the fallen warrior, his body trembling from the exertion. The forest was eerily silent now, save for the distant rustling of leaves. The remaining Cobalt warriors had retreated, knowing they had been outmatched.
The red-skinned leader approached, his eyes scanning the area. "You did well, runt," he said, giving Finn a nod of approval. "You've earned your place."
Finn felt a surge of pride. He had proven himself—not just to the leader, but to himself. The Cobalt Clan had been a challenge, but he had emerged victorious.
"We move out. The path forward won't be easy," the leader said, gesturing for the group to follow. "But you've got what it takes, Muck."
Finn grinned, his heart still racing from the battle. He had more to prove, but today, he had shown that he was ready for whatever came next.
The fight was over, but the journey was far from done.