Krokk marched forward, his massive axe gleaming with deadly intent. In one powerful swing, he shattered the makeshift fence that had been a barrier between them and the village, sending splinters flying in all directions. The goblins and cobalt deserters surged through the gap, their battle cries filling the air as they clashed with the first enemies they could find, engaging in the bloodshed without hesitation.
Amid the chaos, Krokk, Finn, and Prut moved forward with deliberate calm. They walked past the frenzied combat, their focus fixed on the objective ahead. Prut, ever the strategist, pointed toward an unassuming hut in the center of the village, nestled among the other crude structures. "That's where he is," Prut muttered, his eyes narrowing. "The Cobalt Chief's lair."
Without a word, Krokk signaled to Finn to take the lead. Finn stepped forward, his mind sharp and his resolve unshaken. He had come a long way from his former life as Finn, and the goblin he had become had no qualms about the violence that would unfold. In this new world, survival came first, and the Cobalt Chief was a threat that needed to be eliminated.
As they approached the hut, Finn could feel the weight of the mission pressing on him, but he didn't flinch. The hut was poorly constructed, fragile, and weak. He could already sense the power flowing through his fingertips as he summoned a fireball into his hand, the orb crackling with raw energy. He didn't hesitate.
Krokk gave him the nod, and with that, Finn approached the hut, placing his hand against the decaying wood. In an instant, the fireball surged into the structure, setting it ablaze with a rapid ferocity. The flames roared to life, consuming the hut and everything inside it.
Crackle! Boom!
As the fire consumed the building, Finn received two notifications that flashed in his mind:
[You have killed a cobalt, +2 XP]
[You have killed a cobalt, +2 XP]
A flicker of surprise passed through Finn, but it was brief. He hadn't expected anyone to be inside, but he didn't care. The figures trapped within the fire were civilians—probably innocent, but irrelevant to Finn's purpose. They weren't warriors, just casualties of the war that had been thrust upon him.
He didn't feel remorse or guilt. To him, the deaths were simply part of the cost of doing business. The mission was the priority, and the Cobalt Chief had to be stopped at any cost. He quickly stepped back, moving behind Krokk and Prut without a second glance at the burning hut.
Krokk remained impassive, his gaze fixed on the village as chaos unfolded around them. Prut, ever watchful, seemed unfazed by the firestorm that had erupted. Finn's heart was steady; the notifications were nothing more than a reminder of the path he had chosen. The battle was just beginning, and he was ready for whatever came next.
The village burned, and with it, the last vestiges of any hope for peace. They would fight, and they would win. Finn had already crossed too many lines to turn back now.
As the flames continued to rage, something unnatural began to happen. A dark energy, thick and heavy, began to emerge from the inferno. It writhed and twisted, consuming the fire with an eerie, inescapable pull. The fire was devoured by the shadowy aura, and within moments, the inferno had disappeared entirely. In its place stood an old Cobalt, his form hunched and frail, yet radiating an unnatural power. The house had vanished completely, leaving no trace, no remnants—just the Cobalt and the lingering darkness around him.
Finn felt a chill run down his spine as he realized what had just occurred. This was magic, and not the kind he was accustomed to. The way the dark energy had consumed the house, leaving behind only this figure, told him that whatever this Cobalt was, he was no ordinary foe. This wasn't just an old Cobalt; it was something far more dangerous, a wielder of dark and forbidden magic.
Without a word, Krokk surged forward, his immense form cutting through the air with frightening speed. His massive axe gleamed in the dim light, raised high and ready to strike down whatever threat stood in front of them. Prut, ever cautious, moved in close behind Krokk, his eyes scanning for any signs of movement or trap. He was prepared for combat but moved with calculated precision.
Finn, though not as physically imposing, was not about to let his comrades face such an unknown enemy without his support. His focus sharpened, and his hands began to move with practiced ease. The air around him shimmered as he summoned his barrier magic, creating a shimmering, protective shield between the old Cobalt and Krokk and Prut.
The barrier materialized in an instant, glowing with a soft, ethereal blue light. Finn could feel the weight of the dark magic pressing against it, like an invisible force trying to break through. His grip tightened, but the shield held firm for now. He knew that if they were to survive this, it would take more than just brute force. They would need to outsmart this Cobalt, who, by the looks of it, wielded magic far more powerful than anything they had encountered before.
The old Cobalt's eyes gleamed with an unsettling, unnatural light. There was no sign of fear or hesitation in his expression—only cold, ancient wisdom and a deep, unsettling power. As Finn continued to maintain the barrier, he couldn't help but wonder: How had this cobalt become like this.