Finn crouched over the old Cobalt's remains, his gaze sharp as he sifted through the few items left behind. Among the ash and charred scraps, his fingers brushed against a well-crafted dagger. Its weight was perfect, its blade honed to a razor's edge. The hilt was wrapped in leather, and faint runes etched into the steel glimmered faintly in the firelight. Without hesitation, Finn replaced his crude goblin dagger with this superior weapon.
Next, his attention turned to a half-burnt piece of parchment lying amidst the debris. The page was covered in strange, intricate symbols, written in a language unfamiliar to him. Yet, as his eyes scanned the text, the symbols seemed to shift, rearranging themselves into something he could inexplicably understand.
The message was clear: the page described a spell. A spell tied to the kind of dark power the old Cobalt had wielded. The realization sent a chill down Finn's spine as he connected the dots—this was likely part of the Cobalt Chief's arsenal of forbidden magic.
For a moment, he hesitated. Do I really want to go down this path? He thought back to when he first woke up in this strange world, reborn as a weak goblin. Back then, all he wanted was power—a way to rise above his pitiful state. Now, here it was, laid bare before him. A chance to grow stronger, faster than ever before.
Still uncertain, Finn approached Krokk, the towering warlord who had become both his leader and a symbol of the strength he aspired to. Holding up the page, he asked, "Should I learn the skill on this page?"
Krokk squinted at the burnt parchment, his brow furrowing as he studied the foreign symbols. After a moment, he shrugged, his expression calm but commanding. "Why not?" he said simply, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.
That was all the confirmation Finn needed. Krokk was the strongest person he knew, and his approval carried immense weight.
Taking a deep breath, Finn focused his mana into the page. The symbols began to glow faintly, the parchment trembling in his hands. Slowly, the light grew brighter until it was almost blinding. Then, with a soft hiss, the page disintegrated into ash, leaving behind a notification in his mind.
[You have learned the skill: Devour.]
Finn froze as knowledge of the skill flooded his mind. He instinctively understood its function: by activating Devour, he could consume the essence of his fallen enemies, bypassing XP to gain direct stat increases instead.
The revelation was exhilarating. Finn clenched his fist, feeling a surge of anticipation. His stats had always been stagnant, limited to evolution for growth, but now he had a way to bypass that limitation. This could change everything.
But there was no time to dwell on his newfound power. The sounds of clashing steel and dying cries reminded him that the battle was far from over. Finn sheathed his new dagger and turned to Krokk and Prut, who were already regrouping for the next wave of combat.
"I'm ready," Finn said, his voice steadier than before.
Krokk nodded approvingly. "Then let's finish this."
The three of them charged back into the fray, Finn trailing slightly behind with his barrier magic at the ready. His mind buzzed with anticipation and questions about Devour. This was just the beginning, and he couldn't wait to see how far his new power could take him.
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The battlefield was silent now, save for the crackling of dying fires and the occasional groan of the wounded. Finn wiped sweat from his brow, his body aching from the strain of the prolonged fight. Over the course of the hour, he had killed four more Cobalts, their blood staining his new dagger. Each death had been a test of skill and will, but it was the rewards that left him exhilarated.
The first kill pushed him to maximum XP, triggering his evolution threshold. With the remaining three, he activated Devour, feeling a tangible surge as his Agility increased by 2. The sensation of growth was intoxicating, and he found himself already craving more. For the first time, he felt like he was finally breaking free from the limits that had bound him since his rebirth.
He glanced around at the others. The goblins and Cobalt deserters alike were slumped in exhaustion, tending to their wounds or gathering the few spoils left from the battle. Yet Krokk stood tall amidst the chaos, his massive axe resting on his shoulder, his presence commanding.
Without wasting time, Krokk strode to the Cobalt deserters, his booming voice cutting through the silence. "The battle is over. Now uphold your end of the deal. Your land is mine, and your loyalty belongs to me."
The Cobalt deserters, still reeling from the loss and the overwhelming power Krokk had displayed, barely hesitated. One by one, they knelt, their heads bowed in submission. Their leader, Trat, stepped forward and spoke with a steady voice despite the situation. "We pledge our allegiance to you, Krokk. The land is yours, as promised."
Krokk's sharp grin revealed his satisfaction. "Good. Then let this be clear—you'll follow my orders without question. And to ensure your loyalty, I'm appointing Prut as your leader in my absence."
Prut, standing slightly behind Krokk, looked momentarily surprised but quickly composed himself. "I will ensure the land prospers under Krokk's rule," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
With that, the matter was settled. The deserters were now part of Krokk's growing domain, and Prut's leadership over the Cobalt lands solidified Krokk's hold.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the warband and their new allies began preparing for the night. Tents were pitched, fires were lit, and the weary fighters finally allowed themselves to rest. Finn found a quiet corner near one of the fires, his mind still buzzing from the battle and the implications of his new skill.
Tomorrow, they would return to the goblin cave, but Finn knew this victory was just one step in a much larger journey. As he stared into the flames, he couldn't help but wonder how far his newfound power would take him—and what he'd have to sacrifice along the way.
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