As night fell, the heavens opened up, releasing a torrential downpour upon the goblin camp and its surroundings. The heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, provided the perfect cloak of darkness and concealment for Xander and Atheria to execute their plan and rescue the captive villagers.Perched atop the watchtower, Atheria's voice cut through the rain's steady drumming. "Look at that rat." At her feet lay the lifeless body of a goblin.Xander stood beside her, his gaze fixed on the figure of Toya as he ventured into the heart of the goblin camp. The rain had the desired effect, keeping most of the goblins huddled inside their tents instead of patrolling the area."We're fortunate for this rain," Atheria remarked, her tone carrying a hint of satisfaction.Xander nodded in agreement. "And even more fortunate that goblins have a taste for stew."His lips curled in a sardonic grin as he observed the scene below. Despite the rain's deluge, the fire beneath a large copper cauldron burn

Before Xander could react to the chilling voice, a sudden movement whisked Toya away, disappearing him into the center tent. It happened so swiftly that Xander barely registered the event, only catching a fleeting glimpse of a shadowy figure dragging Toya by his hair into the massive tent at the heart of the goblin camp."There goes our power," Bloodhound's voice rang out in frustration within Xander's mind. The intensity of Bloodhound's anger was palpable as Xander steeled himself and moved closer to the enigmatic tent.The tent itself was an oddity. Constructed from a blend of stones, metals, and various fabrics, it stood as a bizarre anomaly amidst the goblin camp. Its size was notable, large enough to comfortably accommodate twenty grown men, an unsettling sight in the center of the camp."We can do this," Xander whispered to himself, determination seeping into his every step. The tent exuded an aura of malevolence, a sinister presence that seemed to permeate the air. Through the

After Xander consumed Toya's blood, he felt a surge of newfound power coursing through his veins. He momentarily allowed Bloodhound to recede and charged at the goblin leader, his voice thundering through the tent."Let her go!" Xander bellowed as he lunged at the goblin leader. He grabbed the leader's feet and hurled him away with every ounce of strength he possessed. The goblin leader landed gracefully at a distance, his eyes filled with anger and malevolence.With a quick, relieved breath, Xander unfastened the straps holding the little girl to the table and cradled her onto his shoulder. His intent was to make a hasty exit from the tent and take the girl to safety, but the goblin leader appeared before him like a malevolent specter."You are not going anywhere with my food," the goblin leader sneered, his intent clear. He swung a mighty fist toward Xander, who instinctively turned to shield the girl from the blow. The punch struck Xander square in the back, sending him hurtling th

Atheria cautiously stepped further into the goblin camp, her heart heavy with each passing moment. The earth itself seemed stained with blood, and the lifeless forms of goblins were scattered about like discarded dolls.Entering the center tent, Atheria was met with an even more gruesome sight. Burnt marks marred the ground, evidence of a violent confrontation. Her heart sank as she looked up and saw the lifeless bodies of villagers hanging from the tent's ceiling.“Might that be…Zory?”Among the deceased, Atheria's eyes fell upon a gray-haired woman, her features twisted in pain. Though Atheria didn't know her name, the mere sight of her lifeless form deepened the sorrow in her heart.Suddenly, Atheria felt a presence behind her, and her instincts kicked in. She swiftly turned, a gleaming dagger in her hand, poised to defend herself. Her eyes widened as she saw Lord Fregan standing there, regarding her with an air of surprise and intrigue."What are you doing here?" Atheria asked, he

Xander scanned the immediate area, his eyes locking onto his dagger, which lay just out of arm's reach near the peacefully snoring Crazy Jack, who was buried deep in slumber, a first for the horse."Let him live his life, Gardan," the black-robed figure said to the man who had the power to transform into an eagle."Sure. Give me the fifty thousand gold coins on his head as a bounty, and I will let him live," Gardan, the bounty hunter, replied, his tone confident."Unless you have those coins on you, I suggest you stand down, Liam," Gardan continued, addressing the hooded figure by name. It was evident that these two were acquainted and had likely crossed paths before."And I know why you're here, Liam, but I'm not in the mood for your games. Back off," Gardan warned, taking a decisive step forward."Why don't you two get out of here while you still can?" Xander's voice was icy as he addressed both men, taking a step forward to emphasize his point."That's the spirit. Yes, kill them bo