"Look, I believe you," Atheria's voice broke the silence that had settled between them. "But life isn't fair, and we don't always get what we want. We have to make do with what we have and help others. Your curse can be those villagers' gift."Xander looked at her, his expression a mix of contemplation and gratitude."I'm not saying don't look for a cure," Atheria continued, her tone earnest. "But until you find one, use your powers to help people in need. Turn your curse into something good. We only have one life, Xander, and we should live it in a way that leaves a positive mark."“I will save those villagers. I just hope my powers and Bloodhound don't disappear in the middle of the fight,” Xander sighed, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.“You're a foolish one, aren't you? Want me to vanish, yet you require my assistance in battle. Admit it, you're nothing without me, and you need me more than I need you,” Bloodhound's voice echoed within Xander's mind, causing him to wince in pai
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
Xander watched as the goblins struggled to maintain their balance, their legs buckling beneath them. "This... this isn't right," a goblin managed to mutter, his words slurred.Atheria's lips curled into a triumphant smile as she saw her plan unfolding perfectly. "Poisoned stew tends to have that effect," she remarked, satisfaction evident in her tone.The goblins continued to writhe in discomfort, their roars of anger and confusion mingling with the sound of raindrops pelting the ground. "I can't... I can't move," one goblin muttered, his body trembling."They're dropping like flies," Xander murmured, a mixture of awe and horror in his voice.Atheria's gaze remained fixed on the goblin camp. "They brought this upon themselves," she said, her tone unapologetic.As the last of the goblins collapsed, the camp descended into chaos, their groans and cries mingling with the thunderstorm's fury.As the last goblin fell down, Atheria turned her gaze back to Xander, who was already taking a de
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
The man's movements became a blur as he relentlessly attacked Xander, his dark intentions manifesting in each strike. Xander, still recovering from the initial blow, struggled to defend himself."You're just a weakling," the man sneered, his eyes gleaming with malevolence. "You've barely scratched the surface of your power. With me, you could rule this wretched world."As he spoke, he seized a burning torch from a nearby sconce, swinging it at Xander like a makeshift weapon. Flames licked at the air, creating a fiery arc aimed directly at Xander's face.Xander's instincts kicked in, and he barely managed to dodge the searing attack, feeling the heat singe his cheek as the torch whizzed past.The man was relentless. He lunged forward, a jagged shard of metal from a broken cauldron in his hand, slashing at Xander's chest. Xander twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike, but a sharp pain seared through his side as the improvised weapon grazed him.Gritting his teeth, Xand
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
"What's happening?" Xander growled, his confusion and fear mounting.Bloodhound looked up from the lifeless body before him, a strange pleasure dancing in his eyes. He closed them for a moment, savoring the sensations coursing through his being."I like this power," Bloodhound murmured, his voice tinged with something akin to ecstasy.He clenched his fist and in his grip, materialized a crimson-red sword, its blade composed of condensed blood essence. The sight of it was both unsettling and mesmerizing.Bloodhound stared at the blood sword, its edges shimmering with an eerie crimson light. His eyes now gleaming with newfound determination."We should find more blood mages if they exist," he declared, the hunger for power burning brightly within him."We should test this new blood sword," Bloodhound suggested, eyeing the crimson blade with an unsettling intensity.Inside Bloodhound's mind, Xander's voice echoed with concern. "What are you planning?"Bloodhound's response was calculated
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