The war was over. Reed had won.
Three noble houses wiped from existence. Their armies fed to his horde. Their lands burned, stolen, and reforged in his image.
The weak called it slaughter.
Reed called it the beginning.
š¹š¹š¹
Reed sat atop his throneāa grotesque seat built from the shattered weapons and skulls of fallen lords.
Before him, his army knelt.
ā¢ Goblins, now stronger than ever.
ā¢ Former human soldiers, stripped of nobility, reforged into killers.
ā¢ His noble "vassals," Velka, Felix, and Hadrināonce rulers, now his subjugated pets.
They all belonged to him.
A system message flickered.
[New Title Earned: Warlord of the Forsaken]
[Goblin Horde Has Grown]
[New Evolution Options Available]
Reed tapped his fingers against his throne. He had power now.
But power wasn't enough.
He needed to break the world.
And for that?
He needed a bigger war.
š¹š¹š¹
Velka stepped forward, her expression tense. "My lord, there's news."
Reed glanced at her lazily. "Go on."
She hesitated. "The royal court has heard of yourā¦ victories."
Reed's smirk widened. Finally.
Velka swallowed. "The King is sending a true army this time."
She unrolled a map. "Three high lords. Thousands of men. Andā¦" She hesitated.
Reed leaned forward. "And?"
Velka's voice was grim.
"They're sending a Royal Hero."
Silence.
Even the goblins stilled.
Royal Heroes were different. Not like the ones Reed had killed before.
They weren't just strong.
They were system-forged champions.
Blessed by the King's Authority.
Chosen by fate.
Shia grinned, twirling a dagger. "So what? We've killed heroes before."
Velka shook her head. "Not like this. This one is Rank A."
Shia's grin faltered.
Even Reed had to pause. Rank A. That was monstrous.
A system message flashed.
[Warning: A True Hero Approaches]
[Overwhelming Power Detected]
[Survival Rate: 14%]
Reed chuckled. "Fourteen percent?"
Shia raised an eyebrow. "That's low, even for us."
Reed smirked. "Then we'll have to cheat."
Reed stood, stretching. "If we fight them head-on, we die."
He gestured to his forces. "So we don't."
Velka frowned. "Then whatā?"
Reed's eyes gleamed.
"We drag them into hell."