Chapter 1. Every Disaster is an Opportunity

"Bloody hell!" the little goblin cursed as he ducked an arrow.

The great battle raged around Ferret, engulfing him in chaos and death. As one of the few remaining goblins in the Dark Overlord's army, it was amazing he still drew breath. Goblins were merely pawns, cannon fodder sacrificed to protect the more valuable orcs, trolls, and monsters.

Once-lush grasslands now trembled with the echoes of war - a cacophony of screams and roars mingled with the loud clang of steel on steel. The ground beneath him was slick with blood, each step like treading on ice, threatening to send him crashing down among the fallen comrades who lay scattered like broken toys.

The battle raged on, seemingly without end. Towering figures around him dwarfed Ferret's slight frame, their monstrous forms silhouetted against the fiery sky as they clashed violently.

But despite the chaos and destruction that surrounds him, Ferret remains focused on one thing - survival. "Blood hell," he muttered. If he lets his guard down for even a moment, he'll be just another casualty in this stupid war.

Marshalling every ounce of cunning and agility he possessed, Ferret wove through the battlefield, dodging hulking ogres while clutching his small rusty knife. Ferret knew he was outnumbered and outmatched. The overwhelming weight of desperation crept over him as countless goblins fell around him, their bodies torn apart by the savage strength of their enemies.

Ferret dove for cover behind a ruined war machine as a wizard confidently walked around the battlefield, seemingly impervious to any danger. Arrows veered off course when aimed at him, and even brave warriors hesitated to approach him because of an overwhelming sense of impending doom. When an orc swung its sword, it bounced off an invisible shield before being destroyed by a powerful beam of emerald light. Ferret stared wide-eyed at this display of power. He imagined having such power at his fingertips. To go wherever you wanted without fear. To eat whenever you wanted and never to know hunger.

A potent concoction of envy and longing consumed him. Amid the battle, he knew his deepest desire. It was something he wanted even more than staying alive. He was determined to get it - the same power that the wizard possessed. But the thought of taking on a being so powerful sent shivers down the little goblin's spine. Was he willing to take a chance? Damn right. He thought.

He followed the wizard as he electrified and disintegrated his foes according to his whim. The little goblin had to dive as a heavily armoured knight crashed to the ground near him when a troll ripped into his horse. Hot blood sprayed as the screaming animal died.

Ferret noticed the wizard's faintly visible shield shimmered before disappearing completely. When this happened, the wizard made a series of gestures, and the globe snapped back into place. A cunning plan came into his mind.

He crept up behind the wizard. As he drew closer, a fission of intimidation washed over him. He gritted his teeth and pushed himself forward. It is his only chance. The wizard spotted him out of the corner of his eye, but Ferret cringed. Not a threat. I'm nothing, nobody!

The wizard sneered before turning to the more urgent threats, unleashing a purple cloud of poison gas to roll across a company of goblins. Ferret looked away, not wanting to see their death throes. Goblins were not a sentimental society, but he hoped his friend Rat was not amongst them.

Light flickered around the wizard, and Ferret rose, charging forward. With the wizard distracted by murdering his kin, Ferret attacked before he was able to raise his shield. Waves of anger rolled over the little goblin as he raised his rock in both hands, bringing it down on the wizard's knee.

Only to have the wizard's robes harden under the impact. A surge of panicked adrenaline pulses through Ferret as he realizes the full extent of the wizard's power. The Man's knee should have shattered under the impact, but instead, he was unharmed.

"Enchanted clothing, that's cheating!" he shouted.

The wizard spun around, his beard flying, hands raised to smite the impudent little humanoid. Ferret saw a green glow form and knew it would be blasted!

With nothing to lose. Ferret attacked again with his rock, this time at his booted foot, exposed under the enchanted robes. A crack, audible over the roar of the battle, and the Man's eyes widened in disbelief; the little goblin had hurt him!

Before the wizard cast another spell, Ferret leapt for him, pounding him with his rock. Blood splattered. At one point, some automatic spell must have kicked in as the Man's wounds healed and his bent leg straightened. But Ferret did not dare give up and repeatedly smashed with the rock. Red rage flowed over him; the sounds of the battle faded. All that mattered was killing this human. Why do you have everything, and I have nothing?

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When the little goblin came to his senses, all was quiet. The battle had moved on, leaving only the dead behind. Off in the distance, he saw the remains of the Host making a last stand on a small hill. Orc warriors standing shield to shield surrounding the Overlord. The red glow of his eyes from his massively horned helmet failed to instil the customary fear. Ferret was unable to feel much of anything. What did it matter? The tribes had broken, and what remained ran for the Broken Lands as fast as they could. This Overlord was done.

Ferret dropped his rock by the wizard's corpse and watched the end. He saw the legendary paladin Achilles stride forward in his shining plate armour, smashing his opponents with significant blows of his holy sword. The Overlord met him head-on. Black sword met silver blade. Purple and white lightning arced and cracked as they duelled while lesser heroes and war chiefs battled for individual glory.

But the end was not in doubt; it had never been. A dull thump of magical energy was released, the passing screams as lost souls departed. Elf, dwarf, and Man voices cheered. A figure in shining armour lifted a severed head, leading to more cheering.

Ferret didn't see the point in caring. He had only glimpsed the Overlord from a distance, but he knew another one would eventually take their place. It was best to stay out of sight and hope to make it through another day. I hope the next one's not a necromancer. He didn't fancy spending his life as a walking dead.

With his head smashed to paste, the wizard was most definitely not walking dead, just dead. Ferret rummaged through the wizard's pockets. It would be just his luck if some troll came along and wanted to loot the corpse. This is my kill, mine!

His hands shook as he pulled out a handful of coins, which he stashed in his loincloth. He couldn't believe his luck. The wizard must have been carrying quite the fortune on him. Ferret stuffed the loot into his pockets, careful not to miss any hidden trinkets or items of value.

He thought about trying to use the enchanted robes, but they hung on him. "And I don't think they'll take well to being cut up." He said to the wizard's body. He scanned the battlefield for any sign of life, but all he saw were dead bodies and remnants of destruction. Ferret couldn't let this opportunity slip away; he needed to find something he could use.

A surge of excitement coursed through his veins as he peered into the wizard's satchel. His eyes widened at seeing real wizarding books, the key to unlocking magic secrets. He slung the bag over his bony shoulder with trembling hands, careful not to disturb the precious cargo. He was finally holding these coveted tomes in his possession. "Books," he whispered reverently.

He longed to dive into them immediately but knew he had to keep moving before the sunset and the undead stirred. The thought of attracting ghoul swarms sent a shiver down his spine, urging him to hurry on his journey with newfound determination and purpose.

Ferret tried to find the staff, but it must have rolled away in the fight.

Ferret decided not to follow the remains of the defeated Host. With so many of their chiefs dead on the battlefield, there would be fighting in the camp tonight as the stronger monsters preyed on the weaker. The struggle for dominance continued until they established a new pecking order. And Ferret had no desire to lose his treasure to some bully who wanted to take it.

Instead, Ferret made a camp in the hollow of a fallen tree, taking shelter from a torrential downpour. He dared not light a fire with so many predators drawn by the dead and dying.

But neither the rain nor the wandering monsters concerned Ferret. His hands shook as he fumbled open the pouch. He had to remember to breathe. This is it. Now, he would be a wizard. With these books in his little hands, he would command the power of magic. He brushed off the water from the most significant book. His eyes traced the curves of the large rune, embossing the leather cover, wondering what it did. He admired the brass corner pieces. Or were they gold? His fingers tingled as he opened the cover.

Out of nowhere, the rune surged with power. Fire erupted in all directions, casting a blazing glow on everything it touched. The flames burned with an intensity that seemed otherworldly, and they spread without need for fuel or oxygen. The air grew thick with heat and the acrid smell of burning as the fire danced and flicked in every direction. It was a mesmerizing yet terrifying sight, leaving no doubt that this was a force to be reckoned with.

"Curses!" Ferret yelped, flinging the burning book away. The supernatural fire consumed it utterly before it hit the ground.

"Fuck me!" He hopped around, beating at his foot. Some of the liquid fire had landed on him, and it burned. He plunged into a puddle of rainwater, allowing the cold water to ease the pain. "Fuck me!" He repeated. His heart pounded, partly in pain and partly in exhilaration.

When he was sure the fire was extinguished and his foot safe, he picked at the remains but found nothing but ashes. The rune had done its job and protected its dead master's secrets. "Bloody paranoid wizards."

Ferret hobbled over to the other book, his foot still hurting. Thankfully, it had not burned up as well. He didn't see another rune, but still, he found a long stick and carefully lifted the cover. He flinched as the book flipped open, but there was no fire explosion.

His eyes scanned the delicate, intricate cursive script on the ancient tome before him. Every curve and loop seemed to mock him, taunting him with its otherworldly beauty and complexity. "Elvish," he spat out, frustration and jealousy colouring his words. The power of magic lay within those pages, but his inability to decipher the language held him back from true mastery.

Ferret eagerly pulled out the last paper from his satchel—a map! It showed a nearby old tower that had been standing for decades. Ruins like these filled the countryside. He realized the dead wizard must have been searching for this specific tower after the battle. That would explain why he travelled with the army; wizards disliked venturing too far from their comforts. The only thing Ferret imagined a wizard risking their life for was magic.

"If I get to the tower, perhaps I might find some valuable stuff." According to all tales, wizards always searched for more spells, constantly lusting for more magical power.

I could get killed. Ferret put outstanding stock in his skin, but what was the option? "To wander the wilderness and let something nasty eat me, or should I return to the tribes and become an arrow catcher for the next Overlord?" Besides, I might find real magic. His skin almost burned with his desire.

Clutching the map in a clenched fist, Ferret vowed on the blasted battlefield, surrounded by the endless dead; he was done being the victim.

Then, hearing an unexpected noise, he turned and hurried away.