image [https://i.imgur.com/eY2gF5l.png]
Hundreds of goblins surged forth from their dark cave, their eyes gleaming with malice and hunger for blood. Arbious, a figure of dread and power, stood before them, his scythe cutting through their ranks effortlessly. With each swing, he decapitated dozens of goblins, creating a gruesome spectacle of death and destruction. The heads of goblins went flying in the air as blood spewed onto the green forest floor creating a macabre scene. Mila and Graybeard watched in horror as Arbious displayed the extent of his cruelty with his weapon and insatiable bloodlust. It was as if he were dancing on a stage of corpses.
Realizing their dire disadvantage, the goblins scattered in a desperate attempt to evade Arbious' relentless onslaught. The mere thought of his presence filled them with a primal fear, driving them to flee in terror. Their ranks, once united in their aggression, now broke apart in disarray as they sought to distance themselves from him.
The goblin archers, recognizing the hopelessness of their situation, unleashed a frantic barrage of arrows toward Mila and Graybeard. Their aim was wild and erratic, driven by the dreadful aura that Arbious radiated. None dared to challenge him directly, knowing that to do so would mean certain death. The air grew thick with the acrid scent of goblin blood, the cave reverberated with the clash of Arbious's scythe against their blade, and the twang of bowstrings rung in the air.
Fortunately, Mila's keen foresight and quick reflexes shielded both her and Graybeard from harm. She anticipated the goblins' tactics, positioning herself and Graybeard out of harm's way. Despite the chaos around them, they remained unscathed, a testament to Mila's skill and intuition.
Arbious was beginning to empathize with the frustration experienced by the heroes who had to deal with the unending numbers that served his cause.
Arbious's onslaught was unstoppable. Though Graybeard and Mila were barely capable of holding them off, Arbious cleaved through them like butter. However, it became increasingly clear that something powerful lurked within the cave. The approach of an immense, powerful force echoed through the cave, its footsteps reverberating like thunder, signifying an impending doom.
Despite his best efforts, Arbious found it challenging to eliminate every single one of them. Fortunately, with the assistance of Mila and Graybeard, dealing with the few goblins that got past him became effortless.
Never had Arbious received aid in battle. It was a refreshing sight, not having to do everything on his own.
Empowered by his formidable and reliable axe, Graybeard propelled himself into the air, descending upon the goblin ranks with unrelenting fury. The ground quaked beneath the mighty impact of his weapon, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Meanwhile, as the remaining survivors attempted to sneak up on Graybeard, Mila unleashed her air magic, disorienting the goblins and buying precious time for Graybeard who grounded them to dust.
They seem competent enough... but a danger lurks within... It is time to put Mila and Graybeard to the test.
Seeing that the two had their hands full, Arbious charged into the cave, cutting down any goblin foolish enough to stand in his way. There was no room to falter, no room for error, and the slightest mistake could reveal his true identity.
Pressing on, delving deeper into the cavern, he swiftly dispatched the remaining goblins who attempted to ascend to the surface. He hacked and slashed upon their ranks, laughing as he did, instilling terror amongst the goblins.
Eventually, he stood face to face with the one who commanded them—their lord. Yet this was no ordinary Goblin Lord. The figure before him was a Goblin Warlock, surpassing the might of both Goblin Lords and Goblin Mages. Within the demonic army, the Goblin Warlock held an esteemed rank, possessing incredible power that demanded respect and caution.
The Goblin Warlock's anger reverberated through the cavern as he confronted Arbious, brandishing his staff in a futile attempt to deter him. "You dare to slay my minions?!" he growled, his voice dripping with anger. "I shall devour you! I will bring death upon you! You and your feeble allies will learn the consequences of defying a foe as mighty as I!"
Arbious' chuckle echoed through the cavern, carrying with it a chilling confidence that seemed to freeze the very air.
"You? A mighty foe? Please... You seem to have forgotten your place... Worm." Arbious taunted, his voice laced with a sinister edge that cut through the Goblin Warlock's facade of pride and power. The Warlock's expression faltered, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as Arbious continued to speak.
Arbious's dark presence seemed to fill the cavern, his aura pulsating with malice and dominance. "If you choose to surrender to me now, I can grant you a clean death."
"I see... So, it all becomes clear now..." the Goblin Warlock responded, a tinge of realization coloring his voice. "When I first sensed this... aura of unfathomable despair, an aura of true evil... I couldn't fathom it to be true. And yet, standing before me, it is undeniable..."
Surprised, Arbious furrowed his brow, a mix of curiosity and uncertainty filling his thoughts. "Do we... have some history together?"
Lowering his gaze, the Goblin Warlock bowed his head respectfully, dropping his staff. "I am Aldooor... A once proud warrior in your demonic army... I beg your forgiveness, my lord... As a representative of our kind... We failed to understand the folly of abandoning you. I warned them, but they failed to comprehend, driven by their desire for wealth..."
Aldooor? Hm... I recall Alpos claiming he was a mighty mage in the goblin army... But it doesn't matter.
His plea left a sour taste in Arbious's mouth, disappointed by the weakness of his once proud soldier. He was nothing more than a hapless imbecile now, and great as he might have been, Arbious no longer had use for him.
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A wicked grin curled Arbious' lips as his sinister nature surged within him. His voice deepened, resonating with a chilling intensity that echoed through the cavern, sending shivers down the spines of all who heard it.
"Forgiveness for your failures? To think a lowly creature like you would be begging for forgiveness from a being such as me." Arbious sneered, "Have you lost your mind? It appears your once formidable nature has waned if you seek absolution like a pitiful worm! The fate you deserve is far from a merciful death. No, for your failures, you shall serve me for eternity!"
The Goblin Warlock's expression contorted, a mix of terror and despair reflecting the gravity of his impending fate. "What do you mean by that..." Aldooor stuttered, his voice trembling with fear, his throat sinking as his eyes wavered.
Raising his hand towards Aldooor, Arbious could almost taste the fear radiating from the goblin warlock's heart. The dark aura around him deepened, carried with a sinister intensity that seemed to devour the very light. With a commanding voice, Arbious began to chant the ancient words of the Infernal Scripture, each syllable dripping with dark power.
"No... Not that! Anything but that! I beg you, my lord! Have mercy on me!" Aldooor pleaded, his voice desperate and filled with remorse. The room seemed to darken, the weight of his pleas mingling with the malevolent energy permeating the air. His genuine terror and the consequences of his actions were finally sinking in, driving him to the precipice of despair, where the realization of his fate loomed ominously.
"Darkness, consume thee, engulf thy host, for they shall serve as a mighty vessel to fulfill my bidding. You, a pitiful puppet, a mockery of existence, shall be a vessel of unimaginable horror and torment!"
As the incantation wove its malevolent tapestry, the very air thickened with an ominous aura. Shadows danced and writhed, embracing Aldooor's trembling form, entwining him in their chilling embrace. The cave became cloaked in darkness, as if the very essence of evil had been summoned to heed Arbious' command.
Aldooor's eyes widened in sheer terror, his voice choked with dread. He had never anticipated the depths of darkness he would be subjected to, and the realization of his irreversible fate enveloped him in an all-encompassing despair.
The darkness tore through Aldooor's flesh as if it were consuming his very being. His once loud tormented screams slowly transformed into an eerie silence, drowned out by the abyssal forces at work.
By the spell's end, only the skeletal remains of the once-proud warlock remained. "Now, rise!" Arbious commanded. "Warlock of the Damned, heed my call and bind your eternal servitude to me."
In response to Arbious' decree, the skeletal remains trembled, infused with a spectral essence. Dark energy pulsed through the bones, reassembling them into a macabre semblance of their former shape. The lifeless eyes of the resurrected warlock flickered with an unholy light, forever bound to serve Arbious.
Exercising caution is of utmost importance when wielding spells of this nature, as they inevitably exact a toll on the victim's fighting prowess. Presently, Aldooor's strength has diminished significantly. However, through the use of "Bestow Upon A favor", I possess the ability to elevate his power from tier 3 to tier 5. A tier lower than the requirement to be a Goblin Warlock.
It is crucial to note that this particular favor bestows strength in a singular attribute, and in this instance, it is magic.
"Corpse of mighty Aldooor, I bestow upon you the favor of darkness!"
the air around him crackling with arcane energy as dark sinister lights illuminated the undead form of the goblin. Aldoor's skeletal frame resonated with the surge of power brought on by Arbious' spell, his magical capabilities expanding beyond their previous limitations. From a mere tier 3 magic caster, he ascended to the formidable rank of tier 5, becoming a force to be reckoned with. With this favor granted, Aldooor stood before Arbious, an undead goblin mage, ready to wield his augmented might in Arbious' mighty and glorious name.
Still, it's a shame that he no longer meets the requirements of a Goblin Warlock. But he will do I suppose.
"Aldooor the Defiled, ascend to the surface and kill the two adventurers who pose a threat to your brethren," Arbious commanded, his finger pointing towards the cavern's mouth from which he had descended. "Leave the elf girl alive but kill the dwarf, and should you succeed, make way to the nearby village, leave no one alive in your wake. Reduce everything to naught but ash!"
Aldooor acknowledged Arbious' orders with a solemn nod and a resolute grunt. Gripping his staff tightly, a sickly green necromantic energy emanated from his eyes, reflecting the dark power that surged within him. With a determined stride, he made his way towards the entrance, prepared to carry out Arbious' will and unleash devastation upon any who dared oppose him.
Once Aldooor was gone, Arbious surveyed the aftermath of the goblin cave, a scene of utter devastation unfolded before him. The lifeless bodies of countless goblins lay strewn about, their blood staining the ground, and the metallic scent of iron permeated the air, a macabre reminder of the carnage that had taken place.
"Mass Raise Dead!"
Arbious channeled a surge of green necromantic energy that swept through the cave. In an instant, a wave of dark magic engulfed the fallen goblins, their lifeless forms reanimated into obedient, zombified servants under his command. The cave, once echoing with deathly silence, now reverberated with the shuffling footsteps and low moans of the risen goblins. They stood as a testament to his power, their existence bound to serve him for eternity, further strengthening his unholy forces.
A blazing magical orb materialized before Arbious as Alpos, his trusted lieutenant, addressed him directly. "My lord, are they prepared?" Alpos inquired, his gaze sweeping over the scene through the ethereal projection.
"Use them for labor, or whatever you wish..." Arbious responded, his voice carrying an air of authority. "I will leave the command over them to you."
Alpos bowed his head, a mischievous grin playing upon his lips. "As you wish, my lord."
Turning his attention toward the masses he had raised, Arbious witnessed the undead goblins spring into motion. With each step, they moved without synchronization, converging upon the demonic portal that had materialized in the heart of the cavern. The portal beckoned them to the depths of hell, where they would toil for eternity under the weight of their cursed existence.
As the undead goblins filed into the infernal portal, their hollow eyes devoid of emotion, a sense of finality hung in the air. They disappeared one by one, vanishing into the depths of the infernal realm, their servitude to Arbious stretching beyond the boundaries of mortal comprehension.
By the time the final goblin entered the portal, the cavern stood empty, a grim testament to the power and dominion Arbious commanded.
With his objective complete, Arbious cast aside the veil of darkness that had surrounded him, refocusing his attention on the surface. He resolved to withhold his assistance to Mila and Graybeard until the situation grew dire, until they could endure no further. What transpired within the goblin cave was to create a deliberate trial, a test to gauge Mila's strength against a formidable adversary. Simultaneously, it presented an opportunity, if circumstances allowed, to neutralize Graybeard. Nevertheless, Arbious had no intention of allowing Mila to fall to the likes of Aldoor, for she had yet to play a crucial part in his grand design.