The Lord’s Raids

A few minutes passed, and the battlefield grew bloodier by the second. Severed arms and legs, along with heads separated from their bodies, lay strewn across the ground, creating a gruesome pool of crimson.

In the midst of this carnage walked a young man with brown skin, clad in light armor made of black leather, his katana in hand. His black hair fell messily around his face, which was stained with blue blood, giving his smile an unsettling quality as he approached the horde of goblins that desperately sought to breach the barricade.

"Damn, I just killed their leader. Shouldn't they be in disarray?" Cliff muttered to himself.

They had opted for the strategy of eliminating the enemy command to sow discord among the ranks. Yet, contrary to expectations, these grotesque abominations continued to attack with relentless ferocity.

"Maybe they're being controlled by a superior force?" Cliff furrowed his brows, cursing the thought.

"This complicates things. If I have to face an enemy above the mutant rank right now… ugh, the ogres are enough for me!"

Cliff realized he felt weak and inexperienced, both in melee combat and one-on-one confrontations.

Why?

He had never faced a real fight where his life depended on every misstep. Everything felt new to him. Despite his best efforts to adapt, the sights of carnage around him weighed heavily on his mind.

How can anyone not be overwhelmed by the sight of these dismembered bodies?

"It makes me want to vomit," he admitted, letting out a deep sigh. Suddenly, he made a swift movement with his arm, slicing through a goblin that had attacked him from behind.

[You killed…]

Ignoring the announcement's voice, he pressed on, executing quick footwork while slashing through his enemies.

Farther away, two men and a young woman stood in front of the barricade, focused on intercepting the bloodthirsty green primates that were attempting to breach their defenses.

"Normally, they would have dispersed by now," Akumu said as he withdrew his saber from the abdomen of a small green creature.

With a weary expression, the young man with wolf ears glanced at Rakahn, his oldest friend, who stood beside him, effortlessly slaughtering goblins.

Rakahn's movements had become increasingly fluid, as if he were adapting perfectly to every demand placed upon him.

"It's as if he's dancing."

Yet, each graceful movement was lethal. His khopesh sliced through the air, extinguishing lives with every strike.

"To think that in such a short time, he has already surpassed me."

Rakahn and Akumu were well-known for their rivalry. From childhood, during their duels between allied clans, their matches had always ended in draws.

Rakahn had always excelled in physical strength, while Akumu compensated for his disadvantage by amplifying his abilities with mana. But now, even Akumu's impressive reserves of mana could not compete with the raw power Rakahn had gained by absorbing the essence of the monsters he defeated.

"Hey, you lose nothing by waiting! I won't let myself be outdone!" Rakahn sneered as he charged into the tide of goblins.

"Let's see who can kill the most!"