Lord of the Foresaken

Screams filled the Summoning Hall.

Reed's goblins swarmed forward like a plague, shrieking as they lunged at guards and nobles alike. The once-gilded ceremony had turned into a bloodbath.

One guard swung his sword, cleaving a goblin in two—only for two more to latch onto his arms, biting and clawing. A noble tried to run, but a goblin tackled him to the ground, a rusted dagger stabbing wildly into his chest.

It was chaos.

And chaos was Reed's weapon.

He felt the magical chains holding him weaken for a moment. The grand mage's focus wavered, his horrified eyes locked on the massacre.

That was all Reed needed.

He forced his body forward. The chains cracked—then shattered.

The old man barely had time to react.

Reed closed the distance. He didn't fight like a knight, didn't hesitate or aim for anything clean. He grabbed the mage's face and slammed his skull into the stone floor.

The mage gasped, his concentration breaking. The barrier flickered.

Shia didn't miss her second chance.

She buried her dagger in his throat.

The grand mage choked on blood, his eyes wide with shock. He tried to speak—maybe a final curse, maybe a desperate plea—but all that came out was a gurgling wheeze.

Then he stopped moving.

Reed let out a slow breath.

He had just killed the most powerful man in the room.

And every noble had seen it.

The laughter was gone now.

The ones who had mocked him earlier stared in horror. Lords who had summoned knights, monsters, and legendary warriors stood frozen as their guards were torn apart by F-rank goblins.

It wasn't supposed to be possible.

But it was happening.

A new system message flashed before Reed's eyes.

[You Have Killed a High-Ranking Official – Infamy Increased!]

[New Title Earned: The Forsaken Lord]

[New Skill Unlocked: Rulebreaker]

Reed's grin widened.

Rulebreaker.

A fitting skill. He'd have to check what it did later. Right now, there was only one thing left to do.

He turned to the remaining nobles, still paralyzed by fear.

"You laughed at me," he said casually. His voice wasn't loud, but in the silence, it carried.

No one answered.

Reed raised a hand.

His goblins—dozens of them now—turned toward the cowering lords.

"I wonder if you're still laughing now."

The goblins charged.

And the massacre began.