Chief

Hearing the call for help, many goblins rushed to the walls of their camp, only to be presented with the sickening sight of the mangled corpses of their comrades. Amidst the flesh, blood and bones, stood a four-armed monstrosity, its hands holding various parts of their brethren. These kinds of scenes weren't new to the goblins, in fact, they often inflict such horrors upon their victims. But today, the green monsters experienced the sheer terror that their victims felt, both the intent to defend their camp and their weapons had vanished. The only thing left was their hopes and prayers that they would be spared from such an end. They hoped for a quick death. Unlike what the goblins thought, they wouldn't die today, they still had their uses.

"Bring me your leader"

Each syllable grated upon their eardrums, carving themselves into the goblins. A spark of hope glimmered in their eyes at the opportunity presented to them. It was a chance, a chance that they would have to take. All they had to do was sacrifice their leader. It was quite interesting, the fear enveloping the goblins had led them to believe that their chief stood no chance against this calamity. Right now, only their base instinct for survival was keeping them conscious, and this instinct of theirs was telling each and every one of them to give up their leader. 

At no point had the monstrosity claimed that they would be spared if they acquiesced to its demand, but that was what fear did to a person, it created delusions of hope in moments of dark despair. It was quite a sadistic emotion. 

The sea of dirty green parted, at one end stood death incarnate and at the other was a dark green being with an axe sat upon his shoulder, who towered over the short goblins. Its body, packed with muscles, was adorned with white constructs - armour. A closer inspection would determine that this armour was made of bone, most likely from the remains strung up on poles that were dotted around the camp. In contrast to his people, the goblin chief looked unaffected by the scene presented before him, a testament to his wider berth of experience as well as his position as leader. Faye had long seen through his false bravado, but she wanted to see how long the goblin chief could fool himself into believing he stood a chance against a Devil Apostle.

With great finesse, the goblin chief flicked his axe into his hands as mana began to gather on the axe head, his intentions clear to all: a single attack utilising every ounce of mana in his body. Rather than preventing the attack, the Asura slightly bent her knees whilst widening her stance. Raising all four of her arms, she stared at the goblin chief with fervour as her thirst for battle surged. The goblin chief snickered at the arrogance of his opponent, his power was equivalent to that of a high squire - stage five of node enhancements - he was excited to see the look on her face when she realised that she had underestimated him. He would tear her to pieces just like how she tore his men to pieces. And then, he would make an example out of a couple of the goblins for their betrayal, and show everyone why he was chief. 

These thoughts whirled in the goblin's head as he charged towards his enemy, his axe raised above his head shining with blinding light. Once the chief was within range, he drew upon all the strength in his body to bring down the axe, the image of his axe cutting the beast asunder invigorated him with great power. Alas, fate had a different plan for the goblin chief. A thick blade of red energy pierced through the goblin's eyes and slowly dug through his skull before exiting from the other side of his head. Arcs of blood cut through the air as another blade sliced through his arms like a knife through butter, flinging the axe away from its target. These two attacks had already spelt the goblin chief end, but his opponent wanted absolute carnage. A clawed hand found its way into the goblin's chest before tearing out a pulsating organ - a heart. Life had long left the goblin's body but this did not stop Faye from ripping out organs with a gleeful smile plastered across her face. 

The sounds of the goblins retching and regurgitating their meals plagued the camp as they bore witness to the cruel dissection of their leader's corpse. They knew that their leader stood no chance against this monstrosity, but being shown the difference between the two beings woke the goblins up to the stark reality of their situation. This being... how would sparing them benefit it in any way? In fact, since it seemed to enjoy bloodshed so much, wouldn't killing them serve a better purpose? They were going to die. They were sure of it now, every path out of this situation led to death. Many goblins dropped to their knees, acceptance apparent on their faces, the light of hope had long been put out. All their actions had come around, a debt had been accumulated and now its collector was here. 

Fear. Desperation. Hopelessness. The demoness soaked it all up. These emotions that clouded the air were a result of her actions, this thought brought her so much delight. The culmination of these emotions meant that it was time for the finale. Her long tongue reached out of her mouth and lapped up the air as if to taste the efforts of her work, her eyes widening at the sensation that pricked her tongue. She could taste it. Death. It was descending upon this place, and it had chosen her as its vessel, she wanted to do nothing more than comply. But, her Lord had ordered her to recruit followers, her pleasure was secondary to her Lord's desires. 

Rolling her tongue back into her mouth, Faye felt a wave of calmness wash over the overflowing bloodlust, slowly suppressing it, allowing reason to take control of her mind once more. Ruby orbs scanned the camp, as memories poured in of the day she was to be executed. 

'Their faces...was mine like theirs, do they feel the same despair and hopelessness that I did?'

As these questions rushed through her mind, Faye's grin remained on her face, although they reminded her of her past, there wasn't an ounce of empathy in her body. Their emotions brought her pleasure, she loved it. 

'But I can manipulate this to my liking, and plant the seed of faith in their hearts'

Throwing away the fleshy remains of the goblin chief, the demoness made her way towards the goblins, a tinge of mirth presented in her eyes but this was quickly masked by a reverent expression as she looked up towards the sky. This action confused the terror-stricken goblins as they followed the beast's line of sight, pondering what she was looking at; only to be further baffled by the empty sky. What was it looking at?

"Do you feel it?"

The beast spoke with great admiration and fervour, a far cry from the bloodthirstiness that it was previously thick with. This change in tone caused the goblins that focus on the words that were said, hope had once again begun to blossom within their hearts. But what were they supposed to feel? 

As if she was reading their minds, the demoness continued, "His defiling Grace which seeks to corrupt all, do you feel it?"

"He invites you to his sanctum and offers you salvation through corruption"

Her eyes moved towards the goblins, whose eyes were laden with hope and wonder, their hearts opened themselves to the being who had saved them from certain death. Hundreds of eyes locked upon the figure of the Apostle of Corruption, her words had ensnared them with the hope of survival.

With great flare, she extended her arms towards them as she delivered the finishing blow.

"Do you accept?"