The forest was quiet except for the crunch of leaves beneath my boots.
In my right hand, I held a dagger.
At my side, my new creation—the demonic goblin—marched with unblinking eyes.
We came across our prey: a massive black bear. Its fur was like shadow, its breath hot and heavy in the cool air.
I pointed a finger toward it.
The goblin gave a short nod and rushed forward. The bear roared, swinging its claws with enough force to shatter bone, but my goblin moved like smoke—slipping past each strike. With a leap, it smashed its club against the bear's skull. The beast staggered, growling in pain, eyes dazed.
The goblin didn't hesitate. One final swing shattered the bear's jaw.
I raised my hand—my servant froze instantly.
Approaching the fallen bear, I pressed the Ring of Hell against its body. Crimson light swallowed the corpse, and when it reformed, it was… different.
Its claws glowed yellow, its fur striped with red and black, and a spiral of flame burned around its neck. Red eyes glared—but not at me. It bowed low.
"My army grows," I whispered, smirking.
I climbed onto its back, the goblin following as the bear carried me through the forest. By the time we reached the village outskirts, the sun had begun its descent.
"Let's see your worth," I said, pointing toward the village.
The goblin charged ahead. The guards at the gate noticed immediately, lowering their spears.
"Who goes there?" one shouted.
The other's eyes widened. "G-Goblin!"
But they were already too slow. The goblin was on them, dodging every thrust and slash. The fight drew attention—a party of adventurers emerged from the gate, their swordsman shouting, "Help the guards!"
Four others joined him. The mage muttered an incantation, buffing the swordsman's speed and strength. My goblin danced between attacks until the swordsman's blade flashed—severing its arm.
The goblin roared, charging again, but roots erupted from the ground, courtesy of the mage's plant magic, trapping its feet. The two guards struck at once, cutting it down.
It turned to ash.
From my perch in the trees, I watched their confusion.
"That goblin… it was different," the swordsman said.
"I've never seen that type before," the tank replied.
The mage frowned. "I've read books on monster classifications and demon types. Nothing like it exists."
"Could it be a new species?" the assassin suggested.
The archer shook her head. "No… it turned to ash. Not like monsters or demons."
The swordsman's expression hardened. "We'll report this to the capital."
The party spoke with the guards before heading off.
---
I waited until they were gone, then opened my arms. A crimson circle formed on the ground, and my goblin rose from it—whole again.
"So… even if you're killed, I can summon you back." I chuckled.
I searched the ring's storage for anything useful. My eyes landed on a simple earring with a golden circle at its center. When I put it on, my reflection shifted—black hair, brown eyes. Perfect.
With a thought, I dismissed both the goblin and the bear into the ring's storage. Then I walked toward the village, letting the adventurers pass before approaching the gate.
The guard with the spear frowned. "Kid, where did you hide? You said you'd stay by the wall."
The one with the sword added, "Your mother's worried sick. You were gone all night. Where exactly were you?"
I smiled innocently. "My friends didn't give up, so I hid really well."
The sword-bearing guard eyed me suspiciously but said nothing. The spear-wielding guard spoke instead. "Just be careful. A strange goblin with yellow eyes and red skin attacked earlier, but we took it down with the help of an adventuring party. The weird thing is, it turned to ash."
I nodded, feigning ignorance. "Okay."
They let me pass.
---
The cobblestones felt oddly warm under the fading sunlight as I walked home. When I knocked, my mother—Julie—flung the door open and pulled me into a tight hug.
"Oh, Julian! I was so worried! Where have you been?" She was crying.
I didn't return the emotion. I knew she would abandon me in time, just like before.
"What's wrong? Aren't you even a little concerned?" she asked.
I said nothing and walked past her into my room.
Lying on my bed, I stared at the Ring of Hell.
The Holy Sword was gone. My dagger sat safely in the ring's storage.
Tomorrow, I would leave for the dungeons. I would kill a boss monster and claim it as my ally. My army would grow until it could crush this nation. The capital. The hero. My former comrades. All of them would fall.
And when I took the Demon King's throne for myself… no one would ever stand above me again.
The boy I once was had died at the executioner's blade.
What remained was something else entirely.
A beast wearing a human's skin.
I fell asleep with a smile.