The night was restless.
The goblins whispered in fear, clutching their children close. Wolves prowled along the palisade, their low growls vibrating through the stillness. The newly named Kijin sharpened their blades silently, their crimson eyes reflecting the flicker of torchlight.
But at the heart of it all sat Luminus, calm and unshaken. His silver-blue body rippled faintly under the moonlight. His gaze was fixed not on the walls or the enemy beyond, but on the villagers themselves. *Fear… doubt… yet also resolve. They are changing. They are not the weaklings they once were.*
A soft voice broke his thoughts.
"You should rest, my Lord," said Shira, her presence light as wind. She bowed low, though her eyes were sharp.
"I do not need rest," Luminus replied, a smile in his tone. "But thank you."
---
### The Warning
Scouts returned before dawn. Their report was grim.
"The Church has sent a full squadron—fifty knights, perhaps more. They bear the sigil of the Radiant Order."
Elira paled. "That's not just any force. The Radiant Order is led by a High Inquisitor. If they are here…" She trailed off, fear tightening her voice.
Mira cursed. Flames danced at her fingertips. "Fifty knights? With holy magic? They'll burn this place to ash!"
Rugo snarled, slamming his claws into the dirt. "Then let us tear them apart before they reach us."
But Gorath, the scarred Kijin leader, shook his head. His deep voice rumbled like distant thunder. "Knights of the Church are disciplined. They will not scatter like bandits. Charging blindly is death."
The council erupted in argument until Luminus spoke.
"Enough." His voice was soft but carried across the hall like steel. "Fear does not serve us. Rage does not serve us. We will fight, yes—but not as scattered claws. We fight as one."
The room fell silent.
Luminus continued, his voice firm. "The goblins will form the shield wall at the gates. The wolves will flank through the forest. Mira, you and your apprentices will hold the center with fire. Zerath and Rugo, you will lead ambush units in the thickets. The Kijin… will face the knights directly."
The ogres bowed in unison. "As you command."
Finally, Luminus turned to Elira. "You know their tactics best. You will guide me."
She hesitated, guilt flickering in her eyes. "They won't stop, Luminus. To them, you're the embodiment of corruption. But… I will fight with you. I can't go back to them."
Luminus's voice softened. "Then let us stand together."
---
By noon, the earth trembled with the steady march of armored feet.
The knights emerged from the treeline in gleaming formation, their silver armor polished, their banners bearing the golden sun of the Church. Holy energy radiated from their ranks, making the very air heavy with light.
At their front rode a man in white-and-gold plate, a crimson cape flowing from his shoulders. His hair was pale blond, his eyes sharp and merciless.
The High Inquisitor.
His voice boomed across the clearing. "Creatures of darkness! By decree of the Holy Church, you are condemned! Surrender the abomination called *Luminus* or face righteous annihilation!"
The goblins trembled. The wolves snarled. Mira spat a curse.
But Luminus pulsed forward, calm as ever. His voice carried, soft yet clear. "I am here. But we will not surrender. We are not abominations. We are a people. And we will not be erased."
For a heartbeat, silence. Then the Inquisitor's expression twisted in disdain. He raised his sword, blazing with holy light.
"Then burn."
---
The clash erupted like a storm.
Knights surged forward in formation, shields raised, blades gleaming with divine enchantments. Goblins braced as the shield wall met steel, their crude weapons straining against polished armor. Wolves burst from the sides, fangs flashing, scattering archers into disarray.
Mira raised her hands high, flames spiraling into a roaring inferno. "Burn them back!" Fireballs crashed into enemy lines, scattering men like leaves in a gale. Apprentices echoed her spell, smaller sparks but enough to disrupt the charge.
Zerath roared, his massive axe cleaving through two knights at once. "For the village!" His voice thundered over the clash of steel.
Rugo darted between shadows, slashing tendons, dragging knights into the undergrowth where wolves finished them. His growl echoed with savage satisfaction.
The Kijin moved like a storm. Gorath's greatsword cleaved through enchanted shields as if they were paper. Shira danced across the battlefield, her speed blurring, striking and vanishing before knights could react. Branak smashed through formations with his clubs, scattering soldiers like straw dolls.
And at the center stood Luminus.
Spells of purification and chains of holy light lashed out at him, but his body absorbed the magic, twisting it into nothingness. His aura pulsed, waves of pressure forcing knights to their knees. Every movement, every word carried unnatural weight.
"You fight in the name of faith," he said softly, his voice echoing in their minds. "But faith without compassion is nothing but tyranny."
Knights faltered. Some broke formation. But the High Inquisitor pressed forward, his blade shining like the sun.
---
The Inquisitor met Luminus at the heart of the battlefield. Their clash silenced the chaos around them.
"Monster!" the Inquisitor roared, his blade slashing down. Holy fire erupted, searing the earth.
"Human," Luminus replied calmly, his body weaving aside. His aura surged, slamming into the knight like a tidal wave.
They clashed again and again, each strike shaking the ground.
"You corrupt the weak—goblins, beasts, even fallen ogres!" the Inquisitor spat.
"I guide them," Luminus answered, his voice like still water. "They chose to follow. Can you say the same of your men?"
The words cut deeper than any blade. For the first time, hesitation flickered in the Inquisitor's eyes.
But only for a moment. He roared, channeling all his magic into one final strike. "Then die, slime!"
His blade came down like a pillar of light.
And Luminus caught it.
The slime's body rippled, absorbing the holy energy, twisting it, reshaping it. In his hand formed a blade of his own—silver light forged from the Inquisitor's own power.
The battlefield froze.
"You see?" Luminus's voice was soft, almost sorrowful. "Your strength does not destroy me. It only makes us stronger."
With a single motion, he shattered the Inquisitor's sword.
--
The sight broke the knights. Their leader disarmed, their holy magic failing, their formation crumbled. Wolves dragged men down, goblins pressed forward with renewed courage, and Mira's flames blazed higher.
The Kijin roared as one, driving the enemy back. Gorath's blade carved through armor, Shira's wind swept enemies aside, Branak's clubs shattered bones.
The Radiant Order—once so proud—was reduced to scattered survivors fleeing into the forest.
The battlefield stank of ash and blood. Yet at its center, the villagers stood. Shaken, wounded, but alive. United.
The goblins cheered weakly, their voices rising in disbelief. Wolves howled, their cries echoing into the sky.
Mira collapsed to her knees, exhausted but grinning fiercely. "We… we actually won…"
Zerath leaned on his axe, bloodied but unbowed. "This is only the beginning. They will return. Stronger."
Luminus looked across the field of the fallen. His voice was quiet, but resolute.
"Yes. They will return. But so will we. Stronger. Together."
He turned his gaze toward the horizon, where smoke from the retreating knights faded into the distance.
The Church had declared war.
And Luminus's village was ready to answer.
---