At the system prompt, Loren's eyes immediately lit up.
A kobold Bloodline Mage as a quest reward?
Spellcasters were exceedingly rare on the Nol Main Plane. They wielded the power of the elements, and powerful spellcasters could even turn the tide of battle on the battlefield.
They were incredibly powerful.
Decker City, the largest city in the North, probably had no more than a hundred spellcasters.
The system's reward lifted Loren's spirits, and he could hardly wait to claim it.
Given the situation, even if he didn't attack the kobolds, they would go after the caravan once their numbers grew large enough.
A caravan loaded with supplies was a mighty tempting target.
Loren's sharp eyes took in everything around him as he considered the situation.
When the caravan reached a relatively level stretch of grassland, he made up his mind and raised a hand to halt it.
He climbed down from the carriage on unsteady legs and summoned all the barbarians.
Yas Frost—that was the barbarian chieftain's name. But Loren always thought the fellow ought to be called something like Bull or Mammoth. His sheer physical strength was truly astonishing.
Even though he wasn't Gold-grade, Loren felt he could kill a wild ox with one punch.
Before Loren could give an order, the barbarian chieftain, built like a calf, took the initiative and asked to fight.
"Lord Loren, those lowly kobolds are pathetically weak. Their only advantage is their numbers.
"Just give the order, and I'll lead the Frost Tribe in crushing them!"
Yas's voice rumbled like distant thunder, and cold killing intent gleamed in his amber eyes.
As barbarians who lived among the snow-covered mountains, they had fighting in their very bones.
A bunch of feeble kobolds dared to challenge them?
They were asking for death!
Loren nodded. "No need to rush. They're just kobolds. They'll be easy to deal with."
He scanned the group of strapping men, their calf-like bodies bulging against their armor.
"I called you here to change everyone's profession."
Change their profession?
Yas froze, unsure what he meant.
"Lord Loren, don't we need to train before changing professions? Do we have time to train now?"
Only Fiana's expression shifted at those words.
She had seen how Loren changed Anor, the Bronze-grade thief, into a different profession.
She couldn't help wondering: did he control more Rare Professions besides Thief?
Loren's expression turned solemn.
"When I awakened my Bloodline Power, I awakened a special talent unlike anything seen before.
"I can grant you Rare Professions through my Bloodline Power.
"And after receiving my gift, you'll also gain an unprecedented talent—Eternal Slaughter.
"As long as you kill your enemies, you'll keep growing stronger!"
His subordinates were living people, not puppets. The system's ability to level up by killing monsters had already been proven through Anor, the thief.
Once the barbarians fought, they would notice that something about them had changed, even if Loren said nothing.
So he decided to come clean—and, while he was at it, pass off the ability as his own talent, turning their ability to level up by killing into something they could admire him for.
After all, talents didn't need to make sense. Either you had them or you didn't.
Without waiting for the barbarians, stunned by his words, to ask any more questions, he silently opened the territory panel and found the status of the Highland Barbarians.
Highland Barbarians (120)—Available professions: 1. Wolf Rider (C-class) (requires taming wolves) Advanced unit: Blood Wolf Rider (B-class) Ultimate unit: Bloodthirsty Wolf Rider (A-class) 2. Barbarian Berserker (C-class) Advanced unit: Barbarian Storm Warrior (B-class) Ultimate unit: Barbarian War God (A-class)
After taking the barbarians under his command, the system had offered two complete Rare Profession paths.
Both were exceptionally powerful.
He was very tempted by Wolf Rider. As the king of land warfare, cavalry was undeniably powerful, and the advanced units had limitless potential.
The problem was that changing to Wolf Rider required taming wolves first. Originally, he'd planned to wait until they returned to Gray Eagle Territory before figuring out how to change the barbarians' professions.
But plans had changed. He had to make the barbarians stronger now.
Otherwise, he'd be in serious trouble once the kobolds gathered in greater numbers.
Fiana was guarding the caravan, but even ants could bring down an elephant.
If it came to a fight, a Platinum-grade powerhouse could emerge unscathed, but the Bronze-grade barbarians would likely suffer heavy losses.
He couldn't accept these troops, with their limitless potential, suffering major casualties before they had the chance to grow. Such sacrifices would be meaningless.
Besides, Barbarian Berserkers were certainly powerful. They simply lacked the mobility of Wolf Riders.
"Everyone, kneel before me. Now, I shall grant you power the likes of which you've never known!"
After Loren had subdued the barbarians through sheer force, most of them had loyalty ratings above 70. They followed his orders without hesitation.
Led by Yas, the barbarians knelt as one, gazing fervently at their new king.
At the sight, Loren's silvery-white Bloodline Power surged up. It seemed as though blazing flames had enveloped him, making him look even more heroic.
With a thought, he chose to change all the barbarians into Barbarian Berserkers.
"Ding! Change the Highland Barbarians (120) into Barbarian Berserkers?"
"Confirm."
"Profession change starting."
At that instant, every barbarian felt a jolt in their heart. A flood of information poured into their minds: how to fight, how to dodge, and how to coordinate with their allies.
At the same time, a powerful force slowly stirred in their bloodline, and a skill called Berserk appeared in their minds.
Legend had it that kobolds carried a trace of dragon blood, with only a tiny chance of awakening it.
But those who did awaken it gained access to the spells inherited in their bloodline and became powerful Bloodline Mages.
Xim Claw was one such lucky kobold. On a stormy night filled with lightning, he received a precious inheritance of spells.
After becoming a Bloodline Mage, the first thing he did was kill the chieftain of the Claw Tribe with an explosive fireball.
And he became the new chieftain—the great Chieftain Xim.
Praise the Goddess.
He liked that title.
Though he had only awakened two bloodline spells, he was still invincible in the Claw Tribe, for he wielded the power of a god.
Yes, kobolds believed that magic was the power of the gods.
With his awakened spells, Xim Claw led the Claw Tribe in conquering four or five nearby kobold tribes, growing their numbers from a few dozen to nearly six hundred.
They had become the largest tribe in the surrounding area.
But then, Xim heard some exciting news: a human caravan loaded with food and treasure was passing through his territory.
How could the great Chieftain Xim, full of ambition, let such a plump lamb get away?
He was going to become the most powerful spellcaster among the kobolds of the Endless Wasteland. He even dreamed of founding a kobold nation.
Perhaps then they would call him His Majesty Xim—the great His Majesty Xim!
Now, he would begin his road to conquest with these lowly humans.
Praise the God of Magic!
"Great Chieftain Xim, those foolish humans have stopped. They're kneeling before that human noble, as if plotting something."
A kobold holding a wooden club cautiously approached Xim Claw, who stood with his head held high, lost in dreams of the future, and reported what was happening.
Xim Claw wore a black cloak he'd stolen from another kobold's lair. The wind caught it, making it ripple dramatically. With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked exceptionally flashy.
Of course, Xim preferred to call it "the bearing of a king." He was very pleased with himself.
"Are they not planning to go through the valley ahead? What are those foolish humans up to?"
He had planned to use their numerical advantage to surround the human caravan in the valley. But now, it seemed things had changed.
The kobold warrior who had delivered the report immediately broke into an ingratiating smile.
"Great Chieftain Xim, perhaps we don't need to go to so much trouble. Just reveal the power of the gods, and no one will be able to resist your might.
"All our enemies will be burned beneath your flames!"
Xim nodded with satisfaction.
"Exactly. The great kobolds have earned the gods' favor. We are the true masters of this land!"
"If those foolish humans aren't going through the valley, then gather everyone and kill them right here on this grassland!"
With that, he waved a hand. The kobold beside him immediately blew into the tusk horn he was holding.
The horn's bizarre sound stirred the kobolds hiding in the surrounding grass, which reached above a person's waist. They began to howl, low sounds rumbling in their throats like beasts snarling before a hunt.
They would tear those damn humans apart! Seize their wealth, steal their women, and make everything theirs!
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