My hand drops, and hell breaks loose.
Forty-seven human soldiers emerge from concealment with the kind of coordinated precision that only comes from absolute faith in their commander's plan. The dark elves, caught completely off-guard in the middle of their own attack, suddenly find themselves surrounded in a kill zone they walked into willingly.
But it's not the soldiers' attack that changes everything.
It's mine.
```
[COMBAT SYSTEM - FULL ACTIVATION]
Battle Mode: ENGAGED
Physical Enhancement: +180% strength, +160% speed, +200% endurance
Weapon Mastery: [DOWNLOADING] Advanced combat techniques
Tactical Coordination: [ACTIVE] Supernatural battlefield awareness
Intimidation Aura: [MAXIMUM EFFECT] Enemy morale penalties applied
Combat Analysis: [REAL-TIME] Weakness identification active
```
The moment I leap from my concealed position, sword in hand, time seems to slow. My enhanced perception processes the entire battlefield simultaneously—every dark elf position, every human soldier's movement, optimal attack patterns, threat priorities, and tactical opportunities all analyzed in the space between heartbeats.
The first dark elf I engage never sees the killing blow coming.
My sword moves with supernatural speed and precision, finding the exact gap between armor plates that my enhanced analysis identified.
The dark elf's expression shifts from confident aggression to shocked disbelief in the instant before my blade punches through his heart.
But it's not just the kill—it's what happens when he dies.
```
[VITALITY DRAIN - ACTIVATED]
Energy Absorption: 47 Vitality Essence harvested
Combat Enhancement: Physical abilities temporarily boosted
Battle Fury: [BUILDING] Each kill increases effectiveness
Corruption Energy: +15 points per combat victory
System Evolution: Combat mastery developing rapidly
```
Power floods through me. Raw energy that makes my already enhanced abilities surge to even greater heights. The sword in my hands becomes an extension of my will, and every movement flows with deadly efficiency that looks like artistry from the outside.
"What in the nine hells—" one of the dark elves shouts, watching me cut through their formation with inhuman grace.
That's when they make their first mistake: they focus on me instead of the forty-seven disciplined human soldiers systematically dismantling their flanks.
I move through the battle like a force of nature. Each dark elf I engage faces not just superior skill, but supernatural enhancements that turn what should be evenly matched combat into systematic execution.
```
[BATTLE ANALYSIS - REAL-TIME UPDATES]
Enemies Eliminated: 7... 12... 18...
Human Casualties: 0 (minor wounds only)
Enemy Morale: BREAKING
Dark Elf Leader: [TACTICAL RETREAT ATTEMPTED]
Capture Opportunity: [EMERGING]
Energy Harvest: 423 Vitality Essence and climbing
```
The dark elf commander—the silver-haired female I identified as the priority target—realizes her force is being destroyed with shocking efficiency. She begins shouting orders in their harsh language, trying to organize a fighting retreat.
But I'm not going to let her escape.
Using my enhanced speed, I cut through the remaining raiders between us, my supernatural coordination allowing me to engage multiple opponents simultaneously without taking serious damage.
Each kill feeds more power into my system, creating a feedback loop that makes me progressively more dangerous.
"Fall back to the trees!" the dark elf leader commands in accented Common, clearly meant for human ears. "This is not—"
She doesn't finish the sentence because I'm suddenly right in front of her, having crossed thirty yards of battlefield in what felt like three steps.
Her violet eyes widen with recognition—not of me personally, but of what I represent. "You... you're not human."
"I'm more human than you might think," I reply, my sword point hovering inches from her throat. "Just evolved."
Around us, the battle is ending with brutal efficiency. Captain Stormwind's soldiers are mopping up the remaining dark elves with professional thoroughness, but I can see them watching my performance with expressions that mix awe, excitement, and just a hint of wariness.
```
[COMBAT VICTORY ACHIEVED]
Total Enemies Eliminated: 43 dark elves
Human Casualties: 0 fatalities, 3 minor wounds
Battle Duration: 8 minutes, 23 seconds
Energy Harvested: 847 Vitality Essence
Corruption Points Gained: +156
Intimidation Effect: MAXIMUM - reputation building across all witnesses
Leadership Demonstration: COMPLETE
```
The dark elf commander looks around at the destruction of her force, her expression shifting from shock to what I'm beginning to recognize as grudging respect.
"Lyralei Shadowbane of the Shadowmere clan," she says formally, dropping her weapons. "I yield to your strength."
```
[HIGH-VALUE TARGET SECURED]
Name: Lyralei Shadowbane
Status: Dark Elf War-Mistress, Shadowmere Clan
Age: 127 (young adult by dark elf standards)
Combat Rating: 85%
Leadership Value: 100%
Corruption Potential: 95%
Cultural Context: Strength-based hierarchy, submission to superior power
Strategic Opportunity: MAXIMUM - Command structure access
Interrogation Potential: Intelligence + corruption combination
```
"Smart choice," I reply, not lowering my weapon but letting my stance relax slightly. "Captain Stormwind! Secure the survivors for questioning. I want them alive and unhurt."
"Already on it," he calls back, and I can hear something new in his voice—genuine admiration mixed with professional excitement. This is the kind of decisive victory that makes careers.
By evening, the forward camp has transformed into something between a victory celebration and a religious revival. The soldiers who witnessed the battle can't stop talking about what they saw—a single man cutting through elite dark elf raiders like they were practice dummies.
"Never seen anything like it," one of the veterans is telling a group of younger soldiers. "Moved faster than you could track, sword work like something out of legends..."
"Did you see how he took down three of them at once near the end?" another adds. "Like he knew exactly where each of them would be before they moved..."
I let the conversations wash over me while I sit near the central fire, cleaning my sword and processing what just happened. The battle wasn't just a military victory—it was a complete transformation of my relationship with every human in this camp.
```
[UNIT CORRUPTION ASSESSMENT - POST-BATTLE]
Overall Progress: 22% → 45% (massive respect surge)
Young Soldiers: 25% → 60% (hero worship developing)
Veterans: 20% → 40% (professional awe)
Captain Stormwind: 18% → 35% (partnership evolving to loyalty)
Energy Generation: +89 Corruption Points from leadership demonstration
Unit Morale: MAXIMUM
Battle Reputation: Spreading beyond immediate unit
```
Captain Stormwind approaches, carrying two cups of the rough wine that passes for celebration drinks in military camps.
"To the most decisive victory I've seen in fifteen years of campaigning," he says, offering me one of the cups.
"To good soldiers following a good plan," I reply, accepting the drink but deflecting some of the credit. Leadership 101—make your people feel valuable even when you're the obvious standout.
"Marcus," he says more quietly, settling beside me. "What I saw today... that wasn't just training or natural talent. That was something else entirely."
I meet his eyes directly. "Does it matter what it was, as long as it keeps your men alive and completes the mission?"
"No," he admits after a moment. "No, it doesn't. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about what other surprises you might have."
"Stick around, Captain. I have a feeling this campaign is just getting started."
```
[LEADERSHIP MILESTONE ACHIEVED]
Captain Stormwind: Trust threshold crossed
Unit Loyalty: Foundation established for permanent personal guard
Military Reputation: Battle prowess confirmed
Political Capital: Victory provides Duke leverage, Marcus credibility
Next Objective: Extract intelligence from Lyralei Shadowbane
Corruption Opportunity: High-value inter-species target secured
```