Then it was finally the captains' turn. The seven Knight Commander captives were brought forward, their auras still flickering faintly even while bound in chains. These were the strongest among the prisoners, and they were reserved for Gobo1, Takkar, and Vakk, the three captains who had yet to evolve.

"Make sure to thank Shade for catching these Knights," Skitz said, crossing his arms with a smirk. "He nearly got himself torn apart out there."

"Of course," Gobo1 replied quickly.

"We owe him much," Takkar added with a respectful nod.

Vakk bowed slightly. "And thank you as well, Vice-Leader, for letting us have them."

Skitz chuckled, shaking his head. "You better be grateful. I'll be making you three work double after this."

Lumberling smiled faintly at their exchange, but his tone grew firm as he stepped forward.

"Enough talk," he said. "Prepare yourselves."

The air thickened as Lumberling raised his hand. One by one, he struck down the three Knight Commanders, swift and precise without hesitation. Their bodies fell still, and waves of brilliant essence erupted from them, swirling like silver flames before being drawn toward the captains.

Gobo1, Takkar, and Vakk began to absorb the essence, their bodies trembling as raw power surged through them.

Gobo1 was the first to change. His muscles bulged, his green skin darkened with streaks of metallic bronze, and a faint glow burned behind his eyes. A deep roar escaped his throat as the ground beneath him cracked slightly.

Then came Takkar. The kobold's body radiated a faint red aura, the air around him shimmering like heat. His scales hardened into a darker tone, almost obsidian, as veins of faint lightning flickered across his arms.

Vakk was the last. He clenched his teeth as his body absorbed the final strands of essence, his aura twisting into a sharp, deep blue light that felt calm but deadly. When it finally settled, all three stood tall, their presences far stronger than before.

The three elves stood in silence, eyes wide as they watched the scene unfold. Even for beings who had lived through centuries of magic and evolution, what they had just witnessed was beyond anything they had seen before.

"This… isn't normal," Thessalia murmured.

Aurelya folded her arms, her golden eyes narrowing as she studied the three newly evolved captains. "They actually broke through…" she said softly, a note of disbelief in her tone.

Liraeth, who had been watching closely, shook her head in disbelief. "This is really amazing… you now have a total of ten True Knight-level warriors under your command, Lumberling. Even a Marquess's army doesn't have that many elites."

Vaenyra gave a faint sigh, a small, amused smile tugging at her lips. "Honestly… what a cheat ability."

Lumberling didn't respond, only giving a faint smile before turning his gaze forward. The next group of prisoners was brought out, four remaining Knight Commanders, pale and weakened, their strength all but spent.

Skitz, Aren, Krivex, and Skarn stepped forward to meet them. These were the same enemies they had personally defeated in battle, and now, they were about to claim the rewards of their hard-earned victories.

Lumberling raised his hand, channeling the essence from the fallen Commanders into his men. The air turned heavy, the glow of energy swirling in wild patterns as the four captains absorbed it all.

Aren was the first to react. His body trembled slightly as power surged through him, the ground beneath his feet cracking. Then, slowly, he exhaled and opened his eyes.

"I can feel it…" he muttered, glancing down at his spear. "Absorbing this one feels different. My spearmanship, it's grown stronger. And also…" he hesitated for a moment, brow furrowing. "I think… I just learned something new."

Lumberling blinked, taken aback. "You gained a skill?" he asked, his tone a mix of surprise and curiosity. It was the first time any of his men had awakened an entirely new ability through essence absorption.

"I'm not sure," Aren said, gripping his weapon tighter. "But it feels like I did."

Lumberling grinned, his tone eager. "Then test it. Go on, show me."

Aren nodded. He took a few steps back, his mana gathering like a swirling wind around his body. The glow flowed from his chest to his arms, then into his spear. With one swift motion, he hurled it toward a nearby tree.

The weapon struck with a thunderous boom, the explosion scattering splinters and dust through the air. The soldiers nearby flinched and shielded their faces, eyes wide with shock.

Aren stared at the shattered tree stump, his eyes wide. He looked down at his hands, still crackling faintly with residual mana. "Amazing…" he breathed, half in disbelief. "I actually learned a skill." A small laugh escaped him, the sound a mix of awe and excitement.

Moments later, Skarn and Krivex began their absorption. Waves of light surrounded them, their auras flaring as the essence from the fallen Knights poured into their bodies. The ground trembled faintly beneath their feet before the glow finally settled.

Skarn was the first to move. He gripped his axe tight, mana surging through it until a deep red glow covered the blade. With a fierce swing, he brought it down on a nearby boulder.

The rock split clean in half, cracks spiderwebbing across the earth. Skarn stared at the result, then grinned broadly. "I got a new skill too," he said, lifting the axe again. "Feels like my strikes hit harder now."

A few steps away, Krivex steadied his bow. He pulled the string back slowly, channeling his mana into a single arrow. The air grew tense and sharp, the faint sound of wind slicing through silence.

He released.

The arrow shot forward like lightning, piercing through two trees before erupting into a burst of white light. When the dust cleared, only splintered wood and smoke remained.

Krivex lowered his bow, a smile tugging at his lips. "Looks like I've gained something too," he said quietly. "An ultimate shot, maybe."

Lumberling watched them with quiet pride, his arms crossed as he took in the results.

'Why are they only learning new skills now?' he wondered, eyes narrowing slightly. 'Is it because they've reached the level of True Knights… or has my essence weave grown stronger too?'

His thoughts were broken when his captains approached, one after another, bowing deeply before him.

"Thank you, Lord Lumberling," Aren said sincerely. "For sharing this power with us."

"You've given us more than strength," Skarn added. "You've given us a reason to fight harder."

Krivex simply nodded, his voice calm but steady. "We won't waste what you've given us."

Lumberling smiled faintly. "Then make sure you don't. What we've gained today will decide how far we'll go from here."

They all straightened, saluting him with pride and respect.

Soon after, the camp stirred to life. Soldiers packed supplies, secured armor and weapons, and loaded carriages. Wolves howled in the distance, their cries echoing through the fading light as the army assembled in neat formation.

By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, everything was ready.

Lumberling stood beside Liraeth, gazing toward the road that would lead them back to her territory.

"Let's head home," he said quietly.

Liraeth nodded, a small smile touching her lips. "Home it is."

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