4th Day of 3rd Water Cycle[1], 1999 g.c.
The morning was still new, Gaia's sky painted in a cool azure that stretched across the horizon like a serene ocean. The planet's rings, thin silver arcs, began to gleam with their gentle light, slowly growing stronger as the sun inched higher. It was a peaceful sight, but the destruction around me stood in stark contrast to the beauty above. The smell of flora and tree bark that once filled this area had been obliterated. An hour later, all that remained was the scent of fresh soil and a sharp sweetness in the air—lingering mana from my clash with Red, the nekomata spirit.
Sealing her into my [Spirit Weapon] had truly created something far greater than I anticipated—[Red Queen: Kyttin Luna]. Who would've thought that such a pretty face would give me a power boost like this? The raw energy of Kyttin hummed in the depths of my soul now; a trophy of the battle I'd won, and with her, I felt ready. More than ready. Confidence on a hunnit.
I surveyed the destruction around me. The battle had dragged me and Kyttin a good distance from the cave's entrance—about a football field, give or take a yard—but that wasn't what stood out. No, what caught my eye was how we'd leveled some of the forest. It looked like we'd taken a giant razor and shaved the entire area, the trees reduced to splinters and stumps. The joke practically wrote itself.
I couldn't help but smirk. "I never liked a lot of bush around the cave anyway," I muttered to myself, amused. "But I doubt a douche get rid of that smell."
I dusted off my hakama and gi top, shaking loose the dirt and debris from the battle. The fabric of my gi, though durable, was torn in a few places, but it didn't bother me. It was just part of the fun. I took a moment to stretch, letting the tightness in my muscles release as I turned my gaze back toward my crew.
The Wolfpak was walking toward me from the edge of the destruction, their figures silhouetted against the freshly cleared land. The fight had lit a fire in them. Even from there, I could feel their energy, buzzing like an electric current. They looked amped—ready for action. The sight brought a grin to my face. That's what I loved about them. We were all warriors by nature, inclined to battle not just for survival, but to debate and test our ideologies. Fighting was communication, and for a Majin like me, it was even more than that—it was expression. Most of us were born battle addicts, and while naturally races like the Dwarves and Gnomes leaned more toward peace and pacifism, my family had always loved a good brawl. Even Kimmi and Artamis, who weren't obsessed with power like the rest of us, still enjoyed punching people in the face when they had nothing better to do.
As I rejoined the crew, their eyes lit up. I could see it in their faces—they were hungry for a fight. Luda was cracking his knuckles, probably imagining the next target he'd get his hands on. Artamis rested a hand on the hilt of his rifle, a calm but eager look in his eye. Alex was practically vibrating with excitement, and Steez, hell, even Steez looked like he was ready to throw down.
I lived for moments like this. Combat was in my blood. I didn't just enjoy it—I thrived in it. Whether it was sparring or life-or-death battles, it didn't matter. Each time I stepped into a fight, it felt like everything else disappeared, and I was fully in that moment. There was a feeling that came with it, this sense of pure expression. And in a universe like this, with skills and magic swirling through every fiber of existence, that expression was limitless. It was satisfying in a way that nothing else could compare to.
As we made our way to the cave entrance, I noticed Luda staring at me hard, his eyes tracking me like he was running calculations in his head. It wasn't long before [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] informed me he was using his [Analyze] skill on me, breaking down my stats, my condition—everything. I smirked, already knowing what was on his mind before he even opened his mouth.
"Xiro," Luda finally asked, his voice low but carrying that heated curiosity, "How the hell did you get stronger when you said you were at your power limit? So you were cappin' about bein' at the cap?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at the question. Luda had picked up that word from me at some point, and hearing him use it was almost as funny as the question itself.
"So you've adapted that word into your lexicon as well? I'm impressed," I said, throwing a bit of sarcasm into my tone.
"Cap," Steez mumbled from beside us, not even looking our way. His voice was flat, like he wasn't paying attention, but that was Steez—he heard everything, even when he acted like he didn't.
I shrugged and answered Luda's question, "To answer you, as soon as I gained the [Guardian Armament] ability, I got a 25% increase in my MP and attributes. But fighting Kyttin also triggered my [Adaptive Predator], and that added to it."
Luda's eyes widened, and he let out a low whistle. "The hell, Xi? Did it give you that much power? You gotta be SS-Class now."
Steez, ever the quiet observer, chimed in again. "Yeah, you're stronger than I've ever seen Mom."
I nodded. "Well, Mom was this strong when I was the only child. So this is just a benchmark for me."
Artamis, who had been walking a few paces behind us, now stepped closer, his voice thoughtful as he joined the conversation. "What are you going to do with all that power, Xi? It seems like a path to loneliness."
His words hit different. There was truth in them, but I wasn't about to shy away from what I'd been working toward.
"Whatever I want," I replied, my tone firm but calm. "Help or hinder, bless or curse—whatever I choose."
Luda raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with a little amusement. "That's some chaotic shit."
"That's fair," I said, acknowledging the chaos I knew my path could bring.
Artamis wasn't done, though. His voice had that serious edge he got when he was thinking about deeper stuff. "Seriously, Xi, what's the point of gathering so many arts, skills, and all this power? Will it bring you happiness?"
I thought about that for a second. It wasn't about the power itself—it was about what I could do with it.
"The paradise it'll allow me to create will bring me happiness. Truthfully, all this power-chasing is for the creation of my own heaven."
Luda nodded, seemingly impressed. "That's ambitious."
Alex, who had been quiet up until now, jumped into the conversation. "What would your heaven look like?"
I didn't even hesitate. "A peaceful land where bullshit doesn't exist without reason, and dreams are easier to obtain."
Luda's brow furrowed slightly. "Isn't that dangerous, though? Do you think everyone should have their desires granted? Not all wishes are harmless."
"Yeah, I've thought about that," I said, glancing his way. "That's why I'll be the one to help curate the wishes and miracles granted."
Artamis rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So you would watch over Velonica like a deity? Like The Creator?"
The idea made me laugh, but not because it was impossible—because it was exactly what I wanted.
"Would I be a God?" I asked, grinning wide. "Yes. Fuck yes, I'd be God."
Luda laughed softly under his breath. "Ambitious, my brother. Ambitious."
Alex nodded. "Sounds cool to me. Being a deity doesn't sound bad. You can do whatever."
Steez, never one to be outdone, chimed in, his voice dripping with confidence. "As the Realest Nigga Alive, I'm already on a level deities can't reach."
I barked out a laugh, reaching over to dap him up. "You damn right," I said, chuckling at his bravado. Steez had a way of always making his presence felt, no matter the conversation.
Then Steez switched gears, his curiosity piqued. "Ay Xi, when are you gonna show off the new weapon?"
"After my arm grows back," I replied, flexing the shoulder where my arm should've been. It was still in the repair phase.
"Bet," Steez said, a grin spreading across his face.
I looked down at my left side, noticing the red-and-moon-white dreadlocks of Alex as he moved in closer, studying the missing limb. His mana signature fluctuated slightly as he analyzed the healing process, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"So, how long until you get your arm back?" Alex asked, his voice calm but with that edge of interest.
"Six hours," I replied. "I could speed it up by focusing my bio mana into the mana circuits, but with Kyttin still settling into my soul, my mana output is too unpredictable right now."
Alex nodded in understanding. "So you're out of the next fight?"
I smirked. "I mean, I can still throw down if I need to. But since y'all are here, I'mma chill out for a sec."
Luda grinned, cracking his neck as he spoke. "Good. I can get some exercise in, then."
Steez bounced on his toes, his excitement building. "So we callin' iso on our fights?"
Alex shrugged. "I'm cool with fighting solo."
I raised a hand in mock defense. "I didn't plan on jumping between any of y'all and your summonings. But I will jump in if y'all are about to die."
Artamis chuckled. "I'm not trying to create a Guardian Armament. I got a secret weapon I've been working on, so I just need to learn [Spirit Weapon]."
Alex's eyes gleamed with interest. "I'm making one. That battle power increase Xi got is too enticing."
Luda nodded in agreement. "Agreed, Alex. And I know if Xiro can win his duel, I can beat mine."
Steez laughed, his voice full of confidence. "Hehe, can't let him get too far ahead, right?"
"Damn right," Luda agreed.
Artamis shook his head, a wry smile on his face. "I ain't got time to keep up with Xi's magical growth. Making arts and skills outta nothing like that is beyond me. I'd rather draw blueprints and make weapons."
Alex clapped Artamis on the shoulder, grinning. "Your non-combat items are pretty dope too, cuzzo."
I nodded, chuckling. "Yeah, Art's hella gifted with creating stuff with his hands. You'd think he had some dwarf in his blood. Especially how quickly he's growing facial hair."
Artamis smirked. "We know my dad was Celestial. So no mountain people in my blood."
Alex raised a hand. "Hey, I'm from the mountains."
Artamis gave a small bow, his voice teasing. "Mountain folks are cool. No disrespect."
Steez, always ready to stir things up, threw in his two cents. "Grandma used to say your dad wasn't really a Celestial. She said he was just trying to be Mom's race cause he was in love with her. I don't remember what race she said he truly was."
Artamis chuckled softly. "I remember those stories. Grandma just be saying stuff, sometimes."
As we approached the mouth of the cave, Alex stopped me, a question weighing on his mind. His usual energetic, cocky demeanor was now laced with curiosity, eyes sharp as they met mine.
"Yo, Xi, what was up with that crazy strong signature from earlier? Do you know who that was?" Alex asked, his voice low but inquisitive.
I arched a brow, recalling the pressure we'd both felt earlier. "You mean the one from that village to the east? That's Melech's village."
Alex nodded but added, "Is that where it was from? I was using [Sense Presence], so I couldn't pinpoint like that."
I gave him a look, impressed. "[Sense Presence]?"
"Yeah, 'cause it doesn't drain as much MP as [Area Detection] when you extend its range," he explained, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
I couldn't help but grin at that. "Oh yeeahh. Look at you! That's smart."
"Hehe," Alex chuckled, scratching his neck as though embarrassed by the compliment.
"But about that signature, I don't recognize it. It's never been in this area before. But it felt... dark and pissed off."
Alex hummed, his gaze growing more thoughtful. "Hmm..."
"Don't let it worry you, though," I reassured him. "It was only barely stronger than you. I'm sure if you got mad enough during the fight, you could win against it."
"Oh, I'm not afraid of whoever it was," Alex said, shaking his head. "But you do know your signature feels way darker in comparison, right?"
That caught me off guard. "Wait, it does?"
Alex nodded, his eyes meeting mine again. "Yeah, it can be a bit much when you cut loose."
Before I could respond, Luda's voice cut through the conversation, his face wrinkling with disgust. "That's a terrible smell. Has to be goblin waste."
The scent hit all of us at once, a pungent assault of piss, scat, and the unmistakable stench of decaying bodies. Once inside the cave, it was like walking into a wall of filth. The smell clung to the air, thick and sour. I winced at how sharp my sense of smell had become after gaining [Super Smell] a few days earlier. Turning off passive skills was always a hassle, especially since my body liked to activate them at the worst moments.
That's when [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] chimed in. His voice echoed in my mind, calm as ever. "Master, the defensive skill [Mental Ignorance] can assist with the uncomfortable scent you are ranting about."
I blinked, still holding my breath. "That was the one that helped stop those mind attacks. How would it help with stank smells?" I asked mentally.
"The skill allows your body and consciousness to completely reject the signals given by your brain. This includes any information received from your natural six senses." Tsukuyomi's voice was clinical, but patient.
"Six? Oh yeah," I thought. "I'm an Oni. Slick forgot for a sec. But wouldn't not being able to smell suck?"
"I will filter out the scents you dislike, allowing you to smell only those scents necessary to truly inform you."
I chuckled internally. "You da best, Tsukuyomi."
In an instant, the rank odor vanished. It was like someone had sprayed air freshener, cleansing the filth from the air. Now that the overwhelming stench was gone, the cave revealed other, more subtle odors—ones I hadn't noticed before. Beneath the layers of goblin waste and decay, I caught the distinct scent of blood and combat, mixed with the faint metallic tang of mana. There, deep within the cave, were two distinct signatures—sociovores M-Cees. Their energy was sharp, biting at each other, like wolves fighting in the dark. One signature stood strong, pulsing with aggression, while the other was weaker, frail even, with a feeling that barely registered. Probably a rookie artist, given how faint and fragile it was. And they were losing, badly.
The tension hung in the air, thickening as the moment stretched. Then, Luda's voice broke through, his tone carrying a warning. "Feel that? They're coming."
His words rang with certainty, and I focused, sensing it now—the sheer mass of goblins surging toward us. Hundreds, maybe more, rushing through the cave's dark tunnels. The ground trembled faintly beneath their collective footsteps, the echo of their warcries growing louder with each passing second. The metallic clank of crude weapons followed, a cacophony of chaos racing toward us.
Alex's grin stretched wider, his swords already clenched, eager for the fight ahead. "Finally, I can fight!"
Steez, always laid-back but ready for action, smirked, his voice cool and unbothered. "Light work."
The air was thick with anticipation, and though we all knew what was coming, there was an unspoken excitement. This was our domain. The dark, the danger—it was where we thrived.
Art, Luda, Alex, and Steez all walked ahead of me, their postures giving away their excitement. Despite knowing we were up against goblins—creatures so low on the food chain they were practically E-Class fodder—there was an energy in the air. The thrill of battle always seemed to do that to the Wolfpak. No matter how many goblins came charging at us, they weren't a real threat. They were vermin compared to us. I was classified as upper S-Class, and the rest of the crew was upper A-Class. The power gap was like night and day, and no amount of goblin numbers could bridge it. We were the apex predators in this cave. The goblins were just stepping stones on our way to the labyrinth.
The cave stretched ahead of us, tight and cramped, barely wide enough for us to walk side by side. The jagged stone walls pressed in, making it clear that fighting here wouldn't be straightforward. One wrong move and someone's sword could end up slicing the wrong person. That wasn't a risk we could afford to take, not even against goblins.
I mentally called out to [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi], as he was a constant presence in my mind. "Yo, Tsukuyomi. I need an analysis. What's the best setup for us here?"
"Analysis complete. Feeding information to you now," Tsukuyomi responded instantly, a rush of calculations filling my mind like a stream of data feeding directly into my consciousness.
I nodded, the plan clicking into place. "Alex," I called out, "take the furthest point. Steez, Luda, hold a middle checkpoint about twenty meters back. Art, you hang back here for support fire."
There wasn't a second of hesitation. As soon as I gave the command, each of them responded with a quick, "Bet," and moved into position. There was a trust between us, built through countless spars and freestyles. When things got serious, no one second-guessed my orders. We flowed as a unit, a well-oiled machine, every gear turning in sync.
Flashback:
Day 12 of 2nd Fire Cycle, 1995 g.c.
If I had to give credit, it would be to my mother, Vericka's, training. We were all so cocky back then, thinking we could take on anything she threw at us. But it only took us losing to her in a 4-on-1 match for everyone to realize the importance of working together and how much we had to learn. That sparring session still sits heavy on my mind. It was one of those lessons that leaves you humbled, no matter how strong you think you are.
It was late into the day, with only a couple of hours left before the sunset marked the beginning of Nighthalf. The rings of Gaia hung high in the sky, painting it in streaks of red, gold, and royal blue. The colors slanted together just above the horizon, shimmering like they always did when the planet's sky darkened for the evening. The smell of grass and sweat hung in the air, filling my nostrils as we gathered in the field behind my house. That scent—the combination of hard work and growing frustration—was thick in the atmosphere.
My mother had us doing one thousand pushups, and she wasn't content with just body weight. No, she had us doing them with condensed chunks of Gaia's terrain on our backs. Massive black rocks that weighed a hundred tons each—probably more. By my calculations, those damn boulders were at least as heavy as a Blue Whale, and she wanted us to lift them like it was nothing.
"Once you all finish your pushups," Vericka said, her voice steady but firm, "we will have a handicap match. You four against me."
Steez grunted, his arms shaking under the weight of the rock as he kept up the rhythm of his pushups. "You think... we should... get Art?" He didn't break stride as he spoke, his face dripping with sweat, but his voice was steady.
Vericka crossed her arms, watching us with that calm, almost smug, expression of hers. "He said he didn't want me to train him," she replied evenly. "So I'm trusting him to be ready and not hold everyone back. I'm sure he has a plan."
I could feel my arms burning, the weight of the stone pressing into my back, but I wasn't going to let that stop me. "997... 998... 999..." I counted under my breath. With a final push, I hit the one-thousandth rep and tossed the rock off my back with a flex of my muscles, bio mana surging through my veins. The rock flew yards behind me, landing with a heavy thud.
"Completed," I said with just a hint of cockiness, wiping the sweat from my brow. I glanced over at Luda, who was still grinding out his last few pushups.
"995... 996... 997..." Luda muttered, his face set in determination. With a grunt, he knocked out the last few reps. "1000... 1001... There. Done."
The prince didn't miss a beat as he hurled the rock off his back with the same amount of ease I had. "No task can't be completed," he added, his voice steady, but there was that familiar challenge in his tone.
Alex, on the other hand, was still lagging behind. "980... 981... I'm almost done... Just gotta finish these..." He sounded winded, but he kept at it.
I smirked, turning back toward my mother. "So, are we using weapons or just hands?"
Vericka's smile was cool and collected. "It's a Freestyle Battle. Use whatever you can think of. Just no limit breakers."
Steez pushed through his last rep, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he stood up. "One thousand and one... Finished. I'm ready." He gave me a grin, that fire of competition already burning in his eyes.
Alex was still scrambling to finish, counting his last few pushups under his breath. "996... 997... 998... 999... 1000... Finally..." He groaned as he threw off his rock and stood up. "Here I come."
We gathered in a loose circle, with Alex falling in beside us. Mom always emphasized the importance of mastering our mana arts, but what she pushed even harder was our physical training. Thirty hours a day, split between improving our skills, arts, and knowledge—sharpening both mind and body into weapons capable of surviving anything the world could throw at us.
The pushups might've been easy, but fighting my mother wasn't.
As soon as the battle started, Mom made us look like fools. She danced around our attacks, slipping past every punch, every kick, and every strike as if she could see them before we even moved. It didn't help that we kept tripping over ourselves, trying to take advantage of what we thought were openings. We were just getting in each other's way. It was embarrassing.
More than once, I ended up swinging at nothing but air, and when I did, she was standing off to the side, laughing and cheering us on, of all things. "Nice form! Keep that up!" she called, her voice full of amusement. She was enjoying watching us struggle. It was humiliating—trying so hard to land a hit, only to have her sidestep effortlessly, all the while praising our enthusiasm.
The frustration built inside me like a slow burn. I could feel my mana flaring, my control slipping as my pride took a hit. That raw, humbling feeling of being outclassed triggered my [Dominus Superbiae] and [Adaptive Predator]. My mana signature surged as if ignited, coating my body in a blazing aura, the air around me growing hotter with each passing second. I struggled to contain the fiery energy. The more I thought about how she was toying with us, the angrier I became.
My intent must have been loud because suddenly, my mother got serious. The shift in her demeanor was instant, a reflexive response to the hike in my mana release. Before I could even blink, she moved. One second, she was standing across from me, and the next, she was behind me, so fast that it triggered my [Future Sense], but too late for me to react.
Her hand struck me with a gentle but impossibly powerful magical palm, directly targeting my soul. The impact was immediate, sending my consciousness spiraling into darkness. It forced me into a blackout—something I hadn't experienced since I unlocked [Limitless Stamina]. It was like being hit by a freight train of spiritual energy, and before I knew it, I was out.
From what I heard later, she proceeded to take down the rest of the squad with just as much ease. None of them even had time to react. Not even Steez, who was normally fast enough to activate his [Chrono Trigger] anytime, could keep up with her. She moved too fast, too efficiently. It showed me just how powerful she truly was when she sensed a genuine threat.
When we finally woke up, the sky was darker, the rings of Gaia shining even brighter against the twilight. Mom stood over us, her arms crossed, looking slightly remorseful.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice softer than before. "I didn't mean to hit you all with a sleeping palm. I reacted on instinct when I felt your mana signature. My body moved on its own." She paused, then her expression hardened again, eyes scanning each of us. "But that doesn't excuse your lack of teamwork. You were all trying to fight me individually, not as a unit. If you want to stand a chance, you need to know how each other fights."
It was some of the best advice she ever gave us.
That lesson stuck with me, even now, as we stood ready for the goblin horde in the cave. The smell of sweat and damp terrain filled the space, bringing me back to the present. Tsukuyomi's analysis was feeding me live data, and my squad had already moved into their position.
We were ready. And this time, we wouldn't make the same mistakes.
End of Flashback:
Seconds later, 4th Day of 3rd Water Cycle, 1999 g.c.
As Alex made his way up front, his figure melded into the cave's dim light, while Steez and Luda positioned themselves a bit further back, ready to intercept whatever would come next. Art stood behind me, quietly preparing his rifle, his face focused, his usual boredom replaced by calm concentration.
The cave was silent for a beat, the tension building, but it didn't take long before the goblins showed themselves. The clamor of their approaching footsteps grew louder, echoing off the stone walls. The flicker of crude torches began to illuminate their grotesque figures in the distance.
These creatures were filthy—short and hunched over, with leathery green skin and yellow, rotten teeth. Their eyes gleamed with malice, and their bodies were covered in mismatched scraps of armor, most of it rusted and worn from years of neglect. They carried jagged, makeshift weapons—clubs, rusty blades, and some with stone axes—all ready to attack in chaotic disarray. The goblins let out shrill war cries, the sound grating on my ears as they charged forward.
But we didn't flinch. This was routine for us.
I activated [Analyze], my Bio Mana surging through me like a second pulse, feeding me detailed data about every inch of the cave and every goblin in sight. Their positions, speed, and even their ragged breathing became clear as day in my mind. The world slowed for me, each movement crystalized in detail.
Alex was the first to engage, his massive figure moving like a blazing blur despite the confined space. His twin swords swung out in perfect arcs, cutting down the first wave of goblins before they even realized he was on them. Blood sprayed across the cave floor as limbs went flying, and the goblins' screams of terror echoed louder than their war cries.
"Y'all can't be serious." Alex laughed, his voice carrying over the chaos, though his tone held a lil' arrogance, the excitement was hard to miss.
Behind him, Luda and Steez held the middle checkpoint, both releasing strong amounts of mana. Luda's mana spear danced with precision, skewering any goblin foolish enough to approach, while Steez, ever the speedster, swung his Electric Mana-coated fist with deadly efficiency. Steez moved like a shadow, slipping between strikes and driving his knuckles into goblin faces with a brutal quickness.
"Coming through!" Luda shouted as he impaled a goblin, lifting it off the ground before slamming it back down with a sickening crunch. Blood splattered across the stone floor, adding to the already grimy environment.
Art, stationed behind me, had already begun unleashing a barrage of bullets, each one imbued with mana, glowing faintly as they flew through the air. His aim was flawless, and the bullets pierced goblin skulls like it was second nature to him. The cave's narrow space didn't hinder his accuracy one bit. Every shot found its mark.
I stood at the rear, observing, calculating, my mana swirling around me as I kept track of everyone's movements and the goblins' dwindling numbers. My role wasn't to step in unless absolutely necessary; this was their warm-up, after all.
But then I felt it—a slight shift in the mana around us. Subtle, almost imperceptible, but there. I narrowed my eyes, focusing on the sensation. It was faint, but it came from deeper within the cave. Something—or someone—was watching.
As the goblins poured into view, their grotesque shapes and pungent odor flooded the cavern. Hundreds more of them, no taller than my chest, but with numbers that seemed endless, surged toward us like a river of filth, slobbering with excitement at the thought of our defeat. They had rallied to protect their so-called home—if you could call a place like this "home." Their dagger teeth gleamed with hunger, and their crooked, bloodshot eyes locked onto us, eager to tear us apart.
Alex sneered, his cocky grin unmistakable. "You trash are in the way. Why don't y'all clear some room!" His voice was dripping with disdain as he addressed the goblins, who growled and barked back in response, though none dared to attack just yet.
Before they could even react, Alex launched himself into the air. The sound of his boots leaving the ground echoed through the cavern, and in an instant, he was bouncing off the jagged walls and ceilings like a human pinball. Effortlessly jumping from point to point as if he were showing off. The blur of his motion left afterimages, and by the time the goblins in the vanguard turned their heads to track him, it was already too late.
Alex's landing was a spectacle in itself—he flipped in midair and brought his twin swords down with surgical precision, decapitating six goblins in one smooth motion. Their heads rolled, and dark green blood sprayed in arcs as his boots touched down on the damp cave floor. It all happened in the blink of an eye. His swords, glowing faintly with his mana, blazed through the air with such speed they seemed to ignite from the friction, creating trails of fire as he spun and kicked, slicing through the goblin horde like they were nothing more than paper tigers. He laughed with exhilaration, clearly relishing the chaos.
Not to be outdone, Steez was already in motion. He loved moments like this, where he could truly cut loose. His hands crackled with lightning, each bolt dancing between his fingers before he sent them flying into the goblins. His movements were a blur, making it hard to tell whether he was teleporting or just that fast. From one side of the room to the next, Steez zipped around like a bolt of his own lightning, leaving stunned goblins in his wake. Their bodies convulsed and twitched as they dropped, fried from the inside out by his precise, targeted strikes. His grin never faltered—Steez lived for that shit.
While Alex and Steez tore through the horde with sheer agility and speed, Luda stood still, exuding a calm, deadly efficiency. He had no need for flashy displays. With a simple gesture, he summoned glowing tomahawks made of Yang Mana—pure, condensed energy. The weapons materialized in his hands, shining like molten gold. He hurled them with uncanny precision, each tomahawk spinning through the air like a bullet, embedding itself in the skulls of goblins with devastating accuracy. There were no wasted movements. Every throw landed, every strike found its mark. It was almost as if Luda was posing for a magazine shoot in the middle of the carnage, his expression serene, even as his opponents fell like flies. The young celestial was a danger that needed no explanation—he simply was. He'd trained harder than anyone, and it showed. His cold, relentless efficiency marked him as the second strongest in our group.
Watching him work, you'd almost think he was a warlord from a different era—a prince capable of laying waste to armies without breaking a sweat. Yet despite his calm exterior, his yang-infused attacks radiated heat, illuminating the darkness of the cavern as goblin bodies dropped one after another.
And then there was Artamis, my little brother. The quiet genius. He had his own style—one that was impossible to predict or replicate. Where Alex thrived in movement and Steez in speed, Art was all about precision. He raised his SCAR 20, a rifle far beyond this planet's current tech, its sleek design an artifact from another world. He took his time, lining up his shots with mechanical calmness as the goblins holding spears and bows foolishly tried to get within range.
They never stood a chance.
Art's mana-infused bullets tore through them with surgical efficiency. Each shot punctured through the goblins' torsos, dropping them instantly. Their confused expressions barely had time to register the impact before they collapsed. His SCAR 20 was like a reaper's scythe, cutting down enemies faster than they could reload or aim. It was brutal, but beautiful in its own way—technology and mana merging into a weapon that no one else on Gaia had seen, let alone wielded. As always during a fight, Art stayed focused; emotionless, as if the chaotic scene in front of him was just another equation to solve.
While the rest of us thrived in the heat of battle, Art excelled in cold, calculated efficiency. Each time a goblin fell to one of his shots, I couldn't help but admire his genius. The kid didn't need fanfare or wild moves—he just needed to aim, pull the trigger, and watch the results. Choppin' down "the opps" like this wasn't a game to him. This was survival.
And while the rest of them raged, sprinted, and unleashed their powers with reckless abandon, Artamis calmly dismantled his enemies with the quiet grace of someone who'd already won.
We might have been a ragtag group, but we were far from weak.
The cavern had turned into a nightmare—one splattered in dark shades of green. The Wolfpak moved through the goblin horde like a storm, and the cave itself became their stage for a massacre. Blood sprayed and spattered against the stone walls as goblin limbs and heads rolled across the floor, a grotesque display of our power. The flashing lights of mana—lightning bolts, fire slashes, bullets, and glowing tomahawks—lit the room in chaotic intervals. The air reeked of iron and sweat, mixed with the stench of burnt.
It was carnage. For minutes, flashes of elemental energy combined with the dark splatters of blood across the cave walls painted a scene that looked straight out of a horror movie. Screams of the dying echoed, but they barely registered. The others were locked in, each one grinning as if we had just found the best playground in Gaia. Pure joy radiated from all of them.
The goblins, though vicious, were no match. They fell in dozens—chopped down, electrocuted, dismembered, or shot through with mana-infused bullets. Their numbers thinned quickly, and the massacre we created left no doubt about our superiority. But as their forces began to wane, I felt something shift. My senses went on high alert.
[Future Sense] picked up a powerful group rapidly closing in. My stomach tightened, and I immediately knew this wasn't over. These weren't regular goblins—whatever was heading our way was stronger. The shift in mana, the sheer pressure of their signatures—it was undeniable.
I clenched my fists and glanced toward the distant tunnel. "What the hell is that?"
Alex, standing over a pile of dead goblins, wiped the green blood off his swords with a swipe. He squinted into the distance. "Hey, these big gobbos got some winged creature with them."
I frowned. "Winged?" That wasn't something you saw every day, especially with goblins. I called on my [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] to get some answers. "[Analyze] them."
In less than a second, Tsukuyomi fed the information back to me, and it was anything but comforting. His voice rang in my mind like a sharp whisper.
Tsukuyomi (within): "Master, the Hobgoblins closing in are partied with beings called Watchers. The creatures are rumored to originate from the planet Trappist, but I lack enough information to pinpoint their true origins. Watchers are classified as powerful B-Class beings who absorb the souls of their victims."
I grit my teeth, the tension rising in my chest. "Watchers? Aye, everyone, the goblins are calling in Hobgoblins and Watchers. The threat levels have seriously increased. Lock in!"
Steez raised an eyebrow as he fired off one last bolt at a dying goblin. "What the hell are Watchers?"
"Something strong enough to scratch you," I replied, my voice low. "They also steal souls."
Luda, standing amidst a pile of decapitated bodies, cocked his head as if contemplating this new information. "Soul-stealing? I see why Goblin Cave is so infamous." With that, he casually slammed his boot into the last remaining goblin at his feet, snapping its neck like it was nothing. His focus shifted to the incoming force, his eyes narrowing.
Alex's grin only widened, his bloodlust insatiable. "Hell yeah. I can get even more kills."
Artamis, calmly reloading his SCAR 20, let out a soft chuckle. "I'm still packed with enough ammo for this genocide run."
I glanced between them, gauging their readiness. "If I see y'all getting overwhelmed, I'm jumpin' in."
Luda shot me a look, already dismissing the idea with a quick wave of his hand. "Nah, stay yo ass right where you are. We got this."
There was pride in his voice, the kind I could respect. Hell, I'd say the same thing if the roles were reversed.
As we prepared ourselves, the remaining goblins, now cautious and hesitant, stopped advancing. Their grotesque, twisted faces were frozen in shock and terror, watching as their brethren were mowed down like grass. They shifted uneasily, likely aware that their reinforcements were on the way. But that brief moment of silence was all we needed to catch our breath, to focus on the new wave approaching.
Then, the air grew heavy. A deep, guttural groan echoed through the cavern. The Watchers had arrived. The sounds of their slow flapping wings haunted the newfound silence within the cave. The pressure of murderous intent poured through the atmosphere as they made their entrance.
Sixty-two of them, their leathery wings flapping slowly as they landed at the throat of the cave. Their bodies were humanoid but grotesquely distorted—almost skeletal, with skin mummy-wrapped and stretched tight over sharp bones. Their piranha-like teeth glistened with the rancid stench of decay, the smell of death pouring off of them like a sickness. Alongside them were around a hundred and fifty Hobgoblins, massive and muscular, each one carrying a weapon that could easily split a human in two.
These weren't the mindless drones we'd been cutting down. This was an organized platoon—a force strong enough to wipe out villages and towns with ease. They moved with purpose, their glowing green and red eyes locked onto us as if they already imagined our deaths. And I could feel it, the tension in the air.
They crept toward us slowly, like predators closing in on their prey. The Watchers' raspy breaths filled the silence, their claws scraping against the stone. The sound alone made my skin crawl. These things weren't just here to kill us—they wanted our souls.
I couldn't shake the question gnawing at me. "Why the hell did the goblins have an army like this chilling in a cave, unnoticed? These creatures, these signatures—I hadn't sensed them when I scanned the cave earlier. How the hell did they hide from me?"
"And more importantly, when did these primitive ass sociovores learn to fight in waves?" Something was seriously off, and I couldn't help but think the Goblin King had the answers.
One thing was clear, though: this fight wasn't over. Not even close.
[End of Chapter]
[1] November on Earth