In a small village hidden behind towering, ethereal blue mushrooms, the air was filled with the laughter of children. Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy above, bathing the mossy ground in a soft glow. The weather was perfect, and their parents—finally at ease—had allowed them to play freely.
"Tip toe tip toe, where are you two, tip toe tip toe, I'll find you!" one girl sang with mischievous glee. She was the seeker.
Her name was Sia, daughter of the village leader.
She had short, snow-white hair that framed her pale face and eyes as scarlet as freshly bloomed roses. A black dress hugged her frame, paired with scuffed boots that matched. She was graceful and quick—clearly used to sneaking through underbrush and chasing after her friends.
Her head snapped to the left at the sound of rustling leaves.
A sly smile tugged at her lips as she crept closer, crouching low.
3…2…1.
"Gotcha!" she shouted, bursting through the bushes and tagging one of the boys hiding there.
"Aw, no fair!" the boy yelped, staggering back as they both emerged from the foliage.
"Psh, don't be a sore loser, Han." She giggled, her voice light.
Han was taller by an inch or two, with messy black hair and eyes the color of deep ocean. His face had the warmth of youth, and his shirt mirrored the shade of his eyes. Beige shorts and black tennis shoes completed his relaxed look.
"Whatever… let's just find Adria." he muttered.
Sia nodded. "Usually she's not a great hider, so she should be somewhere close."
"Agreed." Han said. But just as the word left his lips, a twig cracked nearby.
They exchanged glances—smirks growing.
Too easy.
Together, they tiptoed toward the sound, moving like little hunters. Sia readied herself.
3…2…1.
They nodded.
"GOTCHA!!"
They leapt between two small mushroom stalks, but what met them wasn't the playful shriek of a friend.
Instead, it was silence—and terror.
A small, grotesque goblin, barely five feet tall with twisted limbs and a wide, sadistic grin, held Adria hostage. Its clawed hand was clamped over her mouth. Tears streamed down Adria's cheeks as she trembled.
Sia and Han's playful energy vanished in an instant. Their expressions sharpened—eyes growing cold.
"Miss Speedy trained us for this! Let's go, Han!" Sia called out, already drawing her small daggers with smooth precision.
Han nodded, drawing a short sword. His face had gone stoic.
"Save Adria. Remember—he's not the only one. Goblins run in packs." His voice was grim as he scanned the sides.
Sia didn't hesitate.
"Move one inch and I—"
SLICE.
The goblin's eyes bulged. Blood dribbled from its mouth as its body jerked.
"—won't do anything." Sia finished, narrowing her eyes as the goblin's head split in half. Its grip on Adria loosened as the girl cried out and lunged into Sia's arms, clutching her tight.
They heard a struggle nearby—grunting and scuffling.
Han was clashing with a much larger goblin, its spiked club barely missing him by inches.
"Get…" Han ducked under a wild swing and sidestepped again. "OFF OF ME!!"
With a cry, he drove his short sword into the goblin's neck. The creature thrashed—then collapsed with a heavy thud, its severed head rolling to the dirt.
Han panted, his chest rising and falling as sweat trickled down his forehead. Then he grinned.
"Heh, guess that training came in hand—"
Tap. Tap.
His eyes widened.
He turned.
Standing behind him was an Elder Goblin—taller, leaner, its eyes glowing with twisted intelligence. It smiled, revealing rows of rotted teeth.
Before it could speak—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
"You're a long ass way from the swamp, Shrek."
Atthevillage
"Whew… what an amazing bath…" a contented sigh echoed in the quiet room.
Speedy.
She lay stretched out on her bed, her towel barely clinging to damp skin as she stared at the ceiling of smooth, sanded wood. Her long brunette hair was still wet, clinging to her neck and shoulders in loose waves. The scent of rose-scented soap still lingered in the air.
Her thoughts drifted—as they often did lately.
Two months. That's how long it had been since the incident in the Abyss.
When everyone else had been teleported out… everyone but him.
Nythra. Sketch. Gamble. Spam.
Gone.
She had searched for them. Over and over again. But no sign remained.
And Key?
She hadn't even felt his presence. Not once.
Except—
That fleeting second, when she first landed in the Eldergloom Forest. She'd felt all their energies flash—then vanish. Except his.
Her fingers curled against her sheets.
'Key… are you even still alive?'
She remembered his voice, his words, the way he'd looked at her before everything fell apart.
How he made her feel seen. Considered.
It warmed her chest—and made it ache all the more.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sudden banging broke her from the spiral. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and pushing herself to her feet.
'If you're still out there, Key… please. Reveal yourself. We need you.'
She exhaled deeply, wiping her hands on her thighs. After a second she reappeared with her clothing on before pulling the door open.
"Miss Speedy! Miss Speedy! Sia, Han, and Adria haven't come back yet!"
Neo—a pale-faced boy with wide, terrified eyes and long black hair—stared up at her, breathless.
Speedy's gaze sharpened in an instant.
They were supposed to be back by now.
She didn't respond. She just placed a firm hand on his shoulder—steadying him—and vanished in a gust of wind.
Meanwhile
The Elder Goblin turned, teeth bared—only to freeze.
Standing in the clearing ahead was a man. Brown-skinned, towering—easily 6'5" to 6'6"—and built like a god. Long dreadlocks fell down his back like a lion's mane, and his glowing purple eyes radiated absolute power.
Bare-chested. Black pants. Tim's. Smirking.
Key.
The Elder Goblin instinctively took a step back. Something primal in his brain screamed to run.
"Who… are you?" it croaked.
"Don't worry 'bout it," Key said coolly, cracking his neck. "Honestly, ever since I watched Goblin Slayer, I could care less about you green Walmart Hulk fucks, so I'll end this quickly."
The Elder Goblin snarled. "Tsk, you think I'm the last one?"
Shadows shifted.
Dozens of goblins emerged from the underbrush, some armored, others howling with glee.
Sia, Han, and Adria stood frozen, wide-eyed at the sudden chaos—but still clinging to each other.
The Elder Goblin laughed now, growing more confident. "Now you're surrounded! After we kill you, we'll make sure to bury your body beside those three, haha!"
Laughter echoed all around.
"…"
"Hm? What's wrong? Cat's got your tongue?" the Elder Goblin mocked.
"Nah…" Key grinned. "This tendril's got yours."
BOOM.
He slammed his palm into the earth—and the ground exploded.
Black void tendrils shot upward like serpents, impaling every goblin in a flash. It looked like some shit from Prototype. The goblins shrieked, howled, thrashed—but it was over in seconds.
Blood spattered the ground.
All that remained was the Elder Goblin, trembling in agony.
Key stepped beside him, looking down without emotion.
The goblin choked on its own blood. "H-How?!"
Key didn't flinch. "I'm not merciful to those who hurt kids."
He clenched his fist.
More void tendrils exploded from the ground—piercing through the Elder Goblin's body like blades.
Key turned and walked away before its body even hit the dirt.
"Are you three alright?" he called out.
"…Key?" a voice choked behind him.
His body went still.
He knew that voice.
He turned—slowly.
Speedy stood at the edge of the clearing. Her chest heaved, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her arms were trembling.
There he was.
Alive.
Key stared at her and smiled. "What's up?"