The Next Day
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Noah woke up in his tent, the grey morning light seeping through the thin fabric, casting a dull glow on his surroundings. The Central Park refugee camp had only been here for a week, hastily thrown together after the city fell. Tents, makeshift shelters, and scattered debris now littered the park, with survivors huddled together in fear, trying to cling to some semblance of order. They had no idea what was coming next, but Noah did.
He had seen the future. He knew exactly how things would unfold.
For most of them, this was the end—the collapse of society, the monsters, the chaos. But for Noah, it was merely the beginning.
With mechanical precision, he pulled himself out of his makeshift bed, stretching his limbs, feeling the stiffness in his muscles ease as he moved. His skeletal goblin minion stood at the entrance, its hollow eyes dim but focused on him, waiting for orders. The goblin was silent as ever, a shadow of the creature it once had been, but loyal beyond death. Noah had made sure of that.
Outside the tent, the air was tense, filled with murmurs of fear and desperation. The camp wasn't designed for comfort or even survival—it was a stopgap, a temporary refuge where the remnants of humanity could cling to the illusion of safety. Noah ignored the whispered conversations as he moved through the rows of tents, his eyes cold and focused. Every step he took was deliberate, purposeful.
He wasn't here to comfort anyone.
He was here to change everything.
"Today's the day..."
He muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for even himself to hear.
The others saw him as strange, cold—some even whispered that he was dangerous. They weren't wrong. But none of them understood the scope of what was happening, of what was about to happen. Their ignorance would be their undoing. They were just pieces on a board he already knew how to play.
Noah slipped out of the camp unnoticed, his goblin skeleton trailing behind him, a silent sentinel. He knew where he was going—a place he remembered from his past life, an old, long-forgotten location that only someone who had seen the future would dare seek out. In his previous life, he had stumbled upon it by accident, too late to take advantage of the riches it offered. This time, he wouldn't make that mistake.
He crossed the streets of New York with steady, unwavering strides. The city, or what remained of it, was in ruins. Skyscrapers that had once stood proud were now twisted hulks of metal and broken glass. The streets were littered with debris, and the distant sound of monsters prowling the desolate alleys echoed through the air. Noah paid them no mind. Those creatures were small fry, barely a challenge. His eyes were set on something far more dangerous.
An hour later, Noah arrived at the remains of an old steel mill. The massive, rusted structures loomed over him, casting long shadows across the ground. The steel mill had once been a vital part of the city's economy, back when the world was still intact. Now, it was a decayed husk, abandoned and forgotten. The twisted metal beams and broken-down machines gave it the appearance of a place where the world had begun to die long before the monsters arrived.
And yet, Noah could sense the power lurking within. Few ventured to this place, for it was infested with creatures far deadlier than the goblins and slimes that had plagued the city's outskirts. But that was exactly what Noah was looking for.
As he approached the entrance, Noah's mind flicked through the memories of his past life. The steel mill had been a treasure trove of experience for those who were strong enough to survive it. The creatures inside were powerful, but if defeated, they granted immense rewards. Experience, loot, and most importantly, evolution. Noah had come close to this place before, but back then, he hadn't been strong enough. He hadn't known what was waiting for him.
This time, he was prepared.
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The steel mill's entrance was a gaping maw of rusted metal and shattered glass, leading into darkness. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of decay, and the faint sounds of movement echoed from deep within the mill's belly. Noah's grip tightened around the haft of his scythe as he stepped inside, the goblin skeleton following closely behind.
The interior of the mill was a maze of dilapidated structures and ruined equipment. Massive machines, once used to shape molten steel, now lay in ruins, their metal carcasses scattered across the chamber like fallen giants. The walls were covered in rust, and the floors were littered with debris, making every step treacherous. But Noah moved with purpose, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.
It didn't take long for the monsters to reveal themselves.
A low growl echoed through the chamber, followed by the sound of claws scraping against concrete. Noah stopped in his tracks, his cold eyes narrowing as he turned toward the sound. From the shadows emerged the first of the creatures—a hulking, hybrid beast with chitinous armor and glowing red eyes. Its body was a grotesque fusion of various animals, twisted and warped by the chaotic energies that had consumed the world.
Here we go, he thought, bracing himself for the impending chaos.
In his past life, these creatures had nearly killed him. Back then, he had been too weak, too inexperienced to face them head-on. But now? Now, he was ready.
The beast lunged at him with terrifying speed, its claws outstretched, ready to tear him apart. Noah sidestepped the attack with ease, his scythe flashing through the air in a deadly arc. The blade met the creature's armored hide with a sickening crunch, cutting deep into its flesh. Black ichor sprayed from the wound as the creature let out a guttural roar, staggering back.
Too easy, he mused, a cold smirk creeping onto his lips.
Before it could recover, Noah's goblin skeleton was already on it, its rusty sword slashing at the creature's legs with brutal efficiency. The beast howled in pain, collapsing to the ground as the goblin hacked away at its exposed joints.
But the respite was short-lived.
From the shadows, two more beasts emerged, each one larger than the last, their jaws snapping and claws poised to strike. Noah felt the shift in the air, the tension escalating. This was no longer a simple skirmish; it was a full-blown battle.
No turning back now. Time to push our limits, he reminded himself, urgency flooding his veins.
"Go!"
Noah shouted, and the goblin skeleton charged, its sword flashing like a bolt of lightning as it leaped into the fray.
Noah fought alongside his minion, his scythe weaving through the air with deadly grace. Claws scraped against his armor, but he dodged and countered with precision, cutting down one beast after another. But the monsters kept coming, their relentless assault driving them forward as the air crackled with tension.
In a moment of chaos, one of the larger beasts swiped its massive claws at the goblin. The skeleton barely managed to deflect the blow, but the impact sent it sprawling. Noah stumbled back for a moment, panic gripping him as he watched his minion fall.
Should I intervene? What if it can't continue?
Those thoughts raced in his mind.
"Get up!" he shouted, his voice sharp with urgency.
The goblin struggled to rise, but the ferocity of the battle pressed on. Before it could regain its footing, another beast charged, its claws ready to strike. The goblin was swift, but not fast enough. With a sickening crunch, the beast's claws severed its arm at the elbow, sending bone shards flying as the goblin let out a muffled growl of pain.
No! Not now!
Noah felt his heart race, a surge of desperation clawing at his mind.
But the goblin didn't stop fighting. It used its remaining arm to swing its sword wildly, striking at the creature with a feral intensity. *It can't go down like this; not when we're so close!*
"Don't give up!" Noah shouted, rallying his strength as he leaped back into the fray. He could see the determination in the goblin's hollow eyes as it pressed forward, relentless in its attack.
In a furious dance of steel and fury, Noah and the goblin skeleton fought against the onslaught. The beast that had attacked the goblin staggered back, wounded but still dangerous. Noah felt the adrenaline surge as he parried its next strike, his scythe carving through the air with deadly precision.
With a final, desperate swing, the goblin struck true, piercing the beast's side. As it thrashed in pain, Noah seized the opportunity and plunged his scythe deep into the creature's chest. The beast howled, its body collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
Breathing heavily, Noah turned to his goblin skeleton. It lay there, battered and broken, but its glowing eyes still flickered with life. The dark energy building around them invigorated the atmosphere, as if sensing the goblin's defiance.
I can't let it fall now!
Noah thought, desperation mixing with determination.
"Hang on, we'll make it through this!" he urged, feeling the surge of energy swell around them.
The goblin blinked, its breath ragged, but its gaze locked onto Noah's with unwavering resolve. The dark energy pulsed, swirling around them like
a storm.
But just as Noah thought victory was within reach, a deafening roar shook the chamber. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and from the far end of the room, a massive figure emerged from the shadows—a beast larger than any of the others, its body covered in thick, impenetrable armor.
Noah's eyes widened.
Not this one. This is the creature that nearly killed me in my past life. I have to be smarter this time.
"Now!"
Noah commanded, channeling all his focus and energy into his minion.
The goblin skeleton surged forward, its remaining arm raised high, glowing with newfound power. The energy surrounding them intensified, and Noah felt the familiar pull of evolution, just on the horizon.
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CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR GOBLIN SKELETON HAS REACHED LEVEL 10.
YOUR GOBLIN SKELETON HAS REACHED ITS MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
CALCULATING ACHIEVEMENTS...
AN EVOLUTION IS NOW AVAILABLE! PROCEED?
[Yes/No]
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Noah's expression remained cold, emotionless, as he selected [Yes].
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CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR MINION HAS EVOLVED INTO A SKELETON SAMURAI!
YOU CAN NOW NAME YOUR MINION.
[GOZEN]
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A thick, black fog rose from beneath the goblin skeleton's feet, enveloping its body in a swirling cloud of darkness. The air crackled with energy as the fog twisted and churned, transforming the goblin into something far more powerful. Noah watched without flinching, his eyes reflecting the process.
When the fog finally dissipated, the goblin was gone. In its place stood a tall, skeletal figure clad in an ornate electric blue kimono, a katana resting at its side. The Skeleton Samurai bowed low before Noah, its voice calm and controlled.
"Thank you for giving me a name, my lord."
Noah regarded his newly evolved servant with a calculating gaze. He had seen this power before in his previous life, but now it was his to command. He had changed the future.
As he looked closer, Noah was struck by the sight: the skeletal arm that had been severed in battle was now restored, whole and strong as if it had never been lost.
And he wasn't done yet.
"Gozen," Noah said, his voice a chilling whisper.
"Make yourself useful."
The Skeleton Samurai rose from its bow, its glowing eyes fixed on Noah with unwavering loyalty. Together, they would tear through this broken world.
And Noah would rise, just as he had planned all along.