One fateful night, a middle-aged man, John, walked to work, lost in thought. His routine was interrupted by three glowing cubes:
- One glowed purple
- One glowed yellow
- One glowed blue
Their origin unknown, John's curiosity was piqued, but he didn't linger. The world had grown accustomed to mystical occurrences since the year 2000.
It all started in the year 2000 at an amusement park, a small green creature emerged. Pointy ears and razor-like teeth in mythology it was distinguished as a goblin, but park-goers assumed it was cosplay.
Ray and Luke approached the creature, intrigued.
"Check out this costume!" Ray exclaimed.
Luke chuckled. "Looks realistic."
As they admired the goblin's appearance, a child, Lana, ran around the corner, colliding with an adult.
"Mommy, my arm is bleeding!" Lana cried.
Mrs. Landa reassured her, "It's just a light scratch."
The bystander apologized profusely, kneeling. "I'm so sorry, ma'am."
Mrs. Landa forgave him. "It's alright, sir. Accidents happen."
As they parted ways, John noticed blood on the ground.
"Where's the staff?" he wondered.
Ray and Luke watched the exchange, exchanging amused glances.
"Guess that guy's really sorry," Ray whispered.
Luke snickered. "Yeah, overkill."
Their attention returned to the goblin.
Instinctively, Luke touched its head.
The goblin's eyes darted toward Lana's blood.
Its mouth opened, revealing a soft smile.
Ray's eyes widened. "Whoa, that's some crazy makeup."
But the smile turned sinister.
Luke and Ray jumped back.
"What the...?" Ray trailed off.
The goblin's eyes locked onto Ray.
"Ray, watch out!" Luke warned.
Too late.
The goblin struck.
Ray's scream echoed.
Luke's eyes widened in horror.
"Ray!"
"Mommy, what's happening?" Lana asked, tears streaming down her face.
"Everything's okay, sweetie. Just an accident. Let's get you cleaned up."
"Ray, oh God, Ray!" Luke exclaimed, panic setting in.
Ray struggled to stand, but his leg buckled.
"Luke... help me..." Ray whispered, eyes filled with pain.
Luke's guilt and fear overwhelmed him.
"I'm sorry, Ray. I'm so sorry."
The goblin approached, its grin twisted.
Ray's eyes locked onto Luke.
"Run... Luke... run!" Ray shouted.
Luke hesitated, frozen.
The goblin raised its club.
"LUKE, RUN!" Ray screamed.
Luke turned, fleeing into the chaotic crowd.
"Ray! No!" Luke yelled, but his voice was lost amidst screams.
He collided with people, desperate to escape.
"What's happening?" someone asked.
"A monster!" Luke replied.
"A goblin!" someone else shouted.
Panic spread.
People stampeded toward the exits.
John, the middle-aged man, pushed through the crowd.
"What's going on?" he asked a fleeing park-goer.
"Goblin... killing people!" the man replied.
John's expression turned grim.
He quickened his pace, determined to find the source.
Meanwhile, Luke stumbled through the chaos.
"Ray... where's Ray?" he muttered.
Guilt consumed him.
He stopped running, looking back.
The goblin stood over Ray's lifeless body.
A scream tore from Luke's throat.
"RAY!"
Luke's scream echoed through the amusement park, drowning out the sounds of chaos. He stumbled forward, his eyes fixed on Ray's lifeless body.
The goblin stood over Ray, its grin twisted in triumph. It raised its club, and Luke felt a surge of adrenaline.
"NO!" Luke shouted, charging toward the goblin.
But before he reached them, the goblin vanished.
Ray's body lay motionless.
Luke dropped to his knees, cradling Ray's head.
"Ray... no... please..."
Tears streamed down Luke's face.
Suddenly, the goblin reappeared beside Ray's body.
Its eyes locked onto Luke.
A sinister smile spread.
Luke's heart sank.
The goblin raised its club.
"NO!" Luke screamed.
But instead of striking Luke, the goblin touched Ray's forehead.
A blinding light enveloped Ray's body.
Luke shielded his eyes.
When he opened them, a duplicate of the goblin stood beside the original.
The duplicate's eyes gleamed with malevolence.
"First Step to Building a Kingdom," a voice whispered.
The goblin's grin widened.
Luke stumbled backward.
"What... what did you do?"
The goblins began to move toward Luke.
He turned and fled.
As he ran, Luke heard the sound of screams and chaos.
The amusement park descended into chaos.
People fled.
Sirens wailed.
John pushed through the crowd.
"What's happening?" he demanded.
"A goblin... duplicates... it's killing everyone!" someone shouted.
John's face set in determination.
He charged toward the chaos.
Meanwhile, Luke stumbled through the park.
He collided with a fleeing woman.
"Help... me..." she begged.
Luke hesitated.
The goblins closed in.
"Run!" Luke shouted.
They fled together.
Luke and the woman fled through the crowded park, screams and chaos surrounding them.
"They're everywhere!" she cried.
Luke grasped her hand.
"Keep running!"
But the original goblin appeared, blocking their path.
Its eyes locked onto the woman.
Luke tried to shield her.
Too late.
The goblin struck.
The woman's scream echoed.
Luke's grip loosened.
She fell.
"No!" Luke shouted.
The goblin turned to Luke.
But he stood frozen.
Grief and guilt overwhelmed him.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed Luke's shoulder.
"Come on, kid!" John shouted.
Luke turned.
John, the middle-aged man, pulled him away.
"Leave her... we can't save everyone."
Luke resisted.
But John's grip held.
As they fled, Luke glanced back.
The goblin stood over the woman.
A duplicate emerged.
"First Step to Building a Kingdom" echoed.
Luke's determination solidified.
Redemption.
He would save others.
Make up for his failures.
John and Luke ran.
Sirens grew louder.
Police arrived.
Chaos reigned.
John pulled Luke into a narrow alley.
"Catch your breath," John said.
Luke's eyes met John's.
Gratitude and resolve filled him.
"Thank you," Luke said.
John nodded.
"I'm John. You?"
"Luke."
John's expression turned serious.
"We need to get out of here."
Luke nodded.
Together, they fled.
As they ran, Luke realized:
His journey had just begun.
Redemption awaited.
John and Luke navigated the chaotic streets.
Suddenly, two goblin duplicates emerged.
"Split up!" John shouted.
Luke nodded.
He confronted one duplicate.
Guilt and anger fueled him.
With a fierce cry, Luke struck.
The duplicate crumbled.
"Mirror of Contempt" appeared.
A notification echoed:
"Ability Unlocked: Mirror of Contempt"
"Converts guilt into energy"
"Boosts physical abilities 3x fold for 10min"
Guilt overwhelmed Luke.
His energy surged.
Meanwhile, John faced the other duplicate.
With precision, John struck.
"World's Introduction" appeared.
A notification echoed:
"Ability Unlocked: World's Introduction"
"Reveals information about living things or items upon first sight"
John's eyes widened.
He gazed at Luke.
"Luke, 17, survivor of amusement park attack"
"Guilty over Ray's and woman's deaths"
"Mirror of Contempt ability user"
John's understanding deepened.
Luke approached.
"Glad you took one down," Luke said.
John nodded.
"We make a good team."
Luke's guilt still simmered.
His energy remained elevated.
John and Luke stood victorious.
"Good teamwork," John said.
Luke nodded.
John gazed at the goblin duplicate's corpse.
"World's Introduction" activated.
Goblin
Species: Gobiku
Origin: Unknown
Strength: 3x Human
Speed: 2x Human
Weakness: Every 10th duplicate created reduces strength by 10%
Current Duplication Count: 12
First Goblin's Location: Amusement Park
John's eyes widened.
"Luke, we have valuable info."
Luke approached.
"What is it?"
"Goblins are called Gobiku."
"They get weaker every 10th duplicate."
"We need to find the first goblin."
Luke's determination solidified.
"Let's do it."
John nodded.
Together, they ventured into the unknown.
As they walked, Luke's guilt still simmered.
His energy remained elevated.
The city descended into chaos.
Goblins roamed.
But John and Luke stood ready.