The giant goblin roared, its guttural voice shaking the air as it swung its massive club at Eleo. Eleo, ever confident, dashed forward, fists brimming with energy. "INK BARRAGE!" he yelled, unleashing a relentless flurry of punches aimed directly at the goblin's stomach. His ink-covered fists struck with rapid precision, each hit creating splashes of black liquid against the goblin's thick, leathery skin.
The goblin staggered back for a moment, but then… it laughed. A deep, mocking sound that reverberated across the battlefield. It flexed its muscles, shaking off the ink as though it were mere dirt. With a sudden move, it brought its massive club crashing down toward Eleo.
Eleo barely managed to block it, crossing his arms as the sheer force of the blow sent him skidding backward across the dirt. His feet dug deep into the ground to stop himself, but the giant goblin was relentless.
Before Eleo could react, the goblin charged, swinging its club in wide arcs, forcing Eleo to dodge and weave. The ground shook with each missed swing, and the goblin's brute strength kept Eleo on the defensive. A powerful swipe finally connected, slamming into Eleo's side and sending him flying into a nearby wooden post.
"Ugh…" Eleo groaned, coughing as he tried to stand. Lilith screamed from the sidelines, "Eleo! Are you okay?"
Eleo wiped the dirt from his face, glaring at the goblin with a determined grin. "Is that all you got, big guy? I've taken worse from my training dummies!"
The goblin roared in response, charging again. Eleo teleported just in time, avoiding another devastating strike. He reappeared above the goblin, his fists once again transforming into ink hammers. "INK DOUBLE HAMMER!" he yelled, slamming both fists onto the goblin's head.
The goblin stumbled but retaliated quickly, swatting Eleo out of the air with a backhanded swing. Eleo hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop as dust and debris rose around him. The giant goblin loomed over him, grinning maliciously.
This wasn't just brute strength—it was experience. Every attack Eleo threw seemed to be countered, and every block only delayed the inevitable.
But Eleo wasn't done. Wiping the blood from his lip, he stood up straight, his eyes burning with determination. "Alright, big guy," he muttered, clenching his fists. "You wanna play rough? Let's do this."
The goblin charged again, raising its club high for a final blow. Eleo raised his hands, pressing them together, ink swirling and coalescing between his palms. The goblin's club came down, but Eleo sidestepped, his voice rising above the chaos.
"INK CANNON!"
Both of Eleo's hands morphed into a single massive cannon, a sphere of glowing ink gathering at its barrel. With a deafening roar, the cannon fired, launching a massive ink ball that hit the goblin square in the chest.
The impact was explosive. The force sent the giant goblin flying backward, crashing through the camp's gates and soaring into the distance before disappearing over the horizon.
The battlefield went silent for a moment, all eyes on the spot where the goblin had once stood. Then, with a thunderous BOOM, the goblin crashed down far away, the explosion shaking the ground beneath their feet.
Lilith ran up to Eleo, her eyes wide with relief and admiration. "You did it, Eleo! You sent that thing flying!"
Eleo smirked, lowering his ink cannon as it reverted to his normal hands. "Told ya I'd handle it," he said, giving a confident thumbs up before collapsing to one knee, breathing heavily.
Tony, still fighting off the remaining goblins, glanced back and grinned. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."
As Tony struck down the last goblin, its guttural screech fading into silence, Lilith stepped forward, brushing dust off her dress. "You guys did it," she said, her voice carrying a note of relief. "No more goblins."
Eleo grinned, puffing out his chest. "Yeah, that'll show them!"
But before they could celebrate further, a dark portal erupted in the air, swirling with ominous energy. The ground rumbled as the portal expanded, and from within stepped a knight whose very presence demanded attention.
His helmet was a full-faced, angular piece with glowing red eyes, giving him a demonic or dragon-like visage. A sharp crest jutted from the top, adding to its intimidating appearance. His armor, a dark metallic masterpiece, was heavily adorned with intricate details. Spiked pauldrons resembled dragon scales, claw-like gauntlets gleamed in the dim light, and reinforced leg plates led to sturdy, battle-worn boots. A tattered red tabard hung from his waist, its edges frayed from countless battles.
The knight walked forward with purpose, his imposing figure casting long shadows. He stopped before Lilith, his deep voice filled with a blend of sorrow and resolve. "My dear Lilith," he said, bowing his head slightly. "I am so sorry for losing you."
Lilith met his gaze with a soft smile. "It's okay. These two took good care of me."
The knight turned to Tony and Eleo, bowing deeply. "Thank you. We shall forever be in your debt. If you ever need help, do not hesitate to call on us."
With a solemn nod, he gently took Lilith's hand. They walked toward the portal, their figures outlined by its dark energy. As it began to close, Lilith turned and waved goodbye.
"Goodbye, Lilith," Eleo called out, waving enthusiastically.
Tony lifted a bony hand in farewell as the portal vanished, leaving behind silence and a faint chill.
After a moment, Eleo bounced on his toes, unable to contain his excitement. "Well, that was awesome! Anyway, let's head to town!"
Tony sighed, a sound reminiscent of creaking wood. He knelt to Eleo's level, his glowing eye sockets softening. "Eleo," he began, his tone both kind and firm. "We need to talk about your ink powers."
Eleo tilted his head, his ears twitching. "What about them?"
Tony placed a skeletal hand on Eleo's shoulder. "Your ink is a part of you, like your fur or your ears. But it's more than that—it's unique and powerful. And with great power comes—"
"Responsibility?" Eleo interrupted with a grin.
Tony chuckled softly. "Exactly. You shouldn't flaunt it or use it recklessly. It's special, and that means you need to be wise about when and where to use it. Not everyone needs to see it, and not every situation calls for it."
He leaned in slightly, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Think of it like something personal—like a treasure. You protect it, understand it, and use it only when it truly matters. That's how you show respect for your gift and for yourself."
Eleo nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Okay, I think I get it."
Tony patted him on the head with a smile. "Or, you know, do whatever you want with it. I was just trying to sound wise."
Eleo laughed, his earlier excitement returning as they continued toward the town.
As they neared the bustling streets, a signing area came into view. A man stood behind a desk with a stack of papers, his expression a mix of curiosity and boredom. Nearby, two figures caught their attention.
The first was a sleek, anthropomorphic cat with deep purple fur and piercing yellow eyes. He wore a high-collared, long black coat with gold embroidery, slim-fitting blue pants with faint silver lines, sleek black gloves with embedded lights, and rugged boots. His serious demeanor and stylish attire made him stand out.
Beside him was a clown in a flamboyant, brightly colored suit. His exaggerated movements and loud voice clashed starkly with the cat's calm presence.
"Sign me up, buddy!" the clown declared, his grin wide. "I want to take down the strongest, and I'll find a group to help me!"
The cat almost smiled, his voice dripping with dry wit. "Hurry up, Clown. The rest of us don't have all day."
The clown stuck out his tongue and twirled away, singing a cheerful tune as he went. The cat, nearly amused, followed him with a shake of his head.
Tony and Eleo approached the desk. The man behind it eyed them curiously. "You two seem… unique," he said. "Just so you know, if you sign up, you'll be hunted by the Supreme Council."
Tony tilted his head. "Why would the Supreme Council hunt us for signing up?"
The man's expression grew serious. "Because the challenge you're entering destabilizes global order. The Supreme Council is made up of representatives from each major region, known as Sovereigns. They hold immense power and act as the world's political commanders. But this challenge? It threatens their authority. It promotes violence and empowers potential adversaries who could overthrow them."
Eleo frowned, his ears twitching. "So… they don't like people getting too strong?"
"Exactly," the man said. "By signing up, you'd be making yourselves targets. The Council will do everything in their power to stop you."
Tony exchanged a look with Eleo, their minds racing with the implications of what lay ahead. Despite the warning, determination burned in their eyes.
"Well," Tony said, his skeletal grin sharp. "We've faced worse."
Eleo nodded eagerly. "Let's do it!" The day was slipping into twilight, and the air was thick with anticipation. Tony and Eleo stood at a crossroads in their journey, a path that would lead them deeper into the unknown. The man they encountered earlier had just explained the consequences of signing up for the hunt for the strongest—a magical challenge that would mark them as participants, drawing the attention of the powerful Supreme Council.
With a sense of gravity, the man said, "Tony, Eleo, when you sign this paper, the government will immediately know who's part of this hunt. This isn't just any contract—it's a magical bond. Once your name is on it, you'll be marked."
Eleo, with his characteristic enthusiasm, didn't hesitate. He grabbed the quill and scrawled his name with a flourish. As soon as he finished, a blue glow surrounded the parchment. A message appeared in the air, shimmering with arcane energy: *Team Leader: Eleo*.
"Wow!" Eleo's eyes widened in awe. "Wait, how do I make Tony join my team?"
The man chuckled softly, as if remembering his own youthful excitement. "Simple. You just have to ask him. If he agrees, it'll be noted that he's part of your team."
Eleo turned to Tony, his voice filled with excitement and hope. "Tony, would you like to join my team?"
Tony's skeletal grin spread wide. "Yes, yes I would."
As soon as Tony spoke, the parchment glowed again, and a new message appeared: *Tony has officially joined the team*. Eleo raised his fist toward Tony, and without hesitation, Tony met it with his own in a bone-on-fur fist bump. Eleo smiled, a glimmer of adventure in his eyes.
"Okay, Tony! Let's head out and go on an adventure!"
The two companions set off, the sun dipping low as they entered the dense woods
And with that, they signed their names, stepping into a world of challenges and chaos.