The village was a battlefield, the air thick with smoke and the acrid stench of blood. Shiki, the hobgoblin chief, stood at the center of it all, his massive frame surrounded by a glowing red energy shield. The humans had him trapped, their cruel laughter echoing in his ears as they watched him struggle. He swung his axe with all his might, the blade striking the shield again and again, but it was futile. The barrier held firm, mocking his efforts.
From the distance, another human approached, his hood pulled back to reveal a young, pale face. It was Kallian, the leader of the attackers. In his hand, he clutched Elder Krug, the old goblin suspended in the air by a swirling vortex of red energy. Krug's body convulsed as Kallian extracted his life force, his skin withering and his eyes dimming until he was nothing more than a lifeless husk.
"Krug!" Shiki roared, his voice raw with grief and rage. He pounded against the energy shield, his axe striking with desperate fury. But the barrier held, and Kallian only smiled, his expression one of cold amusement.
Kallian spoke, his words smooth and mocking, though Shiki couldn't understand them. The chief didn't need to. He could feel the disdain in the human's tone, the cruel satisfaction as he watched the goblin's despair.
No more, Shiki thought, his mind racing. I won't let them win.
He remembered the words of the former village shaman, the one who had given him the mark of power. "The power I give you will only last for a short time. You will know it's gone when the mark on your back disappears."
Shiki had used the mark's power sparingly over the years, saving it for moments of dire need. He had used it to defeat the alpha wolf that had threatened the village, and now, with the mark fading, he knew this would be his last chance.
With a roar, Shiki activated the mark. The tattoo on his back glowed with a fierce purple light, the intricate patterns spreading across his body, covering his arms and chest. His eyes burned with the same purple energy, his entire being radiating power. He raised his axe, the blade crackling with energy, and brought it down on the red shield.
The barrier shattered like glass, the explosion sending the surrounding humans flying. Shiki didn't stop. He moved like a force of nature, his axe cutting through the humans with brutal efficiency. Limbs flew, blood sprayed, and the air was filled with the screams of the dying.
Kallian watched from a distance, his smile widening with each strike. "Yes!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with ecstasy. "This is what we've been searching for! The mark of the dark god! It's here!"
He raised his hand, red energy swirling around his fingers as he summoned chains to bind Shiki. The other humans joined in, their combined power creating a web of glowing red chains that wrapped around the chief's body. Shiki roared, his muscles straining as he fought against the restraints. The chains began to break, but more took their place, the humans working together to hold him down.
Kallian stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with greed as he watched the mark on Shiki's body slowly fade. "Hold him!" he shouted. "The power is nearly gone! I need to extract it!"
Shiki's rage burned brighter. He wouldn't let them take this from him. With a final, earth-shaking roar, he broke free of the chains, his body surging with the last remnants of the mark's power. The humans stumbled back, their confidence wavering as the hobgoblin chief turned his burning eyes on them.
Luke's vision blurred as he ran, his body pushed to its limits. The village was in sight, but the scene before him was one of utter devastation. The real-time map in his mind showed most of the goblin icons had turned gray—dead. Only one large green icon remained, pulsing faintly in the distance. It was Shiki.
Luke's heart clenched with fear and determination. I'm not too late. I can still save him.
He activated his Cloak skill, his body blending into the surroundings as he sprinted past the cave entrance. The goblins huddled there felt a sudden rush of wind, their heads turning in confusion.
"What was that?" one of the elder females asked, her voice trembling.
Grut frowned, his sharp eyes scanning the area. "Must've been the wind," he said, though his tone was uncertain.
Luke didn't stop. He moved like a shadow, his enhanced speed carrying him toward the village. The sight of the burning huts and the bodies of his fallen comrades fueled his rage, but he forced himself to stay focused. Shiki was still alive, and he needed help.
As he neared the heart of the village, Luke saw the chief surrounded by humans, his body glowing with fading purple energy. The humans were closing in, their red chains wrapping around him once more. Luke's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his machete.
Hold on, Shiki. I'm coming.
Shiki roared, his body surging with the last remnants of the mark's power. The purple energy coursed through him, his axe cleaving through the humans with brutal efficiency. Limbs flew, blood sprayed, and the air was filled with the screams of the dying. Kallian, the leader of the attackers, barely managed to dodge Shiki's strikes, his shield raised to parry the blows.
"Restrain him!" Kallian screamed, his voice frantic. "Don't let him break free!"
The six remaining mages chanted in unison, their voices rising in a dark, guttural rhythm. Red energy swirled around them as they summoned two massive chains, the glowing links wrapping around Shiki's body. The hobgoblin chief struggled, his muscles straining against the restraints, but the chains held firm.
Kallian grinned, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "It's over, beast. Your power belongs to us now."
Shiki's eyes burned with defiance. He let out a deafening roar, the mark on his body flaring brighter as he poured every ounce of his strength into breaking free. The chains began to crack, the red energy flickering as the mages struggled to maintain the spell.
"Use the goblins' harvested life force!" Kallian shouted, his voice desperate. "We need more power!"
One of the mages hesitated. "But, Lord Kallian, our quota—"
"Fuck the quota!" Kallian snapped, his face twisted with rage. "Master Mirio will be satisfied with what I bring. The mark is more important than anything else!"
The mages nodded, their faces grim as they resumed their chanting. The air grew heavy with dark energy, the ground trembling beneath their feet. The final words of the chant echoed through the battlefield, a chilling declaration: "Blood for the Blood God!"
A third chain erupted from the ground, its links thicker and more menacing than the others. It wrapped around Shiki, pinning him in place. The hobgoblin chief roared again, his body trembling as he fought against the restraints. But the chains were too strong, their dark energy sapping his strength.
Kallian stepped closer, his hand glowing with red energy as he reached for Shiki's face. "Your power will serve a greater purpose," he said, his voice cold and mocking.
But before he could touch Shiki, a flash of steel cut through the air. Kallian screamed as his hand was severed at the wrist, blood spraying from the wound. He stumbled back, clutching his arm as his eyes widened in shock.
The other mages turned, their chanting faltering as they tried to locate the source of the attack. But it was too late. One by one, they fell, their heads rolling to the ground as a shadow moved among them. The chains binding Shiki shattered, the hobgoblin chief collapsing to his knees as the spell broke.
Kallian's face twisted with rage and fear. "Show yourself, you coward!" he screamed, his voice trembling.
From the shadows, Luke emerged, his body uncloaking as he stepped into the light. His face was a mask of fury, his eyes burning with a cold, deadly rage. Shiki looked up, his expression a mix of relief and confusion. Luke's stature had changed—he was taller, more muscular, his presence more imposing than before.
"Luke…" Shiki muttered, his voice weak but filled with gratitude.
Luke didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on Kallian, his grip tightening on his machete. He glanced at the pile of goblin bodies, his heart aching as he recognized the faces of those who had helped him build the village. The village hall, once a symbol of their progress, lay in ruins.
Luke's rage boiled over. He switched to the human dialect, his voice cold and cutting. "How dare you," he said, his words dripping with venom. "How dare you slaughter innocent lives."
Kallian stared at him, his initial shock giving way to a cruel smile. "Hahaha! You pathetic, naive fool," he sneered. "Even if you can speak like a human, you're still years away from catching up to human supremacy. This is all for the Blood God. Now that we've found traces of the Dark God, our god will be more powerful than ever. Once he consumes every other god, we'll return. Just wait, you green-skinned vermin."
Luke's eyes narrowed. "So, you're a cult."
The remaining mages exchanged glances, their hands glowing with red energy as they prepared another spell. Chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around Luke's body. But he was faster. With a burst of speed, he broke free, his machete flashing as he decapitated the mages in quick succession.
Kallian, realizing the tide had turned, began chanting a spell, his hands glowing with red energy. The ground beneath him lit up, a portal forming as his body began to disappear.
"You won't escape," Luke growled, activating Burst Sprint. He lunged at Kallian, his machete slicing through the air. The blade struck true, severing Kallian's other arm. The human screamed in agony, his body vanishing into the portal just as Luke's blade came down again.
The portal closed, leaving behind only the severed arm and a pool of blood. Luke stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. The battle was over, but it was far from finished.