Luke knelt beside Shiki, his hands trembling as he watched the hobgoblin chief grow weaker by the second. The mark on Shiki's body was fading, its purple glow dimming as the life drained from him. His once-powerful frame now looked frail, his skin wrinkled and his breathing labored.
"What's happening?" Luke asked, his voice cracking with panic. He gripped Shiki's shoulder, his eyes wide with fear. "How is this happening?"
Shiki smiled weakly, his hand reaching for his axe. With great effort, he lifted it and handed it to Luke. "My time has come," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You are a good leader. Take care of the people."
Luke shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "W-what? What do you mean? How is this happening?!"
Shiki's gaze was steady, his eyes filled with a strange calm. "I don't know the exact details," he said, his voice fading. "But each time we use the power, it consumes our life force in exchange for strength. Mine… has run out."
He paused, his breathing growing shallow. "My former chief believed that the destined one—the one who would save our kind—could be anyone. He searched far and wide, but it was futile. The mark… it serves as a beacon. The destined one, when using the mark, will not die. The mark on my back… it is the Mark of the Avatar of the Dark God."
Shiki's hand trembled as he reached for Luke's arm. The mark on his back began to move, the intricate patterns crawling across his skin like living ink. It traveled down his arm and into Luke's hand, settling on his shoulder and arm.
Luke stared at the mark, his mind reeling. "W-what is this?!"
Shiki's grip tightened, his voice barely a whisper now. "It is your turn."
With those final words, Shiki's body began to disintegrate, his form turning to dust that drifted away on the wind. Luke screamed, his voice raw with grief and confusion. He reached out, trying to grasp the fading particles, but they slipped through his fingers.
The System's Revelation
As Luke knelt there, his body trembling with emotion, the system panel appeared before him, its glowing text stark against the darkness.
[ The 12th Fragment has been found. ]
[ Initiating merging sequence. ]
[ 0% ]
Memories began to flood Luke's mind, fragments of a time long past. He saw an advanced civilization, its towering structures and gleaming cities reduced to ruins. The sky was filled with fire and ash, the ground littered with the remnants of a catastrophic war.
[ 7% ]
The memories shifted, showing Shiki in his youth, training under the watchful eye of the old goblin shaman. The shaman's voice echoed in Luke's mind, filled with reverence and hope. "You are the messengers of the Dark God, the ones who will save our race. The prophesied return is near."
[ 25% ]
The scene changed again, showing the moment when Shiki's fort was besieged by humans. His brothers, each bearing the same mark on their backs, fought valiantly but fell one by one. The mark, it seemed, was both a blessing and a curse.
[ 57% ]
Luke saw the young goblin shaman, his hands tracing the surface of an ancient mural made of an unknown metal. The mural depicted a towering structure buried beneath the sands, its design both alien and familiar. As the shaman touched the wall, a fragment of it seemed to come alive, crawling onto his arm and merging with his flesh.
[ 78% ]
The memories continued to flow, each one more vivid than the last. Luke felt as though he was reliving the past carrier's life, experiencing their triumphs and tragedies as if they were his own.
[ 95% ]
Finally, the merging sequence reached completion. A voice echoed in Luke's mind, ancient and resonant, speaking in a language he didn't understand but somehow comprehended. It was poetic and cryptic, its words carrying the weight of millennia.
"Beneath the sands, where time lies still,
A forgotten city waits, its purpose unfulfilled.
The Fallen's hand, once strong and true,
Now calls to you, to rise anew.
Seek the fragments, scattered and lost,
For only then can you pay the cost.
The mark you bear, a beacon bright,
Will guide you through the endless night."
The voice faded, leaving Luke in stunned silence. He looked down at the mark on his arm, its intricate patterns glowing faintly. The weight of what he had just learned pressed down on him, but there was no time to process it.
Luke knelt on the ground, his body trembling as tears streamed down his face. He didn't know Shiki well, but the hobgoblin chief's death left him with a profound sense of loss, dread, and fury. The weight of responsibility pressed down on him, the mark on his arm glowing faintly as if echoing his emotions.
Then, the system panel appeared again, but it was different this time. The usual blue interface had turned a deep, ominous purple, and the voice that spoke was no longer the calm, feminine tone he was used to. Instead, it was a deep, resonant male voice, commanding and authoritative.
[ System Updated to 12.037.21.1 ]
[ Nano-machines successfully transferred. ]
[ Scanning biophysical requirements… ]
[ Invalid: Evolution to Unit 34FB is required. ]
[ Requesting permission to evolve to Unit 34FB. ]
[ Yes ] [ No ]
Luke stared at the panel, his mind reeling. "What is this?" he muttered, his voice hoarse. "What does this mean?"
The system didn't respond to his question. Instead, it repeated the prompt, its tone unwavering.
[ Requesting permission to evolve to Unit 34FB. ]
[ Yes ] [ No ]
Luke hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to be cautious. "Tell me what this is first!" he demanded, his voice rising in frustration.
But the system remained silent, the prompt flashing insistently. After a moment, Luke sighed, his hand trembling as he reached out and tapped Yes.
[ Initiating Sequence 45BTR. ]
[ Blocking pain receptors… ]
[ Insufficient power. ]
[ Proceeding without pain suppression. ]
[ Sending tasks to nano-bots. ]
[ Hold on, Host. This will be painful. ]
Before Luke could react, an excruciating pain surged through his body. It felt as though every muscle, every bone, every fiber of his being was being torn apart and rebuilt. He screamed, his voice echoing through the cavern as he collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing.
The nano-bots worked tirelessly, tearing away unnecessary tissue and fabricating stronger, more efficient muscles and organs. Luke's vision blurred, his consciousness slipping away as the pain became unbearable.
[ Host is beginning to enter stasis mode. ]
But just as he was about to pass out, a jolt of electricity coursed through his body, shocking him back to awareness. The system's voice was calm, almost clinical.
[ Initiating electrocution to maintain consciousness. ]
The process continued for what felt like an eternity. Hours passed, each one filled with agony and the relentless work of the nano-bots. Luke's screams faded into ragged breaths, his body drenched in sweat as he endured the transformation.
Finally, after five grueling hours, the pain subsided. Luke lay on the ground, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. His body felt different—stronger, leaner, more powerful. He looked down at himself, his eyes widening as he took in his new form.
He was a hobgoblin now, much like Shiki, but taller and more refined. His muscles were defined but not bulky, his frame sleek and agile. His skin had taken on a faint, metallic sheen, and the mark on his arm glowed with a steady, purple light.
The system panel appeared once more, its purple interface displaying the results of the evolution.
[ Evolution to Unit 34FB is successful. ]
[ Changes:
The outdated AI Model: S3R-4N4 has been changed to 41F-R3D.
Shop Function has been removed.
Technology Trees have been added.
Skills and Tools Tab has been added.
Augmented Simulation Function has been unlocked.
Predictive Pattern Analysis Skill has been added.
Tech Points have been changed to Credits.
Physical Changes:
STR: 71
AGI: 67
PER: 73
VIT: 69
RES: 78
INT: 21
MAG: 79 ]
Luke stared at the panel, his mind struggling to process the information. He flexed his hands, feeling the raw power coursing through his body. Despite the agony he had just endured, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"It was worth it," he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and determination.
Luke slowly pushed himself to his feet, sighing as he watched the early sunrise. The soft light felt like a promise of a new day after the terrible night. With steady hands, he reached down and grabbed Shiki's huge battleaxe. "I'll grant your wish, Shiki," he said quietly, his voice full of determination as he held the axe handle.
Every step he took through the forest back to the cave entrance brought back memories he wished he could forget—the proud faces of fallen goblins, hard-won victories, and the warm smiles of the villagers that now only lived in his mind.
Kallian's POV
Kallian hit the cold stone floor hard in a dimly lit room, surrounded by hooded figures. Both of his arms had been severed, and blood still flowed from his wounds. His companions quickly came over and placed their palms on the injuries; a soft, glowing light began to seal his wounds.
In front of him stood an old man with a long white beard, holding a staff. "What happened to you, Kallian?" the man asked firmly, his tone filled with disappointment.
Despite the pain, Kallian managed a weak smile. "I found the traces of the Dark God, master," he said, his voice mixing pride with anger. He continued, "But those green-skinned goblins..." His voice trailed off with bitterness.
The old man raised an eyebrow. "I thought no goblin could ever hurt you, Kallian," he said. Then, raising his staff, he struck the stone hard, sending Kallian and his companions stumbling back.
Struggling to steady himself, Kallian stuttered, "I—I swear, master, one goblin came and killed most of my men. I could have taken that power from the Dark God if I had been more careful."
The old man's voice was strong as he said, "I told you to bring Yanson and Selma with you. Instead, you let your pride get in the way." As he stepped closer, Kallian began to back away, his voice barely a whisper, "N-no, father, please listen..."
The old man looked at him sternly. "You must make up for your mistakes, Kallian. Until you learn, I will not restore your arms." With that, he turned and walked away.
Left alone in the dim light, Kallian's thoughts drifted back to the tall, strong goblin he had seen earlier. In that moment, his heart filled with a promise of revenge.
"I will pay back tenfold," he vowed silently.