confronting the source

John and Luke navigated through the chaotic streets, goblin duplicates roaming everywhere.

"We need to take out the first goblin," John said.

Luke nodded, his Mirror of Contempt still active.

Guilt fueled his strength.

They approached the amusement park.

More duplicates emerged.

Luke's energy began to wane.

"Mirror of Contempt's duration ending," a notification echoed.

Luke's strength decreased.

Guilt still lingered.

They faced the 20th duplicate.

"Weaker than before," John observed.

Luke struggled.

John covered him.

Together, they took down the duplicate.

"New Skill Unlocked: Resolve of the Fallen"

"Passive: Increased strength when near fallen allies"

Luke's eyes widened.

John smiled.

"We make a good team."

They pressed on.

The 30th duplicate awaited.

Stronger than the last.

Luke faltered.

John shielded him.

"World's Introduction" revealed:

"Goblin General"

Species: Gobiku

Origin: First Goblin's Duplicate

Strength: 5x Human

Speed: 3x Human

Skills:

- Razor Sharp Claws (passive)

- Regeneration (passive)

- Battle Focus (active)

"This one's different," John said.

Luke nodded.

"Let's take it down."

The Goblin General charged.

John and Luke clashed with it.

Luke's Resolve of the Fallen boosted his strength.

The Goblin General unleashed Battle Focus.

Its speed increased.

John dodged.

Luke struck.

The Goblin General countered.

Regeneration activated.

Its wounds healed.

"We need to end this quickly," John said.

Luke nodded.

Together, they coordinated.

John struck the Goblin General's weak point.

Luke finished it with a decisive blow.

"Victory!"

New Skills Unlocked:

John: Tactical Insight (passive)

"Reveals enemy weaknesses"

Luke: Fury of the Fallen (active)

"Temporarily increases strength and speed"

The first goblin awaited.

Its power grew.

John and Luke prepared.

Ping!

"You obtained memory of Malakai" (consumable)

: Origins of Malice

Before facing the first goblin, John and Luke discovered its tragic past.

The first goblin, once a human named "Malakai," lived in the amusement park's vicinity.

Malakai's life was marked by loss and loneliness.

Orphaned at a young age, he struggled to find purpose.

One fateful night, a mysterious artifact changed everything.

The artifact, imbued with dark energy, manipulated Malakai's emotions.

It fed on his pain, amplifying his feelings of isolation.

Malakai's mind shattered.

His humanity faded.

The artifact transformed him into the first goblin.

Gobiku, a being driven by loneliness and despair.

Malakai's memories lingered.

Now, he sought to spread his pain.

Duplicate after duplicate.

A never-ending cycle.

John and Luke understood.

The first goblin wasn't evil.

It was broken.

A victim of circumstance.

Their determination solidified.

End the cycle.

Free Malakai from his torment.

The final battle awaited.

John and Luke retreated to a hidden alley, exhausted.

"We need to recover," John said.

Luke nodded.

Their wounds ran deep.

Physical and emotional.

As they rested, Luke reflected on Malakai's tragic past.

A mix of emotions swirled.

Pity, anger, determination.

Their resolve strengthened.

Time passed.

Night fell.

The duo approached the amusement park.

First Goblin's lair.

Anticipation gripped them.

The air thickened.

Suddenly, the first goblin emerged.

Gobiku, the Broken

Species: Unique Gobiku

Origin: Artifact's Corruption

Strength: 20x Human

Speed: 10x Human

Skills:

.changed from "first step to building a kingdom" to "kingdom's expansion"

1. Kingdom's Expansion (passive)

2. Goblin's Fury (active)

3. Shadow Step (active)

4. Enhanced Senses (passive)

5. Regeneration (passive)

6. Illusionary Strikes (active)

7. Despair's Aura (passive)

John and Luke stood awestruck.

"This is... different," John whispered.

The first goblin's presence overwhelmed.

Duplicates seemed like mere toys.

Gobiku charged.

John and Luke clashed.

Their skills paled.

Gobiku's power crushed them.

Despair's Aura suffocated.

Just as all hope seemed lost...

A flash of light.

A newcomer arrived.

"Need a hand?"

A young woman, armed with dual blades.

Aurora, the Swift

Skills:

1. Lightning Strike (active)

2. Wind Dancer (passive)

3. Phantom Blades (active)

Aurora sliced through Gobiku's defenses.

Temporary reprieve.

John and Luke gasped.

"Who are you?" Luke asked.

Aurora smiled.

"Someone who won't let you die."

Gobiku's wrath intensified.

The battle raged on.

Tension skyrocketed.

John, Luke, and Aurora stood united.

Gobiku, the Broken, sneered.

"Let's end this," John said.

The trio charged.

Gobiku unleashed Kingdom's Expansion.

Illusionary Strikes, a spawn of illusionary goblins appeared.

Aurora danced, avoiding blows.

Luke countered with Fury of the Fallen.

John struck from behind.

Gobiku spun, Shadow Step evading.

Enhanced Senses tracked their movements.

Regeneration healed its wounds.

The trio adapted.

Aurora's Phantom Blades struck true.

Luke's Resolve of the Fallen boosted.

John's Tactical Insight revealed weaknesses.

Gobiku retaliated with Goblin's Fury.

The trio fought on, weary.

Gobiku's Despair's Aura suffocated.

Aurora faltered.

Luke shielded her.

John struck, buying time.

Gobiku countered, sending John flying.

Luke faced Gobiku alone.

Fury of the Fallen surged.

Gobiku's Illusionary Strikes misled.

Luke stumbled.

Aurora recovered, Phantom Blades slicing.

John rejoined, Tactical Insight guiding.

Gobiku's Regeneration slowed.

The trio pushed.

Gobiku's Kingdom's Expansion faltered.

Final blows landed.

Gobiku collapsed.

Victory came at a steep cost.

The trio stood, battered.

Aurora's Wind Dancer faded.

Luke's Fury of the Fallen dissipated.

John's Tactical Insight dimmed.

New Skills Unlocked:

John: Vanguard's Resolve (passive)

"Enhances defense, nearby allies' strength"

Luke: Reaper's Reckoning (active)

"Deals massive damage, sacrifices health"

Aurora: Stormchaser's Speed (passive)

"Increases speed, evasion chance"

The trio exchanged weary smiles.

Their bond forged in battle.

But as they celebrated...

A sinister presence loomed.

The trio's smiles faded.

A chilling aura enveloped them.

An unseen force emerged.

"World's Introduction passively activated"

Erebus, the Architect

Power Level: Transcendent

Erebus descended, radiating dominance.

The trio sensed overwhelming power.

"Impossible..." John whispered.

Erebus approached Gobiku's corpse.

"Failure," Erebus declared.

The artifact gleamed.

Erebus retrieved it.

"Collection complete."

The trio stood frozen.

Erebus turned.

"Gaze upon my presence."

Their eyes met.

Erebus's power crushed them.

The trio collapsed.

Unconscious.

Police sirens echoed.

Officers rushed to the scene.

"Bodies found... John, Luke, Aurora."

Ambulances arrived.

The trio was taken.

Hospitalized.

Erebus vanished.

Silence fell.

The city remained unaware.

Of the darkness lurking.