The first scream wasn't human.
It was sharp, guttural—like the screech of rusted metal.
And it came from the woods behind the school.
[MISSION: INITIAL CLEANSE]
Objective: Eliminate as many Goblins as possible within 20 minutes.
Zone: North Park (Level 1–2).
Reward: 50 GP per Goblin. Bonus for team synchronization.
Warning: Goblins hunt in packs. Do not underestimate their intelligence.
"Goblins?" Rioyin let out a nervous laugh. "Seriously? Fantasy creatures?"
"They're not fantasy," Samune said, adjusting his glasses. "They're corrupted Echos with hunting instincts. Small, fast, and brutal in groups."
"Then we don't underestimate them," Kikoshin said, drawing his Iron Dagger. "Alpha Formation. Darius and Sumo, front line. Eli and Nia, flanks. Miojo, Lucas, back with Talia. Rioyin, Samune, with me in the center. Mira… stay close to me."
Mira nodded, her eyes fixed on the darkness.
They entered the park.
The trees were twisted, as if the air itself had warped them. The ground crunched underfoot. And the silence… was too deep.
"Too quiet," Talia whispered.
Then—they attacked.
Not one.
Not two.
Seven goblins leapt from the shadows.
Short, green-skinned, with yellow eyes and teeth like blades. They carried crude weapons: rusted pipes, kitchen knives, broken chains.
"Defend!" Kikoshin shouted.
Darius roared and charged the first, smashing it into a tree.
Sumo blocked a strike with his arms—but took a deep gash on his shoulder.
"Shit!"
"Miojo!" Lucas yelled.
She rushed to Sumo, hands glowing gold. The wound sealed instantly—but Miojo paled.
"It costs… more than I thought."
Rioyin kicked one goblin in the face, but another grabbed him from behind and threw him down.
"Help!"
Samune covered him with a wooden branch, cracking a goblin's skull.
"Don't fight alone!"
Kikoshin moved as best he could, but his dagger barely grazed the creatures. They were too fast.
Then he saw Miojo.
A goblin had circled behind her, chain coiled in its hand.
It was about to strike her head.
"MIOJO, DOWN!" Kikoshin yelled.
She dropped to her knees.
Kikoshin lunged, twisted mid-air, and drove his dagger into the goblin's chest.
The creature shrieked—and dissolved into black particles.
Kikoshin landed beside Miojo, breathless.
Their eyes met.
For a second, the world stopped.
"Thank you…" she whispered.
"Don't leave the group again," he said, softer than he intended.
[GOBLIN DEFEATED: +50 GP]
[TEAM SYNCHRONIZATION +3%]
"Kiko, watch out!" Sumo shouted.
Two more goblins charged him.
But this time, the team moved as one.
Darius distracted them with a roar.
Eli threw a net of cables (salvaged from a nearby pole).
Rioyin and Samune finished them in unison.
One by one, the goblins fell.
In the end, five bodies vanished into black smoke.
Silence returned.
The team was exhausted, bleeding, trembling.
But alive.
[TIME EXPIRED.]
[GOBLINS ELIMINATED: 5]
[GAME POINTS AWARDED: 250 GP]
[SYNCHRONIZATION BONUS: +15 GP]
[TOTAL: 265 GP]
Kikoshin felt a wave of warmth.
"We have points. Now… we can grow."
[SYSTEM: STAT DISTRIBUTION AVAILABLE]
Allocate points to: Strength, Agility, Endurance, Intelligence, or unlock abilities.
Note: As Captain, you may assign points to your team.
"Wait," Samune said. "Don't spend everything. Save for abilities."
Kikoshin nodded.
He looked at each of them.
"Sumo, Darius: Strength and Endurance.
Rioyin: Agility and Precision.
Miojo, Lucas: Endurance (to withstand healing costs).
Talia, Samune, Nia: Intelligence.
Eli: Agility and Stealth.
Mira… you choose."
Mira smiled.
"Give me Endurance. If I fall, you all lose."
Kikoshin assigned the points.
Each member felt a shift in their body: firmer muscles, sharper minds, quicker reflexes.
[LEVEL 2 ACHIEVED – TEAM SUOYO]
[NEW ABILITIES UNLOCKED FOR NEXT MISSION]
"This… is incredible," Sumo said, lifting a rock with one hand.
"It's not magic," Samune said. "It's forced evolution."
Kikoshin looked at his dagger, now stained black.
"This is just the beginning."
But before they could rest, the device pulsed with a red notification.
[SYSTEM ALERT: RIVAL TEAM DETECTED]
Team Viper has completed mission in Sector East.
Current Score: 410 GP.
Warning: Top 3 teams at the end of Day 1 receive exclusive rewards.
Bottom 3… will be marked for elimination.
A heavy silence fell over the group.
"Elimination?" Miojo asked, voice trembling.
"It means other Captains can… hunt us," Talia said.
Kikoshin tightened his grip on the dagger.
"Then we won't be last."
But then, Mira grabbed his arm.
"Kikoshin… look."
She pointed to the sky.
Above the violet barrier, a dark figure floated.
Tall. Thin. Eyes glowing like embers.
It wasn't a goblin.
It wasn't an Echo.
It was something… older.
[UNKNOWN ENTITY DETECTED: LEVEL ??]
[CLASSIFICATION: OBSERVER]
[NO INTERACTION. ONLY WATCHING.]
"What is that?" Rioyin whispered.
"Our judge," Samune said, pale. "Or our executioner."
The figure stared at them… then vanished.
The team stood in silence beneath the energy dome,
with the taste of their first victory on their tongues,
and the chill of their first real threat at their backs.
Kikoshin looked at Miojo.
She met his gaze, fear and trust mingled in her eyes.
"We'll survive," he said.
But deep down, they all knew:
The real game wasn't against goblins.
It was against the other Captains.
And the clock was already ticking.