Ancestral Lineage

Smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, and smoke—this was all the green-skinned goblins of the Tree Clan could see. Their world, once vibrant with the lush greens of their mighty oak tree homes, was now consumed by a blinding white haze. These goblins, who prided themselves on their cunning and agility, had prepared for an inevitable battle, sharpening spears and arrows crafted from the sacred wood of their oaks. Yet, none of that mattered against this suffocating fog that crept into their lungs and minds.

The Tree Clan's village spanned the colossal branches of ancient oak trees, interconnected by a maze of wooden bridges and ladders. Their homes were hollowed trunks and suspended platforms, a marvel of natural architecture. But now, the sturdy branches swayed not with the wind but with the weight of lifeless bodies as the smoke claimed more lives. Some goblins fell screaming into the depths below, their minds fractured by the illusions of the mist. Others swung their weapons wildly at shadows or even allies, their perception twisted beyond recognition.

Chief Gobji crouched on one of the higher branches, his green skin shimmering faintly with an aura of vibrant green laced with flickers of gold—a mark of his affinity with nature and his rank as a Gold-rank beast. His green-red eyes glimmered with rage and despair, a heavy contrast to the dull white fog suffocating his clan. He clutched a branch, his clawed fingers digging into the bark.

"Kriek vriek! (Hold the line!)" Gobji roared, his voice reverberating through the dense smoke. The oak beneath him responded to his command, its roots erupting from the tree's sides like writhing serpents, tearing through the mist in search of the enemy.

But his commands were futile. The smoke was alive, shifting and weaving between the attacks with unnerving precision. His people were dying, and he couldn't even see their foe. His hands trembled, not with fear but with the helpless fury of a leader watching his people fall.

Trevor perched on a high branch, his silhouette barely visible as the smoke swirled protectively around him. He leaned lazily against the trunk, his sharp features illuminated by the dim light filtering through the canopy. His calm demeanor belied the tension of the moment.

The goblins were resilient, and far more organized than he had expected, but their tactics were useless against him. The smoke was his domain, and here, amidst the choking fog, he was untouchable—or so he thought.

His gaze fell to the object in his hand, a statue carved intricately with symbols of reverence. A faint silvery-blue glow pulsed from it, evidence of its identity as a hidden item. "They spoke of packs," Trevor mused aloud, his voice smooth and mocking, "but I didn't expect a functioning society. Weaklings, overall, but…" His gaze drifted downwards, to the aura of the goblin chief glowing faintly through the mist. "…perhaps there's one worth my time."

Trevor stored the statue in his spatial ring and stood, the smoke curling tighter around him. "Let's see how a Gold-rank fares against me," he muttered, leaping silently through the canopy, his movements fluid as a shadow.

Gobji's ears twitched, catching the faint sound of rustling leaves. His golden eyes darted to the source, and his muscles tensed. "Kriek! Keek vrak krrii? (Coward! Won't you face me?)" he bellowed into the void, his guttural voice carrying the weight of command.

Trevor's voice echoed from all directions, a taunting whisper that sent shivers down the goblin's spine. "I'm right here, Chief. You just can't see me."

The taunt worked. Gobji snarled, slamming his fist into the bark of the oak. Roots burst forth in every direction, a chaotic storm of thorn-covered vines lashing through the fog. The mighty oak groaned under the strain, its branches quivering as if alive. One of the roots snagged Trevor's smoky form, but it passed through harmlessly, dissolving on contact.

"Kriek, vrak krieek! (Show yourself, human!)" Gobji roared, his voice a mix of frustration and defiance.

Trevor chuckled softly, his tone a maddening blend of calm and mockery. "As you wish."

The sound of leaves rustling behind him made Gobji whirl around, summoning a wooden shield from the tree's bark just in time to block a sharp, smoky strike aimed at his neck. The impact reverberated through the branch, cracking the shield but leaving Gobji unharmed.

Gobji snarled and retaliated with a powerful swipe of his clawed hand. Trevor ducked, the claws slicing through the mist above him. He leaped back, his smirk unwavering. "Impressive for a beast," Trevor remarked, but his breathing had quickened. This wasn't going to be easy.

The goblin chief roared, his aura flaring brighter as the golden streaks pulsed in unison with his rising anger. The branches around him responded, sprouting spikes and twisting into weapons. He hurled one of the jagged branches toward Trevor, who barely dodged, the projectile grazing his side.

Pain flared, and Trevor hissed. His hand pressed against the wound, his fingers coming away red. "So, you're not just brawn," he muttered, his expression hardening. The smoke around him thickened, swirling faster as if mirroring his determination.

The battle shifted to the treetops, each combatant leaping from branch to branch in a deadly dance. Gobji's movements were heavy yet deliberate, each step causing the oaks to react, launching roots and vines toward Trevor. Trevor, despite his agility and smoke-powered evasions, found himself cornered multiple times, forced to expend more energy than he intended.

"Kriek krak kreeek vrraaa! (You will fall today, invader!) "Gobji roared as he slammed both fists into the oak beneath him. A massive tree golem erupted from the trunk, its golden eyes glowing with primal fury. It swung a massive arm, forcing Trevor to dissolve into smoke to evade the crushing blow.@@novelbin@@

Trevor rematerialized on a higher branch, panting heavily. The power gap was undeniable. Gobji's control over the environment, coupled with his raw strength, made every moment a gamble. But Trevor wasn't without tricks.

As the golem surged forward again, Trevor grinned, his hands moving in a fluid motion. Smoke spiraled upward, forming tendrils that wrapped around the golem's head. The creature paused, thrashing wildly as the smoke invaded its form, but Gobji was quick to act. He roared, and the golem's body erupted with spikes, shredding the smoke.

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The distraction was enough. Trevor darted forward, aiming a concentrated blast of smoke at Gobji's chest. The attack connected, sending the goblin chief staggering backward. But Gobji roared again, his aura flaring brighter as he absorbed the impact and retaliated with a flurry of vines that struck Trevor square in the side, sending him crashing into a lower branch.

Trevor coughed, his vision swimming as he struggled to rise. "Damn," he muttered, wiping blood from his mouth. The gap between their ranks was too much, but he couldn't afford to lose. Not here. Not now.

Summoning every ounce of his power, Trevor unleashed a cloud of smoke so dense it blanketed the entire area, plunging the battlefield into complete darkness. Gobji coughed, his golden aura flickering as the smoke invaded his lungs. But he didn't stop. With a final roar, he summoned every root, branch, and vine in the vicinity, creating a devastating storm of nature's wrath.

Trevor gritted his teeth, weaving through the chaos with desperation. His movements were slower now, each step weighed down by fatigue and pain. But he saw his opening—a split second where Gobji's defenses faltered.

With a burst of speed, Trevor closed the gap, his body dissolving into smoke one final time before reappearing behind the goblin. His hand, now a dagger-like spear of smoke, plunged into Gobji's side, piercing through the golden aura.

Gobji froze, his green-red eyes wide with shock. He let out a guttural growl, his body trembling as his aura flickered and faded. He collapsed to one knee, his breath ragged as blood seeped from the wound.

Trevor staggered back, his own body barely holding together. "That…" he panted, a weak grin on his face, "was a fight."

Gobji glared at him, his voice a low, guttural curse in his native tongue. Trevor tilted his head, smirking. "Whatever you said, I'm sure it was dramatic." With that, the smoke dagger dissolved, and Gobji's body slumped to the ground, lifeless.

...

The Earth Clan's cavern quaked under the relentless exchange of blows between Godfred and Gorbu. Each strike seemed to crack the very air, their auras clashing violently—Godfred's rock-laden fists against Gorbu's golden power. Gorbu's overwhelming strength gave him the upper hand, his blows breaking through Godfred's stone armor and sending him reeling multiple times.

But Godfred wasn't fighting recklessly; every retreat was calculated. He observed Gorbu's movements, looking for openings and patterns. When Gorbu lunged forward, aiming a devastating punch, Godfred sidestepped and used the goblin chief's momentum against him. Slamming his hands onto the cavern floor, Godfred summoned a massive stone spike that erupted beneath Gorbu, piercing through his golden aura.

Gorbu roared in fury, breaking the spike with sheer force, but the damage was done. Godfred capitalized on the moment, leaping forward and delivering a crushing blow with both fists to Gorbu's skull, shattering his defenses. The goblin chief crumpled, unconscious but alive, his body glowing faintly as his rank's energy dispersed.

Among the debris, Godfred uncovered what he was seeking: a large rocky club embedded with glowing blue gems, pulsing with raw power. He hefted it onto his shoulder, a victorious smirk playing across his lips.

...

The battle between Timothy and Gaburi was a spectacle of sound and water, their clashing powers turning the Mist Clan's foggy domain into a chaotic battlefield. Gaburi's cunning tactics pushed Timothy to his limits as the goblin leader used the mist and his serpent-like water constructs to launch unpredictable assaults.

Despite the ferocity of Gaburi's attacks, Timothy maintained his calm. Every movement was deliberate, every sound a weapon. As Gaburi's massive water serpent lunged, Timothy unleashed a resonating wave of sound, shattering the construct into harmless droplets. The goblin leader retaliated, summoning a torrential downpour that sought to drown Timothy, but the human countered with a burst of sound that carved a protective dome around him.

Timothy's precision eventually proved too much for Gaburi. With a deafening sonic boom, he shattered the goblin's defenses, leaving Gaburi vulnerable. In a final clash, Timothy struck with a concentrated blast of sound directly at Gaburi's glowing horn. The goblin chief fell, his aura extinguished as he slumped to the ground.

Amid the dissipating mist, Timothy approached a small pedestal hidden behind a dense thicket. There, he found a blue calabash, radiating with mystical energy. He picked it up, giving a soft chuckle. "A worthy prize for a hard-fought battle."