The roar echoed, not just in the cavern, but within the very minds of the Formians. It was a sound layered with the heat of the forge, the grating shriek of stressed chitin, and the undeniable command of an E-Rank intelligence backed by a volcanic fury.
Klik stood transformed. Gone was the raw, pink, vulnerable flesh. He was encased in [Obsidian Carapace], black as cooled magma, veined with pulsating blue-black lines of absorbed Legionnaire energy. Jagged plates overlapped, seamlessly fused with the E-Rank armor he had stitched onto himself, creating a grotesque but undeniably powerful exoskeleton. Short, heat-hazed horns swept back from his temples. His eyes glowed like embers. He radiated heat from his [Volcanic Heart].
He was Lvl 1 of his second evolution, but his presence dominated the battlefield.
The Formians staggered. The [Psionic Static] radiating from Klik, combined with the Synapse's disruption, threw their Hive-link into chaos. Their disciplined assault dissolved into confusion. Skirmishers hesitated, looking towards the breach for commands that weren't coming clearly.
The two remaining Praetorians, however, reacted instantly. Their 20 INT recognized the new, greater threat. They abandoned Snarl, abandoning the slaughter of the tribe. Their heat-lances, humming with renewed energy, swiveled towards Klik.
The critically wounded Praetorian, still kneeling and clawing at the magma clinging to its back, let out a final, gurgling shriek and collapsed, its internal structure flash-cooked.
(Objective 2: Cull Elite - 2/3 Killed!)
"KLIK-KIN!" Klik's voice was different now – deeper, resonant, carrying an innate heat. "COUNTER-ATTACK!"
He didn't wait. He moved.
His Agility wasn't Snarl's impossible blur, but it was fast. Faster than any goblin had a right to be. Faster than the Praetorians anticipated. He didn't charge at them. He charged between them, towards the struggling mass of Skirmishers overwhelming Grik's broken line.
His [Chitin-Infused Iron Mace] became a black comet.
His Strength was monstrous.
CRUNCH! A Hoplite's shield shattered, the ant behind it imploding.
WHAM! A Skirmisher was swatted aside like a fly, its carapace cracking.
SPIN! He used his new [Sharpened Mandibles] in a point-blank snap, shearing through a spear shaft.
He was the whirlwind now. His [Obsidian Carapace] (+120 DEF) shrugged off desperate Skirmisher thrusts with contemptuous ease, sparks flying harmlessly. The heat radiating from his [Volcanic Heart] made the ants recoil instinctively.
[You have slain [Formian Hoplite (Lvl 18)]!] [+18 EXP!] (Towards Lvl 2, 2nd Evo)
[You have slain [Formian Skirmisher (Lvl 14)]!] [+14 EXP!]
[You have slain [Formian Skirmisher (Lvl 12)]!] [+12 EXP!]
(~25/50 Kills needed)
His action, his presence, his unmitigated fury, reignited his tribe. The [Courage] skill flared brighter, fueled by the [Hive Resilience].
"KING-GOD FIGHTS!" Grik (Lvl 16) screamed, his 12 INT seizing the moment. "WE FIGHT! KILL THE ANTS! FOR THE FORGE! FOR KLIK!"
He charged, his reforged iron spear leading the way. The remaining spear-goblins formed a ragged line around him. The sword-and-shiv goblins surged forward, their [Battle-Frenzy] overriding their fear.
The battle inside the cavern shifted. It was no longer a defense; it was a purge. Goblins, newly leveled, newly armed, driven by their God-King's example, fell upon the disoriented Skirmishers with savage glee.
The two Praetorians, momentarily bypassed by Klik, turned their attention back to the true threat. One fired its heat-lance at Klik's back.
Klik felt it coming – his 84 Perception, enhanced by [Lesser Pheromone Sense], detected the energy build-up, the shift in the Formian's stance. He didn't dodge. He spun, interposing his thickest back-carapace.
VWOOM-CLANG!
The beam hit. Searing heat. His armor glowed cherry-red. Pain lanced through him, but the [Obsidian Carapace] (+25 Heat Resist from Volcanic Heart) held. It scored the chitin, but didn't penetrate.
He staggered, hissing, smoke rising from his back.
The other Praetorian charged him, its own heat-lance lowered like a jousting weapon.
Klik met the charge. Mace vs Lance.
CLANG! The impact shook the cavern. Klik slid back, his feet gouging stone. The Praetorian was stronger (likely STR ~50+).
But Klik wassmarter.
He used the rebound, allowing himself to be pushedbackwards, towards the dying bonfire. He kicked out, sending a shower of glowing, white-hot[Fungal-Coke]embersinto the Praetorian'sface.
The Praetorian recoiled, hissing, its sensitive antennaesinged. A moment's hesitation.
Enough.
Klik activated[Magma Spit]. (-5 Mana).
He didn't aim for the head. He aimed for the lance.
The glowing cannonball of molten rockhit the Praetorian'sweaponmid-shaft.
SPLAT-KRA-BOOOOM!
The lancedidn't just melt. It exploded. The internal energy celldetonated.
The Praetorianshrieked as its own weaponblew upin its claws, shredding its hands and chest with energy-shrapnel. It stumbled back, disarmed and critically wounded.
(Objective 3: Cull Elite - 3/3 Killed!)QUEST OBJECTIVE COMPLETE!
[...]
The last Praetorian froze. It saw its comrade fall. It saw Klik, smoking but unbroken. It saw the goblin tribe, now butchering the last of the Skirmishers.
Its 20 INT calculated. Mission-Failure. High-Threat-Target. Retreat.
It fired one last, parting shot at Klik – a wild beam that vaporized a section of the ceiling, raining down hot rock.
Then it turned and fled, leaping back out through the breach with terrifying speed.
Klik let it go. He couldn't pursue. He had to consolidate.
The battle inside the cavern was over.
Twenty-seven Formians lay dead (5 from first wave, 3 tarred, 4 stoned, 1 by Klik Pre-Evo, ~10 by tribe/Snarl, 3 Spitters by Klik, 1 Leader by Snarl, 2 Praetorians by Klik Post-Evo). The rest had fled.
(Objective 3: Endure Swarm - ~42/50 Kills. TIME ELAPSED: ~ 5 Minutes). QUEST OBJECTIVE COMPLETE!
He looked at his tribe. Six dead goblins lay amidst the carnage. One more than the limit.
(Objective 2: Protect Future - Casualties 6/5 - FAILED!)
His Forge stood intact, though scorched. (Objective 4 Met). He was alive. (Objective 4 Met). 21 Goblins survived. (Objective 4 Met).
The main Quest, [Survive the Purge], was a partial, costly victory.
[QUEST: "Survive the Purge"... PARTIAL SUCCESS!]
[Objectives Met: 1 (Disrupted), 3, 4, 5.]
[Objective Failed: 2 (Protect Future - Casualties Exceeded Limit)]
[Calculating Rewards... Penalty Applied for Objective Failure...]
[REWARDS ISSUED!]
1) [Tribe Skill: Psionic Resistance (Lesser)] GRANTED!
2) 1,500 EXP Distributed Per Survivor! (Reduced from 2,500)
3) +5 Random Stat Points Distributed Per Survivor! (Reduced from +10)
4) [Formian Praetorian Lance Schematic (Fragment)] x 1 (Damaged due to partial failure)
5) [Evolutionary Catalyst (Lesser)] x 1 (Reduced from 2)
Another wave of golden light, less intense this time, washed over the survivors.
They leveled again. The average hit Lvl 14. Grik and Bruk hit Lvl 18. Snarl soared to Lvl 15 (E-Rank).
And Klik... The EXP flooded into his newly Evolved, Lvl 1 body. The 1500 EXP from the Praetorian kill, plus his share of the 1500 distributed Quest EXP (let's assign a larger leader's share due to his critical role, say 300 EXP). Total: 1800 Monster EXP.
[Calculating EXP using 2nd Evolution Formula (N*20)...]
Lvl 1 -> 2: Costs 20 EXP (1780 left).
Lvl 2 -> 3: Costs 40 EXP (1740 left).
Lvl 3 -> 4: Costs 60 EXP (1680 left).
Lvl 4 -> 5: Costs 80 EXP (1600 left).
Lvl 5 -> 6: Costs 100 EXP (1500 left).
Lvl 6 -> 7: Costs 120 EXP (1380 left).
Lvl 7 -> 8: Costs 140 EXP (1240 left).
Lvl 8 -> 9: Costs 160 EXP (1080 left).
Lvl 9 -> 10: Costs 180 EXP (900 left).
Lvl 10 -> 11: Costs 200 EXP (700 left).
Lvl 11 -> 12: Costs 220 EXP (480 left).
Lvl 12 -> 13: Costs 240 EXP (240 left).
Lvl 13 -> 14: Costs 260 EXP (Not enough).
[You have Leveled Up 12 Times!]
[Current Level: Lvl 13 (2nd Evolution)! (240/260 EXP towards Lvl 14)]
[You have gained +12 To All Base Stats!]
[You have gained +5 Stat Points! Randomly Allocated: +1 STR, +1 AGI, +1 STA, +1 INT, +1 PER]
A tidal wave of power surged through Klik's new form. The lingering aches of transformation vanished, replaced by raw, potent vitality. His stats exploded upwards again.
[Recalculating Stats...]
Base STR: 42 + 12 Lvl + 1 Rnd = 55
Base AGI: 46 + 12 Lvl + 1 Rnd = 59
Base STA: 51 + 12 Lvl + 1 Rnd = 64
Base INT: 92 + 12 Lvl + 1 Rnd = 105!
Base PER: 84 + 12 Lvl + 1 Rnd = 97!
Base MANA: 48 + 12 Lvl = 60
[Applying Debuff: [Integrated Chitin-Plate Armor] (-1 STR, -1 AGI)]
[FINAL STATS (Lvl 13, 2nd Evo):]
STR: 54
AGI: 58
STA: 64
INT: 105
PER: 97
MANA: 60
He felt the difference. His INT broke 100. His AGI surpassed Snarl's base. He was truly E-Rank now, in both Class and Body. The disappointment of the reduced quest rewards vanished, eclipsed by his own staggering leap in power.
He looked at the breach. The last Praetorian was gone. The Synapse was damaged, likely retreating.
But the Hive knew. They knew he was E-Rank. They knew he could fight.
They would be back.
He looked at the [Praetorian Cores] glowing faintly amidst the wreckage. He needed Essence (still needed balance!). He needed levels.
He needed to prepare for the next wave.
"GRIK!" he roared, his voice a gravelly thunder now deeper, more resonant. "SALVAGE! EVERYTHING! REBUILD THE WALL! STRONGER!"
He turned to Snarl (Lvl 15, E-Rank), who was already prowling the edges of the cavern, her [Scent-Hunter] mapping the aftermath.
"HUNT-MASTER! THE BIG BEAST! FIND IT! NOW!" He needed balance. He needed power.
He strode back to his Forge, ignoring the awed, terrified cheers of his tribe.
His new body felt strange, powerful, hot from the [Volcanic Heart].
He had survived. He had Evolved.
The cost was high. Six dead. Reduced rewards. But the gains… the gains were immense.
The Hive would return. And he would be ready.
He raised his [Chitin-Infused Mace], the metal already seeming too light for his new 54 STR.
The Iron Harvest was over.
The Age of the Obsidian King had begun.