The cloudy sky spun a melancholic color within the city, grey and desolate with the whistling winds.

Flyers and loose papers were blown through the streets, the only commuters in this city of the end.

In an abandoned gas station, two parties were getting acquainted after their coincidental meeting.

On one side was Minnie and the others, and on the other side was a group of fourteen led by a little person.

He was smaller than a goblin, about the size of a four-year-old child.

He had a stocky frame and brick-like muscles, but most notable were his oversized arms and his red rust-like skin. His arms were much thicker than his legs which were already pretty thick like an elephant's feet.

His wrist region had a circular growth, with an almost metallic texture akin to an oversized sci-fi handcuff with streaks of yellow fused into his wrists. His beard had a weird texture as well, unlike hair at all.

He had red eyes and black horns that bent towards the sides.

Everyone stared in wonder, asking if he was a new race. They couldn't believe his reply when he said he wasn't.

"Like I said, you damn kids,” Old Wheeler huffed. “I'm human. I was normal a few weeks ago. Just a little short and hunchback from my years of hard work. Not this short. My body suddenly changed around two weeks ago when everything went to shit."

He blew out a breath with his nostrils. Even then his lungs must have been quite strong as his exhale was a strong gust.

"Now I look like a toddler. Although my muscles are nice, I could outwork the young'uns on the site even without them

But now…I could outwork the entire district staff by myself," Old Wheeler chuckled to himself, very amused.

His supervisor would beg him to stay now. If the construction company branch wasn't rubble and the world hadn't ended, of course.

Old Wheeler spoke in a manner befitting his age, although he wasn't a dwarf. He was fifty-five and prone to rambling about himself and the past.

"Haha, Old Wheeler." One of the accompanying men laughed, “No need to sulk. Sure, you're shorter, but you have superpowers now. Those green monsters are crushed into mush with a light punch from you. You can even lift cars with no problem."

The girls were all starry-eyed looking at his strange visage asking if they could touch him.

His height made him almost cute although he was fierce looking.

"No ya fucking can't you little rascals!" He protested with his nostrils flaring.

"He says that but you actually can, he's soft on women and children. To him, you're both, anyone 5 years younger than him is a child, even my mother. He likes being an old man, he still listens to old music and wears the same type of clothes, can you believe he had one of us who could tailor to refit his old clothes instead of wearing new ones!" A woman chuckled as she held her hand over her lips. She always wondered how her mother tricked this oddball to remarry when he regularly called her kid.

"Nutcracker stop luring people to manhandle me. I will not be touched!" The old man ran in circles trying to escape Jasmine whose eyes had shone brightly hearing that she could touch him.

They all chuckled seeing the display.

Celes arrived with Sapphire, seeing the red-skinned impish old man.

"Titan Hand Wheeler?" She exclaimed in shock.

She hadn't expected to cross paths with one of her peers so soon. A great figure who had lived long enough and was also strong enough to attain king status.

That grumpy old fellow was a future fierce persona who possessed a Red Steel natal card and whose raw combat power trumped almost everyone in the city in a direct fight.

In terms of raw arm strength, only one other person could compare to him in this entire region, but Wheeler's skill was of a far higher quality than most.

Back then they didn't know the truth, but later on, they recognized that his natal card skill, Titan's Far-Reaching Arms, was a racial skill from the famed Titans!

A pinnacle race on the same level as dragons!

After his family was killed in a premeditated attack, he went on a rampage killing all responsible before leaving to wander through various secret realms. He firmly believed there was a way to bring them back to life with the magic of the New World.

The last she heard was that he and the other two of the unfortunate trio really found a way and were working hard to get back their families in a frenzied race, searching for some odd materials no one ever heard of.

It was hard for such a powerful figure to not cause an uproar wherever he went, so Celes knew quite a bit about him, although they only met a handful of times and never spoke much.

Celes immediately entered the gas station.

She must recruit him!

Someone of his talent and power without a matching highly ambitious or nasty personality was a walking treasure to her stronghold. His eccentric personality had yet to develop with his family still alive and well.

If the Blue Flame Stronghold were to truly become the undisputed strongest and be the beacon of humanity, high combat power, and talent were essential. There were only so many she could cultivate from the start. Winning over good talents was one of her highest priorities in returning from the future.

Celes tightened her waistband and fixed up her hair which was a mess from the wind. The doors were blown open but there was still some clear glass near the sides of the entrance. Celes looked back at her reflection.

Bright blue hair and deep blue eyes, creamy skin, and a lithe figure whose curves could be seen in her slightly baggy blouse and her skinny jeans.

Nodding to herself, Celes made her way further into the store where the group was.

"Woah, your muscles are tougher than iron mister." Jasmine attempted to squeeze some flesh on Wheeler's arm but it didn't even budge.

"Damn it. Well, I guess they are." The old man looked to be displeased but some pride could be seen hidden underneath his outward expression.

"Oh Celes, you're here." Minnie greeted.

The strangers looked over to her.

Seeing her fairy-like beauty, they were all shocked. Sure Minnie was not bad looking, and Jasmine had dyed pink hair, but Celes had what seemed to be natural blue hair adding to her fantastical beauty.

"Yes. It's about time to end our rest, you guys are..." Celes pretended not to know. Minnie saw this and immediately knew what to do even without conveying their thoughts to each other.

Celes had discussed all her plans with her beforehand and even if she hadn't, Minnie would have suggested recruiting the old man based on his supposed capabilities which were likely to be true.

Leading such a large group without any firearms and sustaining very few injuries through the goblin-infested city was very abnormal.

"We met them while we resting. This is Old Sam Wheeler and his companions. They're holed up around 53 Freeman Avenue and Williams Street at the underground parking lot."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Minnie did their introductions and then introduced Celes as their leader.

"Yes, it's nice to meet you. Unfortunately, we have to leave soon. I found a group of goblins in the final stages of making an altar. A Goblin Warrior and Goblin Mage have appeared, we need to get rid of them before more begin to appear.” Celes solemnly explained. “Even worse, there's a Black Iron-ranked card near them. It must be compatible enough since they have made such rapid progress on their racial altar and even produced enough blessings to create a warrior and a mage."

She wasn't joking and this was indeed a serious situation.

Monsters were able to, in rare cases, absorb the power of cards or use them to their benefit while they were unable to activate, use, or store them. They could harvest the mystical energy inside through certain methods or if they had high compatibility with whatever the card represented.

All cards were priceless and it was no exaggeration to say they were worth dozens of lives as their power could protect a great many helpless human beings.

Monsters being able to use cards even in a handicapped manner was a threat to the livelihood of human beings on many accounts.

This was an occurrence that caused continuous headaches and tragedies for humanity. Monsters lusting after the power of cards and aiming to use them for their own could be said to be one of the primary causes for humanity being in such a precarious situation later on.

The real sore spot was that monsters fought for and even possessed cards they couldn't use in the slightest, hoping it would somehow work one day.

Depriving humans of the chance to ever use said cards.

"I already made some preparations to improve our likelihood of a successful assault,” Celes continued grimly. “The earlier we strike, the better."

In her memory, she hadn't heard of this set of goblins but it wasn't surprising as she wasn't active so early and the city was in chaos in the beginning.

Goblins also could serve several different gods and they killed all those not of their faith so internal power struggles were also common. This group might have been wiped out later on, but Celes couldn't leave them be and ignore the death and destruction they would cause.

Wheeler and his team were still caught off guard by Celes who seemed to be similar yet very different to Old Wheeler, they both looked like people out of a Fantasy book. Then they were exposed to new information with a dangerous overtone.

By this time, taking advantage of the shock factor of the New information, Minnie quickly explained Wheeler's situation to the rest of the group and successfully disguised the expressions for those who couldn't control their face and change of attitudes professionally through this overhead current issue.

As they exited the gas station, Wheeler's group who was tossed aside with a regretful 'until next time' finally caught up.

"Wait, friends. Just for a minute."

"What's this about altars and all that? You kids know something about what's happening." Old Wheeler was quite straightforward and did not beat around the bush.

"We don't have time to talk,” Celes said in an urgent tone. “If you want to know, then you can follow us."

Old Wheeler thought for a moment, nodded to his companions, and directly said he would follow.

So Celes brought them along so they could see with their own eyes what was at stake.

The group approached a den of goblins a thousand strong, chanting mysterious scriptures in their native tongue, hoping to birth another miracle apart from their two revered ones.

At the head of this ceremony were two odd goblins. One was slender and tall, holding a bone staff that glowed blood red and an ominous green.

The other was muscular and four meters tall with a large battle axe and exposed fangs poking out from his lower jaw.

Just one look at these goblins could convey the danger they represented.

Celes grew even more serious seeing their appearance and the bloody skulls on the altar surrounded by oddities like human hair and pieces of steel. A peculiar method of worship and sacrifice, even for goblins.

‘This early? If they didn't die to unforeseen causes... This must be a Blood Skull Tribe that worships the same god as the Blood Throne Cultists…’

That would make things much more difficult. Of course, fortunately for them at this stage, the gods' influence was minuscule.

The true terror would take years to appear in full force.

"Please! Here!"

Celes and Wheeler's group had their attention redirected by desperate shouts to the far side.

There they witnessed something that turned their stomachs into tangled knots.

*

On one side of the army of goblins gathering around the two mutant goblins like a congregation in prayer to their god—an unspeakable sight unfolded.

Several humans, headed by some middle-aged men and women, tied up some other humans comprised of children, adults, and the elderly, gagging them and pushing their tearful faces forward in a rigorous effort.

"Oh Lord, forgive us for our sins. We offer up these sinners to your agents of fury. All we ask is to spare us, Lord! And we shall repent for the rest of our days." A middle-aged woman with eyes marked by crow's feet was at the head of the heinous offering, her face painted with urine mixed with 'holy' herbs.

Their wide arms swung wide as a gesture of openness and acceptance.

Celes gritted her teeth seeing this. "Those fucking cult-minded upstarts."

Minnie was surprised hearing her curse as Celes never had done so in all the time she had known her, but this Celes took no heed to her concerned gaze and was seething with rage.

The End Times brought forth many sick groups with a variety of extreme views and practices, all claiming they knew how to handle the apocalypse.

Extraordinary power gave rise to crazy individuals who could lead such blind sheep to the murky water, forsaking their fellow man and causing widespread damage unable to be repaired.

The atrocious acts and lifestyle of these cultist groups were so high-strung, that even the severe acts of discriminatory-themed hate groups based on race, past nationalities, and so on seemed like child's play before them.

Celes had personally seen one group use several women as 'mothers' for the Red-Skinned Orcs, using the newborns as part of their elite guard and army. It was a scene depicting an unholy breeding factory that their base destroyed.

These cultists would stop at nothing. The human skin and bodies they possessed were hollow inside, for they were inhuman.

Of course, these individuals offering up their relatives, friends, and likely unfortunate strangers had yet to fully develop into a cult and only had the framework and mindset of such an entity.

Needless to say, Celes would still show no mercy having seen what they were capable of.

She brought out a card that looked like heated metal. The orange hue was smooth and rubbery, and pockets of ruby-like gems dotted its rear. The card face depicted a pillar of yellow fire ripping the earth asunder.

"Circle to the other side of that building over there, then launch an attack from their rear. Minnie, coordinate the assault." Celes gave out instructions to her team before she turned to Old Wheeler. "I can handle the mage, but the Goblin Warrior might be a stretch. Can I leave him to you?"

Old Wheeler nodded solemnly, his eyes still wide from witnessing the sacrifices. It seemed even the goblins were shocked as they only moved after the thin goblin in a human-skin robe shrieked out some orders.

Unsurprisingly, they attacked indiscriminately. However, as Celes had expected, only a small group split off to apprehend the humans, allowing others room to escape.

"Watch over that girl and her husband in the coming battle. They should be Old Wheeler's family members, his daughter likely." Transmitting her thoughts through the Spiritual Link Insignia, Celes took her position.

Watching the leader survive an ugly escape, she mentally scoffed.

'Not on my watch.'

The card in her hand flashed as a giant beam of orange-yellow light vaporized all in its path, cutting a neat line through the goblin army and killing all the cult minds, leaving zero traces of their existence.

Sapphire flew into the sky by herself and spat out whips of fire on the surprised goblins.

The Goblin Priest screamed at his people, quickly getting them organized and sorted, turning them to Celes.

At this moment, a short stumpy figure was launched towards the muscular goblin warrior.

Minnie's group rushed the rear of the goblin army, with Justin trailing behind already a bit winded from having thrown Wheeler like a catapult toward the Goblin Warrior. His muscles wailed in agony. So heavy. It was like lifting a car.

Sapphire collected Celes, who used a recovery card after activating her first socketed card in this lifetime, Red Steel-grade Great Ray of Searing Skies.

The duo of woman and phoenix rushed to the Goblin priest as it was preparing its magic.

The battle broke out like a falling avalanche.

Old Wheeler's group was given machine guns by Minnie, who had the group's largest storage card Greedy Imp's Sachet.

Although this was a world with supernatural creatures who could shrug off bullets like they were nothing, Goblins were not a part of that group.

Bullets still worked just fine.

A storm of bullets struck the bodies of the screeching green skins like rain to a still puddle.

Splashes of blood flew in the air from the heavy-duty machinery, courtesy of the thoughtful Minnie and Priya who had robbed several police stations.

Finally getting the chance to use her pirate's booty, Minnie excitedly led her new group while mentally commanding her home team in their coordinated attack, machine gun in hand.

The bullets of the smaller caliber rounds were buried in the thick flesh of the goblins who could have passed for zombies with their ignorance of pain.

Even when full of holes, their warlike spirit raged on in battle.

The sound of gunshots mixed with the screams of death and warcry from the large group of goblins echoed throughout the city.