Jack crouched in the thicket, his eyes fixed on the goblin shaman leading the ritual at the gate. The shaman's chants grew louder, and the runes on the stone arch flared brighter, casting an eerie light across the clearing. Jack felt the weight of the situation pressing on him. This ritual was crucial to the goblins' plans, and he had to stop it, whatever the cost.

He glanced at his status screen, noting his remaining mana and the skill points he had accumulated. One of those points could be used to enhance his Space Storage skill, increasing its range. Currently, it only allowed him to reach objects within ten feet, but with an upgrade, he could extend that to thirty feet—just enough to target the shaman from his hiding spot.

Jack hesitated for a moment, aware of the risk. Using his Space Storage skill in this way would drain a significant amount of mana, and targeting the shaman directly was far more complex than the simple object manipulations he had performed before. But he had no other options. The shaman's ritual had to be stopped, and the quickest way to do that was by eliminating the shaman himself.

With a deep breath, Jack made his decision. He spent the skill point, feeling a rush of energy as the upgrade took effect. His Space Storage skill now had a range of thirty feet, enough to reach the shaman. Jack focused on his target, visualizing the shaman's chest, aiming directly for the heart. He steadied his breathing, calming his nerves as he prepared to strike.

He activated the skill, feeling the familiar pull of mana as he reached out with his mind. The sensation was different this time—more intense, more demanding. Jack gritted his teeth, concentrating all his willpower on the task. The shaman's heart came into focus, a pulsing target within his mental grasp. With a final push, Jack willed his Space Storage skill to activate, intending to remove the heart from the shaman's chest.

The reaction was immediate. A surge of mana coursed through Jack, far more than he had ever handled before. He felt a sharp pain in his head, a burning sensation in his veins. But he held on, forcing the skill to work. He felt the shaman's heart come into his control, and with a final burst of effort, he pulled.

The shaman let out a choked gasp, clutching his chest as the light in the runes flickered and dimmed. The chanting stopped abruptly, the goblins around the gate looking confused and alarmed. Jack, still hidden, watched as the shaman staggered, blood spilling from his mouth. The goblin's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed, dead.

A wave of dizziness hit Jack as the mana backlash struck him. He had used all his mana in the attack, more than his body could handle. He felt weak, his vision blurring. The world seemed to spin around him, and he had to grab onto the branches of the thicket to steady himself. The pain in his head intensified, a sharp, stabbing sensation that made it hard to think.

In the clearing, the goblins erupted into chaos. The shaman's guards, a group of particularly large and burly goblins, rushed to their fallen leader, their eyes wide with shock and fury. The rest of the goblins began to shout, their voices rising in panic. They knew something had gone terribly wrong, and they were determined to find the cause.

Jack forced himself to stay still, fighting through the pain and nausea. He watched as the shaman's guards barked orders, spreading the goblins out to search the area. They were looking for him, the unseen attacker who had disrupted their ritual. Jack knew he had to stay hidden; in his current state, he couldn't fight them off.

The goblins spread out, their weapons drawn, eyes scanning the trees and underbrush. Jack's heart pounded in his chest as a group of them passed dangerously close to his hiding spot. He held his breath, praying they wouldn't notice him. His mana reserves were depleted, and he felt drained, the backlash from his attack leaving him weak and vulnerable.

The goblins continued their search, moving further away from the gate. Jack knew he had only a limited amount of time before they either found him or gave up the search. He needed to recover, to regain his strength and plan his next move. The shaman's death had stopped the ritual, but he didn't know what the goblins had been trying to achieve. The gate was clearly important to them, and Jack needed to find out why.

For now, though, his priority was survival. He needed to stay hidden until the goblins moved on, and then find a safe place to rest and recover. He gritted his teeth, enduring the pain and weakness, and waited for his opportunity to escape. The shaman was dead, but the danger was far from over.

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Jack remained hidden near the other end of the cave opening, his ghillie suit blending him seamlessly into the surrounding foliage. He had chosen this spot carefully, providing a clear view of the goblins' activities while keeping him out of sight. The cave entrance was bustling with goblin activity, and Jack knew he had to be cautious. The previous night's events had left him drained, both physically and mentally. The mana backlash from using his Space Storage skill had taken a toll, and he needed time to recover.

As the night deepened, Jack carefully rationed the remaining goblin supplies he had scavenged earlier. The food was far from appetizing, consisting of dried meats and some unidentifiable roots, but it was sustenance. As he ate, he focused on regaining his mana, breathing deeply and trying to calm his mind. The sensation of his depleted mana reserves slowly refilling was both comforting and frustratingly slow. He knew he needed to be at full strength if he was to survive whatever came next.

The cave was a hive of activity throughout the night. Goblins came and went, carrying supplies, weapons, and strange artifacts. Jack observed them intently, noting the hierarchy and roles within the group. The goblins seemed organized, far more so than he had previously encountered. It was clear that the shaman had been a significant figure, and his death had caused a stir among them. The guards were on high alert, patrolling the area and frequently checking the surroundings, searching for any sign of the intruder who had killed their leader.

As dawn approached, Jack's body ached from the strain of remaining still for so long. He shifted slightly, stretching his cramped muscles as subtly as possible. The morning light slowly filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Jack continued to watch, hoping to catch any sign of what the goblins were planning next. His mind raced with possibilities, but he knew he needed more information before making any decisions.

Then, as the sun began to rise, Jack saw something that made his blood run cold. A group of goblins, led by a particularly large and menacing one with reddish-green skin, emerged from the forest. They were carrying bound figures—humans. Jack's heart sank as he recognized the captives. It was his colleagues, the same group he had been stranded with when the world changed. They were tied up with vines and ropes, their faces pale and fearful.

The goblin party, numbering around forty, moved with purpose, heading towards the cave entrance. Jack's colleagues struggled against their bindings, but it was clear they were exhausted and had been overpowered. The sight of them in such a state filled Jack with a mix of emotions—anger, guilt, and a burning desire for revenge. He had thought them safe at the resort, but clearly, the goblins had other plans.

Jack's mind raced as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Why were his colleagues being brought here? What did the goblins intend to do with them? The sight of the reddish-green goblin leader brought a sense of dread. This was no ordinary raid or kidnapping; there was something more sinister at play.

As the goblin party approached the cave entrance, they were met by a group of guards. A heated exchange followed, though Jack couldn't understand their guttural language. The reddish-green leader gestured towards the cave, and the guards nodded, stepping aside to allow the group entry. Jack watched helplessly as his colleagues were dragged inside, disappearing from view.

The weight of the situation pressed down on Jack. His colleagues were now prisoners, likely to be used in some dark ritual or as leverage. The goblins were clearly organized and had a plan, one that involved the strange gate at the center of the island. Jack felt a surge of urgency. He couldn't leave his colleagues to whatever fate awaited them, but he also knew he was vastly outnumbered and still recovering from his previous ordeal.

Jack clenched his fists, feeling the rough bark of the tree against his palms. He couldn't act recklessly; charging in would be suicide. He needed a plan, a way to rescue his colleagues without getting himself killed. But first, he needed to recover fully. He continued to eat the remaining supplies, feeling his mana slowly return. As he did, he kept a watchful eye on the cave entrance, noting the patterns of the guards and the movements of the goblins.

The sight of his colleagues in such a vulnerable state haunted him. He had to do something, but what? His mind raced with possibilities, each more desperate than the last. He could try to sneak in under cover of darkness, or perhaps create a diversion to draw the goblins away. But whatever he decided, he needed more information about what was happening inside the cave and what the goblins were planning with the gate.

As the morning wore on, Jack continued to observe, his mind working furiously to formulate a plan. He couldn't let his colleagues down; he couldn't leave them to suffer at the hands of the goblins. He had to act, and soon. But for now, he could only watch and wait, gathering his strength and preparing for whatever came next. The sight of the cave entrance, with his colleagues held captive inside, fueled his determination. He would find a way to rescue them, no matter the cost.