From outside, the Ute honked, twice.

  Zane stood from the dining chair with a sigh. “Kai’s probably freaking out.”

  “Can’t blame him,” Tarni muttered, falling in step as they headed toward the front door, machetes still in hand. They stepped over cracked floorboards and dried blood, boots crunching faint debris. “He’s still processing that goblins are real.”

  The thought crossed Tarni’s mind as they pushed through the door: The house is safe… for now.

  By the time they made it down the front steps, both had their weapons raised, expecting trouble.

  But there was nothing waiting for them—just a wide-eyed Kai leaning out the Ute’s window, waving frantically.

  “They’re gone!” he shouted, pointing around the yard. “The bodies! They just disappeared like poof! Ash or smoke or whatever!”

  He waved his arm in a wild circle. “I saw them—I watched them dissolve! This is this is insane! I didn’t believe you before, I thought you were joking, or maybe losing it, but now!”

  Tarni shook his head and clapped Zane on the back. “This is all you, buddy,” he said with a smirk, then turned toward the one thing he cared most about in this moment, his bike.

  His beautiful HOG was still lying on its side in the grass like a fallen horse in battle.

  He jogged over, boots thudding on the dry ground. Circling the bike with a wince, he took in the damage. The left mirror was completely smashed into the dirt, and one of the handlebars was caked in mud. The thing weighed about four hundred kilos—usually a two-man lift at least—but he reached down instinctively, one hand on the handlebar, the other gripping the crash guard.

  With a grunt, he pulled—and the bike came upright easily. Almost too easily.

  He stood there blinking for a moment, one hand still on the bar, the other brushing dust from the tank. “Huh.”

  Patting it down and giving the mirror a mournful look, he turned and shouted to the others.

  “Oi! Hey guys! The Strength stat is no bull!”

  Zane chuckled. “Guess those points came with perks.”

  Kai slowly climbed out of the Ute, still wide-eyed but calming now that things weren’t actively trying to kill him. “I’m not dreaming, am I?”

  “Nah,” Zane said. “But it’s gonna take time to get used to. We’re all learning the rules.”

  “And so far?” Tarni said, straightening up beside his bike, one hand resting on the tank. “Rule one: stats matter.”

  With a spark of excitement, Zane turned back to Kai. “Did you get any messages? Y'know, from the System?”

  Kai frowned. “No... no weird popups, no voice in my head, nothing.”

  Zane let out a disappointed grunt. “Well, shit. So just being near a fight isn’t enough to get you in.”

  “At least we know now,” Tarni said, scratching at the back of his head. “Next test see if killing a goblin that’s already restrained works.”

  Kai’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?”

  Zane raised an eyebrow. “How are we gonna pull that off?”

  Tarni didn’t answer right away. Instead, he headed to the back of the ute, rummaging through the gear they’d stashed there. He found the packet of heavy-duty cable ties he'd grabbed during his supply run, then reached into the passenger side and pulled out the half-empty case of beer.

  He turned, grinning. “Alright. Here’s the plan: Kai, you take the ute into town—grab some cleaning stuff, food, maybe some new mirrors for my bike if you're feeling generous.”

  Kai stared at him. “And what are you two doing?”

  “We’re going goblin hunting,” Tarni said, his grin sharpening. “We bag one alive, bring it back, and you finish it off. If that doesn’t trigger the System for you, then we’re back to square one.”

  Zane crossed his arms. “You sure about this? Goblins aren’t exactly cooperative.”

  “We’ve fought enough now to manage one. Especially if we plan it right.”

  Kai still looked skeptical. “And what if this doesn’t work?”

  Tarni winked. “Then we keep experimenting. Science, mate. The dangerous kind.”

  Zane gave Kai a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “We’re not dragging you into the deep end, but if you want in and we’ve gotta find the trigger for your mum. This is the next best step.”

  Kai glanced at the ute, then at the house, then at the faint grey ash on the wind where goblins had once been. After a breath, he nodded. “Alright. I’ll do the shopping run.”

  “Good lad,” Tarni said, slapping the side of the ute as Kai climbed in. “And don’t forget the mirror for my bike!”

  Kai just rolled his eyes and drove off, dust trailing behind him.

  Zane turned to Tarni with a raised brow. “So… how exactly do we catch a goblin alive?”

  Tarni cracked his knuckles and flexed his machete hand. “Carefully.”

  The ute’s taillights faded into the darkness, the rumble of the engine swallowed by the stillness of the bush. Above, a full moon hung heavy and bright, bathing the landscape in silver light. Shadows stretched long across the grass, and the trees whispered secrets in the wind.

  Tarni adjusted his grip on the machete and looked toward the paddocks. “Alright. Time to hunt.”

  Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

  Zane nodded, his breath misting slightly in the cool night air. “You reckon they’re still out there?”

  “Goblins love the dark. I’d bet my Harley they’re crawling all over the place.”

  They moved silently through the yard, the soft crunch of gravel and dry twigs underfoot the only sounds. The silver gleam of their blades caught the moonlight as they crept toward the stand of trees beyond the back fence—thick scrubland overgrown with wattle and lantana. The kind of place that felt haunted even in daylight.

  As they reached the treeline, Zane raised a hand. “You smell that?”

  Tarni sniffed. “Rot. Wet fur. Goblin stink.”

  He pointed toward a low cluster of blackberry vines tangled with dead branches. A faint rustling came from within, along with a wet, slurping sound.

  Zane crouched low, parting the bushes.

  Four goblins crouched in a circle around a dead roo, tearing into it with jagged teeth and crude knives. One wore a cracked miner’s helmet with a stub of candle still burning atop it. The flickering flame cast eerie shadows across its gnarled face.

  “lets go with plan A!” Zane whispered.

  “Three down, one alive,” Tarni whispered back, already shifting into position.

  They moved fast. Silent. Deadly.

  Zane lunged first, grabbing the nearest goblin by the back of its neck and slamming it into a tree with a sickening crunch. Tarni’s blade flashed in the moonlight as he took the legs out from under another, dropping it to the dirt before plunging the machete into its chest.

  The third goblin squealed and turned to flee, but Zane caught it mid-run, tackling it to the ground. It fought back with surprising strength, clawing at his face and trying to bite him. Zane grunted, taking a shallow scratch across his cheek before he landed a solid punch to its jaw.

  “Tarni! Zip ties!”

  “On it!”

  Tarni had already hogtied the fourth goblin, who was now hissing curses in some broken, guttural language. With practiced efficiency, he ran over and tossed the ties to Zane. Together, they wrestled the wriggling goblin into a tight bundle—wrists behind its back, ankles tied, and another loop connecting them together.

  The goblin snarled and spat foam as Zane dragged it across the grass. “This one’s got attitude.”

  “That’s good,” Tarni said with a tired grin. “Makes it easier to kill.”

  They stood back, catching their breath, the sounds of the night pressing in around them. Crickets chirped. A night bird called from the trees. And somewhere far off, a howl echoed faintly across the hills.

  Zane looked up at the moon and exhaled. “Nothing like hunting monsters by moonlight.”

  Tarni checked his watch. “Kai should be back soon. You reckon he’s ready?”

  Zane stared down at the bound goblin, who was still snapping and writhing. “He will be. He has to be.”

  Tarni clapped him on the shoulder. “We’ll find out soon enough.”

  With a nod, Zane ducked under the house and rummaged through the shadows until he found two fold-up camping chairs. He dragged them out and set them up near the two bound goblins, who squirmed and hissed in the dirt.

  “Tarn, you keep an eye on these two. I’m heading in to find some food and a drink for myself,” Zane said, eyeing the beer already in his mate’s hand.

  “I’ve got them covered, mate,” Tarni replied, settling into his chair with a long sip, the machete resting across his knees.

  Zane headed back into the house. The flickering candlelight barely cut through the gloom inside, but he moved with purpose. He found a few more candles in a kitchen drawer, lit them, and stuck them into old stubbies for makeshift lanterns. From the pantry he gathered what he could—two boxes of Jax biscuits, a dusty jar of pickled onions, and half a block of sweaty cheddar that was still mostly good.

  Supplies in hand, he returned outside and lowered himself into the second chair with a grunt. He passed Tarni a handful of Jax and cracked open the jar of onions. They sat there together, boots in the dirt, weapons close, watching over two snarling goblins under a sky full of stars.

  For the first time in what felt like forever, they let themselves breathe.

  They had a plan. It might not be pretty, but it was a way forward. And that weight that had been crushing Zane’s chest since this madness began eased—just a little.

  In the distance, down the dirt road winding back toward the house, the soft glow of headlights began to grow, threading through the trees like hope on the horizon.

  The ute rumbled into view, its headlights cutting long shadows across the yard before sweeping over Zane and Tarni. The engine idled for a moment, then cut off with a final cough. The door creaked open, and Kai stepped out, arms full—bags of groceries, a jerry can, and a couple of heavy-duty garbage bags hanging from each hand.

  Zane stood and gave him a nod. “Good timing.”

  Kai looked around as he approached, eyes lingering on the two hogtied goblins writhing in the grass under the faint glow of the candles. “Jesus… they’re still alive.”

  “Yeah,” Tarni said, crunching into a Jax biscuit. “One’s yours.”

  Kai blinked. “What?”

  Zane met his son’s eyes. “You want in on this System? You’ve got to kill one. Properly. Hands-on. No shortcuts.”

  Kai shifted his weight, uncomfortable. “You’re serious.”

  “Dead serious,” Tarni said. “Or undead. These little freaks are hard to keep down.”

  Kai set the supplies down near the chairs, his gaze drifting to the nearest goblin. It snarled at him, teeth yellow and eyes burning like coals. “It’s tied up. Feels... wrong.”

  “Not a lot about this feels right, son,” Zane said gently. “But they’re not animals. They’re not people. They’re part of whatever’s changing the world. And if you don’t kill it now, you’ll be forced to do it when one’s trying to eat you.”

  Kai swallowed, fists clenched at his sides.

  Zane walked over to him and pressed the machete into his hand. “You don’t have to like it. You just have to do it.”

  Tarni stood as well, stepping back. “We’ll give you space.”

  The goblin squirmed and spat something guttural, almost mocking. Kai stared at it for a long moment, then moved in slowly, boots crunching on gravel.

  He knelt beside it. The thing thrashed, straining against the ties. Its eyes locked onto his, wild and defiant.

  Kai raised the machete.

  Hesitated.

  Then, with a raw, instinctual yell, Kai brought the blade down, once, twice, until the goblin stopped moving.

  Silence fell.

  Nothing happened.

  Kai stood frozen, his breath ragged, the machete slipping from his fingers and hitting the ground with a dull thud. He stumbled back, eyes wide, face pale.

  “Wait—don’t panic,” Tarni said quickly, rising from his chair. “The System still thinks you’re in combat. It needs to know it’s over. Zane, take him for a walk, the other side of the house should do it.”

  Zane was already moving. He stepped in close and placed a steadying hand on his son’s shoulder, guiding him gently away without a word. They disappeared around the corner, leaving Tarni alone with the bodies—one still, one hissing and writhing in its bonds.

  Minutes passed. The bush rustled quietly in the distance, and the breeze shifted the candle flames on the porch. Tarni watched, unmoving.

  Then the dead goblin began to dissolve—flesh sinking into itself, crumbling like ash before being pulled into the earth, leaving behind nothing but stained grass and a faint shimmer in the air.

  Bing.

  From behind the house, a sharp inhale broke the quiet.

  Kai gasped and staggered, nearly tripping as he reeled back. His eyes locked onto something only he could see, his mouth slightly agape.

  Zane steadied him again. “Did it work?”

  Kai nodded slowly, lips dry. “Yeah. A message just popped up. I... I think I’m in.”

  Tarni let out a long breath and after cracking a tired grin, he yelled. “Bloody oath. Welcome to the deep end.”

  Kai looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers like he expected something to change. “It feels... weird. Like something’s watching me. Like the world shifted when I wasn’t looking.”

  Zane gave his shoulder a firm squeeze. “It did. But now you’ve got a chance.”

  They stood together in the candlelit yard, a silent moment shared between them. The remaining goblin twisted in its bonds nearby, muttering curses under its breath. Blood soaked into the grass in a crescent-shaped smear. Above them, the moon hung silver and still, casting its pale judgment over everything.

  And in front of Kai’s eyes, the System awaited.

  Congratulations KAI RIDER

  You are the third to kill a Dungeon Defender on planet EARTH

  Title gained

  You just made it

  You will receive 1x bonus XP (Experience Point) for all STATS at each level until level 5.

  Also, you have been granted a skill

  Very Basic healing touch