Mission begins

Leo's heart hammered a frantic tattoo against his ribs, each beat echoing the thunderous approach of the abominations.

Their grotesque forms, twisted and contorted by the corrupted mana that fueled them, lurched closer, their sickly green skin pulsing with an otherworldly glow that sent shivers down his spine.

These towering monstrosities, standing at a daunting seven feet tall, were a sight to behold, a tableau of nightmares given grotesque life.

Some had four arms, each one rippling with bulging muscles that looked like they could crush stone; others had six legs, their insectoid limbs moving with a terrifying speed and precision.

As they drew closer, he could see the twisted and mutated features of their faces, each one more grotesque and terrifying than the last. Their eyes glowed with a sickly green light, and their mouths twisted into jagged grins filled with razor-sharp teeth.

"What in the hell are those?!" he rasped, fear lacing his voice.

"Corrupted goblins," Mel's voice echoed in his head, tinged with grimness. "A byproduct of a mana core gone disastrously wrong."

Leo swallowed hard, a metallic tang lingering on his tongue. "So, if I stick around too long, I'll turn into... that?"

Mel remained silent, a chilling confirmation hanging heavy in the air.

His heart threatened to burst from his chest as the goblins closed in, their unearthly shrieks filling the air.

With a determined roar, Leo unsheathed his sword, charging forward with a blur of steel.

These monsters were unlike anything he had ever faced, even in the darkest corners of the grimoires he devoured.

Their bodies moved in ways that defied the laws of nature, their limbs contorting at unnatural angles as they dodged and weaved with an agility that belied their hulking forms.

Leo swung his sword with all his might, but the creatures were too quick for him, effortlessly evading his strikes. One of the four-armed monstrosities lashed out with a razor-sharp claw, the blow grazing his shoulder and sending a searing pain down his arm.

The sound of metal on metal reverberated through the forest as he blocked another attack, but as he turned to face the next foe, a goblin with six spindly legs, it rammed into him from behind. The impact sent him sprawling, his sword clattering to the ground.

Leo crashed against a tree, the impact stealing the breath from his lungs. He coughed, spitting blood, as the goblins surrounded him, their eyes burning with predatory hunger.

"Full-blown idiot!" Mel's voice crackled with exasperation. "I told you not to engage them head-on!"

"Working on it!" Leo roared, wiping blood from his cheek. "Didn't expect…" He winced, pain shooting through his shoulder. "…these variables."

His gaze darted across the goblin horde. "They're strong, but instinct-driven. Maybe…"

An idea sparked in his mind, desperate but potentially brilliant.

"Are you blind, How do plan on accomplishing that when they all clearly have there eyes on you?" as Mel.

"Wait, can they differentiate friend from foe?!" he questioned, his voice laced with urgency.

Mel remained silent, but the rising tension spoke volumes.

Just as the goblins lunged, Leo threw his hands up, a wry grin twisting his lips. "To hell with it! Plan B!"

He fumbled with a pouch on his belt, retrieving two vials – one crimson, the other sapphire. They pulsed with an otherworldly glow, hinting at the potent magic held within.

"Are you sure?" Mel's voice wavered.

"Absolutely!" Leo slammed the vials together, the contents swirling into a mesmerizing nebula. He choked back a cough as a pungent, almost hypnotic aroma filled the air.

"They're almost here!" Mel shrieked.

"Hold your horses!" Leo yelled, his hands slick with sweat. "This could backfire spectacularly!"

The vibrant colors danced within the vial, the moment of truth hanging heavy. But before the fusion could complete, a deafening crack shattered the tension.

A nearby tree, felled by a goblin's swing, plummeted towards the horde. Acting on instinct, Leo dove, rolling clear just as the wood splintered around him.

He scrambled to his feet, vial in hand, and hurled it with all his might. It sailed through the air, landing right among the goblins.

A blinding flash, a deafening boom, and a cloud of noxious fumes erupted. Leo shielded his face, coughing as he retreated deep into the furthest part of the forest. Safety was of the essence.

When the smoke cleared, a horrifying sight greeted him. The goblins writhed on the ground, their bodies contorted in agony. A plan hatched in desperation, a gamble with life and death.

The goblins writhed in their agony, their screams replaced by gurgling gasps for air. The noxious fumes had done their job, neutralizing the immediate threat but leaving them vulnerable and poisoned.

This was his window, but the success of his audacious plan hinged on precision and speed.

With a practiced hand, Leo uncorked a vial filled with shimmering blue liquid, the mana potion.

One by one, he forced it down the throats of the writhing goblins, ignoring their panicked struggles. Their bodies spasmed with renewed agony as the corrupted mana battled the cleansing potion, yet he continued, his purpose fueling his resolve.

As he worked, Mel's voice crackled in his head, laced with both anxiety and a grudging respect. "You're pushing your luck, Leo. Siphoning from multiple goblins at once is...uncharted territory."

"Desperate times," Leo grunted, sweat beading on his forehead. "Besides, if they explode while filled with that corrupted mana, we're all toast anyway."

The risk was undeniable. Even one goblin overloaded with potent mana could become a walking bomb. But Leo had little choice. He needed the mana, a vast amount, and these corrupted beasts held the key.

But they needed to be alive. It was a dance on a razor's edge, his gamble teetering on the brink of disastrous failure.

As the last goblin received its dose, Leo felt a surge of energy crackle through him. The mana, raw and chaotic, thrummed beneath his skin. He gritted his teeth, focusing on Mel's guidance. "Now, the channeling. Open yourself, but carefully! Don't let the torrent overwhelm you!"

Following her instructions, Leo closed his eyes, picturing the chaotic mana as a raging river. He built a mental dam, channeling the flow through carefully constructed pathways within his own being.

It was a delicate maneuver, like guiding a stallion with a broken halter. The effort left him trembling, his vision blurring at the edges.

Suddenly, a searing pain lanced through his mind. One of the goblins, weakened but refusing to yield, had detonated. The shockwave sent him flying, the vial shattering in his hand. He tasted copper, his ears ringing with the echo of the blast.

But before he could move, they all twitched and exploded.

BOOOM!!!