The squad had been pushing their eye powers nonstop, and the cliffs overlooking the floating islands were their usual training spot. The sky was painted in molten orange and deep purple, the perfect backdrop for a squad that was just starting to unlock real potential.
Astro twirled his shadow-light sword casually. "Yo… mfana. I swear my eyes are seeing everything now. Big dawg mode activated."
Tenji leaned back on a rock, golden light spilling off his fists. "Bruh… slow-mo vision? I can feel it in my bones. Universe ain't ready for this."
Hunter hovered slightly above the ground, tapping his holographic readouts. "Dawg… calculations show our efficiency is off the charts. Lowkey, we could take on multiple mini-level threats right now."
Phantom melted into a shadow on the cliffside, then reappeared on a nearby branch. "Heh… mfana, these eyes are insane. Can't wait to see what they do in a real fight."
A Chill Moment Before Tension
Astro laughed, sending a few shadow-light clones spinning in formation. "Yo, mfana… we're getting nuts at this. Can't believe Drexar tried us before we even had eyes upgraded."
Tenji smirked. "Big dawg agrees. But lowkey… feel like we're being watched. Kinda chill, kinda weird."
Hunter adjusted his grid. "Bruh… energy readings spiking faintly. Not Drexar-tier, something else. Definitely alien humanoid-level."
Phantom's shadows quivered. "Lowkey… you can feel it too, right? Movement in the air, subtle ripples. Somebody's lurking."
Astro's eyes narrowed. "Dawg… mfana about to test us? Let's see what these mfana got."
The Hub Goblins Make Their Presence Known
From a distant cliff, the Hub Goblins revealed themselves. Standing tall, humanoid but unmistakably alien, they were a chilling sight:
Skin tones: obsidian black with glowing veins, metallic silver with faint runes, pale translucent blue, muted gold. Some had bioluminescent patterns that pulsed with every tiny movement.
Eyes: oversized and luminous, with slits, swirling patterns, or multiple smaller eyes along their foreheads. Each gaze felt like it pierced straight through the squad.
Body shapes: humanoid but slightly elongated, wiry or lean, movements fluid like predators.
Aura: faint shimmer of energy, changing color with mood or magical focus, making them look alive even when still.
One goblin, emerald-green with crystalline ridges along its head, tilted slightly and surveyed the squad with a predator's patience. Another, pale blue with glowing tattoos along its arms, smirked subtly, like it already knew something about each of them.
Astro whispered, "Dawg… lowkey scary. They're OP. But we're not backing down."
Tenji cracked his knuckles, golden light dancing. "Bruh… feels like a test. Big dawg ready for this."
Phantom's shadows spread, blending into the rocks and trees. "Lowkey… love this. They think they're hunting. We'll see who's playing with who."
Hunter activated his Strategic Grid Vision fully. "Dawg… they're measuring us. Reading our powers. Not elite yet, but these energy patterns are high potential. They're cataloging every move."
Reflections While Being Watched
Astro's clones darted around him, each replicating his movements perfectly. "Yo, mfana… I feel them studying every flick of my shadow. Big dawg gotta show em some tricks soon."
Tenji swung a fist casually, shattering a floating rock mid-air. "Bruh… bet they didn't see that coming."
Hunter analyzed every energy pulse. "Dawg… I can see their eyes track every single flow of energy. We gotta keep leveling, or they'll catch up."
Phantom's shadowy form slipped behind a boulder. "Lowkey… don't get too cocky, mfana. But damn, watching them notice our power? Priceless."
Astro grinned, letting his shadows dissipate. "Dawg… universe ain't ready for this energy. We just vibin'."
Goblin Features That Stand Out
One goblin had metallic silver skin, with faint rune tattoos glowing when it shifted stance. It held a floating shard of energy, spinning it slowly.
Another had obsidian black skin and eyes that seemed to flicker like fire. Every step it took, tiny veins of light pulsed, almost like it was syncing with the squad's movements.
A third, pale translucent blue, had bioluminescent patterns that shifted according to mood. Its gaze was calm, calculating, almost bored but terrifyingly precise.
Astro whispered, "Dawg… each one's different, but all deadly."
Phantom smirked. "Lowkey… we're about to make them regret watching."
Foreshadowing of Greater Threats
From a distant asteroid, Lord Kael observed the energy spike. His lips curled into a faint smile.
"Interesting… four young cultivators awakening faster than expected. And the Hub Goblins are monitoring. This will be… entertaining."
One goblin whispered to another, luminous eyes narrowing. "Dawg… these mfana aren't ordinary. Keep tracking. High potential. Notify the higher-ups if they progress further."
Astro laughed without knowing he was being observed. "Yo… we're just training, mfana. Universe ain't ready for us."
Tenji flexed. "Big dawg said next fight? Insane."
Phantom dissolved into shadows. "Lowkey… tension is mad right now. Can't wait to push harder."
Hunter's grids blinked rapidly. "Bruh… universe is about to notice us. And it ain't gonna be chill."