Fangs and Fury : Dual System of the Godslayer

The air was thick with tension as Terry and Curl began their trek back to Wesdon's fortress. The crumbling earth beneath their boots and the oppressive silence of the Deadworld were familiar companions, but this time, a lingering unease accompanied them. 

"Do you believe what Shade's slave said?" Terry asked, breaking the silence. 

Curl didn't look back, her eyes scanning the horizon for threats. "About a war? It makes sense. Wesdon's been expanding his ranks faster than ever. The masters don't do anything without a reason." 

Terry frowned, kicking a loose rock. "If we're just pawns in their game, what happens to us when the war starts?" 

Curl's voice was hard. "We fight. And if we're lucky, we survive." 

Terry wasn't satisfied with that answer, but before he could respond, a low growl echoed through the wasteland. 

Curl froze, her hand instinctively going to her blade. "We're not alone." 

Terry followed her gaze to a cluster of jagged rocks ahead. Shadows shifted between the boulders, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of guttural snarls. 

"Goblins," Curl hissed, her grip tightening on her weapon. 

Terry's stomach dropped. He still remembered the chaos of their last encounter, the helplessness he'd felt as Curl fought for both of their lives. 

"How many?" he whispered, his voice trembling. 

Curl's eyes narrowed as she counted the shadows. "Too many." 

As if on cue, the first goblin emerged, its glowing red eyes fixed on them. Then another. And another. 

Soon, the wasteland was teeming with them—small, grotesque creatures armed with jagged weapons and an insatiable hunger for blood. 

"There's at least forty," Curl muttered, her tone grim. 

"Forty-five," Terry corrected, his system's interface flashing before his eyes and counting the enemies. 

Curl glanced at him sharply. "You're sure?" 

"Positive," Terry said, his heart pounding. 

Curl cursed under her breath. "This isn't a fight we can win. We need to run." 

But as the goblins began to encircle them, it became clear that escape wasn't an option. 

"We're surrounded," Terry said, panic creeping into his voice. 

Curl's jaw tightened. "Then we fight." 

Terry swallowed hard, his cursed system mocking him as always. But this time, something was different. 

---

**System Notification:** 

**Stats Unlocked:** 

- Agility: 4 

- Speed: 5 

- Strength: 6 

- Luck: 4 

---

Terry stared at the glowing text, his fear momentarily replaced by confusion. 

"What is it?" Curl demanded, noticing his hesitation. 

"My stats," Terry said, his voice incredulous. "I can see them." 

Curl didn't have time to respond as the first goblin charged, screeching as it swung a rusted blade at her. She dodged with ease, her speed on full display as she countered with a swift strike to its neck. 

The creature crumpled to the ground, but the others were already advancing. 

"Terry!" Curl shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Move!" 

Terry snapped out of his daze, raising his fists as a goblin lunged at him. Its weapon was crude, but the intent behind it was clear—kill or be killed. 

He sidestepped clumsily, his agility barely enough to avoid the attack. Acting on instinct, he swung his fist, connecting with the goblin's jaw. The creature stumbled back, snarling in rage. 

"Strength: 6," Terry muttered to himself, his mind racing. "Let's see what that means." 

As the goblin charged again, Terry planted his feet and threw a punch with all his might. This time, the force of the blow sent the creature sprawling to the ground, its skull cracked. 

Adrenaline surged through him as he realized he could fight. His stats weren't impressive, but they were something. 

Another goblin came at him, and he ducked under its swing, delivering a solid kick to its midsection. The creature doubled over, and Terry finished it with a sharp blow to the back of its head. 

"Two down," he muttered, his confidence growing. 

Curl, meanwhile, was a blur of motion, cutting down goblins with ruthless efficiency. But even she couldn't fight them all. 

"Terry!" she shouted, her voice strained. "Keep moving!" 

Terry nodded, his focus sharpening as he faced another goblin. This one was larger, its weapon a jagged spear that gleamed in the dim light. 

The creature lunged, and Terry barely managed to sidestep, the spear grazing his arm. Pain shot through him, but he gritted his teeth and countered with a punch to the goblin's face. 

It staggered but didn't fall, snarling as it swung its spear again. Terry ducked under the attack, grabbing the shaft of the weapon and yanking it free. 

Now armed, he turned the spear on its owner, driving it into the goblin's chest with a roar. 

The creature let out a strangled cry before collapsing, its blood pooling around its body. 

"Three," Terry panted, sweat dripping down his face. 

Despite his efforts, the goblins kept coming, their numbers overwhelming. Terry's limbs felt heavy, his movements slowing as exhaustion set in. 

---

**System Notification:** 

**Combat Reward: 10 Points** 

**Points Available: 10** 

---

The notification flashed in his vision, and for a moment, Terry felt a surge of hope. But as he scanned the options, his frustration returned. 

---

**Ability Rental:** 

**Cursed Flame (2 Uses) – 10 Points** 

---

"Are you kidding me?" Terry growled, glaring at the interface. "I have to rent my own ability?" 

"Focus, Terry!" Curl shouted, slicing through another goblin. 

Terry shook his head, forcing himself to concentrate. The goblins didn't care about his cursed system or his complaints. They cared about one thing: killing him. 

He fought with everything he had, his stats allowing him to hold his own against the smaller goblins. Each punch, kick, and stab was a desperate attempt to survive, and slowly, their numbers began to dwindle. 

But the battle took its toll. Terry's body ached, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Curl wasn't faring much better, her movements slower and less precise. 

"We can't keep this up," Curl said, her voice strained. 

Terry glanced around, counting the remaining goblins. "There's only a handful left. We can do this." 

Curl didn't respond, too focused on her next opponent. 

Summoning the last of his strength, Terry charged at a pair of goblins, his spear flashing as he struck one in the chest. The second goblin lunged at him, but he ducked under its attack, sweeping its legs out from under it before driving the spear into its throat. 

"Five," Terry muttered, though he'd lost count of his total kills. 

Curl finished the last goblin with a final, brutal strike, her blade slick with blood. 

For a moment, the wasteland was silent again, the bodies of the fallen goblins scattered around them. 

Terry collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. 

"We did it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. 

Curl wiped her blade on a scrap of cloth, her expression grim. "Barely." 

---

**System Notification:** 

**Level Up: Level 10 Achieved** 

**Points Available: 10** 

---

Terry stared at the notification, relief and frustration mingling within him. He had survived, but the cursed system still held him back. 

He chose not to allocate his points, saving them for a moment when they might truly matter. 

C

url looked at him, her eyes narrowing. "What's wrong?" 

"Nothing," Terry said, shaking his head. "Let's just get back to Wesdon's before something worse shows up." 

Curl nodded, but her expression suggested she wasn't convinced. 

As they resumed their journey, Terry couldn't shake the feeling that the Deadworld was far from done with them. And neither was his cursed system. 

---