《Lord of the Apocalypse》 Chapter 1: The Day Everything Ended Chapter 1: The Day Everything Ended I rubbed my crooked nose as I blinked back the tears that started to form at the corner of my eyes. How long had it been since we last met each other? The days I spent within the iron cell were the most horrible days of my life. Not because of the lack of proper meals, the rock-hard bed and smelly inmates, the nauseating smell of iron, or even the constant beatings from the smug-faced guards that would bet on which of us prisoners would last the longest, but because of the longing for the both of them. There was not a single moment when I did not long to be with them. ¡°Mommy! Look!¡± an angelic voice said as he tugged the dress of the blonde woman beside him. His brown eyes were like saucers, pure and untainted. His neatly trimmed red hair flowed nicely towards the back. ¡°The new game is out! It¡¯s out!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already brought you one last week, right?¡± the woman said with a smile, revealing the dimple in her left cheeks. She placed her frail arms onto the child¡¯s head, ruffling it in mischievous strokes. A satisfied smile formed onto my sunken face as I watched the two from a distance. My red hair was covered by the hood of my overcoat, eyes staring longingly at the two figures. I kept resisting the urge to approach them, to talk to them, to embrace them, to kiss them, but my willpower emerged victorious as I stood there like a statue. ¡°Did you wait long?¡± said the man that came out of the bakeshop right across the street. The mother of my son immediately turned his way then smiled. Her smile was dazzling, almost stunning, but the fact that it was meant for another gripped my heart, crushing it, tearing it. I bitterly smiled as I watched the three enter inside the mall. Like a stalker in the middle of the night, I quickly followed. The three certainly looked like a family from a bystander¡¯s point of view, and they actually were. Except that the man was not the biological father of my son. He was someone my wife met after I was convicted of murder and was imprisoned for seven years. Luckily, the false charge was lifted and I was granted freedom. Seven years: that was the amount of time they took from me and from my family. Moreover, those years had cost me my wife, something I could not blame her for. Every woman needed a man to lean on, to love, and to cherish. It was something I understood deep within my heart, and I did not have the slightest intention of blaming her. ¡°Bro, that man is crying,¡± I heard a whisper from my left. Upon looking, I saw the cursory glances of two teenagers. Their faces were filled with a mixture of curiosity and anxiety. The older of the two gave the other one a nudge before they eventually walked forward and vanished from my sight. I wiped the tears that had come out unnoticed. To my surprise, a familiar mellifluous voice rang out from my rear. It was followed by a tap on my thin, almost skeletal shoulders. ¡°Nicholas?¡± the voice was skeptical. Upon turning around, I was stunned when I met the gaze of the woman that I had loved the most in my life. Her features remained the same as when we first met years ago, so mesmerizing that you could not help but stare at her. No, she was more beautiful right now. My heart literally jumped a beat the moment our eyes met. I guess the fact that she had married a millionaire was something that made her bloom like flower in the middle of the spring. Not worrying about money¡ªthat was one less thing. ¡°Nicholas!¡± Her voice was now filled with certainty. To my surprise, she leapt and hugged me tight. I almost cried and wailed when my body felt her warmth. It was nostalgic, and I would exchange anything just for time to stop right now, for the fleeting seconds to last forever. I firmed my cheeks as I willed back the tears from forming. I smiled gently as my hands wrapped around her, hugging her back. ¡°Hey¡ªhow are you?¡± I tried to say as nonchalantly as possible. I wanted to tell her how much I missed her, how much I longed to be with her, and how there was not a single day when I did not think of her, but I knew that doing so would break the bond that we have right now: the bond of friendship. ¡°I thought¡­ I thought¡­ I thought that it¡¯ll be ten more days till¡­,¡± she said in almost a whisper. At her back, I could see her new husband, Richard, smugly glaring at my direction. The way his lips wordlessly moved and cursed remained unnoticed by the woman I currently held in my hands. ¡°That¡¯s the plan, but I got released earlier. Decision of the higher ups.¡± I slightly moved back, initiating our break of body contact. She had a new husband now, and I was sure that she would have a better future ahead of her with him. I would rather bleed alone than break their family. ¡°Francesca¡ªI¡¯m really glad to see you¡­ that you are doing fine,¡± I breathed. I probably looked like a madman with my sunken appearance and creepy, crooked smile, but I did not mind. All that mattered was now. All that mattered was that I was able to see her, able to converse with her. Tears started forming at the corner of her eyes, and I saw her firm and resolute expression as she tried to will it back. Our son was watching, and she would rather not cry in front of him, to appear strong and reliable. She turned around then gently grabbed our eight-year-old son¡¯s hand. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Unsure of what to say, her eyes swiveled from me then to our son, then back. She almost stuttered when she introduced the child. ¡°T-This is Marco.¡± I smiled for I already knew. She turned to our son then added, ¡°That man is Nicholas¡ªyour¡­.,¡± Your father, was what she wanted to say, but was something she could not convey. When she remarried, it was written in the contract that I would no longer be connected with the both of them. It was the condition given by the millionaire bastard before the wedding ceremony. ¡°Who is he, Mommy?¡± our son, Marco, asked as he stared at me, filled with wonder, not at my sunken face¡¯s strangeness, but probably at my inexplicable familiarity. He smiled, revealing a missing tooth. ¡°He seems nice! Is he a friend?¡± My heart stopped for a moment when I heard the words that came out of my son¡¯s mouth. He had never met me before, but the way he spoke such words made it seem like he was comfortable with my presence. I pulled the hood tightly over my head, shadowing the tears that had uncontrollably fallen down my cheeks. ¡°Yes, a friend,¡± Richard said with emphasis on the last word. His lips were smiling, but his eyes were glaring. He grabbed my son towards him and added, ¡°Just a friend. Now¡ªthere was this certain game you wanted to buy, right? Tell me. I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± Immediately, my presence vanished like wisp and smoke as Marco¡¯s eyes glittered with excitement from the mention of the game. My wife cast an apologetic glance as she slightly lowered her heard, unable to do anything. ¡°I understand. Go,¡± I mumbled, just loud enough for the new husband to hear, grateful for the fact that the hood lightly shrouded my face. I repeatedly told myself that I should be grateful just for the fact that I was able to meet them, that I conversed with them. I should be content with just that much. After a smile that conveyed seven years¡¯ worth of emotions, I turned around and vanished amidst the sea of people. *** Half an hour had passed since then, and I sat motionlessly inside a coffee shop inside the mall. I tugged out the hood and revealed my face, brooding and blatantly filled with nothingness. I had lost seven years of my life and along with it, my family. But I knew that I had lost more than just that. I had lost my reason for existence. I had lost my reason for living. I was drunk in grief as I gulped down the coffee before me in one go. At the corner of my eyes, I saw the surprised look of the waitress. It was the strongest black coffee in the house. ¡°So¡­ this is what it feels like to start over again,¡± I mumbled, lips smiling in inexplicable irony. I wiped my lips with the napkin and placed a few paper bills onto the table then left. Just right after I exited the shop, a surprising scenario unfolded before my very eyes. The ground shook and formed cracks, dusts and detritus falling down the ceiling. The lights vanished and turned day into night, then blinked back into life like broken bulb in its last flicker. I fell down butt-first onto the ground as my almost skeletal body lost its balance. Numerous shrieking sounds were heard as the unexpected quake suddenly hit us. The alarms went on and everyone crouched as they stabilized their footholds. Eventually, after a few more seconds, the quake stopped. I heard numerous sighs of relief as people got onto their feet one after another. A loud, almost mechanical voice echoed inside the mall, ¡°To everyone¡ªplease proceed outside in an organized manner. Please do not panic. Do not run. Do not use the elevators. Just follow the guidance of our staff and seek a safe shelter outside the building.¡± Suddenly, to everyone¡¯s surprise and horror, a blue window popped before our very eyes. The words written were incomprehensible but ominous, definitely diabolical.
The East District has now become the territory of Lak ¡®Amesh
The message lingered there for a few more seconds before it eventually faded away and vanished, leaving nothing but the curious looks of those that witnessed it. The ground again rumbled, and to my absolute terror, numerous beasts that spanned around four meters in size came rampaging inside the mall. Glasses were shattered and woods were splintered as their hairy bodies with limbs as thick as tree trunks ravaged everything the eyes could see. Blood splattered and painted the walls as the bodies of those inside the mall flew in all directions. Cries of despair, horror, and agony reverberated, with the tearing of flesh and breaking of bones as background. The monsters roared, signaling the event that would later on change my very life. Black circular horns, black furs, head of a cow, muscular body of a man: they were undoubtedly beasts called Minotaurs. Chapter 2: Man Versus Minotaur Chapter 2: Man Versus Minotaur I stiffened, eyes glued to the massacre unfolding before my very eyes. The cries of anguish from the carnage further intensified, followed by frequent roars from the cow-like monsters. I heard gunshots from the outside for a few seconds, but it immediately died down and were followed by the sound of bodies crashing against concrete. It was only then that reality finally struck me. My son and my wife¡ªthey were also inside this mall-turned-hell-hole. I choked as the thought of them dying crossed my mind. I cannot let it happen. I cannot let it happen. I cannot let it happen! I bit my lips, sending a thin line of red down my chin, as I ran forward. My skeletal body whizzed by the pile of corpses that had been thrown by the abhorrent monsters. Shards of glass, broken tables, and disfigured corpses: I jumped over each and every one of them as my eyes frantically turned left and right as it scanned the surroundings for familiar figures. Odd sounds were heard from my left, and I deemed that it was the sound of walls cracking and breaking. A second after, a large shadow loomed over me as a hand flew towards my direction, definitely trying to squash than grab as its ferocious force crushed the man beside me, sending the innards of his head splattering in all directions. My sunken face turned even paler as a momentary sense of relief washed over me; I had brushed with death just a second ago. The stomping sounds from before got louder as I craned my neck to the rear, and to my horror, I saw the beast chasing after me, drools dripping down its mouth. A deafening roar that muffled every other sound made me cringe as I resisted the urge to cover my ears. My hands would definitely be more useful for other purposes. I ran. I ran. I ran. I ran through slabs of broken walls, pieces of furniture, and disfigured bodies. I ran until my lungs were exploding, crying and begging for me to stop and recuperate. I afforded a cursory glance at my rear and checked the status of the monster: still chasing. At the corner of my eyes, I saw the entrance towards the comfort room, thin and seemingly decrepit from the numerous cracks from the quake. A second of hesitation hit me before my body eventually leapt to the left, crashing into the entrance of the comfort room. It was wide enough for a person or two to pass through, but definitely small for a four-meter tall monster to traverse. The beast roared in frustration as it tried to squeeze its way inside, but to no avail. It kept reaching out its thick arms out towards me as I crawled my way backwards, eventually bumping onto the tiled walls. For a moment, I was worried that the entrance would break as I noticed cracks forming from each of the Minotaur¡¯s futile struggles. After around five more minutes, something that seemed like eternity of roars and deathblows, the Minotaur stopped then snorted, creating a steam in its wake. It glared at me before it eventually turned around and squeezed its way out. I had never been so grateful for comfort rooms in my entire life. The roars and cries of anguish from the outside continued as I sat there, my head underneath the sink. The smelly, almost putrid room felt like home; pleasant, friendly, and welcoming. It had become my haven, a temporary haven. ¡°Francesca¡­ Marco,¡± I mumbled the two names repeatedly like mantra. They were my source of strength in this pandemonium, and I would do anything just to ensure their safety. I lingered inside for five more minutes, catching my breath, before I eventually craned my neck outside, checking for any pursuer. To my relief, the Minotaur had left entirely. I wasted no time as I immediately ran with my life on the line, eyes desperately again searching for the familiar figures. I skidded to a halt when a disfigured corpse caught my attention. I stared at it for a moment as I witnessed its last moments, dry tears evident on its cheeks. It was the waitress from the coffee shop before. Her arms were missing, probably ripped apart in a single stroke, and half her head was crushed like paste. Her corpse was disfigured, but I was sure that it was her. Her innards ornamented the cracked floor, painting it with red and green-yellow. My stomach churned and I puked on the ground. I turned around when I heard loud rumbling sounds coming towards my direction, and it was coming at a frightening speed. I almost lost my sanity when I saw three Minotaurs charging towards me, nostrils flaring up with occasional steams of rage. I ran. I ran. I ran. It was the only thing that I could do; the only thing that separated me from the soothing embrace called death. I have not valued life much before, but now that I was close to losing it, I realized how much I want to cling to dear life. I cannot die¡ªat least not until I saved the both of them, until I had ensured their safety. Right now, they were my top priority. Everything else was secondary. Suddenly, series of gunshots echoed, and the three Minotaurs chasing after me stumbled backwards, only to again regain momentum as they continued with their chase. Their cowheads turned fiery and red, and roars erupted in a screeching pitch. My hairs stood on edge as I desperately gasped for air. At my left, I saw the man that shot the beasts: a policeman. ¡°Keep running!¡± the policeman said in hysteria. He reloaded his gun then momentarily turned around as he again fired shots one after another. The shells from the pistol inflicted nothing but small cuts onto the bodies of the beasts, and it served as nothing but dried wood that fueled the burning rage of the monsters. Seconds ticked by, and the towering monsters eventually gained momentum, crashing corpses underneath their feet. A hand shot towards my left and I evaded by jumping to the side, making my body bump head-first onto the wall, my pallid face now blooming with a bruise on the forehead. ¡°H-Help! Help!¡± The policeman from before was caught by the monsters, and he cast a pleading glance at my direction before his skull was eventually crushed by the gargantuan hands of the beasts. Urine uncontrollably oozed down my trousers as I sat there on the ground, eyes wide with shock. I was next. I was next. I was next. I was about to close my eyes and embrace my fate when a figure was seen from the distance. The child¡¯s red hair was a distinct feature, and his saucer eyes were swimming in tears, snot dripping down his nose. The woman beside him had both her arms opened wide, assuming the role of a human shield. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°Francesca! Marco!¡± I yelled with all my might. My voice echoed despite the numerous roars and stomping sounds, and the woman named Francesca cast a glance my way. Her eyes, brown and almost hazel, met mine. I swore that a bitter smile filled with helplessness and regret flashed across her face as the beast before her approached at a tip-toe speed. My eyes glanced at my family¡¯s figures then to the beasts in front of me, then back. I cannot die yet. Not yet. Not yet. Not yet! The moment my eyes landed on the pistol the policeman held before, I dived towards it without regards for the consequence. I large hoof missed me by a whisper as my body rolled thrice before coming to a halt. I immediately stood up, and ignoring the three beasts before me, I ran past them and towards my family. My heart pumped violently as I ran with the gun pointed at the Minotaur before Francesca, veins evident on my ashen face. After a roar that contained all my might, resolve and retribution, I pulled the trigger and the ammunition hit the beast right at the forehead. It momentarily lost its balance but eventually, it stood up straight as it glared at my direction. As expected, guns did not work, but I kept firing regardless. I fired. I fired. I fired. I fired until I was out of ammo, and knowing that it was not enough, I ran forward and tackled the beast head-on. My almost skeletal body did nothing but bounce back after the impact, and I was sent rolling onto the ground. I was expecting a hoof to come cruising towards my fallen body but to my surprise, none came. It was then that I noticed the thin line of blood that oozed out of the beast¡¯s head. The metallic ammunitions had been partly engraved inside its skull. It was not enough to deal a deathblow, but was definitely enough to make the beast momentarily lose its focus and totter all over. My ears perked up as numerous rumbling sounds came towards my direction, our direction. Without a second wasted, I carried my son. Tears still uncontrollably flowed down his cheeks. Voice raspy and coarse, I screamed, ¡°Let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s go!¡± It took a full second before Francesca broke out of her trance, and she came running with the both of us for dear life. My blood was boiling and my heart was violently thumping. My body was filled with inexplicable energy that made my body move forward despite the fatigue that blatantly enveloped it. I heard the beasts stop for a moment and stare at their light-headed comrade, the one that I shot indiscriminately before. A couple of seconds passed before a furious roar echoed and was accompanied by mad rumbling sounds. The ground quaked and creaked, but to my relief, we arrived at the haven from before: the comfort room. It was murky and putrid, but it was our best shot for survival. I grabbed Francesca¡¯s hand and tossed her inside along with our son, not minding the bruises that would without doubt form after the impact. After affording a glance at our pursuers, I immediately dived headfirst into our shelter, narrowly avoiding the gargantuan hand that passed through the air. At the corner of the room, I noticed a lone figure crouching with her knees bent, body violently shaking. A student. It seemed that another survivor had found her solace in the bathroom. ¡°We¡¯ll be safe here,¡± I said as I tried to reassure the woman and the child beside me, all the while the beast before us struggled to squeeze their bodies inside, creating small cracks on the entrance, taking our breath away with every popping sound. ¡°Those monsters can¡¯t get inside,¡± I added in affirmation, more to myself than to those beside me. Even I doubted my words. Eventually, to our relief, the beasts gave up after a few more tries. They again snorted then turned back towards the outside. A minute of absolute silence inside the putrid room emanated, and to my surprise, the other survivor inside the bathroom wailed and sobbed; she was in hysteria. Probably due to the fact that she had survived till now, or to the fact that she had seen another survivor, she unrestrainedly cried her soul out. Her wails echoed loudly, and for a minute, I thought that her lungs would break apart from the tension. I was so wasted that I did not have the energy to hush her, moreover reprimand her for giving out our location. All I did was sit there, bruised and battered, eyes longingly staring at the two people beside me. ¡°Richard¡­¡± My voice trailed off as I wiped the sweat on my forehead. By now, the cries from the other survivor had calmed down to a hiccup. ¡°What happened to him? Where is he? Why is he not with you?!¡± My voice escalated to a snarl. Instead of questions, they were more of accusations. Why was that bastard not with my family when they needed him the most? Why was he not with them when they were in peril? Why was he not with them when they were facing imminent death? I had so many questions and curses running through my head as I bit my lips in bitter fury. Francesca lowered her head and hugged our eight-year-old son. Marco had fallen asleep by now, dried tears evident on his sleeping face. She turned her face toward me and whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Those words were simple, but they held everything I needed to know. So, that bastard disappeared the moment the first sign of danger manifested itself? I was becoming pessimistic and overly accusing, but the rage boiling inside of me had yet to fully calm itself. I wanted to punch him and tear him from limb to limb, to cut his neck and feed him to the Minotaurs. That fucking bastard, how dare he abandon my wife and son! I breathed in and out, and after almost a minute, calmed myself to a white-knuckled fist. Another series of gunshots from the outside was heard. The barrage of papapa! sounds continued for a while before dying out, eventually being replaced by sounds of horror, of bones breaking and flesh tearing. Within me, I knew that the police forces were currently useless. Their guns did not work; something I did not blame them for. Those Minotaurs were simply immortal bastards with skulls as strong as an iron plate. The light above flickered for a couple of times, casting ominous shadows around, before eventually turning everything pitch black. It seemed that the electricity inside the mall had failed altogether, and we were now inside an abyss, mortified with the unknown just right behind the corner. The sonorous cries and roars from the outside continued, and our family of three plus the other survivor sat inside our solace, unmoving, trying our best not to make noticeable sounds. Eventually, the sounds of anguish turned into background, our fatigue kicked in, and we dozed off into dreamland. Chapter 3: The Martyr Chapter 3: The Martyr My body jerked and my eyes bolted open when a series of soft, but continuous rustling sounds were heard inside the room. My heart violently thumped as my eyes scanned the dimly lit four walls of our abode, with only the digital numbers from my son¡¯s watch as source of light; it was five o¡¯clock in the morning. I noticed that everyone else aside from me were in deep slumber; the dreadful scenarios from before without doubt had taken its toll. With the light wheezing sounds from my sleeping wife and son as background, I perked up my ears as I tried to catch the tiniest bit of sound inside the room, trying to figure out if my mind was playing tricks on me, if everything was the product of my paranoia. The sounds from before had completely stopped the moment I completely woke up. Seconds passed and quickly turned into minutes, and I vigilantly sat there, fists ready and ear alert for any inconspicuous movements. I almost jumped in fright when I heard the student survivor at the corner mumble an incomprehensible word in her sleep. Another minute passed. Again, another series of rustling sounds were heard but this time, I realized that it came outside. The screeching sounds were followed by soft thuds, numerous soft thuds. I glanced at my sleeping family then to the student crouched at the deepest corner. After a gulp and a loudly beating heart, I crawled towards the bathroom¡¯s entrance as I craned my neck, eyes peering at what was going on outside. My eye widened when I saw the small innumerable figures tottering about, dragging the corpses to somewhere I would rather not know. Their bodies were small, incredibly so, hardly running past a feet in height. Despite the lack of illumination, I was able to discern their bulbous nose, and the patches and protrusions that filled their dark green skin. Their nails were long and jagged, definitely rotting. Their eyes were large, almost bulging. At their naked back, a small, almost inconspicuous tail flailed about. ¡°Goblins?¡± I mumbled in disbelief. I never expected to encounter one. The Minotaurs themselves were already enough abomination, and now, we were forced to encounter these discreet, pesky little creatures. I realize that there were significantly fewer corpses than before. Furthermore, I noticed that only the corpses of women were being dragged off by the creatures, leaving the male bodies to rot in their places. Where were they taking the corpses? Why were they taking only the bodies of women? What were they going to do with it? Such questions filled my mind as my eyes remained glued at the figures, my body cold and clammy. The thing that bothered me the most were not the fact that the creatures were taking away the corpses, but their size and numbers. Before, our temporary haven, in the form of the bathroom, had driven away the Minotaurs. Those beasts were simply too large to enter inside, and thankfully, the walls of the murky room were thick, probably sturdy. But now, our abode¡¯s only advantage had disappeared. With their sizes, I was sure that those creatures were able to easily get inside this place. The only question was when. I tapped my wife as I tried to wake her up in the gentlest way possible. I did not want her to suddenly shout and scream, giving out the fact that there were survivors here. After a soft moan, she slowly opened her eyes then blinked thrice in succession. ¡°Wake up,¡± I whispered. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here much longer.¡± She glanced at my son that remained snuggled deep in her bosom, then to me. She also replied in a whisper, ¡°What is it? What do you mean?¡± I paused for a full second, mind filled with various thoughts. ¡°Goblins. They¡¯re outside, dragging dead bodies. There¡¯s no assurance that they won¡¯t find us here. It¡¯s too risky.¡± I glanced at the bathroom¡¯s entrance. Specifically, I stared at the door decimated beyond recognition. Only tidbits of wood had remained. ¡°We need to find a better shelter.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s too dangerous to go outside! Nicholas! You¡¯ve seen those monsters, right? There¡¯s no way humans can win against those!¡± She breathed. I was in dilemma. Should we stay, or should we escape while we still have the energy to do so? I was stuck in between such choices. The goblins were creatures unknown to us before, and we had no idea what they were capable of. Once those creatures found out that there were survivors here, and they flocked to us in the dozens, our chances of survival were definitely slim. ¡°The best course of action is to stay here¡­ for now,¡± a voice from the corner was heard. It came from the student. To my surprise, her voice was perfectly calm and composed, a complete contrast to her hysteric sounds from before. It seemed that our little conversation had woken her up. She added, ¡°You said that the goblins were dragging the bodies, no? Then in all probability, those creatures are unable to fight at the same level as the cow monsters from before¡ªhopefully. They must have been tasked to collect the spoils of war¡­ if we are to state it in better terms.¡± I had thought of the same things as before, but the fact that we hardly knew anything regarding the little creatures did not change. It was too risky to stay in such a place surrounded by hundreds of such monsters. I bit my lips as I gnashed my teeth. I sat there like a Buddhist statue, unmoving, pondering. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. I broke out of my trance when I heard soft footsteps coming to our direction. Upon looking, my gaze met the eyes of a small creature. It opened its large mouth and squeaked, its ears perking up and down as it stomped its feet on the tiled floor. My immediate fear had become reality. A goblin had found us. ¡°Kreeee!¡± A long screeching sound echoed as I immediately stood up, my knuckles white and ready. Without hesitation, I kicked the goblin before me, sending its body crashing against the wall. It skidded downwards until it slumped onto the ground, unmoving. ¡°It¡¯s weak? Incredibly weak!¡± I said in disbelief. My words ignited hope within the group but such hope was quickly crushed when we heard numerous rumbling sounds coming towards our direction. To my horror, the sounds of hooves crushing bodies were horrifyingly familiar.
You have killed a Goblin Worker!
You have gained 3 Experience Points!
The familiar blue window from before popped up a few seconds after I sent the goblin flying away. Although I wanted to find out what that window was and what it entailed, I currently have no time for that. I grabbed and carried my sleeping son. With a firm and resolute expression, I told everyone, ¡°No time to waste! We need to get out of here! This room won¡¯t hold like before!¡± What I said was the truth. Before the lights from the day before had completely vanished, I had already noticed that the walls were filled with innumerable cracks. I was no engineering graduate, but I was sure that it would no longer be able to withstand another series of attacks and forceful squeezing of bodies inside. Like compressed spring, everyone got to their feet in haste. Two more goblins appeared at the doorway, and I kicked both without hesitation. Their bodies were sent flying backwards, and despite the lack of proper illumination, I saw one of them vomit out blood before collapsing on the ground. Thank God, the little pesky bastards were weak!
You have killed a Goblin Worker!
You have gained 3 Experience Points!
Once again, the same notification popped up, and I immediately dismissed it from my mind. Outside, I could hear the roars of the cow-like monsters from before. They were probably alerted by the squeaks of the goblins. Damn it. The sounds from the charging Minotaurs were becoming louder as we got out of the room, our feet moving at a quick pace towards our survival. We ran. We ran. We ran. Through the pieces of broken furniture, broken walls, and over dead bodies, we ran with all our might. My heart was close to exploding as I afforded a glance at our pursuer, seeing nothing but almost a dozen gigantic silhouettes chasing after our group. A roar from our front was heard, and a livid Minotaur appeared, blocking our path. ¡°Take him!¡± I said as I shoved our recently woken son towards Francesca. My son, Marco, was staring at the gigantic beast before us, with only my body as partition. I snarled, ¡°What are you doing!? Go! Go! Go!¡± I picked up the splintered wood on the ground and unreservedly dashed headfirst towards the Minotaur before me. At the corner of my eyes, I saw Francesca, Marco, and the student go down the flight of stairs. Just below us was the ground floor, and it was only a few more meters away from the mall¡¯s exit. Someone had to stall these monsters here. Otherwise, we would all die a dog¡¯s death. I heard Francesca wail and sob as her figure, along with those of others, eventually disappeared from sight. I bit my lips as my body came skidding to a halt when a large hand came cruising towards my direction, definitely aimed at my head. I ducked, and using all strength I could muster, I smashed my wooden weapon at the monster¡¯s calf. The Minotaur stared at me for a second, my feat definitely nothing but a small spank before this almighty beast. I threw away the piece of wood when I noticed that it had broken right at the middle after the impact. I was weaponless, defenseless, and my current use was nothing but a meat shield. By now, the other Minotaurs from before had caught up, and I soon found myself surrounded by more than a dozen of them, each of their bodies towering absurd heights. Series of roars echoed as I stood my ground, knees wobbling, body shaking. I was going to die. I knew, but I did not regret. From my position, despite the roars that served as background, I could hear the faint sounds of footsteps at the floor below. Those same footsteps made my lips turn into a small curl, something that was incomprehensible in my current situation. At least, my role as meat shield had served its purpose. Those three were going to survive. They have to survive. With a smile that conveyed all my will and resolve, my life and emotions, I opened both my arms wide, further mocking the beasts that surrounded me. I licked my lips as a sole tear made its way down my cheeks. ¡°Come and get me! Damn Monsters!¡± After those words, the beasts again roared, and my body was crushed beyond recognition. Chapter 4: Life as a Goblin Chapter 4: Life as a Goblin The sensation of death was still vivid within my memories when I suddenly found myself inside a pitch-black darkness. I tried to move my limbs, and I realized that I was currently floating inside a viscous fluid. As I pondered on where I was, a deafening series of pulsations entered my ears. I groaned, but no sound came out. The pulsating sounds amplified, and I felt everything around me move and contract. Unable to move, I moved along with the viscous fluid as I was ejected. My body fell then slid down the ground. I opened my eyes, blinked thrice, then looked around. I was currently inside a limestone cave. Well, that was the closest thing to describe it. Above, silver-black spikes dripped down the ceiling, and the ground was rough and emerald. Even now, I could still hear the deafening pulsating sounds from before. I looked at its source and was stunned speechless by I saw. Not far from me, a gargantuan monster resembling an overly bloated ant laid on the ground. It was large enough to occupy half the cave. Its head was disfigured, somehow resembling an old man with numerous scars. Its body was that of an ant ¨C numerous legs and a large, bloated belly. It took me some time before my gaze eventually landed on the end of its belly. Currently, numerous familiar creatures were being ejected from it one after another. They would come out after every third pulse, their bodies green and grimy. Quickly, my heart began to race as realization dawned unto me. I was pretty sure that that was the same place where I came from. Afraid and hesitant, I slowly looked at my body. Green skin. Numerous brown, patches. Rotting, long fingernails. ¡°You¡¯re kidding me!¡± I shouted at the top of my lungs. I touched my nose. Bulbous. I touched my ears. Long and pointed. Without doubt, I had turned into a goblin. I was in stupor as I tried to digest the things that were happening. Why am I here? What am I alive? Why did I turn into a goblin? I was pretty sure that I died that time. The sensation of my limbs being torn apart by the Minotaurs were still vivid within my mind. The excruciating pain as my head was crushed to paste was something I would never forget. I cried and wailed, with the pulsating sound from the overly bloated monster as background. As I kept rejecting the reality before me, the pulsations stopped. An eerie silence filled the cave as the newly born goblins started standing up one after another. They looked around, their ugly faces confused and surprised. I had this urge to kick them and punch their stupid-looking faces, but I held myself back. I still have no idea what was going on, what was happening. ¡°Welcome, my brothers,¡± a deep voice reverberated. The goblins¡¯ ears twitched, and they all uniformly looked at the source of the voice. It was a humanoid creature bigger than the goblins around me, probably twice their height. At the top of its head, a peculiar box hovered.
Goblin Warrior Lv 5
I looked around realized that the same box also hovered above the heads of those around me.
Goblin Spawn Lv 1
Currently, I was surrounded by more than a hundred Goblin Spawns, their ugly faces similar and indistinguishable from each other. The Goblin Warrior spoke, ¡°I will make your instructions simple. We have currently obtained vast amounts of meat from the Portal. We need you guys to prepare them so we can give them to our Lords.¡± Surprisingly, this Goblin was intelligent, probably on the same league as humans. The Goblin Spawns nodded their small heads. And without further instructions, they started walking towards the end of the tunnel. I looked around in confusion. It seemed that I was the only one among us who did not fully understood what the Goblin Warrior had just said. Meat? Portal? Lord? There were so many questions within my head, and the fact that I had turned into this grotesque little monster still stormed my mind. But for now, I followed the group and we eventually reached the outside. Outside the cave, a view straight from a nightmare greeted me. The ground was barren and dry, with cracks crisscrossing into numerous veins. If I had known better, this place probably had not known rain for the past ten or so years. Dead, withered trees were seen everywhere. Beyond, a gargantuan mountain range filled with rocks and stones spread out into the distance. I would have mistaken this for my world if not for the three crimson moons above. It was currently night, but surprisingly, everything was clear and bright. I was not sure if this was because of the large moons, or if this was simply an inherent capability of a goblin. My intuition was telling me it was the latter. ¡°Keep moving! Faster!¡± shouted the Goblin Warrior. And in unison, the entire newly spawned Goblins moved forward through the barren ground. We kept walking for god knows how long. And during that time, a familiar blue window popped up.
You have crossed the Goblin¡¯s Paradise. Do you wish to enter the tutorial?
Paradise? I looked around. There was nothing but dry, crack-filled land filled with dead trees. What a load of utter bullshit. Still, the last statement piqued my interest. I had played numerous games back in my youth, and I was pretty sure that at times like these, tutorials would be most helpful. ¡°How do I activate this thing anyway?¡± I mumbled. And as though responding to my thoughts, options appeared below.
Yes No
¡°Yes.¡± As soon as I gave my confirmation, mellifluous music rang through my ears. It was the same music one would usually encounter at the start of RPG games. It was probably jazz, but the beat and rhythm quite reminded me of 90¡¯s rock.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Welcome to the World of Muhar ¡®Tava!
A soft, Ting! sound echoed.
For thousands of years, the Seven Great Clans lived in harmony. The Anubis of the Desert. The Naga of the Sea. The Gryphon of the Sky. The Minos of the Underground. The Goblins of the Forest. The Lizardmen of the Swamps. The Werewolves of the Night. These Seven Great Clans lived within their own respective territories, unenveloped in strife, their everyday lives peaceful and abundant. But then, the Chaos Dragon woke up from its deep slumber. After sleeping for ten thousand years, it yearned for flesh and blood. With its unparalleled strength, it laid waste to Muhar ¡®Tava, annihilating millions of lives in the process. This event was later known as the Dark Age. An age wherein the lands turned barren. Food was scarce, and all living creatures lived in fear of the Chaos Dragon. The Dark Age went on for fifty years, and eventually, the Chaos Dragon once again returned to its deep slumber. Still, the aftermath of its rampage left a deep scar in Muhar ¡®Tava. The Seven Great Clans started fighting each other for food, and an Age called the Two Hundred Years War began. Blood blanketed the barren ground of Muhar ¡®Tava, and the each of the Great Clans were close to annihilation from the unending strife. And a miracle transpired. The weakest of the Seven Great Clans, the Goblins, successfully found a way to procure food for the entire population. Their Goblin Priestess successfully opened a portal that led towards another world. A world filled with weak creatures. Species they could feed on. War decreased tremendously, and the Seven Great Clans started sending warriors towards the other world, successfully bringing back corpses of Humans to feed on.
I shivered after reading the brief history of this world. It explained everything. Why the grounds were barren. Why this place called ¡°Paradise¡± had turned into a dried, withered land. And the reason why those damnable monsters suddenly appeared and invaded my world, killing innumerable lives in the process. Food. That¡¯s what we, humans, are. I clenched my small fists as anger boiled within me.
Do you wish to see the Growth Tree of a Goblin?
I once again pressed the affirmation button, and another blue window popped up.
Goblin Spawn > Goblin Worker Goblin Worker > Goblin Mage > Goblin Leader > Goblin Chieftain Goblin Worker > Goblin Spearman > Goblin Leader > Goblin Chieftain Goblin Worker > Goblin Warrior > Goblin Leader > Goblin Chieftain Goblin Chieftain > Hobgoblin > Goblus > Goblus Demigod Goblin Chieftain > Goblin Ogre > Goblin Lord > Goblin Overlord
As time went by, this reality was starting to really resemble an RPG game. So, it was possible for me to evolve, huh? The Goblin Warrior leading us was level 5. If I went by that logic, then a level 1 like me would need to attain 4 more levels before I could evolve into the same rank. After reading the brief history of this world, I knew that there should be a way for me get back to my previous world. There was this so-called portal these monsters use to get to the other side. Once given the chance, I will search for my son and wife. I tucked this thought inside my mind.
Do you wish to see your Status Window?
My eyes widened after reading this one. Indeed, this would be just like those RPGs. I immediately said yes.
Goblin Nick
Species Goblin Spawn Level 1
Health 17/17 Mana 3/3
Strength 1 Agility 3
Vitality 1 Intelligence 1
Dexterity 3 Luck 3
Experience Points 0/145 Unallocated Points 0
Skills
Identify Level 1 A skill that grants the user the ability to appraise things. Rate of Failure depends upon the item or creature being appraised and level of the skill. Mana Cost: 1
Scurry Level 1 Increase movement speed by 50% for 6 seconds. Mana Cost: 2
After checking out my status window, I came to a conclusion: I was fodder, a creature probably even weaker than a human. I wanted to complain of how absurdly low my stats were and how frail this body was. Even a simple stone throw could probably kill me right now. The two skill I currently have seemed useful, especially the one called Scurry. The name felt a bit stupid, almost like a joke, but I knew that the increase movement speed would come out handy in life-or-death situations. But for now, I would like to test Identify first. I used it on the goblin in front of me. ¡°Identify!¡±
Goblin Spawn Lv 1 One of the innumerable spawns of the Ancestral Goblin Mother. The weakest of all creatures within the Seven Great Clans. A simple kick would immediately kill this one.
I was bothered by the last line. For now, I should probably keep a low profile and play it safe. I did not want to die from some stupid cause like a falling rock or a slap from some random creature. As I was browsing through the tutorials just like what a decent RPG player would have done, we finally arrived at our destination. The Goblin Warrior told us to enter through a large crack inside the mountain, and we found ourselves inside a cave resembling the one we spawned out from. But this one was probably ten times bigger. Large enough to fit four football fields in. Inside that cave, numerous Goblin Workers, Goblin Warriors, and Goblin Spawns moved about. And they were all dragging with them the corpses of creatures I was very much familiar with. Human corpses. Females. All of them. My non-existent hair stood on their edge as this scene perpetuated before my very eyes. I trembled in utter rage as the thought that my wife could be among those piles of corpse entered my mind. If someone told me that this was what hell actually looked like, I would immediately believe him.
You have arrived at the Goblin¡¯s Slaughterhouse!
An imposing goblin shouted at us, the newly arrived Goblin Spawns. It told us to start moving the corpses into the large plants nearby. After checking the box hovering about that Goblin¡¯s head, I learned that it was a Goblin Leader. A level 10 creature larger than the Goblin Warrior from before.
The Goblin Leader has issued its orders! The quest, Grind ¡®em to Dust and Bones, is available! Do you wish to proceed? Reward: 75 Experience Points
I had a bad feeling about this quest. Just the name alone reeked of death and savagery. But the reward experience caught my eyes. If this was indeed like those RPG games, then I would need experience points to level up. As I deliberated whether to accept or not the quest, most of my fellow Goblin Spawns had started to help move the innumerable corpses towards the plants. The Goblin Spawns were incredibly small, probably a sixth of the size of an average human. Four or more Goblins Spawns were needed just to move a single human corpse. Should I do it? I somehow have an idea of what I was supposed to do and its consequences, but what remained of my former human self shouted at me that I shouldn¡¯t do it. Like a statue, I stood there, pondering. And I eventually arrived at a conclusion. Screw it. These humans were dead anyway. I needed to evolve and become stronger. Otherwise, there would be no meaning even if I did find the portal towards the Human World. With hesitant steps, I joined a group of Goblin Spawns and help move a corpse. It was a beautiful human, probably in her late twenties. Her left arm was missing, but her entire body was intact. We dragged her corpse through the rough, emerald ground, then threw her into the mouth of the large plant in front of us. With swift movements, the plant swallowed the corpse in an instant. I was shivering the entire time. Not because of fear, but because of the idea that I had just thrown a fellow human into this carnivorous monster. The carnivorous plant, which somehow reminded me of a sunflower with teeth, burped. Its leaves glowed for a full second, and a small fruit fell down its vines. Two Goblin Workers immediately ran and grabbed it, then escaped just before the plant tried devouring them too. I discreetly used Identify on the fruit that the carnivorous plant had just dropped. ¡°Identify!¡±
Meat Fruit A fruit dropped from the Meat Grinder Plant. Due to the miasma mixed within, it will not decay even after a long time has passed. Give this to the Minos and you¡¯ll gain their favor.
The description of the fruit was disgusting. So, that was made of human meat? If I was still human, I would have vomited on the ground by now.
The quest, Grind ¡®em to Dust and Bones, has been completed! You have received 75 Exp!
I smiled wryly. This was a living nightmare. A normal person would have probably resigned himself to death by now, but I simply cannot do that. Even if I have to grind this body of mine to dust, I will emerge strong from this hellhole. I will find my familiy one day. Definitely. Chapter 5: Hierarchy of Monsters Chapter 5: Hierarchy of Monsters Hours had passed since I entered this so-called Goblin¡¯s Slaughterhouse. I kept throwing dead bodies into the carnivorous plant, finishing a couple of quests left and right. Right now, I have reached level 2.
Goblin Nick
Species Goblin Spawn Level 2
Health 20/20 Mana 5/5
Strength 1 Agility 3
Vitality 1 Intelligence 1
Dexterity 3 Luck 3
Experience Points 60/459 Unallocated Points 5
Skills
Identify Level 1 A skill that grants the user the ability to appraise things. Rate of Failure depends upon the item or creature being appraised and level of the skill. Mana Cost: 1
Scurry Level 1 Increase movement speed by 50% for 6 seconds. Mana Cost: 2
Reaching this level seemed so easy, considering the fact that it had only been a few hours since I turned into a Goblin, but now, I realized that it would become grueling hard to reach the upper levels. The experience required now had become three times before. If this was an Online RPG, this would probably be classified among those that are ¡°hard to level up.¡± I have 5 unallocated points. I decided to put 3 into Strength and 2 into agility. I¡¯ve observed those that were around me. As I¡¯ve thought, it seemed that I was the only one that leveled up. Maybe these guys were not aware of the game-like mechanics, or maybe such thing simply did not exist among them. I prayed that it was the latter. By now, the piles of corpses were almost depleted. The production of Meat Fruit had halted in some areas. I did not know if this was the effect of being a goblin, but I could now somehow withstand the scenario of humans being fed into the carnivorous plants. Of course, I would never do it if they were alive, but a corpse was a different matter entirely. I was afraid that I was slowly losing my humanity. If this went on, then I may become a monster entirely. I did not want that to happen. I shook my small head, and my long ears flapped in the process.
The Goblin Leader has issued his orders! The quest ¡°Mine and Mine all Mine!¡± is now available! Do you wish to proceed? Reward: 100 Exp
I frowned upon seeing the reward experience. Surely, it was a bit higher than my previous quests, but it was still quite low when compared to the required Exp to level up.
Yes No
¡°Yes,¡± I mumbled. A harp-like music rang inside my head, and a window popped up.
For generations, Cursed Rubies has been the special product of the Goblins. They are stones formed after a soul amalgamates with miasma. Mine ten Cursed Rubies and present it to the Goblin Leader.
Inside my head, an indicator which pointed out the location of the mine appeared. I followed it, climbing steep stones until I reached a small tunnel. Outside, there were already some Goblin Spawns in wait. They were grabbing some pickaxes near the entrance. I immediately joined the group and grabbed my own tool. Even from my current spot, I could hear the echoes of pickaxes hitting against stones and rocks. I went inside. It was dark, but with the eyes of a goblin, it was easy to see everything. As time went by, my view of these Goblins was changing. This place was just like the ones used by humans, probably a bit better. These Goblins were not as uncivilized and as stupid as I originally thought. ¡°They even have pickaxes,¡± I said, smiling wryly. I breathed in a gust of stale air, then began hitting the tunnel walls. I did not know what a cursed ruby looked like, and where I was supposed to find it. But still, I simply imitated my fellow goblins. Judging by their actions, hitting the walls should be enough to do the trick. An hour passed by and I had yet to see any result. Even those that were around me failed to mine even a single cursed ruby. My stomach started to grumble. I was hungry. And for some reason, I drooled after remembering the piles of corpses from before. I shivered when I realized that I was somehow lusting for human flesh. That I somehow wanted to have a bite off those corpses. I gnashed my teeth and forced myself to focus on what was in front of me. If eating human flesh would satiate my hunger, then I would rather die here. Eating another human was out of the question. I kept hitting my pickaxe against the wall, creating cracks, sending stones flying about.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. By now, the grumbling sound in my stomach escalated. I cringed from the pain of hunger. Drool started dripping down my mouth. If there was a mirror here, I would have seen a blood red, bulging eyes. My hunger started unshackling the monster within me. I could feel my humanity slowly slipping away. With what was left of my sanity, I tottered deeper inside the tunnels, to a place far away from the piles of corpses outside. Just eat them. They¡¯re dead anyway. A voice within me whispered. ¡°Shut up!¡± I snarled, my voice echoing inside the tunnel. A goblin nearby stared at me in shock, before it continued striking the walls with its pickaxe. I pulled my ears and groaned. Silvery threads continued dripping down my mouth. You¡¯re hungry. Don¡¯t you want to taste some human flesh? Once again, the monster within me spoke. This time, its voice sounded so tempting that I almost dashed out the tunnel and towards the pile of corpses outside. ¡°Stop. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!¡± I banged my head against the walls, I felt lightheaded for a moment, and blood dripped down my forehead. My HP probably dwindled down a bit after that impact, but at the very least, it temporarily made the voice within me vanish. I looked around and stared at the goblin near me. This place was deep within the tunnels and currently, there were only the two of us here. I tottered towards it, my eyes red and bulging. Without warning, I struck its body using my pickaxe. It yelped as blood spurted out. I licked my lips then raised my pickaxe then struck again, and again, and again, until the pesky little bastard stopped moving.
You have gained 3 Experience Points!
I dismissed the status window. I crouched down, and using my long nails, started ripping off a portion of the goblin¡¯s flesh. I was so famished that without a moment of hesitation, I bit off the flesh and chewed. Disgusting. Tasted like rotten tomatoes ¨C a bit worse than that. Still, I continued to bite and chew. I continued to devour. Luckily, we were deep within the tunnels, and there were only the two us here. After a few more minutes of frenzied eating, my sanity eventually came back to me. I stood there, staring at the aftermath of my rampage. I knew I had become a monster.
You have earned a Title!
Cannibal
A title given to those that have eaten their own kind. + 2 to all stats
You have learned a new skill!
Frenzied Rage
Consumes half of the user¡¯s remaining HP in exchange of bonus stats for 30 seconds. + 60% Increased Movement Speed + 75% Increased Attack Speed + 30% Increased Attack Damage
The bonuses I gained just from eating a fellow goblin was absurd. Especially, the new skill. It would without doubt become useful later on. ¡°For now, what should I do with this corpse?¡± I said as I stared at what remained of the goblin before me. If I had not known better, I would have thought that a savage monster was here and ate the corpse. It was beyond recognition. I grabbed my pickaxe then started digging through the ground. After an arduous few minutes, I kicked the corpse into what I dug, then covered it with rocks. I had no idea of the law of these monsters, but just to be safe, I decided to hide the corpse for now. Now that I thought of it, I did gain some exp after killing that Goblin Spawn, right? The amount was negligent, but if I carefully analyzed the situation, there were thousands of goblins inside this cavern. And each of them was potential Exp. I licked my lips at the thought. For now, I kept on mining. My goal was to gather 10 cursed rubies and get that bonus 100 Exp from the quest. Leveling was indeed hard. It was grueling, but I decided to become strong within the shortest amount of time possible. Every moment wasted here could mean the death of my family in the Human World. I needed to evolve fast. An hour passed, and I finally found my first Cursed Ruby. A stone the size of a pebble. Just like its name, it was crimson in color. Inside, a twirling mass of gray floated. ¡°Identify!¡±
Identification failed.
I tried again after that, but it once again resulted in a failure. On my last attempt, just right before my mana had ran out, an information window finally popped out.
Cursed Ruby
A Stone made out of Melarchacolm. Legend says that the souls of the deceased are trapped inside. Once consumed it will immediately restore 200 Mana.
What the hell. This was a mana stone. There was no doubt about it. And judging by the fact that a level 2 monster like me have only 5 Mana, it was easily to conclude that this was a high-grade mana restoring medicine. It felt like a waste to simply give this to the Goblin Leader in exchange for a meagre amount of 100 Exp. Furthermore, it took me many hours just to find a single one. But it was not like I have a choice right now. I continued hacking away at the walls, my mind focused on trying to find as many Cursed Rubies as I could. ¡°Jackpot,¡± I whistled. Not an hour had passed since my first ruby and I was able to find another one. Moreover, there were three of them clustered next to each other. Maybe, I was mining the stones at the wrong place before? Why did I not think of that? Maybe these stones were more abundant in the deeper parts of the tunnel, the place I was currently at. I licked my lips as this thought crossed my mind. With newfound strength, I kept on mining. Little time had passed and I was able to confirm my theory. I had once again found a ruby. Becoming hungry had become a blessing in disguise. In my attempt to keep distance myself from the human corpses outside, I went very deep into these tunnels.
You have acquired a Cursed Ruby!
You have acquired a Cursed Ruby!
You have acquired a Cursed Ruby!
I dropped my pickaxe and counted the rubies in my small hands. There were exactly ten of them. ¡°I¡¯ll be needing a bag soon,¡± I mumbled. I realized that these Goblins were simply naked, without clothes nor items to store materials in. I remembered the human corpses outside this tunnel. They were wearing clothes. I could probably create a bag using those. After I once again made sure I have the right amount, I went outside the tunnels and approached the Goblin Leader. It was a creature thrice my size, probably as big as a short human. The Goblin Leader stared at the Cursed Rubies I handed him. He snorted then nodded. ¡°Good work.¡±
The quest ¡°Mine and Mine all Mine!¡± has been completed! You have gained 100 Exp!
¡°You¡¯re the first to complete ten rubies,¡± said the Goblin Leader. It was amazing how fluent his language was. ¡°Just in time. The Goblin Chieftain has been waiting for this. Come with me.¡±
The Goblin Leader has taken a liking on you! The quest, ¡°Meet the Goblin Chieftain,¡± is now available! Do you wish to proceed? Reward: Unknown
I stiffened when the quest window popped up. The Goblin Leader must have noticed it as he continued staring at me, waiting for my response. Unknown reward? I was curious. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± snarled the Goblin Leader. ¡°Come!¡± A chill crawled down my skin as I met his ferocious glare. ¡°Y-Yes!¡± Without another word, the Goblin Leader started heading towards the cavern¡¯s exit. Behind him, a dozen or so Goblin Spawns and Workers followed. I noticed that some of them were carrying Meat Fruits in their hands. That thing would have been an enticing sight if I had not known that it was made of human flesh. The Goblin Warriors guarding the exit made a staunch salute upon seeing the Goblin Leader. We passed through the exit, and we once again found ourselves outside. The same rocky mountain range spread out in all directions. Beyond, the barren plains covered everything the eyes could see. But this time was a bit different. Currently, not far from us, a monster resembling a centipede silently stood. On its back was a small wooden house which reminded me of a cabin. The size of the monster was colossal, probably long enough to fit three dozen goblins in, with room to spare afterwards.
Millennium Centipede Lv 20
My jaw dropped upon seeing the box hovering atop the monster¡¯s head. This creature was actually a high-level monster, and we¡¯re supposed to simply use it as a mount? The Goblin Leader instructed his men to place the Meat Fruits inside the wooden cabin. He hopped onto the head of the Centipede then grabbed the reigns. The rest of the goblins started climbing the back of the monster one after another. Hey, hey? Was it really safe to mount this thing? I was still worried about the absurd level of this colossal monster. I breathed in, then started climbing its back too. The scales were hard and smooth. My intuition was screaming at me that mere guns would probably not work against this creature. I just hoped that there were no other monsters like this one, and that none of them invades the Human Realm. After all the goblins were onboard, the Millennium Centipede started moving. Its hundreds of legs struck the ground, sending dusts flying about. In just a few minutes, the cavern was out of sight. We shot through the barren plains in an absurd speed, the wind violently brushing against our faces. There were a few instances wherein I almost fell down the colossal monster due to its speed. After passing through the barren plains, we soon found ourselves in the middle of a desert. The sun above was scorching, and I felt my skin molt from the heat. At this rate, I was going to die of dehydration. I could see my fellow goblins become weak and withered too. The only exemption was the Goblin Leader at the very front. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± said the Goblin Leader. We entered an oasis. The scene was jaw dropping, and I could not help but gawk at the sight. Large pyramids. Stone statues of a monster. A large lake at the center of a small city. Numerous stone houses that would remind one of ancient Egypt. But the most stunning fact was the residents of this place. I could see a different species of monster here. Everywhere I looked, creatures far more terrifying than goblins were scattered about. A monster with the head of a dog and body of a man approached our group. On its waist was a scimitar.
Anubis Warrior Lv 35
¡°Lord Osiris is waiting inside,¡± said the Anubis Warrior. ¡°Your Goblin Chieftain is with him.¡± He looked at the direction of the wooden cabin. ¡°I trust that you¡¯ve brought the goods with you?¡± ¡°Yes, Lord Warrior,¡± submissively said the Goblin Leader. I noticed that the Goblin Leader was trembling. Well, I could not blame him. So those Meat Fruits were meant for these monsters, huh? This was an unexpectedly good piece of information. The Anubis Warrior told the Goblin Leader to dismount the goods then follow him. Since I was tasked to carry the Cursed Rubies, I had no choice but to follow after them. It was actually scary, since I knew that everyone around me were capable of killing this frail body. This place was swarming with monsters with levels more than thrice that of the Goblin Leader. We passed through the innumerable statues, then entered a pyramid. Surprisingly, it was cool inside this place. I momentarily stopped in my tracks when I saw familiar monsters.
Minos Lv 15
¡°Minotaurs,¡± I whispered the name of the monsters. There was almost a dozen of them. Currently, they were carrying stones from one place to another. Supervising them was an Anubis Warrior holding a giant whip. It would strike the backs of the cow-like monsters every now and then, ordering them to move and work faster. I trembled when I realized that even those fearsome Minotaurs were merely slaves to these Anubis. And right now, we¡¯re going to deliver these goods to the Boss of this place. Chapter 6: First Evolution Chapter 6: First Evolution My heart thumped loudly as we went deeper inside the pyramid. This place was like a maze. If the Anubis Warrior was not guiding us, I was sure we would have been lost by now. The air was cold, but for some reason, sweat started flowing down my skin. And I soon realized the reason why.
You have entered the Pyramid of Osiris! All Non-Anubis monsters will be inflicted by a negative status. HP Regeneration Rate has been reduced by 250% Mana Regeneration Rate has been reduced by 120% Attack Speed has been reduced by 100% Movement Speed has been reduced by 50% All skills used within the area will have twice the mana consumption
Damn it. So, the reason why my body felt so heavy was because of this Area Effect, huh? They knew that we¡¯ll be delivering their goods. They should¡¯ve disabled this effect, at least. Inconsiderate bastards. I was cursing the monsters within my mind as our group made the arduous journey deeper inside this place. And without noticing it, we finally arrived at our destination. Our group stopped. In front of us was a large metallic door. Next to it, two humanoid creatures with a talisman covering their heads stood.
Munak Lv 40
Those were some seriously strong guards. Their levels were even higher than the Anubis Warriors outside. One of the Munaks touched the metallic door, and a soft Ting! sound echoed. A few seconds after, they nodded to each other, then opened it. Bright light immediately loomed over us the moment a gap appeared in the opening. A heated argument flew through us the moment we entered. ¡°But Lord Osiris! You know that our clan can¡¯t afford to send in more warriors to the other side! You know the condition of my father, right?!¡± A naked woman with the body of an eel protested. Fins grew at the corner of her ears.
Naga Priestess Lv 55
¡°Shut up, Naga!¡± growled a Minotaur. Unlike the Minotaurs I had encountered before, the furs of this one was pure silver. It glowed under the bright light above. ¡°Why do you think I allowed some of my kin to work as slaves in this place? It¡¯s so that the Grand Portal will be completed sooner! If we finish that, we¡¯ll be able to move a larger number of humans! More food for our race! Do you get it, damn fish?!¡±
Lak ¡®Amesh Lv 73
¡°Now, now, don¡¯t fight,¡± a raspy voice interrupted. It came from a figure very much similar to our own. His limbs were thin, almost that of a twig, his green skin filled with blotches of red and brown. He held a cane in his left hand.
Goblin Chieftain Lv 27
The silver minotaur and the Naga looked at the direction of the Goblin Chieftain in disgust. With just alone, it was easy to see that the Goblin Chief had the lowest standing among these group. ¡°Don¡¯t butt in, weakling,¡± sneered the silver minotaur. ¡°You goblins should keep your mouth shut and simply obey our orders!¡± I stared at the box hovering above the head of the silver minotaur. The name on it was very much familiar. Where had I seen it? ¡°At times like these, we shouldn¡¯t be fighting. Especially now that the Gryphons and the Werewolves are starting to make their move,¡± responded the Goblin Chieftain. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Lord Osiris?¡± The three monsters turned to the one sitting on the throne. A mummified human. Two small horns were visible at his forehead. His golden, slit-like eyes stared at the Goblin Leader.
Osiris Lv 99
There was silence, and Osiris eventually spoke, ¡°Even though the Goblin Chieftain is undoubtedly the weakest among us leaders, he is still a Clan Leader. I shall take his words into consideration.¡± The Goblin Chieftain was clearly pleased by this. His lips curled into a smile, creating numerous wrinkles upon his face. The silver minotaur was glaring, while the Naga simply kept her silence. ¡°Ah, the gifts have finally arrived.¡± The Goblin Chieftain and the other monsters have finally noticed our arrival. For a moment, my heart stopped beating when the gazes of these powerful creatures landed unto our group. More specifically, they seemed to stare at the Cursed Rubies I held in my hands. But what the hell are these monsters doing in this place? They were absurdly high-leveled, and if my hunch was correct, these guys were the leaders of their races. ¡°Lord Osiris, my men have brought the fruits you are longing for,¡± proudly said the Goblin Chieftain. He said to us, ¡°Put those over there and you may leave.¡± We placed the items we held on to a jade table. Now that I had taken a closer look, this room was absurdly extravagant. The walls were made entirely of gold, and the floor was probably topaz. Above, moving orbs of light floated. I did not know back then that they were wisps, creatures that normally lived with the fairies of the forest. Behind the throne, a crimson banner embroidered in gold hang. After delivering the items, we were escorted outside the room. Before we left, there was once again a heated argument between the Silver Minotaur and the Naga. I had no chance to hear further what they were saying as the door had shut completely. It somehow felt anticlimactic, considering the fact that I had just met four leaders of these monsters just now. I was expecting more to be honest, but I guess there was no other role for us goblins but to deliver the goods to those monsters. I breathed in then out. I told myself that I should be grateful that I came out alive of that room. After all, it was filled with absurdly strong monsters. There was no way of knowing if they actually like to eat goblin flesh.
You have completed the quest, Meet the Goblin Chieftain! You have received 55 Exp!
I wanted to shout in outrage after seeing the reward Exp. I was expecting that it was something amazing, since it clearly stated ¡®Reward: Unknown¡¯ back then. I grabbed my ears in frustration then stomped my feet. ¡°What are you doing?¡± said the Goblin Leader. We have finally reached outside the pyramid. ¡°We are going back to the Paradise. Move!¡± Paradise my ass. That was nothing but a dried, barren land. A place where goblins mutilate the corpses of humans. I have my complaints, but I simply shut my mouth and did not voice them out. From this encounter alone, I realized that the Minotaurs were not my only enemies. They were not the only monsters that threatened the survival of mankind. If the level 15 Minotaurs were already that strong, then how much more would the other monsters be? ¡°And what the hell¡¯s up with the level of that Osiris?¡± I mumbled as I climbed up the body of the Millennium Centipede. Thankfully, it will bring us back to the cavern. I was pretty sure that we would die from heat if we crossed the desert without it. I looked at the armored centipede I was riding on. Compared to the monsters gathered inside that pyramid, this thing actually looked cute. Those leaders just simply reeked of the word dangerous. The Goblin Leader slapped the reigns against body of the centipede, and it started kicking the ground. Instantly, we gained speed and shot through the desert. Like before, it was scorching hot. I felt my skin boil and melt from the heat.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. *** After we returned to the cavern, work resumed as usual. There was another batch of corpses, creating a mountain. Just like before, all of them were female. I used this chance to cut some of their clothes, then knotted them carefully to create a bag. I tied it around my waist. This was better, after all. Some of the goblins that saw me snickered upon seeing it, but I simply brushed it aside. These damn idiots did not know the advantage of having something to store items in. I grabbed my pickaxe. My goal this time was not the Cursed Rubies. It was something different entirely. After meeting the monsters in the pyramid, especially the one called Osiris, I realized how weak I was. I could never protect my family in the Human Realm even if I did meet them now. That was the conclusion I¡¯ve arrived at after some thoughts. ¡°I need to quickly gain some levels,¡± I mumbled. Since quests were hard to come by, I had no choice but to use the only method available ¡ª killing other Goblins. Last time, I ¡®accidentally¡¯ killed one of them due to hunger. But this time was different. I was going to kill them for the Experience. Pretending that I was going to mine for cursed rubies, I carried my pickaxe then entered the tunnels. It was dark like last time, but it was actually easy to see everything using the eyes of a goblin. I observed those that were currently inside the tunnels. All were Goblin Spawns. Perfect. Patiently, I waited for one of them to become alone and isolated. After seeing my chance, I immediately hacked at the Goblin Spawn¡¯s body using my pickaxe. It did not have the chance to cry for help as my weapon pierced its head right at the middle.
You have killed a Goblin Spawn! You have gained 5 Exp!
¡°Woah, that¡¯s bigger than before,¡± I said while I stared at the blue screen hovering before me. I was pretty sure that last time, I gained a meagre amount of 3 Exp. ¡°Maybe the Exp gained differs from each individual?¡± I immediately tested my theory out. I once again waited for a goblin to become alone and isolated, and using the strength of my entire body, struck it using my pickaxe. It fell down limp on the ground after my pickaxe destroyed its head. Attacking without warning may seem cowardly, but I did not care. These bastards deserve no mercy. Furthermore, I could avoid unnecessary fights by using this cheap simple trick.
You have killed a Goblin Spawn! You have gained 4 Exp!
As I thought. The Experience Points gained were not the same. I kept killing Goblin Spawn one after another, and my Exp slowly rose up. It had taken me several hours, but at this rate, it might be possible to reach level 3 before the day ends. I dug through the ground then tossed the body of my recent kill inside. I was about to cover it with rocks when I heard steps behind my back. I turned around and looked. In front of me was a goblin a bit larger than me. It also held a pickaxe in its hand, its eyes staring at the corpse inside the hole I dug.
Goblin Worker Lv 3
¡°Shit.¡± My heart loudly thumped, almost jumping out. My fear quickly became reality. The Goblin Worker shrieked, its cries echoing through the tunnels. From behind him, I could hear numerous small footsteps. Eventually, two more Goblin Workers appeared behind him, their eyes glaring at my direction. It was obvious that they were not pleased with me killing their kin. I looked behind me. It was the pathway that leads deeper inside the tunnel. I had not explored that part before in fear of becoming lost and dying of hunger. But it seemed that I did not have much of a choice now. I looked at the pickaxe I currently held. If I let go of this thing, I would be able to move at a quicker pace. But without it, I have no way of defending myself. Should I abandon the pickaxe and simply run away. Or do I fight them here? Seconds ticked by and I arrived at an answer. I threw the pickaxe at the Goblin Workers, and they simply evaded it by ducking. I had decided to flee. I ran. I ran with all my might. I had not tried using my skill before, but I was sure that now¡¯s the right moment. ¡°Scurry!¡± I shouted. It felt a bit stupid shouting out the skill, but I currently had no idea how to activate it. Thankfully, it seemed to have worked. I felt my body move at a quicker pace.
Movement Speed has increased by 50% for 6 seconds.
Behind me, the Goblin Workers started chasing. One of them threw its pickaxe towards me, and I leapt towards the side to dodge it. I felt a pricking sensation on my left leg. The damnable weapon had grazed me. I looked in front of me. It was a fork. ¡°Shit,¡± I mumbled. I knew that right now, even if I somehow escaped from these Goblin Workers, I might never find my way out. My instinct was screaming at me that this mine was absurdly vast, the one in which if you got lost, you¡¯ll simply die of hunger after failing to find your way out. ¡°Left. Middle. Right?¡± I had to choose between the three. ¡°Screw it!¡± A second wasted could mean my death here. Without thinking much of it, I decided to go right. I ran through the pathway, my heart loudly pounding through my chest. So, even goblins could feel this spent too, huh? My ears twitched. I could still hear the footsteps of my pursuers. Maybe I should have simply fought them back then. Or was that too reckless? ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on stupid things,¡± I reprimanded myself. ¡°Focus, Nick!¡± Once again, I ran and ran. My only goal was to create as much distance between me and those Goblin Workers. But unluckily, I soon found myself in a dead end. The sound of footsteps from my pursuers were still clear. Damn bastards. They really followed me all the way up here. Slowly, the figures of the Goblin Workers emerged. The three of them were huffing, but the satisfied looks on their faces that says, ¡°We¡¯ve finally got you!¡± was evident. I noticed that they also held no weapons. Great. They must have thrown it too along the way. ¡°Three monsters with higher levels than me,¡± I smirked. This somehow reminded me of the time when I was still in prison. My daily life in that place was simply hell. Everyday, the guards would make us prisoners fight against each other. It was their way of getting rid of their boredom. Back then, I also found myself in the same predicament, right? That time wherein I got cornered by five inmates as I was taking a shower in the public bath. They accused me of stealing their food, or some other stupid stuff I had no idea about. If I remembered correctly, I got so beaten up that I was unable to walk for the next four days after that. ¡°Compared to those convicts, you guys are like kids anyway,¡± I said to the Goblin Workers. I knew that those words of mine were simply meant to comfort myself, but it worked wonders regardless. I was starting to regain my confidence. Indeed, I may not have much chance against those five inmates who brawled everyday like there was no tomorrow. But against these three monsters, I could probably win. I bit my lips using my rotten teeth, and I felt satisfaction after it bled. Good. My teeth were sharp. I flexed my fingers. I knew that my nails were enough to pierce through goblin flesh. Gambling everything, I activated that skill.
You have activated Frenzied Rage! 50% of your HP has been consumed as penalty.
Movement Speed has increased by 60% Attack Speed has increased by 75% Attack Damage has increased by 30%
Based on my experiences back when I was still inside the Iron Cell, dragging a fight against many people would eventually result in failure. It was inevitable that you would run out of stamina and vigor first, since you were fighting one against many. I knew that I had to finish this in the least amount of time possible. Furthermore, this skill would be active for only half a minute. With those things in mind, I made the first move. I shot forward towards the nearest Goblin Worker, then using my long nails, struck at its neck. Blood spurted violently as the Goblin Worker shrieked in pain. I dodged a swipe from the Goblin Worker on the left. Using the momentum of my dodge, I positioned myself right behind it. I cleared all hesitations in my mind. Using a jaw breaking force, I bit its neck, attempting to rip off the flesh apart. Once again, blood violently spurted out of the neck. The Goblin Worker gagged as blood came out its mouth. I spat out the flesh I had torn from its neck. Disgusting. It tasted like shit. A kick sent me flying towards the tunnel walls. I groaned as I quickly tried to steady my feet. Damn. I got careless. I momentarily forgot the existence of the third goblin. By now, the two goblins I attacked were tottering around. The light in their eyes started dimming. I knew that it was only a matter of time before they died of blood lost. They should not be much of a threat right now. The only problem remaining would be the third Goblin Worker. Unlike the other two, this one was more cautious. It made sure to stand behind the two dying goblins, its eyes staring directly into mine.
Frenzied Rage has ended.
Damn it. The skill had finally ended. Should I use it again? No, it would be too risky. Cutting my remaining health in half would further increase my risk of dying. I might even die from a simple kick with so little HP. My heart loudly thumped. This was unlike my fights with the prisoners. There would be no one to stop us this time. ¡°Screw it,¡± I snarled. The remaining Goblin Worker must have taken that as cue, as it immediately leapt towards me, its long nails sharp and ready. I jumped to the side, and my body rolled twice on the ground. I immediately got up, just in time to dodge a swipe from the green-skinned monster. The Goblin Worker shrieked, and it opened its mouth wide as it attempted to bite my flesh off. I stopped its attack by scratching its face. It was probably a stroke of luck ¨C my nails cut one of its eyes. I immediately sprung into action. A chance like this would never come by again. Using all my reflexes, I pierced the remaining eye with my nails. The Goblin Worker shrieked as it took three steps back, before its body touched the walls of the tunnels. It must have felt its impending death as it continued swiping against the air, most probably in an attempt to hit me. But I merely stood there, watching as the Goblin Shrieked and hit the air. A blind Goblin Worker would be an easy prey, but there was no harm in being cautious. After all, a cornered rat would bite a cat. Every now and then, I would make noises, and the Goblin Worker would frantically hit the air. It was afraid, and I took advantage of that. I did not let it rest even one bit. ¡°Get tired already, damn monster.¡± I licked my lips.
You have killed a Goblin Worker!
You have gained 48 Exp!
You have killed a Goblin Worker!
You have gained 51 Exp!
By now, the two goblins whose necks I injured before had died. Blood blanketed the ground where their corpses are. Surprisingly, the experience points I gained from killing them was large. There was not much difference in levels between a Goblin Spawn and a Goblin Worker. Then why? I looked at the remaining Goblin Worker. It had become flaccid, definitely tired. It was blind, and I somehow knew that it had given up on life. Still, just to be sure, I approached it carefully. Without another word, I struck its neck using my nails. Blood gushed out violently. The Goblin Worker shrieked and wailed in pain, before it eventually jerked then lost strength entirely. I pulled out my nails then struck its neck once again.
You have killed a Goblin Worker!
You have gained 54 Exp!
You have Leveled Up!
A magic circle started forming beneath my feet. A second after, a mechanical voice spoke through my head. After achieving the required level, you will now evolve into a Goblin Worker. Slowly, I could see my limbs stretch out before me. It was not much, but I could clearly see my growth. My thin limbs from before had gained some muscles too. Definitely, this was the body of a Goblin Worker.
You have gained a new skill!
Portal Access
A skill that grants you the authority to pass through the Dimension Portal. Only Goblin Workers and above are granted this skill. You will need to use a Rift to activate the skill. Consumes 75% of Maximum Mana Pool
I clenched my fists. Finally, with this, I could go back to the Human Realm. All that was left was to go to where the portal was. And I think I have an idea where it was. Chapter 7: Back in the Human Realm Chapter 7: Back in the Human Realm After evolving into a Goblin Worker, I immediately tried getting out of the tunnel. It was an arduous task, considering the fact that I had ran too deep within. Thankfully, after some trial and error, I eventually made my way back to the exit. Of course, I properly disposed of the corpses of the other goblins. Currently, this was how my status looked like.
Goblin Nick
Species Goblin Worker Level 3
Health 48/48 Mana 8/8
Strength 7 (+2) Agility 7 (+2)
Vitality 1 (+2) Intelligence 1 (+2)
Dexterity 3 (+2) Luck 3 (+2)
Experience Points 19/948 Unallocated Points 0
Skills
Identify Level 1 (8%) A skill that grants the user the ability to appraise things. Rate of Failure depends upon the item or creature being appraised and level of the skill. Mana Cost: 1
Scurry Level 1 (2%) Increase movement speed by 50% for 6 seconds. Mana Cost: 2
Frenzied Rage Level 1 (3.5%) Consumes half of the user¡¯s remaining HP in exchange of bonus stats for 30 seconds. + 60% Increased Movement Speed + 75% Increased Attack Speed + 30% Increased Attack Damage
Portal Access Passive A skill that grants one the authority to pass through the Dimension Portal. Consumes 75% of Maximum Mana Pool.
Title Cannibal (+2 Bonus to all Stats)
After allocating my bonus points to Strength and Agility, change was starting to be noticeable. Previously, I found it hard to run while holding my beloved pickaxe. But now, I could do so without much effort and worry. Well, the bonus stats I obtained from the title, Cannibal, may have made a significant contribution to that.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. I looked around me. Just like before, the Goblin Spawns were dragging the human corpses towards the carnivorous plants, producing Meat Fruits one after another. ¡°The Portal should be nearby,¡± I said to myself. Since this place was filled with human corpses, the entrance towards the Human Realm should be nearby. Otherwise, it would make no sense. I was still trying to figure out the exact location of the Portal when an opportunity suddenly presented itself.
Lord Osiris has ordered the Goblin Clan to procure more human meat. The Portal towards the Human Realm has been opened.
The quest, ¡°Give Me More Meat!¡± is now available! Do you wish to proceed? Reward: 500 Experience Points
Immediately, I said yes. This was the perfect chance to cross over towards the other realm. A jazz-like music resounded in my ears, a Ting! sound echoed, and a blue window popped up.
Give Me More Meat! After a rift has been opened towards the Human Realm, the food shortage in Muhar ¡®Tava has been resolved. Human Meat is an exquisite treat. Go to the Human Realm and bring back two female human corpses.
An indicator within my mind appeared, showing the route towards the portal. I noticed that several Goblin Workers were also headed that way. I remembered the time when I first encountered these goblin bastards. That time when we¡¯re hiding in the comfort room, afraid of the Minotaurs outside. If these monsters had not given out our location, maybe things would be different right now. Maybe, just maybe, I would still be with my son and ex-wife. I gripped the pickaxe in my hand as I reminisced. Along with the other Goblin Workers, I followed the path indicated in my mind. A convenient thing, indeed. We passed through a large crack in one of the walls, then climbed a slope, eventually arriving at a large tunnel. Outside, just right at its entrance, four Goblin Warriors stood guard. I noticed that there was a particular goblin I had not seen before. A goblin holding a small wooden cane. Its limbs were thinner than the warriors, probably even thinner than mine. So, that was what a Goblin Mage looked like? The Goblin Mage smugly watched as our group entered the tunnel. Even from this distance, I could hear a soft, wooshing, sound. It was probably the Portal. We kept walking inside the tunnel. It was hot here. At first, I thought I was simply nervous, and that was the reason why sweat started flowing down my skin. But then I noticed that those around me were like that too. The temperature kept increasing as we neared the portal, and I soon understood why after seeing it. The Portal itself reminded me of a sphere of lava. It was gargantuan, probably large enough to fit seven Minotaurs in, with room to spare afterwards. The Goblin Workers continued marching, not bothering to stop as they entered the sphere of fire one after another. Honestly, I was afraid. That thing looked dangerous, and my human mind was screaming at me that I would become nothing but scorched meat once I touched it. It would not even be an exaggeration to say that nothing would be left of me afterwards. Our group kept marching in, and soon, it was my turn to enter the sphere of fire. I felt my skin scalding from the heat alone. I might instantly turn into crisp and dust even after a moment of touch. My second of hesitation was evident, as a Goblin Leader nearby stared directly at me. I knew that if I did not step sooner, it would have personally shoved me in. I swallowed the lump in my throat, gripped the pickaxe in my hand, then jumped headfirst into the sphere of fire. Surprisingly, the heat vanished the moment I entered it. It was not painful at all. Contrary, it was cool and soothing.
You have entered the Rift! 75% of your Maximum Mana Pool has been consumed. You shall now be transferred to the Human Realm.
A split-second deafening Ting! sound echoed for a moment, and I suddenly found myself falling down a cavern. My body hit the ground with a loud thud, before rolling four times. I groaned in pain as I painstakingly tried standing up. ¡°Damn it,¡± I grumbled. I heard noises above. Upon looking, I saw that numerous other Goblin Workers were falling down the sky. No, to be more accurate, they were falling down from the Portal located above. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Just now, I saw one of the Goblin Workers die after hitting the ground. Unlucky for it, the ground it landed on was spiked. Blood splattered to the air on the moment of impact. Hey. Hey. Hey. Couldn¡¯t they at least position the Portal on the ground? Why above? Thankfully, the distance between the ceiling and ground was not much, probably three times the height of your average human. Coupled with the soft ground, it was possible to survive the fall. You would end up with broken bones and torn flesh though. As I was cursing the creator of the Portal, I grabbed my pickaxe that I dropped on the ground. Goblin Workers were still falling down from the sky above me, and I quickly moved to a remote location where I would be safe from ¡°falling monsters.¡±
You have arrived in the Human Realm! Time left before the Portal closes: 51 Hours 14 mins
In short, before two days pass, I need to obtain two female corpses and bring them back with me to the Goblin¡¯s Cavern. The reward Exp this time was a bit decent compared to the previous one. Still, it was not enough for me to obtain an instant level up. ¡°Wait, how do I actually drag the corpses back with me?¡± I asked myself. Right now, my size was that of a toddler, probably even smaller. Furthermore, I wondered how I was supposed to reach the Portal in case I did manage to bring back two corpses with me. The damn Portal was in the ceiling. I groaned as these thoughts ran through my mind. I guess that for now, I had to trust in my Stats. After all, I did prioritize the distribution of points into strength and agility. I did not know if the concept of levels and statuses existed within monsters. I hoped not. Every time I allocated some points into strength, I did feel a great boost in raw power. It would be terrifying if a high-level monster that prioritized putting all points into strength suddenly appeared. It would probably need a simple flick of a finger to send this body of mine flying. I really hope that these statuses were only applicable to me. For now, I started looking around. This place was small, probably less than third of the cavern we were in before. Hundreds of Goblin Workers were currently gathered here, their dumb and ugly faces indiscernible from each other. Some of them started going out through a nearby tunnel. It would probably lead to where the humans were. I decided to follow. After walking through the tunnel, we began climbing a rocky cliff. This was actually hard for me since I was carrying my pickaxe. After the cliff, we once again walked through another tunnel. By now, I was starting to see some light outside. We reached the exit, and hell unfolded before my eyes. The scene that I saw was something straight out of a nightmare. We were currently in a large mound at the center of the city. Maybe it would be more appropriate to call this place a hill, since it was almost as tall as some of the buildings. I did not know how a hill suddenly appeared at the center of this city, but this was most definitely due to the Portal below. Buildings were toppled all over, burning, sending large clouds of smoke into the sky. It was currently night, but the fire that engulfed the city made it bright as day. Cars were burning, dead bodies were turned into crisps, and the scent of blood filled the air. Every now and then, screams of pure terror would echo from the distance. Roaming the streets were monsters I was very much familiar with: Minotaurs. ¡°Collect the Meat,¡± said a cold voice. Upon looking, I saw a Goblin Leader overlooking our entire group. It stood proud and tall as it looked at the carnage before its very eyes. Damn, fucking bastard. ¡°Collect the Spoils of War! Go!¡± On that signal, our group started descending the hills. I have two days before the Portal closes. I have two days to look for them. Please, be safe. Chapter 8: The Other Humans Chapter 8: The Other Humans Gerald¡¯s POV Along with two others, I tiptoed towards the school cafeteria. We made sure to make the least amount of sound possible, as not to attract the monsters that lurked inside this campus. Three days ago, this world of ours had suddenly turned into a living hell. A nightmare without a way out. ¡°I¡¯ve confirmed it with my magic. This place¡¯s currently safe. Gerald, use it,¡± whispered Mark the moment we arrived at the cafeteria. ¡°World of Silence!¡± I said, my face a bit flushed from embarrassment. Saying the words was the only way I knew to activate this magic.
You have activated World of Silence! For the next 45 seconds, everything within 20 meters radius will be engulfed in absolute silence.
I nodded at my companions, and they immediately understood that the magic had taken its effect. From a tiptoe, we immediately transitioned into a run. We opened the cabinets of the cafeteria, not bothering to restrain the speed and strength of our actions. But despite all these, there was not a single sound heard around. It was as though the entire world was sleeping, and all our actions meant nothing. I opened the large refrigerator in the cafeteria. ¡°Jackpot!¡± I said, but not a single sound came out. In front of me were kilos of raw meat. Although power had been gone for days now, the meat was still fine. Well, there was a faint weird scent coming out from it, but I was sure it would still be edible. I immediately shoved them inside my backpack. Aside from the half-rotting vegetables, unopened packs of milk and cold water, there were bottles of alcohol. I deliberated for a moment if I should take the alcohol with me. Eventually, I decided to take them. They would make for excellent antiseptics, probably. I looked at Mark and John. The two of them also had their backpacks full. Since my magic would end soon, we decided to make it a day and go back to our ¡®base.¡¯ Right now, people were starving, and these goods we have looted would be like rain in parched land. Everyone would surely be surprised once we got back.
World of Silence has ended.
Once again, the sound of chaos outside the campus reached our ears. We had become quite accustomed to the sound of the city burning, the occasional screams of terror outside, and the roars of monsters that would roam the hallways of this campus. ¡°How much did you get?¡± excitedly asked John, his sunken eyes expectantly looking at the bag on my back. ¡°A lot,¡± I simply said. ¡°Now¡¯s not the time for chitchat. Those monsters might come here soon. Let¡¯s go.¡± My body was bigger than most people, definitely overweight, and it made moving quite difficult. It was a struggle trying to move around while trying to avoid creating any kind of noise. Mark, who was moving silently next to me, whispered, ¡°Next time, we should also send that damn Principal here. He should know how hard and dangerous it is to find food for our group. Fucking bald bastard!¡± I totally agree, but I decided not to stoke the flame of resentment any further. Our goal right now was to successfully go back to our base. My sister was waiting for me there. I cannot just simply die here and leave her behind. I heard footsteps nearby, and I immediately signaled everyone to take cover and hide. We entered an empty classroom, and through the shattered windows, we could clearly see a cow-like monster pass through the hallway. It was a good thing that we were quick to hide. Otherwise, that mass of destruction would have seen us. I was trembling. I¡¯ve got to admit, this was really freaking scary. I almost pissed my pants from that sudden encounter. A few days before, I¡¯ve witnessed a lot of my classmates and friends die from those very same monsters. I¡¯ve witnessed their bodies turn into mincemeat, their heads and limbs bent and crushed like paste. Those bastards were immortal. Winning against them was impossible. All we could do was hide and prolong our survival. ¡°H-Hey, the Minotaur¡¯s gone, right?¡± said John. His entire body was trembling. This mission to procure food was definitely too much for high school kids. Despite the fear that shackled my body, I craned my neck to the window and looked at the hallway. There was no one there. I nodded, and the other two heaved sighs of relief. ¡°Mark, we should probably wait for your mana to recover. Then use your skill again,¡± I said after considering all kinds of scenarios. ¡°We need to make sure that our path back to the base is safe. If we die here, those guys will also die of hunger.¡± Mark frowned for a moment, then acknowledged my suggestion with a nod. His skill was called Monster Tracker. Just like the name implied, it was a skill that tracks the movement of monsters nearby. It was a pretty accurate and useful skill, giving us the exact number and location of monsters within a 25-meter radius. The only downfall was that it consumed way too much mana. It was because of his skill that we were able to survive until now. Of course, my skill also took an active role in that. World of Silence, despite the embarrassing name, was actually useful in dire situations like these. As for John, he was skill-less. A non-magician, we could say. The reason we always brought him with us whenever we went gathering food was because of his raw strength. He could carry twice the luggage, and when it came to fighting, he also knew a bit of self-defense. We waited for Mark¡¯s mana to recover. It took a more than a hour, and the moment he had enough mana to cast Monster Tracker, we immediately resumed our journey back to the base. Right now, we came to the conclusion that it was good thing we waited for the Monster Tracker skill. It seemed that the path we took before was filled with monsters: Goblins, Minotaurs, and there was even a rare monster called Stone Golem. I have never seen the last one before. Knowing the locations of the monsters, we took an alternative path. We took the long way around: through a flight of staircases, decrepit hallways, and empty rooms. Eventually, we found ourselves back in our base. The base was an amphitheater, a large room formerly used for forums. ¡°It¡¯s us,¡± I said to the door. ¡°Open up!¡± A few seconds after I said those words, a pair of eyes peered through a previously blocked hole, scrutinizing our group. I was sure that its owner was looking if there were monsters chasing after us. After confirming that it was safe, the bolt clicked open, the sound of tables and chairs being pulled out was heard, and the door opened. A middle-aged man, red hair disheveled, black eyes fierce and sharp, greeted us. ¡°Welcome back.¡± Behind him were two other students, their hands holding wooden poles. ¡°How¡¯s it in the outside?¡± said the middle-aged man. He scratched his chin. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should be with you guys, but the Principal insisted I stay here to protect the group.¡± I almost frowned after that remark. The man before me was Professor Jack. Everyone knew that he was a former soldier before becoming a professor. Out of everyone, he was undoubtedly the strongest. Furthermore, he had a unique skill capable of fighting even a Minotaur one-on-one. I¡¯ve seen it before, and it would still give me the shivers whenever I thought about it. I¡¯ve never known that a human could be so strong, so invincible. Still, he refused to disobey the orders of his superiors, the Principal. It was probably something drilled to him during his stay in the military academy. It was a waste, really. If he could just come with us, our travels would definitely become safer. He could easily take care of the goblins, and worse comes to worst, he could even fight against a single Minotaur. ¡°Same as before, Professor Jack,¡± I replied. ¡°But Mark says the number of monsters has increased. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Mark nodded. ¡°Yeah. Monster Tracker can¡¯t be wrong. There¡¯s an increase in the number of goblins lately.¡± ¡°I see,¡± replied the professor. ¡°I will inform the Principal regarding this.¡± The door closed behind us, and chairs and tables were moved to blockade the entrance. I doubt that it would be enough to hinder those Minotaurs, but this was definitely safer than nothing at all. ¡°Welcome back!¡± a high-pitched voice resounded in the amphitheater. It came from the Principal, a bald skinny man in his early forties. His eyes were gawking at the bag on our backs. ¡°Seems you¡¯ve got a lot, eh?¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± we replied, our response a bit tired and heavy. Going outside was taxing to our mind and body. The Principal and the rest of the group rejoiced upon hearing it. Currently, there were almost a hundred students inside this room. Two professors, plus the principal. It was a small number actually, considering the population of this school. If I was not mistaken, our academy had around seven thousand students in total.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°I got some meat. It¡¯s probably best to quickly cook it,¡± I said, putting the heavy bag onto the ground. I opened it then showed the group my loot. Gasping and gulping sounds were heard afterwards. I could not blame them. Right now, food had become luxury. The Principal ordered two students capable of basic fire magic to cook the meat, specifically reminding them to take the smoke into account. After all, we did not want to attract the attention of the monsters outside. Fire magic, huh. Sometimes I wished that my skill was also as cool as that. Not something that would simply make all kinds of sound vanish for a couple of seconds. If I had offensive spells in my arsenal, then maybe I could better protect her¡ªmy sister. My eyes scanned the room for her, and they landed on a thin girl sitting at the back. A young girl in her teens, braided golden hair and almond hazel eyes. She gave off a feeling of fragileness, the same feeling that would make a man want to protect her. Although the two of us were twins, our appearances were nothing alike. She was a goddess, while I was merely an overly-bloated pig, or so they said. She met my gaze then gave me a reassuring smile. She seemed okay, thank God. Mark and John started taking out their loots, which consisted mainly of canned goods and chips. It was an abundant harvest, really. Probably enough to last us another day or two if managed wisely. At the corner of my eyes, I saw Professor Jack speak with the Principal. It was probably to inform him of what Mark had found out using his Monster Tracker skill. Professor Marianne listened to their conversation. After unloading all the contents of my bag and giving them to the one in-charge of handling food, I approached my sister. ¡°We¡¯re you worried?¡± I said upon approaching. I sat next to her, and for a moment, the metallic chair creaked from my weight. My sister, Anisette, shook her head. Everyone knew that she could not speak, but her strong eyes would always speak volumes of what was in her mind. ¡°You¡¯re really confident with this useless brother, eh?¡± I chuckled, a bit amused of the sincerity of my beloved sister. Anisette took out a notebook then began writing something down. You¡¯re not useless. Without you, we would have all died of hunger already. You¡¯re awesome, brother! I stared at the words she had written for a moment. Such a pure soul, really. ¡°It¡¯s been three days only,¡± I said with a smile. ¡°Humans don¡¯t die of hunger in just three days.¡± I knew that my sense of humor was bad, probably a bit nerdy, but my sister would always answer it with a voiceless chuckle. And she did just now. ¡°So, what happened here while I was gone?¡± I said, trying to find another topic for conversation. Anisette frowned after that. She froze for a moment, gripped the pen in her hand, then bit her lips. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I worriedly asked. A full second passed. She shook her head, jotted down some words, then showed it to me. Nothing¡¯s wrong. I¡¯m probably just hungry, sorry. I felt that she was not telling me the truth, but I decided not to poke my nose any further. ¡°Alright, your big brother will go grab some food. I¡¯m pretty sure Mark will give me some if I asked,¡± I said. Despite being twins, since I was the first that got out of our mother¡¯s womb, I was the older of us two. ¡°Stay here, okay. I¡¯ll be back.¡± Anisette smiled then nodded. As I started approaching Mark, the Principal called out to me. ¡°Gerald, boy!¡± he shouted. For a moment, I was angry that he hollered. Not because it was degrading, but because of the fact that it could potentially give out our location. ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°Boy, tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll need you and your sister to go out and scout outside,¡± said the Principal. ¡°And by outside, I meant outside this school. The city.¡± For a moment, I froze. What was this bastard saying? It was dangerous enough to go out this amphitheater, and now he was asking us to go out the school itself? Furthermore, he was asking my sister to come with me? I wanted to punch him right in the face, but I held back. With a stiff and forced expression, I said, ¡°What do you mean, sir?¡± The Principal sighed. He looked annoyed for a moment but then assumed a smiling face afterwards. ¡°Your sister has one of the most powerful skills among us, right? The Hunter¡¯s Eyes, is it?¡± How did the Principal come to know that? I made sure that only my sister and I come to know of the existence of that skill. I knew that if people found out, they may start taking advantage of her. It was an outcome I was trying to avoid at all cost. ¡°I¡¯ve talked to her when you were out gathering food,¡± said the Principal. His skeletal frame reminded me of a walking twig. ¡°No use hiding it.¡± He looked at the rest of the students, then at me. ¡°Also, everyone already knows.¡± I wanted to ask him how he came to the conclusion that Anisette had such skill. And I remembered the incident three days ago. That time when Anisette saved me and another student from the Goblins. This guy must have seen that time she used her skill. I stormed my mind for a way out. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ll go alone then,¡± I said, trying my best not to drag my sister into this mess. ¡°With my ski¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªThat won¡¯t do, boy,¡± said the Principal. ¡°Your skill¡¯s that useless crap that mutes everything, right? You think you¡¯ll survive outside with just that?¡± ¡®That so called useless skill¡¯s been giving this group their food, damn bastard,¡¯ I thought. I still chose not to voice my thoughts out loud. ¡°I¡¯ve spoken with your sister. If Hunter¡¯s Eyes could indeed paralyze three monsters at once, then it¡¯s the best skill for a reconnaissance mission,¡± said the Principal. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you and your sister to scout outside the school for us. You¡¯re with Mark so I know you¡¯re aware. The monsters are increasing in numbers lately. We need to find another shelter in case this one gets discovered.¡± What he said was probably correct. Indeed, we need to find another shelter soon. I was pretty sure that it would only be a matter of time before we were discovered here. Furthermore, we would soon run out of food. ¡°I¡¯ll join the two of you tomorrow,¡± said Professor Jack. He seemed to have been listening to us from a distance. He approached me and the Principal. ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± ¡°B-But Professor Jack!¡± stuttered the Principal. A bead of sweat flowed down his sharply pointed nose. ¡°I-If you leave with them, what¡¯s going to happen to the defense of this place!¡± ¡°But it¡¯s too dangerous to simply let the two go out on their own,¡± said Professor Jack. He smiled at me, and the large scar on his face wrinkled for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll go with the two kids.¡± The Principal was unable to refute any further. His head hanged low for a moment. He mumbled, ¡°Fine then.¡± I¡¯d never expected that the professor had his unyielding side as well. I guess I had to re-evaluate him then. *** Morning quickly came, and the time for our reconnaissance mission had finally arrived. Honestly, even now, I was against this. I even went as far as force my sister to stay in the base, but she insisted on going. She, too, knew that her skill would make a big difference in my survival outside. After some argument, I finally conceded. The two of us, along with Professor Jack, were going outside. ¡°Be safe, pig,¡± said Mark, affectionately. I noticed that he was trying to suppress the tears at the corner of his eyes. He had used Monster Tracker just now and told us the safest route from the amphitheater. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not going to die,¡± I smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± The rest of the group saw us off. The chairs and tables blocking the exit were removed, the door was opened, and we went outside. It would have been assuring had Mark went with us. His skill would enable us to accurately tell which path was safer to travel. Unfortunately, the Principal insisted that he stayed in the room. On the bright side, Professor Jack was with us. I consoled myself with that fact. We stealthily moved through the hallways, trying our best not to make any sound. The Amphitheater was located at the second floor, and we had to move down one floor to reach the exit of the school. Damn it. This was stupid. Why did we have to be the ones to scout outside. I cursed the Principal within my mind. At the corner of my eyes, I saw a shadow move. Professor Jack must have noticed it too, as he was already looking at that direction. ¡°Be ready. They¡¯re coming,¡± he mumbled. I shivered when I saw four Goblins come out of a classroom. They shrieked, then came charging at us. I gripped my metallic pipe and was ready to swing it when three of the monsters suddenly froze in their tracks. The remaining one was surprised of what happened to its companions. It stared at them for a moment, then at us, unsure of what had just happened. I looked at Anisette. Her hazel eyes had turned white. The three frozen monsters were definitely under the effect of Hunter¡¯s Eyes. Damn. Such a cool skill, really. Professor Jack dashed forth, and without flinching, pierced the head of the goblin using his large kitchen knife. He cut the neck of the remaining three. They were unable to fight back as they simply stood frozen in place. I got shivers after watching this. This combination was strong. Really strong. As long as the monsters did not come to us in the dozens, me would most likely win. Anisette¡¯s white eyes returned to their hazel color. I smiled wryly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The two nodded, and we resumed our journey towards the outside. I did not know if it a stroke of luck, or maybe it was a miracle entirely, but we did not encounter any more monsters on our way out the campus. It was perplexing actually, since the three of us knew that innumerable monsters lurked within the school. To actually successfully go past those without them noticing was no ordinary feat. Well, my skill, World of Silence, may have played a crucial role in that. Whenever we noticed a group of monsters, I would activate my skill, and we would then use the opportunity to run towards the other end of the path. It was a really convenient skill during times like these. We did not have to worry about making any sound. We looked at the campus behind us. Due to some good fortune, this place and its surrounding areas were untouched by the fire. Its walls were filled with cracks, and blotches of dried blood were evident on the ground. But aside from that, the place itself was in pretty good condition. ¡°From here on is the real thing,¡± grimly said Professor Jack. His red hair reminded me of blood. ¡°We don¡¯t know what kind of monsters we¡¯ll encounter along the way. Remember, our goal is to simply scout the situation of the city. Our goal is simply to assess if its safer to go out our base or to stay there. Don¡¯t do anything rash. Got that?¡± Anisette and I nodded. Still wearing our uniforms, we began traversing the streets. It was quiet. Eerily quiet. Although this part of the city was untouched by fire, it was evident that a portion of the city had been burned down the ground. The smoke in the sky was thick, obstructing the sun above. Every now and then, we would see corpses, rotting, their faces twisted into agony. At first, I was worried that this would greatly traumatize Anisette. But thankfully, she seemed stronger than she seemed. Her eyes held strength within it, the resolve to see through this task till the very end. As her elder brother, I was proud of her. She was no longer the fragile girl she used to be. Professor Jack signaled our group to stop, and we immediately hid behind a large slab of stone. From our current position, I heard loud thuds ¨C footsteps. Numerous footsteps. I was pretty sure of which kind of monsters those sound belonged to. And just to be sure, I carefully took a peek. I was right. These monsters passing by were Minotaurs. Three of them. Their large bodies towered four or five meters, definitely twice the size of an adult human. Their heads were those of a cow, or maybe a bull, I was not really sure. Their bodies were hairy, resembling those of a human. Every now then, steam would puff out their snouts. I noticed some little creatures walking next to the Minotaurs. ¡°Goblins,¡± I unconsciously mumbled the name of the monsters. There were over a dozen of them, all wearing disgustingly green and ugly faces. They were the size of a toddler, probably a bit taller. I had encountered them numerous times before and I could say for certain that they were weak. Weaker than us, humans. The only problem was they were persistent. And we also had to take into consideration their massive number. We continued hiding, simply letting the monsters pass by us. Eventually, the group left, and we breathed sighs of relief. That was close. No matter how strong these two guys with me were, we could not possibly win against such number. ¡°Professor, what should we do?¡± I said, my voice soft, almost whispered. ¡°Should we go back? I think its dangerous here. Even back in the school, I¡¯ve never seen so many monsters huddled together.¡± Professor Jack pondered. He frowned. ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s dangerous. But we might not have another chance to do a reconnaissance after this. We need to at least confirm whether there¡¯s a better place for us to stay and hide.¡± He worriedly added, ¡°The food supply in the school will run out soon.¡± I clearly knew his intentions. Despite knowing the risks, I decided to agree with this one. Risking our lives now would surely benefit all of us in the long run. Anisette grabbed the hem of my clothes. She pointed at a structure a good distance from us. Professor Jack and I looked at the place she pointed at. ¡°A Mall,¡± I said. It was surprisingly sturdy, with just a few cracks here and there. The windows were shattered, but aside from that, it looked capable of withstanding another earthquake or two. We quickly realized what Anisette had in mind. We were quite familiar with that place. It was a popular destination before the apocalypse took place. If I was not mistaken, on the ground floor was a large supermarket. The food in there would surely last us far longer than the remaining scraps in the cafeteria. Furthermore, there was a clinic and pharmacy on the third floor. A hardware on the second floor. We could have access to food, medicines, and weapons if we made it our base. ¡°We don¡¯t know what kind of monsters there¡¯ll be inside that,¡± I said to them. Honestly, I was scared of what would appear. ¡°But we don¡¯t have much a choice, do we?¡± sighed Professor Jack. I also sighed back. ¡°Yes.¡± After confirming that the road was safe, we started going towards that place. Chapter 9: The First Meeting Chapter 9: The First Meeting Gerald¡¯s POV We went inside the Mall. It was a bit dark here, even with the rays of the sun seeping through the shattered windows. I almost vomited on the ground when the disgusting stench in the air entered me. Upon looking around, I noticed the hundreds of dead bodies scattered about, squashed and disfigured. The putrid scent of death was particularly strong in this place, and every fiber of my being was screaming at me that we should go back and find another place. At the corner of my eyes, I saw that the Professor and Anisette were also trying their best not to vomit from the sight. It seemed that these disfigured corpses would make even a former soldier¡¯s stomach churn in disgust. ¡°Hey,¡± I mumbled. The two looked at me. ¡°Haven¡¯t you notice? Most of the corpses¡­ they¡¯re all males. No dead bodies of women around.¡± Anisette and Professor Jack quickly scanned our surroundings. They confirmed my findings with their eyes. Indeed, there was not a single female corpse in this place. Why? Had all the women escaped to a safe place? I shook my head. That was impossible. There should be casualties, at the very least. Then, the only conclusion I could come up with was that someone dragged the corpses out of this place. Now that I have taken a careful look, there were blood marks on the ground, probably indicating that dead bodies were dragged off here. ¡°Professor, I think this place¡¯s too dangerous,¡± I decided to follow the voice screaming inside me. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of this place while we still have the chance.¡± Professor Jack seemed to have arrived at this conclusion too. He nodded, his eyes still fixated on the corpses scattered about. There were simply too many dead bodies here. And that means that there were definitely a great number of monsters here. Going inside this place would be suicide. Our group was about to leave the area when a shrieking sound echoed behind us. Upon looking, I saw two goblins, their disgusting faces broadly smiling at us. They pointed a finger at our direction, stamped on the ground using their naked feet, then shrieked once again. Fuck. These guys were definitely giving out location. Professor Jack was about to personally silence the two bastards when we heard multiple loud footsteps nearby. And to our horror, it was not just at the entrance. It was all over the place. Soon enough, Minotaurs and Goblins began pouring in from the entrance, effectively blocking our way out. Furthermore, we saw gigantic silhouettes inside the Mall, of which loud thud sounds quickly followed. Our survival instinct in overdrive, we frantically tried to find a way out. It was only a matter of time before those monsters surrounded us. ¡°Over here!¡± said Professor Jack. ¡°Follow me!¡± Without wasting another breath, we followed after the professor. At times like these, I wished I was not an overly bloated pig. Surely, running would be easier with a thinner body. Our group ran past numerous corpses, broken furniture, and shattered glasses, as we climbed a flight of stairs. Below, the monsters started chasing us. A Minotaur quickly caught up to us, its gigantic body climbing the same flight of stairs. For a moment, I was worried that the stairs would break from the Minotaur¡¯s weight. Each of its steps would create cracks on the stair, making it tremble and quake. ¡°What are you doing! Hurry up!¡± shouted Professor Jack. He had already reached the top. ¡°We¡¯re trying!¡± I said, huffing. Beside me was Anisette, her skin a bit more pallid than usual. Her chest rapidly rose then fell as numerous beads of sweat formed on her face. ¡°Just a bit more,¡± I said to her. ¡°You can do it. Go!¡± As I said those words, I purposely slowed down my pace. If that Minotaur eventually manages to catch up to us, at least I would be able to stall for time. If needed be, I would jump and take it down with me. A knife whizzed past my face and lodged itself into the eye of the Minotaur below. The gargantuan monster roared in pain and rage. It stumbled and fell down to the ground. I knew that it would not be enough to kill that immortal bastard, but at least, we were safe for now. I looked at the one that threw the knife, Professor Jack. This man was really reliable. As expected of a former soldier. After the three of us had climbed the flight of stairs, we looked around and searched for a way out. There should be a damn fire exit in this place, right? We have yet to find our haven when a group of goblins began running towards us. It seemed that they had made the second floor their home, judging by their numbers. I gripped the metallic pipe in my hand. Professor Jack took out a large kitchen knife. ¡°There¡¯s too many of them,¡± I judged. ¡°This¡¯ll be hard.¡± Professor Jack knitted his brows. ¡°Be sure to Protect Anisette. Don¡¯t go too far from her. I¡¯ll take care of these guys. For now, focus on finding us a place we can escape to. We can¡¯t fight these guys forever.¡± I grimly nodded. Quickly, my eyes scanned the second floor for a path for escape. At the same time, Professor Jack engaged the dozens of goblins before us. His movements were fluid, and his every strike of the knife would decapitate one green, ugly bastard. Two goblins decided to ignore him and instead went straight for us. I gnashed my teeth, gripped my metallic pipe tightly, then struck at them with all my might. A loud cracking sound was heard as my steel pipe hit one of them straight at the chest, sending it flying a couple of meters back. Its body rolled then skidded on the ground.
You have killed a Goblin Worker!Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. You have gained 45 Exp!
The familiar blue window popped up, and I immediately dismissed it as I evaded a swipe from the other goblin. I roared and kicked at it, but it evaded by jumping to the side. Once again, the goblin charged at me, its long rotting nails pointed at my calf. My steel pipe came cruising down from above, and it hit the goblin right at the head. A loud plop sound was heard, before its innards splattered out from impact.
You have killed a Goblin Worker! You have gained 47 Exp!
I have seen my exp requirement before. At this rate, I would reach Level 3 soon. But now¡¯s not the time to celebrate. I looked at Professor Jack. It seemed that he had taken care of more than a dozen goblins already. Still, the damnable creatures were persistent, and their numbers seemed to grow more as time passed. I realized that goblins were starting to come out of the second floor. At this rate, they would soon go past the hundred-mark. Damn it. A roar echoed. We all instinctively looked at it and saw three Minotaurs coming our way. One of them was blind in one eye. It was definitely the monster that got hit by Professor Jack¡¯s knife. My heart loudly pounded. This was getting out of hand. We¡¯re in deep shit. ¡°Professor! We should run away!¡± I shouted amidst the sound of Goblins shrieking and Minotaurs roaring. Professor Jack kicked the Goblin in front of him, sending it flying away, then ran back towards us. I quickly pointed towards a room far from us. I noticed that it was the only place where Goblins did not appear. Damn it. It felt so far. We ran with all our might. Behind us, hordes of monsters kept their chase. The floor continued to tremble as hooves and feet struck the ground. Two Minotaurs were starting to catch up to us. Anisette skidded to a halt then activated her magic. Her hazel eyes turned white, and the Two Minotaurs froze¡ªor so I thought. For some reason, the two Minotaurs were still able to move, although slower than before. Maybe the skill, Hunter¡¯s Eyes, was not capable of stopping such gargantuan creatures entirely. Why have I not thought of it before? I clicked my tongue once then grabbed the arm of my sister. ¡°It¡¯s no use. Let¡¯s just run!¡± She deactivated her magic, and we once again resumed our escape. Professor Jack grabbed two small knives in his pocket then threw them at the Minotaurs. One them got hit on the nose, and the monster screamed in utter rage. The other one got hit on the chest, and the knife did nothing but create a small cut on its thick skin. This is hopeless. We could not possibly win against so many monsters. As I was drowning in despair, Professor Jack said, ¡°I¡¯ll use Demigod¡¯s Strength to stop them. The two of you should use the chance to escape.¡± He was huffing, definitely tired, but his eyes were filled with determination regardless. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I won¡¯t die.¡± We all knew that was a lie. Demigod¡¯s Strength was a skill that gives the user a temporary boost in raw power, more than enough to rival those of a Minotaur¡¯s. The problem was that after a full minute, the user would not be able to move his body. That was why if Professor Jack were to use it right now, he would surely die afterwards. He would be an easy prey for the rest of the surviving monsters. My mind went into full throttle. Should we let him use the skill? Let him sacrifice his life so we could escape? These seconds of trying to find the right answer felt like eternity. And I finally arrived to a conclusion. ¡°We¡¯ll definitely die if we get separated from you,¡± I said to the professor. ¡°Don¡¯t use the skill for now.¡± I pointed to the place we were heading to. ¡°Look over there. I don¡¯t think the Minotaurs are large enough to get inside. If it¡¯s just Goblins, we could surely deal with them even without using that skill.¡± The Professor took my words into account. The three of us run towards that place. An alleyway that probably leads to some stockroom. I could read out the placard on the door located at the end of the alley: ¡°Unauthorized Persons Not Allowed.¡± Pushing our bodies to the limit, we ran through the Alley. As expected, the Minotaurs could not get inside. They merely stood outside, not even trying to enter the cramped entrance. I opened the door then ushered the two to get inside. After one last look at the monsters outside, I closed it with a loud thud.
You have entered the nest of the Babyface Arachnid.
The moment we entered the room, a notification popped out in front of us. My eyes widened when I saw the innumerable eggs inside the room. There were dozens of them, all pulsating with life. Thick webs filled the walls and the ceilings, and further beyond, a grotesque monster straight out of a nightmare silently stood. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± I whispered. My two companions were stiff, probably petrified of what they saw. At the corner of the room, which was probably a storehouse, was a gigantic creature with eight legs. It reminded me of a giant spider, but its face was something different entirely. Instead of the usual insect head, three heads of a newborn child were seen. Tentacles wriggled out the mouths of those heads, creating intermittent sloshing sound. Its black belly was thick, definitely those of a spider¡¯s. This place was dark, but we were able to clearly see everything thanks to the light seeping through the cracks on the wall on our left. I came to a realization. The reason why the Minotaurs and Goblins did not chase us further after coming to this room was not because they were totally unable to fit through the cramped alley. It was because they knew that this place was the nest of that thing. I was unfamiliar with the hierarchy of monsters, but this one in front of us smelled way more dangerous than the Minotaurs and Goblins outside. ¡°W-We should go back!¡± I finally managed to choke the words out. My instinct was screaming at me that this one was way more dangerous than any monsters we have encountered before. That if we stayed here, only death awaits. ¡°Look out!¡± shouted Professor Jack. I was still trembling, and my body refused to move as a ball of thread came flying towards me. Professor Jack shoved me to the side, and he was hit straight at the chest by the attack. His body came flying towards the wall, and upon impact, he vomited blood. His body got stuck to the wall from that attack. ¡°Professor!¡± I shouted. He was not moving. He was not dead, right? At the corner of my eyes, I saw that Anisette was crying. Unlike us, she was unable to speak. All she could do was silently cry the tears that incessantly flowed down her cheeks. Shit. Shit. Shit. At this rate, we¡¯ll be killed. Another ball of thread came flying at us, and I dived towards the left to evade it. My body came rolling on the ground. I was about to stand up and grab my sister¡¯s arms when another attack came flying at us. This time, towards Anisette. My instinct kicking in, I ran towards her, intending to become her meat shield. But it was too late. She, too, was hit by the attack. Her body also collided against the wall, she coughed out blood, then lost consciousness. Just like the Professor, her body was stuck on the wall by the monster¡¯s thread. I lost myself for a moment. This could not be happening. This could not be real. Were we really going to die here? Just like this? I felt a warm sensation at my back. The feeling of something breathing at the nape of your neck. My body still trembling from fear, I slowly turned around. And what greeted me was the grotesque face of the monster: Three heads of an infant, with tentacles coming out of their mouths. It was disgusting. Truly the definition of a monster. Without me noticing it, the monster had closed the distance between us. This was it. I was going to get eaten. Resigning myself to fate, I closed my eyes. I entered dreamland. *** I woke up to the sound of a rope being cut. For a moment, I groaned, opened my eyes then looked around. This was the same place as before. The nest of that monster. But more importantly ¨C I was alive? As I was pondering this, I looked at the source of the sound that woke me up. My eyes widened for a moment when I saw a goblin cutting the threads that bound my body. Unlike the Goblins I¡¯ve seen before, this one was wearing clothes. Furthermore, he had a bag, a very small one, on his back. I wanted to rub my eyes and confirm this was reality, but I could not move a muscle due to the threads binding me. The Goblin noticed that I was awake. It took out a notebook, which was very much familiar, then wrote something down. I¡¯m here to help you. I¡¯m not your enemy. The Babyface is current out searching for more food. Don¡¯t make a sound or it might come back. Chapter 10: The Deviant Goblin Chapter 10: The Deviant Goblin Nicholas Dread¡¯s POV (Goblin Nick) Beads of sweat had been flowing down my green skin as my large bulging eyes stared at the structure in front of me. It was a five-story building, a structure that was a popular destination before the apocalypse took place. Inside were cinemas, clinics, a large supermarket, boutiques, and many others. A place that was very familiar. A place filled with nightmarish memories. Currently, I was looking at the Mall where I first witnessed the apocalypse. Out of the innumerable structures in this place, this one remained intact, spared from the fire that engulfed more than half the city. This fact gave relief to me. After all, this was the last place I¡¯ve seen my family. After becoming a goblin, I had confirmed one thing. The monsters that roamed the streets were not hostile to me. The Minotaurs, the Goblins, Golems, and even the rare snake-monster I¡¯ve met on the way. None of them attacked me. Having this ugly face and body actually have its advantages, huh? At the very least, I did not have to worry about being suddenly assaulted by monsters. I scrutinized my current body. Green, rough skin. Long nails. Bulbous nose. Large gawking eyes. The same monster that lurker everywhere. But what differentiated me from the other goblins was definitely my clothes. Currently, I was wearing a tattered leather jacket I looted from the corpse of a kid. On my feet was a pair of worn out sneakers, a small one at that, definitely meant to be used by a toddler. On my back was a bag, filled with some dangerous things I¡¯ve found while on my way to this place. The things inside this bag would be my trump card. My weapon-of-escape in dire situations. At first, I was hesitant of taking the clothes of a dead person, but I later on came to the conclusion that now was not the time to be soft. Now was not the time for useless morals which could hinder my goals. The clothes I was wearing were dirty, definitely uncomfortable, but they gave me a sense of relief at the very least. Having something covering and protecting me gave me some degree of peace of mind. Especially the sneakers. It was now a lot easier to run around. Thankfully, the nails on my feet were not that long. Otherwise, I would have no choice but to run around with my feet naked. It had been a couple of hours since I¡¯ve arrived to the Human Realm. I stretched my body. I entered the Mall. Just like before, this place was filled with corpses. Decapitated bodies were scattered about, lifeless, rotting. If I was still human, I would have probably vomited from the stench of decay in the air. But for some reason, this scent was actually aromatic, almost enticing. Without knowing it, I have started sniffing the scent of death that continued to waft in the air. I gnashed my teeth. This was not good. I shouldn¡¯t lose my humanity. Nick. You are human. You are not a monster. I repeated those words inside my head, like some sort of mantra. I noticed the drools that started coming out of my mouth. I wiped it using the back of my hand. This would always happen whenever I was near human corpses. This have to stop. This place was a bit dark, even though it was morning outside. Through the shattered windows, small amounts of light seeped through. My eyes scanned my surroundings. As I walked through the mall, I would look at each corpse I encountered along the way. I was really hoping that my family was safe, that they have survived. But I had to look at the dead bodies just to be sure. I also went towards the second floor. This place was infested by goblins. I saw the hardware store nearby. Just perfect. The pickaxe from before was just too inconvenient to bring along. After realizing that it was fairly safe to travel the streets with my current body, I decided to leave it behind. Searching for my family would be faster without having to carry that large thing around. ¡°I can probably find a good weapon in there,¡± I said. What I wanted was a weapon that would fit this body of mine. Preferably something that was not too big and heavy, not too small either, and durable enough to block numerous blows. Something sharp enough to cut through flesh and bones. I searched through the Hardware. Indeed, there were weapons here. Kitchen knives. Machetes. There was even a long sword. What was it doing in this place? I wondered. After scrutinizing the weapons available, I¡¯ve decided to take Chef¡¯s Knives with me. Two of them. They seemed more durable than most, and more importantly, they were the right size for this body. The other weapons were simply too large or too long. Others were too heavy. After picking out my weapons, I began searching the other floors. The third floor was almost empty, with nothing but a few dozen corpses. The fourth floor was just like the other floors, but with lesser goblins. It was impossible to enter the fifth floor. The stairs have crumbled down, probably due to the earthquake, or maybe some monster, I was not sure. I heaved a sigh of relief. At the very least, they were not here. They were not among the corpses scattered about. My family must have escaped to a safer place. I was about to leave the mall when a loud shrieking sound was heard. I was pretty sure it came from a goblin. I was on the second floor, and looking down below, I saw three humans near the entrance of the Mall. A muscular, middle-aged man. A fat guy. And a girl with golden hair. ¡°Are they stupid?¡± I breathed. It was evident that monsters would be lurking in this place. Why did they come here? From the outside, I heard loud thuds. Fuck. The Minotaurs were coming. They need to run. And just like I have predicted, the damnable cow-like monsters came, effectively blocking the path of retreat of the three. If I were them, I would still try to escape through the Mall¡¯s entrance. Entering this place would be suicide. There were too many monsters around.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°Run outside!¡± I shouted, but my voice was drowned by the goblins shrieking and the Minotaurs roaring. I was not even sure if they would be able to understand me. I have never heard the goblins speak when I was still human, after all. Quickly, it became a game of chase. The trio ran way for their lives. I was vexed that they chose to run deeper inside the mall. There were literally hundreds of monsters in this place! It would be safer to run outside! Still, I could not blame them. When a monster like the Minotaur was blocking the entrance, the first thing a human would think of was to get as far away from that place as possible. It was probably their survival instinct kicking it. The three of them started climbing up the second floor. This was actually a horrible choice. It would be far safer if you guys just turned around and made a desperate attempt for the Mall¡¯s exit. Of course, they have no way of knowing that. They have no way of knowing the amount of monsters lurking on each floor. The middle-aged man was good. He was actually able to fight against so many goblins at once. The fat guy, on the other hand, seemed unreliable. He merely stood there, fighting off the occasional goblins that would come his way. The Minotaurs finally caught up to them. They had also climbed the flight of stairs. My heart loudly pounded as I watched the scenario unfolding before my eyes. At this rate, they were all going to die. There was no path for escape. The fat guy started pointing at a room quite a good distance from them. After fending off their attackers, they all started running towards it. I have never seen a human run so fast in my entire life. They would probably win the Olympics had they joined it. I also ran too. I followed the trio. Next to me were numerous other monsters, chasing after them, lusting for their flesh. Eventually, the speed of humans desperately trying to survive emerged victorious in the end. They entered a narrow alley, then went inside a room. The Minotaurs were unable to chase further. They were too large for the entrance. At first, that was what I thought. Hey, why weren¡¯t the Goblins chasing after the group? I could understand the Minotaurs, but the Goblins too? My curiosity got the best of me. I walked towards the alley, and before I could even reach the door, a notification popped out in front of me.
You are about to enter the Nest of the Babyface Arachnid. Any creature that enters will warrant its wrath. Do still wish to proceed?
I froze. So, behind this room was the nest of some monster? Those three were probably dead by now, devoured by the one ruling this territory. I realized that this was probably the reason why the Minotaurs and the Goblins did not chase them any further. They were afraid to enter. Afraid of the creature residing in that place. Should I help them? I shook my head. That would be suicide. My family should take priority. I cannot simply die here. Still, I was human. I was no monster. If possible, I would like to help them. But what could I do? Even the strong Minotaurs were afraid of that place. Even the hundreds of Goblins refused to enter its territory. I cannot just simply go in there and fight that monster. From my spot, I could hear the screams of the guys that entered inside. They were probably fighting against the monster right now. They ran away from the wolf, only to find themselves in the den of the tiger. Eventually, the screams died out. Were they dead? I did not know. I hanged my head as I realized my powerlessness. I could not even save my fellow humans. I stood outside the room motionlessly, unaware of the time that had passed by. Slowly, I tottered back. I have decided to leave this place. Even if I couldn¡¯t save them, I should at least try to find my family. I still have time. I could do it, I told myself. On my right, a Goblin shrieked. Upon looking, my jaw dropped from what I saw. A monster was dragging the Goblin away, towards the ceiling above. To be precise, it was climbing towards the fifth floor. A monster that reminded me of a giant spider. Instead of an insect head, three heads of an infant were there, clearly attached to the neck. Tentacles were protruding out of the mouths, creating disgusting sloshing sounds. It was a monster among monsters. And to make matters worse, it did not discriminate against Goblins. It did not care who its prey was. It would shoot out threads from its belly, then forcefully drag away the bodies of its targets. Right now, it had successfully captured four goblins, their shrieking sounds long gone after their bodies were wrapped around in threads.
Babyface Arachnid Lv 31
I remembered the notification I received when I approached the room before. It was definitely the same name of the monster written in that blue screen. But what was it doing here outside? Was it not content with the humans it got inside its nest? After observing it for a while, it seemed that it was depositing the bodies of the goblins into the fifth floor. Maybe, the reason why the stairs to the fifth floor was broken was because of this monster? Maybe that thing had made that entire floor its nest? As I was thinking of those things, I looked at the room at the end of the second floor. It was the same room where the trio entered before. The entrance to the Nest of that monster. If that monster was on the fifth floor, then going inside that place should be fairly safe. Wait, what if it had its minions? What if its children were waiting inside? Should I go in and see if the three humans were still alive? I might still be able to save them. My mind went into full throttle as I tried reaching a conclusion. And I eventually arrived at one. ¡°God damn it,¡± I snarled. I readied my knife then went towards that place. The same notification as before popped up.
You are about to enter the Nest of the Babyface Arachnid. Any creature that enters will warrant its wrath. Do still wish to proceed?
I gulped down the lump in my throat. My instinct was screaming at me, ¡°What are you doing?!¡± but I dismissed it in my mind. I opened the door then entered.
You have entered the Nest of the Babyface Arachnid!
Numerous eggs were scattered around this room, with thick webs veiling their shells. The walls were decrepit, with threads hanging here and there. I could hear faint pulsating sounds and realized those were coming from the eggs themselves.
Babyface Arachnid Egg Lv 4
What the hell. Those eggs the size of an ostrich¡¯s have a higher level than me. I shook my head. Now¡¯s not the time for this. I need to find those trio soon, before the monster decides to come back here. I noticed that near the ceiling was a large hole. It was probably the path the monster takes whenever it went outside. I looked around and saw figures of what seemed to be humans. They were wrapped in threads, their bodies shackled and latched on the walls. For a moment, I wondered if they were alive. It seemed hard to breathe while being covered by that thing. After staring at them, I realized that they were still breathing. I decided to help the girl first. Using my knife, I began cutting the threads. This was hard. It was like cutting through steel wires. ¡°Come on,¡± I said through heavy breaths. This was mentally taxing and physically tiring. After a few more attempts, I was finally able to cut the threads. With my small body, I slowly let her fall down the ground. I looked at her hand. It was firmly holding a notebook and a pen. Even in such a dire situation, she refused to let go of them. These guys were still alive. They might attack me the moment they wake up. Just to be safe, I decided to take the notebook and the pen. I needed some way of communication, after all. They would most likely not understand the language of us goblins. I went towards the fat guy. Slowly, I began cutting his rope. I heard a groaning sound. He was starting to wake up. The guy looked at me for a moment, stupefied of what he saw. A goblin wearing clothes, cutting the threads that bound his body. Of course, anyone would be confused of what was going on. I took the notebook out, wrote down some notes, then showed it to him. I¡¯m here to help you. I¡¯m not your enemy. The Babyface is currently out searching for more food. Don¡¯t make a sound or it might come back. Chapter 11: Small but Terrible Chapter 11: Small but Terrible For a moment, the fat guy and I locked eyes with each other. He was probably questioning his sanity. I could not blame him. After all, it was rare to see a goblin wearing clothes, coupled with a pair of sneakers at that, and helping a human. I wrote some notes in the notebook. Do you understand me? I asked, just to be sure. The eyes of the fat guy swiveled between the notebook and my greenish body. After a while, he nodded. An incomprehensible voice leaked out his mouth. Terribly nervous of the fact that the monster ruling this Nest could come back at any moment, I continued cutting down the threads that bound his body. It was a grueling task. I could see that my knife was becoming chipped. Maybe I should have taken more than two of them with me. With one last stroke, the thread was cut completely, and his body fell down the ground with a loud thud. He flinched from pain for a moment. For someone that had been captured by a colossal monster a bit larger than the Minotaurs, he was in a pretty good shape. Some cuts here and there, a couple of bruise marks, but a pretty lively body regardless. ¡°W-Who¡­ What are you?¡± whispered the fat guy. He stood up, and the difference in size between us became quickly apparent. If this human kicked me with all his might, I would probably die. I looked at him. ¡°First, do you understand me?¡± Judging by the perplexed reaction of the fat guy, it seemed that my words were impossible to be understood by humans. I had been expecting this but experiencing it in person was a bit disheartening. I sighed, wrote down some notes, then showed it to him. Now¡¯s not the time for idle chatter. We need to leave this place as soon as possible. The Babyface Arachnid, despite the stupid-sounding name, was a very strong monster. It could probably take down a couple of Minotaurs with it without much effort. I could safely say that that monster was the ruler of this place. The King of this Mall. The young girl started waking up. Upon seeing this, the fat guy immediately ran to her, his face filled with worry. ¡°Anisette!¡± he said. ¡°Are you alright?¡± What a pretty name. The young girl rubbed her eyes and looked around. From a droopy expression, her face quickly transitioned into horror. Her lips quivered as she looked at the fat guy, her eyes brimming with tears. The fat guy bit his lips. He hugged her and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Big brother will protect you, no matter what.¡± I was surprised that they were siblings. After all, they looked nothing alike. I approached the two. After seeing me, the girl grabbed the hem of the fat guy¡¯s clothes in reflex. She pointed at me, her face fearful and worried. The fat guy was obviously finding it hard to explain the situation. I guess it was time to help him out. I took out the paper from before and showed the girl the notes. Ah, if I remembered correct, this notebook was hers. But this thing was too convenient in situations like these. I decided to keep it for now. For now, I started freeing the last member of the trio. My knife was starting to make weird sounds, the chips on its blade becoming more numerous by each passing moment. After cutting the threads, the middle-aged man fell towards the ground. The fat guy immediately caught him, albeit a bit strained. They started gently slapping his cheeks to wake him up. ¡°Professor Jack,¡± said the fat guy. ¡°Wake up! Wake up!¡± Oh, a professor? Since these two were wearing school uniforms, they must be from the same institution as this professor. The strength of the slaps soon escalated and the professor eventually woke up. He looked at the two students. ¡°Gerald,¡± he said. ¡°What happened?¡± He coughed thrice. ¡°I passed out, huh?¡± Slowly, the professor started standing up, his legs wobbly. Upon noticing me, he glared. Without warning, he dashed towards me, killing intent evident within his eyes. I dodged a kick by ducking, then quickly evaded another shot by leaping to the side. I gripped the chipped knife in my hand. ¡°Wait professor!¡± shouted the fat guy called Gerald. ¡°He¡¯s not our enemy!¡± The professor merely ignored his words. He pulled out a slender knife from his back then tried stabbing me with it. I parried it using the chipped knife. The sound of metal clashing against metal resounded, and a portion of my weapon broke. Damn cheap utensil. I should have known that it would break down easily. My hand felt a bit numb after that clash, but I was relieved to see that I have enough strength to parry a human¡¯s attack. Unable to explain myself using goblin¡¯s language, the professor kept attacking me. I was starting to be grateful for the hellish times I¡¯ve spent in the prison. Those awful years wherein the guards would constantly make us fight against each other. Although I was beaten up numerous time, this body of mine had learned how to fight. ¡°Professor!¡± Gerald finally grabbed the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Stop! That Goblin! It¡¯s the one that helped us!¡± Those words seemed to have brought the professor back to his senses. He stiffened, stared at me with wide eyes, then said to Gerald, ¡°Wh-What do mean?¡± ¡°That Goblin¡¯s the one that helped us,¡± repeated Gerald. ¡°He¡¯s the one that freed us.¡± I judged that now was the best time to pacify things. I wrote something down and showed it to them. The kid¡¯s right. I¡¯m not your enemy. I looked at the large hole near the ceiling. It was the path the Babyface Arachnid would definitely take once it comes back. The Minotaurs outside this room are gone. The giant spider is on its nest on the fifth floor. We should take this time to escape to the outside. It¡¯s safer there. The three went silent, and only the sound of the pulsating eggs inside the room was our background. If possible, I would have loved to destroy those eggs. There was more than a dozen of them, and each were higher level than me. I could imagine the amount of exp I would gain from destroying those things. Still, I knew that it was not a practical choice right now. The Babyface could come back at any moment. Destroying those eggs would surely take a considerable time. I cannot risk my life just for a level up or two. ¡°Can we really trust this monster?¡± the professor said, eventually. Being called a monster was a bit painful, but I guess I have to endure for now. This was reality, after all. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Gerald. The sister was silent, not bothering to say a single word. She merely stood there, staring at me, and more particularly, at the notebook I held in my hand. The Professor frowned. He sighed. ¡°We don¡¯t have much choice. We can¡¯t stay in this place.¡± Gerald nodded. He grabbed the hand of his sister. He said to me, ¡°Are you sure that the monsters waiting outside this room are gone?¡± There was hesitation within his voice, something I could relate about. It would be indeed hard to simply trust someone you have just met, moreover a monster. I nodded. The professor and Gerald locked eyes with each other. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± said Gerald. ¡°That monster from before might come ba¡ª¡± And a bone-chilling screech echoed inside the room. We instinctively looked at the source, right near the ceiling. Dangling there was a black monster with eight legs. Even from this distance, we could clearly feel its rage. The fury of seeing its prey escape from its web. ¡°Shit. It¡¯s back!¡± shouted Gerald. Like a spring, we came rushing towards the door. But it was too late. The monster was a lot quicker than us. It quickly moved through the ceiling then jumped down towards the floor, effectively blocking out way out. The blue box hovering above the head of the monster was ominous, and it clearly gave me an idea of the gap in our strengths.
Babyface Arachnid Lv 31
Its level was twice that of a Minotaur. Tentacles wiggled in and out of its mouths. Another screech echoed, and the monster came charging at us. It was really quick despite its size. A leg whizzed by and sent the professor flying a couple of meters back. Thankfully, it seemed that he managed to block the attack using his knife, although that weapon was now bent after impact. Another leg of the spider shot towards Gerald. I was sure he knew that the attack was coming, but his fat body was unable to move quick enough to dodge it. The hairy leg pierced his right shoulder, and he screamed in pain as blood spurted out. The Babyface was about to move in for the kill when it suddenly froze. It was brief, around a second or two, but it gave Gerald enough leeway to dodge the next incoming attack. He jumped back and avoided the strike. I looked at the girl from before. Her eyes, glaring at the Babyface, had turned white. Was that a paralyzing skill? Interesting. This was the first time I have seen a skill used by humans. When I have the chance, I would ask them about it later. For now, we should survive this place. The movements of the Babyface was a bit slower now, probably due to the effect of the skill of the young girl. The professor stood up, threw his bent weapon away, then pulled out another one. A long icepick. He was a lot calmer than the other two, despite the cut and bruises that covered his body. He gnashed his teeth then ran towards the black, hairy beast. The Babyface shot out balls of threads towards him, and he effectively evaded by sidestepping and ducking. Soon, he reached point blank range. Using the momentum of his charge, along with the twist of his entire body, he stabbed the icepick at the belly of the monster.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. To our horror, it did not pierce through the monster¡¯s flesh, not even an inch. The professor must have been stunned by the unexpected outcome. He was a split second late on noticing the leg shooting towards him. On reflex he blocked the strike using an arm. His fingers were crushed and sent flying, together with half of his left arm. ¡°Professor!¡± screamed Gerald. Shit. We can¡¯t even give damage to this thing. The gap between levels was just too wide. And now, the strongest fighter in our group had lost an arm. The Professor screamed as blood came gushing out. I knew that the Babyface was going to use this chance to go for the kill. I need to do something, otherwise, we¡¯ll all end up dying. My instinct screamed at me and I immediately grabbed the two bottles that occupied my bag. I sent it flying towards the spider monster, and it blocked using its legs. The bottle broke, and the liquid in it splashed on the Babyface Arachnid¡¯s body. I activated two skills simultaneously.
You have activated Scurry Movement speed will increase by 50% for the next 6 seconds.
You have activated Frenzied Rage! 50% of your HP has been consumed as penalty
Movement Speed has increased by 60% Attack Speed has increased by 75% Attack Damage has increased by 30%
I immediately felt the effect of those two skills as my body shot towards the monster in an absurd speed. I quickly closed the gap between us. After successfully evading an attack from above, I took out the lighter in my bag and opened the lid. It quickly lit up. I tossed it to the beast. In an instant, the parts covered by the alcohol burst into flames. The monster screeched, definitely from pain. I felt a sense of relief. Sharp weapons did not work on this one, but it seemed that fire was very effective. I grabbed the professor, away from the burning beast. He was gnashing his teeth in pain, but he still managed to stand up regardless. This middle-aged man was tough, definitely. The threads hanging on the ceiling touched the body of the Babyface Arachnid. Fire crackled and licked the threads. In a matter of moments, the room was engulfed by fire. The Babyface continued to screech in pain, its body hitting the wall in successions. It was really a good thing I kept those bottles with me. They were something I found after searching for my family nonstop for almost an entire day. I figured that they would come handy should the need arise ¨C and I was right. ¡°Fuck.¡± That single word escaped my lips. The flames that covered the body of the monster was starting to die out. The room itself was still on fire, but I was sure that once that monster was no longer covered in flames, it would kill us. The trio began running for the door. Sensing that its prey was trying to escape, the Babyface spat out a viscous green fluid from its mouth. It did not hit the trio, probably due to the fact that the Babyface was currently in deep pain from the fire. The floor that got hit by the fluid melted away. I shivered upon seeing that. Another fluid shot out of its mouth, and the trio evaded by jumping away. Right now, getting to the door would be suicide. It would make anyone an easy target. One hit, and not even our bones would remain. This one was truly a terrifying monster. I was starting to realize that this place would probably be my grave. It was simply too strong to be defeated by us alone.
You have destroyed a Babyface Arachnid Egg!
You have destroyed a Babyface Arachnid Egg!
You have destroyed a Babyface Arachnid Egg!
You have destroyed a Babyface Arachnid Egg!
Notifications kept popping out one after another. In the blink of an eye, I gained tremendous exp and leveled up. I looked at the corner of the room, the place where the eggs were located. Currently, it was in flames, particularly the part where the threads that covered the eggs were the thickest. Since I was the one that started the fire, the system considered the destruction of those eggs my doing, huh? This was a really good find, and I was sure I could use this knowledge later on. The only problem was that I would most likely die here. After all, we have no way of killing that monster. Although I was still perplexed by the sudden gain of level, I instinctively added 3 points to strength and 2 points to agility. The smoke that filled the room was starting to cloud our vision. The human trio were breathing heavily. Think, Nick! Think of a way out! You cannot die here! As my mind was storming for any way out, a completely unexpected scenario unfolded before my eyes. The Babyface, which had finally gotten rid of the flames in its body, went towards the remaining eggs. It covered them using its body, shielding it from the flames that continued licking the room. I heard the screech of pain as the flames scorched the spider¡¯s flesh. Still, the monster refused to let go of the eggs. Despite the flames that now clung to its body, it still stood there, shielding the eggs from harm. Being scorched nonstop would definitely prove fatal, even for such a high leveled monster. The Babyface Arachnid definitely knew that it would suffer damage, but it still continued protecting its children. Even a monster like this one was capable of motherly love, huh? I almost smiled wryly. The trio, a bit mesmerized of what they saw, eventually broke out of their stupor. They ran towards the door, and successfully got out of the burning room. I quickly followed behind them, my movement a bit slower than those of the humans. ¡°We finally got out,¡± huffed Gerald. He looked at the professor. ¡°Sir, just hang on a bit longer. Once we get out of this place, we¡¯ll treat your wo¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªI know,¡± interjected the professor. He was bleeding profusely, his face more pallid than snow. At this rate, he was going to die. ¡°Use your skill. We¡¯ll run towards the exit after that.¡± Gerald bit his lips. ¡°World of Silence!¡± After he said those words, everything became silent. I could no longer hear anything, even my loudly beating heart. So, this fat guy had a skill capable of muting everything. That would definitely be a very useful skill in this damn apocalypse. On cue, we all ran towards the ground floor. It was amazing that despite our frantic escape, no sound came out. The monsters that lurked on the second floor were too late in noticing us because of the lack of sound in our movements. By the time they had seen us, we have already reached the ground floor. Not stopping to rest, we ran towards the Mall¡¯s exit. A couple of Goblins saw us and began shrieking, definitely to give out our location, but no sound came out. The monsters were flustered by this phenomenon. They tried shrieking once again, but to no avail. As we approached the exit, the skill ended, and sound came back. The sound of the Goblins shrieking, the sound of the room on the second floor burning, the sound of our desperate footsteps, the sound of my loudly beating heart. All of them amalgamated into one loud deafening sound. On our left, Minotaurs started coming out one after another. ¡°Keep running!¡± shouted the professor. Despite his bloody arm, he continued running forward, leading our group to the outside. We finally reached the exit, and the view of the ghost-like city once again greeted us. Not bothering to rest, we once again ran. I was having a hard time keeping up with this group. Every now and then, I would use the skill, Scurry, to bridge the gap between us. Otherwise, I would be left behind. The professor skillfully led us towards an intersection, and we took an immediate turn to the left to shake off our pursuers. Thankfully, the corpses that filled the street shrouded the scent of blood that came out of the professor¡¯s body. I was a goblin, so I was sure. We met another intersection and we once again took a turn to the left. By now, the sound of our pursuers was gone. Those monsters were probably frantically trying to find us. We saw a small abandoned house, probably a bungalow, and we entered inside. We quickly surveyed the interior for any signs of monsters. Thankfully, there were none. The trio immediately lost strength in their legs after confirming that this place was safe. They fell down their knees, their chests rising and falling continuously. Numerous beads of sweat fell down their faces. ¡°I thought we¡¯re going to die,¡± huffed Gerald. The young girl bit her lips and gave a nod. She was close to sobbing, but there was no sound that came out. I made a soft shriek then pointed at something. Gerald and the young girl looked at me, then to the one I was pointing at: the professor. Currently, his skin was pale, almost like snow. He was heavily breathing, as blood continued dripping down his missing arm. ¡°P-Professor Jack!¡± said Gerald. He quickly got up and looked around. He grabbed the curtain and ripped it apart using brute strength. His hands were trembling as he used the ripped curtain to bandage the wound of the professor. I wrote something down. The wound isn¡¯t closing. He¡¯ll die at this rate. Cauterize it. Seeing that Gerald was still panicking, I¡¯ve decided to initiate things. I found a stove in the kitchen. It was working. Perfect. Next, I took a spatula and heated it using the flames in the stove. I approached the wounded professor and placed the heated spatula to the wound. There was a sizzling sound the moment the heated metal touched the wound. He gnashed his teeth in pain. I quickly removed it after a few seconds. I repeated the process until blood no longer dripped down the wound. The professor was still pale, definitely from blood lost, but at least, we have prevented the worst from happening. ¡°T-Thank you,¡± breathed the professor. It was amazing that he still managed to speak despite his condition. The mental strength of this human was definitely high. I grabbed a plastic cup near the table and filled it with tap water. I handed it to Gerald and wordlessly told him to make the professor drink. We can¡¯t have him die from hypovolemic shock. Sleep. You need to rest so your body can recuperate. It probably felt weird that a Goblin was giving out specific orders, but the professor nodded regardless, probably too tired to argue with a monster. He closed his eyes and slept. I also helped in patching up the wounds of the fat guy. Luckily, it was not that deep. I heaved a sigh of relief. I have seen how these people worked together. I knew that they were good people. I did not want anyone of them to die. These thoughts of mine may seem na?ve, and it may get me killed one day, but I refused to let go my what remained of my humanity. With the wheezing sound of the professor as background, I confronted the remaining two. There was so much I wanted to ask, and I hope they held the answer. I began asking them if they had seen a certain woman and a child. Unfortunately, even after giving out vivid descriptions, it seemed that they have not seen them. I felt dejected. It seemed that I have to search all over again. From our conversation, which consisted mainly of me writing on the notebook while the fat guy answered verbally, I found out a lot of things. These three were actually from the same school, and they were tasked to scout the outside. I was a bit furious at the Principal for sending these children to imminent danger. They were still too young, and after seeing the abilities of these two students, I was sure they hardly had combat experience before. I could probably defeat them if I used my skills efficiently. The only troublesome one to fight against was the professor. His movements were trained, definitely those of a professional. Well, that should be expected. According to these two, he was a former soldier. But in order to save his students, he had lost an arm. He was nothing but an injured middle-aged man right now. I was just hoping the wound would not be infested with bacteria. I also found out that the young girl was unable to speak. Like me, she used this notebook to convey her thoughts. That explained why the professor and the fat guy were able to easily adapt to my way of communication. She used magic last time, right? If she was unable to speak, then there should be a way to activate magic even without incantations. I asked her this and the reply she gave me was vague. Mr. Goblin, you can just visualize the effect of magic in your mind. That¡¯s what I always do. Although I doubt I could use this immediately, this was definitely useful information. I would try to learn how to do this later on. ¡°Mr. Goblin,¡± said Gerald, his voice a bit raspy. A Goblin being called ¡®mister¡¯ was definitely weird. ¡°C-Can I ask you a question? I mean, we¡¯ve been answering yours nonstop. We¡¯re grateful for your help. We would have died if you hadn¡¯t helped us¡­ but¡­¡± That was a long introduction. I knew what they were going to ask anyway. You want to ask why I helped you, right? And why a Goblin is like this, something like that. The two of them nodded together. There was a period of silence. I answered. I¡¯m a former human. After some curse, I was trapped in the body of a Goblin. That should answer all of your doubts and questions. What I¡¯ve said was not a lie, really. Even I did not know why I suddenly got this body. The theory that I was cursed and got stuck in the body of a goblin was very plausible. I had considered it numerous times before. And since these guys needed an explanation, otherwise, they would be restless, I¡¯ve decided to go with this story. The two of them stared at me in bewilderment. I don¡¯t have much time left, so I can¡¯t help you guys get back to the school. But I¡¯ve roamed this part of the city before. If you¡¯re careful enough, and with the help of your skill, you should be able to safely go back to your campus. It was true. Right now, I have around a day left before the portal closes. Frankly speaking, I¡¯d rather stay here in the Human Realm, but I did not know if there were penalties if I was unable to make it back in time. I have helped these guys survive from that spider monster. Now, I need to prioritize my family. I could not be their babysitter forever. I planned on spending my remaining time searching for the whereabouts of Franchesca and Marco. The three of us exchanged conversations and information after that. It was actually a bit heartening that these kids were able to trust me. I guess helping them escape from that hellhole made this miracle possible. If it were any other humans, they would have tried killing me on the spot. I was sure. After some time, the kids eventually fell asleep. I wryly smiled at the sight. Even children like them were being forced to fight in this nightmare. This had indeed become a cruel world. I went to the kitchen then grabbed a cup. Using a knife, I cut my arm, and blood came dripping down. I filled half the cup, then bandaged my wound using what was left of the ripped off curtain. I placed the cup nearby, at a place they could easily see. I ripped off a piece of paper from the notebook and left behind a note. This blood may have coagulated by the time you guys wake up. Use it on your bodies to conceal your scent. It¡¯ll be safer that way. Also, forgive me for this but I¡¯ll be taking this notebook and pen with me. Take care. Don¡¯t die. I knew I have done my part. After one last look at the sleeping humans, I left the abandoned house. Chapter 12: Like a Blown Candle Chapter 12: Like a Blown Candle It had been a couple of hours since I parted ways with the trio. Currently, I was walking through the corpse-filled streets of the city, my eyes looking around for any lead to the whereabouts of my family. Broken cars were here and there, and slabs of stones occasionally pierced the crack-filled streets. Some posts have fallen down the ground, effectively blocking the roads. With my body, I have to climb over them to reach the other path. This was tiring, and now that I had thought about it, I have not rested for more than a day now. I have been continuously walking, running, searching, and fatigue had started knocking on the door of my body. But the most important thing right now was I was hungry. My stomach was growling, demanding I give it food. ¡°Shit,¡± I grumbled, my eyes fixated on the corpses in front of me. They looked tasty. For some reason I could not yet understand, the Goblins sent in this Realm refused to take the bodies of male corpses. Even back in the Goblin Slaughterhouse, the Meat Fruits were made solely from the flesh of female corpses. What was the reason for it? I really wanted to know. I wanted to understand how these monsters think. My mind was screaming at me that I should grab the corpse and make it my food. Damn it. I used Identify on the corpse.
Human Corpse (Male) 42 Years Old A primary school teacher when he was alive. Alchemy Ingredient: Rank D+ Although male humans are edible, they taste nasty, like a pile of dung mixed with grime.
I did not expect the skill to give out such detailed information. So, the reason why the Goblins refused to take male humans was because they taste nasty, huh? That was an unexpectedly good find. I stared for a moment at the last few words mentioned by the system. That was quite a vivid description there. ¡°A former teacher,¡± I whispered, my eyes gazing at the mutilated corpse in front of me. His arms were bent in impossible directions, and half his face was crushed into paste. Near him, the same state could be said with the other corpses. It was a really brutal way to die. Near me, a group of Goblins passed by. They were really noisy, and the lifeless streets further amplified their cackling sound. I could definitely feel their enjoyment in this massacre. After a heavy sigh, I continued walking. I have yet to see another sign of human life. As expected of my kin, they were really good at hiding and preserving their lives. That was my conclusion for these desolated streets. After all, it had almost been a week since the apocalypse started. Only almost a week. There was no way the human race had been reduced to nil. If I continued searching, I would most likely encounter them. And that moment was a lot sooner than I had expected. After crossing an intersection, I caught glimpse of a shadow moving in a nearby building. It was only for a moment, but I was sure that it was there. Goblins usually move in groups, while a Minotaur would definitely make a loud rumbling sound as it walked. That shadow probably belonged to a human. At least, that was what I hoped. Glancing left and right, I vigilantly surveyed my surroundings. It would be no laughing matter if a surviving human suddenly assaulted me and killed me. After all, I currently have the body of a Goblin. No questions asked, I would immediately be attacked. Inside the building where I saw the shadow, the sound of glass hitting the ground was heard. In this silence, it was deafeningly loud. ¡°What are you doing?! What if those monsters outside hear us?!¡± I heard a hushed voice. The owner probably blurted those words out of panic. Luckily, there were no monsters around. I have decided: I would check that building. I was about to approach the entrance when I saw a group of Minotaurs pass by. One of them afforded a glance at my direction, probably wondering why a goblin was alone. Eventually, it lost interest. The group disappeared from sight. That was freaking scary. For a moment, I thought that those colossal creatures noticed the humans hiding in this place. I scrutinized the building, especially the entrance. Humans were smart, and If I were them, I would make sure to place traps or anything that would alert me of the presence of intruders. At least, that¡¯s what I thought. The entrance was open, probably destroyed during the first day of the apocalypse. The hiding humans did not bother blockading the entrance. Well, for me, that was a good move. Blockading it would literally scream: ¡°We¡¯re here! We¡¯re hiding!¡± to the monsters, after all. I approached the entrance. As expected, it was there ¨C a device that would alert the hiding humans if a monster entered this place. It was a pretty simple device actually. A thin string connected to chimes. A simple trap that would make those bells ring once someone made contact with the strings. Aware of the trap, I carefully jumped over it and entered the building. The inside was a mess, with occasional corpses here and there, but if I were to compare it to the city outside, this would be on the moderate side. Probably a peaceful den, to some extent. Carefully making moving, I searched the area for surviving humans. What I was doing right now was really dangerous, especially if I were found out. But I needed to do this, I knew. I first checked the first and second floor. No one was there. Finally, I arrived at the third floor. It was at this place that I finally caught glimpse of human life. A young man was carrying pieces of wood, his body obviously strained by its weight. He tottered towards a room then said, ¡°Open up.¡± Soon enough, the door creaked open and he entered. In those few seconds wherein the door was open, with my unusually good eyes, I caught glimpse of what was inside. There were a lot of survivors there. More than a dozen of them. ¡°But, why is that¡­¡± my mumbling voice trailed off. I was not entirely sure if what I saw was correct. Based on what I saw, almost all of the survivors were elderly. I slowly approached the door, my eyes vigilantly scanning my surroundings for any traps. The thick wooden door in front of me could probably withstand a couple of blows from a Minotaur, but there was no way it would protect them against those monsters. It would probably break in less than a minute. Standing outside the door, I could hear the voices inside. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you! We should leave this place soon! You heard what they said on the radio yesterday, right?!¡± The husky voice of a man was really loud. Was he stupid? He might give out their location at this rate. Now that I think about it, the voice that echoed outside the building before probably belonged to him.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°Are you telling us to just abandon these people? Is that it, Rey?!¡± said another man. ¡°Mart, just put the wood over there. With these, we¡¯ll have enough arrows.¡± This time, a woman spoke. The sound of something hitting the ground was heard, then murmurs I could not decipher followed. It was really hard listening from this place. ¡°Give these guys a year and two and they¡¯ll kick the bucket anyway. Bringing these baggage with us will just lead to our deaths. That¡¯s why Sophia¡ª,¡± said the husky voice. ¡°¡ªEnough!¡± said the woman. Her voice was trembling, probably from rage. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you, Rey! Listen, even if I die, I will not abandon them! There¡¯s nothing worse than scum like you that forsakes other people just to survive!¡± ¡°These damn grannies will die anyway! We should just use them as bait for those mons¡ª" A slapping sound was heard, and silence quickly followed. ¡°Just stop. Please,¡± said the woman, her voice sobbing. ¡°This is your decision, huh?¡± said the husky voice. It was a bit softer than before. There was rage and disappointment in it. I finally noticed a small hole at the bottom of the door. It was inconspicuous, but after taking a look, I realized that it gave me a good view of what was inside. Almost a dozen elderly people, most on a wheelchair. They wore crestfallen faces, something I was very familiar with. It was the face of someone that had been forsaken by another person. The face of someone betrayed by a person he trusts the most. It was the same face I made when I found out that my wife had found herself another husband. I was being constantly beaten up in jail during that time, but the pain in my heart easily drowned out the pain of in body after finding out that she had remarried. It was like a knife stabbed my heart, repeated it a thousand times, then tossed it into meat grinder. It was so painful that I ended up not eating anything for three days. Inside the room, four people stood. A young woman, a gorgeous one at that, a bulky man in his early twenties, a skinny young man, and the young man I saw entering the room before. The rest were elderlies. The silence in the room was deafening, and I could see that some of the elderly people were silently crying. It must have been really painful, being told right in the face that it was better for them to be discarded. After reading the small placard on a nearby table, I learned that this place used to be a Home for the Elderly. The place where people send their grandparents after realizing they could not take care of them. I did not know what those four, young people¡¯s connection to this place was, but they were probably employees. That was what I thought. The young man from before that carried the pieces of wood broke the ice. He quickly ran towards the table, where a small transistor radio was placed. ¡°Hey, there¡¯s a signal!¡± he excitedly said. The rest of the group immediately came near the radio, their eyes expectantly looking at it. The radio made buzzing sounds. Damn, did it just say something? It was really hard to hear from this place. ¡°Bzzzt¡­ Bzzzt¡­ The army has successfully repelled¡­ bzzzt¡­ for those¡­ Lamia Camp¡­ come¡­ open¡­ bzzzt¡­¡± I could see the confusion within the eyes of those that had listened to it, but at the same time, I could see the excitement that accompanied it. ¡°So, they successfully repelled the attack huh?¡± said the bulky man. So, he was the owner of the husky voice. ¡°What a relief. The regular announcements from the radio suddenly got cut off yesterday. I was worried that the army lost against those monsters,¡± said the young man. The woman remained silent while biting her lips. She seemed to be in deep thought. The radio made buzzing sounds again, and the same voice from before spoke. This time, it was clearer than before. ¡°To all the surviving humans in the city, I repeat, go to the Lamia Camp and take refuge. The government forces will protect you.¡± My eyes widened after hearing this. If this was being broadcasted in the radio, then a lot of people must have gone to that place. Lamia Camp, huh? If I was not mistaken, that was a place almost outside the city, just right after crossing the Grand Cathedral. I had seen that place numerous times before, and I got to admit, it would be large enough to accommodate a few thousand refugees. My only worry was the rations. It would be no laughing matter to feed thousands of civilians. But since they were willing to go as far as announce to everyone that they were taking in survivors, they must have some leeway for that one. After peeping at the room for a while, I have concluded that my wife and son was not inside. With that thought in mind, I started going back. I could hear quarreling voices, but I deemed that it would not be productive to listen and stay any longer. I only have a few hours left, and I plan on using that to go towards that camp. Hey, hey, their voices were getting louder. Stupid. The monsters outside would hear you! Just as I was thinking of this, the bell in the entrance rang. Quickly, the quarreling voices suddenly stopped, but the ringing of chimes below still continued. Afraid of what was going to come, I quickly went down to check what was going on. And I was right ¨C monsters have entered the building. A lot of them. I felt powerless as the Goblins came in droves, combing the floors for any signs of life. I had realized this before, but these creatures were not really as stupid as we originally thought. They were capable of making decisions, just like us humans. The only difference would probably be their way of following their orders to the utmost detail, like puppets led by strings. Eventually, Minotaurs also entered the building, destroying a part of the entrance in the process. Their large bodies climbed the stairs, steams coming outs of their snouts. I heard a scream above. The scream of a woman. Beads of sweat flowed down incessantly on my face. My heart thumped. I somehow have an idea of what was happening above. Damn it. They should have kept their voices low. Humans would always make mistakes during the course of their lives but this one was big, and it would definitely cost them their lives. I bit my lips at the thought. Hesitant and afraid, my body was frozen in place. The screams of the humans above continued as Minotaurs roared and Goblins cackled. Slowly, the scent of fresh blood wafted through the air. It was enticing, telling me to go up and check its source. After I have steeled my resolve, I decided to check the third floor. As expected, the monsters have made a mess of that place. Just a few moments ago, those people were alive, definitely full of energy as they bickered against each other. But now, all of them were nothing but corpses. The young men and the young woman must have put up a fight: I could see knives and steel pipes on the floor. Their bodies were crushed to paste, their limbs bent in impossible directions. The elderlies, on the other hand, must have died unable to do anything. Their mutilated bodies were still sitting on their wheelchairs, some of them missing a head and a limb or two. It was a disgusting sight, and even though the scent of fresh blood was enticing, I have the urge to vomit. The Goblins began dragging the dead body of the young woman from before, along with the bodies of some of the elderlies. I puked on the ground. Just a few minutes ago, these guys were alive. They were full of life. Once again, I was reminded of how cruel this world could be. In just a blink of an eye, everything could go wrong. In just a blink of an eye, everything could be taken away from you. This incident solidified that thought within me. The monsters climbed the higher floors as they searched for any living humans. After combing the entire building, they left entirely, leaving behind fresh dead bodies. I stood in the room alone. The place where those humans had taken refuge before. As I looked at the broken door, I thought of how thin it was, of how easy it was to break it apart. Why did I think that it was sturdy before? I wryly smiled. That was definitely stupid and na?ve of me. Blood blanketed the ground and what remained of the crushed radio was scattered about. With the female corpses gone, what surrounded me were the fresh corpses of the guys. The bulky man from before had both his arm pulled out of his body. His head was intact, and the eyes were open, with dried tears evident on the cheeks. I did not know particularly why I did it, but I decided to use identify on the corpse.
Human Corpse (Male) 32 Years Old The chef of Living Hearts Foundation. He had spent more than a decade helping abandoned elderlies. Alchemy Ingredient: Rank D+ Although male humans are edible, they taste nasty, like a pile of dung mixed with grime.
I immediately regretted my decision of using the Identify skill. I¡¯d rather not have read about that. I gnashed my teeth. If I was this powerless, it would be useless even if meet my family. Should I use the remaining time to finish the quest? The reward Exp was a bit decent, and it would really help in gaining a level up. ¡°But what if something happens to Franchesca and Marco during that time¡­¡± My voice trailed off as my mind fell into deep thought. I considered the pros and the cons. If I focused on becoming stronger, I would have more options when helping my family ¨C or the other humans for that matter. But during that time, there was the possibility that my family would die ¨C if they were still alive right now. This world was cruel and unpredictable. These dead bodies around me were proof of that. I shook my head thrice as I dismissed the negative thoughts. ¡°They¡¯re still alive, Nick. They¡¯re definitely still alive,¡± I mumbled. My gaze landed on a corpse and for a moment, I imagined what it would be like if I suddenly encountered the corpse of my family. I shivered at the thought. My stomach churned and I resisted the urge to vomit. Uncertainties and possibilities. My mind was in turmoil because of it. I stormed my mind for the best possible choice, for the best way out of this hellhole. And I finally decided. Using the remaining hours left, I will finish the quest. I will devote all my energy on becoming stronger. Strong enough to protect what was important. My stomach grumbled. The hunger from before had come knocking back. I have decided on this path. Now, time to hunt down some Goblins. Chapter 13: Climbing the Ranks Author''s note: I have not proofread this chapter yet. Just a heads up. I¡¯m still stuck in grad school and decided to write this chap with my little free time. Enjoy. Chapter 13: Climbing the Ranks A life-changing event. It was at that moment that I started yearning for more strength, for more power. I realized that I was too weak, a mere fodder in this world-turned-apocalypse. I quickly moved towards the center of the city, near the place where the hill I came from was located. It was the very same location where the portal was. My stomach continued to growl. I needed to eat. I was really famished. This place was crowded with monsters, and unlike the other parts of the city, there were far more corpses here, their decaying bodies filled the streets. Looking up the sky, I realized that the fire engulfing the city had subsided somehow. There were still numerous trails of smoke cruising up the sky, but it was evidently lesser than before. I opened my quest window. According to it, I still have five hours left. I should find some corpses soon and deliver it to the portal. It will be arduous, but the reward exp this time would be worth it. My only problem was this petite body. I was not entirely sure if I could drag dead bodies on my own even if I do find them. But first, I needed to take care of this growling stomach. Looking around, I surveyed my surroundings. Burnt buildings, rotting bodies, toppled cars, broken posts, roaming monsters. Killing my fellow goblins would cause a commotion here. I decided to find a place with lesser monsters, ideally a place where I could hunt those nasty bastards one by one. Soon enough, I finally found my first target. Inside an alley, two Goblins were dragging away a female body. I was momentarily taken by aback at this unexpected find. It was like killing two birds with one stone. If I managed to kill these two, I would gain decent Exp. Moreover, I would be able to obtain a female dead body. The approached the Goblins. With just the two of them, they managed to drag the corpse through the ground. The face of the human female skidded through asphalt, cutting the skin and peeling it slowly. Noticing my presence, the two goblins looked at me for a moment but eventually resumed dragging away the body. I approached them, a knife ready in my hand. Without warning, I stabbed the neck of one Goblin. It tried shrieking, only to gag from its blood after. The remaining Goblin, upon seeing this, widened its eyes in shock. It was frozen, probably trying to digest what just transpired. Using this chance, I unhesitatingly shot my knife towards its throat. The Goblin reflexively blocked the attack using its arm. Blood spurted on my face but I ignored it. I immediately pulled out the knife that stabbed through the arms of the Goblin. It shrieked in pain after. It seemed that it had come to realize that I was trying to kill it. ¡°Just die already,¡± I mumbled. My foot hit the Goblin¡¯s abdomen, sending it flying backward. Its body hit the wall of the alley, before falling down the ground. Just as I¡¯ve thought. This body of mine was stronger than your average Goblin Worker. The difference was really evident right now. The Goblin, trembling in fear as I approached, shrieked repeatedly. It tried standing up, but I once again sent it flying by a kick. Nearby, its companion was squirming as it breathed it last moments. There was no way it would survive a knife on the throat. I gripped the hilt of my knife then repeatedly stabbed the body of the Goblin sprawled on the ground. Moments after, a notification popped up.
You have killed a Goblin Worker!
You have received 51 Exp!
I turned my attention to the remaining Goblin, the one with a hole on its throat. It had stopped squirming, the light in its eyes was dimming. I knew that even without me doing anything, it would eventually kick the bucket. And it did.
You have killed a Goblin Worker!
You have received 49 Exp!
Body tired and famished, I crouched down and began biting the flesh of the dead Goblin. I bit, chewed, and swallowed. I devoured the disgusting meat nonstop. There were numerous moments wherein I felt like spitting it out, but I steeled my resolve and held it in my mouth. It was better this way. I¡¯d rather eat this filth than consume human flesh. I did not wish to let go of what remained of my humanity.
Due to the title, Cannibal, stamina will be restored at a faster rate upon consumption of a Goblin.
I felt the strength I have lost after walking through the city for more than a day coming back to me. Despite the lingering disgusting taste in my mouth, this was actually a refreshing feeling. Now that I think about it, such effect was not mentioned before. As far as I know, the title, Cannibal, granted bonus stats only. So, it also had a hidden effect of speeding up the restoration of vigor upon meat consumption, huh? How convenient. I wiped the blood that clung to my face. My clothes were a mess, and the blood stains refused to come off. I also noticed a small chip on my knife. As expected of a cheap weapon. ¡°Now, how am I suppose to deliver this corpse to the Portal?¡± I asked myself as I stared at the female body on the ground. The Portal was stupidly located underneath that hill, and to make matters worse, it was hovering in the air, at a height unreachable by mere Goblins. I clicked my tongue as I thought of stupidity of the one that made it. At the very least, put it on a damn ground! I grabbed the arm of the female corpse. For a moment, I was worried that it would be impossible to move it through the ground with my strength alone. Thankfully, it seemed that investing stats on strength was showing its result. Although strained, I was able to slowly drag the corpse with me. After exiting the alley, some of the monsters looked at my direction, particularly at the corpse I was dragging. They were not going to steal it from me, right? A bit anxious of someone robbing this loot from me, I continued walking towards the hill. The upslope was making this harder than it was. Damn it. At the corner of my eyes, I could see other Goblins dragging their loot. Unlike me, there were usually two to three Goblin Workers moving one corpse. The way they smoothly cooperated to deliver it to the portal was really extraordinary. Although these guys were ugly and disgusting, they really have a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. Finally, I reached the top. A Goblin Leader was waiting there. He nodded at my direction, and a familiar silhouette appeared behind him. I was surprised for a moment when a Minotaur appeared. It crouched and grabbed the female dead body I¡¯d obtained.
You have successfully delivered a Female Human Corpse! Quest Completion: 50%
I see. So, there was no real need for me to go personally deliver the body to the portal. Considering the height of the Minotaur, it would be easy for it to put the body towards the Portal. The hill I was currently standing on was high, probably on par with the highest building in the city. Standing here, I could see a wide view of the city. But my eyes were fixated on a certain direction: the place where Camp Lamia was located. It was far from here, probably six or seven hours by foot. I was a bit relieved that it looked like that place was fine. Its surrounding area have smoke rising from it, but the Camp itself was fine. The eyes of a Goblin were really good. I could make out the thick walls surrounding the camp. There were dot-like things on top of it, probably soldiers stationed on the battalions. I was not sure. After delivering the first body, I descended the hill. I needed just one more and I would be able to complete the quest. Of course, I intend to kill Goblins here and there if given the chance. As I roamed the streets, looking for my second loot, gunshots were heard nearby. I reflexively hid behind a fallen post. A stray bullet could kill my current body, that¡¯s what I believed. The sound of something exploding was heard, and another series of gunshots echoed. Judging by the sound, there was more than one person firing the shots. I craned my neck and looked at the source. A few blocks from me, three humans, all wearing civilian clothes, were firing at the Goblins. The way they incessantly wasted ammunition felt stupid. Here and there, corpses of Goblins were scattered about. Their group had managed to kill quite a lot of those monsters. ¡°You damn fuckers! I¡¯m going to take you all down with me!¡± ¡°Die, damn monsters!¡± In that instance, I realized that these guys were intent on dying, all the while trying to taking down as many monsters they could with them. They probably lost someone important to them. I could somehow sympathize.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. A group of Minotaurs began running towards the trio. One of the humans stopped firing, took out a grenade in his pocket, then threw it towards the group of Minotaurs. Seconds passed by and a deafening explosion shook the air and the ground. A Minotaur lost its arm, while another one was gravely wounded on the chest. The remaining two cow-like monsters at the rear were fine. ¡°Die! Die! Die! Die!¡± Like a maniac, the human trio fired at the Minotaurs. The one gravely wounded on the chest fell limp on the ground, unmoving. The rest of the Minotaurs squealed in pain as ammunitions pierced their flesh. Pistols did not work before, but stronger guns worked, huh? Furthermore, grenades were capable of mortally wounding those monsters. I took note of that fact. It seemed that the human trio had attracted too much attention. A lot of the monsters on the hill began descending, running towards their group. Still, they kept reloading their guns and firing. It was amazing that they have so much bullets with them. ¡°What a waste,¡± I mumbled. A non-suicidal human would have made better use of those things. If they were strong enough to pierce through Minotaur¡¯s flesh, then leveling up would become easier. After encountering the students I helped before, I learned of a few things. First, humans were also capable of leveling up in this apocalypse. At least, that was what they told me. Second, I was unable to see the level of humans. For some reason, the level box was applicable on to monsters. Lastly, humans were also capable of learning skills, and unique ones at that. If a person gets his hands on such strong firearms, leveling up would have become really easy. I was a bit bitter by the fact that these guys were merely using them for their suicide charge. They should have waited a bit longer, leveled up, then take revenge only after they have become strong enough. A stray bullet hit the post I was hiding at. That was close. A bit more and I would have been hit in the chest. Judging by the size of the bore on the stone post, the piercing power of those bullets were great. The firing continued. By now, the group of Minotaurs from before were dead, but more of them were coming from different corners. There were simply too many monsters here, and those deafening sounds were attracting more of them. Soon enough, as expected, the trio ran out of ammunition. It seemed that have run out of explosives too. Without a hint of fear, and with only madness in their eyes, they pulled out knives and charged at the monsters. A real life suicide squad. At first, they were doing well despite the difference in number. But soon, they were overwhelmed by the monsters. I merely stood there as I watched them succumb to their deaths. Even at their last moments, they never screamed in pain. Contrary, they were actually laughing as the Minotaurs ripped off their bodies. I have never seen such madness before, and I somehow shivered at the thought. After the suicide trio had been reduced to shredded flesh and bones, calm resumed in the center of the city. The monsters, not minding the numerous corpses of their comrades, began entering the corner of the streets once again. I resumed my task. After an arduous hour of looking around, I finally found another one. I dragged the body towards the hill, until I reached the place where the Goblin Leader was at. Like before, a Minotaur took the body.
You have completed the Quest, Give Me More Meat! You have received 500 Exp!
You have Leveled Up!
The moment I completed the quest, a loud Ting sound echoed in my ears. I finally reached level 5.
Due to the Completion of the Quest, you shall now be transferred back to Muhar ¡®Tava.
I felt something within me was burning, waiting to come out. It felt shackled right now, but for some reason, I somehow knew that it would be released once I was back in that monster-infested Realm. Slowly, my surroundings distorted, and I once again found myself inside a familiar place. There was no doubt that it was place I went to when I entered the portal before. It was bright, blindingly so. A whirling sound rang in my ears, and I found myself falling down towards the ground. Unlike before, the ground was hard, and my entire body felt numb upon impact. Above, near the ceiling, a portal hovered. It glowed for a moment, before it closed then vanished. I realized that the place I was currently at was not the Goblin Slaughterhouse. It was the place I first spawned from. The place of my birth. A limestone cave. Above, silver-black spikes dripped down. ¡°That is¡­¡± In front of me was the overly bloated ant monster from before. It was absurdly large, its body occupying half the entire cave. Its head was disfigured, and it reminded me of an old man. Unlike before, no Goblins were being ejected out of its large belly. This place was actually quiet, eerily so.
A one-time reset in status points shall be granted. The Special Monster Class is now available for evolution.
My status box appeared before me for a few seconds, and it clearly showed that all of my stats had been reset to the baseline. There was a total of 20 Unallocated points. As for my previous skills, they were still there. Numerous windows appeared in front of me, showing the available options for my next class.
Goblin Warrior Grants 10 bonus points to Strength and 2 bonus points to all stats. Skill [Lesser Chieftain Strength] ¨C Increases the strength of the user by 15 points for five minutes. Mana Cost: 12
Goblin Mage Grants 20 bonus points to Intelligence Two of four basic elemental skills shall be granted: Skill [Lesser Fire Magic] Skill [Lesser Water Magic] Skill [Lesser Earth Magic] Skill [Lesser Wind Magic] Mana Cost: 9
Goblin Spearman Grants 10 bonus points to Agility and 2 bonus points to all Stats. Skill [Piercing Shot] ¨C Creates a sharp spear capable of piercing strong armors. Damage dealt is dependent on the agility of the user. Mana Cost: 25
I stood there as I weighted the choices. A Goblin Warrior seemed the best option if I were to go for raw strength. It would especially be useful since our race were tasked on retrieving dead bodies every now and then. The Goblin Mage, on the other hand, was really enticing. I wondered how it would be like to be able to use magic. Though as expected, it seemed that I will be granted only two basic elements, weak ones at that. I pondered on how strong the skills would be. I looked at the details of the Goblin Spearman. For some reason, the mana cost for its single skill was colossal. Even at my current state, my mana would be barely sufficient. It must be a really strong skill, considering the amount of mana a single strike would consume. I was stuck in between choices. Eventually, I let my instinct decide for me.
Do you wish to evolve into a Goblin Mage?
¡°Yes.¡± On cue, my body began assuming a different shape. My height increased, and my body became a bit skinny. A spiral mark appeared on my chest. I could feel a weird sensation flowing through my body.
You have evolved into a Goblin Mage! 20 Intelligence points has been added!
Choose two starting spells. Skill [Lesser Fire Magic] Skill [Lesser Water Magic] Skill [Lesser Earth Magic] Skill [Lesser Wind Magic]
I decided to choose Earth and Fire Magic. It should be possible to create a wall of earth to protect myself while chanting spells. About the Fire Magic, I decided to go for it because of my previous experience with the Babyface Arachnid. Sharp weapons did not work against that giant spider, but fire was strangely effective. I still have the unallocated points, but for now, I decided to experiment first. I looked at my magic arsenal and found out that it was possible to create simple fireballs and earth spikes. Licking my lips, I decided to try it out. ¡°Fireball,¡± I said. A twirling mass of fire began manifesting itself on my palm. It was small, but the heat it gave off was real. It was the size of a toddler¡¯s fist. Next, I tried the earth spike. Just like the name implied, it was a spike made of earth. Upon chanting the magic, a small, thin spike erupted in front of me, reaching up to my waist. Disappointing. It was small. ¡°Allocate 20 Points to Intelligence,¡± I said. After a confirmation with the system, I felt a weird sensation flowing through my body. I also checked my mana, it had expanded greatly. ¡°Fireball,¡± I chanted. A smile surfaced on my face upon seeing the result. This time, the size was three times larger than before. It was almost the size of an adult¡¯s fist. ¡°Earth Spike.¡± And a spike made of earth erupted in front of me. It was thicker and longer than before. Last time, before allocating all points to Intelligence, the spike reached until my waist, but this time, it reached until my face. This was peculiarly satisfying. Currently, this was how my status looked like.
Goblin Nick
Species Goblin Mage Level 5
Health 77/77 Mana 122/122
Strength 1 (+2) Agility 3 (+2)
Vitality 1 (+2) Intelligence 40 (+2)
Dexterity 3 (+2) Luck 3 (+2)
Experience Points 33/1407 Unallocated Points 0
Skills Identify Scurry Frenzied Rage Portal Access (Passive) Lesser Fire Magic Lesser Earth Magic
Title Cannibal (+2 Bonus to all Stats)
One particularly noteworthy change was the increase in HP. Despite not allocating points in vitality, my HP had increased tremendously. This was probably the effect of evolution. Moreover, with my current mana, I could cast numerous fireballs at this current stage. Spamming intelligence was showing its effect.
The Ancestral Goblin Mother grants minions to all Goblins that have evolved into a Special Class Touch the body of the Ancestral Goblin Mother to receive your reward.
An indicator appeared in my mind, and I was surprise that it was pointing particularly at the colossal ant monster in front of me. Wait, so this unmoving thing was a Goblin? Now that I had a careful look, I noticed the small box that hovered above its head.
Ancestral Goblin Mother Lv ???
I could not see its level. Just like the system suggested, I approached the large ant monster. Although hesitant, I touched its body. I reflexively jumped back when loud pulsating sounds echoed in the cave. It was coming out of the Ancestral Goblin Mother¡¯s belly. Moments passed, and two small bodies were ejected by the ant monster. Their bodies were still wet as they started standing up. There were no doubts that these two were Goblin Spawns, level 1 monsters considered weakest of them all. As I was pondering what was happening, the two looked at me then approached my way. The moment they were a mere breathe away, they suddenly knelt down in front of me. ¡°Wha¡ª¡± A voice of surprise leaked out. What was happening?
The Ancestral Goblin Mother has granted you two loyal Goblin Spawns. Do you wish to name them?
I was still stunned speechless by what was happening. Eventually, I broke free from my stupor. The two Goblins Spawns were still kneeling before me. I mumbled, ¡°Yes.¡±
Please give them a name.
As though the two of them understood this, they instinctively looked at me, their eyes expectant and a bit longing. ¡°I shall name you, Uno,¡± I said to the one at the left. Honestly, there were no difference in their appearance. They looked alike, just like every other Goblins. ¡°And you shall be Dos.¡± I have a bad naming sense, I know. Upon receiving their names, the two Goblins placed their hands on their chests then made a small bow while kneeling. I obtained my first subordinates. Chapter 14: Plight of a Magician Author¡¯s note: I ended up writing the entire chapter twice. The completed chapter got corrupted literally seconds before I uploaded it. That was really harsh. -__- Chapter 14: Plight of a Magician Half a day had passed since I returned to the Goblin¡¯s Paradise. During that time, I have come to learn a few things. First, the Portal would be closed for the next five days. This was clearly stated by the system after I went towards that place. During that time, I groaned in frustration. Five days was too long, especially in a world where killing was the same as breathing. The second thing I¡¯ve learned was the unexpected efficiency of my two subordinates. They did everything I ordered, no questions asked. I was honestly happy by this, since I could do a lot more things now that I have my very own men. My only problem was that they were both level 1 monsters, creatures that could die in an instant. After testing my magic, I realized that my mana regenerates at a slow speed, at a rate of 2 points per minute. Running out of mana during battle would be imminent, and I needed a way to counter that out. And so, we were currently inside the Mines. The three of us, me including Uno and Dos, were holding pickaxes. Our goal was to mine Cursed Rubies. Those things have a grim name, but in reality, they were high grade mana stones coveted even by the rulers of this Realm. A single consumption regenerates 200 mana, which was almost twice my current pool. I led my men towards the deeper parts of the mines. Upon arriving there, I immediately issued my orders. ¡°Uno, you search for Cursed Rubies over there,¡± I said. ¡°Dos, you take that one.¡± The two nodded in understanding. It was amazing that despite being unable to speak, these two held eyes filled with intelligence. They were unlike the other Goblin Spawns in this place. This was not simple bias held by a superior. It was a conclusion I came to after interacting with them. To clearly differentiate the two, I looted clothes from the mountain of corpses outside, ripped it off then made a scarf. I asked Uno to wear a red scarf on its neck, while Dos wore a blue one. If I did not do this, it would have been a pain to differentiate between the two of them. After all, they looked really alike. The three of us began hitting the rocks using our pickaxes. There was no one here aside from our group. Quite a distance from us, I could hear the reverberating sound of the other goblins working. At first, I was a bit hesitant on mining Cursed Rubies. These stones were clearly valuable to the Goblin Race, and I was not sure if there would be repercussions if I took them for myself. But after some deliberation, I decided that I needed those stones. Unlike other Goblins, I was wearing clothes anyway. I could just hide them there. As long as they were not found, there should be no problem in keeping them. Time passed and our group eventually got our hands on some Cursed Rubies. Luckily, they were really small, and it was easy tucking them inside my pockets. We got a total of four stones and I decided that that should be enough for today. ¡°You two, come here,¡± I said. Immediately, they stopped hitting the stones and went towards me. I was significantly larger than them now that I was a Goblin Mage. Standing side to side, the two of them awaited my next words. ¡°We are going to hunt,¡± I said. ¡°Do you understand what I am trying to say?¡± The two looked at each other then at me. They shook their heads. I let out a sigh. I decided to ask them straightforwardly this time. ¡°Do you have objections if I decide to kill our fellow Goblins?¡± The two were probably surprised by what I said. Their eyes widened momentarily. But eventually, they shook their head. I felt relief upon seeing that. ¡°Of course, I am taking the two of you with me. You shall help me in the hunt,¡± I said. Although they were the weakest type of monster in this place, bringing them together with me as I hunt would still be better than simply being alone. ¡°Are there objections?¡± The two motioned that there was none. My lips crooked into a smile at that. ¡°Good. We still have five days before the Portal opens again. Time to gather some Exp.¡± *** Goblin Spawns were the weakest bunch out here. With that in mind, I decided to make sure the two of then doesn¡¯t die unnecessarily. First, we need a shield and a weapon. Pickaxes were out of the question. They were simply too heavy right now for the two. I led the two around the Goblin Slaughterhouse. There were thousands of goblins in this place, all busily moving about. ¡°If you find anything we could use as a shield, woods or something, tell me.¡± The two nodded in understanding. We looked left and right, searching for materials we could use as shield. Dos, the one wearing a blue scarf, tugged at my clothes. I looked at the direction he was pointing at. ¡°Good job,¡± a praise escaped my lips. Dos was clearly please by my statement. For the first time, I saw it smile. It was a peculiar feeling, seeing a monster smiling at me, but for some reason, it reminded me of a child trying to please his parents. I went towards the place my minion pointed at. Before me, piles of wood were scatted on the ground. Most of them were broken, some were rotting, but I could see fine ones here and there. After licking my lips, I began rummaging through them. I eventually found two slabs of wood which I deemed good enough to be a shield.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Using my knife, I bore two holes in each of them, near the center. I then inserted a bundle of twisted cloths inside then tied it, creating a part which would be easy enough to grasp. ¡°Finally done,¡± I mumbled after completing the shields. A bit curious, I used the Identify skill on it.
Broken Wood Durability: 4/4 A rotting piece of wood. It was supposed to be a shield, but it can¡¯t really protect anything. Due to the horrible aesthetic sense of the creator, cloths were inserted at its center.
It was not even considered a shield, huh? I was a bit dejected at this, but at the same time, reading the descriptions given by my skill was amusing. My two minions were staring at me, probably wondering why I was smiling. ¡°Try it.¡± I handed the shields to them. Good. They could easily carry it using one hand. A notification popped up unannounced.
You have gained a Title!
Horrible Goblin Craftsman Level 1 A title granted only to Goblins that have crafted a horrible piece of equipment. + 1 durability to all equipment crafted. Upon reaching a certain level, this title would enable the craftsman to endow bonus stats to the items created.
The bonus right now was a bit useless, but the last statement really piqued my curiosity. So, it would be possible to create items granting bonus stats, huh? That would really be convenient. After all, leveling up in this world was hard. Consequently, obtaining status points were the same. I looked at my two men. Unlike before, they looked more durable now. They no longer gave off the feeling of dying after a flick of a finger. A shield really did wonders. Now, it was time to get them some weapons. One-handed ones at that. ¡°Follow me,¡± I said, and the two immediately complied. It was really amazing that these two did not object to anything I say. They really did everything, no questions asked. With a clear goal in mind, I led the two towards the place where the carnivorous plants were located. Just like before, the plant monsters resembling sunflowers were being fed corpses one after another. Numerous Goblin Spawns were carrying dead bodies towards this place, and the Goblin Workers harvested the fruits that dropped down the stalks of the plant monsters. Some time ago, I saw a plant ¡®accidentally¡¯ eating a goblin. My fear of those carnivorous monsters increased a level since then. I engraved in my mind that I should not get close to them. I looked around. I was pretty sure it was around this place. ¡°Over there,¡± I mumbled after finally finding the place. With two goblins obediently following behind me, I went towards the place below the cliff. The roots of those plant monsters protruded out of this place. This area was like a comfort room for them, the place where they ¡®defecate¡¯ things they could not easily digest: human bones. In front of us, a mountain of bones was seen. I rummaged through them, searching for a femur of a right size. Thud sounds were heard as I tossed bones left and right. Eventually, I found two of them. ¡°Take it,¡± I said to Uno and Dos. The two took the femurs. They looked like a skull goblin now, at least that was what it was called in a game I played many years ago. I did not know if it was common knowledge, but human bones were actually stronger than asphalt. If a rock and a bone were to clash, the rock would eventually be the first one to break apart ¨C if they have the same weight, theoretically. If we were to base just on strength alone, bones were even stronger than steel. Of course, there was the density which we have to consider, since bones were made lighter in nature to support the movement of the body. Equipping my men was somewhat satisfying. They looked a bit cooler right now. I was moved by the sight. No matter what the system said, I really thought that the shield I made were awesome. I gestured for the two to come closer to me. ¡°We are now going to hunt goblins,¡± I said. ¡°The two of you, make sure that the enemy won¡¯t be able to come close to me. If it tries to flee, block its way out. You can attack with your bone mace, but make sure to focus on defense. Don¡¯t die. Got it?¡± They both nodded. These two were really intelligent. ¡°We¡¯ll be going back to the Mines. Let¡¯s go.¡± *** The Mines in the Goblin Slaughterhouse was vast. I have not fully explored it yet, and I have no intentions to. I was sure that it was a dangerous maze that once you were lost, you could die simply from starvation. I did not want that to happen, so I stayed in places I was familiar with. Currently, the three of us were walking through the tunnels. There were goblins here and there, their pickaxes hitting the walls, creating loud striking sounds. Killing goblins near the entrance would be foolish, so I led my men towards the deeper parts of the tunnel. After some time, we finally found a goblin working alone in the dark. Goblins usually worked in groups, but in these tunnels, it was not unusual to find a goblin working alone. Those kinds of guys were my target. Three versus one should be easy enough. ¡°Get ready,¡± I said to my two men. Immediately, as though they have trained for a long time, they positioned themselves near the exit, blocking the potential way out. The Goblin still have no idea that we were going to target it. Faithfully, it continued to strike its pickaxe against the wall of the tunnels. ¡°Fireball,¡± I chanted. A full second passed, and a twirling mass of fire began manifesting itself in front of me. As expected, there really was a bit of delay in formation of the spell. Probably because the tunnels got a bit brighter all of a sudden because of the fire in my palm, the goblin looked my way. It stared at me, then at the fireball twirling in place. It was probably due to inexperience, but right now, I have no means of making the fireball move by itself. I literally have to throw it to the enemy, otherwise, it will simply remain in my hands. I stepped in, then using the force of my entire body, threw the fireball towards the Goblin. Its eyes widened for a moment, before it eventually jumped to the size to evade the attack. ¡°Damn it.¡± My attack missed the target. Using magic was harder than I thought. ¡°Fireball,¡± I chanted again. The Goblin probably realized that I was trying to kill it. It shrieked, its voice reverberating through the tunnel walls. Shit. At this rate, reinforcements would come. Uno and Dos probably felt my plight. They moved in and began hitting the Goblin using their femur-turned-mace. The enemy Goblin was hit by the sudden attack. It fell down the ground, pain evident in its eyes. I used that chance to strike. Once again, I threw a fireball with all my might. This time, the attack hit the goblin on the ground. The fireball created a small explosive sound upon impact, but the damage itself was disappointingly smaller than expected. ¡°Fireball!¡± ¡°Fireball!¡± After two more strikes, the Goblin finally died.
You have killed a Goblin Worker!
You have received 53 Exp!
¡°It takes three fireballs to kill a Goblin Worker, huh?¡± This felt stupid. I was regretting choosing the Mage class now, for a bit. If it takes three fireballs to kill a Goblin Worker, then a complete mana pool would grant me only three kills. Well, there was the Cursed Rubies which were supposed to be high class mana stones. I should be able to replenish my mana pool with those items. The only problem was I did not really have an idea how to use them. ¡°A Lesser Fireball is really weak. Damn it.¡± If I leveled up my skills, I could probably kill a Goblin Worker with just a single strike of my magic. But right now, that seemed impossible. I have to survive with this weak magic for now. I turned towards my men. ¡°Bury the body on the ground.¡± The two nodded. They grabbed the pickaxe left behind by the dead goblin then began hitting the ground. After burying the corpse, we went around the tunnels again, hunting for our next prey. Leveling up in this apocalyptic world was really hard. But I have no choice but to get stronger from now on. With that in mind, I resumed the hunt. Chapter 15: A Declaration of War Chapter 15: A Declaration of War Two days had passed. During these past few days, I have come to grasp how to properly use my magic. Although it was still impossible to use fireballs without throwing them, at the very least, I was now able to properly aim at my target. My two minions were now a bit used to fighting too. Even without ordering them around, they would move and engage our target. A felt a bit proud that they have matured to such extent in a short period of time. ¡°But why aren¡¯t they leveling up?¡± I asked myself. I have gained two levels already and yet, these two remained level one. I shook the thought out of my mind for now. I should focus on the enemy in front of me. ¡°Fireball!¡± The ball of fire shot towards a Goblin, successfully hitting it straight at the chest. It stumbled backwards, and my two men immediately hit it with their bone maces. At my rear, another Goblin pounced at me. I sidestepped as I dodged the attack. ¡°Earth Spike!¡± After almost two seconds, a spike made of earth shot from the ground. It approached the Goblin at a tremendous speed, eventually hitting its shoulder. Blood spurted out as the Goblin shrieked in agony. Earth Spike was a potent weapon, but probably because I was making use of preexisting earth, there was a delay in the magic¡¯s formation, maybe due to the time it takes to alter solid ground. Furthermore, Earth Spike could only be used within a limited range, approximately a meter radius around me, making it a skill almost limited to defensive use. These limitations really show my inexperience as a magician. The Goblin, after being hit by my Earth Spike, tried clawing at my face. There was rage within its eyes, like a rabid animal in its last moment. Using my experience in fighting these Goblins, I predicted the position it would take in the next two seconds. I cast Earth Spike towards that place. Bingo. The spike perfectly hit the Goblin right at the neck. Instantly, the rage in its eyes vanished, and only emptiness remained. The light in its eyes disappeared completely.
You have killed a Goblin Worker!
You have gained 49 Exp!
I turned my attention towards the remaining Goblin. It was shrieking in pain, as my two men continued hitting it with their bone maces. After a desperate struggle, it eventually managed to skitter its way out. Uno and Dos immediately ran after it. ¡°The two of you, move!¡± I shouted. Since this had happened before, the two of them immediately understood what I was trying to do. With quick reflexes, they skidded to a halt and moved to the side, giving me space to aim at the fleeing Goblin. ¡°Double fireball,¡± I mumbled. This was one of the things I¡¯ve learned these past few days. It was actually possible to summon two spheres of fire at once, one in each of my hands. It would be troublesome if this Goblin managed to escape, so I made sure to finish it with two consecutive shots this time. With great focus, I threw a fireball towards the fleeing goblin, then shot another one a second after. The balls of fire made a whizzing sound through the tunnel, before hitting the body of the Goblin. The cries of anguish of the Goblin was momentarily muffled by the sound of consecutive explosions. With the blaze from the spell gone, darkness once again enveloped us. A notification telling me that I have killed a Goblin Worker popped up. I sighed. This was really tiring. After checking my mana pool, I realized that it was almost empty. Depleting your mana pool would give your body an exhausted feeling, as though you have run a marathon nonstop for an hour. It was an unpleasant sensation, as though the strength in your body had left entirely. I took out a crimson stone from my pocket. After a few seconds of hesitation, I put it in my mouth then swallowed it. I grimaced. It was extremely bitter.
You have consumed a Cursed Ruby! 117 Mana has been recovered.
A Cursed Ruby was capable of replenishing 200 Mana after a single use. Since my mana pool was lower than the amount the item could recover, the excess would simply come out of my body as a purple haze, a phenomenon that would last only a second at most. I felt rejuvenated now that my Mana was at its maximum. It was really convenient that these Mana Stones were readily available at this place. Because of this, I was able to continuously hunt for the last couple of days. My two subordinates approached my direction. I approvingly nodded the moment we were face to face. ¡°Well done,¡± I said to them. They were obviously pleased by this. They grinned at each other, then at me. Although these two were monsters, I was starting to find them quite adorable. I heard a grumbling sound. Since we were inside the tunnels, the sound was really audible. ¡°You¡¯re hungry, huh?¡± I looked at Uno. ¡°We¡¯ve been hunting nonstop after all.¡± I looked at the direction of one of the Goblins. The one that was continuously hit by my fireballs. ¡°Bury the body of that one,¡± I said to them, pointing at the Goblin killed by my Earth Spike. ¡°After that, we¡¯ll eat.¡± For some reason, the two of them wore grim faces. At first, it was hard to notice the subtle differences in the expressions of Goblins, but after spending time with these two, I was now capable of differentiating between primary expressions. The two of them began burying the body upon my order. I approached the scorched body of the other Goblin. I¡¯ve tried it out before, and it tasted a bit better than eating it raw. If a comparison was needed, I could say that cooked Goblin meat tasted like chicken meat that had been rotting for two days. Disgusting, but edible enough.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. I sat next to the corpse. Without minding the expression of my prey, I took out my knife and began cutting its arm. Like fried chicken, I began biting the flesh. I chewed then swallowed. Sometimes, I wondered what Minotaur meat would taste like. I could not really eat human flesh, since that would make me a complete monster, so lately, I¡¯ve began wondering what other things I could eat aside from Goblin meat. Minotaurs were a cow, or a bull, something like that. They resembled livestock, right? So maybe, they would at least taste better than these pesky Goblins. I was really curious, but killing one of those seemingly immortal monsters would be impossible right now. Uno and Dos had finished burying the body. ¡°Here¡¯s your share. Eat,¡± I said. The two of them stiffened, their eyes glued at the scorched body before them. I had finished eating the flesh of the goblin¡¯s right arm, and only bones remained. ¡°You¡¯ve eaten them yesterday, right?¡± Using my knife, I cut the left forearm of the dead goblin then handed it to the two. ¡°We¡¯ll resume hunting after this. Eat.¡± The hand of Dos that took the meat I offered was trembling. They have eaten a cooked goblin yesterday, so they should have been used to it by now, right? It took some time, but the two of them eventually started eating. Their bodies were quivering as they ate, and I could not understand the reason why. Well, this tunnel was a bit cold right now, so that¡¯s maybe why. After the two had finished eating, I ordered them to bury the body on the ground. So far, we have successfully hunted a lot of Goblins in this place. I did not know if it was some stroke of luck, or maybe it was because the Goblins could not really care enough about their other members, but we still haven¡¯t been found. There was not even an attempt to try and find the missing Goblins. Well, we always made sure to bury the dead bodies, so that¡¯s probably why. I stood up then fixed my clothes. I was about to lead my men towards our next prey when the Mine shook. A shockwave blew past us. Dust and detritus fell down the ceiling, and the ground groaned and creaked. For a moment, I was struck by fear that the Mine would collapse.
The Werewolf Lord has declared war on the Goblin¡¯s Paradise.
You have been struck by the Werewolf Lord¡¯s Roar! HP Regeneration Rate has been reduced by 200% Mana Regeneration Rate has been reduced by 200% You have been inflicted by the Fear Status: There is a 75% chance of your Spells failing You have been inflicted by Paralyzing Shackle: Movement Speed has been reduced by 50% You have been inflicted by Shockwave Fury: Attack Speed has been reduced by 50%
What the fuck. What was happening?! The shockwave that shook the entire Mine had stopped, but these absurd negative status effect continued affecting my body. I could hardly move, and my entire body felt heavy. I looked at Uno and Dos and saw that the two of them were lying on the ground. They were still breathing, but they could clearly not move their bodies. Although feeling weak, I went towards the two. ¡°Are you alright?!¡± I said, worried. ¡°Hey!¡± The body of the two were trembling. But still, they tried looking at me and utter a wordless reply. I have grown a bit attached to these two, despite them being monsters. Somehow, it pained me seeing them like this. My mind was filled with questions on what was happening, and as though on cue, a notification popped out in front of me.
The Goblin Leaders have issued their orders. All Special Class Goblins are to proceed to the War Room.
An indicator appeared within my mind, showing me the place where I was supposed to go to. If I remembered correct, Special Class Goblins referred to the Goblin Warriors, Mages, and Spearmen. It seemed that we were being summoned by the Goblin Leaders. Definitely, this had something to do with the werewolf notification from before. I looked at Uno and Dos. It seemed that they would be fine for now. They should probably stay here and rest. ¡°I¡¯m being summoned to the War Room,¡± I said to the two Goblins lying on the ground. They had become really weak. They could not even move their bodies. ¡°The two of you should rest here for now. I¡¯ll try to find something I could use to heal you guys. I promise I¡¯ll be back.¡± A low, groaning sound came out the two. Although they have become really weak, for some reason, they were able to move their hand and grab the hem of my clothes. Their eyes clearly told me not to accept the summons. ¡°It¡¯s just a summon,¡± I said, frowning. I really wish these two would get well soon. ¡°I won¡¯t die, so don¡¯t worry too much.¡± I could probably find out what caused the negative status that crippled these two if I went to the War Room. My instinct was telling me that. After one last look at my subordinates, I went out the Mine and went towards the War Room. Along the way, I saw the thousands of Goblins sprawled on the ground, heavily breathing and groaning. It was a surreal sight. *** The War Room was a place I have never been to before. It was surprisingly large, enough to fit hundreds of Goblins in, with enough room to spare afterwards. The ground was flat, and a large round table was placed right at the center of the room. On the walls, glowing plants resembling turnips were latched. Currently, almost a hundred Special Class Goblins were gathered in this place. I did not know that there were this much Warriors, Mages, and Spearmen. They all stood in attention as the five Goblin Leaders at the very front made their speech. ¡°The Chieftain is not here, so we¡¯ll be the ones giving the commands,¡± said a Goblin Leader. Its voice was loud, almost reverberating, and it clearly reached my ears even though I was at the rear. ¡°Listen,¡± the Goblin Leader said grimly. ¡°The werewolves have began attacking us. The guards outside are currently fighting their army, but it¡¯s only a matter of time before they invade this place.¡± So, the Werewolves and the Goblins were enemies? I did not know that. ¡°The werewolves invading the Paradise number in the hundreds. Right now, only those of you here are in good enough condition to fight. The Roar of the Werewolf Lord has paralyzed the weaker Goblins. With that skill alone, that bastard has effectively reduced almost all our fighting strength.¡± There was rage within that statement, and within those wrath-filled words, I could feel helplessness. ¡°I have made contact with the Chieftain, and he clearly told us to hold our ground for now. It seems that as long as we defend this place, reinforcements from the Anubis Clan would soon come.¡± I remembered the absurdly high-leveled monsters: the Anubis. So, those guys would come to our rescue, huh? It was comforting knowing that, but I have this feeling that things would not be as easy as it seems. ¡°As you all know, those damn Werewolves are against the opening of the Portal. They seem to like the humans and are against killing those inferior creatures. Than damn clan, along with their ally, the Gryphons, are a disgrace to Muhar ¡®Tava!¡± The Special Class Goblins around me roared after that statement. I was probably the only one unmoved by that speech. Actually, after hearing that the Werewolves were against killing Humans, a part of me started cheering for their invading army. But still, if they did successfully invade this place, I would eventually end up dead. I cannot allow that to happen. Werewolves and Gryphons. I engraved the name of those two clans within my heart. At the very least, I have come to know that not all Clans in this monster-infested world were savage beasts. ¡°What about the Minos?¡± the Goblin Leader next to the one that made the speech asked. ¡°They¡¯re on their way. Luckily, the skirmish of the Minos against the Gryphons in the north have been finished. They¡¯ll probably arrive at the same time as the Anubis Army.¡± ¡°And the Naga?¡± ¡°I have not received a response from their side. The Chieftain said that there¡¯s a high chance that their army wouldn¡¯t come to aid us.¡± I was really learning a lot from this conversation. The Goblin Leader turned to us. With a booming voice, it shouted, ¡°We shall defend this place until the reinforcement comes! We shall defend our land until our dying breath! Goblins of the Paradise! Move out!¡± Everyone roared their battle cry. I felt like puking on the ground.
Defend the Paradise! Defend the Goblin¡¯s Paradise from the invading Werewolves! Reward: Optional You can choose from the following rewards: 1500 Exp A Basic Weapon A Basic Skillbook 3 Meatfruits Deserters will be executed after the war.
I did not even say that I was participating in this suicide. I guess this was one of those called ¡°mandatory¡± quests, huh? I could not even say no. With a grim face and a body filled with negative buffs, I started moving out. Chapter 16: Stepping Stones Part I Author¡¯s note: I have not proofread this chapter. My goal is to actually finish this book, so do forgive the typos if you do see them. Chapter 16: Stepping Stones Part I Upon going outside, a scene that one would only normally see in movies greeted my eyes. Hundreds of Goblins were marching towards the west, towards the direction of a large mountain range. Since the Goblin¡¯s Paradise was a vast, barren plain, it was easy to see the innumerable green monsters. Goblin Mages, Warriors, Spearmen ¨C an absurd amount of those special class monsters were gathered before my very eyes, and all were going clash against the supposedly invading Werewolves. A Goblin riding a boar approached our group. After dismounting, it approached the Goblin Leaders and delivered its report. One of the Goblin Leaders nodded, and although there was not much change in its facial expression, I could tell that it was satisfied of what was reported. In the direction where the mountain range was located, the sound of rocks splitting apart reverberated. From this distance, it was really hard to see what was going on, but I was pretty sure that the clash between the Goblins and the Werewolves were already occurring at that place. At the corner of my eyes, I saw two of the Goblin Leaders cast their spells. Moments after, particles of light enveloped our army ¨C the army of Goblins working in the Slaughterhouse.
You have received the Blessing of the Ancestral Goblin Mother. HP regeneration rate has increased by 120% Mana regeneration rate has increased by 120% Movement speed has increased by 45% Attack speed has increased by 45%
Due to the effect of the Werewolf Lord¡¯s Roar, the Blessing of the Ancestral Goblin Mother has been reduced. HP regeneration reduction has been decreased from 200% to 80% It is now possible to use Healing Potions Mana regeneration reduction has been decreased from 200% to 80% It is now possible to use Mana Potions Fear Status has been nullified Paralyzing Shackle has been nullified Shockwave fury has been nullified
The heavy feeling I got after being hit by Werewolf Lord¡¯s roar had dissipated. I saw the look of relief in the faces of the Goblins around me. I stretched my limbs. My body felt quite light right now. Although it seemed that we were still affected by the reduction in HP and Mana regeneration, this was a lot better than before. What worried my the most was the Fear Status before. The Roar of the Werewolf Lord was a great hindrance to magic casters, giving us a 75% chance of failing in our spells. Thankfully, the Goblin Leaders have managed to remove that curse somewhat. After the signal of the Leaders, our army marched towards where the battle was taking place. Just like before, this barren plain reeked of the word ¡®dead.¡¯ Dried, withered trees were seen everywhere. The ground was parched, as though it had never seen rain for the past ten years. As we went nearer the battlefield, Goblins kept joining our ranks. These green monsters were like ants, and there were no signs of their numbers decreasing by this time.
The Goblin Army from the Village of Ruktia has arrived.
The Goblin Army from the Village of Malbeus has arrived.
The Goblin Army from the Village of Herkeun has arrived.
It was somehow motivating seeing the Goblin Army growing in size. As we went nearer the rocky mountain range, we passed by numerous villages. The Goblins in those places immediately joined our ranks, drastically increasing our numbers. I have not really gone to this place before since the Oasis was in the other direction, but the villages of these Goblins were an amazing sight. The houses resembled huts, with larger ones resembling a cabin every now and then. There were no fences, but I once saw a small watchtower in one of the villages. Another sound in the mountain reverberated. From this distance, I saw a large rock falling down the mountain tip. Battle cries echoed, and the ground we were standing on momentarily shook and rumbled. I could feel the heat of the battle even from this distance. Damn it. Why did that Werewolf Lord have to wage war now, out of all times? It should have rallied its army during the time I was not here. ¡°Wait, a Goblin Worker?¡± Now that I had taken a good look, I could see Goblin Workers here and there. Also, there were several Goblin Spawns too. I was pretty sure that those monsters came from the villages we passed by along the way. ¡°So, not everyone was hit by that terrifying Roar, huh?¡± It was the conclusion I came to. But the villages here were nearer to the Battlefield. If that was the case, why was it that the Goblin Slaughterhouse was hit by the Roar, while these Goblin Villages were left untouched? It was a question I had difficulty answering, and I decided not to ponder too much on it.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. I was starting to see the battlefield at the foot of the mountain. Fear crawled through my body when I saw the innumerable corpses on the ground. The image of a werewolf in my head was the same as the ones rampaging in this battlefield. Humanoid canines with black furs. Their entire bodies were the very definition of carnage. Even from this distance, I could feel their lust for blood and flesh. Although the Goblin Army numbered in tens of thousands, my instinct was screaming at me that it would only be a matter of time before the Goblin Race was wiped out. After all, no matter where I looked, it was a one-sided massacre in the hands of the Werewolves. The Goblin Leaders signaled our group to stop, and amazingly, everyone halted in their tracks. A Goblin, wearing a full leather armor, approached us. On his sides were Goblin Warriors and Spearmen, serving as escort.
Goblin Leader (Chieftain Candidate) Lv 19
¡°Chieftain Candidate,¡± said one of the Leaders. ¡°We have gathered the army in the villages near the Slaughterhouse. Your orders, please.¡± The average level of a Goblin Leader was around ten. This particular individual was quite a high level, considering that. I heard that the Goblin Chieftain was currently not here in the Paradise, so this Chieftain Candidate must be the temporary supreme commander of this army. The Chieftain Candidate have a complicated expression on its face. ¡°It¡¯s obvious that those guys are aiming for the life of the Ancestral Goblin Mother,¡± said the Chieftain Candidate. ¡°If the Mother dies, the entire Goblin Race will perish along with it. We cannot let that happen.¡± I remembered the overly bloated monster that resembled an ant. It was in a different cavern from the Slaughterhouse. The same monster that mass produced Goblin Spawns one after another. That monster was colossal, probably the size of a football field, and even if I stabbed it a thousand times, it probably wouldn¡¯t die. That was the impression it gave me when I saw it. But if it were these Werewolves, they may be able to actually kill it. ¡°Even if we all die here, as long as the Ancestral Goblin Mother is safe, the Goblin Race will be able to rise once again,¡± said the Candidate. Hey, hey. This Goblin was spouting some dangerous things right now. Although the deafening sound coming from the battlefield before us echoed, the words of the Chieftain Candidate was surprisingly loud and clear. The Goblin Army nodded at its words, and I could feel the vehement will within their eyes to protect the Ancestral Goblin Mother. That colossal monster was the one that gave birth to Uno and Dos. I did not really hate it, but if I were to choose, I would rather have it die by the hands of these werewolves. By now, the Goblin Army engaging the werewolves had dwindled in number. There were only a few hundred of them left. I knew that it would only be a matter of time before our turn to fight came. The Chieftain Candidate seemed to know this too. Immediately, it gave out its orders. ¡°Spawns, Workers, Warriors. Prepare to engage the Werewolves. Mages, go with the Warriors. Spearmen, use Piercing Shot at any werewolves that manage to penetrate our defenses.¡± My jaw hanged upon hearing the directives of the Chieftain Candidate. How stupid. This green monster had just told the Goblin Mages to directly engage the enemies. Although Goblin Warriors would be helping us, it was still a foolish plan. At this rate, forget about the Ancestral Goblin Mother, the entire Goblin Race would perish with such incompetent leader. I just wish we would be able to hold out until the reinforcements from the Anubis Clan comes. As I was cursing the incompetent leader, the Werewolves began charging towards our Army. Their bodies have wounds here and there, but the bloodthirst in their eyes continued to blaze fiercely. Leading the charge was a werewolf with red furs. Upon seeing the box hovering above its head, my mind almost went blank.
Silverfang Lv 87
What. The. Fuck. It was still too early for me to be fighting against such a strong enemy. Without doubt, this werewolf called Silverfang was the Lord of their race. The bloodthirst within its eyes oozed out, and although the blessing from the Ancestral Goblin Mother should have nullified the Fear Status, my body still felt rigid and clammy from terror. My fear escalated further when I saw the levels of the werewolves following behind their Lord.
Werewolf Lv 33
It quickly became apparent why the Goblin Army was being one-sidedly slaughtered even now. I remembered the Babyface Arachnid. It was like we were currently facing hundreds of those monsters right now. Shit. There¡¯s no way fodders like Goblins would win against these enemies. Our army assumed formation. Just as instructed, everyone was to clash head-on with the werewolves, while the Spearmen would strike at any enemies that manages to breach the defense. My entire body was trembling as the Werewolves came closer. Although we numbered in the tens of thousands, I could not rest easy. I felt that there was no way mere Goblins could win. A howl was heard, and the Werewolves clashed against our army. Blood immediately blanketed the ground as Goblins were shredded into pieces by the claws of the werewolves. Seeing this surreal spectacle, I was reminded of a hot knife cutting through butter. Magic and Bladed weapons hit the bodies of the werewolves, but they did nothing but create superficial wounds which quickly healed in a matter of moments. Most notable in this battlefield was the Werewolf Lord. Probably due to its red fur and tall body, it was easy to see. Right now, it was sending Goblins into the air, shredding their bodies into numerous pieces. A rain of blood was starting to literally fall down the heavens as the werewolves continued with their rampage. I noticed that the magic of the Mages differed from mine, not just in element, but also in strength and size. In size alone, mine was twice or thrice larger. Also, it was clear that their fireballs, ice shards, and lightning strikes were not doing any damage to their enemies. The strength of their magic was so negligible that the Werewolves did not even bother dodging. If status points distribution was also possible within these monsters, then these Mages probably have not distributed their status points properly. Shit. Now was not the time to be thinking of these things. A werewolf began charging towards my direction. Three Goblin Warriors immediately engaged it, blocking its attack for a short moment. In a matter of seconds, two of the Warriors were beheaded, and the other one was sent flying with a kick. I was trembling. I was going to die at this rate. Fuck. Fuck. ¡°Double fireball!¡± Two fireballs larger than the ones seen in this battlefield manifested themselves on my hands. This was the result of spamming all my points into intelligence, but the downfall of this was that I hardly have anything to defend my body with. No agility, no large HP to tank hits. I was the very definition of a wannabe nuker. I threw the fireballs at the Werewolf, and probably because they did not really bother dodging the attacks of inferior races like ours, the attacks hit the monster straight at the face. ¡°Wha¡ª,¡± A voice of surprise escaped my lips. Surprisingly, the attack managed to hinder the advance of the werewolf. There were scorched marks on its face, which quickly healed after a couple of moments. The werewolf clearly felt pain from those attacks. It glared at me, its eyes lusting for my flesh. Goblin Warriors, Workers, and Spawns used the chance to strike at the werewolf. They flocked at it in the dozens. I broke out my trance and immediately started throwing spells at the werewolf once again. Magic kept flying about the battlefield. The scent of blood was irritatingly strong, and the ground was starting to get slippery from the innards and blood that blanketed it. With the goal of simply surviving within my mind, I kept firing spells one after another. The Werewolf was roaring in rage. Despite its absurd regeneration, it was unable to come to me because of the endless number of goblins flocking towards it. Even at the other places in the battlefield, the same thing was happening. The Werewolves were slaughtering Goblins left and right, but they were unable to truly advance their charge due to the endless number of goblins engaging them. A notification popped up in front of me.
Insufficient Mana
I realized that I could no longer cast my fireballs. An exhausted sensation flowed through my body. This feeling after consuming large amounts of mana was nauseating. I immediately retreated to the rear of the army. Chapter 17: Stepping Stones Part II Author¡¯s note: I was surprised. This novel is currently in the Trending Fictions list. Yay. ?? Chapter 17: Stepping Stones Part II As I retreated to the rear of the army, I took a Cursed Ruby from my pocket and swallowed it. Just like before, the effect was almost instantaneous. My mana pool was completely replenished, and the fatigue that accompanied mana loss vanished entirely. I did not want to die, so I have no choice but hold off these guys until the reinforcements from the Anubis Clan arrived. I was about to join the fight once again when an ear-splitting roar reverberated. Upon looking at the source, I saw the Werewolf Lord being surrounded by particles of light. I had no idea what it was trying to do, but my instinct was screaming at me that I should get back and leave this battlefield at once. That air around the Werewolf Lord was starting to form cracks, and a malevolent whizzing sound flowed through the air. Slowly, I started to take a few steps back. Behind me, the Army composed of Goblin Spearmen and the Chieftain Candidate stood. They were also looking at the direction of the Werewolf Lord. ¡°A-Attack the Silverfang!¡± shouted the Chieftain Candidate. There was no mistaking the fear within its eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t let it complete the spell!¡± Like an organized army, the Goblins started attacking the Werewolf Lord nonstop. The beast simply withstood the attacks, its body still surrounded by particles of light. The cracks in the air around the Werewolf Lord increased into numerous veins, and the ear-splitting sound turned fiercer ¨C then stopped.
The Grand Magic, Descent of the Blade God, has been activated.
The heavens roared, and thousands of swords started falling down the sky. They pierced the bodies of the Goblins, instantly killing them in the process. Thousands of bodies were being slaughtered before my very eyes. If I had not run out of mana, if I had not retreated to the rear, I would have been dead by now. Surprisingly, the skill of the Werewolf Lord did not harm its kin. Despite the innumerable blades that perpetually fell down the heavens, none of the Werewolves were hit. For a skill capable of slaughtering thousands of enemies at once, it was terribly precise. The so called Grand Magic eventually vanished, but what was left after its wake were mutilated corpses of what were once Goblins. Blood had literally covered the ground, giving the foot of the mountain an appearance similar to a swamp. The Goblins started falling back one after another. Some ran away in terror, while some simply fled back to where the rear army was. The Werewolves used this chance to advance their charge. The Lord roared, and hundreds of werewolves ran towards us. My body was frozen solid. This was simply impossible. How the fuck were we supposed to stop these monsters? Under the leadership of the Chieftain Candidate, the Spearmen began activating their trump card ¨C the Piercing Shot. A spear made of pure mana manifested themselves in the Goblin Spearmen¡¯s hands, and they threw it towards the charging Werewolves. Surprisingly, the spears made visible wounds on the Werewolves¡¯ bodies. Those that received numerous strikes of Piercing Shot stumbled and were unable to advance. Howls of pain were heard as the werewolves received the barrage of attacks from the Spearmen. Still, the absurd regeneration of those canine-like monsters made the wounds close on their own. And eventually, the barrage of Piercing Shots stopped as the Goblins ran out of mana. The remnants of the vanguard army started engaging the werewolves, only to be slaughtered one after another. The Goblin Leaders also led their respective small armies, leading suicidal charges at the enemies. Probably because of desperation, even the supreme commander of this army, the Chieftain Candidate, began charging towards the werewolves too. It had turned into a one-sided bloodbath. From the left wing of the Goblin Army, a detached force of werewolves managed to push through. They ignored those that blocked their path and instead ran towards the direction of the Slaughterhouse. If I remembered correct, these guys were aiming for the life of the Ancestral Goblin Mother. The cavern where that colossal monster lived was near the Slaughterhouse. Without doubt, that detachment force was going towards that place.
The Chieftain Candidate has issued its order! You are tasked to chase after the Werewolves that managed to slip through the Goblin Army. Quest Reward: Preservation of the Goblin Race
A quest suddenly popped up in front of me. Near me, numerous Goblins began retreating from the battlefield. The surviving Goblin Leaders issued their commands, and hundreds of Goblins began chasing after the werewolves that managed to penetrate our defense. I looked at the Werewolf Lord. Right now, it was still on a rampage. Shredded bodies of Goblins kept flying through the air, and blood continued raining down the ground. Accepting this quest right now was probably the safer choice. If I stayed here, my chances of getting back alive was definitely low. At the very least, I could pretend to chase after the detached Werewolf Army then hide at a safe place.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It was definitely a cowardly tactic, but I did not really hold any attachment to these Goblins. Even if they were all killed, I could not care less. With a full mana pool, I began chasing after the Werewolves. The body of a Goblin Mage was unbelievably slow, as though I have returned to being a level one Goblin Spawn. Still, this actually worked to my advantage. Being in the rear of this army would grant more safety. After some time, our army eventually arrived at the cavern where the Ancestral Goblin Mother was located. The Goblins tasked to guard this place were already dead when we arrived. There was no doubt that the Werewolves were already inside. ¡°I guess this is the end of the Goblin Race,¡± I bitterly smiled. I have complex emotions about this. A part of me was relieved that these Goblins would soon all perish, while a part of me was worried of what was going to happen next. If the Ancestral Goblin Mother died, the Goblin Race would vanish along with it. Surely, that was what the Chieftain Candidate said. Our army started entering the cavern. Just like we¡¯ve thought, the Werewolves were already inside. With vehement fervor, they were all attacking the colossal monster that occupied more than half the cave. For a moment, it felt futile, considering the absurd size of the creature they were trying to kill, but soon, the attacks began showing their effect. Wounds started appearing at the body of the Ancestral Goblin Mother, and blood started dripping down. The gigantic creature would not even move, and it simply took all of the attacks. The Goblins that came with me fearlessly charged towards the werewolves. It was really amazing how loyal these weaklings were. They probably all knew that they were going to die, but they still charged ahead regardless. As for me, I did not join the suicide attack. I simply crouched near the entrance, hiding my fragile body behind rocks. I simply watched as the Goblins that came with me were slaughtered by the werewolves. Within me, I knew that there was no point in fighting these enemies. They were simply too strong for us right now. After taking care of the Goblins, the werewolves began attacking the Ancestral Goblin Mother once again. The football field-sized creature started groaning in pain. Hey, if you¡¯re that big, you should be able to smash the bodies of those werewolves, right? Why don¡¯t you move? Damn it. It was vexing watching this. Still, I refused to come out of my hiding. The wounds on the body of the Ancestral Goblin Mother kept multiplying as the werewolves rampaged to their heart¡¯s content. Now that I thought of it, that monster was also the one that gave birth to me. It was literally the origin of all the Goblins here. And judging by the fact that I was unable to see its level, it must be some sort of a very strong monster. But for some reason, it did not even bother fighting back. Or rather, I have this feeling that it could not even move. A groan filled with anguish and pain reverberated in the cavern. For a moment, I thought that the Ancestral Goblin Mother was crying. The werewolves were visibly pleased by this. Their attacks became fiercer, and the cry of the Ancestral Goblin Mother crescendo.
The Ancestral Goblin Mother Cries for Help Due to restrictions, she is unable to move and repel the attacks. She wishes to form a pact with the nearest Goblin available.
The Ancestral Goblin Mother wishes to form a Pact with you. Do you accept?
I realized that I was the only Goblin left alive in this place. Therefore, I was the nearest Goblin available. And right now, the Ancestral Goblin Mother, the so-called Origin of all Goblins, wishes to form a Pact with me. I was sure that it was to protect itself and prevent its imminent death. Should I do it? The offer sounded so enticing, but at the corner of my mind, something was telling me that there was the possibility that I would simply get killed afterwards by the werewolves. I stormed my mind and pondered on what to do. After some time, the system asked again.
The Ancestral Goblin Mother wishes to form a Pact with you. Do you accept?
I could see the innumerable wounds on the body of the Ancestral Goblin Mother. It was probably desperate right now to form a pact with the nearest Goblin available. I decided to follow my instinct. ¡°Damn it,¡± I mumbled. ¡°Do it.¡±
You have formed a Pact with the Ancestral Goblin Mother!
An invisible force sucked my body towards the Ancestral Goblin Mother. Seeing this, the werewolves stopped their attacks. They stared at me, all the while numerous particles of light floated near my body. Currently, I was face to face with the Ancestral Goblin Mother. It¡¯s face, which reminded me of an old man, started opening its eyes. What I saw afterwards was disgusting. Thousands of eyes appeared in front of me, and a deep, husky voice reverberated in my ears. ¡°You are unworthy, but you are the only Goblin available right now. I cannot move because of the Seal of the Gods. I shall grant you a portion of my power, in exchange, I want you to exterminate these pests that dared invade my land.¡± Contrary to the name, ¡°Ancestral Mother,¡± the voice of this monster sounded like that of a man. Furthermore, it was filled with rage, with fury capable of shaking my very soul. I could not even imagine how strong this monster would have been if it was not sealed. As expected of the so-called Origin of all Goblins. ¡°Now, go and slaughter these damn bastards.¡± The particles of light started entering my body, and an indescribable strength began rushing through my very core. Slowly, my body landed on the ground.
You have gained a new skill!
Pact of the Ancestral Goblin Mother
The Origin of the Goblin Race has been sealed by the Gods. Due to the restrictions, it is impossible for the Ancestral Goblin Mother to move on its own. As the holder of the pact, you have been granted a portion of the Ancestral Goblin Mother''s power. It is now possible to temporarily evolve to the highest form of a Goblin. Duration: 3 minutes
Do you wish to use the Pact of the Ancestral Goblin Mother?
The werewolves were glaring at my direction. ¡°Yes.¡± As soon as I said my confirmation, my body began assuming a different shape. My thin limbs gained a bit of muscle, and my height increased further. My ears became more pointed, like those of elves, and my eyes became sunken. My nails grew longer and sharper, and a peculiar sensation of invincibility course through my entire body.
You have evolved to a Goblus Demigod! + 79500 HP + 35000 Mana + 99 Strength + 99 Agility + 99 Vitality + 99 Intelligence + 99 Dexterity + 10 Luck [Skill] End of Time [Skill] Eternal Hellfire [Skill] Call of Gaia [Skill] Ice Age Time remaining before the [Pact] Ends: 2 Minutes 59 Seconds
I was stunned speechless of what just happened. If the highest form of a Goblin was this overpowered, then three Minutes would be more than plenty enough. After seeing my sudden evolution, the werewolves roared. They began charging towards my direction. Chapter 18: Stepping Stones Part III Chapter 18: Stepping Stones Part III I was still perplexed by the sudden changes in my body. Right now, an overwhelming sensation of invincibility was coursing through my veins, filling me with vehement vigor as I stood there like a statue. The werewolves quickly zeroed the distance between us, and using their sharp claws that was almost as long as a dagger, they slashed at me. Back when I was still a mere Goblin Mage, the movements of these monsters were hard to follow, but now, their movements felt slow, a bit sluggish too, I must say. With such slow attacks, I simply sidestepped and dodged the strikes. I clenched my fists then punched the abdomen of the werewolf nearest to me, sending it flying tens of meters back, its body repeatedly stumbling on the ground before eventually hitting the wall. The attacks of the werewolves momentarily stopped upon seeing this spectacle. The werewolves stared at me, their eyes wide in disbelief. I could somehow understand them. After all, it was not everyday that a mere Goblin would send a werewolf flying. Soon enough, a roar resounded and the werewolves once again attacked me one after another. With some leeway, I opened up my status window and looked at the skills available. There were a lot of basic and middle-tier spells there, but the ones that stood out the most were the four skills in golden texts. [Skill] End of Time [Skill] Eternal Hellfire [Skill] Call of Gaia [Skill] Ice Age This pact had a short duration of three minutes. I did not really have the time to read through each of the skills and learn their effects. End of Time, Eternal Hellfire, and Ice Age felt incredibly dangerous, just from their names alone, especially the first one. And so, I decided to use the remaining skill. ¡°Call of Gaia!¡± Upon chanting the words, an absurdly large magic circle manifested itself on my feet. Judging by sight, it was probably a hundred meters in diameter, covering a large portion of the cavern. The attacks of the werewolves turned even fiercer upon seeing this, but I merely dodged their strikes and returned one of my own. It was really amazing how strong this body was. I could see their attacks clearly, as though each movement had been separated into numerous layers, just like a broken animation. The magic circle glowed violently, illuminating the dark cavern. The runes engraved span around into a spinning vortex, before eventually breaking into numerous particles of light. I felt a large amount of vigor escape my body after that, probably indicating that I lost a large amount of my mana.
Call of Gaia has been activated!
After the confirmation of the system, several information regarding the cavern went into my head. The structure of the cave, the composition of the land, the layouts, the number of werewolves inside, even the amount of stones and rocks ¨C I¡¯ve come to grasp them all. Furthermore, I felt that the entire cavern had become a part of my body. To test this out, I willed the land in front of me to move ¨C and it did. I could not suppress the grin from emerging on my face. As a werewolf tried to strike me from above, I willed the ground to move and pierce its body. A yelp of surprise which soon transitioned into pain echoed. Blood splattered as the body of the werewolf above was pierced by a large spike made of earth. I raised my hand and pointed at the werewolves, and numerous serpents made of earth erupted from the ground, biting off the flesh of their preys. I noticed that one of the werewolves disappeared into a grey mist. Within this cavern, I could firmly grasp the presence of everyone. Despite being clad in concealing magic, I knew that the werewolf was charging towards my direction. Unlike the other werewolves, this one was fast, and I was having a hard time following it even with my current body. Grey mist appeared in front of me, and the werewolf emerged out of its hiding. After a ferocious roar, it went straight for my neck. I willed the ground around me, and a wall made of earth rose on my left, effectively blocking the strike. A shockwave blew and created gusts of wind, the earthen wall shook and trembled, then formed numerous cracks. Still, it did not break apart. Seeing this, the werewolf once again disappeared into a grey mist. Using the skill, Call of Gaia, I could feel that it circled around me. This time it would appear on my right.
Time remaining before the Pact ends: 2 minutes
A notification popped up, stating that I have only 2 minutes before the pact ends. I needed to end this soon. Knowing that the werewolf would strike me on the right, I preemptively willed the ground to strike the werewolf once it came out. The moment it emerged from the mist, a spike that resembled a trident shot out from the earth. It pierced through the body of the werewolf, creating a gaping hole on its abdomen. Seeing that it was not enough to kill this one, numerous bullets made of earth magic shot from the ground, turning its body into a honeycomb. The werewolf glared at me for a moment, before it fell down the ground limp and lifeless.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Or so I thought. As I blocked the attacks from the rest of the werewolves, the supposedly dead body began standing up then immediately charged at my direction. I was startled upon seeing this. After all, the werewolf was already filled with innumerable wounds that it was already impossible to identify which race it came from. After a rage-filled roar, the werewolf slashed at my direction. Just like before, a wall of earth sprouted from the ground and blocked the attack. To my surprise, the wall shattered and turned into dust. My body got hit by the attack, and I was sent flying towards the wall, hitting it with a deafening impact. A thin line of blood dripped down my mouth as pain shot through my body. Looking at the wall behind me, I saw a colossal claw mark that easily spanned twenty meters in size. Just seeing this would make anyone realize that it was one hell of an attack, moreover, it came from a half-dead monster. The werewolves did not give me the chance to recuperate. As I was standing up, they immediately began to charge towards my direction. The one leading the charge was the half-dead werewolf from before. Its eyes were glowing red, and steam continued to puff out its snout. If I were to continuously receive such attack, even if I have this body, I would probably die. There was a slash mark on my chest, and blood dripped down on it. Luckily, this body was strong enough to withstand such crazy blow. I focused all my attention towards the cavern, firmly grasping everything in it. I could feel the ground, its texture, its composition, everything in it. With the goal of eliminating my enemy, I willed the entire cavern to attack the werewolves. The ground shook and trembled. A second after, spikes began raining down above, and bullets made of earth began shooting from the ground. Hundreds of serpents made of earth slithered towards the werewolves, ripping apart their flesh.
You have slain a Werewolf Warrior!
You have slain a Werewolf Warrior!
You have slain a Werewolf Warrior!
You have slain a Werewolf Warrior!
You have slain a Werewolf Warrior!
You have slain a Werewolf Warrior!
I received numerous notifications of the werewolves¡¯ deaths. It was amazing that despite all this, the half-dead werewolf from before still continued it charge. Its entire body was pierced with spikes, and on its arms, backs, and legs, serpents made of earth were tearing off the flesh apart. I could even see its bones now, but the werewolf still continued charging forward. It was a lot slower than before, and I knew that it was only a matter of time before it eventually fell. Still, the pact had a time limit. I cannot wait that long. ¡°Die,¡± I whispered. A large spike made of earth erupted from the ground, piercing the head of werewolf. For a moment, our eyes locked with each other, and I saw the burning rage within those slit-like pupils. I have never seen such a war-crazed beast from before. This werewolf made the Minotaurs look like cute little toddlers.
You have slain the Werewolf General, Warmonger!
I froze as I stared at the system¡¯s message. ¡°So, it was a General?¡± It explained everything. At first, I was filled with anxiety when I saw this werewolf stand up even after all those injuries. It was like a flesh-crazed zombie that would stop at nothing just to kill its prey. It would stand up again and again. For a moment, I was afraid that if all of the werewolves were this strong, then even at my current state, it would be impossible to defeat all of them. Thankfully, this one was actually a General. The cavern returned to its calm. The werewolves seemed to be all dead, but just to be sure, I summoned earth spikes from above and pierce the dead bodies. I breathed a sigh of relief when I confirmed that they were all really dead. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± I said. I walked towards the place where the body of the Werewolf General was. On top of the corpse, a rectangular thing was floating. It was glowing in azure light, making it conspicuous in this dark cavern. I touched it, and the azure light instantly vanished. The rectangular thing fell down towards my opened hand.
You have gained a Skill Book!
My eyes widened. If this was just like the games I¡¯ve played in my youth, then this thing would enable me to learn a Skill. More importantly, this was a Skill Book obtained after killing a Werewolf General. I was about to excitedly open it when a notification popped up.
Time remaining before the Pact ends: 30 Seconds
Fuck. I did not have much time left, huh? A voice resounded in my ears. Well done, little one. It seems that the Reinforcement from that Osiris brat has arrived. That one should be capable of driving away the Werewolf Lord. I looked at the direction of the Ancestral Goblin Mother. Unlike the name, it did not resemble a Goblin at all. It resembled an ant, and with its size that easily covered half the entire cavern, it was simply a colossal monster. With the Call of Gaia still in effect, I could feel the approaching army coming from the outside. I could make out the presence of a very strong individual there, accompanied by many others. If what the Ancestral Goblin Mother had said was correct, then that individual would be that so-called Osiris, the Level 99 Monster that ruled over the Clan Leaders. With the perception given by Call of Gaia, I could now somehow measure the strength of that individual. If the Werewolf General was like a large sphere of fire, this one was a gargantuan ball of flame capable of devouring the blaze of the General in an instant. And right now, that monster was coming to this place.
Time remaining before the Pact ends: 15 Seconds
After one last look at the Ancestral Goblin Mother, I ran towards one of the opened holes in the cavern. I used my remaining time to go towards the very end of the path. Inside the dark tunnel, my body slowly grew back into its former self. I felt the massive strength leaving my body. My eyes felt heavy, and my body was frozen solid from fatigue. It seemed that after using the Pact, it would no longer be possible to move my body afterwards. I did not know if killing the Werewolves in this cavern was the right decision, and I did not know if forming a Pact was the right choice. After all, it was impossible to always choose the right path. We could only hope to choose the one we would regret the least. I wryly smiled at this thought. Slowly, I drifted into dreamland. I no longer heard the Ting sound that came from the system afterwards. Chapter 19: Goblin Leader Chapter 19: Goblin Leader My body was aching all over when I woke up. Looking around, it seemed that I was still in the tunnel I escaped to, the same place where I lost consciousness. Upon standing up, searing pain shot through my legs, then went towards my trunk. My arms were numb, and it took me quite some time before I was able to properly move. The recoil from using the Pact was too much. ¡°My clothes¡¯ been ruined,¡± I smiled wryly. I remembered the attack from the Werewolf General. That single strike had sent me flying, and it seemed that all my clothes had been reduced to tatters after that. I was practically naked right now. The only good thing was that the Skill Book was still with me. The light that previously covered its body was no longer there, and only a dull silver book remained. I opened it and a message from the system immediately appeared.
Do you want to consume the Skill Book? It is possible to obtain the Skill, City of Mirage
There was a moment of hesitation before I said yes. Slowly, the book turned to particles of light then entered my body. A weird sensation flowed through me, which quickly vanished afterwards. I opened my Status Window and immediately looked at my Skill List. At the bottommost portion, a new skill was there. I paused. Wait, there were two of them.
[Skill] City of Mirage A unique skill that enables the user to hide in an ever-changing mist. It is not possible to attack while inside the Mist. Initial Mana Cost: 25 Mana Maintenance Cost: 2 / Minute Due to the [Unique Skill] classification, it is possible to pass the skill upon the death of the User.
I remembered the Werewolf General from before. The description given by the system was very similar to what the General used during its battle with me. If this was the same skill as that one, then I have just gained a short-duration invisibility skill. My blood started boiling upon realizing this. But the last statement made me frown. It seemed that Unique Skills were skills that could be passed on from one user to another. This setup made it possible for me to obtain the Werewolf General¡¯s skill upon its death, but it also meant that if I died, the one that killed me would obtain this skill. Well, there was nothing I could do about it so I simply shrugged it off my mind. Maybe later, if I was able to once again kill a Unique Skill User, I would obtain another awesome skill. ¡°Now, the next one,¡± I mumbled.
[Skill] Lesser Compound Magic A passive skill inherent to all Goblins. Upon evolving to a Goblin Leader, it is now possible to combine two magic elements at once.
The description was brief and short, and I still have no idea how to actually use the magic. It said that I could now combine two elements at once, and that this skill was available to all Goblins once they evolved into a Goblin Leader. Wait. Goblin Leader? I immediately looked at the upper portion of my Status Window. Sure enough, the species indicated was no longer Goblin Mage. This time it was classified as Goblin Leader [Mage]. And as though this revelation was not enough, I saw that my level jumped several times. I was level 19 now. It seemed that after killing the werewolves, I gained 11 levels in an instant. If I remembered correct, the Chieftain Candidate from before was of the same level. Now that I had taken a look at my body, it was definitely different. I was taller than before, a bit scrawny, but definitely bigger. I was probably larger than the time when I became a Goblus Demigod. That form was a bit plain contrary to my expectations, and it resembled a smaller version of an elf. This form of a Goblin Leader was definitely more imposing. Since I have a lot of unallocated points right now, I pondered on how I should distribute them. Upon evolving to a Goblin Leader during my sleep, my HP had risen tremendously. It was more than thrice than before. More importantly, my mana had also expanded greatly along with it. I could probably cast a dozen more spells now compared to before. After some thoughts, I decided to allocate 20 points to Vitality, and 35 points to Intelligence. A bit of flexibility to situations would be now possible with this increase in HP, especially now that I have a newly acquired concealment magic with me. To test things out, I began to cast the City of Mirage. In an instant, a grey mist similar to what the Werewolf General used appeared before me. Surprisingly, despite the mist that enveloped my body, I could see my surroundings clearly. ¡°How do I confirm this thing?¡± I scratched my head. I realized that there was currently no way to confirm if I had indeed become invisible right now. I dispelled the magic, and the grey mist vanished entirely. Next, I tried Compound Magic. I summoned a fireball in my hand, and it my surprise, it was absurdly bigger than before. Upon the manifestation of the flames, the sphere of fire almost touched my face. Formerly, it was the size of an adult human¡¯s fist. Now, it was the size of a basketball. A sound of bewilderment escaped my lips. I once again checked my status window, and there I saw that from Lesser Fireball, my skill had evolved to Middle Fireball. This was probably the result of evolving to a Goblin Leader. Furthermore, the Earth Spike had evolved to Earthen Wall. There was also the bonus earth skill ¨C Stone Missile. I immediately tried using Stone Missile. Upon chanting, sand and dust began gathering towards my opened palm, eventually forming a sharp projectile. It reminded me of a spear tip. Next, I summoned a fireball on my other hand. I was still at lost on how to actually use Compound Magic when suddenly, the Earth Missile and the Fireball hovered above me then fused together. Crackling sound was heard inside the tunnel as the flames started changing its color. From fiery red, it turned into crimson-black, probably due to the effect of amalgamating with the Earth Missile. To test its strength, I shot it towards my rear, at the wall that made the path a dead end. The crimson-black sphere shot at its target with great speed, hitting the wall with a loud impact. The tunnel momentarily shook, and dust fell down the ceiling. Since the wall was made of earth, it should not really be possible to create cracks on it using fire, but it did. Furthermore, it was not simply cracks, but a crater. A small crater the size of two fists was seen at the place where the Compound Magic had struck. ¡°Becoming a Mage is the right choice, huh?¡± I smirked upon saying this out loud. Previously, I felt helpless when I was still a fledgling little Mage. But now, my magic had evolved to a new different level. I felt that with this, it would even be possible to fight against the damnable Minotaurs. I was somehow itching to get to the Portal. With vigor, I began walking towards the outside, towards the place where the Ancestral Goblin Mother rested. My body still ached all over, but the joy I felt after seeing the new skills gave me enough strength to move forward. I soon reached the end of the tunnel. You are awake at last, Little One. A voice greeted me the moment I stepped out of the hole. I looked towards the Ancestral Goblin Mother. It was the same as before, its ugly distorted face unmoving despite talking. Upon looking around, I realized that there was no one here except us. There were no corpses, no guards. The bodies of the dead werewolves had vanished from sight. Still, the large claw mark on the wall and the fissures on the ground clearly told everyone that a battle had taken place in this cavern. You¡¯ve been asleep for three days now. How was it? The omnipotent feeling given by a Goblus Demigod? The Ancestral Goblin Mother seemed please, judging by the sound of its voice. ¡°Three days?!¡± I almost choked on my own saliva. I knew that I had probably slept for a long time, but not this long. If three days had indeed passed, then the Portal must be open right now. The Ancestral Goblin Mother chuckled. I actually expected you to die after using the Pact. Sleeping for merely three days is nothing compared to that, right?Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. I just heard some dangerous things come out of this giant monster¡¯s mouth. Since you¡¯ve survived the first time, it seems that you are somehow capable of wielding that Power, albeit temporarily. Such a lucky one, truly. The feeling of rage that should have come out upon hearing this was no longer there. Instead, I was merely thankful that I did not die after using that Pact. I looked at my Status Window before, and the [Skill] Pact was still there. Since you¡¯re already here, let us start with your rewards. I have taken quite a liking to you, so I will be generous with this one. Forget about the mediocre reward promised last time. I will let you wish for something even greater than that. So, tell me. What is it that you want? ¡°I want the Portal to close, as soon as possible.¡± The Ancestral Goblin Mother turned silent after that, probably surprised that I wished for such a thing. After some time, it spoke. That can¡¯t do. My beloved children will die of hunger if the Portal closes now. You should wish for something else. The voice of the Ancestral Goblin Mother had turned a bit unfriendly after my first wish. It could probably tell that I sincerely wished for the closing of the Portal, which was definitely harmful for the Goblins. As I began to think of what I should wish, the colossal monster made a sigh. Particles of light appeared in front of me, eventually forming a staff. It seemed to be made out of bones, and the tip itself was the skull head of some animal, or maybe a monster, I was not sure. Since you can¡¯t seem to decide for yourself, I¡¯m just to going to give this to you. Now, after you get your new Goblin Spawns, begone. The unmoving monster was definitely pissed off right now. Hey, you were the one that asked me to wish for anything, and now, you¡¯re getting angry? Of course, I did not voice my thoughts out loud. I used the identify skill on the bone staff.
Identification failed.
Upon seeing that the Identification failed, a sense of excitement rushed through me. Usually, if the items were rare, it would take some time before I was able to successfully identify it. ¡°Identify!¡± I said. Again and again, the skill failed. After the ninth try, just before I was about to give up, it finally worked.
Staff of Milchurza (Ancient) A staff created by the Great Witch of the West before its death. This item is one of the Seven Grand Staffs of Magic. Effects: + 100% Magic Amplification + 150% Mana Regeneration Rate Reduces Mana Cost by 50% Reduces Cast Time by 50% Additional Effect: Item Morphosis ¨C It is possible to transform the staff into a bracelet or a necklace. [Ancient] Items are Indestructible.
Despite the pissed off voice of the Ancestral Goblin Mother, the item it gave me was actually pretty amazing. This simply showed that this colossal thing was really grateful that I saved it that day. Compared to the 1500 Exp, Basic equipment, and or the disgusting Meat Fruits, this was definitely a better reward. With the staff held in my hand, I began to summon my fireball. I almost jumped in excitement when I saw that it was definitely larger than before, almost twice the size compared when I summoned it back in the tunnel. The Magic Amplification effect of the staff was really astonishing. After confirming its effect, I said, ¡°Item Morphosis.¡± The words that came out my mouth were awkward, definitely embarrassing, but it was actually effective. The staff shrunk and distorted into a bracelet. After chanting, ¡°Item Morphosis¡± once again, the bracelet turned back into a staff. A grin was plastered on my face after I changed it into a bracelet once again and wore it on my hand. I wanted to thank the colossal monster for giving me such a powerful item, but the fact that this thing was the one responsible for the Portal made me hesitate. Eventually, I swallowed the words in my mouth. I remembered the words of the Ancestral Goblin Mother. ¡°Wait, what do you mean by new Goblin Spawns?¡± There was a period of silence, a sigh was heard, then the voice answered. Goblin Leaders are granted their own men after evolution. Touch my body, to receive the reward, Little One. The voice of the monster was still irritated, and I could feel that it wanted me to get out as soon as possible. Really, this was a moody one. I went towards the colossal body and touched it. A familiar pulsating sound echoed in my ears, and numerous balls of flesh were ejected out of the body one after another. Their bodies were still slimy as they stood up one after another. Goblin Spawns. A lot of them.
You have gained a hundred loyal Goblin Spawns! It is possible to name them. Do you wish to proceed?
I immediately declined the offer. Name a hundred Goblins? You must be kidding me. Although it should be possible to name them just like Uno and Dos, I simply did not have the motivation to do so right now. The Goblins went towards me, and upon making eye contact, they all knelt down simultaneously.
You have met the requirements to create a Village. It is now possible to create your own village. Do you wish to proceed?
I remembered the villages we passed by along the way. Those Goblins had made houses resembling huts, and there was even that one watchtower. If these new guys were the same as Uno and Dos, then they would probably also listen to everything I say. I needed a place where they could stay. It would make everything easier. ¡°Yes,¡± I said. A Ting! sound echoed, and a window popped up.
You have become a Village Leader! Please name your village.
¡°Methuzelda,¡± I said. Frankly speaking, I was satisfied with the name. It felt cool, a bit bad ass, actually. This was a rare moment for someone like me with a bad naming sense.
You have successfully created the Village of Methuzelda!
I did not even have my own territory right now, but the system was considering me a Village Leader already. I smiled wryly.
Village of Methuzelda Leader: Goblin Nick Number of Residents: 103
It seemed that including the one hundred new Goblin Spawns, Uno, Dos, and I were considered part of the village. The Goblin Spawns probably knew that Methuzelda had just been created. They all expectantly looked at me, their eyes wide and glittery. I guess for now, I should go towards the place near the foot of the mountains and start building a village there. Having more men under me would definitely give boost to my power. But first, I needed to clarify some things. I looked at the Ancestral Goblin Mother. ¡°By the way, what happened to the Werewolves?¡± My last memory before I fell unconscious was that the reinforcements sent by Osiris had arrived in this cavern. Driven away by the Brat, of course. The brat this monster was referring to was probably Osiris. The Werewolf Lord put up quite a fight. Even after the Anubis Clan came, they still managed to slaughter a large portion of the Goblin Race, even killing a lot of Anubis Warriors in the Process. Silverfang is indeed strong, and if not for its absolute pride as a warrior, I would have loved for it to become one of my subordinates. A pity, truly. Osiris and Silverfang eventually clashed against each other. If you go to the Yolkshur Mountain Range, you¡¯ll see that a portion of it was chipped off. Their fight was so fierce that a portion of the mountain was destroyed. I momentarily held my breath. So, those two were that strong? I doubt if even my Goblus Demigod form could do that, especially since I have a time limit of three minutes. But still, I have not yet tried the other three remaining skills. The Call of Gaia was actually enough to slaughter the Werewolves in this cavern. I wondered what the rest of the skill could actually do. Lak ¡®Amesh and the Minos army arrived in the middle of the clash. Silverfang was severely wounded after Lak ¡®Amesh and Osiris teamed up. With half of his Werewolf Army dead, Silverfang eventually retreated. You should have seen how that werewolf fled with its tail wagging between its legs. Hilarious. The voice of the Ancestral Goblin Mother was filled with vigor and excitement when it said that. I could not help but frown. After all, the Werewolves waged war against these monsters because they were against the opening of the Portal. In a sense, they were the Human Race¡¯s allies. I could not find myself to be happy after hearing of the Werewolf Lord¡¯s defeat. After the Ancestral Goblin Mother finished her story, I decided to bid farewell and went outside. There were Goblins Stationed there, and upon seeing me getting out of the cavern, they all attentively took a battle stance. I guess the war three days ago had made everyone wary. Seeing that I was one of their kind, they eventually relaxed, but their eyes were still filled with wonder as they stared at my direction, more specifically, at the Goblins tailing behind me. I probably resembled a mother duck right now. The Goblin Warriors made a salute, and I nodded back in kind. As expected, a Goblin Leader held considerable amount of authority in this place. I went back to the Goblin Slaughter house and began looking for Uno and Dos. Just like before, this place was filled with numerous Goblins working left and right. It was as though the war from before was a lie. I was halfway towards the Mines when two familiar figures approached my direction. One was wearing a red scarf, while the other one wore blue. A tight sensation filled my heart as I looked at the two of them. They were both running, and their eyes were filled with joy upon seeing me. ¡°Uno, Dos,¡± I softly whispered when the two were a mere breath away. I felt that the two of them wanted to hug me, but refrained from doing so, probably due to respect in hierarchy. ¡°You¡¯re both, fine. Thank goodness.¡± The two nodded at once, and a soft shriek filled with joy escaped their lips. I placed a hand on their heads and rubbed them. Even after evolving to a Goblin Leader, these two were still able to recognize me. I was somehow genuinely happy. The two of them noticed the Goblins tailing behind me, and I explained the situation to them. The two nodded intelligently at my words. ¡°About the Portal, do you know if it¡¯s open right now?¡± Uno and Dos looked at each other. Dos made gestures with its hands, and I immediately understood that the Portal was indeed open right now. Upon turning into a Goblin Leader, I now have more confidence in my abilities. Furthermore, I have obtained useful skills and even an awesome item. There should probably no longer a need to hide too much once I got back in the Human Realm. I smiled at this thought. ¡°First, we will go to the foot of the mountain and build a village there. Uno, Dos, the two of you will be in-charge of supervising the village¡¯s creation. I will be giving out detailed instructions later. After that, I will enter the Portal. There¡¯s something I need to do in the Human Realm, at all costs.¡± The two nodded enthusiastically at my words. I was about to lead the group out of the Slaughterhouse when I suddenly saw a strange statue at the center of the cavern. I approached it. Around the statue, some Goblins were kneeling, as though in prayer. There were Meat Fruits at its feet, definitely an offering of some sort. ¡°A bronze statue?¡± I mumbled. This statue was definitely made out of a metal, probably bronze. It was a statue of a large monster with twin horns. Its arms were muscular, and on its back, two large unfolded wings protruded. Its face was definitely that of a Goblin, but it gave off the vibe of an enraged Minotaur. This statue was not here before, definitely. My curiosity reached its peak, and I used the Identify skill on it.
Statue of the Goblus Demigod Traces of ancient magic has been found in the Holy Ground of the Ancestral Goblin Mother. After examining the magical imprints, it was concluded that it came from a Goblin. The Goblin Chieftain has proclaimed that the Legendary Goblin, the Goblus Demigod, the protector of the Goblin Race, has finally appeared and protected the Ancestral Goblin Mother from the shadows. This statue has been built in worship of the Legendary Goblin.
The image of the statue was that of a war-crazed monster. Just a single look would petrify a person if they do encounter this monster in real life. As I stared at the bronze statue and the Goblins worshiping it, a small voice escaped my lips. ¡°But¡­ I didn¡¯t look like that at all.¡± Arc 2.1: The Mysterious Magician This is the start of ARC 2. Enjoy. I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m actually doing good as an author right now, but I might as well continue this story. Arc 2.1: The Mysterious Magician We kept running, our footsteps creating loud splashing sounds on the puddles on the road. The rain continued pouring down the dark clouds above. Every now and then, thunder would bellow. The streets were hazy from the rain, and the ground was slippery, but we did not decrease our speed regardless. If we took even one breather, we were afraid that those horrible monsters would catch up to us. ¡°Over here!¡± I shouted as I led my group towards an abandoned building. After everyone had entered, I cast one last look to the outside then shut the door tight. I was still breathing heavily when I said, ¡°Anna, the Orb.¡± Anna, a woman in her early twenties, nodded at my words. She pulled her copper hair to the side then began chanting her magic. In a matter of moments, an orb of light the size of a fist hovered in front of her. It floated higher and higher, until it reached the ceiling. With this, we were able to see everything within the small building. Judging by the wooden boxes piled up here and there, this was probably a warehouse. Anna and I locked eyes with each other. She shook her head and I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that this place was clear of monsters. ¡°Move those boxes. We¡¯ll be blocking the entrance,¡± I ordered. My group began moving the boxes towards the entrance. I did not know what those boxes contained, but judging by the difficulty in moving them, it should be good enough to temporarily blockade the entrance. I did not really have confidence in the wooden door. I felt that if those monsters flocked towards it, it would break in a matter of moments. After the boxes had been moved, everyone sat on the ground, panting, body wet and clammy. During our escape, eight of our companions died. And now, there were only six of us left. As the leader of this group, I have to appear strong and reliable, but deep inside my heart was wailing. I wanted to sit in a corner and cry, to put all responsibilities on another person. During this past few days, I have experienced enough nightmare to last a lifetime. ¡°What should we do now, Leader?¡± asked Raul. He was a young man in his late teen. His body was thin, and coupled with his baggy clothes, he resembled a walking skeleton. ¡°We¡¯ll wait for the rain to stop,¡± I said as I opened the bag I carried with me. Inside were rations we packed before our departure. ¡°We still have enough food for a few more days. Hopefully we¡¯ll reach Camp Lamia by then.¡± ¡°¡ªHopefully,¡± repeated Virgilio in disdain. He was an old man with thin, graying hair. I remembered that he was the most hesitant among the group when I proposed that we go towards Camp Lamia. ¡°This is why I told you that it¡¯s foolish to go towards the next city!¡± His voice was more of a shout than a snarl. I knew that that shout could have given out our location, but right now, I simply did not have the energy to reprimand him. My mind was still filled with various thoughts, especially the deaths of our members. ¡°Paul! Do you still think it¡¯s worth it?! Maine, Hans, Jeanne, and the others¡ªall of them are dead!¡± growled Virgilio. The numerous wrinkles on his face intensified as he glared at my direction. ¡°And it¡¯s all your fault!¡± His last statement echoed in my ears. I felt a squeezing sensation in my heart, and I felt the urge to vomit. Anna must have seen my pale face. She went towards me and gently placed a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Mr.Virgilio,¡± said Anna. Her voice was soft and trembling. ¡°Please stop. You know that Paul did his best to save everyone that time. It¡¯s not his fault¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªIt is his fault!¡± snarled Virgilio. ¡°If that damn rascal had not insisted that we go towards that so-called Camp Lamia, everyone would still probably be alive by now! Because of him, eight of us died! It¡¯s all that damn bastard¡¯s fault!¡± Outside, the thunder bellowed. We heard loud footsteps nearby, and everyone immediately turned silent. I could hear the cackling sound of those little green monsters, and it was accompanied by the snorting sound from those cow-like beasts. We all instinctively looked at the entrance. Right now, it was still barricaded by the wooden boxes, but we all knew that if those monsters forced their way in, those things would do nothing but temporarily hinder their charge. We all shivered from the thought. Thankfully, after a few more minutes, the footsteps disappeared and only the sound of the pouring rain remained. I noticed that the little girl we were carrying with us had fallen asleep on her sister¡¯s chest. ¡°How¡¯s she?¡± I asked the sister. The sister looked at the sleeping angel then at me. ¡°She¡¯s still too young to understand what¡¯s happening. She probably got tired of moving throughout day.¡± Back in our previous base, there were objections in bringing the little girl with us. After all, there would always be the possibility of her crying and giving out our location. But after some deliberation, I insisted that we bring her along with us to Camp Lamia. After all, if we stayed in our base, we would have run out of food in another two days. Those that would stay would eventually die from hunger. I was sure. Thankfully, during our travel towards the next city, the little girl hardly made a sound. She was even more quiet than the adults, something I was very grateful for.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. I looked at the opened window near the ceiling. The rain did not show any sign of stopping. ¡°Although the rain would conceal our scents, it¡¯ll be too dangerous to travel to the next city right now,¡± I said, after considering our limited visibility. ¡°Everyone should rest. We¡¯ll resume our journey tomorrow morning.¡± Virgilio made a ¡®Hmpf!¡¯ sound while the others nodded. After the Orb of Light created by Anna vanished, we all immediately fell asleep. *** The next morning, the rain had stopped entirely. Upon going outside, the streets were filled with pools of water as expected. Most of our gadgets have stopped working by now, and we have no choice but to rely on the old compass to determine the direction of the next city. According to the radio transmission we received several days ago, Camp Lamia was taking in refugees. That place was a famous military stronghold, and if they were bold enough to announce that, then they were probably doing great against these monsters. Right now, they were our ray of hope in this damnable hellhole. After carefully making our way through the city, we eventually reached the outskirts. If my memory was correct, after crossing the river, we would officially be in the next city. The city where Camp Lamia was located. We were about to cross the bridge when on our left, a hooded figure appeared. Everyone immediately pulled out their weapons, our faces pallid from anxiety. We had encountered the small green monsters and the cow monsters before, but this one was different. Its height was a bit small, probably as tall as a teenage woman. We could not make out the face shrouded by the hood¡¯s shadow. But for some reason, my instinct was screaming at me that that thing was not human. My other companions probably felt it too, that¡¯s why they immediately pulled out the knives on their waist. As the hooded figure came nearer to us, I shouted, ¡°Stop! If you move any closer, we¡¯ll attack!¡± Since there was still the possibility that the other party was human, we did not immediately attack. The hooded figure seemed to have understood what I said. It stopped in its tracks, then stood still. Now that the hooded figure had closed a bit of distance to us, I could now see what was concealed in the hood. It was wearing a guy fawkes mask. I did not know where this individual got that thing from, but just looking at it gave me the creeps. Especially those golden eyes that stared at us. Aside from the hood and the mask, its arms, down to the fingers were wrapped in bandage, effectively blocking the skin. On its left hand, a bracelet dangled. I had never seen such a strange figure before, and I was still speechless by what I saw. ¡°P-Paul, over there!¡± said Anna. Upon looking at the direction where she pointed at, I saw numerous humanoid lizards emerging out of the river. They were all holding a weapon that resembled a sickle, but instead of metal, it was made out of stone. And there were seven of them. The lizard monsters began running towards our direction, their mouths partly opened as they screeched their battle cry. Right now, I was the only combatant remaining in our group. Anna¡¯s light magic would do nothing against these monsters. ¡°Run to the bridge! Now!¡± I said. I could see that there were more lizard monsters waiting in the river, but the bridge was high and it should be impossible for them to easily climb over it. The faster we crossed the bridge, the greater our chances of survival. The seven lizard monsters began chasing behind us. Their eyes were filled with lust for flesh and blood. Despite their webbed feet, they were surprisingly agile even on land. At this rate, they would catch up to our group. I skidded to a halt and shouted, ¡°Keep going! I will block them here!¡± ¡°But Paul!¡± said Anna. ¡°Just go! Damn it, just go!¡± I said. By now, the seven lizard monsters have caught up to me. Behind me, the rest of the members of my group kept running towards the end of the bridge. I knew that I would probably die here, but strange enough, I could not feel fear, only contentment. Eight of my members died during the last few days, and whenever I thought of it, guilt would strike me. I knew that this was probably pure selfishness and ego, but with this, I would somehow be able to atone for their deaths. ¡°I really am a coward,¡± I said to myself in mockery. In a way, dying here was also running away from my responsibilities as the Leader. One of the lizard monsters struck at me using its stone sickle, and I ducked and evaded. Using the opening, I pressed forward a foot then stabbed the body of the monster using my icepick. The piece of metal pierced through the skin then straight into the flesh. The lizard monster gave a screech filled with pain, before taking two steps back in reflex. At the very least, it seemed that these monsters were weaker than the cow monsters from before. I kicked the lizard monster on my left, and it fell towards the ground. The one on my right swiped at me using its long tai, and I was hit right at the chest, my body flying and hitting the stone post of the bridge. Below me, I could hear the sound of numerous lizard monsters leaving the river. Upon looking, I saw that dozens of them were coming towards this bridge. Damn it. There were too many of them. Anna and the rest of my group were halfway through the bridge. As long as I stopped these monsters here, they should be able to escape. With that in mind, I chanted my magic. ¡°Weapon Morphosis!¡± I said. The icepick in my hand slowly transformed into a thin metallic shield. This was the skill I gained in this nightmarish world ¨C the ability to transform a weapon into another. I¡¯ve tried creating guns before, but it did not work. At most, the biggest weapon I could create was a bastard sword, and that would already consume a great amount of my stamina. With my newly created shield, I kept blocking the attack of the lizard monsters. My hand felt numb as the strikes created dents on the metallic shield, and my legs started to wobble violently. Every now and then, a stone sickle would scratch my body, sending thin lines of blood down my skin. I looked at the direction of Anna. Upon seeing that they were almost at the end of the bridge, my arms lost its strength and the shield flew out of my hands. The lizard monsters made jubilant screeching sounds upon seeing me weaponless. As they raised their stone sickles to butcher me from all directions, a sphere of fire suddenly hit the body of the lizard monster in front of me. It was quickly followed by another sphere of fire, and another ¨C each of them hitting a different monster. Those that were hit immediately fell limp on the ground. Probably because they were creatures that lived in the water, these lizard monsters were really weak to fire. I looked at the direction where the attacks came from, and my eyes widened at what I saw. Near the entrance to the bridge, the hooded figure wearing the mask stood. Unlike before, it was now holding a strange weapon in its hand, probably a scepter or a staff. Three spheres of fire, each twice the size of a basketball, floated above the tip of the weapon, and every now and then, one of it would shoot towards a lizard monster, instantly killing it. After more than a dozen shots of those fireballs, the remaining lizard monsters eventually retreated. The hooded figure wearing a mask approached me. It showed me a notebook. Something was written inside. There are some questions I would like to ask you. Arc 2.2: Mapping the Route Arc 2.2 Mapping the Route Paul¡¯s POV I stared at the written words on the notebook, then at the hooded figure. Behind me, I could hear the running footsteps of my companions. After seeing that the lizard monsters have retreated, they probably came to rescue me. Struggling, I slowly stood up and wiped away the sweat on my forehead using the back of my hand. ¡°Thanks for saving me,¡± I huffed. The lizard monsters moving underneath the bridge were still audible. ¡°This place¡¯s still dangerous. Let¡¯s talk somewhere safe.¡± The hooded figure nodded. Anna and the rest of my group soon arrived. Still out of breath, Anna said, ¡°Thank you. Thank you for saving him.¡± Tears were evident at the corner of her eyes, and I could not help but quiver upon seeing that. At the very least, if ever I died, someone would probably cry. It was a stupid thought of mine, but it gave me a sense of relief. At the corner of my eyes, I could see that Virgilio was glaring at Anna. Raul, on the other hand, was nervously glancing around. ¡°L-Leader, we s-should probably¡ª¡± said Raul. ¡°¡ªRun away, yes,¡± I interjected. After picking up my shield on the ground, I ushered our group towards the other side of the bridge. Below, we could see the lizard monsters swimming in the river, with their trunks visible above the water. But probably because the hooded figure was with us, they did not chase after our group. After successfully crossing the bridge, we were now officially in the next city. We hid behind a toppled bus, panting, ears perked up for any unusual sound. Just like in the previous cities, there were innumerable dead bodies on the streets. We had noticed it before, but almost all of the corpses scattered about were male. I would frequently wonder where the female bodies went. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside that one,¡± I said. Everyone looked at the direction I was pointing at. A decrepit building filled with cracks. Raul frowned. ¡°But the entrance¡­¡± Currently, the entrance of the building was covered with rocks. Everyone was probably thinking that it would be impossible to get inside. ¡°I know. But the blockaded entrance almost meant that there should be no monsters inside,¡± I said. I was not actually confident with that one. I knew that there would still be a chance that there were monsters trapped inside. But still, it was worth a shot. ¡°We can also look for the Camp from the rooftop. Everyone, give me your knives.¡± Although a bit confused, everyone handed me their weapons. ¡°Weapon Morphosis!¡± I said. I clearly felt energy leaving my body. I could probably cast this magic for one last time. Slowly, the knives began to assume a different shape. Four knives merged together and formed a long metallic rope with a hook at the end. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re telling us to climb that?¡± said Virgilio in outrage. ¡°We need a high vantage point to easily locate the Camp. And my guts are telling me that it would be safe inside that one,¡± I said. ¡°We have a child with us!¡± snarled Virgilio. I glared at him and he immediately reduced his voice to a hush. ¡°How are we supposed to climb that building while carrying a damn kid?!¡± I was starting to get annoyed. The height we were going to climb was only till the second floor. Given proper equipment, it should be quite easy enough to climb up. After all, it was only around six meters or so. ¡°I¡¯ll carry the kid, no worries,¡± I said. The sister was hesitant for a moment, but she handed me the sleeping child regardless. After securely tying the kid behind me, I said to the group. ¡°We¡¯ll enter the second floor one by one. Got it?¡± Anna and the others nodded. Only Virgilio was against this plan. The hooded figure, on the other hand, remained silent. I have the vague feeling that he was stronger than all of us combined, so climbing up to the second floor should be easy enough for him. I swung the rope a couple of times then threw it towards the opened window on the second floor. I purposefully made the rope rough, but not sharp, so it should be easy enough to have a firm grip to it. My shield plus the knives were spent to create this thing, so it should be quite durable. With a sleeping kid tied on my back, I started climbing up. Upon reaching the second floor, I quickly scanned my surroundings. After seeing that there were no monsters around, I signaled the group that it was safe to go up.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. One after another, they climbed up the rope. Anna and the sister easily reached the second floor, while Raul almost fell down a couple of times. Virgilio, on the other hand spat numerous curses as he climbed up. The hooded figure was the last to climb up. As expected, he easily made it to the top. Just to be safe, let¡¯s look around first. I grabbed a broken steel pipe near the wall, chanted my magic, and transformed it into two short swords. I handed Raul one of them. ¡°Let¡¯s check the floor for monsters. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°M-Me?¡± he said. ¡°Who else? Do you want Anna to scout the floor for us?¡± I rebuked. I shook my head once. Raul was still young. Moreover, he was thin, almost a twig, but he was still better than nothing. Raul sighed, looked at Anna, then followed after me. We scanned each floor for monsters, and to our relief, there were none. After delivering the news to our members, we all went towards the rooftop. Twelve floors were enough to give us a view of Camp Lamia. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t it really near?¡± said Raul. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid, kid,¡± said Virgilio. He was also staring at the fortress spread out in the distance. ¡°It¡¯ll probably take us more than three hours to reach that place. And that¡¯s if we¡¯re lucky enough not to encounter monsters along the way.¡± The estimation of Virgilio was probably right. Although it looked nearby, the travel towards that place would prove really difficult. We all knew that monsters would suddenly pounce from each corner. It was knowledge we¡¯ve obtained after receiving casualties. ¡°The important thing is that this place is safe. Let¡¯s rest for now,¡± I said. My mana had been wringed dry after using Weapon Morphosis a couple of times. Anna started handing out rations, and our group started eating our share of food. I grabbed a sandwich from the bag and handed it to the hooded figure. To my surprise, he shook his head and refused the offer. ¡°If you don¡¯t eat, you won¡¯t have strength later,¡± I said. I took his hand and forcefully handed him the sandwich. ¡°Eat.¡± After staring at the food for a moment, the hooded figure eventually tucked it inside his robe. I inwardly sighed. This man was full of mysteries. ¡°You want to ask us some questions before,¡± I said, my mouth half-filled with food. ¡°What is it?¡± The hooded figure began scribbling down something in the notebook. Afterwards, he showed it to us. ¡°You can¡¯t speak, huh?¡± I mumbled. I looked at Anna, Raul, and at the rest of our group. They all shook their heads. ¡°Sorry, but we haven¡¯t seen those two.¡± According to this hooded figure, he was looking for a woman and a boy. He had been roaming the city for quite some time now, searching for their whereabouts. Normally, I would think he was reckless for doing that. But after taking into consideration the strength he had shown us, I knew that he had the capability to single-handedly look for them. ¡®So, all of you are going to Camp Lamia?¡¯ asked the hooded figure. I nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯ve heard on the radio that they¡¯re taking in refugees. With soldiers to protect us, it should be fairly safe.¡± At those words, Virgilio snorted. I knew that he still held grudge for the deaths of our comrades. Even I, too, was feeling a sense of guilt, but I refused to show it in my face. I will come with you. Without hesitations, I agreed. This person was a strong magician, and since he saved me before, he should not be a bad person. Our chances of reaching Camp Lamia would increase with him providing backup. ¡°I don¡¯t really mind,¡± said Virgilio. ¡°But I don¡¯t feel like working with someone wearing a mask. And what¡¯s with those bandages? Show us your face!¡± I felt like hitting this old man. His voice was definitely condescending. Did he not see how strong this masked magician was? If not for him, I would definitely be dead by now. I understood that it would be hard to trust someone wearing a mask, and what Virgilio had said was right, but there was no need to be outright rude to this person. Anna gave an apologetic smile at the hooded person, while Raul nervously swallowed the lump in his throat. ¡°M-Mr. Virgilio, p-please don¡¯t shout,¡± said Raul. His baggy clothes were filled with sweat. Virgilio glared at him, and Raul immediately shut his lips. ¡°So, how about it? Show us your face!¡± repeated Virgilio. My heart started to beat faster. Although I knew that Virgilio was being outright rude, I was also curious on what was behind that mask. A moment of silence befell us, and the hooded figure shook his head. I can¡¯t show you my face. Virgilio looked like he wanted to retort. I breathed out. I placed a hand on Virgilio. ¡°Let him be. He did save me. It shouldn¡¯t matter what he looks like.¡± Virgilio clicked his tongue then started gobbling his share of food. The little girl started waking up. She started asking questions which were immediately answered by her sister and Anna. ¡°I¡¯m going up for a bit. I¡¯m going to scout the best route towards the Camp,¡± I announced. I said to the hooded figure, ¡°Do you want to come?¡± I received a nod. Raul followed after me, while the others remained on the floor. After climbing the stairs, we soon reached the top of the building. We could still see smoke swirling to the sky here and there, and a large portion of the city had been burned down to the ground. I could see the numerous dead bodies scattered on the streets. It was really hard to believe that not even a month ago, this place was bustling with life. Now, it had become a ghost town ¨C No, a devil¡¯s town. According to some survivors we met back in the last city, the other cities in the country were in no better shape. There was even a city in the far north that had giant mud monsters roaming around. I also heard that it was impossible to escape by boat due to the monsters in the sea. Right now, our last ray of hope was the Military Camp. Surely, those soldiers knew something about this damnable nightmare. And even if they don¡¯t, at least they could give us shelter. ¡°Again, I want to thank you for saving me,¡± I said to the hooded figure. He was also staring at the city below. More particularly, he was gazing at the fortress spread out in the distance. I received no response. Raul put some crackers to his mouth, creating loud crackling sounds. With some bits left on his lips, he said to me, ¡°Leader, we¡¯ll be alright, right? The Camp will accept us, right?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± I said. There was no point in saying anything that would negatively impact Raul¡¯s spirit. ¡°You¡¯re going to the Camp to look for those two?¡± I said to the hooded figure. He looked at me, and for a moment, we locked eyes with each other. Those golden pupils of his was really peculiar, as though they could see through your soul. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that thousands of refugees are inside the Camp,¡± I said, trying to reassure the hooded figure. ¡°There¡¯s a high chance that those two are among them.¡± The hooded figure approached the edge of the building, his cloak fluttering in the wind. Somehow, there was melancholy in his eyes. Silence followed. Surprisingly, it was not awkward but comfortable. I gazed at the city below, mapping our route towards the Camp. Available on Amazon The published version has been proofread and given a better cover art. It''ll make reading smoother and more enjoyable. There had been minor (?) changes in the story -- very minor changes. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. For the ARC 2, I may change the story a little bit since I''m not really satisfied with the first two chapters. I mean, I might use Nicholas'' POV instead of Paul''s. If you have suggestions, feel free to comment it. It''ll motivate me if people buy the book, but I''m not really forcing anyone. Suggestions. Comments. Criticisms. Go.