Chapter 6: The High Goblins

Chapter 6: The High Goblins

The goblin tribe was a bundle of misshapen wooden huts, ugly green forms, and burnt animal carcasses. Just placing it in a forest was an affront to nature.

Jack squinted from the bush he hid in. After reaching Level 3, healing himself, and satiating his thirst, he had decided to gather more information before launching his anti-goblin campaign. There was some time before nightfall, anyway.

He located a goblin squadit wasnt difficultand followed it to the tribe. After cresting a hill, the ugly visage greeted his sight, and there were many things to notice.

First, there were many dozens of goblins. These guys had a full-on village going.

Second, there werent just goblins. Jack spotted a few off-green forms, paler and larger than their goblin brethren. These were the size of short humans, had dark hairgoblins were baldand walked with a sharpness that belied intelligence.

Hobgoblin, Level 6

Stronger, meaner, and smarter than normal goblins, hobgoblins are an evolved version of the same ugly monster. It is advised to kill them on sight, but they should not be underestimated.

The Systems description was short as always. Jack could already see all those. The only real information was their Level. After scanning all hobgoblins he could see, Jack determined them to be Level 6 or 7. Normal goblins ranged from Level 1 to 5.

In Jacks most recent estimation, he could fight a Level 4 goblin head-on, maybe even a Level 5 if he was lucky. Hobgoblins should be outside his reach for now, so he was glad they werent participating in the hunter squads.

In short, Jack was incredibly weaker than the goblin tribe.

Moreover, the largest problem wasnt the hobgoblins, but their leader.

Goblin Shaman, Level 9

Goblins arent always stupid. Some of them are born intelligent, and when that happens, they often develop shamanic powers. Goblin Shamans can lead small tribes of goblins and hobgoblins, though theyre usually seen as elite soldiers in larger tribes.

This Goblin Shaman is the group boss.

The leader of the tribe was not a hobgoblin, but a goblin dressed in ruined robes. It cackled like the rest of them, but even the arrogant hobgoblins made way for itthe flames that danced on its fingers brewed respect.The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñòv€l-B1n.

Moreover, its eyes carried a cunning glint that was hard to miss.

Jack had to admit that fire-slinging enemies challenged his current experience. Goblins were fine. Hobgoblins would also be fine, eventually. However, this shaman would prove to be a pain in the ass; he just knew it.

Fire in the forest? he whispered with a tsk. So much for an omniscient, omnipotent, inter-galactic System. Can I get a refund, please?

No reply came his way. The System wasnt the most talkative of partners.

However, there was one thing that was even more impressive than the shaman. The goblins were high. Not tall; high.

A wide, short bush stood in the middle of the tribe, sporting thin and long leaves. Some goblins were gathered around it, chatting and cackling without making much sense, while occasionally snapping off a leaf to chew on. They werent eating it, just licking it before dropping the dry remainder on a big pile.

The eyes of these goblins were completely red, they fell whenever they tried to stand, and they wouldnt stop laughing. On closer inspection, many goblins were carrying a few of those leaves or munching on them, just measuredly. The ones high as kites were probably on their day off.

High Speed Bush (F-Grade)

At least, hed killed it painlessly. Hed found a den under a tree soon after night fell, then dug behind it to scare the occupants. As soon as the rabbits rushed outside, he grabbed one, and before it could understand what was happening, snapped its neck. It was easy, like snapping a twig, and Jack felt forlorn at his new power and the way he used it.

When he killed the goblins in heated battle, he felt triumphant. This time, he only felt emptybut hunting was a part of nature, and it was more ancient than compassion.

Jack shook his head to clear it. This new reality was grim, but he had to accept it.

He was currently standing over the ice pond, holding the carcass with both hands. He was going to light a fire and roast it, but before that, he thought that maybe the lakes body forging properties could be transmitted through food. It was a theory he needed to test, as he couldnt afford to let anything go to waste.

Besides, the freezing cold might have a purging effect on harmful microorganisms. It was magical, after all, so why not? He already knew the cold didnt stick to his body when he left the lake, so it probably wouldnt stick to the rabbits, either. If it did, hed just have to go hungry.

He gently dipped the rabbit into the water, feeling the numbness on his fingers. Nothing happened for a moment, except for its fur turning a slightly whiter color, and that was it. When he withdrew it, the rabbit was cold to the touch, but no other difference could be seen.

He let it sit for a while and confirmed that the cold was slowly seeping out. That was good, because it meant he wouldnt freeze to death, and bad, because it meant his body wouldnt be forged. He shrugged.

Well, good to know.

He went outside, a bit ways off the cave entrance, and lit a fire under the moonhe had prepared tinder beforehand. He wasnt particularly familiar with cooking rabbits on campfires, but he had cooked a lot in his life, so he had some ideas. If he messed up, his 9 Physical would hopefully pull him through.

In the night, the fires smoke couldnt be seen, so he only had to worry about the firelight itself attracting unwanted visitors. However, hed already seen that the goblins gathered at their tribe when night fell, and bears werent nocturnal eitherand, even if they were because of magic, they had no reason to be in this area anyway.

That left only the final monster group, but Jack didnt believe they would turn out to be nocturnal wanderers. Nocturnal, maybe, but not wanderersand, if they were, hed just face them. He had to cook at some point. Doing it now was certainly better than doing it mid-day, when the goblins could easily spot his smoke and come knocking.

Jack cooked for a while, enjoying the night sky in silence. It was beautiful. Maybe the System had magically removed all air pollution and shut down the lights, but Jack could see the sky as his ancestors did. Stars shone everywhere, ten thousand sparkling dots, and a long river of light stretched between themthe galaxyfarther and larger than the mind could comprehend.

It wasnt just beautiful, Jack corrected himself. It was breathtaking. He was sitting under the infinite cosmos.

Is this what the ancients saw every night he wondered, and its beauty was so striking that, for a moment, Jack wondered whether the Systems arrival was a good thing.

He idly realized that, against such a night sky, his smoke was visible, as it hid the starlight behind it. He shrugged. If the goblins made the connection and came over, let them. He needed to eat at some point.

Time passed, with only the crackling of fire and the sizzling of juices on the burning logs keeping him company. The forest was quiet around him, most nocturnal animals still shivering in fear from the arrival of the monsters, and only some birds dared squawk out loud, undoubtedly in confusion from everything that was happening.

The smell of cooking meat flooded Jacks nostrils like a delicacy from another dream.

He felt like the last person in the entire world, and for a moment, he was crushed by heavy loneliness and despair. He felt primal. In his element. But alone, and scared, and in pain.

Was he having fun?

Jack gazed at the stars, the same ones he always saw and a million more, and found no answer. Of course he didnt. He was alone.

He closed his eyes and endured the heavy feelings that darkness bred. It wasnt his first tough night, not even close, and it certainly wouldnt be the lastunless he died.

That was a sobering thought, and he chuckled as he pulled the skewer of rabbit meat off the flames. The last man in the world Take that, Maria. Heh.

He then bit on the rabbit, savoring the taste. It was disgusting. And, at the same time, it was the most heavenly meal hed ever had.