Goblins are little disgusting creatures who resemble deformed human children. Standing at most four feet tall with nasty yellow grins and a long triangular nose that jutted out, they were the terror of rookie adventurers.
Possessing enhanced senses that made them great trackers and endowed the little things with better survival chances in the wild.
Most underestimate them, thinking that such ugly low-level monsters are just weaklings. Savage green-skinned monsters who wield crudely made weapons.
But do not be fooled. Though less intelligent than a human these goblins are cunning and ruthless. Goblins when alone are nothing, even an untrained adult can kill them off with ease. Unless that adult was a coward.
But when they form groups commonly referred to as bands, their whole battle prowess skyrocket.
And Grant charged at them without any fear.
He wasn't afraid nor was he looking down on these monsters. He was just confident in his own capability.
kuek! kuhkuk!
The goblin band issued cries of surprise. They didn't expect for another human to join in on their little hunt.
The struggling little girl took advantage of the situation to slip away while she immediately lit up a torch from her bag. Gripping it, she waved it warningly at the leopard.
She ran and the shadow leopard proceeded to pursue her after resisting its fear of fire. Causing Grant to frown before focusing once more on the battle he would soon start.
Light pierced the forest canopy, illuminating the once dark area. Due to the sudden appearance of light, the goblins were blinded for a second. A chance Grant took advantage of.
Grant's figure blinked and immediately arrived before a goblin who tightly held a dagger. It tried to stab down, targeting his outstretched knee.
Only for the green thing to have its head seized and crushed by Grant. Under the strength that could even casually bend mental, the skull burst like a watermelon.
Blood splattered against his face, making his eye twitch for a moment. The small goblin's frame fell to its knees dead. Missing a head.
But instead of blindly rushing into Grant in a fit of rage, the goblin band who was now down to 6 members retreated warily.
Eyeing him with small traces of fear evident from their shaking eyes.
He observed them. Taking note of each individual goblin's weapon of choice.
A battered iron buckler, a shortsword with large nicks on its blade, magic staff and three goblins holding sturdy-looking planks of wood.
"Quite the team composition you have there." Grant praised the little goblin band. The six winced before the three of them who held large wooden planks bravely walked forth.
Kuhuk! khukuri! While the three advanced, the other three equipped with better gear compared to their colleagues hastily grabbed them in panic. Shaking their heads while pointing to a faraway direction.
They wanted to escape and Grant was amused. The goblins are really intelligent.
He praised them inwardly while crossing his arms. If these goblins were left alone then they would surely become hobgoblins in due time.
They have the wits and capability to do so. Grant segregated the six into two factions upon finishing observing them.
Three smart ones and three idiots.
Thud!
Kukuru! Hkhiuk!
The biggest one who held a slightly bigger plank than the rest slapped away the shield goblin. He was the largest out of all goblins and it was obvious that he was the leader.
Sword and Staff goblins hissed back at the leader who looked at them in contempt.
An idea proposed itself to Grant. An interesting one that caused him to smile slightly and narrow his eyes.
"I don't have time to deal with weaklings like you. Submit or die." His cold tone shocked the band. Grant chuckled. It seems that he can communicate with anything.
He found it funny that he could perfectly understand the language of this new world. He deduced that the system had a hand in that feat.
He can flee and chase after the girl without bothering with the goblins but he found it more fun to toy with them.
'If I could raise them well they would be useful to me.' He weighed the pros and cons.
Grant wanted to have an army that would die for him. And since the three smart ones seemed to be oppressed, he would take them under his wing.
Monster can evolve and he knew that well.
'If those three accept then they would be the foundation for my army of monsters.' Why did he want an army despite his strength?
He lost to Cory due to being alone. The whole class stood against him and offered no help.
Grant doubted that even if he won he would still be shot down by Corey's lackeys.
Khuekhue! Grant was pleased. The three smart ones retreated and laid down their equipment. While the three dumb ones grew infuriated at his command.
'You truly are dumb' He sneered. Grant had no use for a bunch of rebellious goblins who thought with their muscles only.
Unironically, the useless will be discarded away. And Grant tore the apart the useless ones and threw their incomplete bodies to the side.
The process was too quick that it terrified the three remaining goblins as they huddled up together.
Their small, green bodies trembled in fear.
Not just fear from Grant's strength and brutality, but they felt fear from deep within their souls. The sensation was burned into their minds.
It was as if Grant was a monster nobler than their blood. A monster that is above any monster.
After Grant finished with the three Goblins who went against him. A strong trickle of comfort slowly seeped and spread through his body.
Grant felt relaxed and he looked at his bloodied hand. He clenched it before looking at a notification from the system.
[Your Strength has recovered by a small margin]
[Your Dexterity has recovered by a small margin]
[Your Constitution has recovered by a small margin]
[Your Wisdom...]
[Your Intelligence...]
[Your Agility...]
Grant learned [Monster Subjugation Lv 1]
He checked his status and it surprised him.
-----
[Grant Simmons] Human (Sealed)
Lv. 1 (No Class)
HP: 2000/2000
MP: 900/900
Stamina: 5000/5000
Current State: {Anxious (Suppressed by Serene Mind) } {Highly Irritable (Suppressed by Serene Mind)}
Attributes:
Str: 800 - 900
Dex: 900 - 1000
Cons: 1200 - 1300
Int: 400 - 500
Wis: 520 - 600
Agi: 700 - 800
Skills:
[Enhanced Strength Lv 9] [Enhanced Senses Lv 9] [Pain Resistance Lv 4] [Accelerated Thoughts Lv 1] [Inhuman Durability Lv 2] [Serene Mind (Max)] [Self Recovery Lv 3] [Enhanced Endurance Lv 6] [Nimble Lv 7] [Unarmed Combat Lv 3] [Mental Trauma Lv 6] [Monster Subjugation Lv 1](New!)
Skill Points: 0
-----
Puzzled by the change, he inspected the new skill he acquired out of curiosity.
-----
[Monster Subjugation Lv 1] (Unique Skill)
- You are able to bring defeated monsters under your command
- Subjugated monsters would follow your command
- The higher the skill level, the more likely will monsters submit to you
- A few select monsters that you subordinate can be granted names and classes by how you see fit.
0/10 monsters given names and classes
-----
Pleased with the new skill, Grant closed his status window before setting his sights unto the trembling goblins.
They were ugly but Grant didn't care. Once they evolve, the goblins would change and look more presentable.
"Pick up your weapons and follow me. We have a leopard to hunt" Grant wondered how capable the three goblins he considered as smart were. And to test his new underlings out, the leopard that was chasing after Hado's daughter would be the perfect testing dummy.
The goblins blinked and Grant simply vanished. Hurriedly scrambling unto their feet, they picked up their badly beaten gear and ran after Grant's scent.
The three goblins were afraid but they were smart enough. Smart enough to know that following Grant would lead them to prosperity.
Not knowing that they would become living legends that are both feared and respected by many in the future.