'What now?' I thought to myself as the temperature in the cave dropped.
I looked around the cave, and slowly my vision adjusted thanks to the goblin's innate night vision. My eyes glowed yellow as I scavenged the cave for gear and treasures. When I finally looked over the mush remains of my previous body, I picked up my scorched storage ring and placed it on my finger.
'Haa, it's still good,' I thought while examining the contents.
Storage rings were expensive in this world. But not as expensive as purchasing a storage space within the system. Pulling my haul into my storage ring, I began to look for another way out of the cave, but there wasn't one. The only way out was to move the blockage. For that, I needed strength.
As a level 4 existence, I did the only thing I could to level up. Exercise and force generate skills.
Like all of life, everything one does accumulates to experience, and it's the same thing with the system. As for skills, they are generated by daily activity, be it combat-related or support skills like cleaning and cooking, to sword fighting and archery.
Moving my odd body, I sorted and rationed my food.
'One month….will that even be enough?' I thought.
Not only did I have to make it out of the cave, but I also had to survive. That meant I needed the highest level possible before I left. Without the Adventure Guild as a backing, I need to protect myself in every aspect of life.
Let me take the time to explain the cruelty of Atoria. Like I said before, it's located in the Cosmic Sea. Think of the Cosmic Sea as one giant planet with billions of continents. Some are more developed than others. Naturally, there is more sea than continents. The Sea is the most dangerous area of the Cosmic Sea. If you aren't level 100, don't even think about exploring the sea, it'll only bring death. Even then, level 100 isn't guaranteed to make it back.
Atoria is one of the less developed continents, with its most substantial existence being level 100, making up the Council of Emperors. Atoria is split into twelve Kingdoms, a wasteland, and the Demon Region.
Across Atoria, except for the Demon Region, the Adventure Guild, the Merchant Guild, Elixir Pavilion, and the Council of Emproers are the four big powers. But everyone knows that the head of each power holds a seat on the Council of Emperors.
As for the Hero's Alliance, it's all a facade. It means nothing because heroes die all of the time doing the bidding of their summoning Kingdom. Those who survive and make it to level 100 join the Council of Emperors or leave the continent.
The Demon Region is ruled by four demon lords and their deacons. Constantly fighting with humans but never an all-out war because the continent is comprised of more than demons and humans. Like demihumans and beast folks.
Beneath all of those overseers is the cruel cold world filled with monsters and every race looking to kill you for even the slightest chance to level up and make it to the Council of Emperors. You'll be labeled a rouge without proper backing and treated unfairly without limitations.
Right now, I'm a rouge at level four. And worst of all, I'm a race hated more than demons, a goblin.
Releasing a sigh, I started my routine. Upper and lower body exercises are followed by core exercises. Next was combat forms. As for my forced skill, I used the cave walls to temper my body. It was excruciating and slow as consuming food restores health and heals the body, albeit slower than potions and without the numbing effect.
After a week, my stats increased by leaps and bounds, and I received four new skills, Flash Step, Martial Arts, Pain Tolerance, and Stone Body. All level 1 skills except for pain tolerance at level 2.
I could have generated more. But mastering skills yields Exp, and Exp is how a hero levels up. Focusing on four skills while two were passive is better than working on all the countless skills that I had stored in my mind. And there was always the case of using skills without the proper foundation.
This routine continued and intensified over the days. In the second week, I received the 'Focused Mind' and 'Overactive Warrior' skills generated from my discipline of increased training and minimal food and sleep. The mental pressure was so burdensome that a 'Focused Mind' was generated.
Overactive Warrior allowed the activity to replace sleep. The more I moved, the more I combated the effects of sleep deprivation and muscle exhaustion.
As my skills and stats leveled up, and I pulled in exp. On the fourth and final weak, my Stone Body was strong enough that I worked on generating 'Knife Hand,' a skill focused on penetration --a single hand as deadly as a blade.
At the end of the month, my food was depleted. I walked to the collapsed entrance and moved rocks one by one. When I encountered a large boulder. I used Knife Hand as Stone Body was passive and enabled all of the time.
Driving my hand into the boulder, I flexed my hand, forming a claw. With a good hold, I pulled a chunk from the boulder and continued until I was free. This process continued several more times as many sections of the cave had collapsed while other areas held up and allowed me to take a brief rest.
Finally, at the last cave-in, I breakthrough, and the fresh night air rushed into the cave and caused my sweat to become cold, creating a chill. Spreading my small gray-skinned muscle-defined arms, I accepted the breeze and took several deep breaths.
"Twelve months left to level up for the Dragon Quest. The world will also be training hard, and the completion of resources will intensify. Status. Open."
-Status-
Name: Kane Forrest
Classification: Cave Goblin LVL 6
Bloodline: Goblin
Exp: 250/6000
STR:76
DEX:62
INT:70
WIS:72
CON:74
CHA:60
-Skills-
Stone Body Lvl 3/10
Martial Arts Lvl 4/10
Knife Hand Lvl 2/10
Pain Tolerance Lvl 5
Flash Step Lvl 3
Focused Mind Lvl 5
Overactive Warrior Lvl 6
Night Vision
Magic Immunity Lvl 1
'Pretty good for secluded training without monster hunting or quests.' I thought in my heart.
The stats are easy to understand. Every stat characteristic gains ten stat points with every one level up. At level 6, my average stat is 60 across the board, and anything higher is a sign of extra training or resources and separates me from the rest. With that being said, there are people at level 40 with level 50 base stats, but it's hard to do. It can be considered uncommon but not rare.
As for the skills, each skill can be upgraded if there is a level next to it. If a skill has a level cap, it's an evolutionary skill, but requirements have to be met, usually drastic or effortless. Like Knife Hand will become Thrust and eventually Sword Arm, and martial Arts will become Battle Arts then become War Set.
The higher up the evolutionary tree, the more resources and pressure it takes to upgrade.
I closed the system and pulled a small shaman's cloak from my storage ring. After putting on my hood, I rushed through the woods to an active goblin area.
In The Kingdom of the Moon, near the Rock Lands, just outside Ismellia's Forest, is Goblin Territory. The only known clan in the Kingdom. It's 500 miles away from my current location, and every step will be even more dangerous than the last as I have to pass through the central forest to make it to the other side.
[Quest Alert: New Alliance]
The system chimed in my head.
[Make it to the Rock Lands and join a **** in King Uhnok's territory.]
"Join a what?" I asked.
[Error! Information unavailable.]
"Haiz! And Who is King Uhnok?"
[Goblin King of the Rock Lands]
"It seems we don't actually know shit about the goblin race," I sighed.
An active goblin area would be an excellent place to train. Killing adventures, goblins, and monsters, and everything was fair game. And even without personal goals, a quest will be generated due to group affiliation. Especially so if there's really a King Goblin, and if I get lucky enough to get connected to him, a world of opportunities will open up.
That means that the goals and struggles of my associated group will be offered to me as quests to complete as a member of the group.
I rushed through the woods throughout the night. When the sun rose, I became vigilant, but I did not stop. Around mid-day, the shouts of adventures coupled with the growls of monsters filled the immediate area.
A light bulb went on in my head as I quickly changed directions and went to the source of the commotion. At the bottom of a cliff, a group of adventures was surrounded by Shadow Panthers.
One man was already down with destroyed armor and black veins signifying that he had been struck by a shadow panther and corrupted by its shadow.
Sitting on a tree limb. I watched as the adventures fought the monsters off with all they had. But fighting monsters with a phantom ability was never easy.
A veiled woman was struck during the show, and her black veil took to the wind and revealed a mature sensual beauty. The goblin blood in me stirred, and my cock grew big and stiff. My mind blurred as the hormones raged and pushed me to capture her.
[Quest Alert: Goblin's slave.]
'Hmm, expand.' I commanded for more information.
[Capture the aburn-haired beauty. Subdue her with your cock to satiate your goblin urges. Work her to climax 6 times to unlock the slave seal and claim her as yours.
Reward: Slave Seal, Half-bred Faye Slave, Unknown Goblin Title, and 500 Exp.]
'Sounds good to me. But what benefits does a slave bring? My system doesn't have a party function.'
[Error! Such information is only given after the completion of the 'Goblin's Slave' quest]
The system replied, drawing out a sigh from me.
Looking at the failing adventures, I channeled my mana for the first time as a goblin and discovered that I had a pathetic reserve. Working my low-level shadow spell, 'Shadow Drift, I phased away.
I then reappeared near a shadow panther and plunged my blade into the center of the Shadow panther's skull, destroying its monster core.
I quickly vanished again, appearing near the Cleric. I used Knife Hand with a swift motion, obliterating her neck and killing her. Monster nor adventure knew who I was going to kill next. To make things better, there were all worn by the prolonged fighting.
All the while, the system was echoing in my mind with the rewards of Exp. When only my target and a single adventure remained, I stood before them as I downed a mana potion from my storage ring.
For moments like this, I only ate food while I was trapped in the cave. And if the goblins don't have Alchemists, the potions in my storage ring might be the last I can get for a while.
In my eyes was a single prompt.
'Level Quota met. Level up y/n?'
'Yes' with a single thought, I leveled up, and my stats jumped by ten points. My mana pool increased, and my health was restored. I grew a foot taller, and my posture improved.
Thinking of all of my spells and skills, I chose the most effective. Even though I knew the spells and abilities, after the hard reset, once I used a new spell, it would appear as LVL 1 regardless of how high I leveled it up in my previous body. This was the only downside of the hard reset.
"It's over. Hand yourself over, and the Adventure Guild will take care of you." the auburn-haired woman spoke.
"Hehe, what lunacy. Why would I ever do that." I spoke.
Extending my hand, revealing my grey skin and long claws.
"G-goblin...but...how do you speak human tongue?" The man next to the auburn-haired woman stammered.
"Ignorant!" My hand flourished, and his dead comrade's spear levitated before stabbing him in the back.
He emitted a death cry as the woman was startled. I again used my shadow drift and appeared next to the male adventure to tear his head off. The auburn-haired woman backed away, startled. But how could I let her flee?
My hand flourished again, and a sword on the ground moved to slice her Achilles heels. She cried out as she collapsed, and her eyes filled with horror. I appeared in front of the woman like a phantom, cock hard, big, and oozing precum.
Even with a Focused Mind, my mind hazed over. I extended my hand, and a small green magic circle appeared before vines burst forth from the ground and restrained the woman. Her fear and fight only served to excite me as my next move rid her of her clothes and armor. A cloud of mana stagnation powder was then cast for the woman to inhale.
Without warning, I plunged my rod into her pink folds. Like a beast in heat, I thrust in and out of her. I soon discovered my fluids excited her, and she was quickly sopping wet and received me eagerly as her hips bucked to match my thrusts. Her body had betrayed her, and tears wet her face, making the mix of despair and ecstasy that graced her face glow with an alluring glisten.
Until the sunset, I ravaged her until my balls were empty and her body was limp. When my soft rod slipped from her velvet lips, a shining red tattoo appeared around her neck like a collar as my system chimed.
"It seems she enjoyed herself." Twisted and cruel, the words slipped from my tongue as naturally as breathing. How odd.
Collecting my spoils of war, I placed them in my Storage ring and then threw my slave over my shoulder before activating my Shadow Drift. My Pain Tolerance and Overactive Warrior had leveled up by sunrise the next day. I walked into a Goblin camp as many of them gawked at my prize.
Beautiful, decently strong, and subdued by me alone. But, I was still an outsider. Even then, I walked confidently to the center of the camp, where the chief sat with a young girl and her mother in chains.
The Rock Lands were hot and barren, and it was absent of green and almost resembled a wasteland if it wasn't for the occasion vegetation and waterways. Looking back at the stage where the leader sat, I noticed a female goblin beside the chief had a male slave of her own.
His cock was at full mast and red all over as if it was about to burst. His eyes were void of life, but he eagerly accepted the candies that the female goblin fed him.
Immediately I knew it was some sort of aphrodisiac she was feeding him. And somehow, an involuntary chuckle escaped my lips, and the feeling of amusement washed over me. I realized that this must be the goblin's mind.
"Identify yourself!" a tall slim goblin spoke with a hoarse voice in the common goblin tongue.
I had no idea about goblin customs or that I could understand the goblin language, so I just replied, "Kane."
The goblins shared looks and muttered to each other.
"Fool, do you not know how to address a chief?!"
"Fjord… Enough. This young one has captured a Faye. Tell us, how did you do it." The chief spoke.
"Her group was surrounded by Shadow Panthers. I killed them both and helped them kill each other. In the end, I caught her and made her mine." I explained.
"Made her yours?" The female goblin looked confused.
"My slave," I replied matter of factly.
The goblins were astounded.
"Are you not a cave goblin?" Fjord asked with disbelief.
"I am."
The chief laughed. "Young one, you must have raised yourself. In goblin culture, Slaves are not something to be spoken of but proven by a slave mark. Even then, you will have to win against three challengers to be protected by Goblin law and be able to keep her."
I scuffed and threw the girl to the ground. I then held her up by her hair as she winced. On full display was her slave mark.
" Where are the challenges?" I asked.
"You are a special one indeed. Who wishes to challenge Raider Kane?" The chief spoke.
I squinted as I had no idea why he called me Raider when I had already told him my name is Kane, nothing more or less.
I waited for a response, yet no one spoke up. I then heard a deep chuckle from the crowd.
"The Faye whore is pretty. I shall add her to my collection!" A burly goblin with deep green skin and bulging muscles appeared.
"Raider Myr has challenged Raider Kane for his slave. Raider Kane, what say you?" The chief asked ceremoniously. I finally realized the 'Raider' must be the unknown title I received after making the half-bred Faye, my slave.
To the side, Fjord placed his right fist to his chest and gave me a nod.
Receiving the message, I mimicked him, and the goblin camp went wild with war cries and pounding drums.
Rader Myr picked up a war hammer and walked into the forming circle. The circle appeared to be conjured by magic and bound.
"To the death!" the Chief shouted, and Myr rushed at me.
I kicked the Faye girl aside and then used Flash Step, Stone Body, and Knife Hand to blow through his chest while his hammer was high in the air. Due to his thick skin, my hand stopped halfway. With a low grunt, I used telekinesis to pull him closer, and I thrust forth with Knife Hand once more to finish the job.
Neither of us moved as the current position was rather artistic, and only the brutish goblin folk could appreciate it as they looked on in awe of the one blow kill.
After a second, my hand turned and sliced through his chest, destroying his heart.
"Level 15 with no gear. You were asking for it." I berated him as the light of life left his eyes.
My System chimed, but I continued to ignore it for the time being.
"Winner, Raider Kane. All that was Myr's is now his. Next challenger."
Once again, I waited in silence. This time, I didn't have to wait long as a purple-skinned Goblin woman appeared. She had two large fangs among her lower teeth, long silver hair, and a fantastic body.
"Raider Nyx challenges Raider Kane. Raider Kane, what say you?!"
"Wait!" Nyx shouted. "I don't want to kill him. I want him."
Everyone looked to the chief, and his eyes stayed on me. "What say you?" he asked again.
Without thought, I slammed my right fist to my chest.
"To death or subjugation!" the chief shouted.
Nyx was brilliant as she didn't charge blindly. She smirked at me and took a few steps toward me before she vanished.
'Shadow Drift…' I thought, looking around frantically, and immediately knew it was cultivated to a high level. I was in danger.