With two clear objectives in mind—find food and test his newfound strength—he felt a sense of purpose he hadn't experienced in days. The strange changes in his body filled him with confidence, his grip on the knife firm and sure.
Before leaving, he took a moment to secure his shelter, hiding the remaining cores and the goblin's small stone in a corner. The crude weapon he'd taken from the goblin hung from his belt, while the empty pouch was slung across his shoulder. He wasn't sure what he'd use it for yet, but it might come in handy.
With a deep breath, he set off, retracing the path he'd taken to where he first encountered the goblin. He now had a better understanding of the forest surrounding his camp, though it still held an air of mystery and danger.
The forest was alive with the sounds of distant chirping and the rustling of leaves in the light breeze. Every sound heightened Jason's senses, but this time, he wasn't as paranoid as before. His enhanced body and the powerful knife at his side made him feel invincible—like he could take on the world.
He moved with purpose, his steps lighter, faster, and more agile than they had been just days before. The changes in his body weren't just aesthetic; he could feel the difference in his movements, like he'd been rewired for efficiency.
As he neared the area where he'd encountered the goblin, Jason slowed his pace, scanning the surroundings carefully. The crude weapon on his belt served as a reminder of how dangerous this world could be. He wasn't naïve enough to think he'd go unchallenged, but that didn't mean he would back down.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, gripping his knife tightly. "Time to see what this body can really do."
With that, Jason pressed forward, his eyes peeled for any movement—whether it was a potential meal or something more sinister.
-----
Jason crouched low behind the thick brush, his eyes locked on the two goblins ahead. They were hunched over, tearing into the flesh of what appeared to be a small, unrecognizable creature. Its body was mangled, unidentifiable, but one thing was clear—this world wasn't kind to the weak.
He tightened his grip on the rock he'd picked up earlier, the rough texture pressing against his palm. His plan was simple: use the same trick as before, but this time he would strike the second goblin while it was distracted by its injured companion.
Jason steadied his breathing, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't afford to hesitate—not with two of them this time. He waited for the right moment, studying their movements. One of the goblins seemed smaller, weaker, but the other had a crude spear leaning against a tree beside it. It was clear who the bigger threat was.
"Alright," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. "Make it count."
With a quick, fluid motion, he hurled the rock at the smaller goblin. The stone flew through the air, striking it squarely in the side of its head with a sickening crack. The smaller goblin let out a guttural screech, clutching its head as it stumbled to the ground.
The larger goblin whipped around in confusion, its focus entirely on its injured companion. That was Jason's cue.
Knife in hand, he sprinted forward, his enhanced body moving with speed and precision. Before the larger goblin could even reach for its spear, Jason was upon it. He aimed for the throat, plunging the blade deep into its neck.
The goblin let out a strangled cry, its hands flailing as it tried to push him away. Jason twisted the knife, his movements fueled by adrenaline and raw determination. Blood spurted from the wound as the goblin collapsed, its body twitching before going still.
Jason quickly pulled the knife free, spinning around to face the smaller goblin. It was still writhing on the ground, clutching its head in pain. Without hesitation, he moved in, ending its life with a swift, precise stab to the chest.
Panting, Jason stood over the two goblin corpses, the rush of the fight slowly subsiding. His hands were trembling, but not from fear—from exhilaration. He wiped the blood from his blade onto the grass, his mind racing.
"Two at once," he muttered, a small, grim smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Looks like I'm getting the hang of this."
He glanced at the creature they had been eating. Whatever it was, it was in no condition to be useful. Shaking his head, Jason knelt down to search the goblins, hoping to find anything of value—and take there cores.
Jason couldn't help but notice how much easier it was this time. Yesterday, cutting through a goblin's flesh had been a struggle, but now, with his newly improved body, it felt effortless—like slicing through butter.
He crouched by the bodies and retrieved their cores, holding the faintly glowing orbs in his hand. The spears the goblins had been carrying caught his eye for a moment, but a closer inspection revealed they were in poor condition: crude, splintered, and barely functional. He decided to leave them behind.
Satisfied with his spoils, Jason stood, slipping the cores into his pouch. He cast one last glance at the mangled bodies before turning back deeper into the forest. "No point carrying dead weight," he muttered to himself as he made his way through the forest, the adrenaline from the fight still humming faintly in his veins.
As Jason ventured deeper into the forest, he came across a group of three goblins clustered together, seemingly unprepared for any attack. Using his enhanced reflexes and strength, he dispatched them with relative ease, his newly improved body making the fight feel almost effortless compared to his earlier encounters.
Satisfied with his victory, he decided it was time to head back. On his way, he spotted one of the fanged rabbits grazing nearby. Seizing the opportunity, he quickly caught it, adding it to his haul for the day.
One thing was clear to him as he retraced his steps: the further he ventured into the forest, the more numerous and organized the goblins seemed to be. He made a mental note to proceed with caution in future explorations. Despite his confidence in his growing strength, he knew it wasn't wise to push his luck too far without proper preparation.
By the time he exited the forest, his efforts had paid off. His loot for the day consisted of five goblin cores and one rabbit core—a decent haul that left him feeling accomplished, though his growling stomach reminded him it was time to focus on eating and recuperating.