Chapter Three
Race - Goblin Runt
F Rank
Strength - 6
Intelligence - 15
Stamina - 6
Dexterity - 6
Vitality - 6
Agility - 6
Magic -
Luck -
Available Attribute Points - 2
Skills:
Appraisal Rank F
Sneak Rank F
After adding 2 points to each of my attributes I can feel my muscles getting stronger and my skin getting tougher. It seems like my body will react according to which attribute I increase, I mutter to myself. I head out soon after making it to the end of the tunnel and ends up at the entrance to an enormous cavern, it's so big I can't see the other side of the wall.
The ceiling is roughly 100 feet tall with fire crystals covering the entire surface creating light inside the cavern equivalent to daytime. There are even trees, some reaching as tall as 60 feet tall, in fact it's a whole underground forest, no more of this plain old rock tunnel BS I've been dealing with so far. I make my way down the small hill, which the tunnel entrance is located on, and start walking into the forest.
Looking around I can see all sorts for different plants expanding before me, making moving silently a lot harder that it was before. Although now that I've made it to this forest, I should be able to find some edible plants and most importantly I'll be able to find some water. I slow my pace as I start to move deeper into the forest, making sure I don't make too much noise since there's no telling what kind of monsters inhabit this massive place.
Half an hour goes by, and I begin to hear the sound of running water coming from the distance. I slowly make my way towards it moving from shadow to shadow making sure I have enough cover in case there are rats or other monsters by the water source. As I get closer, I am able to see that it's a small river, roughly twenty feet wide and about three feet deep in the center. As I creep closer to the river from the trees, I can see some monsters along the riverbank showing that I am in fact not alone.
Looking out from the shadow that I am hiding in, I notice a monster that looks like a type of boar. Although it's not any type of boar that I have ever seen before, being as it's roughly five feet tall and three feet wide.
That's a big sumbitch I think to myself, as I keep as quite as possible and observe it as it drinks from the river.
Race - Shadow Boar (Piglet)
F Rank
- An inhabitant of the Shadow Forest, the shadow boar often travels in packs with up to twenty boars. It's tough hide gives it a tougher defense to slashes and piercing attacks.
Damn, F Rank, but it will be a tough fight if I have to face it due to it having a tough hide and I don't have any form of weapon besides my claws, I mutter quietly.
If I had a dagger or a spear, I could make quick work of it, I might be able to find something to make into a weapon until I get something later on though, I muse as I take one last look at the boar before slowly retreating so I don't alert the boar to my presence.
After encountering the boar, I realize that I am going to need to have a weapon of some kind if I plan on fighting higher Rank monsters.
I begin searching the forest for anything that can be used as a decent enough weapon. A short time later I come across a very thick branch and grabs a nearby rock and starts to fashion it into a staff. Once I finally made a decent staff it's now time to find something that can be used as a blade, so I set out with my trusty emotional support staff in search of a blade that will make it whole.
Trudging through the underbrush for the next couple hours, I finally come across a sizable stone that can be made into a head for my trusty emotional support staff. At last, after a few long hours of shaping the stone, I have a spear that I will be able to depend on and help grind out some monster cores. Looking at my new emotional support spear I can't help but think that it's missing something. I return to the tunnel that I came from earlier and breaks off some fire crystals.
I make a bevel in the other end of my staff to affix the crystal, I mutter to myself listlessly as I immerses myself in improving my ESS (emotional support spear).
(Craftsman's skill acquired)
What the heck? I exclaim as I look at the spear I just finished making.
Status - Scorching Spear
- A spear made by a novice craftsman, has the chance to cause burn damage to one's opponents.
Hell yeah, who'd have thought that just by attaching this crystal it would make this spear a complete weapon and I'd even get a status effect off it. Now that I have this spear, I won't have to be too worried if I run into a pack of those boars. I'll head back to the river and set up a temporary camp for now though, that way I'll have access to fresh water and I'll be able to find monsters that'll go there for a drink, I exclaim in excitement.
Status:
Race - Goblin Runt
F Rank
Strength - 6
Intelligence - 15
Stamina - 6
Dexterity - 6
Vitality - 6
Agility - 6
Magic -
Luck -
Available Attribute Points - 2
Skills:
Appraisal Rank F
Sneak Rank F
Craftsman Rank F
Now that I have a temporary camp and have a weapon also, I decide it's time to go out and start grinding for some monster cores, especially since I need to make it all the way to E Rank in order to evolve.
I make my way along the riverbank keeping to the shadows of the trees looking for any signs that boars or other monsters have been through here recently. After 20 minutes I find some tracks leading away from the river and into the forest. I decide to follow them and see if they will lead me to some nice juicy monster cores, I mean monsters.
Soon after following the tracks, they lead me to a small cave just outside the tree line. The ground is torn up and looks like there have been quite a few monsters coming and going from this cave. I decide to find a nice hiding spot so I can observe the cave and get a better idea as to what monsters are utilizing it and just how many there might be.
Hours pass and so far, I haven't seen hide nor hair of any monsters coming out of the cave, after hiding here for so long my body is aching, so I decide to move away a little and try to stretch out and smooth out my aches and pains.
As I am leaving my hiding spot, I come face to face with an enormous cat, I stop in my tracks and stare at it confused as to why I didn't notice it earlier.
Race - Shadow Panther (Cub)
Rank F
- As black as night, Shadow Panthers use the cover of darkness and shadows to stalk their prey. They are known for their speed and flexibility, and for their sharp claws and fangs. Made for speed and stealth the shadow panther doesn't have the strongest of defenses.
Damn, this might be a little tough, I haven't dealt with any speed type monsters yet, I think to myself as I ready my ESS and slowly starts to match the panther's pace as it tries to circle around me.
I cautiously wait for it to make the first move knowing that whoever makes the first mistake will surely die.
Suddenly the panther pounces, swiping with its razor-sharp claws, trying to separate my head from my shoulders in one decisive move. I jump back and thrust my ESS cutting its front shoulder leaving a deep gash.
The panther lands and stumbles due to the wound, not being able to put weight on its front leg, I sprint forward and stab my spear into its chest killing it.
Phew, I didn't think I'd get lucky and wound it so bad right off the bat, I exclaim as I wipe the sweat off of my forehead.
(Shadow Panther Cub killed)
After the panther disappears it leaves loot behind along with its core, as I go to pick it up, I notice that it's not a grey color like before it's actually green. I excitedly pick it up hoping it will be something good this time.
(Uncommon - swift boots, boots that will increase the wearers agility by 5)
Nice! Now I have my first piece of equipment, and it even boosts my agility, I exclaim as I am filled with excitement.
After putting the boots on I does a few jumps and sprints a little bit getting a feel for the added agility boost.
Wow, this definitely makes a huge difference, as expected from an item that almost doubles my attribute, I say in wonder.
Status:
Race - Goblin Runt
F Rank
Strength - 6
Intelligence - 15
Stamina - 6
Dexterity - 6
Vitality - 6
Agility – 6 (+5)
Magic -
Luck -
Available Attribute Points - 2
Skills:
Appraisal Rank F
Sneak Rank F
Craftsman Rank F
I wonder why I'm only coming across infant monsters though, its pretty strange. You would think that their parents would be around them to make sure nothing happens to them. I guess its lucky for me because even though they're infants they're the same Rank than me, I scratch my head in confusion.
I go back to the hiding spot near the cave to see if I can spot any more monsters, as I'm observing the cave, I finally notice movement coming from the cave. To my horror a massive 20-foot-tall Black Panther looks out from the cave as if trying to find something. I can feel my heart stampeding in my chest at just the sight of the panther.
Race - Shadow Panther (Adult)
Rank E
Holy Hell!
My body freezes in place and a cold sweat appears on my back as the panther looks around, after a few minutes it goes back into the cave. Once it finally leaves, I turn and run away as fast as my short little legs will take me.