[Hobgoblin Essence (Random)]
Item Description: [It won't matter what, whether someone's a human or identified as a monster, both can thrive to reach greater heights for the sake of survival and strength.]
Item Category: Qi Essence
Item Rank: Rare
Item Effect: [Upon consumption, a random skill possessed by the particularly slain hobgoblin will be inherited.]
Contained Skills: [Low-level Heightened Senses], [Low-level Axe Arts], [Low-level Poison Resistance]
***
Ryder crouched to reach for the amethyst palm-sized crystalline sphere that shimmered on the decapitated body of the village's considered Boss Monster.
Scrutinizing it for a moment, a smile found itself on his lips.
"This will go for a round half a million Kum Coins. What a great harvest!"
After cleaning up everything, only leaving the monsters' blood and limbs on the tarnished soil of the forest, Ryder sorted the items he had looted on his [Affair's Space]. Then, as if the job was not finished yet, he couldn't help but let out an expressive sigh. His black eyes were inexplicably scanning the presumably dead villagers consisting of but not limited to children and the elderly.
"I guess proper burial is the only thing I could do at this point." Ryder's serene voice filled the misty atmosphere.
At that moment…
Rustle...!
"Y–You, g–get away from them!!"
"Did you kill them?!"
"An Awakener from the Venerable Sky Clan who abandoned us!"
Ryder's composure remained calm, hearing the familiar voices that sheltered themselves amidst a bonfire that he secretly passed by earlier.
'I knew this shit would happen, but it still feels infuriating!' He thought to himself, recalling the chaotic nature of order in the World of Chuuni.
Pondering for a moment, Ryder responded, his eyes witnessing the shaking hands of these destitute, who were forcedly holding a weapon against him. They clearly had not killed anyone in their lifetime and were only at the side of cruel oppression like fish in the escapable water bowl.
"Would you believe me if I say I'm an Awakener who accepted a Guild Commission about slaying the horde of goblins lingering in the outskirts of your secluded village?"
"Wh–why should we believe you?!"
"R–right!"
"N–no goblins would kill their captives unless they retaliated! I–It means you've killed our brethren along with the goblins!"
Hearing the absurd claim just now, Ryder's brows twitched.
"Oi, what kind of fucked up world are you living in?! Should I open that skull of yours to see?"
'I guess this world really still possessed the theme of unforgiving cultivation world of Murim… Sigh, what the hell's the Goddess of Identity thinking when She designed and created all of this?!'
With that in mind, Ryder retrieved the katana [Moonfell Crescent] from the crack of space, causing the eyes of the three men to widen in horror. It was the instinctive fear gained by facing the strong; the reminder of the existence of a bridge that separated the ordinary and the Awakened.
Thud!
Thud!
Frightened and helpless, two of the men fainted. Only the eldest remained, a man in his early or late thirties.
"I don't know what kind of mindset the middle-aged one has to be acting like that, but I believe you can be reasoned with. Yeah? " Ryder said as he threw a parchment in front of the sweating man as though he was seconds away from passing out.
"T–This is! I–I apologize Awakener! Please, forgive us!" The eldest prostrated after reading and verifying the officially stamped Awakener's Guild Commission.
"No worries. Let us bury some of your people for them to have proper rest, at the very least." Ryder didn't mind the earlier illogical outburst. It was something at the scope of his expectations as he decided not to reveal himself earlier to straight-up subjugate the Goblin Village unhindered.
"Y–Yes, Awakener!"
***
"Is this place all right for their final rest?" Ryder asked the eldest, whose name was Ran—the one who told the two younger ones that it was a very dangerous attempt to take on the monsters as unawaken, fragile existence.
The difference between an Awakener and an ordinary human was simple yet crucial. The former possessed the capability of soul evolution through cultivation while the latter would remain stagnant throughout their lifetime. What's more, an ordinary person would not be able to draw out the true potential of Qi-imbued equipment and most of the time, handling a weapon of such a caliber could even lead to death by Qi Overload.
"Yes, Sir Awakener. I will inform the village chief of the situation. Rest assured! Ah, I'd like to invite you to our village if it's not an inconvenience. After all, even though we failed to save the captive ones, I believe that they would still express their gratitude for extinguishing these monstrosities…!" Ran's fists clenched in helplessness, his eyes seemed to become cloudy for a moment. "Also, if you need help, even as a powerless one, speak it out and I'll repay the favor!"
"I'll be fine with visiting your village, but first, I'd prefer to report the success to the Awakener's Guild. By the way, about the help you're talking about…" Ryder paused for a moment.
"Y–Yes, Sir Awakener! Anything!"
"Help me cut off the right ears of the goblins."
'It's the proof of success!' He inwardly said.
Ran, who was donning a traditional martial arts attire, something that was tattered, lowered his head.
***
After some time…
"We–we're sorry, Sir Awakener!"
"F–forgive us! W–we couldn't think straight after seeing the lifeless bodies of our brethren!"
The two younger ones named Lihan and Cassian prostrated in front of Ryder, who was sitting on a log facing a newly lit bonfire, after they respectively opened their eyes from fainting. Their foreheads were even on the brink of bleeding due to their excessive expression of apology.
"Drop your act. I'm about to leave for a while. Give my regards to the village chief and the waiting families of the deceased ones." Ryder ambiguously said.
"Y–Yes, Sir Awakener!"
"We will deliver your concern!"
"All right. All right! Stand up or you'll cave your heads in!"
"Wait, Sir Awakener. What shall we call you?" Ran asked.
"Hmm?" Ryder fell in contemplating silence.
A moment or two later, after coming to terms with himself that he would not yet divulge his game name, which was also his real name, he answered with a serious face,
"Call me The Stripper."
At that moment…
Ding!
[The Goddess of Identity hears your absurdity even in Her slumber!]
***
Parting ways with the Awakener who eradicated the inhabitants of the nearest Goblin Village, the trio-Ran, Lihan, and Cassian-discussed what they had just experienced. Their minds and hearts were troubled by how they would deliver news to their home village.
"What do you think, Lihan?" Ran asked while Cassian waited for an answer.
Pausing for a moment, as his gaze momentarily pierced through the direction where Ryder disappeared into, Lihan then responded,
"What I think is this… How about we've stumbled with a crazy Chaos Awakener known as The Stripper and I'm the only one who survived…?"
Slash!
Slash!
"Huh–?"
"Li…han–?"
At that moment, almost in the blink of an eye, Ran's and Cassian's heads rolled to the ground, their blood painted the trees crimson.
"Better story, right?"