I sat down on the ground, exhausted, and placed the sword beside me. I wedged the torch into a nearby crack and let out a sigh of relief as the pain in my body began to subside. I looked down at my shirt, which was torn and blood-soaked, and noticed that some of the wounds were slowly healing. I leaned against the wall and slid the backpack off my shoulders, setting it down next to me. I gazed at my fingers in fascination as new flesh began to regenerate, slowly but surely.
I gazed down at my hands, and they trembled slightly. I had taken a life, a living being, with my own two hands. The crimson stains on my skin seemed to sear themselves into my brain. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let out a heavy sigh. I have to live, and that means I have to kill what's trying to kill me. I have to survive in this place, no matter the cost.
Now that I've got a moment to myself...
Small, disgusting, green creatures...
Goblins, eh... Now that I'm in a quieter spot, I can finally collect my thoughts...
My fingers itched as they healed, and I stared at the sight in wonder. I turned my attention to the backpack and muttered, "Well, time to see what's in here." I pulled the backpack onto my lap and opened it, sighing as I saw that some of the contents were soaked with a mysterious substance. I sniffed the air, but there was no discernible smell - maybe it was just a broken water bottle?
I pulled out some wet papers and tried to read them, but they were written in a language I didn't understand. I let out a frustrated sigh and set the papers aside, next to my left leg. I rummaged through the backpack, searching for more clues, and soon found the source of the mess: a small, broken glass bottle. It had shattered and spilled its contents all over the backpack.
I carefully removed the broken glass and tossed it onto the ground, then took a closer look at the backpack's contents. There were some torn papers, a small leather pouch with... copper coins? They looked like copper, at least - the color was right. I examined the coins more closely, but they seemed ordinary, with no strange symbols or markings. Just simple copper coins. There were several of them, which could come in handy when I finally escaped this cave.
I put the coins back in the leather pouch and continued to rummage through the backpack, but I didn't find anything else of interest.
"Well, it seems that's all there is," I sighed, and gazed at the papers that were still lying next to me. I picked them up and stuffed them back into the backpack, then stood up and slung the pack over my shoulder. I retrieved the sword from the ground, gripping it in my right hand, and plucked the torch from the crack where I had left it, holding it in my left hand.
"Okay, time to keep searching for a way out," I muttered to myself, and began walking through the cave once more. I hoped it wouldn't take too much longer - I was starting to feel parched.
As I walked, the only things I saw were the familiar stone walls and floor, with the occasional crack or crevice. But then, I suddenly stopped in my tracks. On the left-hand wall, I had spotted something unusual. I approached the wall cautiously and examined it more closely. "Holy shit..." I whispered, my voice laced with a nervous tremble. The wall had a massive, jagged gash in it, as if a creature with razor-sharp claws had torn into the stone with incredible force.
I muttered to myself, "Holy shit, this is way more dangerous than the goblins from before." I glanced around nervously, relieved to see that there were no more monsters in sight.
I let out a sigh of relief and continued walking away from the massive gash in the wall. I really needed to get out of this place quickly; there were probably more terrifying creatures lurking in the shadows.
As I walked through the tunnel, I couldn't help but feel my nerves increasing with every step. The walls seemed to be getting more and more damaged, with deeper cuts and gashes appearing as I walked.
"Calm down, you just have to--" I started to say to myself, but my foot caught on something and I stumbled. I managed to regain my balance just in time, and my eyes fell upon the object that had almost made me fall.
It was a large root, seemingly sticking out of the ground. I stared at it in confusion, wondering what it was doing there.
"What is a root doing here...?" I muttered to myself, crouching down to examine it more closely. I was baffled, never expecting to find something like this in the depths of the cave. But then a thought struck me: if there's a root, maybe there's something else unusual around here too.
I stood up and continued walking through the tunnel, my pace quickening with a mix of excitement and trepidation. As I rounded a bend, I spotted a light in the distance. I approached cautiously, trying not to make any noise, and as I drew closer, I saw that the light was coming from a large, open area. The walls were covered in a slimy moss and a sticky substance dripped from the ceiling, casting an eerie glow.
The area was lit by a faint, greenish light emanating from crystals embedded in the ground and phosphorescent fungi growing on the walls. The ground was littered with debris: splintered bones, rotten wood fragments, and shattered objects. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I took in the scene. This was definitely not what I was expecting.
As I walked carefully through the area, I noticed the sound of bones cracking and biting coming from somewhere. It sounded like something was eating. I tried to move quietly, avoiding the bones and debris on the ground. I saw more roots emerging from the ground, but I ignored them and kept moving forward.
Suddenly, I felt a strange sensation, like I was being watched. I felt eyes on my back, and my skin crawled. I tried to shake off the feeling, but it only intensified as I walked further. I decided to test my theory, stopping abruptly and listening intently. And then I heard it: the sound of footsteps, light and cautious, but definitely not my own. I swallowed hard and turned around, my heart racing.
That's when I saw it: a monster similar to the ones I'd seen before, but this one moved like an animal, on all fours. It was different, though: it only had one eye and the other seemed to be injured, with a large, healed gash covering the socket.
The goblin locked eyes with me, and I quickly sprang into action, swinging my sword in a swift, horizontal arc. The blade bit deep into the monster's neck, and blood sprayed through the air as it collapsed to the ground, its body convulsing wildly. I quickly followed up with another slash, cutting deep enough to sever its vocal cords and prevent it from making any noise.
As the goblin's body went still, I let out a sigh of relief and took a moment to survey my surroundings. That's when I spotted a small hole in the wall, about the size of a child. I approached it cautiously, my torch at the ready, and slowly inserted it into the hole. I didn't want to risk something grabbing my arm or jumping out at me.
As the torch lit up the interior of the hole, my heart sank. A large group of small, green creatures were curled up on the ground, seemingly asleep. At first, I thought they might be some other type of monster, but as I looked closer, I realized that they were... goblins. Ugly, green, and twisted, they were unmistakable.
I slowly walked away from the hole and sighed, I walked away from the hole and decided to go in another direction, while avoiding the bones and pieces of broken wood on the ground, while walking I suddenly heard the sound of chewing again.
"Kri kri, kri kri" the giggles sounded again, suddenly the sound of footsteps began to echo around the area, I looked in one direction and saw another goblin, he was staring at me, what the hell, why do they always stare at me!?
"KRI KRIRIIIIIII!!!" a scream echoed around the area, suddenly more screams began to echo, as if they were screaming in unison, ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!
I saw how more goblins began to appear around, staring at me, but suddenly something worse happened.
"KRA KRA KRAA!!" a laugh echoed around, it was more hoarse and deeper laugh than normal goblins that seemed to giggle, this seemed like a more hoarse and deeper laugh than normal, I looked in one direction and opened my eyes in shock when another goblin came, but this one was different, it was much larger than a normal goblin, the size of an adult.
It had rough skin of a reddish or dark brown tone, covered in thick scars, patches of its flesh seem to be rotten or infected, yellowish pus that drips with a nauseating smell. The skin around the joints is especially thick, as if it has grown abnormally, creating lumps reminiscent of tumors.
A wide and protruding jaw, full of sharp and broken teeth, stained with dried blood and rotten flesh. The nose is flat, with the holes always open, dripping greenish mucus that mixes with the dirt on its face. Her eyes, small and bright, are a blood red or dull yellow color, and are sunken into sockets marked by deep wrinkles and shadows.
Her hair, well... messy and were the only thing I could see. Her long, pointed ears are full of cuts, bites, and I could even notice that part of her ear was cut off in one part.
"Haha, hey" I said with a nervous smile, trying to sound calm, but my voice was shaking. The biggest goblin, probably a hobgoblin, moved towards me, its eyes fixed on me with an unnerving intensity. I saw how it accelerated towards me, its long legs eating up the distance.
SHIT!!!!
I turned around and ran as fast as I could, my heart racing with fear. I didn't dare look back, I just kept running, my feet pounding the ground. I heard the sounds of giggles and a hoarse laugh, the footsteps getting closer and closer.
I ran through the open area without stopping, my breath getting shorter and shorter. I heard the dozens of steps, and I knew I was surrounded. There were probably many more goblins than I could handle, and to make matters worse, there was that huge hobgoblin.
I doubted I could do anything to defend myself, I was probably going to die. My feet hurt as I ran, but I didn't stop. I kept running, my eyes scanning the area for any escape route.
As I ran, I saw another tunnel in the distance, please be helpful!!
I ran without stopping, my feet pounding the ground, until I finally reached the tunnel. I didn't hesitate, I ran inside and kept going, my heart racing with fear. I could hear the footsteps, the laughter, and the sound of my own ragged breathing. I felt the heat of my torch, the weight of the sword's hilt in my hand.
I was consumed by fear, afraid of dying, afraid of being devoured, afraid of not even getting to take advantage of this second chance I had been given.
I gritted my teeth and kept running, my feet burning with pain. I squeezed the hilt of the sword, feeling a surge of determination. I knew the sword wouldn't last much longer, it was cracked and dirty, with blood still staining the blade.
"Shit---" I muttered in annoyance, but my words were cut short as I tripped and fell to the ground. I squeezed the sword tightly, managing to hold onto it, but the torch flew out of my hand and landed on the ground with a faint clatter.
"Shit... it hurts..." I muttered, wincing in pain as I stood up. I quickly grabbed the torch and looked behind me, my heart sinking as I saw dozens of yellow eyes staring back at me from the darkness. And then, the hobgoblin emerged, its macabre smile gleaming in the torchlight. It stuck out its tongue and licked its lips, and I took a step back, my heart racing with fear.
I looked behind me, and my heart sank. There was no way out. I had thought I had found a escape route, but it was just a dead end. The tunnel ended in a wall, with no exit in sight.
I gritted my teeth, feeling a sense of despair wash over me. It was all for nothing, I thought. I had run and fought, but in the end, I was trapped.
---
[THIRD PERSON POV]
In a deep and quiet forest, three people emerged from the underbrush and trees surrounding them. They walked and stood in front of a cave, their eyes fixed on the entrance.
The first to advance was a robust swordsman, dressed in well-fitting leather armor that showed signs of use: scratches, cut marks, and some dark stains. A simple metal plate, already somewhat worn, adorned his chest. His wide-bladed sword, well cared for, rested on his right hip, and his hand instinctively rested on the pommel, ready to draw it at the slightest hint of danger. The wind rustled his short black hair.
Beside him stood a woman of about 20 years old, her brown hair tied in a ponytail. She wore a dark blue tunic with a simple yet functional design, allowing for ease of movement. Her hood hung from her shoulders, and a small leather bag was slung over her waist. Her blue eyes gazed at the cave, and she let out a sigh of annoyance.
The last member of the group was another man, clad in dark leather armor. A dark scarf partially covered his face, but his black hair was visible. On his belt, he carried two daggers with thin, gleaming blades. His gloved hands rested near his weapons, ready to respond to any sudden threat.
A classic team of adventurers, all of them F-rank.
"So, this is where the goblins used a cave as their lair, right?" said the knight, eyeing the entrance warily. The female mage beside him replied, "Yes, the quest is here. Villagers from a nearby village reported that some children and young women went missing. They said that a villager reported seeing... goblins around here. Damn it, Derek. Why do we have to accept a quest about goblins? They're so disgusting!"
Derek, the swordsman, smiled and said, "Calm down, Lyna. They're just normal goblins, G-rank monsters, the lowest rank. We just have to get rid of them, and that's it. Something easy. Then we report it to the guild, and that's it. Easy, right?"
Theron, the thief, let out a sigh. "Can we just get this over with already..."
Lyna rubbed her forehead, frustration etched on her face. "Okay... I hate places like this..."
Derek smiled and nodded. "Well, Theron said it, Lyna. Let's get moving." Lyna let out another sigh, and the three of them walked into the cave, entering the darkness within.
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{EXTRA information}
[Bestiary]
Goblin [G Rank]
Goblins are small, unpleasant creatures that inhabit dark and remote areas of the world, such as caves, dense forests, and abandoned ruins. They are notorious for their chaotic nature, excessive lust, and ability to cause disproportionate havoc considering their size. Although they are often viewed as a minor nuisance, a group of goblins can become a considerable threat if left unchecked.
[General Characteristics]
Size: Goblins stand between 3.3 and 4.9 feet tall, with thin, bony bodies. Some goblins may be slightly taller.
Appearance: They have rough, variable-colored skin, ranging from olive green to dark gray, and large, pointed ears. Their eyes can be yellow or red.
Intelligence: Although they are not particularly intelligent, goblins possess an instinctive cunning for ambushes and traps. When they believe they have the upper hand, they can attack without fear.
Organization: Goblins live in groups led by the strongest, most cunning, or magical goblin, such as a shaman or warrior.
[Personality and Behavior]
Character: Goblins are cowardly but extremely cruel. They take pleasure in causing suffering and destruction, especially when in a group.
Fears:
- Fire, especially in large quantities, as they associate it with unstoppable destruction.
- Large or powerful creatures.
Likes:
+ Dirty or broken objects, especially broken wood or rusty metals, which they steal compulsively.
+ Food of any kind, especially raw or spoiled meat.
Dislikes:
- Areas in good condition, as they prefer chaotic and disordered environments.
- Bright or constant light, as they are adapted to darkness, being born in similar areas such as caves.
[Habits and Customs]
Breeding and Expansion: Goblins have a ruthless approach to reproduction. They capture human or other species' women to use as carriers for their offspring. These women are often treated poorly.
Ambushes and Traps: Goblins prefer to avoid direct combat unless they are confident they can win. They are confident when fighting children, but when facing stronger opponents, they will use homemade traps, which can be effective against inexperienced or novice adventurers.
[Metamorphosis]
Natural Metamorphosis: A rare, strange evolution that can occur in some monster species, causing them to become stronger. Natural metamorphosis can occur through various means, such as advanced age, devouring a different species, or unknown factors. However, there is still limited information available on this topic.
Goblin Metamorphosis: Goblins undergo natural metamorphosis on rare occasions, usually upon reaching an advanced age (20-30 years, which is unusual for them). This process involves physical and mental transformations caused by unknown factors.
Metamorphosis Process:
+ Physical Change: The goblin grows in size, reaching the average height of an adult. Its muscles develop disproportionately, and its skin becomes thicker and reddish. Bony protuberances appear on its joints and skull, giving it a more intimidating appearance.
+ Mental Change: Their mind becomes less chaotic and more intelligent, but not to the same level as human intelligence. A metamorphosed goblin, known as a hobgoblin, is usually a born leader, capable of directing a large number of goblins.
[Goblin Variants]
Goblin Shamans: Goblins with magical affinity, capable of channeling basic magic.
Animalized Goblins: The result of magical mutations, these goblins have animal characteristics, such as boar tusks, scaly skin, or sharp claws.
Goblin Warriors: Stronger and better equipped with weapons, such as broken swords or rusty armor.
Feral Goblins: Goblins that have lost all traces of intelligence and live like wild beasts, usually stronger than average goblins.