Chapter 13: The First Battle
While the Goblin subordinates were enjoying a feast, Li Meng returned to the puddle, washing the blood off his body.
Lowering his head, he looked at the large machete placed on the ground beside him, a curious expression on his face.
The machete was not made of iron.
Its main body was wooden, with a sharp stone blade embedded in it.
The stone blade was smeared with some decayed mud, giving it the appearance of rust.
The blade bore polishing marks, making it exceptionally smooth.
This stone weapon was far superior to the clubs held by the Goblins.
Shifting his gaze slightly, Li Meng looked at the water, now tinged red.
His whole body trembled after his first battle.
Although dangerous, the feeling of adrenaline and excitement intoxicated him.
The metallic smell of blood ignited a fire in his heart.
Although he retained his human consciousness, his mentality was gradually transforming into that of a Goblin.
This was not necessarily a bad thing.
Surviving in this world with a human mindset was impossible.
"Boss, after they're done eating, they'll come back. We have to leave!"
Gobuqiang ran over, looking at the leader by the puddle with admiration.
The leader was clearly still an ordinary Goblin, yet his strength left Gobuqiang breathless.
Even the powerful Lizardmen had become weaklings before him.
Li Meng carefully placed the spider silk into the cloth bag at his waist.
"Let's go, return to the riverbank!"
The simulated future had already changed.
From this moment on, the future was uncertain.
Li Meng did not intend to use his remaining simulation immediately.
At least, the journey back to the riverbank should be safe.
"Move out! Get going!"
Under Gobuqiang's shouts, the well-fed Goblins heaved their bloated bodies and got up.
The battle with the Lizardmen had been devastating for the hunting party.
In less than five minutes, over thirty Goblins had been killed.
The entire hunting party had less than thirty Goblins remaining.
"Gobuda, are you still alive?"
Walking through the dim forest, Li Meng suddenly shouted.
A Goblin up ahead flinched and quickly ran toward him with a flattering expression.
"Boss, I'm still alive!"
Li Meng gave Gobuda a once-over.
The Goblin had grown stronger, its body larger.
Its level had also risen to Level 8, not far from evolving into a Big Goblin.
After consuming the Lizardmen corpses, the other Goblins were also rapidly growing.
"Follow me!"
Gobuda grinned and eagerly followed behind Li Meng.
Being near the leader was much safer than walking in front.
"Boss, if we go back like this, I'll be eaten by the chief."
Gobuqiang approached Li Meng with a dejected look.
Its face was full of unease, and its heart was filled with fear.
Li Meng scanned the remaining Goblin subordinates.
Goblins were simply too weak.
Over sixty Goblins had been decimated by just a dozen Lizardmen in an instant.
"Gobuqiang, why didn't we detect the Lizardmen earlier?"
The Lizardmen had suddenly charged out of the forest.
This indicated that the Lizardmen had used some method to mask their scent and approach unnoticed.
"Boss, the Lizardmen smeared themselves with some decayed mud. That mud emits a swamp-like odor."
Li Meng's face showed understanding.
So that was it. The Lizardmen indeed had some black, muddy substance on their bodies.
It seemed the Lizardmen knew Goblins well.
They were aware of the Goblins' sharp sense of smell and knew sneaking up would be difficult.
Thus, they used decayed mud to mask their scent.
Soon, night began to fall.
To avoid the danger of the Lizardmen, Li Meng led the remaining Goblins back to the riverbank under the cover of darkness.
That night, the forest beside the river was silent.
Silver moonlight illuminated the land, slightly dispelling the darkness.
Suddenly, there was movement in the forest near the riverbank.
A group of dark figures darted out of the forest, stopping on the riverbank.
Under the moonlight, the figures were revealed to be ugly green-skinned creatures.
"System, begin the life simulation!"
For the sake of his survival, Li Meng activated the second simulation of the month.
Under the moonlight, Li Meng stood beside the turbulent river.
[Start Life Simulation]
[That night, you led your Goblin subordinates to the riverbank. Gazing at the shimmering water, you contemplated your future.]
[Before dawn, you plan to take action. Please make a choice from the following options:]
[1. Decide to cross the river overnight, avoid the Lizardmen's threat, and return to the lair.]
[2. Knowing that returning to the lair will result in being eaten by an enraged Gobuba, decide to go downstream to human territory.]
[3. Do nothing, rest on the riverbank for the night, and become a wandering Goblin.]
Once again, three options, three future paths.
The first option seemed reasonable.
Staying on the riverbank was dangerous, as the Lizardmen might be in pursuit.
The hunting party had suffered heavy losses, and returning to the lair seemed the most logical choice.
But the logical choice wasn't necessarily the correct one.
Returning to the lair would result in Gobuqiang's death, and the rest of the Goblins might also be implicated.
The second option was more of a compromise.
Capturing a few humans and bringing them back to the lair could resolve the crisis.
Although the hunting party was devastated, sneaking into human territory to capture ordinary civilians was doable.
However, the second option was also the most dangerous.
It was entirely a gamble, and failure could happen at any moment.
The third option of becoming wandering Goblins was also a viable choice.
With enough food, the current Goblins could independently establish a new tribe.
"Gobuqiang, should we go downstream to human territory, cross the river back to the lair, or wander outside to avoid becoming food? Choose one!"
In the end, Li Meng decided to let Gobuqiang make the choice.
After all, the Goblins might not necessarily die if they returned.
But Gobuqiang was different. If it went back, it would surely be eaten by an enraged Gobuba.
Gobuqiang's ugly face twisted in distress.
The boss let it choose, putting it in a difficult position.
It didn't know what to decide.
If it chose to wander, would the boss abandon it?
"Boss, I don't want to die. I... I can't go back."
This was Gobuqiang's answer and choice.
"Very well, then we'll wander and establish a new lair."
Gobuqiang's choice was also what Li Meng wanted.
Going to human territory was too dangerous. Wandering offered more freedom to grow stronger.
Returning to the lair carried too many risks.
Moreover, the daily struggle for food in the lair was not the life Li Meng desired.
"System, the third option!"
[You chose to wander. A new Goblin lair was established in the northern forest.]
[You led your Goblin subordinates upstream along the river.]
[You selected a dense forest as the new home. A new species of forest Goblins emerged.]