Koy Kavel had always been a dreamer. As a child, he spent countless hours lost in the pages of fantasy novels, his mind traversing lands filled with magic, mythical creatures, and valiant heroes. But as he grew older, reality's grip tightened around him, and those dreams seemed more distant than ever. At nineteen, Koy found himself trapped in a cycle of financial struggles, family issues, and a dead-end job that barely kept him afloat. Freedom was just an illusion, fading like the pages of his beloved books.
It was a dreary Thursday afternoon when everything changed. Koy was walking home, head buried in yet another fantasy novel, the words swirling in his mind as he lost himself in a world of knights and sorcery. A sudden blaring horn jolted him back to reality just as a truck barreled toward him. There was no time to react. The impact was instantaneous, a burst of pain and darkness that swallowed him whole.
When Koy opened his eyes again, he wasn't in the bustling city anymore. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and leaves. Confusion swirled in his mind as he took in his surroundings—a dense forest filled with towering trees and the sounds of rustling underbrush. But something felt off. A glance down at his body sent shockwaves of disbelief coursing through him.
He was no longer human. In fact, he was… a goblin. His skin was a sickly green, his ears pointed and large, and a tattered rag barely covered his lower half. Clutched in his hand was a rusty dagger, its blade dull and chipped. Panic set in as he realized the implications of his new form.
"What the hell?!" Koy shouted, his voice high-pitched and gravelly. "This isn't happening! I'm a goblin? A level one goblin?!"
He slumped against a tree, breathing heavily. This couldn't be real. He was supposed to be the hero, not some weak creature destined to be hunted or squashed underfoot. Frustration boiled within him. Why couldn't he have been reborn as something strong, something powerful?
As he sat there, clutching his dagger, Koy remembered the many times he had wished for something more in life. He wanted to escape the shackles of his reality, to seize power and freedom. A small spark ignited within him—a determination to not let this fate define him. If he was going to be a goblin, then he would be the strongest goblin!
"Okay," he muttered, standing up with newfound resolve. "I'll get stronger. I'll rule this world if it's the last thing I do!"