Essim's island was slowly drifting in the sky of dense clouds, carving a relentless path forward. They moved steadily at a rate of one meter per second.
The beauty of the shifting clouds, illuminated by the golden glow of an ethereal sun, would have been mesmerizing if not for the tension and uncertainty that clung to both Essim and Aisha.
Essim could adjust the speed and direction of the Island simple by wishing it to move. But the speed was limited to 1m/s.
In two minutes, they had traveled 120 meters, entering the cloud of sea, everything else gradually fading from view. The brother and sister pair used this time to get familiar with their wooden sword.
Another three minutes passed, anticipation building with every second, and Essim was thinking about duplicating his water immediately, until a new expanse of about 100 square meters came into view. The clouds parted to reveal a goblin island.
About ten goblins stood on the island, each about a meter tall, their green skin glowing under the sunlight. They held crude wooden clubs, grunting and growling in low tones.
Unlike the sparse grass of Essim's home, this goblin island was vibrant with life. Tall trees, about ten meters high, swayed gently in the breeze, and in the center of the clearing stood a small, shabby straw hut, adding a touch of civilization to the wild surroundings.
Despite the humble setting, the goblins' beady eyes glinted with hostility as they noticed the intruders.
A status panel appeared before Essim and Aisha, displaying the creatures' basic stats.
(Goblin Tribe)
Level: 1
Attributes: Strength 1, Agility 1, Intelligence 0, Resilience 1
"Weak," Essim muttered, his voice carrying a mix of relief and confidence. With his strength stat at 3, these goblins appeared as fragile as paper. Yet, he knew their numbers could still pose a threat if handled carelessly.
Essim's island soon bumped into the goblin territory with a soft thud. Immediately, the goblins glared at the siblings, clutching their clubs with tense fingers. They had been roasting a deer over an open fire when the sight of the newcomers interrupted them, filling the air with a rising tension.
Essim and Aisha prepared for battle, gripping their wooden swords. The weight of the simple weapons gave them confidence, a solid reminder of their own strength.
(Long Wooden Sword)
Strength +1
The added strength from the swords was reassuring. They exchanged a quick glance, unspoken determination passing between them.
"Now," Essim whispered, and without another word, he charged. His movements were swift, purposeful.
The goblins reacted by forming a defensive line, their clubs raised, fear mixing with anger in their eyes.
Tskkk… Tsahh…
[ Killed Goblin Tribe Member: EXP +1 ]
[ Killed Goblin Tribe Member: EXP +1 ]
Essim's first strike was lethal, cutting down two rushing goblins in an instant. His sword sliced through the air with deadly precision, ending their lives before they could retaliate.
The rest of the goblins roared in rage, surrounding Essim and attacking with their crude clubs. Though some of their blows landed, Essim's agility allowed him to evade serious damage, his body moving fluidly to avoid the worst of it.
He didn't linger long in their midst. Essim rolled backward, creating distance. The goblins, driven by fury, pursued him with snarls and raised weapons.
Suddenly—
Tsahh…
Another goblin fell, its head severed cleanly from its body. Aisha had struck from the side and quickly retreated, her breath quick but steady. Her heart raced, but she kept her focus sharp, eyes scanning the battlefield for her next move.
Their strategy was simple but effective. With superior strength and agility, they used hit-and-run tactics, striking fast and retreating before the goblins could organize a proper defense.
Despite the goblins' numbers, they were no match for the siblings' coordination.
[ Killed Goblin Tribe Member: EXP +1 ]
[ Killed Goblin Tribe Member: EXP +1 ]
Two minutes later, the battle was over. The goblins lay lifeless on the ground, their small bodies strewn across the now-quiet battlefield. The air, once filled with growls and roars, now only carried the heavy scent of blood and sweat.
Essim wiped the sweat from his brow, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "Huff… Finally…" he muttered, his muscles still trembling with adrenaline. His clothes clung to his body, soaked through from exertion.
Aisha, standing a few meters away, looked similarly exhausted, though a small smile tugged at her lips. The tension of battle had drained her, but the thrill of victory lingered.
They took a moment to catch their breath, then began to examine the fallen goblins. First, they noted the increase in their experience points—each had gained 10 EXP, raising their level progress by 1%.
As they approached the goblin corpses, a system notification flashed before Essim's eyes.
[ Goblin Tribe Corpse: Extract materials? ]
"Yes," Essim answered, his curiosity piqued.
The goblin's body lifted slightly, glowing with faint light before disintegrating into ash. In its place, a small, shining object materialized.
[ Acquired Energy Crystal +1 ]
Essim picked up the crystal, its surface cool and smooth to the touch. He examined it briefly, wondering at its potential uses.
Aisha joined him, assisting with the extraction of materials from the other goblins. Not every corpse yielded rewards, but the few that did gave them a small bounty.
Energy Crystals +3
Goblin Blood +2
Goblin Claws +1
Satisfied with their haul, they moved on to explore the goblin island further. The straw hut in the center beckoned them, and inside, they found a familiar object—the Region Orb. Its soft, ethereal glow mirrored the one they had seen on their own island.
An option appeared before them.
Take over the territory
Note: Taking over the territory will merge the goblin island with the ruler's island.
Essim immediately chose to take over the goblin island. He was thrilled by the long-term growth potential of expanding their territory.
As the process completed, the two island merged, their borders blending seamlessly. Though the shape of Essim's island was no longer a perfect square, the addition of trees and new terrain offered exciting possibilities for future expansion.
"Brother, I'm thirsty," Aisha said, her voice raspy from fatigue.
"Hmm…" Essim glanced at the small bottle of water they had received earlier. It was way too few to sustain them, and no water has been found in the Goblin's island. "We'll need to duplicate the water," he mused, holding the 10cl bottle.
[ Water 10cl: Duplicate? ]
"Yes."
In an instant, 500 identical bottles of water materialized around them, clattering to the ground with a soft thud. The sheer volume of it was overwhelming.
"Whoa…" Aisha's eyes widened in amazement as she quickly grabbed one and drank deeply. The cool liquid soothed her parched throat, and she sighed with relief.
Essim watched the scene, still marveling at the absurdity of his Infinity Duplicate talent. The possibilities seemed limitless. It has been a bit less than 15 minutes since he got his talent. He could have duplicate the water before, but it wasn't a big loss. He could do it every hour anyway.
"This is ridiculous," he thought, unable to stop a smile from creeping onto his face.
His mind raced with ideas. Water was already a scarce and highly valued resource in the market. With his duplication ability, he could dominate the trading system with ease.
He quickly checked the marketplace. As expected, water was being traded at a premium.
[ Market ]
(Iron Sword) 10 Energy Crystals, accepting water or equivalent items…
(Long Bow) 50cl of water…
(Hard Leather) 1 Energy Crystal, accepting water…
A family of four would need several liters of water each day to survive. The demand was staggering, and Essim knew he could capitalize on it.
"Haha… Aisha, let's rest in this camp for a bit" Essim said, his mind alive with the endless potential ahead of them.
-----
3 chaps a day !
I hope you will like this as much as I love working on it !
If you do, please don't forget to support this re-writing ! Vote and Review helps me a lot :)