Finn stumbled back to the cave, his legs shaky and sore from the long trek, the weight of the wolf's pelt dragging him down. His body was battered from the fight, but the success of his hunt kept him moving. As he entered the dimly lit cave, a couple of goblins glanced up at him briefly, their eyes narrowing in suspicion. However, once they realized it was only Finn, they turned back to their own tasks without a second thought.
Finn's body screamed for rest, every muscle aching, but he forced himself forward. He wanted nothing more than to collapse into his bed and sleep until the pain disappeared, but he knew what he had to do. He had a duty to report to the elder.
Approaching the fire, where the elder was busy preparing something, Finn waited quietly, his heart pounding. The elder didn't acknowledge him right away, too focused on what he was doing. Finn stood still, his hands trembling slightly, feeling the weight of the pelt in his grasp. Finally, when the elder's task was finished, Finn spoke up, his voice respectful but carrying a hint of exhaustion.
"I have returned," he said, holding up the wolf's pelt. "I hunted and killed a wolf."
The elder looked up, his eyes narrowing in evaluation. For a long moment, Finn thought he might be scolded, but then the elder's lips curled into something resembling approval.
"Well done," he said, surprising Finn with the calm praise. "Hand me the pelt, and I'll make something for you."
Finn blinked, unsure how to respond. The elder... being nice? His thoughts raced, but he didn't want to risk changing the elder's mood by saying anything foolish. He quickly handed over the pelt, and the elder accepted it without another word. Finn hesitated, then silently left, his mind spinning. Was this the elder's way of showing approval?
He returned to his bed, but exhaustion hit him like a wave, and he barely had the energy to lie down. His body had already reached its limit, and he drifted off to sleep almost immediately, the soft murmurs of the cave fading around him.
The next day, Finn woke to the sound of footsteps. The elder approached, holding something in his hands—a cloak made from the wolf's hide. Finn's eyes widened in surprise as the elder handed it to him. The cloak was rough but well-made, sturdy and warm.
"This is for you," the elder said simply before walking away, leaving Finn standing there, staring down at the gift. A rare moment of kindness from the elder, and Finn couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
Over the next few days, Finn focused on hunting easier prey, such as boars and bugs. The fights were less grueling, and his XP gain was slow, but he could feel himself growing stronger. The slow pace gave him time to recover, both physically and mentally, as he prepared for what lay ahead. By the end of the week, he had accumulated another 10 XP—an unremarkable amount to most—but it brought him one step closer to his next evolution. It wasn't much, but for Finn, it was a sign that he was moving forward, and he was determined to reach that next milestone.
On what seemed like a normal day, one where Finn expected nothing out of the ordinary—just another day of hunting easy prey—something unexpected occurred. As Finn ventured outside the cave, carrying his knife and a sense of routine, a group of creatures suddenly appeared. They walked into the cave with an air of familiarity, and what struck Finn the most was the reaction of the goblins inside. Instead of being alarmed, they greeted the newcomers with smiles and applause, their voices full of excitement and respect.
Finn stood frozen for a moment, confused. He had never seen such creatures before. They were unlike any goblins he had encountered, their bodies large and heavily muscled, with strange features that made them appear almost otherworldly. Their eyes were sharper, their movements more graceful, and their aura—more intimidating. Finn could feel the difference in power radiating off them, but what caught his attention was the unmistakable recognition from the others around him.
After listening in on multiple hushed conversations among the goblins, Finn came to a realization: these beings weren't normal goblins. They were, or rather, had been goblins at one point, but their numerous evolutions had drastically changed their appearance and even their race. These creatures had evolved multiple times, growing stronger and more monstrous with each transformation. Some had even transformed into something entirely different, crossing the boundaries of goblinkind.
Finn's mind buzzed with questions as he observed them, trying to make sense of what he was witnessing. What had they become? What were their abilities? And how many evolutions did they need to undergo to reach this level?
The excitement among the other goblins grew as the newcomers began talking, mentioning an expedition. From the snippets of conversation that reached Finn's ears, it seemed that these evolved goblins were on a mission in the dangerous territory of the Cobalt Clan, a notorious group of creatures who lived across the forest. They had ventured into the Cobalt Clan's domain, perhaps seeking resources or answers to something greater.
Finn's curiosity burned. These creatures had traveled far and endured many hardships. Their story could hold the key to understanding his own path—could this be his future, a glimpse of what lay beyond his current evolution? The questions gnawed at his mind as he watched them, eager to learn more about their journey, their evolution, and the terrifying expedition they had embarked on.