When I opened my eyes again, the same disgusting smell hit me, invading my nose. The heavy air, the metallic taste in my mouth... everything was the same as last time. But now, I knew what was happening, where I was, and who—or what—I had become.
I looked down at my small green hands. There was no shock this time. "Okay, this time, I'll do it right."
The goblins were exactly where I had seen them on the previous attempt. The leader was laughing loudly, and the others were chewing on the rotting flesh without a care in the world. The same smaller goblin who had glared at me before turned to me again.
"Waste. Clean it up."
I nodded and crouched down without hesitation. This time, I observed my surroundings more carefully as I pretended to clean the floor. Beyond the cage where the woman was trapped, I noticed a hole in the side of the cave. It was small enough for a goblin to fit through, but not for humans or even the largest goblin.
My eyes fell on the woman again. She was still weak, but now her gaze seemed to beg for my help. She had noticed that I was different.
"Damn it... she won't fit in that hole."
I regretted it for a few seconds, but I had to make a quick decision. I knew I couldn't save both of us right now.
I picked up a rock from the ground and swallowed hard. Even though I could come back as many times as I wanted, I didn't want to die again. I sloppily cleaned the ground and, as soon as the goblin was distracted, I cut a piece of the rope that held the cage together. It was now fragile enough to break with a strong push. I looked at the woman and whispered, "Trust me."
I stood up and waved at the smaller goblin, keeping my expression as submissive as possible. He grunted in approval and walked away.
Now for the hard part. I had to distract the entire group in order to escape. My eyes fell on the fire, it had been a good distraction before, but it wasn't enough. This time, it had to be something bigger…
I looked around again, and my attention was drawn to a pile of bones near the fire. Old, dry bones… If I could throw something heavy enough to scatter them into the flames, it could cause a much bigger commotion than before.
I picked up a larger rock and approached the pile. At that moment, a few goblins laughed at the sight. "Keep laughing, you bastards." With a strength I didn't even know I had, I threw the rock with all my might.
The bones fell into the fire, creating an explosion of sparks and flames that spread in all directions. The fire spread quickly, and the goblins screamed, running in circles like panicked insects.
"This is my chance…"
I ran towards the hole in the wall, but stopped before I squeezed through. I looked at the woman one last time. With the cage weakened, she had a chance.
"I hope you survive."
So I slid into the hole, my small, thin body allowing me to pass with difficulty. My breath was coming in short pants, but I kept running as soon as my feet touched the ground outside the cave. From afar, I could hear the screams of the goblins and the roars of the larger goblin.
...
Now that I could feel the cold air of the forest, the world seemed bigger and scarier. My small body moved clumsily, and the sounds of the forest made my heart race.
Suddenly, a notification sound echoed in my mind, freezing me in place.
"System, if you're planning on scaring me to death, just let me know..."
Ding!
[You have gained a skill: [Goblin Strength Lv. 1]
Description: A physical strength characteristic of goblins, granting greater power to basic attacks such as punches, kicks, or strikes with improvised weapons, allowing you to deal more damage than expected for a being of your size.
[You have gained a skill: [Night Vision]
Description: A passive skill that allows the user to see clearly in dark or poorly lit environments.
[You have gained a skill: [Instinctive Dodge Lv. 1]
Description: Enhanced reflexes that automatically activate when detecting imminent danger, such as physical attacks or projectiles. This allows the body to react quickly. Its effectiveness will increase with the level of the skill.
[You have gained a skill: [Auto Appraisal Lv. 1]
Description: Displays basic information about targets or objects in the user's field of vision. Provides the name, level, and a brief description of the enemy or item being appraised. However, it will not activate if the target is significantly higher level than the user.
I stopped in my tracks, frowning.
"Skills?" I muttered, looking down at my small hands and thin body.
"If I've been given something special by being a goblin, I have to figure out how to use those skills to my advantage."
I continued walking through the forest, and before I knew it, the first skill activated: [Night Vision].
The darkness around me didn't seem as intimidating as it once did. s. I could now see even small details, such as moss-covered rocks and small creatures crawling through the undergrowth.
Thanks to this, I noticed a group of creatures approaching. They were rodents, but larger than normal rats. They had long, sharp teeth and sniffed the air, searching for food.
[Swamp Rats – Level 1]
Description: Common inhabitants of swampy regions, adapted to damp environments. Although small, they pose a significant threat to inexperienced adventurers due to their agility and aggressive behavior in groups.
"Automatic assessment... that's useful," I thought. A direct confrontation would be suicide, even against such small enemies. But I needed food, and they were low-level and seemed just as vulnerable as I was.
I picked up a nearby rock, feeling its weight in my hand. It was jagged, but solid. Using [Goblin Strength], I felt a surge of power, enough to effectively throw it. I aimed for the rat furthest from the group and threw the rock with all my strength.
The sound of bones breaking echoed as the rock hit the rat's head. It fell to the ground, blood pooling around it. The other rodents turned toward me and attacked, but [Instinctive Dodge] activated almost automatically. My body moved before I could process the danger, a jump to the right, then another backward. In this way, I managed to avoid their sharp bites.
I picked up another rock and hit another rat as it tried to surround me. After a few minutes, the remaining two fled.
Ding!
[You have defeated a Swamp Rat – Level 1]
[You have defeated a Swamp Rat – Level 1]
[You have defeated a Swamp Rat – Level 1]
[You have leveled up! Your stats have increased]
I sat on the ground, panting, and examined the bodies. Meat was not something I could waste, no matter how disgusting it was. I tore the meat apart with my teeth, grimacing at the bitter taste. It wasn't pleasant, but it gave me energy.
"This is it," I muttered. "If I want to survive, I'll have to keep going like this. Hunting, fighting… I have to learn to use everything this body has to offer."