Luke stood amidst the carnage, his body battered but victorious. The cavern was silent, the only sound the faint drip of water echoing through the vast space. He glanced at his status panel, a grin spreading across his face.
I did it.
But before he could fully savor the moment, a new notification appeared, glowing brightly in his vision.
[ You have slain 1x Dire Cave Broodmother.
+4500 EXP ]
[ Achievement: You have slain an enemy with a 15-level difference.
Rewards:
250 Tech Points
+15 Attribute Points ]
[ You have leveled up by 1.
You are now Level 21. ]
Luke's grin widened. 4500 EXP? That's insane! He quickly checked his status panel, confirming the changes. The rewards were substantial, and the achievement felt like a badge of honor. But what really caught his attention was the new function that had unlocked: the Gene Shop.
He opened the Gene Shop, his eyes scanning the available options.
[ Gene Shop
You can only buy the genes of the species you have slain personally.
Available Gene Seeds:
Dire Cave Spider Chitinous Skin - 100 Tech Points (Dire Cave Muscle and Organ Transformation Required)
+4 RES
Passive Skill: Chitin Armor
+50% Resistance to Bladed Weapons
+25% Resistance to Blunt Weapons
+10% Chitin Regeneration Speed
Dire Cave Mandibles - 50 Tech Points (Dire Cave Muscle and Organ Transformation Required)
Active Skill: Bite
Dire Cave Poison Glands - 150 Tech Points (Dire Cave Muscle and Organ Transformation Required)
Active Skill: Poison Spit
Dire Cave Muscle and Organ Transformation - 250 Tech Points
Transforms your body into a bipedal Dire Cave Spider-Goblin appearance.
Race Change: Dire Cave Arachne-Goblin ]
Luke's excitement quickly turned to disappointment. Arachne-Goblin? What the hell? I thought I could get something cool, like fire-breathing glands or dragon skin. Not… this.
He sighed, muttering under his breath, "Ahh, what? I thought I could at least get something badass, not turn into a damn spider."
The system responded almost immediately, its voice calm and matter-of-fact.
[ For that, you have to slay a dragon. ]
Luke slumped, his shoulders sagging. Fine, I can't be too picky. He decided to check the Evolutionary Path next, hoping for better options.
[ Evolutionary Path
Current: Goblin
Available Evolutionary Paths:
Hobgoblin Brute - 1500 Tech Points
+10 Strength
+3 Agility
+5 Perception
+10 Vitality
+8 Resilience
-10 Intelligence
Hobgoblin Fighter - 1500 Tech Points
+6.5 Strength
+6.5 Agility
+5 Perception
+3 Vitality
+5 Resilience
-5 Intelligence
+2 MAG
Hobgoblin Mage - 1500 Tech Points
-5 Strength
-5 Agility
+10 Perception
-5 Vitality
+5 Resilience
+10 Intelligence
+10 Magic
Hobgoblin Assassin - 2000 Tech Points
+5 Strength
+15 Agility
+15 Perception
-5 Vitality
-5 Resilience
+5 Intelligence
Custom - Tech Points price depending on the complexity of the user's custom design. ]
Luke studied the options, his mind racing. So, it's basically an RPG class advancement. But I can design my own custom evolutionary path. That's where the Gene Shop comes in, I guess.
He glanced back at the Gene Shop, his eyes lingering on the Dire Cave Muscle and Organ Transformation. If I go down that route, I'll look like some kind of spider-goblin hybrid. But the stats and skills are tempting. Chitin armor, poison spit, mandibles… it's a solid package.
Still, he hesitated. How would the folks back at the village react if I started to look like a spider? Shiki might understand, but the others… they might freak out. I don't want to lose their trust.
Luke sighed, running a hand through his hair. This is a big decision. I need to think this through carefully.
For now, he decided to hold off on making any immediate choices. He had time to weigh his options, and there were still more challenges ahead. First, I need to explore this cave. Then I'll figure out my next move. It's not like I can afford them right now anyway
But first, he needed to deal with the remaining spiders. He moved through the cavern, his Cloak skill keeping him hidden as he picked off the stragglers. The notifications chimed repeatedly, the EXP rolling in.
[ You have slain 1x Dire Cave Hatchling.
+25 EXP ]
[ You have slain 1x Dire Cave Young Spider.
+40 EXP ]
[ You have slain 1x Dire Cave Hatchling.
+25 EXP ]
By the time he was done, the cavern was clear. Luke stood amidst the lifeless bodies, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. He glanced at his status panel, a sense of satisfaction washing over him.
Luke's heart raced as the red notification flashed across his vision, its urgency impossible to ignore.
[ Warning! The Village is under attack by unknown assailants. ]
Panic surged through him as he opened the real-time map. Twenty one red arrows appeared, each one representing an enemy closing in on the village. The once-peaceful settlement was now a chaotic battleground, with goblins scrambling to evacuate while others fought desperately to hold the line.
No, no, no! Luke thought, his mind racing. This can't be happening. Not now!
He didn't waste a second. Activating Burst Sprint, he blurred into motion, his enhanced speed carrying him through the cavern at breakneck pace. The walls of the cave became a blur as he ran, his thoughts consumed by fear and determination.
Please be safe, he pleaded silently, his teeth gritted as he pushed himself to move faster. Hold on. I'm coming.
Meanwhile, in the Village
The village was in chaos. The pithouses were engulfed in flames, their thatched roofs burning brightly against the night sky. Goblins screamed and shouted as they fought to defend their home, their crude weapons clashing against the blades of the attackers. The assailants were humans, their faces obscured by black hoods with red stripes. They moved with precision and ruthlessness, cutting down any goblin that stood in their way.
Shiki, the hobgoblin chief, stood at the heart of the battle, his massive frame a beacon of strength and leadership. He barked orders, his voice cutting through the chaos.
"Rok! Zog! Protect the evacuating goblins! Get them to the cave!" he shouted, his eyes scanning the battlefield. "Grut! Where's Lok?"
Grut, who had been firing arrows from a distance, turned to the chief. "He's not here, Chief! He went to the caves!"
Shiki's expression softened for a moment, a flicker of relief crossing his face. "Good," he muttered. Then, with a solemn expression, he removed the necklace he always wore—a string of fangs and bones—and handed it to Grut.
"Take this," Shiki said, his voice firm but tinged with sadness. "When you find Lok, give it to him. Tell him… to lead the village better than I did."
Grut's eyes widened, tears welling up as he clutched the necklace. "Chief, what about you? You can't stay here!"
Shiki placed a hand on Grut's shoulder, his gaze steady. "I'll buy you time. Now go. Protect the young ones and the females. That's an order."
Grut hesitated, his fists clenched in frustration and grief. But he knew better than to argue with the chief. With a final nod, he turned and ran, his heart heavy but his resolve unshaken.
Elder Krug appeared beside Shiki, his frail frame wielding an iron machete with surprising strength. "I will fight, Chief," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.
Shiki nodded, a grim smile on his face. "Then let's keep these humans busy."
The two goblins stood back-to-back, their weapons raised as they prepared to face the onslaught. The attackers closed in, their blades gleaming in the firelight. Shiki let out a roar, his massive frame surging forward to meet them head-on.