Frankly, the worst thing about pulling an all nighter? The headaches the next morning. Because as it turns out, reducing the bodies need for rest was not quite as helpful when you spent the entire night fighting. That, and the screaming and exertion, all the noise just drilled into my head until I wanted to find a nice dark hole and just cuddle a pug while in a nest made of comforters and cushions. Cold wet cloth on my eyes optional. Because its not like I would be able to play the various kinds of ambience I used to relax.

But survival brought rewards, as well as headaches, as flashing boxes appeared in front of everyone. "Fucking hell!" I was not the only one to swear, as the damn things were pulsing like some sort of demented disco ball! Likely the loot boxes from the completed quest. Frankly, it was irritating, but it did stop when the box was opened and the 'starter goodies' were exposed. The starter goodies, that were in part... not the worst really. Basic crap was still useful crap.

For inside of that starter loot box was (for me anyway), a voucher for five hundred mythos points, two potions of cure light wounds, a masterwork club and a clearly previously owned book. The rips, tears and bloodstains that seemed fresh kinda pointed to a previous owner. That as I opened it, my eyes widened and I pondered this stroke of strange fortune. Because I recognized some of the spells in the book. While not useful right away for the most part, the complete contents of the Guide to Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, or at least their arcane spells, would be useful in a personal sense.

Later. When there was no family around to judge. This was worse in many respects than my browsing history. At least on the public teasing and private favor trading angle. Granted, there was the mildly important question of how the hell was a book with ninth level spells in it considered starting gear! I was not expecting to be answered.

[Because one of your other beta testers decided sex magic was worth a boon... but was not able to use the more advanced spells yet to bag her rich sugar daddy! But she gave it the good ole dating app try! Alas, the mans wife (and by extension her armed muscle) were not amused]

I blinked as the message pulsed on the book and then dissipated. Well, that was something. Funny in a way, but in the way that Jackass was funny. Play stupid games and win stupid prizes and all that. Granted, I could have used something actually useful, instead of what amounted to a recycled spell book of... okay, when things cleared up, it would be useful as hell if just a little awkward... as was the next little notification. Because really? I did not want to know that it was possible!

[Magic Weave spell options expanded! After all, the fey are known for being sexy!]

Now, there was just one real response to that. "I'm going to go and check on my place." All of which meant taking my trike out of the back of the van, securing my loot and pug at the compound (I'd be coming back for them and it was safe here)... and pedaling out onto the road. All in all, as I went into Murillo proper, or at least the more developed 'core' of the area, well, it looked like there were groups around the school, millworks and community center, and we waved to each other as I biked past. All in all, it was a quiet morning, and aside from some piles of ash, not much to suggest anything changed.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

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Of course, as I came out of the core and by the meat processing facility that's when I realized that of course it was not just zombies and undead. No, there was a group of goblins working on digging a pit trap. Or at least, there was a gang of what looked like six goblins digging a pit in broad daylight across the road. Now, far be it from me if these were people who thought that goblins were a good pick. I'd at least try and say something. "Hey there, whatcha doing?"

The resulting squeals and screams as they moved, getting ready to flee or fight? Yeah, these might be monsters. So, I focused on my crown chakra, as my mind expanded. Sure, eighty feet sounded great on paper and for a game, but in real life? That was barely any range at all. But what it did let me do was check and see if the treeline had any ambushers. Which is of course, when one of the six visible ones (there were no others hiding in range), decided to throw a javelin at me.

Yup, probably hostile, as the claws came out and the weapon impacted the ground a ways to my left and in front of me. Frankly, I thought I might have to try smacking it, which given how bad my ability to judge distances was? Yeah, that might not have turned out so well. Still, this was a good reason to have left my dog behind, as I moved forward. There was a sense of freedom, in the fact that I didn't have to pay attention to anyone else. That I could, as the little shits missed again and promptly scattered, just charge.

The slowest one? That barely had time to scream before I was on them, claws impaling them, ripping free as I continued to move. All of them headed towards the same place, towards the meat processing facility. Was it freaking transformed into a goblin lair? Something to think on, as I mentally roared. "All right you little shits! First one to tell me what I want to know gets to live!" Sure, the range of my telepathy was going to shrink soon, but I may as well use it to the full while I could.

Alas, there was just mental screaming, even as I reached down, punching through the back of a head, still moving as claws and fist came out of its face, stabbing into a third, as I roared. Sure, it was acting, but then again? Goblins. Goblins are one of the things you needed to just purge from an area if you wanted to live in peace and quiet. Then one of them looked back, and tripped over its own feet, the stench of urine in the air. Whimpering, it began to plead. "Mighty one, I tell, I tell, spare me!" Its voice was sniveling and whimpering, even as the other?

Well, I could not actually read minds other than what they were sending me. I could not sense emotions, and as far as social cues went? If it was more subtle than smacking me in the face with a fish, I was not likely to get it. That said, I like to think the others were terrified, as it spat a stream of what sounded like curses at the other goblin. Because greater telepathy only worked with what people were communicating to me, as they thought the words. I would need to wait for a while before getting an automatic translation ability.

Of course, what that meant is that I had to change my angle, avoid the fallen gob and reach out and finish off the last bit of fodder. Goblins were, when not in the lairs, classic fodder for a reason. So it came to pass that I was standing over a small creature that would kill, rape and eat me and my relatives (maybe not in that order), claws out as I tapped its cheeks. "So, mind telling me about your lot?"

What followed was babbling, whimpering and hand wringing that 'the great scary claw master' was a merciful one compared to the great goblin wolf that took over the band. Which could either be a Worg or Barghest, and considering how terms like devouring the souls of the weak were cropping up along with tales of its great magical powers? Yeah, it was one of the soul eaters. A part of me looked at the meat processing plant, because they had just moved in, so there were likely not a lot of traps. Other gangs were scouting... and so their lair could be relatively undefended.

And frankly, aside from the one foe... I grinned, a predators grin. Well, it was like an EXP buffet really. And who was I not to partake?