Birthright Ingredient (Uncommon) — Greenkin Corpse: Greenkin often hunt in packs, relying on quick ambushes with their powerful, but compact bodies. But this one is weak and malnourished. The weak are pushed out by the strong as they are considered a waste of resources.
| Class: Rogue
| Path: Ambusher
So that’s why it was alone? Levi sighed. It was good news for him.
He debated on whether or not to take the body. The Ingredient would come in useful for his second seed, offering him a path that would complement his current one. He could use his power of persuasion to lure them into his traps, then, with a more powerful body, kill in one fell swoop.
But it also offered a way for other creatures in the forest to stalk him based on the smell of blood. It wasn’t a risk he was willing to take.
Levi returned back to the town. He was in a lot of pain, his muscles burned, but he still had so much to do. So, sucking it up, he got to work moving the supplies from the house previous, to a new home. Then, he barricaded it up, and waited for night to arrive. Because of his weak, small limbs, it took much longer than he would have liked. Darkness was approaching.
Sitting next to the purple lantern that battled against the Deep Dark, Levi was covered in blankets. They shrouded his figure in its entirety.
He soon found himself thinking back to the Greenkin. His words held power, that much was obvious. But his body didn’t. If he was caught again in a fight like that, the chances of dying left him very uncomfortable. So, he would have to plan ahead to fight. That brought him to his next point.
The more he dwelled on the Ingredient, the more he had made up his mind. Fingers pinching his chin, he thought to himself, because I’m a child, and the limitations of my first Birthright, I can’t rely on brute force. No, I should rely on traps just like my initial idea.
The greenkin wasn’t an Ingredient that he needed. If he wanted the best chances of survival, he had to make sure that each Ingredient complimented his first Birthright. That meant it had to have some kind of magical capilites.
That really only left a Class that revolves around magical traps. Maybe fire? Lure them into a pitfall with his honeyed words, then entrap them with blazing magic. That sounded awesome. Better yet, he wouldn’t even have to lift a finger. Okay, well making the traps would be more exhausting than fighting–but it wasn’t as scary. The Earth attribute was even better in that regard. He could excavate entire areas with the power of magic, then create rocky spears.
His second Birthright required two, so with one being Fire, or Earth, what would his second Ingredient be? Levi settled on something that would improve the physicality of his body. If shit hit the fan, if a creature didn’t end up falling in his trap, he’d have to run. He needed strength to do that. And if he had his back to a wall with nowhere to run? Yeah, he’d also need strength for that as well.
Wait, would the additional magical elements of the Ingredients empower the previous? He had to find out before he received his second seed.
That led him to a much more pressing issue. How did he get another one? The first seemingly emerged from the ground, maybe it was the Round Tables doing, or maybe it was due to Kale’s wish. And how rare were they? Sure, he had been given a quest with a reward to obtain one, but what about the next?
Levi found himself worrying.
The night had arrived.
He could still see…light?
What is going on? He swore it was midnight right now.
Levi scrambled over to the barricaded window. Peering between the crack of wooden planks, he saw the moon linger high above. There was no godly hand, nor was there the threat of tentacle monsters wanting to taste his flesh.
It was calm. Levi didn’t like it. After being on edge for the last couple days, Levi couldn’t get used to the sudden calmness of the night. It was like there was something wrong.
In the grip of an unusual circumstance, Levi found himself unable to close his eyes for even a moment. Instead, he stared relentlessly at the moon, anticipating the imminent arrival of the hand that would cast the world into the dreaded Deep Dark. However, as the moon descended and the orange orb of dawn emerged on the horizon, Levi came to a startling realisation: the hand was not destined to appear that night. Bewildered and exhausted, he couldn't comprehend why or how, but his frazzled mind reached its breaking point.
He fell asleep.
***
Waking up covered in sweat, the sun was high above. It was most likely noon based on the previous days of sun. He began the day by washing himself, then immediately got to work outside the town.
Feeling the reprieve from the sun amongst the tall trees, Levi started digging with the spade he had taken from the smithies. As the blade plunged into the dirt, he soon realised that the task in front of him was monumental. When he hit rocks, he had to stop to dig them out. When he hit the roots, he had to pause to chop through them with a hand saw.
6 hours passed, and Levi had barely dug out a whole 2 feet deep. Yeah, this was going to take much longer than he anticipated.
3 days passed without the hand of god disrupting the night. It was only after the 2nd night did he manage to sleep the entire night. Levi would have loved to say that he roused that morning feeling fresh and well rested, but he’d be lying. His entire body was aching all over. But it wasn’t without its rewards.
As Levi dug out the last shovel of dirt, he gazed at his achievements with a smile on his face.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
You have received 2 points of Strength.
| You have received 2 points of Vitality.
| You have received 1 point of Dexterity.
| You have received 1 point of Mana.
He had thought of giving up on the first day, but when he saw those messages, and felt the heat, and power it brought with it–he decided to press on with fervour. The feeling of improving his body through hard work and effort was addicting. Euphoric.
While digging, improving his physical stats, he also used his Inciting words in hopes of improving his mana. And it worked. It had grown by 1 point. It seemed like he could grind out his stats in this way. Levi laughed at the realisation. It was embarrassing, but he had said to himself that he’d become the greatest mage. And why not? He had the talent of one.
He had also seen a few greenkin patrols on the outer premier of the forest. They were nearing. Were they checking up on the abandoned greenkin, or were they scouting the forest for food? Whatever the reason was, it wouldn’t be long before they found the town.
They had most likely found the goblin. He had left the body to bring them here. Was it a foolish mistake? Levi hoped not.
Lifting the mound of dirt out of the hole, Levi broke out into a wide smile. He was finished. Clambering out of the whole with great effort, he gathered the spears from the smithy, and placed them back in the hole. Finally, he placed over a thin piece of wood that would break with just the right amount of force. He had already tested it back in the town. Covering it with leaves, he stood back to admire his handiwork. To his surprise, a notification popped up.
You have obtained the Skill – Trap Making (★): You have learned how to make a basic pitfall trap.
| Damage with traps is increased by 10%
| Progress to next Level-up → 0/1,000xp
Awesome, Levi thought with a rewarding smile.
Wiping the sweat beading and dripping from his forehead, he steadied his turmoiled breath and leaned back on the cool of the tree bark for a moment. He needed a rest. But the nearby chattering in an indecipherable language caused Levi’s heart to jump.
It was a greenkin patrol.
How many were there this time? 3, 4…5? He hoped not. His plan was built on the fact that there would only be 2, like how they usually patrolled. Levi’s heart quickened.
Calm down Levi. You can do this. You are not the same person you were back on Earth. In this life, I will be something more. Something greater.
Levi clenched his hands together so hard that the whites of his knuckles were displayed. He quickly picked up his spear, dashed a few metres away, rolled in the dirt to mask his scent. By his side was a jar.
He shouted.
“Over here!”
His heart was beating so fast that he was worried that the goblins may hear it. But that worry was erased the moment his eyes settled on the 3 monsters that emerged from the darkness of the forest. Yellowed teeth snarling, the demonic glint in their eyes, the bundled strength hidden in their muscles. These were not the same creatures that he had defeated a few days ago. They were healthy, strong–the hunters of their pack.
Trepidation tugged at him like a weighted blanket, but he steeled himself.
Levi made a sound akin to an animal, sharp and squeaky like. Hearing that, two of the goblins with spears raised stalked forwards. Two of them fell straight into the trap, screams bellowed out and into the forest, echoing amongst the endless trees. It had worked, but it wasn’t enough, Levi knew that.
Scrambling to his feet, he uncorked the jar at his side, sprinted forwards, and splashed it on the two greenkins stuck in the trap. He continued in a wide arc, also dowsing the 3rd creature before throwing the rest of the container in the hole.
Levi’s muscles tensed. The 3rd greenkin that hadn’t fallen in the trap had a bow. It pulled it back.
Levi’s tongue thrummed with mana, and yelled a command, “Put down the bow!”
The goblin listened, lowering the bow, shaking its head. It bought Levi a few seconds. That’s all he needed.
He lit the lighter that was hidden in his pocket, and threw it in the pit. The oil ignited, revealing a blazing fire that engulfed all in its path in an instant. The hole was like a raging inferno, consuming the two greenkins within. Their wretched howls tugged at Levi’s mind.
It was working–
Levi’s shoulder tugged backwards, like something had just pulled him from behind. He glanced at his shoulder. An arrow shaft revealed itself, along with a blossom of red that joined it.
Eyes widening, the 3rd monster, even while consumed in fire, had gotten a shot off. Instead of rolling on the ground in an attempt to assuage the flames, it had instead attacked.
Mind roiling, Levi did the only thing he thought to do–attack. He couldn't’ let it live, couldn’t let it return back to where it came from, couldn’t let it save the others.
Spear pointing forwards, Levi rushed for the creature. He found himself turning calm. He knew where he had to strike. He just had to be patient.
The greenkin dodged, but with flames in its eyes, it stumbled.
“Face me, you little shit.”
His mana imbued words had little effect now that it was used to it. Levi found his thoughts returning to when he used it against the other monster. He had mentioned that chieftain. They turned crazy at the mention; as if that word was their weakness.
Gathering his dwindling mana, Levi tried once more.
“Your chieftain would never back away!” Levi screamed, words uttering their commands. “Face me directly!”
The greenkin's eyes transformed, clouding over with fury as one charged straight at Levi, its sharp claws poised to strike.
Gritting his teeth, Levi summoned every ounce of strength in his arms and drove his spear into the monster's soft throat. But to his horror, the greenkin continued its onslaught, its claws slashing across Levi's chest with searing heat.
As the creature collapsed on top of him, Levi frantically grappled with its limbs, desperately trying to fend off the beast's relentless assault. Yet, despite his efforts, he was painfully aware of his own physical limitations – the frailty of his 12-year-old frame no match for the brute force of the greenkin.
A vicious backhand from the monster sent Levi reeling, stars dancing before his eyes, his head spinning.
Then, a crushing weight descended upon him, threatening to overwhelm him entirely. Levi panicked, thrashing his limbs in any way he could, but he found himself halting his actions. The beast had already breathed its last.
You have defeated: Greenkin (Level 8)
| You have Levelled up: 2->4
| You have 4 unspent Stat points.
And then, the harrowing screams of those stuck in the pitfall trap ended.
You have defeated: Greenkin (Level 6)
You have defeated: Greenkin (Level 7)
| You have Levelled up: 4->5
| You have 2 unspent Stat points.
In the crackling embrace of the fire's warmth, silence cocooned him as he gazed upward at the towering tree canopy. Though victory was his, his laughter echoed through the quiet, a blend of triumph and anguish reverberating in the stillness.
Too weak to move, and with the monster still atop of him, Levi allocated his stats. A surge of power surged through his body, infusing him with newfound strength and potential.
In that moment, listening to the crackling fire in the background, gazing up at the tree canopy with a corpse pressed on his chest, he realised that this was the dawn of his new life.