William's point of view

Two weeks have passed since I began this ordeal. As time goes by, the mushrooms I'm forced to eat are beginning to exert their influence on me, affecting my health and mental state.

"But seriously, where am I?"

What kind of cruel place forces an eight-year-old to endure such conditions?

The walls of the room around me are soaked with sticky humidity, and the smell of death emanating from the rodents that have attacked the poisoned dishes is almost unbearable.

In addition to the harsh physical conditions, there's the loneliness.

A solitude that seems to weigh on me like a crushing weight, as if it wanted to smother the little light that remains in my mind.

And yet, despite all this, I marvel at my own ability to reason, to maintain a semblance of clarity in this chaos.

Perhaps this is my only glimmer of hope in this dark, inhospitable world.

* * *

Luca's point of view

For days, the goblins kept throwing darts in my direction, their repeated assault a desperate attempt to overwhelm me with a rain of deadly projectiles.

Despite their persistence, I remained on my feet, relying on my determination and energy reserves.

This test of endurance was not really a problem for me.

After all, in previous trials, I had found that I needed neither sleep nor food to maintain my physical state.

However, my childlike body, though resilient, was showing signs of fatigue in the face of this relentless onslaught.

At first, dodging the arrows was relatively easy.

The distance between me and the goblins gave me a certain advantage, enabling me to see the arrows coming and avoid them deftly.

However, as the days progressed and the hours ticked by, fatigue began to weigh on me.

My movements became slower and less precise, and dodging arrows became increasingly difficult.

My body, already tested by previous trials, was beginning to show signs of exhaustion.

My muscles were tense, my joints aching, and my mind clouded with fatigue.

Every movement became an effort, every dodge a challenge, and the night seemed to stretch on indefinitely in an exhausting struggle between my will to survive and the goblins' relentless attacks.

All the while, the goblins seemed to attack relentlessly, taking turns.

If one gets tired, another immediately takes his place. Fortunately, their numbers have dwindled, but their coordinated strategy puts me in a difficult position.

Luckily for me, they hadn't used this method from the start, as I'd have had no way of dodging all the arrows raining down on me.

How am I going to get out of this situation?

Just as I was thinking of a solution, a new group of goblins appeared.

They're all armed with rudimentary tools and each carrying a piece of wood.

"Could it be that they're planning to build a bridge?"

Knowing that the bridge I've built is riddled with traps, they apparently decide to build their own.

"That's a bad sign."

If I let them, they might just succeed in killing me.

I must act quickly. My island's resources are limited, but I need to find a way to use them to my advantage.

I might be able to create a diversion to divert them from their construction project, but that could also cause them to intensify their attack.

Another option would be to attempt a discreet exit while they're busy working, but this too carries risks as the lake is crocodile-infested.

In any case, I know I can't remain passive.

As I desperately tried to find a solution, an arrow suddenly whistled through the air, puncturing my shoulder.

"Aaagh!!!"

A shiver of pain ran through my body as I screamed in surprise and annoyance.

The goblins, seeing my momentary vulnerability, wasted no time in trying to finish me off.

A new arrow split the air, but by instinctive reflex, I managed to narrowly dodge the attack, feeling the warm wind from the arrow graze my cheek.

"That was really close!"

But the relief was short-lived, as I realized that every second of distraction could be fatal in this critical situation.

As I concentrated on ranged attacks, I suddenly realized that other goblins were taking advantage of my preoccupation to cross the bridge I'd built.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Quickly! We've got to act fast!", I said to myself as I rushed towards the bridge to try and set off the traps before the goblins managed to reach me.

With a sudden movement, I tried to trigger the traps by pulling on the vines that activated them.

However, despite my best efforts, nothing happened. Panic overcame me as I realized I might have pulled the wrong links, leaving myself vulnerable to enemy attacks.

"No, no, no! It's not possible!"

Feeling fear rise within me as the goblins continued to advance, their arrows whistling dangerously around me.

"Aaagh!!!"

Suddenly, a new arrow came crashing into my ankle, sending a new wave of pain erupting throughout my body.

"I have no choice!", I told myself resignedly.

To survive, I must sacrifice the bridge.

Without wasting another moment, I launched myself at the vines, cutting them quickly and efficiently. The bridge collapsed noisily with a deafening crash, taking with it the goblins' hopes of reaching me.

"I really can't go on like this".

My wounds were accumulating and I was gradually losing consciousness.

As I waited for another wave of darts, however it didn't happen.

"What's going on?"

Raising my head to take in the situation, I noticed that the goblins had run out of ammunition.

"About time."

As a result, I took the opportunity to rest.

Already, the situation couldn't be worse.

For a start, I'm wounded in the shoulder and ankle.

Then I destroyed my only means of defense, the bridge.

Even if the bridge was there, it would be of no use as the goblins were building theirs.

When I look up to see where they are on their bridge construction.

I notice that they're having trouble making progress, as the crocodiles I'd released earlier in the lake were in the way.

This is a good sign.

While I rejoiced in their misfortune, the pain only increased.

Shit, at this rate my wounds won't be healed for at least a week.

Why are the goblins picking on a poor stone?

As I was cursing the sapphire, I remembered something.

My authoring skill

During the previous trials, I'd used this ability to manage my inventory and consult my profile, but there was one feature I'd neglected: [analysis].

As the author of this world, I had the power to analyze any object and discover its hidden properties.

Perhaps this was the key to unlocking the mystery of the sapphire and finding a way to counter the goblins.

With renewed determination, I struggled to my feet and approached the sapphire resting atop my island.

Ignoring the stabbing pain coursing through my body, I focused all my attention on the shining object before me.

Closing my eyes, I immersed myself in the analysis interface, letting my mind connect with the mysteries of the universe I had created.

Slowly, information began to emerge, revealing the secrets of the sapphire.

Name: Scarlet Core

Property: An object of great value to intelligent monsters, but its true powers remain unknown to the general public.

Description: This core emits an aura of mysterious power, attracting the attention of those who seek to unlock its secrets. Only a strong, determined spirit can hope to master its power.

As I held the scarlet core in my trembling hand, a series of thoughts swirled through my mind.

The mysterious phrase, "A great value for monsters with intelligence", sounded like an incessant echo, feeding my curiosity and desire to understand.

I recalled previous events, realizing that, at first, the goblins seemed more interested in the precious artifact than in my own presence.

It was only after I'd eliminated one of them that they'd begun to see me as a potential threat.

Determined to test their reaction to the Scarlet Core, I struggled to my feet despite the stabbing pain of my wounds.

The imminent confrontation with the goblins wasn't reassuring, but I had to find out if this object really had the power to influence their behavior.

When the goblins returned, armed and ready to attack, I held up the scarlet core, creating an illusion of imminent destruction by manipulating it near a flickering flame.

Their eyes widened in fright as they realized their precious treasure was in danger.

The fire on my hand, coming from the candle I had wisely stored in my inventory, added a dramatic element to the scene. It was a successful bluff.

"Listen to me, goblins! If you understand what I'm saying, drop your weapons," I said in a firm voice, seeking to exploit their moment of confusion.

Without waiting for their leader's command, all the goblins without exception dropped their weapons, demonstrating their understanding and apparent submission to my orders.

Relieved that my words were understood, I decided to guide them towards a peaceful resolution of the situation.

"To begin with, I'd like you to bring me something to heal me - a potion, for example!" I called out to the goblins, hoping they would respond to my request.

However, the goblins remained motionless, reluctant to obey my orders.

"I'm afraid you haven't quite grasped the situation," I said, bringing the scarlet core close to the candle, letting them know that I had the power to threaten them.

the goblin chief hurriedly took out a greenish vial, which appeared to be the long-awaited healing potion, and brought it to me in a small improvised boat.

Their effectiveness was surprising, almost impressive.

Once I had the vial in my hands, I examined it carefully, aware of the potential danger posed by an unknown liquid.

My quick analysis allowed me to determine that it was a poison disguised as a healing potion.

"You really think I'm going to consume poison?" I cried, denouncing their devious attempt to harm me.

Faced with their glaring error, the goblins hastened to correct their mistake by sending me the real healing potion. This time, I could drink in complete safety, knowing that I was in no mortal danger.

After swallowing the potion, I felt a soothing warmth spread through my body, beginning the process of healing my wounds.

Now that my wounds were healed, it was time to devise a strategy.

"Gentlemen goblins! I have a proposition for you," I declared firmly.

"You want the stone, and I want to save my life, don't I?" Their unanimous nods confirmed my words.

"In that case, the best solution would be for you to retrieve the stone and leave me alone."

Their heads nodded briskly as if accepting my offer.

"However, you tried to poison me earlier," I remarked, noting their growing unease.

"Fortunately for you, I'm a trustworthy person," I added, calming their concerns.

Their cries of discontent expressed their anger, reminding me of my past actions.

Without really caring about the criticism I continued

"Here's what you're going to do: build another bridge opposite the one you've erected. Once both bridges are finished, I'll escape from one of them, leaving the stone behind. What do you say?"

After a long moment's reflection, the goblins agreed to my proposal.

"In that case, get started!"

Once the goblins had accepted my proposal, they immediately set to work.

Their agitation was palpable as they hurried to gather the materials needed to build the new bridge.

The sounds of hammers striking wood and stones colliding filled the air, as the goblins worked with renewed energy.

Meanwhile, I remained on the bank, watching their progress closely.

Despite my confidence in their ability to build a functional bridge, a part of me remained wary.

After all, these goblins had already tried to harm me in the past. I had to stay on my guard and make sure everything went according to plan.

As the new bridge took shape, I mentally evaluated my escape strategy.

Once both bridges were completed, I'd have to choose the right moment to escape without arousing the goblins' suspicions.

It was a delicate task, but I knew that my survival depended on it.

Finally, after several days of intense effort, the goblins finished building the two bridges.

Their faces were scarred by fatigue, but a gleam of satisfaction shone in their eyes as they contemplated their accomplished work.

The goblins stare at me as if to say, "They've finished!

I nodded my head in approval, cleverly hiding my impatience and excitement.

The moment of truth was approaching, and I was ready to seize this opportunity to regain my freedom.