A few hours later, or so I estimated, my senses jolted awake as my skill 'Detect Danger' reverberated through my mind, aptly earning its name. Instinctively activating 'Hide Presence', I cautiously emerged from my sleeping bag, perched high upon one of the tallest branches. From my vantage point, I beheld the approaching figures, their stature dwarf-like, standing at around 1.5 meters. Their elongated ears, large dark eyes, and greenish-blue complexion allowed them to seamlessly blend with the nocturnal landscape, where the foliage bore similar hues. Clad in rudimentary tribal attire, barely sufficient to ward off the night's chill, two of them brandished simple spears, while the other wielded a crude mace. As they drew nearer, I seized the opportunity to employ 'Analyse' on one of the creatures.
Monster: Goblin [Level: 12]
Monster: Goblin [Level: 9]
Monster: Goblin [Level: 10]
Upon further examination of my screens, I noticed two significant details. Firstly, instead of labeling the creatures as "beasts," they were categorized as "monsters." This revelation surprised me, as I had initially assumed that the inhabitants of this world would primarily consist of animals or mutated animals. However, the presence of these humanoid creatures introduced an entirely new race into the equation, and if there was one there were bound to be more races. The fact that they were classified as monsters added an unexpected twist to the situation, raising questions about their nature and capabilities.
Curiosity filled me as I observed the approaching creatures with caution, hidden from their awareness. However, a sense of unease started to creep in as I contemplated the possibility of a confrontation. While I had managed to overcome a single boar with some luck, the prospect of facing three humanoid beings simultaneously made me increasingly nervous. I had no doubt in my mind that engaging in a fight with these semi-human creatures would result in my death or, drawing the attention of their kin, leading to again, death. Both outcomes were far from desirable, and I wished to avoid them at all costs.
A wave of panic washed over me as I found myself sinking deeper into what I could only describe as a mental downward spiral. Just moments ago, I had witnessed a life-and-death situation where another human lost their life before my eyes. I was in no emotional or mental state to subject myself to a similar ordeal, especially not now, and to make matters worse, I was completely alone, facing the daunting prospect of confronting three adversaries simultaneously. The overwhelming thought of it sent shivers down my spine.
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These so-called monsters weren't mere mindless creatures. They displayed signs of intelligence by crafting their own rudimentary weapons and clothing, and their ability to communicate with each other in their guttural language only added to the unsettling awareness. It made me ponder the nature of killing. How many of us, prior to the Integration, had ever taken a life? Not many, and certainly not me. Even the thought of having to kill something vaguely resembling a human sent shivers down my spine. How many people would truly have the courage to face such a situation? Perhaps in a life-or-death scenario, rational thought goes out the window, but even then, the idea seemed inconceivable. I could only recall a close encounter when someone attempted to break into my house, but even then, my intentions weren't driven by a desire to kill. At this very moment, fear and nervousness consumed me entirely.
Having to again gain control over my anxiety and thoughts made me realize I wouldn't get far in this new reality if I continued to be driven by fear and nervousness. I needed to embrace what was necessary, even if it meant facing difficult choices or taking actions that made me uncomfortable. I knew there were people out there who had no qualms about killing or doing whatever it took to achieve their goals, and if I wanted to survive and thrive in this world, I had to change, not to be like them but a better version of myself. Maybe that was the purpose of the tutorial, it did state it was “transformative journey of self-discovery”, perhaps all this bullshit was about killing.
"Iwol monkerit det kine nect el kine nect killed iwol monkerit," said the squad leader, whom I assumed was the squad leader due to his broader build and the mace he held in one hand. He was also a level 12, while the others were level 9 and 10. He gestured towards Brandon's body as he spoke. The other two goblins with spears cheered in response.
I couldn't help but notice that the spears were made of a short stick with a sharp stone attached to the tip, while the mace was made of metal. A sickening feeling churned in my stomach as I considered the possibility that they might have killed someone else for that mace.
"Ti nevar con iwol monkey, todarit not con iwol monkerit el kine nect el parki!" shouted the squad leader, his laughter turning manic. The other two goblins joined in the laughter.
"Nuuk snarl vol be mete scas, mear wane ten lan todarit," said the second spear man, and they all celebrated, throwing their hands up in the air.
I had no freaking idea what these green, hairless guys were saying until the last spear-wielding one mentioned the name "Nuuk." Suddenly, it clicked in my mind that I had a quest to kill someone named Nuuk Snarl, the area boss. It couldn't be a mere coincidence. This Nuuk person must be their leader or some important figure. If that was the case, I definitely didn't want them to alert others of their kind. The reward for defeating the boss was five times higher than killing the boar, and I was already certain that I wouldn't stand a chance against the boar, let alone someone at least five times stronger.
They gathered around the boar, muttering a few more words that I couldn't quite make out. Then, they turned their attention back to Brandon, and my heart started racing as they began "inspecting" the body—or rather, sniffing it.
‘ti perceiet anothar iwol monk mei mei’, said the spearman smelling Brandon, and the other two jumped to their feet and started looking around.
That’s when I knew something was wrong as my ‘Detect Danger’ skill started buzzing in my skull again, stronger this time, I knew instinctively that they were looking for something or someone, they probably had a skill to do with smells and they noticed there was someone else with Brandon so they were looking for him, which in this case was me, which in this case I was screwed.