Another hour and a half went by, and I noticed the first rays of sunlight breaking through the forest, from my concealed spot, I observed the surrounding area, unlike the dense and impenetrable forest I had traversed earlier, this particular section had a slightly more open layout and the trees were more sparse. While it didn't offer complete visibility, it provided enough visual cover to shield me from prying eyes. The foliage and trees created a natural screen, further aiding my camouflage. The soft glow of dawn began to illuminate the surroundings, casting a warm and golden hue over the landscape. It was a peaceful sight, contrasting with the tension that had filled the night.
With the coming of daylight, I knew that the goblins would soon complete their work and likely some more goblins would arrive to help carry the rest back. I continued to remain still, observing their movements and preparing myself for the next steps once they had departed. It was a waiting game, but I had a growing sense of confidence that I would successfully navigate this situation and continue my journey once they were gone.
After what seemed like another hour, or perhaps mere minutes, the goblins successfully completed the arduous task of skinning the boar. I watched in both awe and surprise as they deftly separated the pelt into two halves. Considering the sheer size of the creature, it made sense to divide the weight to make transportation more manageable, the pelts were still huge. The sight of the massive boar now stripped of its protective layer left me with a newfound appreciation for the resourcefulness of these goblin creatures. With the task accomplished, the goblins began to gather their spoils, carefully rolling up the boar's pelts and securing them with crude bindings. Their synchronized movements and efficiency displayed a level of coordination and experience I hadn't expected from these seemingly primitive beings. It was evident that they had done this many times before, perhaps as a means of survival or sustenance in wild environment.
After successfully skinning the boar, the goblins turned their attention to the creature's formidable tusks. It was clear that they intended to claim every valuable part of their prize. With crude tools in hand, they carefully approached the boar's mouth, preparing to extract the prized tusks.
They carefully removed the tusks, gently separating them from the boar's skull. After they were done, they dropped Brandon's body unceremoniously on the ground, seemingly done with their task.
As the hours ticked by and the forest remained relatively quiet, my anxiety continued to rise. The absence of any signs of the goblin leader or other creatures heightened my sense of unease. The occasional rustle of leaves or chirping of birds was the only other sound.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
With each passing moment, my mind played out various scenarios, questioning the safety of my current position and the potential risks that lay ahead. I felt a tinge of frustration at the uncertainty of the situation, unsure of whether to continue waiting or to make a move towards my safe spot. As I looked around, I noticed some unfamiliar bird species flying about, their vibrant feathers adding a touch of colour to the otherwise green-blueish surroundings. It served as a reminder that life continued its natural course.
After successfully freeing the boar from the tree by extracting its tusks, I watched with curiosity as the goblins proceeded to open the belly of the beast. I anticipated them to remove its organs, a task that would be necessary if they intended to consume or utilize them in some way. However, to my surprise, one of the goblins emerged from the boar's belly, drenched in gore but clutching a peculiar stone in its hand.
Intrigued by this unexpected turn of events, I decided to employ my skill, 'Analyse,' to gain further insight into the stone the goblin held. With a focused mind, I directed my attention towards the stone, hoping to unravel its nature and significance.
Beast Core: Common
As the analysis unfolded, it became apparent that the stone, despite its significance to the goblins, was of common quality, it was the size of ping pong ball. This revelation left me terrified about the potential existence of higher qualities and how much stronger other beasts with superior cores might be. It raised questions about the hierarchy of power and the potential for even more formidable creatures in this world. The common core of the boar suggested that there might be something that was less than common but also superior to it.
After extracting the core from the boar, the goblins set it aside along with the two halves of the pelt. They then proceeded to meticulously dismember the rest of the boar, working with precision and efficiency. It was fascinating to observe their methodical approach, as they divided the creature into manageable portions for what I assumed would be transport. The scene was both gruesome and mesmerizing, a stark reminder of the harsh reality of survival in this new world.
After completing their task of dismembering the boar, the goblins were left with sizable chunks of meat, which I assumed each of them would carry with others of their kin. The scene was a grisly one, with blood splattered everywhere and the overpowering stench of the fresh kill filling the air. As they went about their work, the goblins engaged in intermittent conversations, their guttural language punctuating the otherwise quiet forest. Once their labour was done, they took a moment to rest, sitting down and tearing into portions of the boar meat, satisfying their hunger with primal sounds.