As the hours dragged on, the combination of sleep deprivation, stress, and the lingering effects of adrenaline started to take their toll on me. It had been at least four or five hours since the goblins' arrival, and their leader or reinforcements had not yet returned. I pondered the possibilities: either their dwelling was located far away, or their leader had allotted them a predetermined amount of time to finish the skinning task. Uncertainty gnawed at me as I contemplated the intelligence of these creatures. Could they think and plan like humans? Did they possess a sense of time and understand how long certain activities would take? If so, I realized I could find myself in a precarious situation when I had to face then, it wasn’t a matter of if I would meet them, but only when. I had no doubt in my mind.
As the goblins finished their meal, they resumed their activity and approached Brandon's lifeless body. I watched them with a mix of curiosity and concern, unsure of their intentions. To maintain some semblance of control over the situation, I had taken precautions by retrieving Brandon's backpack and his sword, keeping them safely hidden up in the tree. However, the goblins had already taken the blanket I had used to cover him and placed it with the pelts, leaving me wondering what their next course of action would be.
The goblins engaged in a heated discussion among themselves, their guttural language echoing through the clearing. I strained my ears, attempting to decipher their words and understand the nature of their argument, that was to no avail. Their animated gestures and expressions indicated a disagreement of sorts. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease and uncertainty about their intentions regarding Brandon's lifeless body. I silently hoped that they would leave it untouched, as the thought of them desecrating his remains was unsettling. The outcome of their deliberation remained unknown, and I braced myself for any possible actions they might take.
As the goblins continued their heated argument, one of them abruptly left the scene and retrieved his knife from where they had been eating. Meanwhile, the other goblin remained unarmed, seemingly unperturbed by the situation. Observing their behaviour, I deduced that their disagreement was unlikely to escalate to the point of one goblin killing the other. The unarmed goblin's nonchalant demeanour suggested that the conflict might not be of a life-threatening nature. As the goblin wielding the knife approached Brandon's lifeless body, my heart raced with a mix of anxiety, guilt, and a sudden surge of protectiveness. The weight of responsibility settled heavily upon me as I realized that defending his deceased form was the least I could do after everything he had gone through. However, the truth remained that I still lacked combat skills and had yet to acquire any abilities that would aid me in defeating these goblins. The only option that seemed viable was to attempt a surprise attack, similar to what I had done with the boar, and incapacitate one of them, leaving me to face the remaining goblin in a one-on-one battle. It was a risky move, but I felt compelled to honour Brandon's memory and protect his dignity, even in death.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
As I continued observing their actions, the goblin holding the knife diligently removed Brandon's equipment and carefully placed it with the pile of pelts. Meanwhile, the other goblin, seemingly relieved from the duty, retreated and sat down, resuming his consumption of boar meat. It was clear that their previous argument had determined the division of labour, with one goblin assigned to handle the task of collecting Brandon's belongings. After gathering all of Brandon's equipment, which consisted of his damaged boots, broken armor, torn pants, and various other belongings, the goblin holding the knife returned to Brandon's lifeless body. With a sense of horror, I watched as the goblin approached Brandon's lifeless body and brought his knife to his ears, proceeding to remove them. It was a gruesome sight, and I couldn't understand the goblin's motivation for such an act. Perhaps it was some sort of macabre trinket or trophy they sought to claim. Regardless, I knew I couldn't let them desecrate Brandon's body further, as they had done with the boar. It was a matter of respect and dignity, and I couldn't stand by idly and allow it to happen.
With a surge of determination, I quickly accessed my status screen, realizing that I still had 19 points available for distribution. I knew that if it came down to a fight with these goblins, I needed to maximize my advantages. Considering their potential strength, I decided to allocate an additional +6 points to Strength, +4 points to Dexterity, and +4 points to Endurance. This left me with 5 points remaining, which I chose to invest in Perception, leveraging my natural aptitude in that area. I believed that heightened perception would provide valuable insights and help me react swiftly to their movements.
Attributes
Points (0)
Bonus
Strength
20
Dexterity
15
Vitality
8
Endurance
10
Arcana
0
Perception
24
As soon as I redistributed the status points, a surge of newfound energy coursed through my veins. I felt stronger, more resilient, and more attuned to my surroundings. The world around me seemed to come alive with vibrant colors, scents became more pronounced, and even the faintest sounds rang clear in my ears. The enhancements I made to my attributes had an immediate impact on my senses, heightening my overall awareness. As quickly as the surge of heightened senses came, it faded away, leaving me feeling normal once again. It was like a fleeting rush, a brief moment of intensified perception that quickly dissipated. Nonetheless, the brief glimpse into the enhanced state of my senses served as a reminder of the potential that lay within me. It was a glimpse of what I could achieve with further development and mastery of my abilities. The experience left me even more determined to push the limits of my capabilities.