**

After convincing my little sister that staying at home was dangerous, specially when half of the house has been completely obliterated, we gathered everything we can from home. We packed up all the non-perishables that we could find and essential tools that we would need. Then after saying goodbye to Ten, we started heading out. The moment we stepped outside the street, I scanned the area outside. I measured with my hand how many hours of sun light we had left. Since we spent the rest of the morning and some of the afternoon gathering everything and getting ready, we lost track of time and now that it seems like all electrical devices had stopped working, using the survival method was good enough to gain information of how many hours of sunlight is remaining. According to the distance of the sun from the horizon and the number of hand that I counted between the horizon and the the sun, there was only four hours of sun light left in the day.

On our way down hill on Shane drive, the smell of blood lingered the closer we got to the bottom. I lead the way while my sister followed behind me. Half way down to the bottom, I raised my shield to signal that I spotted something and that we need to halt our movement, so that we could assess the situation and figure out the actions that we will eventually perform to solve the situation.

While I was crouched down, observing the scene, Sybil placed her head on my shoulder and began asking questions.

"What is it? What do you see?"

As I looked through the scope in my hand, the only word that I could describe the scene that was taking place was that it was pretty disgusting. But since my sister asked, I decided to describe what I was seeing.

"Remember that Ogre that I told you about?"

"The one that turned into a vegetable after rolling down hill? Yeah, why?"

"Well . .there are these smaller humanoid creatures feasting on its corpse. They've eaten most of the Ogre's flesh."

The moment I answered, Sybil's breathing changed.

"Do they have green skin, pointy ears and very ugly teeth?"

"Uh. . . I guess you can describe them as that."

"GOBLINS."

A deep voice replaced had the voice of my little sister. When I turned my head to look at her face, her eyes were starting to deform. That was when I shrugged my back, to get her attention.

"Hey, you're literally turning into a Troll again. You should control your emotions. Didn't the trait specify that heightened emotions or something, transforms you into a Giant Troll?"

"Ugh Yes. I know that. You're always slapping the elephant in the room. But I can't help being angry." Sybil sighed. "The ones that killed Ten were Goblins."

I suddenly felt annoyed when Sybil mentioned that Goblins were responsible for Ten.

"Is that what happened?" I asked as I kept my emotion in.

"Yeah. I was upstairs smoking weed while watching some video about forging a sword. Suddenly, Ten just kept barking. I ignored her at first, so that I could finish the video that I could have paused. But I didn't pause it. Instead I ignored her until the video finished. But once the video ended, out of nowhere I hear the loud sound of glass breaking. Ten continued to back but after that . . . . I heard Ten yelp. When I heard that sound, I don't know why but I just completely sobered up and became really concerned. I ran down stairs and when I got to the living room, what saw just immediately pissed me off. All I remember was seeing the glass door broken and Ten on the ground not moving. Then when I look at the kitchen, there were these small green dudes going through the fridge. I remember the first time I transformed. I was really high and at the same time I wanted to beat the shit out of these mother fuckers who killed my dog. It was a weird mixture of zen and rage of anger."

Sybil placed her head on my shoulder and just perched on my shoulder. After a few seconds of silence, I turn my head to her face.

"So. . . you want to murder these bitches?"

"Yes. Yes. I do."

I smiled and she smiled back. It was the beginning of a memorable sibling moment. I gave my sister a hug and kissed her on the forehead. Then we started to brain storm on how we should solve this situation.

"Okay. Here's what we could do. We'll use long ranged weapons. I'll use my bow and you use this desert eagle."

After I spoke, Sybil had a concerned look.

"Wait. Where did you get this Desert Eagle?"

"Oh, I know a buddy. Me having these weapons doesn't matter right now. I need you to focus. Once we execute this, its life or death. And I still want to live cause there things and plans that I still want to do."

"Plans? Our situations is basically apocalyptic. There are murderous monsters everywhere and electrical technology are now useless."

"Don't be so negative. Give it time. Things might return to how it was just before you know it. You have to be patient. But for now, I need you to focus. You confirmed this action. Now do you still want to kill these things?"

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"Yes. Yes I do. Let's murder these fuckers."

"Oh hold up. Before we begin, let me set up a plan."

I slowly raised my body to take a peaked over the smashed car that we were hiding behind. While I scanned the surrounding, I noticed that one of the goblins feasting on the Ogre's body looked entirely different from the rest. While the other goblins wore leather armor with bits of metal covering their shoulder, one particular goblin wore a robe. This goblin was also wering a pointy droopy hat. It was very similar to the hat of witches from cartoon would wear. While I was staring at the goblin that looked different from the others, an idea appeared inside my mind. That was when suddenly, I realized something. At that point in time, I quickly and silently lowered my body.

What I somehow connected, is that the Talents that I have acquired from warrior-like monsters gave me enhanced physical abilities. So maybe If I slayed this creature, which I would assume through a nerd's extensive knowledge about fantasy, is that this oddity is some sort of magic wielder. I looked at my sister and smiled.

"Do you trust me?"

"Uh, I followed you down the streets after convincing me that it was dangerous to stay home."

Sybil rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms.

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes. God. Can we kill these things already?"

"We'll get to that after I tell you how we'll execute this."

"Fine. Share and we'll begin."

I smushed the side of my face against Sybil then started whispering my plan.

"Okay. We'll walk to higher ground and I'll start firing off shots using my composite bow. Since you only have seven bullets, only shoot the goblins that comes too close. Plan B if we get over run, fight as hard as you can. Since you have regenerative powers, you will most likely can continue fighting."

"Wait. I don't understand. Why can't we just go on a all out brawl? With my high Strength, I think I would be able to one-hit K.O each goblin."

I gave my sister an expressionless look and began asking her questions.

"Sybil. When was the last time that you fought?"

"I don't remember. I think I was in a bar fight. It shouldn't be that hard right?" Sybil let out a little laugh.

I let out a sigh and looked at Sybil straight in the eyes.

"Okay, Well this isn't like fighting some drunk in a bar. These are hardened and trained monsters. Look at them, they're gnawing on the raw flesh of that Ogre, they've mastered the weapons that they are armed with. You had a week long training with handguns in boot camp many years ago and I doubt you had an expert on the use of handguns because I saw your ribbons before you separated from the military. Also you've never trained with hand to hand combat right? It's fine. I'm not trying to belittle you. I'll teach you what I know in the near future. But for now, I want you to focus because I don't like underestimating my enemies and most importantly, I don't want us to die here. Do you understand?"

this time, Sybil let out a sigh. She knows that I know, that she knows how analytic I am. After a few seconds. She started to speak with a softer and calmer tone.

"Okay. Is that all?"

"No. Lesson One. Always have an escape route. If things don't go the way that was planned, a tactical retreat is best so that we could formulate another plan to solve the problem. If this happens, the escape route is up hill. We split up and run as far as we could until they stop chasing us. Our meet up place is Hilltop mall. IF things goes wrong. Okay?"

"Okay." Sybil agreed as she sighed.

"Now I want you to repeat the plan back to me."

"Ugh!"

"Look. I just want to know if you received the information that I gave you. There's no need to be frustrated."

"Okay. Whatever. So basically, you'll try to kill as much as you can using your bow and I'm the back up plan. I shoot any of the monsters that gets too close."

"And the the escape route? If anything happens?"

"We run uphill, split up and meet at Hilltop mall."

"Okay close enough. Before we start allocate all the free stat points that you have into Dexterity."

"Why?"

"So that you can have a better chance of hitting the enemies."

"Alright done."

"Let's start." I grinned.

At this point in time, most would view this situation as terrifying. But for me. It was like I smoked cannabis for the first time after stopping for a year. Currently I have that high where you're focus and at the same are extremely aware at everything around you. I scanned the surrounding and analyzed the data. Only three hours of sunlight was remaining for the day. The wind became still as I raised my bow and pulled back the strings from my modded composite bow. I squinted my eyes to aim, exhaled then released the arrow. I paused for a moment as I watched the four blade broad-head arrow dart into the left eye of the odd goblin in the robe.

*WOOSH!*

At first the goblin couldn't comprehend how an arrow had just pierced into his eye. The moment the goblin fell lifeless on the ground, two cascading screens appeared in front of him.

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

**

The students and staff were gathered in front of the college store. With several Goblins pointing spears and arrows at them, the quick witted students couldn't and didn't refuse becoming prisoners. Those refused to become prisoners decided on taking the chance to escape by running. Unfortunately for these students that attempted to escape, they received an arrow on their backs for their participation of attempting to escape.

Near the hostages and the grumpy goblins, a larger humanoid creature opened a bag of potato chips. This creature is stronger, faster and much more intelligent than the common Goblin. This creature is a Hobgoblin. While the Hobgoblin continued to litter another potato chip wrapper on the ground, the sound of a gun being fired twice could be heard nearby.

Right after the Hobgoblin heard the gun shots, he snapped his fingers and a blue Goblin came running towards him.

"Yes master?"

The blue Goblin knelt and bowed his head the moment he presented himself.

"What were those sounds?" the Hobgoblin asked as he continued to chew on some chips.

"I'm not sure lord. But the sounds came from the direction that we came from. Maybe the human responsible for slaying the Orgre that we found has returned."

The Hobgoblin began laughing after hearing his servant speak.

"You still believe that a human was able to slay an Ogre? Nonsense. From the looks of it, the humans in this side of the portal can't even defend themselves. Look at them. They do not wear armors nor any weapons! None of them even carried a knife when we caught them!"

The blue Goblin remained kneeling and began to apologize.

"I apologize lord for my words. Of course, as you say these humans are useless. But what do you intend to do with them?"

"Isn't that obvious? I'm taking them back with me to the other side of the portal. They should be able to fetch me a large sum of coins. Look at them! Some of them have more meat than any of the cattle being raised in our land! Anyways prepare to move out. If those sounds indicated humans, then we need to capture them. More humans means more coins for me."

The Hobgoblin grinned and laughed as he stood up to pull the chains that the students and staff were linked to. The Hobgoblin and his small pack of Goblins began walking towards where the sounds of gunshots originated from.

**