Erin's primal instincts reverberated within him, warning of an imminent threat rather than a friendly encounter. With unwavering resolve, he skillfully manipulated the shapeshifting metal, transforming it into a formidable knife, while simultaneously wielding a single branch as a defensive tool.
“Who are you?"
“SNARSH? SNAAAAAAAAARSH”
The thing screamed at him. It looked like a person, but its aggressive tone and incomprehensible language only served to heighten the prevailing sense of danger.
Erin wielded the branch in a threatening manner, striking it against another nearby branch in a desperate bid to disengage from the perilous confrontation. However, it became apparent that these creatures possessed a far greater proficiency in climbing trees than he, a mere small child.
“GET BACK!”
Alas, his warning fell on deaf ears. The dim light obscured their features, rendering them almost unrecognizable. The nearest figure donned a rudimentary tunic reminiscent of a poncho, albeit tattered and worn, exhibiting a superior state of preservation compared to Erin's vulnerable, unclothed form.
The other creature, by contrast, was adorned in a full-body cape, further adding to the enigmatic aura surrounding them. Their facial features were strikingly similar, to the extent that Erin found himself questioning whether they were truly different entities. Pale orange skin, accentuated by oversized eyes, devoid of any hair, and accompanied by disproportionately large and pointed ears, characterized both beings. Their noses, too, possessed an unnaturally exaggerated size and pointedness, contributing to their overall otherworldly appearance.
“Fuck… Goblins?”
The creatures resembled the fabled goblins he’d seen in games when growing up. Except that they’re usually depicted in green.
One of the goblins, adorned in a cape, wielded a stick, possibly indicating a role of authority or distinction. The other goblin, lacking a weapon in its hands, displayed elongated and menacing nails that hinted at a different method of attack.
What struck Erin as divergent from the typical goblin depiction was their unexpected physicality. Unlike the frail and wiry stature commonly associated with goblins, these creatures possessed a well-proportioned form and an impressive muscular build. Their robust appearance indicated a life filled with ample sustenance and physical exertion.
“GRAHHHHHH”
In response to Erin's presence, the caped goblin let out a primal scream, agitating its companion in a tunic. While hindered by the branches they traversed, the tunic-clad goblin showcased a level of agility and nimbleness that surpassed Erin's capabilities.
*swish*
Erin's movements were swift as he swung the branch at the menacing goblin. But to his dismay, the creature remained largely unharmed by the blow, seemingly unaffected by the force behind it. As if mocking his efforts, the goblin effortlessly swatted the branch aside, sending it tumbling to the ground. Erin watched in astonishment as his makeshift weapon was easily disarmed by his opponent.
Now dangerously close to Erin, the creature lunged forward with a clear intent to harm, employing its sharp claw in a menacing attack.
Erin's desperate evasion attempt was hindered by the confined space, his movements falling short against the goblin's remarkable speed and agility. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't evade the creature's slashing claws entirely, resulting in searing pain as they grazed his arm.
“Shit…”
Cursing under his breath, Erin attempted to strike back with the makeshift knife he had created. However, the goblin displayed an uncanny awareness of the danger posed by the weapon, skillfully evading his attack and avoiding any harm.
It became evident to Erin that he was disadvantaged in this encounter. The second goblin seemed to observe the unfolding skirmish, yet refrained from actively joining the fray, further complicating Erin's predicament.
In a moment of enlightenment, Erin remembered that metal had innumerable changing possibilities.
'Why limit me to just one weapon?'
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As the goblin lunged towards him once more, driven by a relentless pursuit of violence, Erin focused his willpower on the metal at his disposal. He envisioned it transforming into the hardest substance it could become, taking the shape of a small, rounded shield to provide him with a measure of protection against the impending attack.
In a desperate bid to defend against the incoming strike, Erin swiftly redirected the goblin's attack sideways, aiming to deflect it and transform the metal into a knife for a counterattack. The initial part of his plan was executed flawlessly, successfully diverting the blow. However, he had underestimated the sheer strength of the creature and found himself overpowered and pushed backward. As he stumbled, his feet lost their footing, and he teetered on the brink of losing balance altogether.
In an act of sheer desperation, Erin instinctively reached out and grasped the goblin's oversized, ragged tunic. To his surprise, this unexpected move caused the creature to lose its balance, momentarily throwing it off balance.
Amidst the chaos of his fall, Erin's chest collided with a small branch, providing a brief respite and an opportunity to react. With a burst of determination, he clumsily seized the branch, simultaneously transforming the metal into a hooked glove. Summoning every ounce of his strength, he forcefully thrust the hooked glove into the tree, anchoring himself and preventing a further descent. However, amid this struggle, he felt a sharp pain running through his left shoulder as the goblin, still in mid-fall, clawed at him in an attempt to regain stability.
The creature, its dexterity no match for the lack of support, could only grab Erin's fleeting blood and plummet to the ground with a heavy, resounding thud.
Though Erin was momentarily relieved by this turn of events, he had no time to assess the condition of the fallen monster, as he urgently sought a foothold to rectify his precarious positioning.
“Ugh”
With a grunt of exertion, he mustered every ounce of strength in his body, managing to grasp onto a nearby branch that offered leverage. Using it as a propulsive force, he propelled himself upwards, fighting against gravity and the strain on his muscles to restore his footing and regain a more advantageous position.
*SWOOSH*
But during the chaos, he had forgotten about the second enemy. As excruciating pain shot through his right ear and his vision became hazy, his fading consciousness and survival instincts united, screaming at him with a single command.
Survive.
Amidst his jumbled thoughts and agony, he desperately wished for the metal to transform into the same 40-cm skewer he had used to grill the eel's flesh. Acting on pure intuition, he directed his attention to the left side and thrust the makeshift weapon into his assailant.
With an unexpected surge of strength, his arms propelled the skewer through the enemy's throat.
The goblin relinquished its grip on its weapon and desperately clawed at Erin's arm, digging its claws a few millimeters into his forearm.
Though the creature attempted to retract its wounded throat, Erin's ingenious cruelty had fashioned a hook at the end of the skewer, effectively turning it into a small harpoon.
In a swift motion, Erin retaliated by thrusting his leg into the goblin's stomach and forcefully pushing the hooked skewer deeper. The creature, writhing in agony, began to collapse, blood gushing from its pierced throat, illuminated by the pale moonlight.
Erin found himself perilously close to the ground, still hanging three meters above. The goblin, despite having its throat impaled, did not meet an instant demise. It continued to emit guttural sounds, convulsing as if caught in the grips of an electric shock. With darkness encroaching upon him, Erin mustered every ounce of his remaining strength and began the arduous descent.
When he finally reached the ground, his legs gave way, forcing him to kneel in exhaustion.
'I can't collapse. I can't collapse. I can't...'
He repeated in his mind like a mantra, and strangely enough, it seemed to have an effect. If anyone were present, they would witness Erin emitting a faint glow.
Unfortunately, there was indeed a spectator. To his right, he heard the sound of grass being unevenly trodden upon.
In his vulnerable state, he could only hope that it wasn't another enemy.
He turned his head to catch a glimpse.
But there they were — two identical goblins, stumbling toward him with a vengeful gleam in their eyes. No, it was only one goblin; his blurred vision was playing tricks on him. It was the first goblin that had fallen earlier.
'RUN!'
He urged himself.
His right hand was in ruins, as was his left shoulder.
Though his vision remained distorted, his legs were still functional.
The glow that enveloped him seemed to concentrate on his lower body as he weakly rose to his feet and began sprinting toward the uncertain safety of the woods.
The pursuing goblin was also struggling, limping as it gave chase.
Erin's determination propelled him through sharp blades of grass, thorny vines, and twigs as he shielded his eyes with his arms. Despite his recovering vision, he could discern the glow emanating from his lower limbs, urging him to keep going.
He continued to evade his pursuer for an unknown duration, gradually increasing his speed, although it was not particularly impressive considering his physical condition.
His lungs were gasping for air, and every part of his body ached. Yet, he had not stopped due to succumbing to the pain, but rather because his legs felt as if they were engulfed in flames.
“AARRRRRRRGH. FUCK.”
The frustrated Erin surveyed the surroundings, growing increasingly concerned as his chaser closed in.
“I WON’T FUCKING DIE!”
He declared defiantly, his determination unwavering.
In his last moments of desperation, he noticed that he stood at the edge of a small, somewhat steep hill.
The pursuer, less winded than Erin, drew nearer with each laborious step, its limping body gradually closing the distance.
"Come on, you bastard. Even if I have to bite you to death, you won't come out unscathed."
He growled, locking his defiant gaze with that of his enemy.
Once again, the goblin lunged at him, a simplistic creature driven by instinct. Unaware that if it merely waited a few more minutes, Erin would inevitably collapse onto his back.
"You fool."
Erin chuckled, a sinister grin spreading across his face. His legs emitted a faint glow as he also launched himself forward. But he possessed something far more formidable than the goblin's claws. The ever-changing metal in his possession transformed into a needle-like skewer, firmly attached to his hand since he lacked the strength to grasp it. This small distance between them would make all the difference in their respective attacks.
The goblin, much like its predecessor, failed to land a hit on Erin, while his skewer found its mark in the creature's chest. The goblin's sternum, upon encountering the otherworldly properties of the metal, offered resistance akin to that of pliant dough.
"You should have..."
As darkness began to envelop him, Erin's final glimpse was fixated on the radiant glow emanating from the jewel embedded in his hand.
"... known your place."
...
[Energy source identified.]
[Requesting authorization to assimilate.]
[The preliminary assessment indicates the host's critical condition.]
[Commencing energy assimilation as a precautionary measure.]
[Optimal energy deployment ratio determined as 1:1.]
[ERROR.]
[Unidentified energy signature detected, resulting in physiological alterations.]
[Initiating analysis protocol.]
[Analysis confirms the positive impact of energy on host physiology.]
[Proceeding with the initial assimilation protocol.]