The Reed Forest was dark, especially at night. If there wasn’t a good enough clearing one wouldn’t see anything at all. Luckily, the goblin that was skimming about the lush forest could see in the dark.

Skulk cautiously trotted into the forest. With the little information he had at hand, he navigated the forest. The forest in the goblin’s language was called ‘Talahib’ Sutan provided this information.

He had been travelling quite far now but he hadn’t seen any rabbits like Sutan told him. He said that these strong rabbits should be all around the forest day and night but as he went on he didn’t see even one.

Coming out of a bush his senses suddenly spiked up. He slowly walked as he approached a log-like blockage in his direction, he sprang up his legs to vault over it. All of his jogging around the village was really paying off, it must also be his level increasing too.

“Goblin… don’t move,” a voice resounded, a very deep voice that came from a beast’s gutter.

In front of him, he could feel a warm breath and a very slow practiced step. It was a large wolf. Skulk almost fainted. He was not a coward but just from the majestic look of the wolf he knew that he would be ripped to shreds if he made a wrong move.

The wolf suddenly waved its claw and the log that was behind him was sliced. Rather he was bathed with blood behind him.

“That was a snake… they roam around the forest this time… I remember that the goblins had already delivered their sacrifice… why is a goblin here?” the voice of the wolf was croaky and full of malice.

But from the few inputs from the wolf Skulk was already thinking. ‘Sacrifice?’ ‘Already delivered?’ he was not a detective but as he was traveling around from the information that Sutan gave him, there should have been rabbits all around.

“Looking for rabbits,” Skulk said.

“I see… hmm… are you a Degaya?” the wolf asked, this confirmed that the wolf couldn’t see in the dark (Or that they were color blind) the goblin in front of the wolf remembered this at heart.

“Yes…” Skulk answered and he was slowly reaching for the sword on his back.

“Hmm… now I understand, how the goblin village works, Elder Hangul is really wise, go back now goblin, I already had a fair share of my goblin… go on!” the wolf said swishing its tail.

Skulk lowered his hands. The wolf grinned, it was totally underestimating him and he thanked the lord for that. He began retreating without turning his back from the wolf.

“Hmm… a glint of intelligence on him, amazing… don’t worry goblin, I’ve already changed my mind… I will not eat you, but the next time he I see you I would eat you,” finally the wolf turned and began to leave but the goblin was still not sure.

He waited until the presence of the wolf was gone.

A breath of relief from him. He already had enough adventure that night, he decided that it was time to go back, he still had to wash himself before going back since he was soaked with blood.

<--->

Another week had passed since the encounter with the wolf. Skulk was now more observant of the village. It was the 3rd time that he had witnessed the hunters leaving which had the same number as before, 4 green goblins and 2 red browns.

And as expected when they got back to the Goblin’s Village only four remained and the same number of rabbits.

Skulk knew that something was wrong with the village. As much as he wanted to confront the Elder or Sutan he knew that he shouldn’t.

He didn’t have enough power and starting anything without power to back him up would be like digging his own grave. He didn’t have any memories but he was sure it would be like that.

<--->

For the next few days, Skulk continued his training, even adding some powerlifting to his regiment. He would use the stones in the waterfalls. The problem was now where to get some proteins to amp up his muscles.

During those nights, he would mark the places he had gone, remaining aware of the area where he had met the wolf. He avoided it like the plague but marked its path. He would always try different routes to learn his way around.

On one of his nightly escapades, he found something unusual: some kind of a plant monster. As he approached, it literally tried to bash him using the fruits that were hanging on its flexible branch. It was a plant-based monster living on the edge of where he had met the wolf. He was certain it hadn't been there before. As mysterious as life was, he believed the monster was edible. The problem was that he hadn't brought any weapons that night.

So the next night he brought some weapons. He already knew the surroundings of the village like the back of his hand so he didn’t waste time and directly went to the site of the plant monster

To his surprise, they already had multiplied. He wasn’t sure what path the hunters from the goblin village took but it would be bad if they encountered it. He had to cull them all.

Although it was dangerous, this was also a good chance for him to earn some experience for leveling up. It's annoying that he couldn’t see how much experience he needed to level up but he was sure that it varied for different people and different situations.

Skulk was not a fool ‘I will not attack blindly’ he thought as he drew his sword, the plants could feel his animosity as they tensed up.

The goblin attacked. The plant monster as their only way of attacking used the hanging fruits to smash him. The fruit was as big as his head. He rolled to dodge one and landed an attack on its trunk.

The trunk was not that thick so after landing two more the plant went down. Skulk smiled but then something landed on his back. The goblin flew face forward into the ground.

The first hit on his back really set the mood. Unlike the training he had been doing that was controlled and safe in a way, the battle against the stationary plant was a fight for survival.

“It's supposed to be like this,” Skulk muttered before launching another attack.

<--->

The taste of the fruit was good. He could feel his body getting reinvigorated as he bit into the fruit. The plants shrank after killing them. ‘Best food I ever had for the first time’ he thought as he kept on eating the fruit. He killed 4 plant monsters and he got 6 pieces of the large fruit.

He would only have a few hours of sleep before the village restarted again. He decided to hide the remaining fruits near the waterfalls where he would do strength training and after that, he went back to the village.

<--->

As the next day began he also did his usual routine, first he ran around the village. Then help with anything in the village, then training the rest of the day. To his surprise, he didn’t feel any fatigue at all. He knew that it must have been the effect of the fruit he ate last night.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Even his sparring partner whose name was Lito immediately noticed the rapid growth of Skulk.

“How you good?” was the exact word Lito said as Skulk began beating down the older red-brown goblin.

By all means, Lito was a nice goblin to Skulk and often would comply when the younger goblin would ask about anything and Skulk was a curious one.

As usual, the two were training on the grounds.

“Me join hunt!” Lito said. It made Skulk pause his next attack.

Considering that Lito would be one of the red-brown goblins it meant that he was probably going to die.

“I see, good luck,” Skulk said. It was probably the last time he would be seeing him. Ideas began flowing in his mind. He began formulating plans in his mind.

That next day came and in the morning Lito went out of the village but Skulk was not there. Lito tried to find him but he couldn’t.

…

Skulk was tailing the 6 hunters. Watching from afar, it was far more easier to walk around the forest during daylight. To his expectations the hunter went in a direction he knew was going to lead, it was to the area where he met the wolves.

Stopping on the familiar area the 6 began talking with each other. It was a bit far so Skulk couldn’t make out any of it but after talking for a while the 4 green goblins began moving forward.

As Skulk watched Lito and another goblin awaited with their weapons in their hands. Tapped his chest checking his status screen again.

Skulk Lv13

Title: Degaya, Weirdo

Status: Good

Job: Spell Blade

Skills: Sword Mastery Lv4, Sword Wave Mastery Lv0, [???]

Magic: Fire Magic Mastery Lv1, Wind Magic Mastery Lv1, [???]

Then after checking it, he tapped his chest again removing the screen in front of him. He had a stone sword of his own make, he was also confident with his strength and agility. Knowledge from his past life was telling that if he had a way to see the attributes of other creatures it would be so easy.

Asking for something that was impossible was not his style.

His head began to throb as some of his memories began resurfacing in his mind “Joseph… please come out,” as his head screamed in pain the views from his mind became more vivid, he could see a room… guns, and knives… a badge, a camouflage suit.

Skulk remembered the word of the omniscient being he encountered when he reincarnated. ‘Removed a part of memories’ it said.

His dream broke when he heard the goblins screaming.

To his astonishment, the wolves launched a brutal assault on the two remaining goblins abandoned by the four green-skinned marauders. It was a bloodbath; even Lito, who had honed his swordsmanship, fell without a chance to defend himself. The scene was a whirlwind of savage ferocity, leaving no room for resistance.

After the wolf ferociously dispatched the goblins, it dragged their lifeless bodies away into the dense underbrush. Skulk, hidden in the shadows, watched with unblinking intensity, his expression an unreadable mask of calm. Time seemed to stretch before four more goblins emerged from the forest, each one clutching a horned rabbit by the scruff. The number of rabbits matched exactly the quota they would usually bring back to their village.

The goblins began moving not even minding the blood spilled by their own kin. A wolf followed them for a while before the goblins proceeded.

‘And they just had to wait for the end of the day’ Skulk thought, his respect in regards to the hunters totally crushed down. They were trading two Degaya goblins for the rabbit meat.

They didn’t even have to struggle for it. That’s why he felt aloof from the hunters even though they were training them every day. How about Sutan? Did he know of this? Probably.

Skulk’s hair on his back head tinged as felt cold creeping in the back of his spine.

“You are here again strange one…” it was the same wolf. Comparing the wolf that was in front of him, it was larger, bigger, and probably stronger.

“Shit!!” Skulk said then he immediately held his sword.

“And it seemed that you also remembered what I said… didn’t I say that I would eat you?” the wolf said and began its assault.

Skulk immediately went low aiming for the limbs. The wolf was good enough to dodge this by jumping up.

“Hmm… at least you have a fight in you!!-” the wolf praised Skulk. “-You have an inert magic inside you! And it seems that you can’t feel it don’t you?” the wolf grinned and he launched a wind magic hitting the goblin on his shoulders.

“Aargh!!!” Skulk screamed.

“Come on goblin… it wouldn’t be a good kill if you don’t fight me, struggle,” the wolf then provoked but the goblin stood still.

“Are you really going to eat me? Can you change your mind?” Skulk said as he held his wound on his shoulders. It was not yet life threatening but it still hurt.

“You need more than words to convince me goblin…” the wolf answered.

It was a grim answer for Skulk but he knew that there was a possibility. A hope, he just had to prove himself. Isn’t that too easy?

“Oh… I like that face… are you going to fight seriously now?” the wolf asked.

Skulk must fight now. He took a stance, a solid stance, he had to hold the sword with two hands. This was the only way, a probability that he had to bet. As his heart raced he gulped and suddenly all the tension in his body released. Even the wolf could tell that he would be witnessing something.

This time it was Skulk who delivered the first attack. He rushed into melee, it made the wolf smirk. They began trading blows, the stone sword vs the wolf claw. Even at the first touch between their weapons, he knew that his stone sword wouldn’t last.

Still, he had to continue because the possibility of dying if he backed down would be high.

“There you go!!” then the wolf increased the power of his attacks. Each swing would carve the stone sword into bits slowly shredding it apart.

Skulk glared, he couldn’t die like this. He had to fight, at least land a blow. He won’t go down easily.

Skulk dived down slipping between the forward hind of the wolf. The wolf immediately jumped up. Like instinct, he swung his sword upwards launching a sword wave. It landed on the belly of the wolf granting a “Grr” from the wolf.

Skulk smiled, but the stone sword broke into pieces.

The wolf landed aground smiling at his opponent. “What was that?” the wolf asked.

“I don’t know myself… instinct,” Skulk said as he tapped his chest. ‘Sword Mastery Lv5, Sword Wave Mastery Lv1’ after reading it he tapped his chest again making the screen disappear.

“That was called sword wave,” Skulk answered honestly.

“Good, very good… hmm… I think you have convinced me goblin,” the wolf raised its mouth showing some teeth.

Skulk felt relief but the next action of the wolf totally shocked him. The wolf jumped into the air in an act of pouncing him. The goblin was late to react still the he tried to run, the wolf’s paws landed on his back pinning him down into the ground face first.

“But since you have marked me, I will have to leave mark too,” the wolf said. The wolf etched a single wound behind Skulk. The goblin screamed in pain. “You have to find me again when you are stronger… go into the wild, what is your name?”

“Aargh… Skulk!!!” the goblin screamed with all his might as he was pinned down, air escaped from his lungs making the weight of the wolf push deeper.

“I’m Razorback… of the Silver Mane, I’m the leader of the pack that governs this part of the forest… come for me I will wait for you,” the wolf grandly pronounced its name.

“I have a title too… I’m Skulk… the Weirdo,” Skulk answered back.

Finally, the wolf removed his paws letting the goblin go.

“You cannot go back to the goblin village, now that you know the secret, the Elder will kill you,” the wolf said. Using his nose he pointed eastward.

“Go there, as long as you properly evade enemies you will survive, try mastering your skills, come back or I will hunt you down,” the wolf said.

“Razorback… I don’t understand, why would you do this… isn’t it much better to kill me now?” the goblin asked.

“Long ago, this forest was the peak of all monsters… not only that we struggled every day just to survive… we fought to know who was the strongest,-” the wolf began telling his side of the story to justify his actions. “-I want to experience it again… after gaining this part of the forest we thrived but after a while, no one ever tried to challenge me,-” then the wolf licked his paws. “-Another one of the rulers of the forest is the Lion head, slay it and maybe you will have a chance to conquer this forest,” Razorback finally sat proving that he was larger.

“...” Skulk silently stared at the wolf. After a while, the goblin stood up. “I will see you then… Razorback… don’t die,” Skulk said as he turned around to the direction the wolf pointed.

“Knock yourself little goblin… I wonder how would you kill me?” the wolf said.

<--->

Weeks had passed. Skulk had been living in a ruins just near where the chimera’s den was.

The Chimera didn’t attack him probably because of the mark Razorback left on his back but by all means he didn’t try to fight against it. He was planning to do it in the future but now he was just gaining more power.

He had already unlocked two of his magic skills but was currently struggling with how to use magic. Skulk had been spending his time hunting around and collecting materials.

His shelter brimmed with handcrafted wooden wares, each piece meticulously carved and arranged. Above, he had created a makeshift roof, its patchwork of materials providing a sturdy barrier against the possible rain and sun, transforming his crude dwelling into a snug refuge.

It was yet another day of venturing into the depths of the Talahib Forest. He had already slain countless denizens of this wild domain. From the amorphous, wandering slimes to bizarre, otherworldly insects, and from horned beasts to the elusive tree walkers, none had escaped his relentless pursuit.

Skulk had his new stone sword in his hand and another extra pair on his waist, he got better clothes that were made out of leather. He tapped his chest checking his skills.

Skulk Lv21

Title: Degaya, Weirdo, Hunter

Status: Well Conditioned

Job: Spell Blade

Skills: Sword Mastery Lv7, Sword Wave Mastery Lv4, [???]

Magic: Fire Magic Mastery Lv5, Wind Magic Mastery Lv7, [???]

He tapped back on his chest ready for whatever would be next.

Skulk smiled “Let’s go!!!”