Goblins are perhaps some of the most common monsters in this world. Despite the fact that they're treated like beginner monsters, alongside the likes of slimes and other basic monsters, they are arguably some of the most successful monsters in the world.

They're like vermin, despite being weak, manage to thrive in this world and are everywhere.

What I didn't realize is how big they were.

Or, bigger than I was currently.

Goblins were generally 3-4 feet tall, like little ugly elf children, with warts and everything. And bald. Bald ugly little elves.

It also towered over me, being about twice my size. Meaning I'm about 1-2 feet tall, and about 2-3 feet wide and 3-4 feet long if my estimates are correct. So, I'm pretty small, though bigger than normal turtles, and I am a hatchling. I'll get bigger. Whether or not that'll be a problem will have to be seen if I'm ever seen by a human adventurer.

For now, I have shorter things to worry about as the goblin clumsily walks over to me. I can barely call it walking honestly, as it drags a club along with it. I'm pretty sure it's having a hard time holding its club, so thank goodness for that. I've never actually fought any real monster before, having only trained for a short while.

Eventually the creature gets over to me, and with a horrifying thing I'm sure it calls a smile, it raises the club, before dropping it hard.

And then looking dumbfounded when nothing happened save for a thud.

I can say it most certainly was painful, but using harden meant that it only hurt slightly, but like a hard smack more than anything. I also discovered that I can feel things through my shell. Yay.

My turn.

As the stupid little goblin tried to lift its club once more, which had rebounded off the shell and landed on the floor once more, I activated bite and grabbed the goblin by the legs, much to its confusion, before yanking hard, causing the creature to tumble over. I sadly couldn't tear anything significant off, but I could cause it to fall over. And once it was on the floor, I would finish it.

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The creature screeched as it finally let go of the club and tried to get up, but I wouldn't let it.

As soon as I had seen it, I had been thinking of ways to kill the goblin, and given its slow movement, I had time to think.

I considered binding it down with vine lash while I promptly tore its throat out, but that seemed gross to say the least. I could try crawling back to the lake from earlier (or was it a pond, considering how small I am) to clean my mouth up but that seemed like a lot of trouble all things considered. I'm already slow enough.

So, I shortened the process.

My first vine lash produced vines that wrapped around the goblin as it shrieked, desperately trying to get out.

Activating vine lash, I imagined it differently. And with a clean blow,

Vine lash,

Plunged straight through the chest.

The goblin shook violently, and I could not help but wince at the sight. Yeah, that was horrible to watch the blood pour forth. Even after the massacre at my house I'm not quite used to the sight of death.

The lash looks different this time, and looks more like a wooden stake, barbed and gnarly. Is that a

[Yup. New spell. You've unlocked stake strike. And killed a goblin. Congrats.]

[Congratulations. You've slayed a goblin! You've gained a level!]

Stolidus showed up, announcing the following, though I notice he takes out a book for the second statement. So, it's more like procedure for him than anything else. Is every other person like me receiving the same treatment then? Something to ponder I suppose. I have the time now after all.

And I've learned a new spell. Cool. I mean, normal magicians do so all the time, so I suppose the only real difference is that this system records and allows me to easily repeat it, rather than memorizing it, though I must admit, it's quite the brutal spell.

And speaking of things to ponder, that goblin is meat...

I glance over and sigh. t's already dead, and it'd be a shame to waste it. And I do still need the magic core.

Using the vine lash, I manage to pull its core out, smaller than most monsters, and eat it, which does taste quite pleasant. Familiars often indicate the same, as cores are treats for them, and I must say, I do agree. It tastes good.

The goblin is less so. It tastes like raw chicken, or what I assume raw chicken tastes like. I occasionally heard stories from foreign ministers of the taste, which I always found gross.

And it does taste pretty gross, I admit. Just, not as bad as I thought it would.

Oops, I got blood on me. Sigh. Now I will have to walk back to the lake and wash it off. What a pain. At least I got a level.