I awoke to faint traces of blue light. It must have still been early in the morning. It didn’t take long for the biting cold of morning dew to seep into my bones – except for a soft warmth atop my chest. My companion, Cirrus, was curled up and snoozing away happily.
Seeming to sense my wakefulness, Cirrus let out a cute yawn as it stretched it’s limbs before hopping off of me.
“Good morning, Cirrus.” It returned an odd, coo-like purr in return of my greeting.
“Well, I suppose the first thing will be to get the fire going again. Much longer in this cold and my limbs wont want to move at all.”
I crawled out from under the blanket. It was warm, but a bit too small to cover me entirely. I’d wanted to buy a larger one, but they were too heavy to lug around all day. I’m sure it wouldn’t come cheap, but perhaps I cold find one made by elves that was lightweight. Elven craftmanship was fairly similar in all the fantasy worlds I knew from my previous life. Though, there was nothing to say the real deal was the same.
Starting the fire was more challenging than it was last night. I hadn’t considered morning dew – which made the wood and kindling quite damp. I thought for a moment as my ethereal fox-like companion watched me. Wracking my brain for a solution, I finally remembered something from one of those old survival shows… Dare Bills? No… regardless, the name didn’t matter.
In the show, the host took a knife and cut notches into the wood, which exposed dry parts from inside. I then gathered some grass and rubbed it in my hands. It took some time, long enough my fingers could barely bend, but I managed to get a small fire going. I spent some time after that tending to it constantly, keeping it from going out and using it to thaw out the rest of the wood.
In the comforting warmth, I realized I was much less disoriented today than I was yesterday. Perhaps it was due to the fact I spent the night outdoors? It’s hard to explain, but I felt very aware while I was sleeping. It made sense; there were no doors or walls protecting me from monsters or creatures. I’m just surprised I managed to sleep as much as I did. Perhaps I had my avatar, Zephyrian, to thank for that. In the game, camping out at night like this was a very normal thing. Though campfires were considered ‘safe-spaces’ so nothing could actually attack you near one.
Now having a consistent fire, I moved the cooking pot onto it and started pouring ingredients into it. As I stirred the second attempt at stew, my mind wandered. I felt a chill of anticipation creep up my spine, despite the warmth of the fire, as I considered the upcoming venture into the goblin’s lair.
I once again reminded myself this was no game world. Id been lucky so far, but how long would that luck hold? Based on all the knowledge I had from games and books, goblins should be on par with the wolves from last night – if not a little tougher. But a nagging anxiety made we wonder if relying on such knowledge was safe. What if goblins were stronger than the low level creatures I knew in games?
I thought back to the grotesque forms I narrowly defeated on my way to Solara. If it was for that odd trance like state I was in… would I have died there? Death. That was a real concern in this world. No respawns, no save points. As far as I could tell, there was no way to even check my status or skills in this world.
I Cirrus nuzzle my hand, like a puppy wanting attention, as it let out a soft chirr.
It was like he sensed my apprehension, and was trying to say, “Don’t stress yourself out, Ethan. Matilda has faith you can do this, and Brom wouldn’t have sent you to Solara if he thought you couldn’t handle yourself.”
I ruffled the silky fur on Cirrus’s head. “You’re right. Feeding anxiety isn’t going to help anything right now. Let’s do our best!”
“Pew!” It responded.
By the time I had my second attempt at stew completed, orange colors were starting to work their way into the sky's canvas.
“Well, they say ‘third time’s a charm’ but I’m hoping my second attempt hits the spot.” I joked as I put the stew into a couple bowls.
It was pure chance I had more than just one set of camp ware. The cheap kit I bought came with two sets. It of course cost a little extra, but didn’t really take up extra space or weight in my pack.
The mornings meal was passable. I managed to make it a little less watered down at least. As for flavor… well there wasn’t much change there. Cirrus seemed happy enough, though. Good or bland, a warm meal is always welcome on a cold morning.
I pulled out the map Brom gave me in parting. Judging by the few landmarks I could make out through the trees, and the curve of the road, it looked like we were about an hour from the cave system Matilda mentioned.
“Alright, buddy. Let’s get to work.”
Cirrus nodded as if he understood me.
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I heard faint chatter from the distance not long after resuming our trek along the road. The earthy scent of the forest intensified as I crouched down and moved off the road, following the sound. A short while later, the rustling leaves underfoot gave way to the sight of a clearing through the trees. Ugly green creatures with warty skin and sharp, yellowed teeth stood at the entrance to a cave, their guttural voices muffled by the murmurs of the forest. I couldn’t understand the crude language they were speaking, but these creatures fit ‘goblin’ to a T.
I took cover in the forest, feeling the damp bark against my hands as I shifted slowly from tree to tree, getting closer. Cirrus clung to my shoulder, his soft fur brushing against my neck. His ears lay flat against his head, radiating a mix of caution and alertness.
“Looks like three of them,” I whispered, tasting the cool forest air as I spoke.
Most of them were probably inside the cave. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much in the way of cover between me and them. As soon as I stepped out from behind this tree, they would be aware of my intrusion.
“I guess stealth isn’t an option here. Oh what I would give to have a good stealth-archer build right now.” I mused to myself.
Realizing a frontal assault was my only option, I sized up the goblins more closely. One of them had a crude-looking club, which looked weighty enough to break bones. The second brandished a wooden spear, its point gleaming dully. Pretty typical for goblins, until my gaze landed on the third. Clad in a fur cloak, he held a staff that, even from this distance, pulsed with a palpable energy.
“Don’t tell me… goblins can use magic in this world?”
I didn’t know any magic, and I figured this was not an ideal time to experiment. All I had was my sword to fight with. In the game, my armor was high level. If it’s stats translated to real-life, then I shouldn’t have to worry too much about taking a few hits from weapons in the right places but I didn’t particularly want to put it to the test. It should also have some descent protection against magic as well, but I didn’t really want to test that out, either.
“It’s not smart, but I can’t just sit here all day. Guess we have no choice.”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the upcoming fight.
With a nod to Cirrus, I started with a diversion. I grabbed a stone and threw it to the opposite side of the clearing. The sudden noise drew the attention of the club-wielding goblin, who turned to investigate.
I capitalized on this momentary distraction, rushing out and closing the distance with the spear-goblin. My sword clashed with the spear as I sidestepped, narrowly avoiding its pointed end. With a swift motion, I chopped at the shaft, snapping the spear in half.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the shaman goblin’s staff glow, the light casting eerie shadows. A chilling wind, carrying whispers of dark incantations, blew around us. Cirrus, sensing the imminent threat, launched himself at the shaman with a speed I hadn’t known he was capable of. His paws became a blur, claws glinting in the dim light, as he danced around the shaman, trying to disrupt his casting.
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The shaman goblin was clearly taken aback by Cirrus’s swift and sudden assault, attempting to redirect his magic in panic. Instead of a potent offensive spell, a cloud of thick, blinding smoke erupted around him. The acrid sting of the smoke made my eyes water, obscuring my view of their skirmish. All I could catch were muffled cries and the briefest glimpses of Cirrus’s silhouette darting to and fro amidst the grey haze.
Using the smoke as cover, I tackled the spear-wielding goblin to the ground and delivered a decisive blow. With him taken care of, I turned to face the club-goblin who was now aware of my presence and brandishing his weapon menacingly.
As he swung down with a heavy thud, I rolled to the side. Feeling the wind of the club passing just inches from my face, I retaliated. I thrust my sword into his abdomen. Feeling the weight of his body on my sword gave me pause, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it right now. I retracted my sword, allowing him to fall limply to the ground.
By the time the smoke began to dissipate, Cirrus and the shaman goblin stood apart in a tense standoff. The shaman, battered and visibly shaken, spun his staff in an attempt to generate another spell. Sensing my opportunity, I sprinted forward.
However, the shaman goblin, sensing imminent danger, swirled his staff faster, summoning a barrier of wind around him. The gusts threatened to halt my advance, but I remembered the protective attributes of my armor. Trusting in its power, I charged through the wind barrier with all my might. With one final, swift strike, the shaman goblin crumpled to the ground.
Panting, I scanned the surroundings, ensuring no other threats lurked nearby. Cirrus trotted up to me, his form shimmering with a mix of relief and pride.
“We did it,” I whispered, wiping sweat from my brow, “but we must remain cautious. If these are the guards, who knows what awaits us inside the cave?”
Honestly, I wasn’t really sure how the whole ordeal went so well. Thankfully, these goblins seemed to be just as unintelligent as they were in games. Also thankfully, I didn’t hear any noise from inside the cave, which told me we were swift and quiet enough we avoided alerting any other goblins.
“I think it would be best if you kept watch out here, I don’t want any patrols sneaking up behind me. If there’s trouble, think you can make a loud enough noise to alert me?” I asked, not entirely sure if Cirrus understood.
He chirred with a firm nod in response.
“Well, alright then here’s hoping we can wrap this up before the morning is over.”
With those parting words, I snuck my way into the cave.
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The inside of the cave was eerily quiet. I did my best to sneak deeper in, but I felt like every toe step pierced my ears. The tunnel twisted and turned with a few nooks and crannies I was able to take cover in. One thing I hadn’t considered until now, was bringing some sort of light source with me. I hadn’t noticed earlier because there was a blueish moss lining the caves ceiling that gave off a glow. Bright enough to see, but subdued enough that I was able to easily blend into shadows.
After a short while, the tunnel opened into a large cavern. It had a vast, domed ceiling dripping with stalactites. Similarly, the floor of the cavern had stalagmites growing from its stone. Some of these had connected, likely over thousands of years, forming thick pillars that almost seemed to be supporting the weight of the ceiling.
There were piles of bones, old rusted swords and armor. Crude shelves were propped against the walls with various items on them that any reasonable person might consider trash. It contained no chests filled with coins, no magic items or powerful weapons, just junk. In the center however, sat a single chair. Among the piles of junk it almost looked like throne.
One single goblin sat there, its eyes locked onto me, snarling as if it were annoyed. Larger than the other goblins I’d encountered, this goblin stood out with a more muscular build and less warty skin. But its face was scarred, showcasing its history of battles. Its eyes were a sharp shade of yellow, which contrasted with its dark green skin.
It was armored in a patchwork of leather and metal, clearly repurposed from the victims of its raids. A large, chipped cleaver rested by its side — a weapon that looked crude but deadly in its hands. Around its neck hung an assortment of necklaces made from the teeth and bones of various animals, and perhaps, previous challengers.
My eyes then caught the glimpse of an ornate stone above the throne, it hung from rope tied in between two columns. It’s deep crimson shine seemed to be glowing faintly. Perhaps it was the item I had been sent to recover? But first… I looked into the eyes of my opponent.
“You dare challenge Man-Slayer?” It spoke in a deep unpleasing voice.
It can speak human language? Is it more intelligent than the others? Wait… ‘Man-slayer?’ Is this goblin a freaking Chūnibyō?!
“Awe, tiny human scared? No talk?” It mocked in its broken speech.
“Er. Greetings? …Man-Slayer. Look, I need that gem. And I can’t really let you walk away since you’re obviously killing people so… let’s just get this over with.” I didn’t really like the idea of fighting something intelligent but if I let him live, he would just keep attacking caravans. Best to end things here and now.
“You dare mock Man-Slayer? You die will.” It replied, before standing up and brandishing its sword.
Erm… is it trying to say ‘you will die’ or is it wishing I die well… oh jeez!
Before I could finish processing the strange musings of the goblin, it was already on top of me swinging its imposing sword at my neck.
The cleaver swung down, and in a knee-jerk reaction, I raised my sword to parry. The metallic clash of our weapons was almost deafening in the quiet cavern. As the shockwave traveled up my arm, I was sent reeling. Before I could regain my footing, the goblin was on me again, its cleaver tracing an arc of deadly intent. I deflected the strike with my sword, but the force was so great it knocked me sideways into one of the stalagmite pillars.
Gritting my teeth against the pain, I pushed off the pillar, using it as a shield against another swing. The goblin’s cleaver lodged into the pillar, a mere inch from my face. This was no ordinary goblin. Every move was calculated, each swing designed to kill. I could almost see the years of combat etched into its scarred face, experience that I sorely lacked.
I attempted a counterattack, lunging at the creature’s exposed flank. But with a quick sidestep, it easily evaded my strike. It was then I noticed a pattern. The goblin was powerful, yes, but it relied on its strength more than skill. It telegraphed its moves, using its brute force to try and overpower me.
With this realization, I began to dance around the cavern, attempting to wear it out. I dodged and ducked under its wild swings, occasionally parrying when necessary. Each deflection took a toll on me, but I was banking on the goblin tiring out before I did.
As the minutes dragged on, my plan seemed to be working. The goblin’s breath grew ragged, its attacks less forceful. Still, I needed a way to finish the fight. Glancing around the cavern, I spotted a cluster of stalagmites. If I could just get the goblin there...
Feigning exhaustion, I stumbled back towards the formation, purposefully tripping over a stalagmite. The goblin, sensing an opportunity, charged with renewed vigor.
Just as it neared, I rolled out of the way, causing the creature to trip over the same stalagmite. Its cleaver became wedged between two nearby stalactites, and the goblin struggled to free it.
Seizing the moment, I lunged, aiming for a gap in its makeshift armor. But the goblin was quicker than I gave it credit for. It sidestepped, dodging my blade, and landed a solid punch that sent me sprawling.
The world spun. Every fiber of my being screamed in pain. My sword lay just out of reach, the goblin advancing with a triumphant smirk.
I acted on instinct. Grabbing a handful of the luminescent moss from the ground, I threw it at the goblin’s face. The moss, when crushed, apparently released a blinding light, temporarily disorienting the creature.
Blinded and enraged, the goblin swung wildly. I took this chance to retrieve my sword and, with all the strength I could muster, drove it deep into the goblin’s side.
It let out a pained roar, dropping its cleaver and staggering back. With one last effort, I pushed it against the jagged stalagmites, ensuring it wouldn’t recover.
With a defeated grunt, the life slowly fading from its eyes, 'Man-Slayer' fell limp. Panting heavily, my adrenaline still pumping, I took a moment to collect myself.
The fight had been a harsh reminder that, despite the game-like world, this was a deadly reality. However, I’d also learned that while I might be inexperienced, I had an adaptability that could give me an edge. That or I somehow managed to get a broken luck stat.
Two days in this new world, and I had already been in four fights to the death. I mean, what did I expect from life as an adventurer? I fell back onto my butt. It felt like days had passed, even though it was likely only hours since sunrise.
As my breathing evened a thought crossed my mind. Since arriving here, I had been thinking like a gamer. If I just put maximum effort in, I could get through this, no sweat. But in real life, you can’t rely on yourself. You need people to watch your back when you make a mistake. Going that this solo might not be the best idea I’ve had.
“That settles it. When I get back I need to try to join a party or something.”
With that, I pushed myself off the cold stone floor, and set my eyes on the suspended gem. It gave off a sort of… aura. Not a visible one but more like a feeling that something was radiating from it. Pushing my curiosity aside for now, I climbed onto the makeshift throne and grasped the stone. The rope looked pretty frayed, so I figured it would be easy enough to just yank it loose.
But the place was rigged. Yank it loose I did, but I heard a sharp crack! from the two columns as the rope came with it. A single word escaped my lips.
“SHIT!”
One column broke from the ceiling and crashed into the next with great force. Causing that one to crash into the next… it was a domino effect. I stuffed the stone in my pocket and ran for the caverns exit, dodging falling stalactites all the way.
The echoing chaos behind me ceased as I dashed into the safety of the tunnel. Everything just started falling off the ceiling. Once again, I found myself catching my breath, chiding myself mentally for not thinking of a possible trap. I mean, that was the only explanation. I certainly wasn’t strong enough to brake two thick stone columns with a single yank of an old rope.
With a heavy sigh, I collected myself and made my way towards the exit of the tunnel, eager to bask in the daylight and leave the goblin-infested cavern behind. But as the light of day neared, the world around me seemed to blur momentarily, an odd distortion that made my head spin.
Before I could properly assess the situation, a cold edge pressed sharply against my throat, its keenness unmistakable. My heart raced, but before panic could fully set in, the ethereal strands of long, flowing white hair entered my peripheral vision. A voice, sharp yet melodious, whispered into my ear, “One wrong move and it’ll be your last.”