“Holy shit. I thought floating river supposed to flow gently, not like a god damn flood.”

Toby spat out as he got on shore after the floating river he was thrown into washed him away like a professional house cleaner washed away the dirt that caked the client’s house after ten years - with a high-pressure water gun.

But he was alive, that was what mattered.

Toby sighed as he lay flat on the soft grass. He looked at the sky, floating islands connected to each other through rivers. Rivers flew up from the ground into the sky, then from the sky back down to the ground. Sunlight shimmered through the water, creating rainbows everywhere.

It was such a magnificent sight that Toby forgot how dangerous it all was.

But it wasn’t time to admire such beauty. The sun still shone up high in the sky, it was barely past noon. And yet, Toby already used up all his Mana. At the moment, he was no different from any normal turtle on Earth. Slow and defenseless. To him, that was the same as a death sentence.

“I have to find somewhere safe,” Toby mumbled.

Picking himself up, he looked around to see where he was.

In front of him was a vast grassland that extended far toward the horizon. The glossing grass glinted as they swayed to the wind. It was a serene view. But with the grass just barely taller than Toby, there was nothing but grass, thus making it a horrible place to hide.

He turned around, on the other side of the river was a forest. Trees with trunks so big, each one of them was like a Tower of Pisa. The tree, alone, blocked almost everything in sight. All kinds of flowers bloomed underneath the trees. Sounds of birds’ songs entered Toby’s ears as they created a charming harmony. But with such a forest full of life, there were bound to be dangerous predators.

A vast grassland or a dense forest. Either one had its benefits and dangers.

Toby's opinion was tilting more toward the grassland. He might be in the open without nowhere to hide, but at least there wasn’t any predator there.

He turned toward the grass again and took his first step.

It was then, he saw a bird fly from the forest into the grassland. The bird landed on a patch of grass that was taller than the other as it started to pick some berries from the branch in the middle of the grass patch. Yet, before the bird could eat its fill, the land shook as a giant mouth snapped from below with the bird at its center.

The mouth looked like it was made from transparent earth and rocks but with thorn-like tendrils inside it. Once the mouth closed, the bird couldn’t escape no matter what it did. Slowly, green liquid dripped down onto the bird, making it fly around even more frantically. The bird’s feather started to fall off as the green liquid covered its body.

Minutes went by as the bird was consumed alive by the acid.

Once the bird became nothing more than a featherless husk with half-melting eyes and skin, the mouth retracted back into the ground. In its place, the high grass patches once again return with a single berry bush in the middle of it.

“…Yeah, of course.” Toby dropped his shoulders as he turned around.

He looked at the river, its surface was so calm, yet the current rushed like cars on an empty highway.

Letting out a long sigh, Toby moved and stood just one step away from the river’s edge. He looked down at the river, he looked up at the forest, then sighed again. But he still took a deep breath before jumping into the river.

He paddled as the current pushed him from the side. Struggling to get to the other side as the water swept him sideways. Toby paddled with all his might. Each time he moved his flippers, the water resisted, pulled him back, and pushed him slightly off course.

His head bobbed up and down the river’s surface as his eyes fixed on the other shore.

Slowly but steadily, he moved closer and closer to his goal.

Finally, he took a deep breath, dived down, then shot himself up. As his belly hit the ground, he bounced twice before stopping. His poor belly once again had to put up with his abuse as Toby rubbed it apologetically. But his belly didn’t take the abuse so kindly as it sent long and dull pain as a reply.

It was a struggle but Toby made it to the forest.

The next hurdle he had to clear was to find someplace he could use as a temporary shelter. Dragging himself inside the forest, Toby moved slowly as he looked around to see what he could use.

One hour, then two, then three, maybe even more passed as dusk came, diving the world in melancholy orange.

Toby kept dragging his body as he searched. Finally, just before night came, he found an empty fallen log that lay on the ground. As tired as he was, having a log was just as great as having a penthouse. He climbed into the hallowed log and closed his eyes. Usually, he couldn’t sleep with how caked in dirt he was. But it had been a long day. A really long day.

“Finally, some rest.” As his eyes refused to open, Toby quickly fell into dreamland.

He dreamt of what once was. As a copywriter, he was decent at his job when he had to write, but he was terrible when he had to speak. His potty mouth made presentations a nightmare. It was the same with making friends. No one liked it when he opened his mouth. And it only got worse when they knew the label society forced on him. Making friends was as difficult as trying to convince a million-dollar client to trust their entire business with his marketing agency without any proof of competence.

But still, there was one guy who didn’t back away from him.

At a random company drinking night, the two of them found out they shared the same taste in anime and games. They joked around like goofballs and hit it off from there. The guy didn’t even give a shit what society labeled Toby.

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

It was sad, but Toby was glad it was he who died and not his friend. No one would bother to remember him anyway. Toby just hoped his best friend wouldn’t take his death too hard. The bugger still had a baby to take care of. That was what he should focus on.

Opening his eyes to the sound of crackling flame and the warmth of a softly laid-out bed, Toby saw the campfire that kept him warm in this cold, dark night.

“Oh, you’re finally awake.” A deep, unfamiliar voice carried a calm and composed tone entered Toby's non-existent ears.

From the voice alone, Toby thought this must be a middle-aged handsome chad that care for people.

He turned his head toward the source of the voice. But when he saw who it was, his pupil shrunk to a dot.

Green skin, bald head, sharp teeth. The goblin was wearing a fancy outfit like that of an old gentleman with its white shirt, brown coat, and waistcoat. His outfit was clean, without any sign of dirt even in this forest. But most importantly, he was wearing a golden rim monocle with gold-colored string attached. Toby can always trust a gentleman with a monocle.

But wait, it was a goblin.

Toby shot up and away from the globin. He used so much force stood up straight with two flippers and made a kung fu pose.

“Get the fuck away. Don’t come any closer. I know karate.” He shouted.

But his threat was as useful as showering in the rain as his hind flippers weren’t used to carrying his weight. So he tilted backward and fell. Once again, he was a turtle on its back.

The goblin stood up and walked toward Toby. As he saw the goblin standing next to him, Toby closed his eyes and waited. Goodbye, world, it was a short run.

But the worst he expected didn’t happen. The goblin bent down and flopped him up, letting Toby stand on his flippers again. He even patted Toby’s shell twice. That was when Toby noticed he wasn’t caked in dirt anymore. And the bed he was in was made from a piece of clean cloth.

Toby looked up and saw the goblin had a gentle smile. Well, as gentle as a globin could anyway.

“Um, hello. Thank you for your help.” Thinking there was little chance of being eaten, Toby thanked the goblin.

The goblin nodded and said, “You’re welcome, my good fellow.” Then the goblin picked Toby up and put him on the makeshift bed again. Once that was done, he sat back down on the log Toby climbed into.

“Thanks for helping me again. I’m Toby. May I know your name?” Toby asked the gentlemen goblin.

“Grillion Crumblepot. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.” The goblin reached out his hand for a handshake.

Toby raised his flipper and shook Grillion’s hand. He was relieved this gentleman wasn’t trying to eat him. But then, Grillion said something that was too much of a shocker for Toby to ignore.

“In all my years I’ve never met a turtle who can talk. Someone who can speak Goblish at that.”

“Huh? What do you mean Sir Grillion?” Toby titled his head.

“Hahaha, you don’t have to call me sir. I’m just a goblin who happened to have some skill.” The goblin laughed. “Back to your question, aren’t you speaking Goblish right now?”

“No?” Once again, Toby titled his head.

“Oh? That’s interesting.” Grillion reached for his backpack and searched for something inside.

System, what’s going on? Toby called out in his mind.

[As The Dark Lord, the user is proficient in all languages in the world so that they can collect more Skills and corrupt more beings to build his army.]

“…Right.” It’s that damn Dark Lord thing again. Toby screamed internally.

His internal scream got louder and with more panic as Grillion pulled out a frying pan from his backpack.

“Would you like to try some stir-fried Amani bugs, my good fellow? I find the simplest way to get to know a stranger and become friends is to share meals.” He smiled.

A good gentleman. Sir goblin is a good gentleman.

“Yes, please. I’m so damn hungry.”

Grillion smiled as he took out a bag of what looked like silkworms, but with insect legs, from his backpack. The worms were marinated in some kind of red chilly powder and some blue leaves. Grillion shook the bag a few times before taking two handfuls of worms and dropping them onto the pre-heated frying pan.

Toby smelled a spicy sense mixed with a fresh mint-like smell as the worms were quickly cooked.

Grillion took out two wooden plates. He placed one in front of Toby and the other in front of himself. He used a spoon, scooped up the worms, and placed them on Toby’s plate. Without any reservation, Toby dug in.

It tasted like heaven. The worms were as soft as clouds. Whenever they entered his mouth, a little bit of heat lingered on the tip of his tongue. But when he shallowed, the mint-like freshness flew up from his throat and out of his nose, dispelling all the spiciness from before. It was so good, Toby dug into the place and ate like a starving dog.

“That was the best.” Toby raised his head with satisfaction and raised his flipper toward Grillion. “It was amazing Sir Grillion.”

The goblin smiled. It was either because of how sincerely Toby praised him, or how Toby’s mouth was covered in red powder which made him look like a naughty child who couldn’t eat his meal right. “Thanks for your compliment.”

[Stir-fired Amani consumed for the first time]

[Reward: 10 Life Exp. Life Exp: 30 -> 40]

[Thanks to Healer Path, the Vitality recovery effect of the meal is enhanced by 5%]

Toby opened his eyes wide as he read the notification.

“This meal can heal? And it even boosted health by five percent?” Toby exclaimed.

“Boosted by five percent? Oh. You mean you gain extra benefits from the meal.” Grillion nodded. “Do you follow the [Healer Path] by any chance, my good fellow?”

“Yes. I have a [Healer Path] and a healer skill.” He was The Dark Lord, but he had [Healer Path]. So, technically, he didn’t lie.

“Good show,” Grillion exclaimed. “It’s been a long time since I saw a nature-born healer who didn’t come from the Celestial Temples.”

Ok, so a Healer is something rare. That’s good to know. “Sir Grillion,” Toby called out.

“Please, just Grillion is fine. And I’ll also call you by your name, good fellow Toby.”

“Grillion, may I ask where we are?”

“Oh? You make it sound like you are a newborn, Toby.”

“Well, I was born today,” Toby explained his situation to Grillion. Usually, Toby wouldn’t share so much information with a stranger. But with him being in a different world he knew nothing about, and the fact that Grillion was such a chad. It was a risk worth taking.

“I see.” Grillion nodded. “First of all, you can call me Grandpa Grill.”

“Huh?” How did the conversation get to this?

“Go on little Toby, try calling me Grandpa.” Grillion looked at Toby with stars in his eyes and such an eager smile of an old man who was happy to have his grandchildren visit that it was hard to refuse.

“Um… Grandpa Grill.” Toby spoke hesitantly.

Grillion grabbed his chest like he had just been shot. He looked at the night sky, hiding his expression. But it was useless as Toby could see in three-sixty view. So Toby could see how Grillion had such a blessed smile. The goblin fixed his expression before looking at Toby again.

“Good. Secondly, you have a dirty mouth. We must change that. Someone might mess with you just because they are annoyed with how you speak.”

Of course, it had to be his potty mouth problem again.

“Thirdly, from what you said. You seemed to be someone with a special fate.”

“Can you explain that a more… Grandpa Grill?”

The goblin shook slightly without changing his expression. “Of course.” He smiled benignly.

“You see, there are two types of birth. One is through reproduction. This is how most people came into the world. But the second type is the special one. People who were born during special Celestial events and the gathering of the Elements are born without parents. Usually, they came from one of the Star Islands and bear special fates.” He pointed at the islands above them.

“I don’t know what your fate is but it should be tied to the Celestial event happening today.”

“I see, thank you, Grandpa,” Toby said as his belly felt warm and his eyes slowly dropped, refusing to open.

Grillion smiled as he pulled his cloth over Toby. “Let’s continue our conversation tomorrow as we travel through the forest.”

Realizing he had forgotten something, Grillion patted Toby’s shell and said, “I forgot something.”

Toby looked at Grillion with drowsy eyes as he barely mumbled, “Yes?”

“Welcome to Virelen, little Toby.”