[ Chapter II (2): "GOBLIN HUNTING" ]
Elias Elliot is an ordinary expressive 18-year-old boy, he had never spoken up against someone, always lowered his head and didn't put any attention to himself.
Even with his life's circumstances he never did complain about it, except for once or twice. But never fully. So who would have thought, that said soft boy would be able to brutally murder something without even the slight bit of hesitation.
Who would have thought?
[ GOBLIN LVL. 2 KILLED BY PLAYER! ]
[ +21 EXPERIENCE ]
[ +6 CREDITS ]
[ "A-ahhh, you idiotic thing...!" ]
He watches as the monster— a Goblin, lost the glint in its eyes, thus the wailing, thus the struggling. Finally dying without having the ability to fight back properly.
The murderer in this scenario, Elias. Didn't at all seem bothered by the act of taking life from something. Instead complaining about the fact that he has scratches on both side of his forearm, bleeding.
[ "Why couldn't you just die-die, why couldn't you die properly? Stupid!" ]
Angered by feeling the stinging pain, Elias hoped that this variant of monster doesn't have poison coursing through it's claws, or body. As that'll be a problem.
But in remembering the distinct appearance of those Goblins, he then silently compared it with the monster on his feet. Sighting in relief, in realizing that it isn't a variant.
[ "Thank heavens." ]
He took in a deep breath or two before then grabbing the bloodied weapon off of the floor. The distinct green oozy blood of Goblins painted on one side, as he did use it seconds ago in bashing the head of the monster. Until it was no longer resisting.
Complaining about the small Goblin's ugly appearance, he then realized that the face of it which is sunken. It looks more handsome, or, presentable compared to the un-sunken face of it. So should he be thanked then?
We'll whatever, the monster is no longer breathing. And no other Goblins or Goblins that specializes in beauty could be seen nearby, so instead, he continued to get a move-on before the body properly decayed.
Monsters depending on their sizes and species decays in either a faster, or slower rate. The big monsters decays slower, while small menaces decay faster. Raider-like Goblins are on top of that latter list, as they decay very quickly, within an hour the bumpy skin, flesh, and everything would already been gone— the bones on the other hand would take days.
So unless the said stored carcass checked off some boxes, then it'll be preserved. There are many ways, but the way Elias knows is through harsh cold, or through magic. At the moment in the pre-Apocalypse world, there is no black market, bandit camps, or even any trading hall to trade the carcasses for currency, or anything of value.
And also because by using only 1 Goblin corpse to trade something... he wouldn't get anything at all, as Goblins are considered by others to be useless. To some extent they are correct— as they decay fast, and doesn't have anything of value. So Goblins and other small-time monsters are treated as nothing but experiences. Which in this life, something that Elias could quantify, which is great.
After moving here to there, hiding under the many abandoned vehicles, either ravaged by nature, or by people taking off parts here and there. He was able to finally spot another Goblin, the problem is.
[ 'Oh-oh no, fuck. Please don't be one of these things...' ]
[ 'No! It is...!' ]
There is to some extent 6 of them, resting in the middle of the day, in the middle of the street. On their makeshift beds in-between the man-made structures which not have been maintained by humans for a long time judging by the appearance.
You see, Goblins are a hunting-monster society. They raid people left and right, they don't know how to farm, they don't know anything other than killing people, animals, or anything living and eating them. If given the chance and pushed to the corner, then they'll even eat their own.
In-between not finding anything worthwhile to eat, or attack, or to murder. The Goblins and the other type of monsters would be resting, preparing or even hibernating in what others would call as an Hub.
What Elias is confused though, is that, Goblin Hubs are usually created inside abandoned buildings, structures, or land which isn't being contested by other groups of monsters, or even humans.
To some extent there is vigilance in the eyes of the Goblins whenever they create a Hub. But by looking at this type of Goblins, in some place he doesn't know where. The Goblins in here looks carefree, even exposing their bellies and one even lolling out his tongue as he sleeps.
This Goblin Hub falls on the 3rd category said by Elias, but... even if something isn't being contested, Goblins doesn't become carefree, no matter what. Or to this extent, which made him question 3-years worth of knowledge that he has in-store related to monsters and anything post-Apocalypse.
[ "Another way it is then." ]
He doesn't want to fight the sleeping Goblins, as he doesn't know how many other monsters are stationed nearby. So he opted to go in another direction, and to some extent scout out the place trying to find another easy lick than to suicide.
In his eyes he knows a Hub, there is 6-8 Goblins in there. So he'll come back there when he find better weapons, or after killing other careless monsters. Or after levelling up. Strong enough to easily kill them all without worry, even if they ganged up on him with wooden or stone tools.
About to turn in the corner, Elias paused as he then heard some high-pitched laugher. Recognizing the noise, he then full bodied crawl on the ground seconds later. Both his feet and body on the road no matter how mossy or dirty it is, or no matter how much it dirties his white plain uniform.
[ 'Shit...!' ]
He tries to steady his breathing, only to some extent, as he couldn't fully due to him surely having a panic attack. In fear of dying again in the hands of monsters. In fear of not seeing the peaceful Earth again. So he watches in anticipation and fear, through the underside of some random red car, as Goblins walk from left to right.
[ 'What ugly feets.' ]
He never did pay attention to it whenever running away from groups of Goblins. But their feet is dirty as all hell, even the feet of the duo which is passing by where he is. Thanks to the cover of the many-many abandoned vehicles he can't easily be found. While he couldn't believe post-Apocalypse Japan, has so many abandoned decaying vehicles left on the streets.
Having not left his home country once even after the Apocalypse. Elias who had been stuck in the large archipelagic country of his— the great Philippines, also known as the Pearl of the Orient Seas. Had never really known what happened to most countries after 6 months. Japan also, if this was his original world before he regressed to his past self. Then this country had it easy compared to the hellscape he personally experienced, or this city at the very least.
He really couldn't tell with not experiencing most parts of the country. Who knows, perhaps in here, fishes have legs or something. Or perhaps there are balloon-shaped monsters hunting down humans. Or that there is a much more potent variation of Zombies somewhere, roaming, moving, easily infecting anyone that gets close by.
[ 'No, no. Don't come back...!' ]
[ 'Why are you stoping here, idiots. Nothing is going on here, get a move-on already!' ]
[ 'Fuckkk!' ]
At the moment he doesn't need to worry about what's possibly happening around the country. Because of what's happening in front of him, as the pair of monsters stopped by in front of where Elias is crawled on. About to formulate a plan, he wasn't able too as he noticed something peeking around the corner— a third Goblin.
[ GOBLIN LVL. 3 ]
For a second time seems to slow down for both him and the Goblin, both of their iris widening in response. The former green and round, the latter red and slit. This isn't about love, even though the former is having his heart pounding out of his chest.
Knowing the gravity of the situation, in being found out and possibly alerting any and all Goblins roaming around the city. Elias knows that he needs to silence down this lone monster before it could alert the others, and he need to do it as quickly and as quietly as he could, so that he wouldn't be able to alert the two Goblins nearby. As they are quick to their feets and would already alert every single monsters within minutes if he did.
[ "Kee?" ]
[ "KIA-!" ]
The said Goblin about to scream on top of its lungs, Elias stopped it before the volume could even get up more. Or before it could even run away, as he gripped the Wooden Club tightly in his arms. Before then swinging at it to the face of the monster.
In doing so, the weapon of his acquired newer green paint which splattered even to his school uniform and face. Something which he isn't bothered at the moment, so focused on taking down the monster pinned under him as fast as he could. To do so, he need to drag the still alive monster inside a building, all the while it tries to break free.
Due to the weight of the thing which is akin to that of an child, he was able to drag it easily. And with the Wooden Club wedge in-between the monster's teeth, it wasn't able to properly get it's monster vowels out. In not being able to alert anyone to its precarious situation, the fate of the said thing is sealed. That'll be death by shoe.
[ GOBLIN LVL. 3 KILLED BY PLAYER! ]
[ +23 EXPERIENCE ]
[ +10 CREDITS ]
[ 'Shit... My shoes!' ]
After entering a small building that seems to be a residential building, Elias wasted no time as he stomped the chest of the said monster. Caving it in using his black shoe, before finally dying in getting its heart destroyed. Now he has a mismatch pair of shoe due to the right one having green blood in it, which thankfully blends to the some degree with his uniform pants.
The complain to some degree is about that, as he did like shoes. But the fact that he gets his left pointy finger bleeding due to the claws of the said monster, made him bite his lip is slight pain. Even though the monster isn't poisonous, or doesn't have any affinity with any elements, the fact that it is still a monster is dangerous. Proven by the tattered clothes of his and claw marks.
At the very least killing the monster wasn't a complete let down, as in the side of the small greenskin is a stone dagger which is sharpened to some degree. Something which is small compared to the Wooden Club, but is more dangerous and useful than it— first-hand experience of getting stabbed by one, made him of course want it and equipped it as fast as he could.
[ 'Stone Dagger acquired, I guess.' ]
[ 'That's great!' ]
He held the dagger on his left-hand for the moment as he then dragged the corpse of the monster he killed much deeper inside the building, solely because Goblin corpses have a unique smell which is attractive to bugs, sometimes is used on hunting bug type monsters also.
Leaving this body alone near an entrance, that wouldn't be a good thing, so he left it instead much deeper inside the building to not attract that much attention. Before he could leave the monster and hunt down its kin, Elias paused as he noticed multiple trail of normal sized ants deviating and going instead to the attractive body, eating it.
So is the power of monster corpses, they release an aroma that attracts others with keen senses to their location. So the more monsters killed in one location, the more others would be attracted and go there, before then getting to the point that you'll even wonder, "where had all these monsters been hiding all the time?"
Before leaving the small room, he glanced at most of the ants that he could see. But unlike humans and other monsters, he couldn't see a floating panel above their heads, no species type, no names, no level. In seeing that, he left and instead scout out the outside, ready to look if the Goblins are still there, the duo which he'll kill.
[ GOBLIN LVL. 2 ]
[ GOBLIN LVL. 3 ]
[ 'Huh, they're still there. That's great!' ]
Scouting the outside he keenly looked if other monsters are nearby, even just a silhouette. But after searching and searching, in the small street of where he is standing at, he couldn't find a single one except for the duo of Goblins on the road, sitting, seemingly eating something.
Elias craned his neck in curiosity and could see a small metallic can of worms in their hands, slurping the pinkish works in delight. Disgusted by this, he wonders if he could sneak up on them properly without alerting them, or with them not being able to properly fight as he stabs them in the face.
[ 'There just might be a way.' ]
He smiles in seeing the bow of one holstered behind its back, then at the other which seems to have a small spear placed on the hood of the red car. This is a great thing, as Elias has enough time to properly kill them without them even being able to fight back. Having planned out what he'll do, he grabbed his Club.
Knowing that he wouldn't be able to hit either of the Goblins in the head due to the car on the way and also because of his positioning which is awkward, he instead resorted to doing the second best thing use his inferior Club as a distraction. Before then sneaking up on the monsters, and start stabbing using his superior Dagger.
[ CLANG ]
[ "Keii?!" ]
Hitting the street besides them, the two Goblins became alerted as both of them stood up abruptly. The former dropping its canned of worms in the ground, grabbing the bow which is almost the same size as it preparing for a fight. The latter Goblin on the other hand was about to grab his wooden spear with a sharpened stone in the tip, but stopped when it noticed something large looming over it.
[ "Kekee?!" ]
[ GOBLIN LVL. 2 KILLED BY PLAYER! ]
[ +19 EXPERIENCE ]
[ +5 CREDITS ]
The other Goblin watches wide-eyed as it's ally gets killed by getting stabbed in the head, then at the heart, as the blade cleaved through the body causing green blood to splatter and spray to the body of the unknown entity that kills it's kin.
Finally realizing his mistakes seconds later, the monster was about to shoot and fight back against the thing which is taller than it, something of which it had never seen before. To earn more time, the Goblin ran as it then grabbed the arrow attached to its waist— picking the poison one.
[ "Don't scream!!" ]
What...? The Goblins couldn't understand what the monster said, especially with it being in a tone disgusting to it. It doesn't know, but to buy time and alert it's kin, it decided to scream before then pointing it's arrow to the giant twice any Goblin's size.
But before it could even release the string, it couldn't. As the said Goblin confident in its skills in archery, wasn't able to properly display it; as the Spear of its kin, the one besides him on patrol— the one that was murdered, that Goblins weapon is now used to murder this Goblin instead. Irony.
Without being able to react properly, the said weapon pierced the Goblin's skull in the head, causing it to stop screaming as it drops to the ground. The shot was enough to make the Goblin have a bad shot, as the poison tipped arrow hit the road.
[ "Huh. You aren't dead" ]
The shot wasn't enough to kill it, surprising even Elias as he drags the body of the previous Goblin he killed close to the one that he is about to kill. He needs to drag both bodies inside the building, where he left the previous kill, as to not alert the suspicion of any Goblin that passes by the small street where he is.
He is actually so afraid of getting caught that he is hunched in the middle of the street, trying his best to look low as possible. He ran to the body of the Goblin on the ground, ending the thing's suffering before it could alert anything; [ "I'm so-so not sorry for this." ]
[ GOBLIN LVL. 3 KILLED BY PLAYER! ]
[ +26 EXPERIENCE ]
[ +8 CREDITS ]
[ PLAYER LEVEL-UP! ]
...
[ 'Where the bloody hell is Elias?' ]
[ 'What is Mr. Elliot doing in that restroom, why is he taking so long?' ]
[ 'Where is that dweeb? Why have he been acting so weird since... waking up?' ]
All the while Elias is busy murdering monsters, planning his survival and how to kill 96 more Goblins as efficiently as he could using an underdeveloped body. The classroom on the other hand have some people wondering what is happening to him; a concerned best friend, a teacher which is strict with discipline, and lastly a mortal enemy that is too worried about the sake of the person she hates.
[ 'Where's my boi?' ]
[ 'Where is that kid?' ]
[ 'What happened to that weirdo?' ]
[ ——— ] [ ——— ] [ ——— ] [ ——— ]
[ 07/03/2025 ]
[ 07/04/2025 ]
[ AN: Still sick, but I regained new found insight that makes me able to write consistently and properly every day. I wouldn't tell you guys because I'll be ruining it for me and everyone, so please remain on the dark. ]