The next day, Jed woke up earlier than usual and headed to the pond to wash his face. As he rinsed off the dried sweat and dirt, he noticed something strange—a single dark stripe had appeared on his index finger. It wasn't there before. He stared at it, puzzled, then quickly assumed it must have something to do with the alpha monkey he had killed the day prior.
Hours passed as he waited for the crimson monkeys to return, but none came. The forest remained unusually silent. Feeling uneasy, Jed decided to explore the area around the pond. After some distance, he spotted a group of small, green-skinned creatures moving stealthily through the trees—goblins, just like the ones he had only seen in video games back in his old world.
Jed crouched low and quietly followed them out of curiosity. He observed as the goblins hunted the monkeys and even captured some strange horned rabbits. They hauled their prey back toward a small cave nestled between two rock formations a few kilometers from his camp.
A chill ran down Jed's spine. If they're that close… they might find my camp. He knew he needed to act fast.
Jed watched carefully as most of the goblins disappeared into the cave, leaving behind a lone guard. This goblin held makeshift weapons made from monster bones and didn't seem particularly alert.
With his stomach growling from a full day without food, Jed decided to hunt the goblin.
He began tossing pebbles into nearby bushes, one by one, making sure the sounds were spread out. The goblin grunted and walked toward the last bush where Jed was hiding. Just as the goblin leaned in to investigate, Jed hurled a rock at its head—but missed. The goblin growled and opened its mouth to call for help, but before it could shout, Jed quickly launched another pebble that smacked it between the eyes. The goblin stumbled.
Without hesitation, Jed lunged forward, tackled the creature, and ended the fight with a few desperate strikes using his fang-like weapon. He dragged the goblin back to his camp, unsure whether it was safe to eat, but he had little choice.
The taste? Surprisingly better than monkey meat—tough but more flavorful, despite the goblin's lean body. Jed cooked the meat thoroughly and consumed the glowstone it had carried. As warmth filled his chest, he felt the familiar wave of healing wash over his body—just like before.
After his meal, he used mud and foliage to reinforce his camouflage around the camp. He knew now that danger wasn't just from monsters—it was intelligent creatures, ones that might be watching, tracking… and eventually hunting him.
But so would he.