Kael stepped out of the hovel, his heart pounding in his narrow chest. The settlement buzzed with chaotic energy—goblins scurried about, their voices a cacophony of grunts and snarls. The air was thick with the stench of unwashed bodies and rotting scraps, and the flickering torchlight cast long, jagged shadows across the uneven ground. Kael's beady eyes darted around, taking in the crude huts, the piles of stolen goods, and the menacing figures wielding makeshift weapons. He felt exposed, a weakling among predators, his new goblin body frail and unsteady.
"Move it, runt!" The same guttural voice from before boomed, and Kael's head snapped toward the source. A hulking goblin, nearly twice his size, loomed over him. Its skin was a darker shade of green, scarred and mottled, with a crude iron club slung over its shoulder. Its eyes gleamed with disdain as it glared at Kael.
"Y-yes, sir," Kael stammered, his voice still foreign to him. The goblin snorted and shoved him forward, nearly knocking him off his feet.
"Chief wants you. Now. Don't make him wait, or I'll skin you myself."
Kael's stomach twisted. Chief? The word carried a weight that made his instincts scream to run. But where could he go? He was a goblin now, trapped in a world that saw him as prey. The system's quest flashed in his mind: Survive Your First Day. Fifty Evolution Points and a weapon were on the line. He couldn't afford to fail.
He followed the larger goblin through the settlement, weaving between huts and dodging the occasional swipe from others who seemed to take pleasure in his stumbling. The system's interface hovered faintly in his vision, a constant reminder of his new reality. He glanced at it, willing the [Status] screen to appear again.
Name: Kael
Race: Common Goblin
Rank: F
Level: 1
Statistics:
Strength: F
Agility: F
Intelligence: E
Endurance: F
Magic: N/A
Skills: None
Evolution Points: 0
His stats hadn't changed, but the sight of them grounded him. He wasn't helpless—not entirely. The system gave him a chance, a path to grow stronger. He just had to survive long enough to use it.
They reached a larger hut, its entrance draped with tattered hides. The hulking goblin shoved Kael inside, and he stumbled into a dimly lit chamber. The air was heavy with the scent of smoke and blood. At the far end, seated on a pile of furs, was a goblin who radiated authority. His skin was a deep, almost blackish green, and his eyes glowed with a cunning intelligence. A jagged scar ran across his face, and a necklace of what looked like human finger bones hung around his neck. This had to be the Chief.
"So, you're the new runt," the Chief growled, his voice low and gravelly. He leaned forward, inspecting Kael like a piece of meat. "You don't look like much. Why should I let you live?"
Kael's mouth went dry. He hadn't expected to be questioned so soon—or at all. His human mind raced, searching for a response that wouldn't get him killed. "I… I can be useful," he said, his voice trembling. "I'm quick, and I learn fast."
The Chief laughed, a harsh, barking sound that made Kael's skin crawl. "Useful? You're a Common Goblin. You're barely worth the air you breathe." He gestured to the side, where a female goblin stood, her body wrapped in tattered cloth. She was different from the others—her frame was slighter, her features less grotesque, almost human-like in their proportions. Kael's mind flashed to the system's words about female goblins and their… desirability. He forced the thought away, focusing on the Chief.
"I can prove it," Kael said, his voice steadier now. "Give me a chance, and I'll show you."
The Chief's eyes narrowed, a glint of interest sparking within them. "Bold words for a runt. Fine. You'll join the scavenging party tonight. If you survive, maybe you're worth keeping around. If not…" He shrugged, his grin revealing sharp, yellowed teeth. "Your skin'll fetch a decent price."
Kael's blood ran cold. A scavenging party? Out in the wild, where goblins were hunted? He nodded, not trusting his voice. The Chief waved him off, and the hulking goblin dragged him back outside.
As they walked, Kael's mind raced. He needed a plan. The system was his only edge, but with zero Evolution Points, his options were limited. He opened the [Shop] function again, scanning the list of items he couldn't afford. A rusty dagger for 50 points—the same amount as the quest reward. If he could survive the night, he'd have a weapon. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
The hulking goblin led him to a group of goblins gathered near the settlement's edge. They were a ragtag bunch, armed with crude spears, slings, and clubs. Their eyes gleamed with greed and malice as they sized him up. "Fresh meat," one of them muttered, spitting on the ground. Kael ignored them, focusing on the task ahead. The system's quest timer ticked down in his mind: less than 24 hours to survive.
"Listen up, runts," the hulking goblin barked. "We're hitting a merchant caravan tonight. They're camped a mile out, fat with goods. Grab what you can, don't get caught, and don't die. Or do. I don't care." He glared at Kael. "Especially you."
Kael nodded, his mind working overtime. A caravan meant humans—armed humans, likely. Goblins might be weak, but they were cunning. He'd have to be smarter. As the group set out into the dark forest, Kael lagged behind, his small frame blending into the shadows. The system chimed softly.
Sub-Quest Alert: Scavenge Successfully
Objective: Steal at least one item from the caravan and return alive.
Reward: 100 Evolution Points, Access to [Shop] Tier 2 Items.
Failure: Death or capture.
Kael's lips curled into a grim smile. "No pressure," he muttered. The forest loomed around him, its branches clawing at the sky. The goblins moved silently, their movements practiced and predatory. Kael's heart pounded, but a spark of determination ignited within him. He wasn't just a goblin. He was Kael, and he had a system. He'd survive this night, no matter what it took.
The caravan came into view through the trees—a circle of wagons bathed in the glow of campfires. The goblins spread out, their eyes glinting with anticipation. Kael crouched low, his claws digging into the dirt. He didn't have a weapon, but he had his wits.