I put up another mental note to find out a definition for all the stats and what it meant, smiling at my growing list of skills. I fell asleep in my hut for the night.

Something decided I would regret sleeping that night

Chapter 4 start

I woke up in a pile of my own blood, parts of my new body flung around violently, or more parts should I say for when I looked at myself I was completely fine, except for the angel mark on my hand has disappeared. That perk came in handy sooner than expected. Looking around I saw what caused it, a towering Trex like being was chomping down on my old left-arm except it had one big eye instead of one on each side, and instead of short arms, it had long tentacles that it used like whips to snatch up what it decimated with its large legs, strong tail and jaw.

My old body would have been petrified but my goblin instincts quickly kicked it into gear and I started crawling away. before I ran completely I took a look at it and used the researcher

Aiakul, Goblin’s nightmare LVL ???

???

I couldn’t see what it was, but the implications were clear, this thing was in the hundreds of levels and I wasn't even close to being able to beat something like that. I turned back to running quickly, taking some leaves to wipe off any blood that I threw out randomly in case it carried as good a smell as the Trex from that famous movie. It probably discovered me because of the ShellCharger carcass. The thick forest, still wet from last night's rain, proved good cover as I ran.

SKILL ACQUIRED, Dash

Dash, LVL 1

Stamina cost 20 per min

You can use more stamina to dash faster than normal running

Cost per minute decreases with skill level

% faster increases with skill level

10% faster when dashing

After running as fast and far as I could, I believed I was out of danger, at least for now. While resting I thought of the name again, specifically the part about ‘Goblin’s Nightmare’, it implies that there are other goblins in the area, perhaps I could find them and get some information on where I am. With my stamina slowly ticking up I tried to think of where I could find them, maybe I could trust my goblins instinct to find where they might have a settlement. I thought about the ability but my instincts were quiet...of course.

Well I've read in books that when the main character is lost they often find a river to follow since most settled close to them, and I was kinda thirsty so maybe if I'm thirsty enough my instinct will at least pull me in the direction of one!

With a plan ready action, I started walking again, deciding to try to head somewhere in this jungle that might be a bit higher up so I could use it as a lookout for either a river or a village, having my instincts as a backup plan once I got too thirsty, which wouldn’t take long. I didn’t think of collecting any rainwater last night and it appeared this forest isn’t as damp at day time as at night. While walking I could see in real-time leaves and trees shrivel up and die from the heat. In a few hours a lush forest turned into a wasteland with only the trees standing without leaves… well shit, there goes my cover.

Thinking about Aiakul and the bloody mess that was around me, I kneeled and said bye to yesterday's gourmet ShallCharger. I haven’t had time to think about it but at this point… I’ve died twice. Letting the reality of that sink in would have to wait but It worried me what that would do to my mind in the future, if this was the new normal I would need that Deep Breaths skill more than I realized

Deep Breath 6 -> 8

My thought process was interrupted when I looked up and saw what looked like a small flock of 5 vultures but with claws at the end of their wings. At least they were patient enough to wait for me to collect me, I don’t know if that showed kindness or that they liked to play with their prey.

DayBird, LVL 12

This bird has resolved to hunt during DayTime when there is the least amount of foliage covering their line of sight. They usually hunt in a flock with a leader taking the charge. This is that leader

Researcher 2 -> 4

Looking at the other levels after the leader, the rest were between levels 6-10. No longer wanting to wait to see the fear in my eyes, the leader screeched something and they lunged at me. The first to arrive was on the lower curve, I reacted by dodging to the side and grabbing its neck, my body reacting for me. I used it to shield against the next bird by dragging it in a circle, using its momentum to my advantage. I hit the next one in the side, the bird I used apparently counted as my weapon because its head immediately ignored its natural resistances and it pierced the other bird in the ribs making it screech in pain. I let go of the one I held neck and let it be stuck in there, suffocating on its own.

The other three paused before the leader let out another screech and simply left me alone, not wanting any of this! Yeah! You better run!

A horn was blown behind me and as I turned around I realized why they ran away. A horde of what looked like white scaled humanoid lizards but with a spider-like mouth on an otherwise normal lizard face. One of them clothed in ShellCharger scales made into a makeshift protective headwear for the sun painted a vibrant pink and a spear moved to the front, having only a loincloth defending my innocent eyes.

Thank uuuh Program? A sentient. I don’t feel comfortable thanking god when the program has shown a lot of initiative to gain my belief at this point, resurrecting a random college student twice. Though I’m not sure at this point

“Take the green man to the village. We cannot have him warn other of his kind that we are in the area” he communicated through his mandibles

A couple of the others from the horde moved towards me, spear in hand but with a deep red headwear instead, wait for what? So was I on the correct path? However, saying that I would warn others means these guys probably aren’t on good terms

“Wait, wait wait wait! I’m not a part of any group, I just recently appeared in the area and I’m looking for some sort of way back to my friends who are not of my kind”

They stopped for a second looking at their leader. He looked slightly startled but answered

“So you have learned our language? And you take us for fools for not being from these woods? You must be some sort of spy sent to deceive us. A foolish attempt but far smarter than we would expect from your kind normally. However now we only have more reason to take you, we cannot leave such a dangerous individual here”

The guards started moving towards me yet again, I didn't want to kill anyone who could talk, and to be honest I think these guys would destroy me on the spot if I tried.

AlbinoSpider Lizard Tribesman, lvl 125

The tribe of albino spiders have long been at war with other races of the forest, especially the goblins, looking to use them as a food source. This individual is from the lizard branch, granting them great strength and swimming skills, they are often used as scouts in new territory

Researcher Breakthrough 4 -> 24

In the end, I found it more useful to be alive than dead so I let them pick me up, being 3 times my height, carrying me like a potato sack they started walking in a direction opposite of where I was walking.

DayBird LVL 6 DEFEATED

42 EXP GRANTED

DayBird LVL 10 DEFEATED

80 EXP GRANTED

CLASS LEVEL UP 10 -> 15

New Perk Available

RACE LEVEL UP 5 -> 6

Hp + 20

Sta + 5

Mana + 2

+1 str

+1 dexterity

+2 constitution

+2 Endurance

+1intelligence

+1 wisdom

+0 charisma

+0 luck

+2 free points

I feel bad for the poor creatures, I know how it is to die slowly and I was sad I wasn't able to finish the job before I got carried away. However, they did try to attack me first so while I had sympathy, they underestimated me.

A light weak voice appeared in my head then

“I'm glad, mommy lives”

... mommy?

“Yes, mom created me, so mommy is mommy. But mommy is bad at fighting, so I protected mommy”

That would explain how I've survived both these encounters. I thought I just had some kind of inner talent for it, I'm kinda sad that’s not it but. Who are you?

“I'm hungry mommy, try not to fight, I'm so hungry. I don't want to eat mommy again”

That… that's very cryptic. And kind of perverse… I immediately got my mind out of the gutter once I realized what it was though. But it didn’t respond with further prodding. Hopefully, I’ll be able to confirm it another time.

I got out of my thoughts as I heard some activity behind me. We had walked for a while and the dry forest was nowhere to be seen, instead what I saw was a forest, not a jungle, a regular old Canadian forest surrounding a lake, or as regular as a completely while forest could be. Small huts surrounded it and some were built on top of the water, the huts were made of what seemed like a sturdy web, this web had been used to create a wall surrounding the lake going from tree to tree. It would burn easily but my guess was to hold out the local monstrosities rather than protecting them from war, it also had the added benefit of being hard to detect in the white forest. The rest of the horde dispersed, carrying the day's hunt and some with lighter red headwear heading towards a large hut in the middle of the lake to give information on the goblins' whereabouts. I caught onto this through some random conversations that they didn’t do a great job of hiding while carrying a “spy”.

The two carrying me as well as the leader took me to a staircase leading below ground. Opening a white wooden door I was led into what looked like a prison for goblins. There was only 1 goblin female here at the moment, however, I caught sight of a few bones and skulls of goblin size around me. After throwing me into a cell with nothing except some spears for bars, the only other protection was another AlbinoSpider Lizardman who was standing guard, they closed the door behind them. The room turned dark leaving only the knowledge of the 2 other individuals in here.

A slightly hoarse female voice talked to me

“Hey, did you get exiled too? Or were you unlucky enough to be caught by these savages”

It was better than just sitting in the darkness so I answered

“I was taken while trying to look for a village, I got my wish but not quite like I’d like to have it fulfilled, why were you exiled? “

The voice got a bit quiet before responding

“I'm cursed with illness. We couldn't cure me so they sent me in the direction of these guys, hoping I would spread my disease here instead”

Slightly shocked I responded

“That’s awful! Couldn’t they have tried a little harder to find a cure or at least take care of you in case you got better?”

The voice sounded sad while responding

“It sounds like you’re not used to surviving in these woods. I can’t blame you, I wish we could do that but we can’t afford to take that chance”

I suppose it was right, I've been out here for a night and even though I didn't come from a great home or anything, it wasn’t as though I could complain. If I got sick, I could ask my dad and he would come over with food and help me out a bit. Not that I could anymore after he died, but I'd like to think Ash or Quack would help me if I asked them. I had some knowledge within medicine though so maybe I could help this poor woman.

“Hey, if I could help you. Could you maybe introduce me to your village and show me around?”

I wasn’t so kind that I would do it without getting something back of course

“I…”

The voice started sobbing by the sounds of it

“I don't wanna die…”

I took that as a yes.