From muscle to monster

I, Zanac, have always lived my life believing in my muscles and punches.

I've always been more physically fit than others and had always been good at fighting.

After hitting the age of 16, I had dropped out of high school and chose to live my life the way I believed to be right.

Ever since then I had always lived alone, now at the age of 24 and working as a truck driver.

You think I'm an idiot? That's fine. I've never been good at using my head anyway.

Any trouble that appears has always been dealt with perfectly with my muscles.

Some rude fellow out on the street causing trouble for everyone passing by? Punch em.

Guy tries to rob me with a knife? Punch em.

Guy comes back with his buddies to get revenge on me? Punch em.

Vending machine stole my cash and won't give me my drink? Punch em.

Land lord here to collect the rent that hasn't been paid for months? Punch em.

While I am a person who resorts to physical violence and gets arrested quite often, I've never once in my life done anything to hurt the innocent.

My morals and muscles are a part of my identity. Staining either of those would make me lose my reason for living.

In fact, I completely despise those who hurt the innocent for self gain or pride. Whenever I see an idiot like that in my life, I will always serve them a knuckle sandwich without fail. It's just my way of life.

Because of this, people have always seemed to be drawn towards me.

I wouldn't say that I give the best first impressions out there since I have a fairly big build. But after helping out those who needed help, people around me slowly opened up.

I have always had confidence in my muscles and morals. I pride myself as an individual with them, neither of them have ever failed me in my life...until today.

Leisurely strolling down the street and humming my favourite songs, I reached down and pulled out the can of cold beer I had bought a few minutes ago from the plastic bag in my left hand.

The sounds of laughter and chit chat can be heard around me as I continue to walk along the main street of my home town.

I've always seen this town and its people as something worth protecting.

Whenever I see someone on the street stirring up trouble in this wonderful town, I just can't help but walk up to them and smash their face in.

After stopping to admire the serenity and lively atmosphere of the street, I opened the can of beer and drank a mouthful before letting out a breathe of satisfaction.

Things are as peaceful as it can get.

Well, at least it was suppose to be...

Suddenly, the form of a speeding red car enters my view.

It seems to be heading towards me as well...

After looking closely at the driver, I immediately know who it is.

Its the same person who brought his gang to try beat me up as revenge, only to get beaten black and blue.

This guy...hes trying to hit me with his car isn't he?

Very well. I accept your challenge.

The red car continues to drive forward as it charges towards me at maximum speed. The sounds of panic can be heard around me as the onlookers realise the situation and watch in fear for my safety.

No need to worry my friends. I got this. Muscles shall reign supreme.

Dropping my beer and plastic bag and the side path, I pull up my sleeves before running forward to meet the raging red metal rhino charging towards me.

Seeing this, the driver of the red car smiles ear to ear as he continues his course.

Underestimating my muscles huh? REGRET YOU DECISIONS AND DEFEAT IN PRISON!!

As the distance between me and the car closes, I switch myself to fight mode before leaping towards the car and send a punch towards the its front bumper with all my might.

"HRMMMMM!!!!"

*BOOM*

Blood flies everywhere as the car effortlessly repels my muscle empower jab which sends me flying in the air.

No way...I lost?

The sound of screams and cries of panic from the onlookers can be heard as I land head first onto the concrete, causing my neck to break from the impact.

Everything has gone black.

Did I die?

...how could this happen?

Soon, the sound sound of a robotic woman's voice can be heard.

[Congratulations. You have been selected as a demon lord candidate]

Wait. What?

[You will now be reincarnated to another world, please wait while your body and race is generated...]

WHAT? HOLD UP! WHATS HAPPENING?

[Your new body and race has been generated. Your location in the new world is randomised.]

HEY. DON"T IGNORE ME LADY! WHATS GOING ON!?!?!

[Your goal is to gather subordinates under you to strengthen yourself and become the demon lord. Good luck.]

WHAT!?!?

Suddenly, a bright light fills my vision as a I feeling myself get pulled a very long distance.

Soon, I find myself standing alone in the middle of a strange forest.

Sounds of wind blowing onto trees and birds chirping can be heard as I stood there dumbfounded.

What just happened?

I continue to look around and try to find out more about my situation.

Insects, small animals, and birds that I have never seen or heard about before can be seen moving around. Up in the sky, I can even see what looks like a green eagle with four wings... Where am I?

The most stunning part of this situation is that my body seems to be different. Much different.

The cloths I had been wearing before were no where to be found.

My skin which was originally white coloured is now a dark coloured red. Scales coloured in a even darker red can be seen in many placed of my body as well. These scales covered both my hands and feet. They can also be seen around my torso, mainly the chest.

My fingers and feet also seem to have sharp claws with are coloured black instead of nails that are pink.

What happened to my...

While I look down onto my body and observe the changes in confusion, sounds of bushed rustling get louder and louder which causes me to look up and observe the situation with narrowed eyes.

Suddenly, multiple green figures about the size of a 13 year old emerged from the bushes and quickly surrounded me as I watch in alert.

Each of these small figures wielded a spear and seemed to have approached me with hostile intent.

What, are these...goblins?

Back in my high school life, I had a nerdy friend called Sam who I would chat with time to time. After helping him from a gang of bullies, we became very close and would chat about our interests and hobbies. One of his main interests included fantasy and RPG games. He would tell me about all sorts of monsters in these games and goblins were apparently some of the weakest amongst these monsters.

This particular friend of mine is now living a happy life as the owner of numerous property...

Hm? Why do I sense fear and desperation from these goblins?

After fighting many many people throughout my life, I'm able to determine the feelings of my opponents through observing their movements and the look in their eyes.

The cloths they wore were very ragged and their movements looked very sluggish which brings even more confusion to my mind.

No, I'll think about my situation later. The only thing that matters right now are the enemies that have surrounded me. They don't seem to be welcoming me, so the only solution to this problem right now...Is to punch em.

I count the total amount of goblins surrounding me as they watch anxiously and ready their spears.

About... 30 all together?

Suddenly, three goblins on my left leap forward while thrusting their spears towards me.

Reacting to this, I weave to the side to dodge the incoming danger before grabbing their spears with one hand and moving in to send a counter attack with the other.

"HRMM!!"

*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*

The feeling of satisfaction rises in my chest as the haymaker I throw knocks out all three of the attacking goblins in one swing.

While surrounding goblins are stunned as they watch three of their allies fall to the ground I quickly move in to the closest goblin and send a left hook to his face, knocking him out in the process.

Another goblin from behind me leaps towards me with his spear overhead with intention of stabbing it into my back.

Naive.

I grab onto the goblin I had just knocked out before quickly swinging my arm and throwing it towards the attacker.

This causes the attacking goblin to get knocked out of the air, dropping its spear in the process, and fall on the ground with its unconscious ally pinning it down.

The sight of multiple of their allies being defeated within the span of a few seconds causes the rest of the goblins to lose moral as they look at each other, not sure about what to do next.

"IS THAT ALL YOU GOT!?"

I move in quickly and send my punches and kicks towards each of the goblins before moving to the next, defeating one goblin after another.

"HRMM!! HRMM!! HRMM!!"

Knock out punch!

Liver shot!

Round house kick!

Right hook!

Not long after, seeing that they have no chance of winning, the remaining goblins lose the will to fight and drop their spears before running away into the forest.

About 17 goblins lay on the ground around me, with one being the goblin who is still struggling to get its unconscious friend off itself.

Now...What should I do with them?

While thinking of what to do next, I walk up to the only conscious goblin on the ground and stare at it.

Seeing this, the poor fellow shrieks in fear before muttering out words in fear.

"NO."

WHAT!? THEY CAN TALK??

Wait...if they can talk. Maybe I can learn of my situation!

"You can talk?!"

"Please. no. kill!"

Huh? It thinks I'm gonna kill it?

Well, that might actually be a normal reaction considering that they attacked with the intention of killing me in the first place...

"Why did you attack me?"

"We. have. no. choice. If. we. no. hunt. we. die. of. hunger."

...What? They were trying to eat me?

Now that I take a closer look at each of these goblins, I'm able to see that they are skinny. Terribly skinny.

I didn't notice it before because of their ragged cloths covering majority of their bodies, but they all look very unhealthy and are skinny to the bone.

"We. forced. to. leave. home."

"Please. We. just. want. to. live. Please. no. kill."

The goblin I was talking to begins to break down in tears as it puts its head down and hugs it unconscious friend whom I had previously thrown onto him.

What is this...

Memories of all the refugees I had seen in my life start to flash through my mind as I watch the poor goblin weep.

These goblins...they're not monsters from a RPG game.

Just like humans, they eat, they cry, and they have the desire to life. They are people as well.

Who in the world did this to them?

Feelings of anger begin to rise in my chest as I begin thinking of my next move.

No. What am I hesitating for?

There is someone right in front of me who is in need of help. I should just do what I've always done my entire life.

"Friend. Tell me your situation."