The Cave

'Hey system, is there anything like a party system?' Roy queried.

{Info}

[Party]

A group of people linked together through a [Mana Bond].

Allows a kill of a party member within a 1 mile radius of yourself to be shared.

Party systems do not split the experience, each person receives the same amount.

As the [Mana Bond] grows stronger, you will be able to feel party member's presence within the 1 mile radius, possibly even their condition.

Can see party member's stats. (Enabled by default, turn off to hide stats.)

'Okay, how do I make a party with someone?' Roy asked, while being extremely happy the experience won't be split. He was already struggling with it being split in three...

{Info}

To form a party, simply initiate a party contract by telling the system the being you wish to party with. After that they simply need to accept the invite.

'Sweet and simple, I like it! System I wish to form a party with Solus here.' Roy stated to the system.

Soon after Solus' eyes shot wide open as she looked at Roy.

"It's okay, just say yes." Roy smiled at Solus as he pat her head.

Soon after, he could feel a second link between him and Solus. Yet this link had a different feeling to Inbellis'. He couldn't put a finger on it, but he assumed it had to do with the difference in the bond types.

'One is a pet, while the other is a party member. Not a bad thing that I can tell the difference though, makes it easier to know who is where.' Roy pondered, while thinking of the benefit to it.

'System, show me Solus' stats.'

Status

Name(s): Solus

Species: Infant Kobold Lv. 4/20

EXP: (06/40)

Job(s): [Student Lv 02/100]

EXP: (10/20)

{Available Jobs}

none

Stats:

HP: 23.0

Str: 23

Agi: 23

Int: 3

MP: 1.5

Skill(s):

[Scratch Lv. 2]

*Whistle*

"Damn Solus! You're pretty strong, huh?" Roy said in suprise.

Solus looked at him, tilting her head in confusion. Roy chuckled and pat her head again.

'Student, though? Is it because I've been teaching her? System show me info on the [Student] job.'

{Info}

[Student]

Job that raises intelligence by 1 per level.

Gives improved memory and learning capabilities.

'Wow, kinda wish I had that in high school!' Roy joked as he had remembered his school days on Earth.

Beginning to get in a bad mood, as his past came bubbling to the surface of his memories, he distracted himself again with the surroundings.

"Hooooooo... Haaaaaaah" Roy took a deep breath of the nice cool air. His mood beginning to relax, he meandered around for a bit, spotting something in the distance.

"Hm?"

Around 100ft ahead of them, Roy could see a cave entrance. 'Looks like a pretty big cave, might be inhabited so I definitely need to be careful.'

*Shh*

Roy shushed as he put his finger over his mouth, letting Solus know that there is possible danger ahead.

Nodding her head, she quietly followed Roy as they made their way over to the cave.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Please, please let us go! I don't want to die here!" Screamed a woman, who was tied to a thick stalagmite. Around her were about 10 other women, many of whom had lost all hope as the lights in their eyes were faded.

The woman screaming was a Mastiff Kobold, an evolved form of the Kobold. Due to her strong physique, she would normally be able to escape these weak bindings. Realizing this, the captors had cut the tendons in her hands and feet to disable her.

The woman who was in extreme pain, was screaming for mercy. Though all she received were the snickers of the vile creatures that had captured them whilst they slept.

Looking to the side of the cave the woman began to cry as she saw the bodies of all the males that were with them. They were piled up, being dismembered for food.

"Please someone help us!" The woman prayed as she noticed one of the captors leave the shadows of the cave and stand in front of her.

*Slap*

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Getting a horrible feeling as he approached the cave, Roy decided to stop and trust his instincts. he handed Inbellis to Solus and told her to wait there. Using his [Apprentice Assassination] skill to its fullest, Roy sneaked up near the cave entrance. Upon reaching 20ft from the entrance, Roy could see two goblins standing guard.

'Shit, just as expected.' Roy thought, when suddenly he heard a cry for help coming from inside.

"Please, please let us go! I don't want to die here!" Echoed out of the cave, before soon after a slap also resonated.

Anger slowly filled Roy's eyes, as he heard the miserable scream. He didn't understand the language, but he knew it was a cry for help. He needed to act as fast as possible if he wanted to save these people.

He silently went back to Solus and told her to give him their stuff. Taking it all, Roy stuffed it in a tree before setting Inbellis on his shoulder.

Using his link he tried to get across the ' run if there's danger' feeling and could only hope it went through to his cute little pet. He was not willing to leave Inbellis this close to enemy territory.

Taking a stick, Roy drew the cave entrance on the ground with the two goblins guarding it. He then made two dots with arrows pointing at the goblins, one was made to go the long way around to sneak up to the goblin on the other end.

"There are two goblins." Roy said, holding up two fingers. "I'll take the farther one, you take this one." Roy diligently pointed to Solus, then the closer goblin on his drawing.

"We do this at the same time, okay?" Rot said slowly, just hoping she could pick up the important parts, as he knew he couldn't save them on his own.

Luckily, it seemed his teaching and her new job payed off, as she picked up enough to understand the situation!

Nodding their heads to each other, they split up. Both heading to their assigned target.

Roy slowly approached his target that was on the farther end. He had gotten around 10ft away from it and stopped to check the surroundings for more enemies. Seeing none, Roy sneaked up directly behind the goblin, weapon in hand, before swiping it as efficiently as possible. He quickly grabbed the mouth to hush any possible noise, as he watched Solus complete her kill as well.

[Goblin killed]

[36 EXP Received]

[Goblin killed]

[36 EXP Received]

"Solus, grab the body." Roy whispered as he dragged the body into the bushes. Solus imitated him, dragging her corpse into a nearby bush as well.

Roy crept up to the mouth of the cave, peering inside. The first thing that he noticed was the repulsive smell that assaulted his nose. Cringing at the scent, he pulled his head away. He quickly took off his backpack and put his snout inside it, attempting to make a makeshift mask.

'Good enough...' Roy though as he peeked inside again. This time, the smell was semi-bearable. As his eyes adjusted to the low light, he could see one of the most shocking sights he had ever seen. Never had he personally witnessed such a horrific scene. Dozens of goblins were inside the cave, next to them were a mound of Kobold corpses. Around 10 of the goblins were taking the corpses, butchering them and throwing their meat to the side.

Tied to the stalagmite of the damp cave were around 10 other Kobolds. All of them looked lifeless.

Unable to hold the contents of his stomach, Roy quickly ran to the side near the goblin corpse, taking off his backpack and vomiting.

'Those fucking MONSTERS!' Roy screamed internally, absolutely appalled at the horror he had just witnessed.

'Ten survivors... can I save them? ...No... I have to save them.' Roy questioned himself, before quickly erasing the doubt in his mind.

He would do what he thought was right, and it definitely wasn't leaving those poor creatures to the fate in store for them.

[Enough Experience has been accrued]

[Mental Fortitude Level up 3->4]