Exploration.

After feeding myself I looked at the corpse with mixed feelings, and then at the two directions I could take.

The two directions were long and seemingly unending, it was a long hallway, confined and definitely not for the claustrophobic.

I'd then looked at the corpse one final time, burning its image in my mind, for non symbolic reasons, it was in case I needed to retrace my steps. I'd start using their corpses as breadcrumbs.

Afterwards I picked a direction and followed it.

It was tempting to explore my thoughts, to think of what'd I'd just done. After all It was the first life I'd taken, serving as a graduation of sorts.

But how could I afford this reprieve? How could I allow myself to be distracted in this environment I know nothing about?

So while walking in the direction I'd picked I then started studying the panel while keeping an eye out for what may lay ahead. Knowledge is power after all.

My panel showed me the changes of my stats.

Agility and Dexterity had doubled, obviously from the [Trait] plunder had given me, though even without it I could tell something had changed. My body had gotten leaner and I felt light on my feet.

It seems my [Plunder] trait will be pivotal in my survival.

But it means I'd need to kill from on out to recieve its benefits, that aside I was wondering about [Significance] for a while now.

What are its conditions?

do I need to slaughter for experience?

No matter, this will be resolved once I kill some more goblins.

I've walked for a while now, It's as if this corridor would go on endlessly, even though it may have been for only a few minutes I'm started to feel a little cramped here.

I observed the sides of the dungeon, it's light source were torches mounted parallel to each other with its flames flickering but showing no signs of burning out, as if it'd burn indefinitely.

Yet I could breathe just fine, there were countless torches lined up in this place that seemed to go on indefinitely, which must mean one thing.

There must be a way out, after all this place was pretty confined and yet I didn't feel as if I was dying from a lack of oxygen, so there has to be good air circulation.

Therefore an exit.

Eventually I came to a halt, my thoughts were interrupted by an expected visitor, or I suppose that's me right? After all i'm the one that's actually intruding.

Before me was another goblin, a healthy one.

To be quite frank, I'm not entirely certain I could take it on. I was still recovering from malnutrition and even with my new [Trait] I'm not certain how capable these things are at full health.

But that didn't seem to matter at this time, I could still remember the sensation. How easy it's neck caved in with enough force, how the life fades from its eyes with the glow following suit until it entirely extinguishes into nothingness.

If killing is a choice, between me or this creature, I obviously choose myself.

This revelation didn't help with my trembling, I was nervous and anxious, but all I could do was observe while it hadn't noticed me yet.

A healthy green midget was before me, the goblin had a fat rotund belly and It's eyes glowed a deeper shade of red than the sacrificial lamb before it, like an ugly beast you'd encounter in the wild.

This period of observation, however, soon ended.

It had noticed me soon after , it too also made its observations.

It must've been a standoff that lasted for a few seconds in reality, but to me it felt much longer. Neither of us had moved a muscle, until...

It made the first move.

It lowered its center of gravity ready to attack. I followed suite mimicking it's actions because I've never really fought before, what other stance could I take?

It sprang forward lunging at me with a club in hand excited, in its excitement it even let out a beastly howl.

And yet, it looked so slow.

These must be the real time changes that have occured to me, I can see through it.

It was planning to use its momentum and inertia to swing in a linear pattern, aiming right towards my head.

So as it stands to reason, if I could see it, I could react to it.

If I was a more experienced fighter I could have sustained no injuries but that's not quite what happened. Without a weapon in hand, and with little time to maneuver or think, I had leaned my head away and bore its attack with my tucked in elbow.

To say it hurt was underselling it, but I couldn't afford to waste the gap I made, using my left dominant hand I tackled it onto the ground and mounted myself on top of it.

It was shorter than me, and it seemed that its main advantage was in its speed, though I wasn't the tallest or heaviest by any means, but when compared to this creature half my height I believed I had the advantage in that regard.

What I did next I had to use both my hands for.

The good arm was used to hold it down if my weight wasn't enough to subdue it, and with my bad arm I mindlessly wailed at it.

Using my mangled arm to do this hurt, it throbbed and the more I hit it the more my knuckles ached but I continued in spite of this. The adrenaline and desire for survival superseded all my previous notions built upon a peaceful society.

As I continued to hammer at it, for the sake of my survival, I had started to feel a new emotion and sensation blossoming. The adrenaline and anxiety had faded, I had started to feel excited and refreshed.

Despite the blood piling up in my hand I started to feel as if I was finally aware of what it meant to be alive.

Whatever excuses in my head couldn't explain this.

It's true that this creature isn't one you can reason with, the throbbing pain and aches I felt in my arm remind me of this. With a beast such as this, you must finish the job.

Overthinking this isn't doing me any good.

I walked away from the creature to pick up the weapon it had dropped in my instance of brutality. Picking it up I felt a heavy weight unrelated to the club in my hands, I looked over to the creature struggling to breath and inched my way closer to it.

This seemed to make it flinch and whimper a sorrowful cry, I felt slight pity for this creature. I couldn't bring myself to even hate it, it was obviously bound by its instincts or perhaps by this place to fulfill its role.

But this feeling dispersed soon enough.

Overthinking does no one any good, It continued to whimper in fear as I inched closer to it, I restarted the process from before and returned its initial greeting onto its head.

Utilizing my entire back and shoulders I'd started to bash it's head in. It's once ugly face had turned even uglier when it's snot, tears, and blood all mixed in the dent that had used to be its face.

All that was left was bio-pulp.

And then, I heard a chime and looked at the panel.

"Ding! [Plunder] Activates"

My panel stated as I received a new item that appeared aside its corpse, the panel explained I had plundered a [Low-tier Tonic], though a new item I roughly guessed what it was for.

My trait continues to remind me how useful it really is.

I didn't hesitate to down the [Low-tier Tonic] and felt the throbbing pain in my left hand go away, I hadn't yet let go of the club, tightening my grip on it I decided to keep it as I needed a weapon of some kind. I can't go tackling monsters forever.

I exhaled, feeling the adrenaline fading, i felt immense relief that this encounter was over. Stepping over its corpse I continued to walk as I felt the difference since the transformation of my body, I knew I felt a spring to my step but it was a different thing altogether after putting it to action.

I'd really surprised myself.

Evidently I'd changed. I swung the club around to get a better feel for it, not thinking whether the piece of myself that was condemning and feeling guilt for all i've done had any real substance.

That coward can bark all he wants but he should leave me out of it, to be strong I realized you have to cast away the weak parts of yourself, I was even starting to feel expectant towards the next encounter wondering if that feeling would return.

Well it should go much more smoothly than this one, especially with my new tool.

And so, I continued to make my way deeper into this dungeon, my footsteps echoed in this confined space and I had decided to not think any more than I already have, I even had started to whistle.

What awaits me next I wonder?

Summary Panel:

[Levi-Suárez] [Significance - 1 ]

[Stats]

ST. 5

AGI. 5 [+5]

INT. 10

DEX. 5 [+5]

END. 5

[Talent] - -

[Trait] - [Plunder] [Low-tier Nimbleness]