Chapter 9

As the goblins cleaned up the wolves' corpses and began butchering them for meat and pelts, Luke stood to the side, taking a moment to check his system notifications. He opened the Mail tab, scrolling through the rewards he had earned.

[Successfully constructed 16x Branch Walls with the Goblins

Rewards: 160 Tech Points | Claim |]

[Successfully constructed 16x Spiked Trenches with the Goblins

Rewards: 80 Tech Points | Claim |]

Luke grinned. "I guess our hard work paid off after all." He tapped the Claim button for both rewards, watching his Tech Points total climb.

[Tech Points: 263]

"System," Luke said, his voice low so the goblins wouldn't overhear him talking to himself. "Do you have a blueprint available for sale for a furnace and forge?"

[Yes, Host.]

The panel transitioned, displaying a list of available blueprints.

[Early Furnace Blueprint - 10 Tech Points

Clay Crucible Blueprint - 15 Tech Points

Clay Bellows Blueprint - 20 Tech Points]

[Anvil Blueprint - 20 Tech Points

Early Forge Blueprint - 20 Tech Points]

Luke frowned, his brow furrowing. "Ughh… so damn expensive. Maybe I can just make them. Every man knows a thing or two about blacksmithing. I'll just save my Tech Points to upgrade the shop."

[Very smart, Host. I admire your self-control.]

Luke scoffed. "You underestimate me. The wall is done, the toilet is the next priority. I must make that. Tech points generator!" He laughed, his grin widening as he imagined himself as a tycoon madman. "System, do these defensive walls and spike trenches generate Tech Points too?"

[Yes. In fact, I'd like to reward you for successfully defending the village. If it wasn't for you, the goblin settlement would've met a catastrophic attack.]

The system notifications began to pop up.

[You successfully fended off the wolves' attack using the spike traps.

Reward: 30 Tech Points]

[You successfully fended off the wolves' attack using the makeshift walls and spiked trenches.

Reward: 100 Tech Points]

Luke's eyes widened as his Tech Points total updated.

[Tech Points: 393]

"Hahaha Nice," Luke said, his grin widening. "But also not nice. If it wasn't for the chief, we would've failed miserably."

He glanced over at the chief, who was overseeing the butchering of the alpha wolf. The hobgoblin's tattoo had stopped glowing, but the memory of its power lingered in Luke's mind. "That tattoo… it's something else. I need to figure out what that's about."

For now, though, Luke focused on his next steps. He opened the Goblin Village Management panel, scanning the available upgrades.

**[Goblin Village Management

Population: 47

Morale: High

Resources: Normal

Defenses: Minimal - Moderate

Upgrades in Progress:

Branch Wall (Complete)

Spiked Trench (Complete)

Upgrades Available:

Basic Toilet System - 50 Tech Points

Storage Pit - 15 Tech Points

Watchtower - 40 Tech Points]**

After the wolves had been dismantled and their pelts and meat prepared for storage, the chief called everyone to gather at the center of the village. The goblins formed a loose circle around him, their yellow eyes gleaming in the firelight. Luke stood near the front, his spear still in hand, as the chief began to speak.

The chief's deep voice carried across the village, his words slow and deliberate. "Goblins… listen. Long ago, our village… ravaged by humans. Many died. Many ran. We… survivors. We build new village here. But… wolves come. Always wolves. Many goblins die. Numbers… diminish."

The goblins murmured, their expressions somber as they remembered the hardships they had endured. The chief paused, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd before landing on Luke.

"But now… Lok come. Lok smart. Lok strong. Lok teach us. Lok build wall. Lok build traps. Today… wolves attack. But no goblins die. First time. And Lok… help kill alpha wolf. Leader of wolves. Dead."

The goblins erupted into cheers, their guttural voices rising in unison. Luke felt a flush of embarrassment but also a deep sense of pride. The chief stepped forward, his massive frame towering over Luke, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Lok… hero. Lok… family."

The goblins cheered even louder, their excitement palpable. Before Luke could react, the chief grabbed him and lifted him into the air. The goblins surged forward, their small hands reaching up to toss Luke into the air as they chanted his name.

"Lok! Lok! Lok!"

Luke flailed for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden celebration. "Whoa! Hey! Put me down!" he shouted, but his protests were drowned out by the goblins' cheers. They tossed him into the air again and again, their enthusiasm infectious.

Finally, the chief caught him and set him back on the ground. Luke staggered slightly, his head spinning, but he couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright. I get it. You're welcome."

The goblins laughed, their sharp teeth gleaming in the firelight. The chief clapped him on the back, his grin wide. "Lok good. Lok stay. Lok…good leader."

Luke nodded, feeling a sense of belonging he hadn't expected. "Thanks, Chief. I'll do my best."

As the celebration continued, Luke couldn't help but feel a swell of determination. The village was stronger now, but there was still much to do. The wall and trenches were just the beginning. The toilet system, better tools, stronger defenses—all of it was within reach.

For now, though, he allowed himself to enjoy the moment. The goblins might be primitive, but they were his goblins now. And for the first time since waking up in this strange new world, Luke felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.

As the morning sun rose over the village, the goblins greeted Luke warmly as he passed by. Some offered him food, while others simply nodded in respect. The kid goblins ran up to him, tugging at his loincloth and urging him to play with them. The adults quickly intervened, shooing the kids away.

"Lok busy," one of the adults said, herding the children. "Lok work. You play later."

Luke chuckled, shaking his head. "Thanks. I'll play with you guys later, okay?"

The kids cheered before running off, their energy boundless. As Luke continued walking, Grut, Rok, and Zog approached him, their weapons slung over their shoulders.

"Lok!" Grut called out, grinning. "Come hunt with us!"

Luke hesitated for a moment, glancing toward the chief's hut. The hobgoblin was inside, tending to the wounds he had sustained during the battle with the alpha wolf. Luke's expression grew serious as he realized he couldn't rely solely on the chief to protect the village from stronger enemies. He needed to level up, to grow stronger himself.

"Alright," Luke said, nodding. "I'll come with you."

Grut handed him his bow and a quiver of arrows, then grabbed another bow from a nearby hut. Luke quickly checked his stats, opening the system panel.

**[Name: Luke Rodriguez

Age: 7

Species: Goblin

Evolutionary Path: Locked (Required: Level 20)

Level: 4

Tech Points: 393

Skills:

Blueprint Creation and Analysis (Level 1)

Scrap Salvage (Level 1)

Crafting (Level 1)

Resource Detection (Level 1)

Inventory (Level 1)

Goblin Language

Night Vision

Scan Person (Level 1)

Scan Enemy (Level 1)

Appraise Item (Level 1)

Appraise Weapon (Level 1)

Sneak (Level 1)

Hide (Level 1)

Melee Proficiency (Level 1)

Archery Basics (Level 1)

Repair (Level 1)

Attributes:

STR - 6

AGI - 7

PER - 7

VIT - 8

RES - 3

INT - 6

MAG - 3

Attribute Points: 6]**

Luke scanned his stats, his mind racing. "Hmmm… if I hunt alone, I have enough skills to survive. I've got Night Vision, which means I can see in the dark if I have to. I also have Hide and Sneak, but I don't know to what extent those skills will keep me hidden from enemies. Still, it's better than nothing."

He frowned as he noticed his Resilience stat. "I'm lacking in Resilience. Let's balance that out."

He assigned 3 points to Resilience, raising it from 3 to 6. A slight surge of energy flowed through him, and he felt his breathing become easier, his body more resistant to fatigue and damage.

[RES: 3 -> 6]

"That's better," Luke muttered. "Now, let's put the rest into Magic."

He assigned the remaining 3 points to Magic, raising it from 3 to 6. Another surge of energy coursed through him, this time centered in his chest. He felt a faint warmth, like a spark waiting to ignite.

[MAG: 3 -> 6]

"Now, isn't that balanced?" Luke said, grinning to himself.

Before he could dwell on it further, Zog's voice snapped him back to reality. "Lok! You coming?"

Luke looked up, nodding. "Yeah, I'm coming."

He slung the bow over his shoulder and adjusted the quiver of arrows. As he joined Grut, Rok, and Zog, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. This would be his first real hunt with the goblins, and it was the perfect opportunity to test his new skills and stats.

As they set off into the forest, Luke activated his Resource Detection skill, scanning the area for potential threats and resources. His sharp eyes darted around, taking in every detail. The goblins moved quietly beside him, their movements surprisingly coordinated.

"Alright, Lok," Grut said, his voice low. "You lead. We follow."

Luke nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "Let's do this."