Looming Danger
After approximately 15 minutes, a veritable pile of goblin corpses lay before the party of 4. The two men sat down catching their breath as the 2 girls talked about how much fun that had been.
Leo and Ouroboros looked at each other, an understanding had been made between the two of them. As long as they were in this party together, they needed to be united as the girls were far too scary to fight against alone.
The party then heard the androgynous voice of the system ring out.
[Goblin Squadron Defeated. Remaining Squadrons 5/6]
[+180 exp]
Quest Updated.
Quest: Goblin Extermination
Quest Details: News of a goblin settlement has been spotted too close to the village. Form a party and wipe them out within 24h.
Difficulty: B-S
Completion Reward(s): 1 gold. 10 Free Points, 3000 exp
Requirements: Party of 4. (Current Party 4/4)
Quest Failure: Village Destruction
Additional information: If the village is destroyed, all players within the village will have their characters deleted.
Status: 5 Squadrons of the Goblin Leader remain. Wipe out the other 5 squadrons before confronting their boss.
There was a faint ding as Lily, Ouroboros and Luna glowed in a faint light, signalling they had leveled up while Leo calculated that he was on the cusp of going up another level himself.
"So we have to do this 5 more times and then fight a boss? That sounds like fun."
Luna said with a small grin, still covered in bloodstains from the monsters she had slaughtered so cruelly. Leo was growing more concerned with his sisters seemingly casual view on slaughter like this.
"A great source to level up too! We are going to get our class soon too yeah?"
Lily agreed with an innocent smile, a stark contrast to her earlier image as she skewered goblins so nonchalantly as if she was out to make shishkabobs. However, having grown up in her family, she had become somewhat desensitized to such gruesome violence. She didn't see an issue with Lunas newfound aggression.
"Boss…..Girls are scary huh…"
Horos mumble was just loud enough for Leo to hear. In response, Leo hugged his legs close to him as he nodded softly in agreement.
"Yeah they are. Downright terrifying…..".
Okay Huddle up Boys. We need to check everyones stats to see if there is anything we can do to improve"
Lily beckoned for the two boys to come closer so begrudgingly, they both stood up and did as the Tigress requested. They each opened up their status screens to each other so they could see more detailed information now that they were all level 2.
Character Status
Name: Leo
Race: Adaptive Beastfolk
Title: Cruelty of Man
Class: N/A
Age: 18
Level: 2 (190/200exp)
Status: Sickly (Body Upgrade in Progress)
-Health: 71/90
-Mana: 40/40
-Attack: 35
-Defence: 35
-Dodge: 44
-Strength: 5
-Endurance: 4
-Agility: 12
-Dexterity: 10
-Intelligence: 7
-Wisdom: 4
-Charisma: 11
-Luck: 10
-Free Points: 2
Fame: 5
Resistance: None
Skills: Chimerafication (Innate Racial), Invocation of Evolution (Low), Bond of the Zodiac (Low), Appraisal (Innate), Battle Sense (Innate), Elemental Conversion(Unique), Shield Arts (F)
Equipment: Astra (R) , Cute Boy Outfit
Character Status
Name: Luna
Race: Warbunny
Title: Lumberjack Apprentice
Class: N/A
Age: 19
Level: 2 (159/200exp)
Status: Healthy
-Health: 34/105 → 140/140
-Mana: 00/10 → 15/15
-Attack: 100
-Defence: 20
-Dodge: 36
-Strength: 10 → 12
-Endurance: 7→ 8
-Agility: 10→ 11
-Dexterity: 5 → 7
-Intelligence: 2
-Wisdom: 1
-Charisma: 7 → 8
-Luck: 4
-Free Points: 2
-Skills: Bloodlust (Innate Racial), Axe Mastery (F), Throwing (F), Appraisal (Innate), Rampage (Innate Racial)
-Equipment: Hatchet(x2), Leather Vest, Leather Pants
Character Status
Name: Ouroboros
Race: Myriad Hydra
Title: N/A
Class: N/A
Age: 19
Level: 2 (94/200exp)
Status: Healthy
-Health: 121/160 → 190/190
-Mana: 31/50 → 60/60
-Strength: 5 → 6
-Attack: 70
-Defence: 50
-Dodge: 54
-Endurance: 11 →13
-Agility: 12 → 13
-Dexterity: 12 → 14
-Intelligence: 7 → 8
-Wisdom: 6→ 7
-Charisma: 10 →12
-Luck: 1
-Free Points: 4
-Fame: 20
-Attack: 80
-Defence: 45
-Dodge: 54
-Skills: Regeneration (Innate Racial), Appraisal (Innate), Poison Blood (Innate Racial), Poison Resistance (B), Serpents Eye (Innate), Stealth (F), Trap Setting (F)
Snake Venom(NEW!)
-Equipment: Arachne (Unique)
Character Status
Name: Lily
Race: Wood Tiger
Title: Alchemist Apprentice
Class: N/A
Age: 19
Level: 2 (114/200exp)
Status: Healthy
-Health: 70/70→ 75/75
-Mana: 31/150 → 180/180
-Attack: 90
-Defence: 5
-Dodge: 5
-Strength: 2 → 3
-Endurance: 1
-Agility: 3 →4
-Dexterity: 9 → 10
-Intelligence: 9 → 11
-Wisdom: 10 → 11
-Charisma: 9 →10
-Luck: 8
-Free Points: 1
-Fame: 0
-Skills: Wood Magic (Racial Innate) , Appraisal (Innate), Plant Growth (Innate Racial), Alchemy (F), Tiger Blood(Innate), Fire Magic (F), Compounding (F)
-Equipment: Wood Staff, Robe
All four of them widened their eyes in surprise at the status screen the other 3 displayed for various reasons.
[Thoughts on Leos Status]
Ouroboros: 'Those are his stats while being sick?! His strength is almost on par with mine and his agility is higher? Plus he has a unique skill already? This kid is far more dangerous than he looks…'
Luna: Body upgrade?! Is that what's making my brother grow a tail? If he is growing a tail…. Does that mean he might grow a matching set of cat ears?! Wait….Does that mean I might grow a bunny tail and ears in the future?!
Lily: Cruelty of man? What sort of title is that? Also what is that Agility….He's like that old saying. What is it again? Ahh yeah… Fast as fuck boiiiii.
[Thoughts on Lunas Status]
Leo: 'Wisdom is still 1 huh? I always thought Sis loved to stand up for the weak….but maybe shes just a battle junkie? I better not say that or she might beat me up. I see nothing…..I see nothing wrong here.
Ouroboros: 'For someone so small, she is a complete beast in a fight huh? What a stark contrast to that cold face. I may need to hold back on teasing her a little. If I cross her bottom line, she might just crush me…'
Lily: This spartan lady was already scary. Even this game recognizes that. She is strong and fast. This only confirms I will never exercise with her!
[Thoughts on Ouroboros Status]
Leo: 'This guy. He has the highest Endurance and HP of all of us but he is acting like a thief?! What a waste for someone who can naturally tank? Also that dagger is a Unique Weapon? Interesting…
Luna: 'How did this jerk get a unique weapon?! I only have these 2 shoddy axes! I wonder if it would drop if he dies….Nah Nevermind, I dont like wimpy weapons like daggers. Plus it looks complicated to use. Not my style
Lily: 'Dont basic skills start at F rank? How does he already have a skill at B Rank? What did this snake endure to get such a rank so soon? Does it have something to do with that Poison Blood Skill he has?
[Thoughts on Lilys Status]
Leo: She is the standard mage. That really fits her image. A smart girl like her has such a large mana pool. In a typical game, that would be a great start for a mage or druid. Sis is the Brawn, she is the brains and they share the beauty. Maybe she has what it takes to become a great alchemist too!
Luna: This girl. She is so weak and slow. I really need to get her to exercise. Otherwise she is going to expose herself as the lazy couch potato that she is. Tigress of the Gattioni Family? More like their fat cat! If she doesn't shape up, she might start being called the Chonky one!
Ouroboros: The Tigress is smarter than I give her credit for. The Tigress is not to be trifled with…. Wait. What the hell is that Strength Stat? Does she not have muscles? Even the weakest goblin is physically stronger than her!
Lily was the first one to speak, faking a cough to distract everyone who was looking at her stats.
"So we need to kill 5 more groups of Goblins like this? That seems quite simple, yeah? Something tells me that can't be true."
Lily furrowed her brow as she checked the quest details with Luna nodding in agreement her ears twitching as she looked around
"Yeah, my gut is telling me the same. I don't know if it's cause of my new animal instincts but I just can't shake the feeling that somehow…. We are being watched"
Ouroboros' ears perked up hearing that so he quickly looked around with his amber eyes glowing brightly for a brief moment
"Your senses are really sharp lil bunny. There is 3 heat signatures watching us from a distance. I estimate about 300 feet to our left, give or take".
Despite his teasing nickname, his expression and tone of his voice was deadly serious.
Leo cracked his knuckles with a confident smile on his face.
"Then what are we waiting for? Lets go over and confront them!".
Luna grabbed her brothers shoulder with a bit of fear in her own gaze.
"No we cant. Not yet! We aren't strong enough yet!"
"What do you mean by that Sis?"
Leo frowned, noting that his sister who had seemed so vicious moments before had suddenly become a bit nervous as she looked towards where Ouroboros was looking.
"Can't you feel it?"
Her tone was etched with terror as she had cold sweat dripping from her cheeks
"They are much stronger than what we just faced….If we try to fight the four of them now…We will die!".
Leo was skeptical of what his sister said so he tried to focus his senses in the direction that Horo had mentioned. Almost instantly, he felt his hair rise in trepidation. As the cold bloodlust emanating from the forest mixed with amusement washed over him. Whatever it was out there viewed them as prey but had settled for watching them in amusement now.
Lily gulped nervously and quietly murmured
"Whoever they are, it seems they wont attack us for now..But If I was to hazard a guess, they may be the boss of these Goblins. It clearly doesn't view us as a threat and will probably attack us the moment we defeat the last squadron."
The rest of the party could only agree with her. They each grabbed their weapons and set out to hunt the rest of the squadrons down. They were now walking on a tightrope, hovering between life and death on the whims of a monster.
It was a race against time and they didn't know how much longer until it ran out.