The scouts looked a little freaked out when I arrived. I was scared for a moment. Had they betrayed me? It turned out, they were simply worried about my late arrival. Even the little brother kept his mouth shut instead of spewing impolite nonsense.

I quickly explained to them what I was planning and within a few minutes, they were on board. It looked like goblins had little concerns for long term planning. I could understand why with their living situation in ork cities.

The core of the plan was to have the goblins claim they found the beast’s lair. I would spend half a day digging out a cave and put a bunch of books in there. The last few I could spare. I would likely not see them again. That should draw the attention of the thaumaturge. From there, it could go multiple ways. Someone had to move, and that was all I needed. A breach in the camp, the thaumaturge with his guards or, in the best-case scenario, only the thaumaturge or only his guards.

The scouting goblins were all made aware of what would happen before the next night. I had not visited them but I still trusted their hate in the larger greenskins to prevent any betrayal. Then, it was time. I took position early in the night and observed two goblins moving towards the ork camp. There was a short exchange of words, some grunting and one of the goblins took a kick to the stomach, propelling him out into the woods. Then, one of the archers called out to the camp and within a minute, the information had spread. The mood turned bloody. I almost saw a red haze engulf the tents. Then, one of the thaumaturge’s guards stepped out and shouted it away. Within seconds, the bloodlust had given to a brutal calm, and he stepped back into his tent.

I scoffed quietly and kept observing. Nothing happened for the rest of the night. Early in the next morning, the thaumaturge finally left his tent, flanked by goblins and guards and slowly passed through the hunting army. Everyone was awake when he reached the outskirts and the orks congregated behind him.

That was… not what I expected. Would they all move out together? Even the supply train?

The thaumaturge turned around and let out a roar. He was answered by two-hundred orks. The whole valley shook from their voices. Then, he pointed at one of the goblins that had brought the information. The brave little guy scampered forwards as fast as he could with every ork following for a moment. The non-combatants stopped at the camp’s edge around the thaumaturge and he quickly shouted at them to get back to work. Then, he stood there, his guards behind, golems in front.

When the last fighters were fifty metres away, I took off silently. My wings brought my metal body into position and I circled above. I spotted the other goblin scouts from my angle, hiding behind rocks and trees or in small depressions in the grass. I spread my wings of darkness and shot upwards in a spiral. Below, the screams of fury from the small greenskins quickly turned quiet. After a few seconds, I could not make them out anymore over the rush of air going past my ears. I stopped my ascent and reoriented my position. Then, I closed my wings.

It felt for a moment as if the world stopped its breath. Then I dropped. Faster and faster I fell towards the earth. This was not as far as that first time but it should still be enough. When I could make out the details again, I slightly opened my wings, guiding my drop to be more on target. I saw a goblin take a projectile from a golem and another one got punted into the ground by one of the guards, then, impact.

With a crack going beyond reality, a golden shield shattered above the thaumaturge’s head. It slowed me down just enough for the golems to swivel their heads at me and the goblins not occupied with surviving to look up. Then, I slammed into the ork. I felt the bones crumble and the blood vessels pop from the impact. I reached the ground and only left a small owl-shaped dent in the earth. My metal was not even deformed enough to pop me back to my real form.

The goblins shouted in celebration as the big orks turned on me. I shook off the dizziness and spread my shadows. The golems stood there, dumbfounded. As if someone had short-circuited them. One of them was stomped by an armoured boot and the lights in its head flickered off. Then, I had to shift out of the way of an oversized fist.

The gauntlet slammed into the ground, spraying blood and dirt everywhere. It was followed by an angry roar from the other warrior. I glanced over and saw a bolt stick out of his helmet’s visor. The surviving golem was gleefully reloading.

I had to return to my adversary as a huge axe swiped close to the ground. It was easy to jump over with a flap of my shadow wings. Another one brought forward two void feathers aimed at the ork’s head and chest. They impacted a golden shield, as I almost expected. It showed cracks already from just those two hits but I was surprised to see my attack stopped in place.

Before I could double down, the axe came for me again. This time, with less speed, making it even easier to dodge. Though, behind the axe-blade was a fist that slammed into my chest, bending the metal inwards.

I was propelled into a rock a few steps behind and my body deformed even more from the impact. The exchange was not helping with my dizziness either. The next thing I saw was the huge axe-blade once again, this time only a hair’s breadth away from my face. I could not react in time.

With a shriek of metal cutting metal, my body was split in two. Sparks flew out from between my eyes and my shriek of pain joined the cacophony only to be cut in half. My sight fell to both sides simultaneously and quickly met ground level. I saw the ork turn around with slow steps. Behind him, the other hulking figure was on the ground and not moving anymore. Goblins crawled over the armoured chest and a golem stood in front, an empty crossbow on his hand.

I felt my body wanting to return and found a path. For a moment, I was trapped within the Empty, my soul all around me. Then, I stood in a carpet of shadows between my killer’s legs. My feathers were covered in darkness with purple lightning going through. My head was no longer dizzy.

I looked around. Behind me, big ork number one, a bolt sticking out of the middle of his helmet. In front, big ork number two, three bolts in his helmet and a pile of goblins clapping each other’s backs on top. The golem stood in between me and them, looking at me with sinister eyes.

I hooted a greeting.

He bowed his head.

I quickly pulled out my supersensory matrix and connected to the goblins that were used to it.

“We should leave before the hunters return.”

That stopped them and within moments, the band was on their way up the mountainside opposite of where the orks had run off to. The golem looked after them.

I took a careful glimpse at its mind with my supersensory matrix and found a very normal looking soul.

“Can you hear me?”, I asked, sending along the same question in emotions.

“I can”, she nodded. The voice sounded female.

“We can’t talk now. If you want to follow the goblins, they will probably let you. I’m meeting them in a valley beyond.”

She nodded before I felt the connection cut. The golem moved after the little greenskins as fast as she could. I looked around once more. Three dead. I was seen by lots of people so I did not expect a lot of experience to come from this. Still, it should give us enough time to secure the goblin village. Only, I had taken on the responsibility to take care of some others. I really hoped the former scouts would be accepted there.

I did not loot anything. What the thaumaturge wore was impossible to find within the blood and guts and what the guards wore was probably built into their armour and too difficult to collect quickly. I was already hearing the suppliers approach. I made to eat some of the raw meat spread around. Very much a delicious treat for my tongue. When the orks came close, I screeched and took off. They were frozen for a moment, giving me more than enough time to get out of their sight. I really hoped [Mingling] made me look like a normal raptor looking for an easy meal, there.

When I crossed the mountain the goblins were climbing, the notifications finally popped up.

~ding~ You have taken out your chosen target. Experience awarded.

~ding~ [Assassin] reached level 65. 2 Attribute Points awarded.

Two of them? Not bad.

~ding~ For applying new methods you have gained additional experience.

~ding~ You have reached level 37. Attribute Point allocated. 1 Attribute Point awarded.

A race level too? You’re spoiling me, system! Let’s see where the free point went!

Species: Sgiathan Dorcha Owl (adult)

Age: 0

Name: Fio

Gender: female

Status: sapient, healthy, Beast Core (unique)

Level: 37

Class: [Assassin lvl 65], -

Strength: 25

Constitution: 21

Dexterity: 28

Perception: 26

Intelligence: 48

Wisdom: 47

AP: 0

Skills:

Racial:

Utility: [Owl Senses lvl 6], [Preening lvl 4], [Owl Stomach lvl 6], [Sgiathan Dorcha lvl 5]

Offensive: [Solid Grip lvl 4], [Intimidating Screech lvl 4], [Owl’s Shadow lvl 7], [Aerial Combat lvl 4]

General:

[Maths lvl 4], [Hidden Identify lvl 5]

Assassin:

[Sneak lvl 6], [Shock Attack lvl 5], [Mingling lvl 6], [Eldritch Shift lvl 6], [Winged Death lvl 4]

Constitution? Well, I’m not complaining. I spent my free points in Intelligence and Wisdom immediately. Then, I saw my Skills. [Mingling] had gained a level, telling me I had been successful in my deception, but more importantly, [Surprise Attack] had its Breakthrough. I quickly identified it to read the details.

[Shock Attack]: When you come from the shadows, you don’t stay there for long. If your attack is unseen, it will land where you desire. Attacking a target that has yet to notice you, greatly increases your accuracy and damage based on your Dexterity and Perception.

1st Breakthrough: Striking from the shadows with sufficient violence will shock all onlookers. They will be stunned and unable to properly perceive you for a time. Length of shock is based on perceived violence and difference between your and your observers' Wisdom and Intelligence.

That was… insane. It was perfect for my drop attack. I could make an escape without being fully noticed, as long as nobody smart enough was looking on. Though, perceived violence seemed to imply it would be less effective on inherently brutal people. Like orks, for example. This was basically a free [Intimidating Screech] if I only killed hard enough. What even did I need that Skill for?

Anyway, my [Assassin] Class was going very strong. It had only one Skill below the first Breakpoint. I was excited to grow stronger. Now, though, it was time to get my new friends settled. And to interview a thaumaturgic automaton.