Chapter 7: Back in the Human Realm

After evolving into a Goblin Worker, I immediately tried getting out of the tunnel. It was an arduous task, considering the fact that I had ran too deep within. Thankfully, after some trial and error, I eventually made my way back to the exit. Of course, I properly disposed of the corpses of the other goblins.

Currently, this was how my status looked like.

Goblin Nick

Species

Goblin Worker

Level

3

Health

48/48

Mana

8/8

Strength

7 (+2)

Agility

7 (+2)

Vitality

1 (+2)

Intelligence

1 (+2)

Dexterity

3 (+2)

Luck

3 (+2)

Experience Points

19/948

Unallocated Points

0

Skills

Identify

Level 1 (8%)

A skill that grants the user the ability to appraise things. Rate of Failure depends upon the item or creature being appraised and level of the skill.

Mana Cost: 1

Scurry

Level 1 (2%)

Increase movement speed by 50% for 6 seconds.

Mana Cost: 2

Frenzied Rage

Level 1 (3.5%)

Consumes half of the user’s remaining HP in exchange of bonus stats for 30 seconds.

+ 60% Increased Movement Speed

+ 75% Increased Attack Speed

+ 30% Increased Attack Damage

Portal Access

Passive

A skill that grants one the authority to pass through the Dimension Portal. Consumes 75% of Maximum Mana Pool.

Title

Cannibal (+2 Bonus to all Stats)

After allocating my bonus points to Strength and Agility, change was starting to be noticeable. Previously, I found it hard to run while holding my beloved pickaxe. But now, I could do so without much effort and worry. Well, the bonus stats I obtained from the title, Cannibal, may have made a significant contribution to that.

I looked around me. Just like before, the Goblin Spawns were dragging the human corpses towards the carnivorous plants, producing Meat Fruits one after another.

“The Portal should be nearby,” I said to myself. Since this place was filled with human corpses, the entrance towards the Human Realm should be nearby. Otherwise, it would make no sense.

I was still trying to figure out the exact location of the Portal when an opportunity suddenly presented itself.

Lord Osiris has ordered the Goblin Clan to procure more human meat.

The Portal towards the Human Realm has been opened.

The quest, “Give Me More Meat!” is now available!

Do you wish to proceed?

Reward: 500 Experience Points

Immediately, I said yes. This was the perfect chance to cross over towards the other realm.

A jazz-like music resounded in my ears, a Ting! sound echoed, and a blue window popped up.

Give Me More Meat!

After a rift has been opened towards the Human Realm, the food shortage in Muhar ‘Tava has been resolved. Human Meat is an exquisite treat.

Go to the Human Realm and bring back two female human corpses.

An indicator within my mind appeared, showing the route towards the portal. I noticed that several Goblin Workers were also headed that way.

I remembered the time when I first encountered these goblin bastards. That time when we’re hiding in the comfort room, afraid of the Minotaurs outside. If these monsters had not given out our location, maybe things would be different right now. Maybe, just maybe, I would still be with my son and ex-wife.

I gripped the pickaxe in my hand as I reminisced. Along with the other Goblin Workers, I followed the path indicated in my mind. A convenient thing, indeed.

We passed through a large crack in one of the walls, then climbed a slope, eventually arriving at a large tunnel. Outside, just right at its entrance, four Goblin Warriors stood guard. I noticed that there was a particular goblin I had not seen before. A goblin holding a small wooden cane. Its limbs were thinner than the warriors, probably even thinner than mine. So, that was what a Goblin Mage looked like?

The Goblin Mage smugly watched as our group entered the tunnel. Even from this distance, I could hear a soft, wooshing, sound. It was probably the Portal.

We kept walking inside the tunnel.

It was hot here.

At first, I thought I was simply nervous, and that was the reason why sweat started flowing down my skin. But then I noticed that those around me were like that too.

The temperature kept increasing as we neared the portal, and I soon understood why after seeing it.

The Portal itself reminded me of a sphere of lava. It was gargantuan, probably large enough to fit seven Minotaurs in, with room to spare afterwards.

The Goblin Workers continued marching, not bothering to stop as they entered the sphere of fire one after another.

Honestly, I was afraid. That thing looked dangerous, and my human mind was screaming at me that I would become nothing but scorched meat once I touched it. It would not even be an exaggeration to say that nothing would be left of me afterwards.

Our group kept marching in, and soon, it was my turn to enter the sphere of fire. I felt my skin scalding from the heat alone. I might instantly turn into crisp and dust even after a moment of touch.

My second of hesitation was evident, as a Goblin Leader nearby stared directly at me. I knew that if I did not step sooner, it would have personally shoved me in.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, gripped the pickaxe in my hand, then jumped headfirst into the sphere of fire.

Surprisingly, the heat vanished the moment I entered it. It was not painful at all. Contrary, it was cool and soothing.

You have entered the Rift!

75% of your Maximum Mana Pool has been consumed.

You shall now be transferred to the Human Realm.

A split-second deafening Ting! sound echoed for a moment, and I suddenly found myself falling down a cavern. My body hit the ground with a loud thud, before rolling four times. I groaned in pain as I painstakingly tried standing up.

“Damn it,” I grumbled.

I heard noises above. Upon looking, I saw that numerous other Goblin Workers were falling down the sky. No, to be more accurate, they were falling down from the Portal located above.

“What the fuck?!”

Just now, I saw one of the Goblin Workers die after hitting the ground. Unlucky for it, the ground it landed on was spiked. Blood splattered to the air on the moment of impact.

Hey. Hey. Hey. Couldn’t they at least position the Portal on the ground? Why above? Thankfully, the distance between the ceiling and ground was not much, probably three times the height of your average human. Coupled with the soft ground, it was possible to survive the fall. You would end up with broken bones and torn flesh though.

As I was cursing the creator of the Portal, I grabbed my pickaxe that I dropped on the ground. Goblin Workers were still falling down from the sky above me, and I quickly moved to a remote location where I would be safe from “falling monsters.”

You have arrived in the Human Realm!

Time left before the Portal closes: 51 Hours 14 mins

In short, before two days pass, I need to obtain two female corpses and bring them back with me to the Goblin’s Cavern. The reward Exp this time was a bit decent compared to the previous one. Still, it was not enough for me to obtain an instant level up.

“Wait, how do I actually drag the corpses back with me?” I asked myself. Right now, my size was that of a toddler, probably even smaller. Furthermore, I wondered how I was supposed to reach the Portal in case I did manage to bring back two corpses with me. The damn Portal was in the ceiling.

I groaned as these thoughts ran through my mind. I guess that for now, I had to trust in my Stats. After all, I did prioritize the distribution of points into strength and agility.

I did not know if the concept of levels and statuses existed within monsters. I hoped not.

Every time I allocated some points into strength, I did feel a great boost in raw power. It would be terrifying if a high-level monster that prioritized putting all points into strength suddenly appeared. It would probably need a simple flick of a finger to send this body of mine flying.

I really hope that these statuses were only applicable to me.

For now, I started looking around. This place was small, probably less than third of the cavern we were in before.

Hundreds of Goblin Workers were currently gathered here, their dumb and ugly faces indiscernible from each other.

Some of them started going out through a nearby tunnel. It would probably lead to where the humans were. I decided to follow.

After walking through the tunnel, we began climbing a rocky cliff. This was actually hard for me since I was carrying my pickaxe.

After the cliff, we once again walked through another tunnel. By now, I was starting to see some light outside. We reached the exit, and hell unfolded before my eyes. The scene that I saw was something straight out of a nightmare.

We were currently in a large mound at the center of the city. Maybe it would be more appropriate to call this place a hill, since it was almost as tall as some of the buildings. I did not know how a hill suddenly appeared at the center of this city, but this was most definitely due to the Portal below.

Buildings were toppled all over, burning, sending large clouds of smoke into the sky. It was currently night, but the fire that engulfed the city made it bright as day. Cars were burning, dead bodies were turned into crisps, and the scent of blood filled the air. Every now and then, screams of pure terror would echo from the distance. Roaming the streets were monsters I was very much familiar with: Minotaurs.

“Collect the Meat,” said a cold voice. Upon looking, I saw a Goblin Leader overlooking our entire group. It stood proud and tall as it looked at the carnage before its very eyes. Damn, fucking bastard.

“Collect the Spoils of War! Go!”

On that signal, our group started descending the hills.

I have two days before the Portal closes. I have two days to look for them.

Please, be safe.