Goblins

The Goblins had set off at night in order to get to the bear’s cave by first light. This was because the silverback bear was diurnal just like humans and Goblins, meaning that it was active during the day. On the following day though, it would be more active than ever as it scouted out its immediate area in preparation for the evolution where it would force itself into a self-induced weakened state. Thus the Goblins had decided to get to and camp near the bear's cave during the night, meaning all unnecessary movement could be minimalised during the day.

This was a good plan, or would have been at least if they had remembered one massive factor… The fact that the bear was not going to have increased vigilance of its area during day due to fear of Goblins, rather it was due to the fear of much stronger monsters that came out at night. Many monsters were active during the dark instead of light, and most of them were stronger than the bear. This was one of the reasons why the silverback bear wanted to evolve so badly since it was quite low down the food web, needless to say that the Goblins were the effective vegetation of said food web.

Goblins-Withil's POV

A rising feeling of pain stabbed at my mind, though my brain simply ignored it all as I continued my frantic sprint. At this point I couldn’t even feel my calves anymore but the tearing pain at my thighs told me this wasn’t a good thing, rather that the pain in my calves had grown to such a point that it had just numbed.

Chasing me right now was a Nightwolf, a middle tier 2 monster which usually didn’t feast on Goblins. Though it seemed to throw all regard of taste to the wind as the salivating wolf hunted me in glee.

I could hear the wolf behind me, its constant growls and frightening howls had sadly not escaped my ears as I could feel fear build up inside of me. The wolf shadowed my every step, clearly intent on snacking on me before it chased the others, who had initially split up in an attempt to confuse the wolf.

My energy was rapidly dissipating, causing me to slow, and then even further. It was then I heard a loud howl right in my ear, which served as amazing motivation as all of a sudden my feet found their strength once again.

And it happened once more, my weary body slowed down just before finding hidden conserves of energy within my body once I heard the howl. Perhaps my mind had gone crazy but it almost felt like the wolf was playing with me…

…

Before it had been fear but that fear all of a sudden turned to anger as I felt my dignity trodden upon. I was the smartest Goblin, the one who would most definitely become the next chieftain and yet this fucking hairy mutt dared to play around with me.

This served as the best motivation so far as my legs thundered through the forest, escaping the biting-range of the gleeful wolf within seconds. I could hear the glee from the howls it made. It made sense that it was gleeful considering the fact that its food had decided to add further entertainment to its meal. But that mattered not as I finally caught sight of what I wanted: another Goblin.

I dashed towards the Goblin, who seemed to be a young pack carrier, before I leapt on his back and used my weight to throw him to the ground. The fearful Goblin who must have cried inside as he saw me bringing the wolf to him, but was completely lost for thought, nevertheless words as his head crashed into the ground, followed by his body.

It seemed the heavens were on my side for the first time today as the wolf followed my leap with one of its own, landing upon the felled Goblin. I could hear him scream…

I could hear him scream, although that scream was cut short half-way through…

I could hear his scream in my head once more, though it was fine because he had served his purpose for the better of the village by aiding my survival.

I used a tree to stabilise myself before I took out the axe attached to my waist with unsteady hands, rivers of sweat running down my body as I was forced to catch my breath. I needed it, I couldn’t die here…

“AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOO”

Bone-chilling. I felt myself shiver as I heard it, the hot sweat all of a sudden turn cold as I grinned like a maniac.

Next was a rapid pattering of feet, in fact several but only the close, heavy ones entered my mind. The ones of the wolf…

Fuck. I felt the fear building up as I foresaw the future. I needed to make the first move, otherwise the fear would just keep building up as I stood here waiting.

And so I did, I ran against all the warnings in my head telling me to turn back, before I felt a surge in adrenaline pushing me faster than before as I forgot the pain.

I met eyes with the wolf, the Nightwolf donning 2 dark green, luminescent eyes with minuscule pupils that seemed to suck me inwards. I dared not break eye contact, although it turned out I didn’t need to as the wolf did it in my stead, as it leapt towards me. I kept running towards the airborne wolf just before I collapsed my body, diving underneath the wolf as I took aim before shooting the axe into the wolf’s stomach.

“RAGGRH”

The wolf screeched in pain. I knew it was coming after me as I used my hands to push my body back up from the ground. Though it seemed to be no help as I couldn’t even get my body off the ground… It seemed my exhausted body had found sanctuary within the ground and no longer dared to get up…

I could feel my face grimacing, my death was getting closer every second.

“ARRRRRRRRRRRGGHHHHHHH”

I could hear a Goblin battle-cry somewhere close, and it seemed to get closer.

I could next hear blood being shed as I heard the Goblin cry in pain, though that was instantly shadowed by a cacophony of Goblin roars that came from all around me.

About fucking time!

I wish I could have listened to the rest of it, even better if I could actually see more than the muddy ground but it seemed I had been granted too many wishes today as I succumbed to exhaustion, entering the cold embrace of sleep.

The Trolls- ???

In front of me stood the Chief’s hound, a pathetic Troll that all Trolls looked down upon. He was a Troll who licked the previous Chief’s feet in order to reach the top and then proceeded to flounder his false power.

I looked him down, his blue skin looked diseased as it was shaded a murky green. All Trolls took care of their tusks and yet the Troll in front of him had cracked tusks. His eyes were as beady as they got as he alike stared me down. Directly in front of me was a good old bludgeon, it wasn’t fancy but did the job. The rough wood of the body led to a heavy top made out of iron metal, I was told it had been a weapon stolen from some dumb humans, a story I refused to believe as this bludgeon itself was 1.5m long and weighed 45kg. How could any of them wield this!?

Within an instant, the hound had contracted his body and ran forwards. It was a fast dash, one that was used to catch one of surprise, but I reacted just as quickly as the cold metal of the bludgeon smacked the air as I lifted the weapon of the floor. I raised the weapon into a defensive position, though it was perhaps over the top as the hound suddenly slipped during his dash, whilst within my range. Foolish! My legs moved with pure instinct as my pose changed in order to whack his diving head.

I was wrong. He must have chuckled as he saw me follow his lead, just before he instantly straightened his body, flashing the cold glint of a short sword before my eyes: it had been a trap…

My hands opened up as I reacted, dropping the bludgeon whilst punching one of my fists into his body. But it was too late, far too late as the short sword pierced through my ribcage, only centimetres away from my heart. His body flew onto the floor as my weakened-punch still did damage, bruising his arm.

I don’t know what it was, no that was a lie. I knew what it was, a feeling of the past, the feeling of pure unadultered anger. It had its source deep within the confidence of my body, yet it had only ever weakened me. After all it's easier to deal with an angry monster than it is to deal with a crafty human hunter.

But I must have forgotten all the beatings I had gotten in the past for my stupid anger, I must have forgotten all the times I had come close to death due to it because I let it grow within me. What entered my head was the primal feeling of anger, and what exited was a pure roar of hatred…