At the side of a river is a large creature covered in chitin. It's pinkish red shell covers most of the gaps on it's body. Compared to other large crustaceans, it is definately more ferocious. With it's size equal to that of a medium sized dog, and it's claws large enough to crush a human's head, it is clearly not a weak creature. It sports a longer body with multiple ridges that lead out to a fanned out tail. It's legs are large and protrude out like a spiders. It has two black beady eyes that protrude outside of it's body. at the front are many smaller arm like protrusions that are perfect for ripping.

These creatures naturally come live in groups, however they are non-agressive unless they are hunting for food. This usually causes them to wait for food to come near before they attack. They tend to eat larger fish, smaller crustaceans, and even goblins.

This specific creature is farther off from the rest of it's pod. It is currently resting partially submerged in the river.

Without warning, from back on the bank, a slab of unidentifiable meat lands on the rocks about ten meters in front of it, startling the beast.

Shrinking away at first, it looks out cautiously.

The blood from the meat drips slowly down the rocks, in a slow cascade until it drips into the river water, creating a slowly expanding cloud of red in the water.

Sensing the disturbance with it's numerous antennae, it watches with curiousity.

Seeing nothing else happen for roughly ten minutes, the creatures lifts itself up and crawls out of the river, water dripping from it's thick shell.

It reaches the slab of meat and stares at it for a bit. It then crawls to the shrubbery and attacks, snapping through the bushes and revealing a four small green child like creatures.

These creatures, are naturally me and the other hunters from our group.

As soon as the bush is broken, I empower my body with mana and leap over it's claws, gripping onto it's eye with one hand, gripping my poorly made dagger in the other. My dagger is also coated with mana.

As soon as I land on the upper part of it's back, a blast of mana occurs from it's mouth as it blows a thick stream of water that cuts a large gash in the surrounding ground, barely missing one of the other hunters. The lobster like creature flails around underneath me as it swings it's tail around, however it isn't meant for fighting on ground.

While it lifts it's claws in the air in an attempt to grab me, I use my dagger to slash at the gap between the first and second plate on it's back right on top of it's head. The dagger sinks in, but it doesn't reach far in. Another jet stream of water comes out of it's mouth as it aims at bearg, before he jumps out of the way.

When it realizes that it's joints don't allow it to attack me, It turns to rush towards the river again, but one of the hunters jabs it's dagger into one of it's leg joints on the middle right leg, causing it to stumble on it's side before it sweeps it's tail knocking the hunter away.

Taking this oppurtunity after it is finished turning, Bearg and the other hunter rush to stab joints on the other two legs on the right side. With a creaking noise, it falls, knocking me off of it's back, But with me comes the entire upper plate leaving a soft light pink meat exposed on it's head.

Bearg takes the oppurtunity to stab it while it is on it's side right through it's brain, causing it's flailing left legs to stiffen in the air. The creature loses all light in it's orb like eyes while it's soul drifts away.

"These creatures are much smarter than you think they'd be." I say, picking myself up and dusting off my clothes.

I walk over to the creature and dig out it's core. A small, miniscule sky blue crystal, even smaller than the ghost wood tree that i had killed. I open a small bag slung over my shoulder and place it in with it. Inside you can see roughly twelve other similar sized cores.

"The river fiends are magic creatures, they are naturally smarter than the average beast." Bearg replies with a more impressive vocabulary than I am used to.

With a raised eyebrow I glance at him as he and the other hunters start dismantling it's carcass, ripping the plates of chitin off of it's body, setting them to the side.

"Their brains are small though. It's just that they are smarter than other lower ranked water magic beasts." I say "and stop calling them river fiends, just call them lobsters. They are not that scary."

Looking at me in confusion he responds "But not even other clans fight them recklessly. Their water magic can cause a lot of damage to even a hobgoblin, and their claws are not for show. I have never seen any other clans hunt these creatures in such large amounts. It takes three of their cores to promote a goblin so it's not very worth it considering the losses."

Looking at him I smirk "Yeah but how many other clans are fully equiped with chitin based armor and are highly trained in the art of fighting?"

With a sigh, bearg continues removing the plates, as he responds

"No I have not. And the fact that you have been having them fight amongst themselves and have even used the working class as a part of this is strange. It's only been two days since the wedhund tribe has arrived, yet you started training them a week in advance to fight rather than hunt. Did you predict that we would need to fight other goblins?"

"It's only common sense. Learning to fight improves your overall reflexes, and so long as we strengthen ourselves in technique, than just a few goblins can even take down a hobgoblin. In two days, I plan on forcing the rest of the tribe to fight against some of these lobsters. If they can fight these things without fear, then why should they fear a hobgoblin." I respond

With shock Bearg freezes and rips his head away from his current project and looks me straight in the eyes.

"But they goblins don't have the strength or mana to back them up in order to actually fight them!"

"Silly you. They don't need to be hobgoblins to kill these. Why do you think we are collecting these low ranked cores if they don't rank you up?" I laugh

With a thoughful look on his face, Bearg slowly speaks.

"Would... it be... to just get them to feel.... mana?"

"Mmm. So long as they can use it, we can train them. Anyways, hurry up with it. We can bring this back to our hiding spot temporarily and get the other goblins to help transport the materials anyways. With exactly thirty one goblins back at the village, we still need nineteen cores. With the sun directly above us, we've only used roughly four hours of out time, but nineteen is still a lot."

"Yes sir..." Bearg mumbles as he goes back to removing the chitin shell from the lobster.