After a couple minutes of walking through the thick underbrush, struggling to find any sort of trail through the dense forest, he saw her tied up once again by more goblins. Ironically, the area they seemed to be in was once some sort of intersection that had a stop sign just above the bound girl.

This time giving up entirely on stealth, he walked out of the brush into the relatively clear area. While trees still popped up sporadically they didn't obscure the line of sight for the goblins very much.

“Seriously, how did you piss off these guys so badly that they capture you everywhere you go? Oh also let her go I’m kind of tired bullying you guys and whatnot.”

“Gaah, chhhhiii, chi, chhhhi” Cried one goblin, before it was echoed by another three, Andrew was completely confused, but Lisia seemed to pale at the strange sounds.

“Nooooooo! You can’t do that! SAVE ME!” screamed the elf as her expression turned horrified and she tried to squirm away in a vain hope of escaping.

“Hey, translation please?” Muttered Andrew as he twirled his sword indifferently, just a little curious as to how she could understand such a language.

“Chuuui,chii, chhhhhii!!” Cried the goblin who held her captive, pointing his long spear at Andrew.

“NOOOO!!” cried Lisia another time, so Andrew inferred “Gob’ Chief wants to have his way with you so he can have beautiful children?”

“Yes! How can you be so calm about this?! And how could you understand him, I thought you humans were supposed to be idiotic creatures!” retorted Lisia anxiously.

“Standard fantasy stereotype, also it seems my time here is over.” Replied Andrew venomously.

Usually indifferent in most cases, there was still one trigger that could truly make Andrew truly agitated. That was someone undermining his intelligence for no reason. While it isn’t so far as to being a purely narcissistic trait, it still leans towards that direction. It isn’t like he is uptight and petty, as he knows his limits and only speaks what he sees as fact and will admit his inexperience in other areas.

It’s one of the many reasons why he could not deal with society as it was before. Arrogant and judgemental people are far too common in society which caused him to withdraw away from them into order to preserve his sanity - and keep him out of jail from the resulting urges .

Buh bye, have fun with those nice men, won’t you?” As a goblin wielding a spear tried to stop him from leaving he grabbed onto the shaft off the spear. Spinning it around, he then impaled the goblin onto its own weapon without looking back.

“Kekeke… CCCHHHICHIIII, GUAAAAGH” cried a seemingly important looking goblin, the ‘Chief’ in his goblin tongue before Andrew was surrounded by six naked goblins all threatening him with a dull iron spear. ‘Clearly the ‘elite’ bodyguards, hey?’ snickered Andrew before grabbing two spears just under the tip and pulled them out the goblin’s grasps.

Fixing his grip, he started waving them around wildly. He slashed two goblin’s in the chest, momentarily stunning them, before thrusting a spear head into another’s throat causing it die rather uneventfully. The other spear he used to wave around in a small hope to block the other spears from hitting him from behind. As he pulled back the first from the goblin’s throat, he felt an impact. While he did successfully block one thrust by his makeshift defence, it wasn’t enough to protect him from two spears that stabbed into his body.

One clipped his legs and slid off leaving a minor cut on his thigh, the other landed directly into his forearms before sliding upwards - creating a deep laceration. Blood dribbled down his arm, but rushed to his head. He let go of spear he was trying to reclaim and threw the other at one of the stunned goblins.

Grabbing another two spears within reach he pulled them out of the goblin guards grip, although it held some resistance it wasn’t quite enough to stop Andrew. Disarming two more he swung both spears like a club towards the necks of their old owners in front of him as he heard a loud snap. Two goblins slumped down with all their strength leaving them he swung once more, paralysing one more from the neck down, but received a burning cut, layering over his already bloody forearm. Glaring at the remaining goblin, who seemed terrified of the strange human in front of him, he slowly walked towards it.

Painful cries were heard from the immobile spectators but he narrowed his vision towards the goblin who cut him for the second time. Seeing that ghastly look in the human’s eyes, the goblin dropped his spear before kneeling on the ground, “Chhhhi, chit, ghua...?” pleading with the human to spare its life.

Andrew, slowly pulling out a copper short sword spoke softly to the crying goblin, “An eye for an eye, no more no less. Well, you weren’t entirely useless compared to the others. Congrats…” as his voice trailed off, two slashes appeared in the goblin’s arm crossing over one another and blood began to pour out. Andrew walked away before grabbing the bloodied spear - covered in his own blood, before jabbing it into the heart of the four resigned goblins in turn. While one glance to the surviving goblin, who seemed to faint when he made eye contact, Andrew turned around towards the goblin chief who seemed mildly amused with his show of strength.

*Clap, clap, clap*

With three claps that seemed to cause the air itself to tremble the Chief stood up and quelled the remaining loud goblins whom showed intense anger towards towards the strange man. The chief stood from his wicker ‘throne’ wielding a large meat cleaver, long since stained crimson from the blood it soaked in. Considering his background, he himself stood out quite a bit from the other goblin fodder. With a lithe muscular build that stood up to the human’s shoulders, a surprisingly calm expression on his hideous, wart covered face the chiefs body seemed to radiate a feeling of confidence. If the man weren’t so agitated for being injured by the little green men he would have probably abandoned the girl to her fate and ran.

As he spoke an evil smirk appeared on his face, “So, before we get to it, I’d like to ask. Are you prepared to die for some silly little brat?”

“Kekeke, chi, chit,” laughed the goblin before resting his cleaver on his shoulder whilst shrugging his shoulders, as if to say, ‘are you?’

Laughing alongside the chief, his smirk widened. Seeing he was given time, he operated his menu, pulling out his second sword before inserting it alongside the other in his belt loop and calmly walked over to grab another spear from one of his earlier victims.

[Iron Spear

Durability 12/15

Damage Rating 2-5

Made by goblin craftsmen who valued quantity over quality, this weapon holds a half-rotted shaft and a spear point no different that a common iron arrow. ]

Twirling the spear in his left hand, he spoke indifferently, “Ready, whenever you are Mr Chieftain.” To which he got a happy smile from the goblin. Each approached the another with the goblin cries in the background eachoing through the forest, obviously supporting their leader. Glancing over, “Oh, if you would be so kind. Tell the little bastards to shut up. It’s annoying.”

A series of unknown feral sounds erupted from the goblin chiefs mouth before each and every goblin was too terrified to open their mouths. ‘Huh, he has the authority, but does he have the skill to back it up? Wait, it has been, what, four hours since I’ve been here? Oh well, too late now. So-Cal brat over there better give me something for this. Hopefully some armor or another sword that will hopefully not shatter within a day’s time,’ sighed the man before raising his spears in an impromptu cross guard.

The joyous goblin happily obliged him and raised his own cleaver before setting off in a light jog towards Andrew.

Thinking quickly, he hurled one of the spears as hard as he could towards the chief. Before it could impale the creature, however, the large meat cleaver turned slightly to deflect the incoming projectile. In the background a small scream was heard, but it was quickly quieted by the remaining onlookers.

Gripping his other spear both hands he held it towards the charging goblin. As the goblin neared, he slashed with his massive cleaver, but Andrew lightly stepped backwards just out of range for the full force of the blow. He felt a slight pain radiate from his shoulder and saw his favorite hoodie seemed to be ripped in two after being narrowly cut through.

With a small motion, he propelled the spear into the goblins leg. Even with a quick pull the spear remained lodged in the wound, he simply gave up on the weapon itself before jumping backwards away from back swing from the goblin chief’s blade.

Silence reigned temporarily, both man and goblin received small wounds, but each was clearly indifferent to it. Andrew shrugged off the hoodie and pulled out the two short swords at his hip while eyeing the goblin failing to pull out the spear embedded into his leg. With a scowl, the goblin raised his massive blade, cutting through the wooden shaft of the spear in one clean swipe.

‘Yeah, lets not get hit by that thing. Doesn’t seem like it would end well for me.’ thought Andrew with a wry smile before raising his swords once again and meeting the eyes of the goblin chief. While rage did flash for a moment it ceased shortly afterwards. Revealing a uncharacteristically gentle smile, almost as startling as any blood lust he could give off, the chief barked a few orders before having a couple goblins bring Lisia to the stage.

“GUAH GAUUGH! Chua cheg chiiui chi… “ After a long series of unknown and feral sounds escape the chieftains mouth he turned around and raised his blade towards Lisia who stood only a metre away from the goblin.

As time seemed to slow, he thought to himself, ‘Huh, she was the first ‘person’ I met here, but it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to save her.’ Weighing his options, he noticed there was essentially no way to save the unusually meek woman who was ten metres away from him as the Chief was almost directly in front of her.

As the blade fell down and Andrew had yet to move, he didn't feel the bloodlust radiating from the goblin as he did before. ‘Well, too late now. Should I flee while I get the chance… nope. There is still an encirclement of the little green bastards, well it has been interesting all the same New World,’ muttered the slightly resigned man.

With a clear *Shiiing* the blade flowed through the woman before embedding itself into the ground. With a small sigh, he looked to his rear to see the goblins turn away from him to open a path.

Turning to walk away, he made it a few feet before a loud screech brought him back looking forward.

“WAAAAAAHHHHH, I WAS SO SCARED! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!” Catching him off guard he looked over only to be stunned at what he was seeing. A auburn haired woman ran past the goblin chief, who was putting his weapon back over his shoulder unto some sort of harness, and embraced the perplexed man. With the woman crying deeply into his shoulder, he instinctively ran his fingers through her silky hair before stopping abruptly.

The goblin chief, albeit without his massive meat cleaver in his hand, slowly made his way to Andrew before chittering loudly. Giving up, the Chief threw a small pebble lightly at the woman’s head before speaking roughly, “Wo...min….” pointing at Lisia, supplementing with feral snarls and growls, before directing his gaze to Andrew, “Min, tell.”

Although entirely shaken up, she finally understood her role in the goblin chief’s eyes. Somewhat hesitantly speaking, “Umm, he.. wants you to help him… in exchange he will give you… me. Your woman, he says,” she stuttered a few lines before calming slightly and correcting herself, “he wants you help his clan. His clan is one of the newest, therefore weakest in the area, he was impressed with your strength and wants you help him clear some land for him. Wild beasts and rivals are the... targets? Or something to that effect, but he will gift you with… any woman, goblin or otherwise, in their possession you see fit, should you so desire. And help make you stronger. That is, of course, if we go with him otherwise he won’t be so generous.” As she translated the feral sounds her face slowly paled.

He looked at her in expectation, hoping she could speak the jumbled language before he spoke, “Actually, that sounds interesting. I’ll agree on two conditions, one you teach me that… language, if you want to call it as such, of yours. And two, although I probably don’t smell wonderful myself right now, please give me some space away from the hordes of sickly smelling goblins.”

The chieftain, although looking somewhat irritated by his comments growled a few times towards Lisia. ‘Seems like he can understand me fine, although speaking English seems to be beyond him… wait, what about that girl? Damn, my head hurts from thinking about all of this. Let it be, I guess.’

Although looking somewhat frightening, the goblin chief calmly walked up to Andrew and raised his hand. Confused, but not nearly as distraught as he thought he would be, he let the hand touch his shoulder.

“FUCK! NOT AGAIN!?” cried Andrew as knowledge of the goblin tongue flooded into his already throbbing head, clamping down on it like a vice. No worlds can describe the feeling, but the immense pain quietly ended before a strange euphoria was left in its wake. Although his headache from before ended, it still wasn’t enough to coax him into doing it again, or so he promised himself.

Automatically, a system prompt forced its way into in vision, reading:

Congratulations, Grok the Cleaver bestowed his knowledge of the Goblin language on to you. Current progress is as follow:

Skill:

Language Comprehension: (Intermediate) English,

(Intermediate) Elvish {Farwynd Dialect}

** Granted to allow for a simpler transition into the environment. **

(Beginner) Demi-Human {Goblin Dialect}]

After dismissing that menu he noticed pulsating alert in the top corner of his vision curious, he clicked on it before seeing a level up screen. Allotting his points into strength and agility he gazed over at his new stats.

Andrew Marks

Level 4

Str: 12

Agi: 11 (+2)

Per: 11

End: 9 (-2)

Vit: 8

Int: 9

Wis: 8

Chr: 9(-5)

Status:

Withdrawal - decreases END, causes irritable behaviour thus decreasing CHR. Effect will increase as time goes on before slowly dissipating in the future if left untreated.

Skill:

Dual Wielding (Beginner: 1): While wielding two weapons Damage Rating penalty is reduced by 20%. Penalty currently at 30%. Grants easier range of motion and knowledge of advanced techniques are granted at base level up of the skill.

Sharing a glance, both Andrew and the Chief, marched towards a relatively secluded area leaving behind a terrified elven girl who was too scared to even move to Andrews side. As the the goblins cleared the way to let the two pass, Andrew let a smirk before speaking quietly, “Testing, testing, Grok the Cleaver is a little... “ deliberately leaving the remainder unsaid just in case the goblin was a bit tempermental, however, he did feel the need to tease his new, 'boss.'

He caught the side glance from the goblin before it sighed, muttering, “you really need ta hold back a bit. I may be able ta stop the older ones, but the youn’ins will probably snap if ya speak like that..”

Andrew, indifferently, spoke, “you’re the boss, are you not? You should be able to hold ‘em back for the most part. But anyways, what do you want me to do for your, uh, people?”

“Clan,” the chief corrected before staring off into the distance. “While back, my cousin, the bastard he is, raided our camp and stole our women. Normally, even with one or two we are fine, but the bastard stole every single one! Now every brother of mine that dies can't even be replaced.” With a deliberate look at Andrew who seemed to look back at the lot that failed to kill him before.

“Well, they were weak.” stated Andrew outright, although blunt, Grok was forced to nod his head in agreement. “Which leads us to the problem of what I need to do to get stronger and, adversely, help your little clan,” added Andrew.

“First, help me ta slaughter some wolves for bit of security, ya see? Preferably killing the bastards on the way, before taking back the our mine that was 'reclaimed’ by some adventurer-type. Who killed my men earlier only ta leave it open for some bloody bandit group ta move in. If you get the chance, grab his head. Or better yet, bound him him for some… ‘good-natured’ conversation,” spoke Grok caustically, clearly sharing no love for humanity in general.

“Sounds reasonable,” replied Andrew “also, one small thing, can you tell your fellow Goblin’s to stop tormenting the elf? Don’t get me wrong, she probably deserves a fair portion of it, but it looks like it’s getting out of hand.”

Lisia, who was sobbing quietly, was approached by three of the more aggressive goblins who, out of curiosity, started inspecting the strange creature in front of their eyes. All three were within arms reach quietly studying the rare specimen that stood before them.

Just as one was about to touch her hair an intense feral snarl flowed out of the Chieftain’s mouth. “Whoever touches that girl, will have their arms cut off and be thrown to the wolf pit later! That creature is currently this one’s property.” As he pointed to the tall, blond man who held his twin swords dramatically towards the curious group they all froze. The goblin, whose breath could be felt on the girl’s neck, twitched before sprinting back several feet and thrusted his head into the ground while kneeling - towards Andrew. ‘To them, women are probably treated more as property than anything else,’ he mused to himself, entirely indifferent to the whole scenario.

Stepping over the kneeling goblin, he raised his hand towards the petrified girl. Seemingly still somewhat scarred, he forced her to her feet while half dragging her back to where Grok was waiting for them - well, him specifically. Sighing lightly after seeing the strange behaviour of the human, he discarded the thought and gave one final cry, “Camp. Now,” and bounded into the woods.

The goblins soon followed and Andrew was forced to drag the dazed, uncooperative girl across the rough landscape by the scruff of her neck in an attempt to keep pace with his good arm. As he would have expected, the goblins ran in a completely unorganised manner, which slightly irritated the man for some reason, but allowed him to follow the slower goblins back to their camp.

Half an later, an exhausted man pitched the delirious girl from over his shoulder onto the hard ground. Gasping for breath all the while before collapsing himself. Earlier into the run he gave up on dragging her, as it was slowing him down far more than he had thought, then decided to raise her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. Although easily less than a hundred pounds, she still weighed him down to no end, forcing him to dread every step he took.

Coincidentally the impact woke her up from her stupor. Where, naturally, she immediately began yelling at the exhausted, injured man.

“How… how.. how could you?! You, you throw me down like a piece of trash after dragging me through miles of thorns, rocks, branches-by the neck no less!” fumed the elven woman. Looking at her appearance now, no one would even consider her to be remotely attractive. Her once only slightly tattered clothes tore through to reveal a little too much flesh in some places but held just enough to hold some dignity. Scratches and bruises littered her body adding to those she had before her encounter with Andrew but the furious expression on her face was a sight to see for the exhausted man. After involving him in her problems he finally felt that she repaid that debt even if only a little.

Softly muttering defiantly, “Well, if you could have moved your flat ass a little bit through the woods you wouldn’t be in that situation. Or better yet, not getting captured once again. Really, this world is full of ‘what ifs’ but what happened, happened. So deal with it. Unless, of course, you can become friends with the chief in my place?” Although not intended as such, he realised he threatened the elf-girl but decided against caring about. ‘We are even now,’ he figured. As he suspected, she paled at the mention of the massive goblin, Grok.

Somewhat stuttering, “Ha.. ha… you wouldn’t do something like that after all this, would you…? Of course not, you saved me and… and… I guess I’m your woman now...” she murmured with a slightly red face in resignation.

“As far as they are concerned, sure, but I don’t really care all that much what happens to you. Sure, it would be inconvenient, but I usually make do regardless. After this goblin thing is over you are free to go wherever. Maybe I’ll escort you back; maybe I won’t. Don’t count on me, al...right...?” He replied as his voice was fading away and drifted off into a dreamless sleep. Advertisement Support "Ephemeral Cycle" PayPal Patreon Previous

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Chapter RSS About the author 3 Fictions 65 Posts 2 Threads Ambush Follow Author Saturday, December 19, 2015 4:45:25 PM Tuesday, January 5, 2016 4:59:51 AM Canada Shy Penguin

Bio: Chronic Inability to Finish Stories; CIFS for short. A major affliction that has gripped me in its steely maw for weeks, months, and (shivers) shows no sign of stopping.

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