26 Goblin Specialty

"Last time I couldn't answer many questions about this formation. But now I can give you some information, you must be wondering about the origin of this place." Teacher Elton said with a teasing smile

The commoners and a few nobles looked excited, I was indeed wondering about that as well. But last time there was an understanding that questions weren't allowed.

"This is a formation created by the gods, there are 4 of this caliber in the human realm," Elton said much to the surprise of everyone unaware

'It seems the gods rather care about the human realm.' I said to Drrak

'If there is anything I know about the gods, its that they are nothing but untrustworthy. It wouldn't surprise me if that formation was used to monitor humanity.' Drrak said spitefully

'Wouldn't that be a danger to me?' I asked a bit anxious

'Kid didn't I tell you last time, no one can see what you do in there. The gods wouldn't pay attention to a level 2 rookie. Once you do something spectacular they may be interested in you.' Drrak teased

If there is anything I fear consistently it has been the gods. They are far too out of my league, and I happen to have things that would interest them. If I do, do something spectacular I will make sure to escape soon after. For now, I plan on just getting resources, not getting dissected.

"You all were teleported to various places in that forest. Some of you in front of enemies and others were far away. The system is random, but targeted." Elton said as he started his lecture.

"There are 4 areas to the forest, the outer forest where all of you were fighting. It is impossible to reach the top 1000s in the outer forest."

"Then it is the inner forest, where the top 1000 ranking can be attained. Then it's the core of the forest where you can achieve the top 100s. Lastly, its the Cave of horrors, where you can achieve a top 10 ranking."

"Last time in the forest you were teleported far away from each other. This time you will be fairly close to each other, so beware."

As soon as Elton finished he turned towards the best of the class and spoke.

"Lucas, Raynard, Carol, and John you will once again be going first, but this time you can take people with you."

Raynard and Carol seemed unsurprised as through the whole explanation and they seemed ecstatic to be paired up. The nobles went over to Raynard's platform as did Carol.

John and the commoners went to their platform, I waited alone on my own. While Raynard didn't look over because of fear, Carol did from her sneer I figured out their plan.

'If numbers are enough to kill me, especially pathetic numbers then I deserve to die.'

I started my mediation and my perception became blurred. When I recovered I was back in the forest, but this time the shrubbery was much smaller. There was more light reaching the area and no immediate threats.

I examined some of the shrubberies and made some mental calculations. The majority of the shrubbery here required constant light. Unlike the ones, I remember from last time.

'I must be on the outskirts of the outer forest, last time I must have been closer to the inner forest.'

I jumped on to a tree branch and activated my elemental brandings. I looked around and saw no important living creatures.

'Drrak why would the gods make this formation?' I asked as I was moving tree branch to tree branch

'They created guardians, not weaklings, so they wanted to improve on their guardians. I assume they wanted to train powerful warriors without them dying. So they created this and the other formations.' Drrak said

'I think the same, but what about the various beasts in here?'

'They are trapped that's for sure, for the gods keeping them alive and trapped is simple.' Drrak said with pity, any living being stripped of their will is pitiful.

'Could this formation be important to the gods?' I asked curiously

'Nothing is important to the gods except themselves.' Drrak said barely holding back his hatred.

As I spoke to Drrak in another part of the forest the class was convening

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"Lucas is a threat to all of us, he's the strongest of us all. He makes all of our performances look bad." Said Raynard to the nobles and commoners.

"Ya, but like you said he is the strongest, who would be dumb enough to offend him." A commoner said dismissively

'If I didn't need you to help, I would just kill you.' Raynard thought in anger

"School policy is this score determines whether or not you can remain in the school, not the previous score."

"So beating Lucas would get rid of him."

As Raynard said that the eyes of the class sparkled with hope. Because of Lucas, teacher Elton looked down on everyone; with Lucas gone, they would have a chance to shine.

John was especially happy, he lost a chance for equality because of Lucas. Now they would take away Lucas' superiority and teach him equality is the way.

Carol stood by Raynard, she was the one most offended. Lucas just played with her and called her a bitch, her sincerity was nothing to him. When any action of hers would be enough to make Raynard dance like an idiot.

"Are you promising to be liable, if Lucas points a finger." A commoner said

"The whole point of teacher Elton saying we would be teleported close to each other, was because he wants us to fight amongst ourselves. The school doesn't reward the lone wolf act of Lucas but instead it rewards pack work." Raynard advised with confidence.

"As long as we beat Lucas, Teacher Elton won't have a problem with us. Most importantly, Lucas is even more common than the most common commoner here. No need to fear retaliation in the slightest, if he retaliates my family will have an excuse to get rid of him."

With Raynard's last statement the voices of reasons were quelled by the intoxication of the limelight. With it, there ends a stunning performance of commoners and nobles collaborating to suppress a new variable.

**************************

As I wandered I finally found the first life form it was a goblin, of course, I had to smile. The goblin seemed to be waiting as he looked around for someone.

As I got closer I realized it was the goblin from before that was the messenger. I approached him quietly from behind and put the tip of my saber near his back.

"Don't move, how did you know I would be here?" I said in the beast script as Drrak enunciated for me.

The goblin's body froze in fear, as it recognized the broken beast script.

"Honored sir, we have been hunting rookies for years. We know the common places for their appearances."

I sheathed my blade and kept a light smile on my face. But my smile just kept the goblin afraid instead of comfort. It still remembered the ghastly sight of me clad in blood as I slaughtered its family. Its hard to make friends with an insane, powerful, and murderous person and not keep guard.

"Alright then bring me to your tribe," I said with no emotion

This time it had no qualms about listening to me since no one could stop. Especially since it could feel that my power had increased.

We went using the tree branches and then we ended up at a little village with small huts in the darker part of the forest. Around there were the old, young, women, and children.

'They seem to be a tribal people.' I thought

When we entered the village the people looked at me with hostility, but when they saw the messenger they calmed. The messenger guided me around the village to a large hut.

In it was the hobgoblin from before Pektog I think. Pektog bowed in subservience when he saw me enter.

"Honored sir, we have been waiting for you," Pektog said

"Well done Pektog, I will hold true to my part of the deal. For now, I would like some help from your people," I said with a sinister smile

"Whatever you ask we shall grant to the best of our ability." Pektog kindly responded

"Don't worry, what I want you to do will be far too easy. I will just be making use of your specialties" I said with a devious chuckle.