Ice goblins

[You have chosen your post.]

[Congratulation. You chose the following post: Nanomancy]

[Nanomancy is the ability to control or communicate with nanobots, to create and shape them into various forms, and to use them for a variety of purposes. Please find those purposes on your own as it will create a more original ability.]

[New specific skill acquired: Nanobot maker:

The user can create nanobots or change their forms with his magic and make them take various shapes. A sufficient amount of mana is needed to create nanobots. A clear blueprint is needed to make more specific and complex things]

[New specific passive skill acquired: Remembero

The user can remember all the blueprints anytime he wants]

As the system screen faded away, I felt a sudden change in my body. I couldn't picture it in exact words, but it was as if my cells were accepting an outside force. Was it magic? Like those we find in fantasy novels?

The power warmed my body for a moment. Unfortunately, the cold got the better of it and I started to tremble again.

"August, are you alright?" I suddenly heard Roselle's voice. She sounded a little excited. Was it because she got a nice ability?

"Y-yes. Y-you? Aren't you f-feeling cold?"

"It's bearable for now." She made a smile that I couldn't understand. The world looked like it was going to change into Chilling Embers' settings, my favorite book, yet she was smiling like this.

The moment I was about to open my mouth to tell her something, I heard someone else's voice.

"See guys? I told you it was only a prank!" A colleague said vigorously as the power came back slightly enough for us to see. Though I didn't know if it was normal, I could see him sweating even though I'm so far from him. Was it the power of magic as well?

"Y-yeah. I got scared for a second." Another scientist said. Though, there was another who poured cold water on them.

"If it's all a prank, why are we still in the dark and not getting any warmer?" He was a clever young boy. I think he just got his degree. He was only 19 years old, so he was really a genius with a nice personality. Though, we never talked except for the day he came here.

"Shut up Julius. What do you even know, huh?" Unfortunately, he was getting bullied by his senior. More precisely, the head of the scientific department. Seriously I wonder sometimes why people like him have to live even though they are acting like trash.

And as if to answer me, the system spoke again.

[A new quest has been given to all workers inside of the Curisma company.

Goal: Survive and escape the company

Difficulty: E

Time limit: 12 hours

Compensation: 100 Coins

Failure: Death]

A chill ran down my spine when I read the quest. I still had a slight hope for everything to be a giant farce, but seeing the 'Death' made me realize that I should probably take that more seriously.

But then, why does my mind didn't want to wake up?

It seems people didn't want to let me think as several noises came from the stairs leading to the floor above. I took a step back unconsciously. My heart started to beat fast. Would it seriously be them?

*Hwaaa*

*Yiahhhh*

Inhumane noises were heard, and some of the scientists screamed.

Shit why did they have to scream so loud? It will attract them.

And as if I jinxed myself, numerous beings were descending the stairs. For reference, the lab I was in was an underground lab. The company had 5 floors, and we were on the last floor.

Meaning that whatever was coming downstairs was probably only a small portion of what would await us above.

*Ahhhh*

"Please save me!"

The thing that I was afraid of came.

There were only 3 of them for now.

Small body, small limbs, a big nose, and pointy ears. Yet the most prominent aspect of those creatures was their blue skin color.

Yes, they were Ice goblins. A type of monster that is very agile and cunning, always waiting for the right time to attack.

[I'm impressed by your knowledge, August.]

The system made me roll my eyes in annoyance. I couldn't be distracted as the ice goblins started to approach us warily. I looked at Roselle who was by my side, and thankfully she was stepping back alongside me.

I would have seriously thought that she was nut if she still had a smile on her face even during moments like this.

As if they sensed our fear, the three goblins rushed toward the closest prey. It was the man who shouted to Julius earlier. His name was Berran

Berran tried to run away but to no avail. The small bodies of the goblins allowed them to move quickly around, even with all the materials scattered around.

"Ahhh save me, please." Berran started crying as we all watched him in silence. Some of us wanted to help him, but we were all paralyzed by fear.

After all, who in his right mind could think properly in such times?

Berran continued running but got caught in the end. The three ice goblins devoured him quickly. Blood and organs splashed everywhere. On the ground, on the tools, on the shelves, and so on. It was so gruesome that it almost made me want to puke.

During his last breath, Berran looked at Julius with teary eyes, but the latter could only reply in the kind. He too was crying.

Poor boy.

He was still young, so I could understand.

He was without a doubt the next to die as he was the closest to the goblins.

"August, we need to help him..." Roselle spoke to me while looking at the crying Julius. The goblins almost finished killing Berran.

But seriously, what do you even want me to do? How am I supposed to hel-... Wait a minute. Can't I actually do something?

Thanks to my scientific mindset, I managed to quickly analyze the situation. I had forgotten, but I actually got a skill after choosing my post, right?

I looked around and saw the broken tools on the ground, making me remember my childhood. Was it a mouse that broke all my tools? I was so grateful at the time that I almost cried.

'But can I really make it?'

I started to think about the mouse of that time. It was grey and pretty big from what I remember. It had a long tail, sharp teeth and keen eyes. I still remember how it looked at me. I was afraid yet thrilled at that time.

And as if I knew how to do it since my childhood, minuscule robots came out of my hand. It quickly took the shape that I wanted. Was it because I remember it well that it was so fast?

[Magic Power left: 60]

In the end, a 30 centimeters long and wide mouse has assembled thanks to the nanobots. I was so surprised that I almost fell on my butt.

"P-please, go away." I could hear Julius trying to go away from the goblins. Still, no one was moving. It was seriously as if we were all frozen.

Thankfully, I managed to move.

The mouse jumped off my hand without even me giving it any command, and rushed quickly toward the now-moving ice goblins. Their blue body was now full of blood, making the scene even more creepy.

The mouse moved fast. So fast that it amazed me.

And in no time, the mouse came behind the ice goblin and bite its neck, piercing it with its big teeth.

[40 EXP earn for killing an Ice goblin]

The goblin didn't even have the chance to scream that it was already dead.

*Hoeh?*

*Hiej?*

The two remaining goblins looked at their fallen comrade in shock. They were surely thinking about how in the world it died.

But before they could move again, another one died.

[40 EXP earn for killing an Ice goblin]