Chap 1: first kill

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I feel strange, but at the same time, I feel like always. The body I have now is very different from what I'm used to. My height is totally different; if in reality... wait, can this be defined as fiction? Let's put that topic aside. If my human body is at least 170 cm tall, this one doesn't exceed 150 cm. Moreover, my hands have nails sharp as blades, each at least 6 or 7 cm long. Oh, and luckily, I'm not naked; I have some sort of dirty outfit that you might see on a goblin in any role-playing game.

I was looking at my nails, or should I call them claws(?), when suddenly...

"COOL, I CAN DECIDE WHETHER TO RETRACT THEM OR NOT"

It could be quite useful if I wanted to hide my natural weapons from someone, or for any surprise attack.

Okay, at least I'm not completely defenseless; I think these things on my fingers aren't a lifesaving asset if stuck in someone's jugular.

This situation still seems completely unreal to me. I was sleeping when suddenly I had light green skin, sharp canines, and probably a monstrously ugly face. I'm not sure, actually, since I don't have a mirror, and I haven't found any puddles or something similar to see my reflection.

Pushing aside from my mind my physical changes, I explored the functionalities of the system.

I have an inventory. Okay, this will be useful. I also have the possibility to undertake missions and receive rewards. It's interesting, but the only mission I have for now is long-term. This system is incredibly similar to the one in Roman Magical Empire... Let me take a moment to review my stats.

"Stats"

As soon as I thought this word, the screen from before reappeared in front of me.

Name: Damian

Last Name: Verde

Race: Goblin

Level: 1/12

Strength: 5

Stamina: 4

Agility: 6

Magic: 12

Dexterity: 5

Abilities: [Night Vision LV 1] [Innate Magical Talent LV MAX] [Appraisal LV 1]

Now that I look at it carefully, I'm not doing too bad, or at least I think so. Since I have no way to compare myself to other living beings for the moment... The only non-passive ability I have is Appraisal. Let's see how it works; why not try using it on my own abilities?

[Night Vision LV 1: As a goblin, your eyes are born to adapt to dark environments. You can easily see even in places with not much light.]

Well, it's useful, at least in the situation I find myself in now...

Now let's try to check the most interesting ability.

[Innate Magical Talent LV MAX: You're a rare species! Magical energy, mana, rejoices in your presence. With each level increase, magical power increases by 2 times the statistics it would normally take (if in the first evolution with each level increase its stats increase by 1, mana will increase by 2. And if in the second evolution all stats increase by 2, mana will increase by 4). With each spell cast, you save 20% of mana.]

Damn, this stuff is OP!

And finally, let's use Appraisal on itself.

[Appraisal LV1: You can see everything about what this ability is used on in the form of written information! (It will not be possible to appraise some things or beings based on their level, their ability, the host's level, and the level of the ability itself.)]

Okay, well, it's at least a good start. I think it's time to explore this cave a bit...

DING!

[Quest started]

[Explore the cave]

[Rewards: Beginner-level spell book. 30xp]

Oh nice, well, I would have done it anyway.

I finally start walking through this cave.

It's not so bad, but maybe it's my goblin instinct speaking.

10 minutes

20 minutes

1 hour

THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS CAVE

Apart from the occasional rat or bat, I hadn't seen any other life forms.

At a certain point, I reached a dead end, with a small entrance to another cave on my left.

The system immediately reacted.

[Quest completed!]

[Rewards delivered to the host:

Beginner-level spell book

30xp]

A book appeared out of nowhere in my hands; it had a burgundy red cover with a flame drawn in the center. As soon as I opened it...

[Beginner-level ability: Fireball has been learned]

And with the system notification, the book turned into dust, while pure knowledge was forced into my brain, perhaps because of my innate magic ability; I didn't feel any discomfort.

As I reveled in the happiness and euphoria of learning a new spell, I heard a noise, but this sound was different from the squeaking of rats or the flapping of bat wings.

These were footsteps.

I immediately began trying to understand the origin of the sound, and when I focused, I understood it. From the entrance to the other cave on my left...

I immediately crouched next to the entrance, so that whoever was coming from the other side wouldn't have the chance to see me. After waiting a few seconds, I spotted a figure. I immediately used my appraisal ability.

[Name: None]

[Race: Goblin]

[Level: 1/10]

[Strength: 3]

[Stamina: 2]

[Agility: 4]

[Magic: 0]

[Dexterity: 6]

[Abilities: Slash LV1]

[Equipment: Rusty sword]

After reading the information, I had only one thought: don't let this jerk get close to me. He had a weapon and apparently also an ability related to it. If he had approached, it would have been game over. I had only one way: to use magic.

Thanks to the information forced into my head on how to use the spell, I raised my now green arm, pointing my palm towards the goblin who had by now seen me and was running wildly towards me. I channeled my mana into my hand and...

[Fireball]

The ability activated and hit the target, but he kept charging at me, as if he didn't care about his burns! I didn't have time to realize that his sword reached me, cutting a part of my stomach.

The pain was excruciating, much more than the beatings from bullies at school, much more than anything I had ever felt on my skin, but I had to survive. It didn't matter what, I had to live. I couldn't die like this, after having such a fantastic opportunity to become someone. I had always dreamed of power, and when I was given the chance to reach it, I wouldn't perish so easily!

That jerk of the other goblin, after seeing me in pain and defenseless after his blow, lowered his guard, approached me with the sword lowered, almost touching the floor, saying things in a language I didn't understand.

I didn't worry about it, and as soon as the bastard came into my attack range, I didn't let go of this opportunity. I feinted a left hook, and the goblin alerted to the feint, attempted to parry it. As soon as his attention was drawn to my left arm, I used my claws, promptly extending them from my fingers, and thrust them into his neck.

A spray of blood splattered onto my face; the goblin was dying, but with his last effort, he used his ability [Slash] at the same spot where I had been injured before. Both he and I fell to the ground at the same moment.

[HP critically low, danger!]

My life was slipping away, my own blood soaking my body, and a piercing pain tore through my stomach. Even though I had done everything I could, in the end, I hadn't succeeded... Why does it always end up like this?!

As despair gripped me, I heard the familiar sound of the system.

DING!

[Goblin LV 1 killed]

[100 exp points gained]

[You have leveled up!]

[Your level has increased; you will be restored to perfect condition!]