The golden light at the grotto entrance flared, and a shimmering, almost invisible barrier that had guarded the cave shattered with a sound like cracking ice.
The first human stepped in, cloaked in fine robes, a sword gleaming at his hip, eyes cold and predatory. Behind him, more figures emerged, each radiating an aura of power that dwarfed the strongest goblin.
Chaos erupted. The goblins, driven by primal fear and a futile, desperate instinct, charged. They were a green wave of teeth and claws, but they were utterly outmatched.
A human cultivator raised a hand, and a wave of concentrated wind slammed into the charging goblins, sending a dozen of them skidding into the rock wall, bones audibly snapping. Another cultivator drew a sword, and with a single, elegant sweep, bisected two goblins mid-leap. Blood, thick and dark, splattered across the cavern floor.
His own pathetic goblin form trembled, not just from fear, but from the raw, overwhelming force radiating from the humans. His system, however, remained cool.
[Quest Activated]: Survive the Human Onslaught.
[Objective]: Escape the goblin grotto undetected.
[Reward]: 10 EXP, [Survivalist Trait (E)]
He didn't hesitate. Survival was paramount. He saw goblins he'd been cowering beside moments ago cut down like weeds.
A particularly large human, armored like a knight, was methodically cleaving through the chieftain's guards. The chieftain himself roared, a pathetic challenge, before a spear of ice materialized from a human's palm and impaled him, freezing him solid.
The scent of death was overpowering, mixing with the sharp ozone smell of cultivation energy. He saw a smaller, weaker goblin, one he'd often been kicked alongside, collapse with a gash across its chest, struggling for breath. Its blood pooled on the rough ground.
[Opportunity Detected]: A dying creature. Harvest Essence?
Y/N
A strange, cold clarity washed over him. This wasn't just a game; it was a brutal reality. He needed power. He needed every advantage. Without a moment's hesitation, he mentally selected Y.
He scurried low, ignored by the humans who were focused on the larger, more 'threatening' goblins.
He reached the dying goblin, its red eyes dimming. As he touched it, a faint, almost invisible wisp of energy flowed from its body into his.
[Essence Gained]: 0.1 (From Weak Goblin)
[Experience Gained]: 0.5
It was minuscule, but it was something. A first step. He felt a faint surge of power, a spark that wasn't there before.
The grotto was rapidly becoming a charnel house. He spotted a narrow crack in the wall, half-hidden behind a stalagmite, too small for the humans or even most adult goblins. His runt size, for once, was an advantage. He squeezed through, scraping his rough skin against the sharp rock, ignoring the pain.
He emerged into a damp, winding tunnel, the sounds of slaughter fading behind him. He didn't look back. He ran, his small legs pumping, the primal urge to flee driving him forward. He was alone. His 'tribe' was gone, annihilated.
As he ran, the system chimed again.
[Quest Completed]: Survive the Human Onslaught.
[Reward Received]: 10 EXP, [Survivalist Trait (E)]
[New Quest]: Find Safety and Resources.
[Objective]: Locate a temporary safe haven and acquire food/water.
[Reward]: [Basic Cultivation Manual: Goblin Path (F)]
He didn't understand what a cultivation manual was, but the idea of 'Goblin Path' filled him with a fierce determination. He would cultivate. He would grow strong. The images of his dying tribe, the casual brutality of the humans, burned in his mind. He was just a runt, but he had a system. He would turn this weakness into strength. He would not just survive; he would rise. And one day, he would make them all pay. Every human, every stronger race that looked down on goblins, would feel the wrath of a reborn runt.