Quickly shaking off the negative emotions that always crept in whenever I stepped outside, I returned to my cave, one that, in my mind, counted as a respectable dwelling… more or less. I needed a new plan.
Now that I had evolved into a Grey Wolf, I could venture a bit farther to hunt. The problem was, it was still dangerous. Even with my Trait Level at 3, having advanced from Brown Wolf to Grey, the monsters in the Low Tier hunting grounds were still a tough challenge.
Besides the Grey Wolves that roamed these areas, there were Orc Warriors, Skeleton Soldiers, and Trolls, each possessing power greater than a Grey Wolf. The only reason the wolves could survive here at all was because they hunted in large packs.
It would've been nice if my Orc Form had evolved too.
Judging by how only my Brown Wolf Form had advanced, it seemed each of my Forms, Orc, Wolf, Goblin, had different evolution criteria, specific conditions that needed to be met. If my Orc Form had evolved into an Orc Warrior, then I could've stuck to my old hunting pattern and gone after Brown Wolves without worry. But that wasn't the case. Right now, my Grey Wolf Form had higher physical strength than my Orc one.
So I'll have to hunt in the Wolf Form…
I pushed the overthinking out of my head and stood up. Sitting here staring at the walls wasn't going to help. I needed to see things for myself.
I moved on all fours and left the cave.
The moment I stepped out, a guttural growl echoed across the rocky clearing.
The Low Tier hunting grounds were far more dangerous than the lower ones. The Grey Wolves here were feral, their eyes wild, their growls thick with bloodlust. They couldn't be compared to the weak Brown Wolves at all.
If it was just about size, then my Grey Wolf Form was one and a half times larger than normal ones.
A vicious chorus of snarls cut through the air. Six feral Grey Wolves pounced on a patrolling Orc Warrior, tearing it apart in a storm of claws and fangs.
The sight wasn't impressive. It was disturbing.
Jesus…
I turned away, losing my motivation instantly. Behind me, the air filled with the wet sound of tearing flesh and bones cracking, like dogs chewing through a toy. The Orc's desperate scream faded quickly. I could only feel a faint, grim relief that it wasn't me on the menu.
Heading toward the outskirts of the hunting grounds, I tried to think strategically. Monsters often gathered near rivers or lakes, water sources turned into blood-soaked battlegrounds. Weaker species tended to avoid those areas, settling farther away instead.
Monsters like Goblins.
I wasn't wrong.
A faint, familiar scent hit my nose, and I grinned. In the distance, firelight flickered a small bonfire illuminating a cluster of primitive huts.
Found you.
A Goblin village. They were frail creatures, relying on herbs and witchcraft. Medicine-types used poison. Witchcraft-types used curses. Both could be dangerous, and Hunters usually avoided them unless they had no choice.
Two green-skinned Goblins came into view. One of them was covered in tribal tattoos. An Elite.
Medicine-types, I thought, catching the distinct herbal scent on the wind. My nose didn't lie.
The two Goblins performed some sort of ritual, then separated. The tattooed one began heading straight toward my hiding spot, carrying a small satchel and what looked like a blowpipe. Probably out to gather herbs.
My pulse quickened. My muscles tensed. I crouched low in the tall grass, waiting for the right moment.
One step. Two steps. The Goblin kept walking, unaware of the predator crouched in the shadows.
Then, it hesitated. Its nostrils flared.
It sensed something.
Too late.
I exploded from the grass, all four limbs launching me forward like a grey storm.
It's too far, I realized too late.
The Goblin had already regained its composure. Calmly, it raised a blowpipe toward me. Its tattoos glowed faintly in the firelight, proof that it wasn't just for show.
Son of a bitch!
But I was faster. Desperation pushed me past my limits, every muscle in my body burning as I surged forward, my fangs sinking deep into its neck before it could react.
The system flashed before my eyes.
[Complete: breaking past the limit while running]
Active Skill "Whirlwind Dash" has been acquired.
– Instantly raises dashing speed. (Can be used in Human Form.)
– Based on Agility stat, can be safely used twice per day. Overuse strains the body.
I bit down harder, snapping its neck with a sharp crack.
Another notification appeared.
[Complete: Traditions of Goblins, Inheritance of Memories]
– Drank the blood of a Goblin skilled in medicine. You can now access the "Elite Goblin's" medicinal knowledge and concoction skill while in Goblin or Human Form.
I tilted my head. Was this… good? I didn't have time to find out.
The howls came almost instantly angry, panicked Goblins rushing toward me.
I didn't stick around. Poison darts whistled through the air behind me as I sprinted away, but none came close. A Grey Wolf's speed was unmatched here.
When I finally slowed down, the sight of myself carrying a dead Goblin in my jaws probably looked ridiculous. If anyone had seen it, they might've laughed.
But that thought vanished when I heard it.
A faint whimper.
I froze. Lowering the corpse, I listened closely.
Someone's there.
A weak, pained sound, A human.
Without thinking, I picked up the Goblin again and bolted toward it.
After a minute of running, I found her. A woman lay on the grass, half-dead, her body torn open, blood soaking the dirt beneath her. Her abdomen was ripped wide enough to show her intestines, and every few seconds, she let out a faint, broken moan.
An Elf. A Knight.
Claire Reynolds.
The daughter of the Master of the Silverhawk Knights Order, one of the strongest in America. She was rumored to be a prodigy, one step away from becoming the youngest High-Tier Knight in history, and easily one of the most beautiful women in the nation.
Even on the brink of death, that reputation wasn't exaggerated.
But I didn't have time to admire her.
I dropped the Goblin's body and shifted into my Orc Form. In this form, her slender body felt weightless. I lifted her, grabbed the Goblin's satchel, and sprinted back toward my cave.
I just hoped I wasn't too late.
When I laid her on the stone bed, I changed into my Goblin Form. Shorter now, I had to climb onto the bed to examine her. The moment I did, knowledge flooded my mind, the ingredients, the process, everything I needed.
Dreamleaf herb, Viperroot extract, scorpion grass, and… one low-grade Mana Stone.
I dug through the Elite Goblin's bag. Everything I needed was there, along with a mortar and pestle. I even had spare Mana Stones.
I started grinding the ingredients, the smell of crushed herbs filling the air. When I added the Mana Stone, the solid crystal dissolved into glowing blue liquid, merging perfectly with the mix.
When it was ready, I applied some of the potion to her wounds and carefully poured the rest down her throat.
Then, I watched.
Her torn flesh began to knit back together. The color slowly returned to her cheeks.
I let out a shaky breath of relief, then the system notifications popped up again.
[Condition Cleared: A Goblin's Kindness]
– Must administer aid to at least one human. All stats +1.
– The host can now assume the "Medical Goblin" Form instead of standard Goblin Form.
– All Goblin-related stats will be adjusted accordingly.
Acquired Passive Skill: "Goblin's Craftsmanship."
– Gain bonus attributes when performing craftsmanship-related jobs (manufacturing, cooking, cleaning, healing, etc.).
– Skill effectiveness reduced in Human Form.
"…Huh?"
Not only had my Goblin Form evolved, but I'd also gained a new skill.
I'd spent an entire month fighting, grinding, bleeding, not a single skill drop. And now, in one day, I'd earned three.
Was this happiness? Panic? Or just disbelief?
I didn't know. I just sat there, staring blankly at the glowing screens in front of me.
Without fanfare, a faint tattoo appeared on my forehead, the mark of evolution.