Somewhere in the Bed of Reeds, in a small clearing, were several protruding layers of earth shaped like flower petals. At their center was a small, fist-sized crystal from which blue ripples escaped, spreading to the surrounding flowers and nourishing them. This was how the Bed of Reeds had managed to maintain its beauty all this while.
Beneath the fragmented mana node sat a goblin, bald with unnaturally long limbs. Its disgustingly long fingers were tipped with black, sharp claws capable of ripping through flesh effortlessly. Its green skin was riddled with boils and sores, making its already large nose appear even larger and more irregular.
{Error! The host cannot access the personal information of this creature.}
The goblin sat beneath the earthen petals like a statue, unmoving, its eyes shut tight. Beside it lay a dirty, bloodstained leather bag. The fact that one of the goblin's hands rested on the bag made Kyle believe it contained valuables. Still, he was far more interested in the blue pulse washing through the goblin's body as it meditated. Kyle couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to stand next to the mana node, especially since even experiencing it from afar felt magical.
Kyle's gaze returned to the system message, and he wondered why he couldn't see its information like he could with Boa and the tiger bunnies. Thinking about it further, he realized he had never been able to see the personal information of his siblings either. But why was that?
Kyle looked over his shoulder and saw Boa staring at him intently. When Kyle met its gaze, the snake panicked, avoiding his eyes as it spoke.
"Goblins are pack creatures and do not stray too far from their group. We need to make sure it dies here, or it will return with several more goblins," Boa warned.
Kyle nodded and returned his attention to the goblin's lanky frame. If Boa could deal with it alone, it would not have asked for his assistance. That alone was reason enough to stay on guard and avoid acting recklessly.
'Even with my awakened bloodline talents, I should be careful until it shows everything it can do.'
With that in mind, Kyle walked into the clearing, clutching his bone dagger tightly. His presence was immediately met with a cold growl as the goblin's eyes snapped open. Upon seeing Kyle, its expression shifted.
Fear. Shock. Anger.
The emotions did not last long enough for Kyle to fully decipher before they were replaced by coldness.
"My Ashmark clan has claimed this location. Are you planning to offend my clan?!"
Hearing the goblin's first words left Kyle in awe. It reminded him of the web novels he used to read back on Earth. During the rare moments when he wasn't gaming, he would read novels online. In many of them, weaklings would hide behind the name of their clan the moment they felt threatened. Seeing it play out before him was oddly exciting.
'Now I know it's afraid of me. I don't have to hold back.'
"The Ashmark clan dares to claim neutral territory as their own? Obnoxious!" Kyle snarled fiercely, though deep down he was giggling like a child.
What reader wouldn't wish for a chance to replicate the feats of their favorite novels, even on a smaller scale?
The goblin frowned, its left hand slowly slipping into the leather bag.
I WON'T LET YOU!
Swoosh!
Kyle had no intention of letting it draw its weapon. In mere seconds, he closed the gap between them and stabbed forward ruthlessly.
Bam!
Dust and sand rose as Kyle struck empty earth. His eyes widened in shock as he saw the goblin latch onto one of the earthen petal formations, the leather bag clenched in its mouth.
'Fast!' Kyle was stunned.
Even with his high Speed stat, he barely saw the goblin move. It was almost a blur, the kind he would struggle to keep up with.
Pft!
Kyle leaped to the right as the goblin lunged toward him, swiping with its claws. He reacted quickly, but his movement was just a fraction too slow. The goblin's claws tore into his cheek, leaving a bloody wound with a single swing.
{-3 HP}
'How fast is it? Its Speed must be somewhere around 15 or 17.' Kyle was more dumbfounded than hurt.
Standing several yards apart, the two stared at each other in silence. Kyle tightened his grip on his bone dagger while the goblin slowly pulled out a dagger with a silver wolf hilt and a crooked blade. Under the pulsating mana ripples spreading across the clearing, the dagger emitted an azure glow.
{Jagged Tiger Dagger}
{Grade:} Common
{+20 Damage}
{Durability:} 27/30
'Ooh, shit.' Kyle frowned as he watched the blade gleam beneath the azure light.
Dealing with a jumpy opponent was hard enough. Dealing with one wielding a sharp dagger was even worse. Watching the goblin slowly prepare for its next attack while growling like an animal reminded Kyle that this was a mindless beast. As long as he played his cards right, he could come out victorious.
{Bloodline Talent Activated: Hardened Scale}
The gaps between Kyle's scales lit up with orange light, highlighting their shape and depth. In an instant, Kyle became a living beacon, shining almost as brightly as the fragmented mana node. Steam diffused from his body as he felt his strength fading at a noticeable pace.
{-1 STA}
{-1 STA}
{-1 STA}
{-1 STA}
'This much?' Kyle was taken aback by the absurd stamina consumption of the skill, momentarily distracting him from the battle.
"Watch out!"
Boa's voice snapped Kyle back to reality. By the time he looked up, the goblin was already in front of him, swinging at his exposed neck with all the strength it could muster.
Peng!
Kyle's eyes went wide as he waited for his head to fall. Seconds passed, yet nothing happened. He focused his vision and traced the blade pressing against his neck. A thin cut was visible, with a few strands of blood running down his skin.
"There it is!"
Watching from the bushes, Boa was ecstatic. It had cried out earlier, convinced Kyle was dead, so his survival naturally thrilled it. Kyle was the only means by which Boa could reclaim the fragmented mana node. How could it not be happy?
'I always knew the dragon bloodline would be powerful, no matter how diluted. Thank God I insisted on cooperating!' Boa prayed joyfully.
What man wouldn't celebrate escaping death?
Boa was not the only one shaken. The goblin itself was paralyzed with shock and disbelief. That brief pause was all the time Kyle needed. He grabbed the goblin by the shoulder and tightened his grip.
Kacha!
The sound of bone breaking shattered the silence. The goblin squealed in pain and instinctively released the dagger as it fell to one knee. It grabbed Kyle's arm with both hands, but it couldn't move it. It felt as though a mountain was pressing down on its shoulder.
'Unreal agility, but low strength. Even though this one is as good as dead, I can see the danger they pose when swarming an enemy,' Kyle acknowledged silently.
The defense his scales provided far exceeded his expectations. He could clearly imagine the havoc several indestructible, mini-dragons would cause when swarming a single foe.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Kyle drove his bone dagger into the goblin's throat. Blood squirted out as he shoved the goblin backward. It grabbed its neck, kicking and thrashing wildly as it gasped for air.
In the past, Kyle would have been vomiting his breakfast. Now, he felt oddly calm as the goblin drowned in its own blood.
"I knew the esteemed kobold would win!"
Boa slithered into the clearing, showering Kyle with praise, but Kyle paid it no attention. His gaze remained fixed on the goblin's corpse.
'This place is changing me,' Kyle admitted silently.
While the changes were necessary for survival in this world, realizing how different he had become from the boy he once was made him uncomfortable.
"It's not like I liked the old me in the first place," he muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile…
"Now we have the fragmented node. We just need to protect it while we benefit from it. It seems a bit weak, but I'm sure this juice will last us a week or so."
Boa had been ranting since the battle ended, and Kyle had ignored it until now. He tilted his head and scoffed.
"We?" Kyle turned to meet Boa's eyes. "Last time I checked, the agreement was to work together and recover the mana node. Since I did all the work, doesn't that naturally mean only I should benefit from it?"
Buzz!
Boa's eyes turned cold, a soft hiss escaping its mouth. "What are you trying to say?"
Kyle responded with a low chuckle as he picked up the Jagged Tiger Dagger and examined its edges. His eyes flickered with murderous intent as he looked back at Boa.
"I can't have you bringing the next person you meet to kill me while I'm resting. So I'm going to politely ask you to die for me."