@CollectorOfMyst@ghastlyInc@Zeroth - Goblin hunting

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Success! Her bite sent the goblin right to his knees, though not paralyzed from the venom just yet. He turned, swinging his rock aimlessly towards her. A simple enough move to dodge, and she planned to ensure the goblins swift death. Unfortunately, that was where her good fortune ended. A mana orb came from nowhere, freeing the captive lizard and making it run off somewhere. Immediately, Ash felt a small hint of anger.

"What in the-!" She only had time to glance briefly towards the source of it. A wisp. Fool! Wishing greatly she could use magic and just zap it from here with something, but settled for a glare instead. She'd deal with that annoyance later. The lizard had been her goal - not these goblins. The EXP and food was simply a bonus. Focusing back on the fight, Ash hissed loudly, Activating the Overwork skill. The Lizard let the extra power flow through her, deftly making an attempt to avoid most of the goblins frantic strikes. She aimed for his legs, jumping and sinking her claws into his flesh as she made an attempt to scale his body.

She made several more bites, just fleeing things along the way up - before trying to find her way up to his neck. Hopefully the Paralytic would take effect as she climb, making him unable to really defend. If she was successful, she'd tear out his neck before jumping over to the other goblin who would hopefully be paralyzed by now, and do the same to him.

---

Rain narrowed her eyes at everything happening... This was bloody chaos. The four were still coming, albeit hesitantly after her little outburst and this Wisp's speech. Talking about humans and shit, Rain honestly didn't hear most of it she was so pumped with adrenaline.

"Yeah, I can talk you limp dick ass fuckers!" she yelled in irritation, glancing between the giant rat, the odd group, this weird Wisp, the goblins, Crispy....

Was that a Pixie bomb rushing Crispy?

Rain made a snap decision.

"You dare to call me prey? YOU DARE THINK YOU CAN HUNT ME?" her voice called out defiantly. This was the opposite of stealth, dammit....

"I, who have injured you twice Crispy! I who have drawn the blood of that big hairy fucker! I WILL HAVE YOUR FUCKING HEADS!" she yelled at them, moving in an attempt to not be a sitting Target.

"You can either lay down your weapons.... Or I will fucking eviscerate you."

She readied another Glob styled attack. If something got too close she'd simply bite with the Glob to spill into the attack.

If Crispy tried anything hostile, she'd just shoot it at him, aiming for the same spot as last time.

@Rune_Alchemist@CollectorOfMyst@Zeroth@duthguy

“The first casualty of any battle is the plan of attack”~Ghandi, War of 1812. Naji was absolutely sure that Ghandi had said this. Maybe the wrong date, but who cares, at the moment, it was proving itself to be absolutely true. As soon as Ash had closed the distance a glowing ball of energy shot out of nowhere and slammed into one of the goblins. For a moment, he wondered if it was Ash’s until he remembered their barter. The lizard of the second goblin dropped his hold on his scaly pet, which preceeded to blitz towards his and Scotts position.

”The universe is just determined to screw me over...isn’t it?” He thought, watching the beast rush towards the two of them. Scott yelled for him to get to cover but...well. Naji had his doubts that would help. If he were in prime condition, he could probably just fly his way out of this, but he was far from that. And there probably was nothing readily close he could make use of that would hold off the lizard. He could fight it....That would atleast be funny for anyone watching, though the idea of being thrashed around like an old chew toy made his stomach drop into his knees.

So....time to do something stupid. ”Scott...cover me.” He says quickly, standing up and slowly moving out from behind the rock into the lizards sights, hands calmly resting at his sides as he walks carefully towards the charging lizard. ”Relax...” He tells himself while taking a deep breath. ”Its just like dealing with drunk college kids. Only with less slobber.”

”Whoa whoa whoa” He yells, throwing his arms in front of him and flaring his wings, his voice coming calm and (hopefully) soothing. ”Easy big fella. Easy!” He yells again, lowering his wings a little to what he hoped was a less stressed lizard. He swears to himself that if he dies because of this he will haunt the /shit/ out of whoever fired off that mana thingy.

Reoth glanced up at the noise of buzzing wings and shrill chitters, just in to to see another pixie essentially trying to dive kick him. Once it had closed him, despite being irritated he recognized that his assaulter had very similar features to the pixie he had killed. Instead of defending himself properly by catching and biting the pixie out of the air, Reoth chose a different option.

Waiting until it would be too late for the pixie to change its mind, Reoth would move sideways to the left to dodge it. And instead of letting it impact the ground he would twist and swing his head in an attempt to knock it out from either the immediate impact ot the or after the pixie hit whatever it was sent into.

Whether he was successful or not, Reoth would say, "Sorry..." before continuing on until he spot what looked to be another lizard fighting two... goblins? Yep, those were goblins. And just a short ways away was another lizard running away with a strap trailing behind it. Piecing together that maybe the one lizard was trying to free the other, he opted to help his fellow lizard. He'd dart closer before firing Poison Spit at the center mass of the unarmed goblin, intending to give it something else to worry about at least, and therefore distracting it from the closer lizard.

---

Digbie pulled his club up from the ground and onto his shoulder as he watched the chaos ensue, but he more importantly noticed the large rat at his and Orochi's feet. Without much hesitation and thought, Digbie sat down on a nearby rock (a pretty good size for his body, to be honest) and he put away his <Stone Spike^TM> and pulled out his <Curved Rock^TM>. He turned to Orochi and whispered him a question. "Do you have a way to cook this?"

Digbie searched around his area for the rubble and such that he had seen when walking in, specifically looking for a piece of flint that he could use to set fire to this rat with. If he could char this rat, he could definitely cook it, giving him and Orochi some kind of meal to eat. It'd be something risky considering all this hecking tension in the room, but it'd make sense given the current straits that their little group was in (and others, if they needed something to eat as well.)

Well so much for that effort. Not only did he miss the rat completely, his warning was also completely in vain as well. Oh well, at least the vermin didn't get to cause any damage to his allies before the combined efforts of stone and spell stilled it forever. Now at last, they could eat. The carcass that would have been positively revolting to the person Orochi once was, now seemed to be inviting and enticing to the lizard.

"Finally fortune favours us." He said as he advanced upon the fallen rodent fangs prepared to rend flesh and feast once more. That was until he was interrupted by Digbie, asking a question he thought quite foolish. Shooting his greenskinned ally a look of pure confusion he responded.

"A way to cook this... you're serious? I'm a lizard Digbie, how would I have a way to cook this?" The lizard sighed As he turned his gaze back to the bonfire as he noticed that two of their number were now missing. Did she seriously just wal -erm, float on in there? Orochi knew that he couldn't just stay out here. Despite her abrasiveness, Mourningstar was a fellow human just like he was. She did not deserve to die. No. Orochi would not let her die in there. He'd made his mind up, though perhaps he could get some extra backup... Looking back to Digbie the lizard called out.

" Tell you who might have a way though. These Goblins seem to have quite the party going on here. What do you say we... "sample" their methods and get ourselves a fire going out here?" Not waiting for an answer, Orochi took off towards the towering blaze...

...and was greeted by the unadulterated chaos that was currently happening. Mourningstar was currently face to face with roughly five goblins... Not a great situation, and to make matters worse Crispy was amongst them. If I don't do something quick, she might... No. Can't let that happen! Orochi thought to himself as he skittered up behind the squadron of goblins. The wisp seemed to be attempting to convince the goblins to join her, Orochi doubted these goblins would bow. From what he had seen they were like animals, only the strong had the right to rule, or so it seemed. It was more likely that they were about to attack Mourningstar, if the growing pyre within Crispy's palms was any indication.

He had an idea of how he could save this situation, though it was in all honesty both reckless and risky. What way more fitting could there be... Orochi thought to himself as he crept up behind the pint-sized pyromancer, hopefully the chaos of the situation would allow him to strike unnoticed. Thus far the wisp had treated this world like a game, In most games disrupting one's concentration during casting had interesting results... So now he'd play his role, the rogue ganking the mage. Presuming that all went well, Crispy's attention would be divided and perhaps his spell would fail! He lunged at the caster's exposed ankles, fangs ready to tear his goblinoid flesh. Orochi would attempt to inject the goblin with a large dose of his paralyzing venom by staying latched on to his leg before tearing his fangs away violently.

@Zeroth@Gardevoiran@floodtalon@Old Amsterdam@ReusableSword@King Cosmos@Lucius Cypher

On The Trail (D2)
@Kazemitsu

---

This isn't a lag, you saw this this morning after you woke up. Shut up.
Skill Gain: Pierce Resistance I!
You already possess the skill Physical Damage Resistance I. Damage Calculation Overlap will follow an order of priority: Any pierce-category attack will have its damage subtracted from Pierce Resistance I first, and any leftover damage will be subtracted from Physical Damage Resistance I’s threshold. However, if a single pierce-category attack consumes the Resistance threshold for both skills, Physical Damage Resistance I will NOT trigger on attacks from other categories. If ONLY Pierce Resistance I’s threshold is consumed, Physical Damage Resistance I will trigger against a second Pierce attack, or other physical attacks. Acquiring Blunt Resistance and Slash Resistance will automatically cause Skill Synergy and raise Physical Damage Resistance by one rank regardless of Skill Progression.

After Asura finished his thoughts, the blue slime shrank back. It--she?--seemed wary of a repeat overload. But, after wobbling for a moment, her pseudopod reached out once more.

If...I, the creature’s ego still seemed nebulous, If I go...you...Then...we...safe? Even from bigger? And can...eat more? Eat bigger?

The blue slime seemed intrigued by this idea, and before she pulled away Asura had a few flashes of imagery--though the colors were blurry and the pictures distorted, as if looking through water. It seemed as if the blue slime had started looking around already before she finished her thought to him, and she had seen an odd group of creatures--from their sizes, it seemed like there were two goblins, at least one lizard, and a wisp. They seemed to be fighting. And further away, there were three images that all seemed similar, though one was larger. Possibly dire rats? Then, of course, there was the unmistakable and--in the blue slime’s mind--incredibly threatening image of the bonfire...

---

Flame of Chaos (D2)
@Old Amsterdam@Lucius Cypher@King Cosmos@CriticalHit@Gardevoiran@floodtalon@ReusableSword

---

As Mourningstar focused on each individual Goblin, using her Magic Analysis, she would find most of the results unsatisfactory--however, besides Crispy, there were actually two more things of note…

You used Magic Analysis I!
Effectiveness reduced to 25%. This is a Monster. You have Analyzed this kind of Monster before, effectiveness increased to 35%.
Goblins are capable of magic. This Goblin has no spells or magically oriented skills.

You used Magic Analysis I!
Effectiveness reduced to 25%. This is a Monster. You have Analyzed this kind of Monster multiple times before, effectiveness increased to 40%.
Goblins are capable of magic. This Goblin has no spells or magically oriented skills. This Goblin’s magical stats are weak.

Your repeated use of a skill has granted you experience!
Skill Rank Up: Magic Analysis > Magic Analysis II!
Gain more detail about Magic oriented Skills and Spells. Lose less effectiveness when analyzing Monsters, Materials, etc so long as they are magically inclined.

You used Magic Analysis II!
Effectiveness reduced to 30%. This is a Monster. You have Analyzed this kind of Monster multiple times before, effectiveness increased to 45%.
Goblins are capable of learning magic, but usually do not possess it naturally. This Goblin has no spells or magically oriented skills or equipment that you can see. This Goblin’s magical stats are weak, and it has a low amount of MP.

You used Magic Analysis II!
Effectiveness reduced to 30%. This is a Monster. You have Analyzed this kind of Monster multiple times before, effectiveness increased to 50%.
Goblins are capable of learning magic, but usually do not possess it naturally. This Goblin has no Activated spells, but has two semi-magically oriented skills. This Goblin’s magical stats are weak and it has a low amount of MP. It has been channeling magic recently. This Goblin is unusual, like Digbie.

You used Magic Analysis II!
Effectiveness reduced to 30%. This is a Monster. You have Analyzed this kind of Monster multiple times before, effectiveness increased to 55%.
Goblins are capable of learning magic, but usually do not possess it naturally. This Goblin has 1 spell, 1 magically oriented skill, and 1 elemental skill. This Goblin has been magically changed! This Goblin has increased its magical stats, but its MP is lower than your own. It is currently channeling magic for a Fireball spell, rank unknown!

Your experiences have culminated in a new skill!
Skill Gain: Monster Analysis I!
Flat teeth indicate herbivore, binocular vision implies a predator or gatherer. Allows you to analyze animals and monsters, even those you’ve never seen before. At this rank you'll only learn basic information.

LEVEL UP!
You experiences have culminated in new power! You are now Level 2! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please! Your MP increases!

Unspent Skill Points:
5

Current Skills:
Mana Orb II (2.15)
Lesser Force I (1.7)
Levitation (--)
Magic Analysis II (2.15)
Mana Shape I (1.4)
Monster Analysis (1.0)
<UNUSABLE> Muffle (0.1) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Smash (0.1) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Defender (0.2) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Focus (0.8) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Mana Slice (0.5) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Deception (0.2) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Charisma (0.2) <UNUSABLE>

But as all of this information flooded Mourningstar’s mind, she also felt something unpleasant--like dial-up internet combined with a microphone feedback loop amplified and held far too close to her ear. As the ringing and buzzing intensified, one new skill appeared in her Current Skill List, though it too was marked as UNUSABLE: Mental Resistance (0.1).

And of course, while she was being flooded with this info, Mourningstar possibly missed what was happening around her in between her level up and the moment she finally returned to her senses.

Ardur dropped out of the sky, surrounded by his Shield spell’s aura. But with Crispy focused on his spell, he didn’t see the glowing pixie--and soon he couldn’t see anything at all, as Ardur yanked his hat down over his face. The pixie’s momentum caused him to swing along the brim of the hat, twisting it further and by sheer luck avoiding the Fireball Crispy was conjuring.

“WHO TURN OUT LIGHT?!”

"You dare to call me prey? YOU DARE THINK YOU CAN HUNT ME?" screamed the talking Fanged Lizard. The Goblin whirled in her direction, still managing to hold the Fireball steady in his hands. "I, who have injured you twice Crispy! I who have drawn the blood of that big hairy fucker! I WILL HAVE YOUR FUCKING HEADS! You can either lay down your weapons.... Or I will fucking eviscerate you.”

“LIZARD TALK TOO MUCH--”

Orochi lunged at the caster's exposed ankles from behind, fangs ready to tear his goblinoid flesh. As he latched on, ripping and tearing at the same time as he injected his paralyzing venom, Crispy’s rebuttal toward Rain suddenly turned into a high pitched squeal--

And then stopped entirely.

The Goblin’s fireball went out, and he dropped to one knee. Every muscle suddenly stood out in tension--though it seemed like Crispy had almost instinctively clasped his hands and curled his hands around his own neck, head, and shoulders, hunching himself to prevent attacks on these vulnerable areas. Indeed, he had been in the cave long enough to know this could be a death sentence, and under the hat his eyes were beginning to bug out in fear--he was paralyzed!

But Rain wouldn’t be able to capitalize on this immediately, as the other three Goblins besides Crispy and Orchid had recovered their wits sometime in between the moment when Ardur had dropped down and Orochi had attacked. They had charged, and Rain had reacted. As the first closed in on her with a Gnarled Branch gripped tight, Rain managed to dodge and attacked back with her fangs and a mouth dripping with concentrated poison. As she tore the goblin’s flesh she could feel a sensation somewhat like the old world’s “pop rock” candy in her mouth, as her poison came into contact with the air and his bloodstream. The green creature screamed and fell to the ground, not paralyzed, but sick as if he had taken Poison Spit instead of a Stun Fang.

However, the second goblin holding a Wooden Pickaxe swung it like a golf club. Rain suddenly found herself lifted off the ground as pain exploded through her side--then she hit the ground, hard enough to knock the breath out of her. The third goblin started to close in, a large rock held over his head in both hands--

He yelped as a demonic face appeared in mid-air.

"Greetings pathetic whelps. As you can see, I am no ordinary Wisp nor is this any ordinary Lizard. We are Generals sent from the Demon Lord himself to create an army fit to march on the pathetic humans who hunt us day in and day out. Thus I have come to recruit all in this cave for the conquest to come."

Mourningstar actually had the audacity to even float slightly in front of Rain, shielding her from any further attacks that may come and turning to look directly into the eyes of Orchid, then the paralyzed Crispy.

"Now cease your assault immediately, we have work to d--!”

“WISP SHUT UP!”

The goblin walloped Mourningstar with the rock, sending her crashing to the ground. Another UNUSABLE Skill popped up in her System, Blunt Resistance (0.1). But, luckily for her, she didn't seem to be really hurt--Oberon's Shield had absorbed most of the blow, though now it was gone!

Had all of this chaos, so many things happening at once, stunned Orchid? What would the female, ambitious goblin do, now that former humans like herself had apparently revealed themselves? What would Oberon do, with his friends in danger and himself so vulnerable, even after a Level Up?

Meanwhile, Digbie found a nice Flint Rock, but had no pockets with which to carry it...

---

Nearby the Pool (D2)
@Rune_Alchemist@ghastlyInc@CollectorOfMyst@Duthguy@Kangutso

---

As Danny lay there, observing what was going on, he felt himself beginning to recover a little. It didn’t seem like he could fire another Mana Orb yet, but he could at least Levitate again--if he was going to run, now might be the chance. But as he watched, the scene became even stranger…

As Ash began to Overwork herself and scaled the armed Goblin, slashing and gnashing all the way, the green humanoid tried to reach her as she scurried around and up his back. But his arms weren’t long or flexible enough, and as she came down on the back of his neck he let out one more screech before her venom seemed to take effect, and he dropped with a short-lived convulsion before laying there, eyes big and afraid as his neck bled while he was helpless to stop it. But before she could leap clear of his body, the other goblin ran up with his leg drawn back like a soccer player--

Reoth’s Poison Spit sailed through the air, striking the unarmed goblin in the chest and knocking him off balance. His kick missed Ash by several inches, and he spun with his own momentum. He cursed angrily the whole while as he scrabbled to wipe the acid off his chest, burning himself further in the attempt. Ash took the opportunity to leap on him and begin tearing away, feeling the strain as she used her Overwork skill. Her venom never triggered on this one, but with the doses he had already taken from two other lizards, the green weenie seemed overcome with his wounds. He fell, almost on top of Ash as she clung to his body, and was dead in moments.

At the same time as all this was happening, Naji attempted to pacify the now-free lizard as it dashed towards him, and Scott remained in hiding.

”Whoa whoa whoa” He yelled, throwing his arms in front of him and flaring his wings, ”Easy big fella. Easy!” The lizard actually did thrust its front claws in front of it and rear back on its haunches, sliding to a stop--then it eyed Naji through yellowed slits, its double set of eyelids “blinking” one at a time. Its forked tongue flicked out just once, then it drew its head back like a rattlesnake…

You are weak from Malnutrition, Stamina Loss, and HP Drain. WARNING! Your HP is low!

---

A New Day (D2)
@Searat

---

As Ed awakened to a new dawn, he was free to choose what else he would do this day. Thanks to the fight from yesterday he had eaten well, and what little HP he had lost was fully recovered, along with his stamina. Would he seek out those two other rats? Or those other Wisps who had said they, too, were from Earth?

As it so happened, from his crack in the wall he could see one such Wisp right now, not too far away. But it looked like that one--the one that WASN’T the one Mei had attacked--was now involved in some kind of kerfuffle involving two goblins, at least two Fanged Lizards, and then the Wisp himself. What was up with that? And what about all that ruckus going on at the bonfire? Or the fact that the bright light that had dimmed so much the day before--near what he assumed had to be the entrance to the cave--had now returned even brighter than before?

---

The Hole in the Wall (D2)
@Guy0fV4lor

---

As Jason tossed the Wisp corpse at the Slime, it reflexively snapped up the morsel and then seemed to go semi-dormant, wobbling thoughtfully as it began to digest its meal. It seemed to hear Jason, but whether it understood him was another matter. For now, though, it didn’t seem to have the ability to focus on more than one thing at a time.

The second Wisp had flown in a little closer, out of range of Jason’s lunges but enough that it could be more accurate with its shots. When Jason fired his own acid spit at it the magical creature dodged and returned fire with its last Mana Orb--once again Jason felt the painful sting as the damage he had no resistance against tore through his body.

WARNING! Your HP is low!

But he still managed to lead his Stone Shot--and this time, the rock went just a little bit faster and seemed to glow just a little bit brighter.

Skill Rank Up! Stone Shot I > Stone Shot II!
Earth Magic Damage Increased.
Speed Increased.
Piercing Damage Increased.
MP Consumption Increased.
As an Active Spell Skill, you can use any rank of this Spell you possess. You can fire (3) shots max at Rank I, and (2) shots max with MP leftover at Rank II. Currently you only have enough MP left for 1 shot at Rank I.

And the rock bullet blasted a hole all the way through the Wisp, dropping it like a marksman’s skeet target.

LEVEL UP!

Your experiences have culminated into new power! You are now Level 3! You gain Skill Points you may distribute as you please!

Unspent Skill Points:
5

Current Skills:
Physical Damage Resistance I (1.0)
Warcry I (1.2)
Stone Shot II (2.0)
Rock Spire I (1.2)
Tremor Sense I (1.45)
<UNUSABLE> Soil Manipulation (0.5) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Faster (0.3) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Swift Swimmer (0.1) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Aqua Sphere (0.7) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Alert (0.2) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Limited Shapeshift (0.6) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Smash (0.5) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Cleave (0.2) [CURRENTLY INCOMPATIBLE] <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Blood Drain (0.5) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Taboo (0.3) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Muffle (0.1) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Crafting (0.1) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Material Analysis (0.8) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Mental Resistance (0.5) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Magic Resistance (0.4) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Agriculture (0.2) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Plant Analysis (0.1) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Acid Spit (0.5) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Bounce (0.1) <UNUSABLE>
<UNUSABLE> Charisma (0.1) <UNUSABLE>

---

Biology Class (D2)
@SilverPaw@Jobst

---

As Asteria watched Xiao Mei work, the other Dire Rat’s dissection provided some interesting results.

You used Monster Analysis I!
---Fanged Lizard---
A reptilian monster with potent venom. When injected via a bite, it acts as a neurotoxin to paralyze the prey. When exposed to the air, it becomes a highly acidic liquid. The lizard can spit at a distance. You’ve found its Poison Sac!
---Analysis Complete!---

Where a human’s appendix might have been (relatively) was a purplish sac organ of some sort. It seemed to have swollen after the creature’s death for some reason, but it wasn’t clear whether the horrible smell around it was from the sac itself or the rest of the Fanged Lizard’s innards.

The rat sisters had seen two types of venom, the type that the lizards could spit and the type that they seemed to inject with their fangs to paralyze prey. Did this sac contain both? What was it capable of--both beneficially and harmfully--and perhaps most important, what were they going to do with it now that they had it in their paws?

Meanwhile, would Asteria remember those skill point things from the previous night?

---

The Pool (D1)
@Bishop

---

As Lorek tried to layer on the Curse Words, he found himself getting a “NO MP” notice after three such curses. The black fog around the pixie did, however, seem to be getting thicker--but when it got close enough for him to attempt stabbing it, he couldn’t lift his impromptu shank in time with so little magical strength.

The Pixie’s fist was weak in comparison to most other attacks, but it wasn’t like Lorek’s body was that durable either. The blow knocked him “head over heels,” for a given value of that expression. He made a split second decision to consume his Mana Crystal, which restored his MP--but then gave the Pixie yet another chance to hit him, this time with a flying dropkick that knocked him rolling through the air once more.

WARNING! Your HP is low!

But now with full MP, Lorek could fight back! The Pixie, sensing victory was near, sneered villainously as it drew itself back, revving its wings for one more charge--then Lorek concentrated his Lesser Force with the intent to crush the puny body in front of him.

It wouldn’t have worked under normal circumstances. His “telekinesis” was just too weak. But this Pixie had been cursed multiple times in succession. Its bones cracked and snapped like twigs. It squealed, like a female child’s desperate cry, before it vomited blood as its organs ruptured. When Lorek finally let go, the lifeless and mangled body dropped towards the pool below. With a splash, a bloody cloud began to expand on the water’s surface...

Mourningstar scanned each monster one by one, noticing that one of them was also a human like Digbie. She made sure to commit that one's face to memory, since right now was not the best time for recruitment. She also gained a new skill in the process of all the Magic Analysis she was performing, Monster Analysis would be very useful for the future. She was about to use that on everyone as well when suddenly a burst of pain shot through her skull as she leveled up for the first time. Well that basically confirms that this is a game world, so she can let everyone know that. She focused with all of her strength on pouring her skill points into Mana Blade, because she had the feeling she was about to need that in a moment when everything went south.

'Alright, do or die. Hopefully not die.' And then the madness began as she tuned back into the world, Crispy was on the ground curled up in the fetal position with Orochi latched to his leg, and another Goblin on the ground covered in what appeared to be poison. Good job Lizard whose name I don't know yet. As she thought that the second Goblin smashed Rain into the air with a large stick, making her cringe internally. That looked painful. She began her speech in an attempt to intimidate the Goblins, but it was too little too late as the third goblin screamed at her and smashed her into the ground with a rock. Heh, the Lizard was in the air and the Wisp was on the floor. That doesn't seem right.

She was uninjured thankfully, good thing she had the foresight to ask Oberon for a shield, but she was on the ground and vulnerable now. By her estimate she had enough mana for one Mana Shot but she was unsure if that would be enough to kill the Goblin who loomed over her. Good thing she just leveled up. "EAT SHIT CABBAGE FUCKER!" Cabbage fucker? What? It was the first thing to come to mind due to the Goblin's green skin, but it worked as a quickfire insult. Not like he would remember it in two seconds as she formed a Mana Blade and fired it at the Goblin's very vulnerable neck.

Regardless of whether it hit or not, Mourningstar got back up as fast as possible and tried to dash into the Goblin who had attacked Rain with all of her weight. "I'M GOING TO TEAR YOU LIMP DICKED BITCHES LIMB FROM LIMB!" 'I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die-' Hopefully this would be enough to knock him into the bonfire, if not she was probably about to get pummeled. She probably had enough in her for one hit right? "FOR THE DEMON LORD! FOR HUMANITY! FOR ME!" Really trying to hammer home the point that she's a human for everyone in the vicinity. Hopefully it would get through to someone.

@Zeroth @Rune_Alchemist @ghastlyInc @CollectorOfMyst

While Danny laid helplessly on the ground, desperately wishing he had some some, any mp left, he got a pleasant shock. It seemed his wish had been granted a little bit of his mana had returned. He still didn't have enough to do anything but levitate but he wasn't gonna complain. After all he just had to fly to the nearest mana crystal and he would be in top shape again. When he was levitating as high as he could though, he noticed something that made him change his mind.

The lizard he was freed looked like it was gonna attack one of the pixie's and the winged creature didn't look like it was in great shape either. Since he was at least partly responsible he felt like he had to do something as he wasn't gonna leave a potential former human to die. While trying to think of something he remembered how he killed the Goblin the day before. He had no idea how well if at all his "mana tackle" would work without mana but he felt like he had to try. Once again flying at full speed he headed straight for the lizard planning to ram it, knowing full well how stupid it was.

@Zeroth

"Ed, Come on! I know you ain't weak shit. Don't tell me you're down after a couple of shots!" A familiar but gruff voice spoke to him in the darkness. 'Who was this? His voice is so familiar...' Ed thought to himself before a new voice interjects a comment. "Oi, don't be too hard on Eddie! He ain't a drunkard like you getting smashed every other night Rob!" The new voice adds before ending with laughter. "Oi! Fuck you too Sam!" Rob rebuts Sam before joining Sam in the laughter. It was so noisy that Ed couldn't keep his eyes shut and opens them to see two men in front of him, laughing. This sight was very familiar to Ed. Yes. He remembers now. Rob had graduated and called together his two oldest and best buds for a good ol' pub crawl. Ed thinks this was the sixth-no-maybe the last pub of the crawl.

The two men sat across Ed in the booth. The brawny bearded brunet man was Robert, while the shorter skinnier oriental-ish man with thick rimmed glasses was Samuel. "Goddammit boys, you're giving me a helluva headache here..." The laughter slowly dies down between the two idiots and they apologize to Ed. "Oh c'mon Ed. You know you love us." Rob smiles to Ed before reaching over to Ed and patting his shoulder. "Yeah, yeah. After we drink one more shot. We're done here right? We can go crash someplace?" The two drunks in front of him nod as sagely as a drunk can. Ed just chuckles slightly and offers them a gesture that signified that he was good to go.

The drinks served and consumed in lightning speeds and soon the group of three are shambling through the pub. Everything was fine until he heard someone shouting. "Watch were ya going you drunk piece of shit!" Ed turns to see Sam being held by the collar by someone. It seemed that Sam had knocked someone's drink and he wasn't too happy about it. Rob and Ed tried to calm the situation down and apologizing in their friend's behalf, that is until the racial slurs were spat out against Sam. Ed sent his fist careening into the man's face and the metaphorical shit hit the fan. Ed and friends were doing okay, considering their inebriated states.

Then there was a painful force that smacked Ed at the back of the head and he fell to his knees. He pauses and groans in agony before he places a hand at the back of his head before looking at it. The head wound was severe and had smeared Blood all over his hand. It was then he felt his anger burst and lost all control. He was on the man who hit him in seconds and repeatedly smashed the man's head on the floor until he laid face down in a pool of his own blood. Ed didn't stop there, he grabbed the nearest patron he could get his hands on and killed her like a rabid beast would. The process repeated over and over. Ed's grin grew wider and wider as he killed one opponent after another. Soon he stood amidst the broken bodies of his opponents...and even his best friends and laughed in euphoria.

"Ed...is that you?" The bar had disappeared and he was in a white plain. The grin and joy disappeared in a blink of an eye. He had turned to face the source of the voice. It was his dear baby sister standing before him, confused. He could never mistake that old grey Mario hoodie and the messy hair bun she always styles her hair to. "A...Audrey?" He was frozen in place and could only stare at her. "Ed, w-why are y-you covered in b-b-blood?" She takes a step backward, her eyes filled with concern and fear.

The fear in her eyes made him unwittingly grin. 'NO NO NO NO! STOP!' His body refused to listen and he was forced to watch, powerless to do anything, as his body went closer and closer to his sister that was frozen in fear. His bloodied hands wrapped around Audrey's neck. 'PLEASE NO! GOD, ANYONE BUT HER!' He felt his grip tighten around her neck as she began to choke and sputter, feebly trying to wiggle out. Tears flowed freely down his face but his body refused to listen to him. His ceaseless and constant begging for his sister's life was only stopped when he felt and heard a pop, before his sister went limp in his grasp. He finally regained control of his body and collapsed as Ed cradled her body. His gazed upon the lifeless body of his sister.

You like hurting things don't you Edward? 'No!'
LIES, you killed them Edward. 'NO!'
YOU. KILLED. HER. 'PLEASE GOD NO!'
"YOU REALLY ARE A MONSTER, ED..."
---------------
"NO!" Ed shot up from his deep slumber, hitting the roof of the small crevice with his head and body. Ed groaned in pain while his heart beat a mile a minute. He looks around to see that he was back in the real world."It's just a nightmare...It's just a nightmare." He assured himself while he let himself settle down before looking out of his sleeping spot. He saw the wisp, Danny if he remembered correctly, having a kerfuffle with a bunch of others and there was some sort of mess going on where the campfire was as well as the light near, what he assumed, the cave entrance had grown brighter than yesterday. The interaction with the other 'humans' yesterday was a complete disaster and he didn't want to make that mistake again. The bonfire was a dangerous place and was completely out of the question and the light near the cave entrance was not really interesting to him.

With a heavy sigh, he goes to a low stance to avoid detection and keeps his sharp ears open for anything out of the ordinary cave sounds. Ed sneaks out of his crack in the wall and decides to try his luck in trying to find his way back to the nest.

Events by the bonfire were far more hectic than he had expected. And of course, Mourningstar seemed to be near, if not at, the centre of it all.

On one side of things a small group of Goblins fought a Lizard, one writhing on the floor clutching their leg while the other two beat the lizard with weapons. Another Goblin stood further back, this one a little more distinct with makeshift clothing and various markings on his body, not to mention the ball of fire clutched between his hands.

As Oberon watched another Pixie dropped down from above, dragging the Goblin’s hat over his eyes and nearly falling into the fireball as he did so. Before the Goblin could try to recover another Lizard, one Oberon recognised as Orochi, ran out of the darkness and bit into his ankle; the fireball spluttered and died, his eyes began to bug out and he dropped to one knee. The Goblin clutched at his throat in panic before ceasing up and freezing as he was, not even falling to the ground; was he dead?

Meanwhile, Mourningstar tried to interject herself into the conflict between the Goblins and the Lizard. Of all things she was trying to intimidate them, reason with them and recruit them; this went about as well as anyone could expect when one of the Goblins walloped the Wisp with the rock held in his hand.

Deciding that was the more pressing situation right now, Oberon flew forward to help even as Mourningstar began attacking the Goblins. Off course she would try to fight instead of running away.

Oberon quickly cast a Shield spell on the Wisp, only the level 1 version, as he floated down and took up a position behind Mourningstar and in front of the downed Lizard.

Your MP is low.

Seeing the Wisp charge into one of the Goblins, Oberon followed up on the attack by firing a Mana Shot at it, the ball of magical energy forming between his hands shooting forward energetically.

You have no MP remaining.

Still clutching a mana crystal in each hand, Oberon squeezed one until it cracked; the crystal burst apart immediately before being absorbed.

You have used a Mana Crystal. MP is fully restored.
1 Mana Crystal remaining in Inventory.

Turning around to face the Lizard that had been attacked by the Goblins, Oberon examined it to see if there were any obvious injuries caused by the hit it had taken earlier. He wasn’t an expert on Lizard anatomy, but he could at least tell that there was no bleeding and no obvious wound, so it probably wasn’t a life threatening situation as far as he could tell. Broken bones or internal bleeding were another matter entirely though.

“Hey, can you hear me? You were talking earlier right? Are you human? Do you need any healing?”

Asura was very slightly amused that the mother slime shrank back after he spoke. It seemed he had a small defense in case her instincts took over again to try and assimilate a slime. He remained stationary when her pseudopod touched him to transfer her thoughts to him. As safe as we can. Defense not perfect. But yes, eat more, eat bigger. He thought back to her.

Some residual memories were passed to him, at least that's what he thought they were. Or was she looking in multiple directions in comparison to his binocular vision. A brief touch again came from him. Before attack, let me talk. Special creatures nearby. He thought, trying to convey his desires to her. With that he rolled up into his ball shape and started to roll. He rolled right over the small ledge with a plop before going towards the groups of monsters.

@Zeroth

---

Reason felt the satisfaction of her fangs digging into the little bastard coming for her, a strange crackling in her mouth from the venom. It was odd, but it had definitely done it's job.

WHACK

Rain felt her body lose contact with the ground as the world rolled and flipped before coming to stay.... Upside down? Why was the world upside down?

She blinked a few times, slowly, her tongue flicking in and out slowly, as the realization set in.

That bastard hit me.

She rolled, shaking her head carefully. Nothing seemed to be busted, but she hurt. Her head was tender from the impact, and she took stock of the chaos, feeling a little unsteady on her feet.

Crispy was.... Vulnerable. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. The goblin she'd gotten was laying down, obviously affected by the poison coursing through his veins. The Wisp seemed to be having some difficulties, but was holding her own... Maybe?

There was the girl goblin with the weapons and pot skills. But she hadn't acted yet.

Something was talking to her. Talking?
Healing?
"Won't say no. No talk. Kill. We'll talk once they're all dead." she spat out, not even giving the creature a glance. Direct enemies were more important, didn't they know anything!

And there was a goblin right here....

As the Wisp rammed into it Rain shot forward, adding her own tackle. Assuming the goblin fell, she'd go straight for it's neck to repeat what she had done to that rat the night before. Bite, clamp, shake viscously.

Assuming that went well, if the third goblin wasn't dead from Mourningstar's attack and anything else, she'd charge up a Glob and attack the goblin with it.

Soon Crispy.... Soon...

@CollectorOfMyst@ghastlyInc@Duthguy@Zeroth

---

As the first goblin fell, a jolt of excitement flowed through her body as her fangs ripped out the goblins throat. It was an odd sensation, really. In her old life she had never done something like this before. No, not the killing, that's silly. Rather, trying to control her own life. It was oddly exhilarating, hah! As it should be she supposed - she wouldn't be bossed around or meekly accept her fate any longer. Caught up briefly in her own thoughts, she only had a few seconds to react as the second goblin tried to kick her. She braced herself, making a move to try and dodge.

Only to have a poison spit from another nearby lizard strike the goblin square in the chest, causing him to miss completely and scramble to try and wipe the acid off his chest. Grinning had she been able, Ash went for his throat, tearing away at his flesh and rendering him dead in moments. He fell, Ash barely able to clear herself of his falling body.

Breathing heavily, Ash took a moment to observe her surroundings. Her body was aching and tired from the overwork, even though she hadn't taken a single hit. Urgh, a useful skill with such a high price. She'd need a rest after this, but she could eek out a little more, surely. She had to check on the two pixies and find that damnable lizard that ran - and that wisp that had let her prey get away seemed intent on interfering some more.

She bolted towards Danny and the lizard, trying to force out some extra speed as she rused towards the Pixies. He was attacking it! Urgh! She swore if this messed with her plans in any way, she was gonna eat the wisp. As soon as she reached the scene, she slid to a halt between the wild Lizard and Naji, puffing her body out to make herself seem larger and hissing loudly at the Lizard.

"You there, wisp." She was tired from the overwork, but she just needed a bit more. Glaring at the Lizard, she continued, flicking her head towards the wisp briefly. "If you can understand me, I'd like you to kindly step away from my new pet." She put herself low to the ground, ready to pounce on either of them should they try anything more. More than anything, she was trying to tell this lizard who was in charge here. She didn't know how wild animals worked easily, but surely her Charisma skill could work a bit on them too. She just had to somehow direct it to them understanding her. She could already communicate with them on a basic level, after all.

"Naji...the goblins are dead." She didn't take her eyes off the other lizard, but hopefully Naji would take the opportunity.

@Zeroth @Rune_Alchemist @ghastlyInc @CollectorOfMyst

"You there, wisp. If you can understand me, I'd like you to kindly step away from my new pet." As soon as he heard that Danny did his best to stop since he had no intention of angering what was almost guaranteed to be another reincarnated monster. Unfortunately he was going too fast to stop in time so instead he changed direction and crashed into the ground.

"Sorry I didn't know he was yours. When I saw that the Goblins were kept him as a prisoner I though he might have been human and would help you in the fight." Hoping that was enough to prevent a fight he got up but didn't make any attempt to leave. He had gotten curious in what if anything was so special about the Lizard he freed that both the Goblins and this group of humans was so interested in it and decided to inspect it to see if he could notice anything odd about it.

@Rune_Alchemist@CollectorOfMyst@Zeroth@duthguy

As the lizard reared back, Naji felt a deep rumble of fear shoot through his gut. Well...made sense. He was a tiny pixie compared to the lizard after all. And probably an easy meal considering he was just standing there. Glancing over at Ash, it also looked like help wasn't coming immediately. Mustering all the confidence he could, he stomped his foot forward, flaring his wings out again and glaring sternly at the lizard before yelling. "NO." he booms (well, for a pixie), his tone like that of a frustrated pet owner. "Bad lizard. Very bad. You know better." His eyes narrowing.

There was a tense pause as he locked his eyes with the lizard, not allowing himself to back down or seem weak. Noise seemed to die out as he stood, for all the world seemingly totally ignoring the fact said lizard could easily kill him. Only the sudden blitz of black, purple and green scales managed to break his meditative last stand. It...looked like the stare down managed to buy just enough time for Ash to arrive, puffing and breaking the silence with a loud hiss.

The world came back into focus as Ash began to talk, the supressed terror now fading back into soft panic now that his savior was firmly between him and impending death. It was only at this point had his body relaxed enough to take notice of the luminous blue snot ball floating in the air. Ash was saying something to it, but Naji could barely make the words out as his heart blasted its last few palpitations through his skull, attempting to disperse the last of the adrenaline that came from staring probable death in the...eye slit thingies.

He did hear what she said next though. "Naji...the goblins are dead." The tone was...more an order than an update, though Naji was not about to bring that up. "Y...yeah. On it..." He warbles, keeping his eyes on the wild lizard and backing away slowly, wings still flared in an attempt to seem threatening. Once he felt he was atleast semi-safely out of the way, he circles around the group approaching the goblin corpses.

The smell was horrific. Under the best of circumstances, Naji would wager the goblins were world leaders in spectacular body odor. Could probably peel paint with their under arm emissions alone. But combined with the smokey acrid stench of a chemical burn, they were now an olfactory wonderland. As designed by Mengele.

Naji would like to say he turned his nose up at the prospect of eating either of the cadavers in front of him. He would like to, but pride and good taste were vastly over ridden by biological necessity. Really the only sign of hesitation about him was a breif pause to select the less poisonous looking one before deciding to just lay into the freshest kill.

At first he tried to pick at the things relatively unmolested legs with his fingers, attempting to peel away meat a little at a time. But after one or two meek attempts, he simply dived forward, sinking his teeth into gristly foul tasting thigh flesh and ripping backwards. This proved...satisfactory enough. The taste was like week old fried chicken combined with sewage, but that was not going to stop the pixie from gorging himself on as much of the corpse as was possible.

---

Whoawhoawhoawhoawhoa hold the heck up...

Did that goblin have a pickaxe?

To heck with eating this rat, it was incredibly minor when compared to that beautiful digging tool that Digbie had laid his eyes on. Holy heck, it was great! Sure, it wasn't much, since it was just wood and vines and a bit of slime (at least, that's what Digbie hoped it was), but it was a pickaxe. A pickaxe! Only the gods knew what Digbie could accomplish by using such a tool!

Without putting much thought into it, Digbie used the flint he had picked up with his rock and clashed the two together right next to the rat, setting it ablaze. Thankfully, the dry fur of the rat turned it into pretty okay kindling, but it didn't give Digbie much room for aiming. He had one shot, and he had to take it now. Uttering a guttural screech with his scratchy vocal cords, Digbie spoke.

"IN THE NAME OF ME, DIGBIE THE EARTHY BOY, I SEND THIS RAT UPON YOU! HYAH!"

Digbie, mustering all of his otherworldly and average strength, then proceeded to Hail-Mary the once-living heck out of the flaming rat carcass, flinging it directly towards the goblin that wielded the pickaxe. He aimed for the torso, but hopefully it didn't damage the pickaxe that was wielded by the goblin. That goblin was infringing on Digbie's patent-pending skill! DIGBIE. WOULD. NOT. STAND. FOR. SUCH. TREACHERYYYYYY!

Things were getting out of hand quickly.

What Orchid thought was just a single cocky lizard trying to ambush Crispy was actually a whole group ambushing Crispy and the goblins. Alone, Orchid could have handled this. But they all came at once in full force. Orchid knew; she knew that she couldn't take them all by herself. She'd die if she tried to fight. She wondered if she should turn her blade on the goblins instead; perhaps she could earn their favor by turning coat. Or they'll just kill her for being a goblin and a traitor. That's what she'd do if it was the other way around. This looked like bad news all around.

There was really only one logical thing to do: take what she can and flee. Goblins were not warriors; they weren't heroes. They don't survive the fight with courage and hope, but by fleeing and tossing everyone else at the enemy. She didn't care at all for these other goblins who she didn't even know, but there was one person she needed to save. Someone she couldn't let die yet. "Let go of him!" Orchid ran up to the monsters that was near Cripsy's. Tossing the torch away at the wisp, the little goblin girl took her barbed sword with both hands and leapt into the air. She would aim the tip of her blade right into the closest nongoblin and put her full weight into her attack, to impale the her target into the ground if she had too. She didn't care if she lost her sword; it could be remade.

But only Crispy could teach Orchid the secrets of fire. After trying to stab the lizard Orchid would Grab Crispy and run. Run far away, where other goblins would be. She didn't know where other goblins would be, but she figured it'd be the opposite side of where the other monsters were at. The best she could figure was following the myriad of goblin footprints marching off elsewhere into the cave. That was about as good as a lead as Orchid could get. "Don't die on my Crispy! You still have so much to teach me!"