Chapter 5 - The First Evolution (1)

The First Evolution (1)

I desperately held my breath. I gently leaned back. I didn’t want to misstep on a stone and make even a little bit of sound.

If I was caught, I was sure that it would all be over. I was confident that even an upgraded goblin would die if it went beyond that passage. It was that hard to beat.

That silence became a moment of vulnerability, and tears seemed to come out of my eyes. I held back from sobbing because I didn’t want to make even a slight din. All the while, I desperately moved my body very slowly.

The guy across the passage didn’t seem to have noticed me at all. I couldn’t afford to celebrate. I just focused on getting as far as possible from him.

I persevered for 30 minutes.

I was wondering if I could get another skill. Even if I had a blade, I was still lacking.

I was only able to calm down after passing one more passage. I lost my mind back there. I calmed my racing heart and took a breath slowly.

Even though only the weakest monsters were gathered here, I could have died at any moment, just trying to pass the quests. And I knew that it was because I was the weakest of the weak monsters.

‘Damn it. I will be strong!’

I was hesitant about how far my limits were as a member of the goblin species; nevertheless, I endured forward with fiery eyes.

I repaired the average, rusty blade and started walking again towards the next passage, hoping to find a weaker goblin than me.

Time passed by.

I couldn’t determine precisely how much time had passed, so I had to tread forward with discretion. I didn’t want to feel physically exhausted like before, but now I couldn’t afford to take care of myself.

Unlike in my college days, I was prepared to sacrifice anything just to be alive.

I had already suffered death before.

It was cold and frightening. Losing my sense of permanence was a terrifying experience.

I don’t want to die again. I want to live. I want to live in any form and in any way.

That was who I am now.

I caught and ate three more goblins, but my level was still 6.

I just needed one more goblin to complete the quest and receive its benefits.

I found a goblin.

It wasn’t armed and was much smaller in size compared to the other goblins. Better yet, it was in a deep sleep.

Sleeping is not a sin. Unless you have a predatory skill and your stamina can infinitely reset, drowsiness approaches all creatures, weak or strong.

I found many sleeping goblins, and I kindly killed them all.

I stepped lightly and stuck the knife into its neck. It was rusty and second-rate, but it was enough to penetrate the sleeping opponent’s throat.

That was it.

[You gained 10 experience]

[You received 1 bronze.]

[Goblin Hunt 20/20]

After pulling out the knife, I looked around to see if it was safe like I always did. Then I ate the goblin.

[Goblin Predation 20/20]

At that moment, my eyes filled with dizzying glass windows.

[Quest Achieved!]

[You gained 1,000 experience points.]

[You received 1 silver.]

[You received 2 lowest health potions.]

[You received 1 sharp iron sword.]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

[Beginner Swordsmanship has become Lv3.]

I didn’t know I would get a thousand experience points; I wasn’t expecting it. The rewards were excellent. In particular, the sharp iron sword made me utterly pleased.

I was just holding a second-rate knife and killed a few ordinary goblins. But now I had a sharp iron sword!

Moreover, since my level has risen by four, my strength and stamina have also increased by four each. Maybe, just maybe, I will now be capable of fighting the upgraded goblin.

But it wasn’t over yet.

My heart started beating wildly. I don’t know why. I wasn’t sure what triggered it, but my heart was beating so hard that I thought it would bounce out.

Along with that, a voice came to me. It was the same voice from the beginning of the reversal.

[Evolution is possible.]

[Choose a race for evolution.]

[1. Goblin Fighter]

I was staring blankly at the glass window without thinking of checking my status. What did I just hear? Evolution? Did I just hear evolution?

Is this possible?

If changing to another species is achievable, then there is no limit to my growth. This type of thing didn’t happen for countless generations; why am I experiencing it now?

It seemed to be possible for me to evolve. I had a feeling that such a ridiculous concept was impossible for anyone else.

The loud beating of my heart proved it.

Perhaps this is the power of the Ebon Heart. Of course, if I tried to call out its skill information, it would still be question marks.

There was nothing more I could do unless I could get additional information about the Ebon Heart.

I looked at the glass window with the title Goblin Fighter. I had a feeling. The goblins carrying a sword. It was them.

I was sure. They had a slightly different body structure from the ordinary goblins and were not part of the quest.

Is there any merit if I evolved? I thought about it, but it didn’t know.

Moreover, judging from the information that appeared on the glass window, I ruled that there was no option not to evolve. It doesn’t make sense to hesitate if you have the chance to do so anyway.

I reached out to the glass window.

The glass rang with a clear sound.

Then the change began.

“Uggagagagagagagagagagagaga.”

A weird voice flowed through my throat. The bones in my body seemed like they dislocated.

But I couldn’t even scream. My throat seemed to be clogged.

I felt pain as if all the blood in my body flowed backward, and every single hair was being pulled out. It was like being pressed back and forth by a trash compactor.

It hurt more than when I was injured from fighting the goblins and than when the goblin fighter’s rusty blade stabbed me.

Nevertheless, I was obsessed with not dying.

I desperately endured the pain. I bit my tongue, but soon my chin was twisted. It was bleeding.

‘What’s wrong? Are you going to die like this? ‘

No, it didn’t say that I failed. I am not a failure.

No matter how painful it is, I can endure this as long as I don’t die.

How long has it been? Slowly, the pain began to subside.

The air was sweet. The tears in my eyes streamed down on my dirty cheeks and fell to the floor. The glass window appeared.

[Goblin Fighter]

[Beginner Swordsmanship has become Lv4.]

[Beginner Throwing has become Lv2.]

“I made it.”

I was terribly worried that another goblin or goblin fighter would appear while I was suffering, but fortunately, nothing came.

I woke up and raised my body. The pain was almost gone. Rather, my body was light as a feather.

And I realized that my upper body was more developed than before.

‘I’m now a goblin fighter.’

My body was filled with unparalleled power. I called the status instinctively.

[Kang Si-ha (Fate)]

[Goblin Fighter Lv 10]

[Strength – 27 Health – 29 Magic – 5 Luck-???]

[Skill-Ebon Heart, Predation Lv1, Escape Lv1, Beginner Swordsmanship Lv4, Beginner Throw Lv2]

I opened my mouth. When I was in pain, I thought I would never want to go through that experience again, but now, that thought faded. I could even go through it twice or three times. I became stronger, so much stronger!

‘My strength and stamina have increased by 10!’

I was level 6 before I slew the last goblin, so I gained 14 strength and stamina all at once. My physical ability doubled!

My level 3 beginner swordsmanship, grew to level 4.

I swung the sword that I had in my hands a few times in the air. I was able to swing it at a very high speed and with a steady posture.

Thus, I became stronger.

My chances of survival have increased.

I am certain. Now I can fight the goblin fighters.

It’s still scary to carry a sword, but if possible, I’d fight the goblins with it. Now I have the power to keep myself alive in any situation

.

And as if it read my thought, a new window appeared in front of me.

[Quest generated!]

[You have become a goblin fighter that is less vulnerable than a weakened goblin. You know how to grow. There is no time to settle for the goblin fighter’s body.]

[Hunt and consume a Goblin Fighter 0/100]

“100… … 100?”

I was so embarrassed.

It was a different situation from what I was expecting.

I was confident that I could kill ordinary goblins easily, so I didn’t intend to risk myself by challenging the goblin fighters.

But I gazed at the last phrase of the quest.

Wait a minute, are you saying there’s more?

My heart was pounding.

I stroked myself. I’m still not good. There were no dramatic changes from being a goblin to a goblin fighter.

However, if I undergo many more changes …

Maybe I could evolve into something similar to humans.

I had given up everything except being alive after becoming a goblin. I used to sleep on a soft bed, take a bath in hot water, and…

Jajangmyeon.

Jajangmyeon.

I want to eat jjajangmyeon.

I couldn’t go outside the dungeon. I’m a monster; I will be either shot or killed by magic or a sword if I did.

I don’t know what’s currently happening in the outside world, but no human ever partnered with goblins. A goblin can never be friends with humans.

However, if the evolution continues, goblins may be able to become a race similar to humans. If that doesn’t work, maybe it can be a race that can replicate human appearance.

A new need has emerged. It was a lie if I had no complaints about living in a dark underground cave eating only goblins. Once I realized my new purpose, my desire swelled out of control.

I gulped and swallowed, my mouth watered.

I realized that I was at a crossroads between two choices.

My first option was to ignore the possibility of the future and only look for weak goblins to survive.

The second and more ambitious option was to fight against a goblin fighter of equal or greater strength to evolve further.

This is my life. I have to be careful.

***

“Is this a cave that has risen since the great fusion?”

“Do we need to go inside? It’s so scary. Captain, what will we do when a monster appears!? We don’t have any powers!”

“We are useless. Bring popcorn, Yuserin.”

“Haha, that’s right. If you are eating popcorn from behind, I will guard you. I have experience and strength as a mercenary!”

Three people had entered the dungeon.