Chapter 22: Mental Fatigue

Three days later...

Kyle had the place mapped out for now. There was indeed a huge amount of Euria Seeds in the region. If he somehow managed to pick everything, he would be able to supply the city of Raktor with up to fifty times its current consumption each year, and that was just his estimate. Not even the plantations he had learnt about from Damian could produce that much in a controlled environment.

The reason why no one harvested much here was due to the constant threat of goblins. While the weaker ones were sent out to forage for food, the stronger ones remained in their dens and protected the nearby areas, which somehow corresponded with a dense concentration of Euria Trees. Kyle had already watched another human harvester get chased out of some of the denser Euria Trees habitats, which seemed to be considered sacred or protected by the goblins.

The stronger goblins had much better gear from former fallen adventurers and failed expeditions. Some goblins were even bigger than Kyle though rare.

Kyle had located one goblin den, nested in an abandoned mining shaft from decades ago, the tunnels leading into the base of the mountain. It was well defended, with close to twenty to thirty goblins patrolling the main entrance at all times.

Working his way around the mountain, he found a secondary entrance to the same mining tunnels, though it was much smaller and subsequently less defended as well. He only saw five goblins on guard duty at any given time, and they were significantly less defended.

Kyle was aware that they were not the only group or tribe of goblins in the area. There might be a dozen tribes or more, but the area was big, spanning tens of kilometres. Even if he attacked a den and the other tribes reacted, it would take too long for them to respond.

However, he had found no sign that the tribes were working together on good terms. On one occasion he had seen five goblin guards immediately kill a stray goblin who seemed to have lost his way.

This consistent observation also triggered a few titles over the three days.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Title Obtained

[Tracker (Basic)]

Helps when those keys are always misplaced.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

+5 DEX, +25% Increased Vision and Hearing Range

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Title Obtained

[Goblin Observer (Basic)]

Hopefully, not a green skin fetish

+5 DEX, +25% success at learning goblin language

Kyle had also found a small little alcove nearby, a short walk away from the secondary entrance to the goblin’s den. He rested there, planning how he was going to tackle this issue. There was no way of starting a Euria Seeds harvesting business without clearing the goblin tribes.

Theoretically, he should have brought two dozen Seven Snakes members and had them sequentially wipe each tribe. However, that will draw far too many eyes, especially with the enforcers in the town and the city gangs watching his gang’s movements. No doubt Sebastian and Wrent are eyeing my members closely now for any anomalies.

Hiring adventurers to fight the goblins would create unnecessary attention. Other businessmen and merchants were also interested in harvesting the bountiful Euria Seeds, but are currently blocked by the high cost of eliminating the goblins. Kyle would prefer if that natural barrier remained so as for him to quickly develop a monopoly.

However, there was one additional benefit Kyle had over the other merchants and businessmen – it wasn’t the first time he colonized a planet with local natives. If he was right, all the tactics he learnt in the Galactic Era would work here easily as well. If only I had my exosuit, I could have them revere me as a god. But let’s start with the basics first.

The same three goblins headed out to another part of the forest this time. They always sent out two groups, to collect more food for the growing tribe. The tribe was always growing. This was how life was.

They harvested fruits, dug up tubers and sometimes pinched a few fungi, stuffing all of them into the same dirty pouches they had been using for generations.

Suddenly, one of the goblins spotted a rare sight that would make anyone go crazy – a loaf of bread dropped on the ground. Fresh. The goblin pounced on it immediately, quickly eating half of it.

The other two saw it, before immediately tussling and grappling the first goblin, trying to get a bite of the rare bread as well. Loud grunts and squeals echoed through the treeline as the three goblins fought over it.

[Ornate Repeater Crossbow ( Intermediate )]

The two stared at each other, as the goblin warriors still cramped in the tunnels watched on in fear. Even some of the forage groups who heard the fighting did not dare to try and backstab Kyle.

“Human!” The goblin champion suddenly yelled, shocking Kyle. “You, die, here!” It spat on the ground, before gripping its battleaxe with both hands, ready to duel.

Kyle did not respond, immediately wielding his crossbow pistol and firing three bolts at the champion’s head. Instead of being afraid, the vambrace began to glow brighter, before three energy bolts suddenly shot out, hitting the crossbow bolts and deflecting them away.

Point Defense?! Kyle was surprised, caught off-guard as the champion charged with the battleaxe, performing a deadly horizontal swing that almost nicked Kyle as he leapt backwards.

With the Aero Shoes, Kyle sprinted forward faster, using his hammer to bash the armour plate of the goblin as he was still swinging. The hammer instead bounced off the armour, unable to do any damage.

Penchant for Violence.

The skill activated, giving him a boost in combat stats. His body suddenly roared with a surging force from deep within, as though he had unlocked some hidden potential in his body.

He flanked the goblin as the momentum carried him around, just as the goblin was about swing downwards for a counterattack. With speed as his advantage, he delivered a kick against the goblin’s shin, causing the goblin to kneel over. Kyle slightly winced in pain from kicking a full metal plate, but he gritted his teeth and continued, narrowly dodging a right hook from the goblin.

Kyle was about to lift his hammer to strike again, but the champion’s vambrace activated again, sending a bolt towards the hammer that sent Kyle slightly off balance. The unexpected use of the vambrace caught him off guard, allowing the goblin to recover and swing the battleaxe again, forcing Kyle to squat and avoid it.

With a final decisive blow, Kyle delivered a straight right uppercut into the groin of the champion, causing its eyes to bulge. Kyle took advantage and punched the goblin’s face three times in rapid succession, toppling it over.

Suddenly, the tribal tattoo on the goblin’s face glowed green, a healing aura working through the body. What?! Kyle was not about to let him heal right in front of him, grabbing his hammer again and pummelling the goblin in the face with as many strikes as he could manage.

Despite the green aura, the goblin’s face soon became a bloodied mess of meat and flesh. The rune was disfigured now, breaking the healing aura and killing the champion.

Kyle heaved as he stood up, his face and arms bloodied from the splatter. He glanced at the remaining goblin warriors, who all were now shivering in fear. Their champion had been killed in less than a few minutes, what hope was there against this human?

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Title Obtained

[Goblin Killer (Basic)]

Greenskin bad, humanskin better.

+10 STR, +5 DEX, +2 VIT, +10% damage to goblin-type enemies

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Level Up!

Level 10 ---> Level 15

[Stats Increase]

All Stats Increase

Bonus Free Points Granted