Chapter Forty One - First Quest, Part II

Chapter Forty One - First Quest, Part II

What? Never seen an A-Rank [Goblin Hunter] before? You might think it is overkill, but I think Im not enough. Think about it, Goblins are hunted worldwide - slaughtered by the hundreds of thousands each year. Tribes big and small are wiped out and exterminated whenever and wherever they are found.

And yet, if you step outside a city - any city - chances are you can find a Goblin tribe within twenty miles.

That probably sounds like a lot to you city-folk, but for an Adventurer that isnt even a light jog. A D-Rank team of Adventurers can cover that distance, slaughter a Goblin tribe, and be back within a day - so long as there arent any Evolved Gobs. The Guild actively posts bounties on Goblin tribes within fifty miles of a settlement, not to mention a general bounty for their ears wherever they might be taken, and has for the past three millenia.

Three thousand years of trying to wipe Goblins out and we havent even been able to get them out of walking distance of the Royal Capital.

-Gerak, A-Rank [Goblin Hunter] having a conversation at a bar two days before the beginning of the First Goblin War.

It was very strange not to be in the air, but my part in the strategy was even more strange.

I had suggested just letting me poison the lot of them, but it turned out that Goblins also had the [Strong Stomach] racial ability. While I personally didnt see that as too much of a problem so long as I used a toxin that worked on skin contact or something, Rauvin said that depending on how effective the poison was they would probably out breed it. Frankly, that sounded a bit ludicrous to me, but what do I know?

With poison off the table, my next thought was to stay in the air and let Ray rain arrows down from above. However, the tree cover meant that it wouldnt be very effective. If I was going to carry Ray into battle I would have to do it from the ground, but I was well aware that I was not exactly built for ground combat.

Wyverns - myself included - with our powerful bodies and legs have clearly evolved (wait, how does Darwinian evolution work in a world like this? Does it work? I think I will just ignore that thought) to dive down onto prey from above and land directly on them. The weight of the wyverns body slamming into and stunning larger prey while rending them with their large claws before bringing the jaws into play. A wyvern on the ground has difficulty bringing its claws into play and certainly cant make the most of its strength and mass.

Rauvins plan for me essentially split the difference between being in the air and being on the ground. After such a long time, I will be going back to toad roots and hopping. He wants me to combine my jumping and flying to make long, high jumps as a way to pounce on my opponents while helping Ray reposition. I was less than enthused about the idea, but I wasnt about to argue over it.

Rauvin, Tamlin, and Karlin were going to attract the Goblins' attention and tempt them into swarming them. Ylma will be hanging back - although within reach of Karlin - to fry them as they grouped up. Ray and I, meanwhile, would serve to disrupt any attempt at organization; attacking Hobs and Redcaps that tried to command the lesser Gobs. Her arrows and my flight would allow us to strike anywhere on the small battlefield and although a full grown Hob would be stronger than me right now, together with Ray - and my toxins - there shouldnt be any problems.

Well, aside from the fact that you almost certainly are going to get hit, Rauvin admitted with a grimace. I could understand if you didnt want to do this, especially if the Gobs have real weapons.

She doesnt think they can really hurt her all that much, Ray translated my attempt at speech. So long as she isnt stuck in a fight alone, she is confident that she is tough enough to handle even Hobs given how you have described them.

Rauvin frowned at that, You shouldnt underestimate Hobs. Admittedly, Ray didnt see any and Redcaps are generally not as focused on brute strength, but Hobs can have upwards of three hundred Strength.

Sure, but unless they have some kind of poison resistance and a way to actually stop me from flying away, it doesnt really matter unless they can kill me in a single hit. Given my racial abilities and Stats I am confident that three hundred Strength would not be enough to kill me instantly unless my enemy was very lucky. Still I decided to let the point drop. Making Ray translate my arguments seemed rude, and why am I arguing that I can handle even more dangerous positions anyway?

Probably because moving along the ground made me nervous in general. My instincts are frustrating like that, but they are easier to handle in a group like this. Rays calm through the Bond is incredibly helpful for maintaining my composure as we hike through the forest. We run into far less monsters than I thought we would. Apparently my valley had a higher than normal monster density because it was an ideal place for many monsters to spawn and it also kept that spawn in a relatively small location.

And of course, the local Goblin tribe was also hunting the local monsters for food and experience. As a result, our hike was quick and quiet, allowing us to reach the Goblin encampment relatively quickly. Calling it an encampment seemed a bit wrong though

Den, maybe? No, that has too much of a cozy connotation. Perhaps nest would be a better word, because Goblin construction was more of a messy nest than it was anything that I would call an encampment. A generous woman might call their piles of sticks and hides crude lean-tos, but at least for this life I am a wyvern so I am calling it them nest-like piles of junk. Rotting junk, because they havent treated the hide to make it leather; they hadnt even removed all the bits of meat!

For once, I was happy to have low Stats; what I could smell just now was already bad, I do not want to know what it was like for my teammates with higher Perception.

According to Ray, the Redcaps had claimed a cave - well, more of an indent in the side of the hill - towards the back of the camp. This was good luck, because without a more Evolved Goblin around to keep the lesser ones in line they hadnt even bothered to set a watch. We could have walked right into the camp, but Rauvin had a better idea.

Ylma, would you mind letting them know we are here?

With pleasure Captain! Her smile was downright evil as fire leapt from her hands.

Fwooom! A fireball landed among the lounging Goblins, many of which died immediately and many more of which were injured or stunned. Screams of pain and anger sounded out and soon every single one of the Goblins were screeching and scrambling to their feet, looking for something to attack.

Rauvin provided them a target. He Charged forward, activating multiple abilities at once, and literally running over multiple Goblins before crashing into the mass of them with a roar. He blew the mob of them apart, sending the Gobs that werent crushed flying with the strength of his Charge.

I thought that they might break right then and run away, but a screech from the back of them seemed to put some spine into them and they tried to mob Rauvin - only to run into Karlins blade and Tamlins spear. More were incinerated by Ylma who strode in behind the three warriors.

Another screeching order came from inside the mass and I felt a surge from Ray through the Bond. I launched myself into the air, rising above the battle near instantly. I had no idea where I was supposed to land, but I had to put my trust in Rays superior Perception and the impressions I got through our Bond.

[Aerokinesis] and Air Magic at the peak of my flying leap threw me down to the ground, talons extended as I landed on - empty dirt, the Redcap I would have crushed beneath me had blinked out of the way and was now in front of me! I lunged forward with [Envenomed Bite] and the Redcaps eyes widened and glanced to the side. Redcaps need line of sight to blink, and while it was able to dodge my bite it was not able to dodge the arrow from Ray who had expected the teleport.

What neither she, nor I, expected was for the Redcap to simply grab another Goblin and use it as a shield. The smaller Gob took Rays arrow in the belly and the Redcap simply tossed the screaming creature away before blinking again, this time appearing in the air at Rays height to try and strike at her! While alarming, it wasnt actually dangerous to us. Taking your feet off the ground when fighting a Gale Wyvern is just like asking to be smacked down and I immediately used [Aerokinesis] to that effect.

The Redcap blinked away again but we had other problems to deal with. The Goblins surrounding us had regained their courage with our failure to kill their leader and were beginning to try and swarm me! Unlike Rauvin, who was also swarmed by Goblins, I didnt have armor. Being bitten by a Goblin was like Being bitten by a dog? A small dog though, not a big one.

[You have been bitten weakly! You have lost 2hp!]

I mean, really, does that deserve exclamation points, system? It is probably going to d-Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

[You have defeated a Lvl. 3 (Juvenile Goblin) - Lvl 4. (Scavenger) and earned Party xp!]

-ie anyway, my skin is toxic. Our party has the Alchemy expertise to whip up an antidote for my poisons, so they all drank it ahead of time and I am free to go wild with my toxins. Seeing how effective it is, I feel like I could have just done my usual trick of leaving poisoned bait for them, but what do I know?

I can see why regular Goblins are looked down upon so much. I can sweep the area around me clear just by spinning around in a circle and smacking them with my tail. They are mostly naked too, so the toxin will likely kill all of them as well.

[You have defeated a Lvl. 2 (Young Goblin) - Lvl. 3 (Warrior) and earned Party xp!]

[You have defeated a Lvl. 2 -]

Ill just ignore those for now, although it occured to me that Goblins were probably profitable - in terms of xp - to hunt because they had both a species and a Class. More importantly, Ray and I knew where that Redcap had run off to. Both of us had [Prey Sense], the basic Class ability that any [Hunter] would have. In general, it gave us a vague idea of where the thing we were hunting was. Somewhat useful, but not very accurate.

However, between the two of us it worked a little differently. Because we both had [Prey Sense] and could share our feelings across the Bond we were able to narrow down the Redcaps location by comparing our senses and focusing on the spots they overlapped.

I launched myself into the air again, but not at our target. No, I didnt want to alert it to the fact that we knew where it was until the apex of our jump when I flared my wings upwards to obscure vision of Ray giving her time to twist, draw and fire an arrow at where the Redcap was, just barely missing my wing.

Ray was far more better matched with her opponent. No, she was better than the Redcap and was ending the fight now. I flew down to her side as the Goblins backed away. It took a little while longer for the rank and file Goblins to notice, but soon they were fleeing into the trees, leaving behind piles of their dead.

That Hobgoblin was actually quite strong, I noted to Ray. I was surprised by it.

I saw the notification, She smiled at me, patting my head. I am amazed that you were able to fight a Hob like that, let alone kill it. It is incredibly rare to see one like that, and incredibly worrying

I couldnt really see why. I mean, isnt one of the basic monster strategies to have a lot of offspring and let the best rise to the top? Given how numerous Goblins are supposed to be, I would expect that even rare exceptions would appear often. Not my problem either way, hopefully.

We cleaned the area, in the sense that we executed any wounded or pretending to be dead Goblin, recovered as much of the raided goods as we were able to find, and put out Ylmas fires (which she could do pretty easily, so we didnt have to worry about a forest fire) and set off back to Evergold. There, we would be questioned regarding the recovered goods, myself included. Considering that bars of gold were part of what we recovered, I can see why they would be careful with that questioning and use magic to confirm.

It was a tiny bit tempting, but gold was useless if you couldnt spend it and what I wanted to purchase was from the Adventurers Guild itself: information about Wyvern Evolutions. The Guild didnt give out information for free - unless it was directly related to a request above a certain level of danger or value - but you could purchase information on monsters from them. To an Adventurer, it was useful information that might save their lives; to a monster like me, it literally was my life.

Although I thought that withholding for payment what I viewed as critical information from Adventurers was probably bad for the Sapient and Demihuman races of this world overall, the information was not expensive. I just wouldnt have any money until I got my share of the reward for this request.

On the way back to Evergold, I did ask Rauvin - through Ray - about the Hobgoblin, because with how things generally worked out for me I presumed it would become my problem regardless of what I hoped. The answer I got was surprising though:

Well, I have to correct you a bit first, Rauvin began as we hiked, or everyone besides Ray and Ylma hiked. I was carrying them because I thought it was hilarious when Ylma told Tamlin that only plebs had to walk. They would have to get off soon, I was too tired to carry them for long, but it was worth it for the laugh.

Turning my attention back to Rauvin he began to explain a bit about the Hob I fought.

[Warleader] sounds like an intimidating Class, but it really isnt great. Rauvin began, same with [Barbarian]. The images that pop into your head when you think of that are - wait, how do you know what a barbarian is? Whatever, the point is that the Hobgoblin probably wasnt as strong as you are imagining it to be. [Warleader] is a combination of [Warrior], [Leader], and [Tribesmember] and it is an ok Class, but it really isnt great. And [Barbarian] is actually a lot like [Commoner] or [Tribesmember], just a basic Class that some groups of Sapients and Demihumans can have. It might have broken three hundred Strength, but I doubt it would have gone much over two hundred in most others.

That seems plenty strong to me. Over three times stronger as a human? Plus twice as fast, durable, and perceptive? Of course, the average here would be higher. Even someone who is merely a [Commoner] would have at least some Statbenefits from their Levels, but I suspect twenty points here or there wouldnt make much of a difference.

But I do get Rauvin means by that, because when he was talking about the Classes he was talking about more than just Stats. Pure Stats dont make up for abilities unless the difference is massive, and I have three defensive abilities that improve my hide. It would be different if the Hob was armed with better weapons - a battleaxe might have allowed it to kill me in a single blow - but bludgeoning me to death was simply not easy to do.

What Ray was worried about Rauvin seemed to think for a second and then shook his head, Nah, I just cant see a Goblin Swarm happening here - not with just that. The area around Evergold is too wild and that mass of Goblins would attract a monster that they werent capable of dealing with. Like the Thunderbird.

Why did you think that Hob might be a sign of a Goblin Swarm? I asked Ray, and what exactly is a Goblin Swarm?

It is exactly what it sounds like, but no amount of imagination can really compare to seeing one, it was Tamlin who answered, I was surprised he was able to understand me! However, I didnt interrupt him because he was very grim and serious about this topic.

Everyone knows that Goblins breed. They breed like crazy, but they usually die just as fast to monsters or Adventurers or just your average guards. It might sound obvious, but more Goblins means more Goblins breeding which means more Goblins, so if Goblin numbers arent kept low they can eventually explode out of control.

Goblins are true omnivores; it's a racial ability - they can eat very nearly anythingand everything, but when they hit that tipping point and their population climbs there isnt even enough dirt to keep them all full.

So they go looking for more. Spreading out and breeding out of control, they can scour a land down to the bedrock if given time. Just an unending wave of green that eats everything in its path and doesnt even leave bones behind!

Karlin put his hand on Tamlins shoulder and the kid nearly jumped out of his skin. There was a story there, but I knew better than to pry - it was a story that I didnt need to be told to be able to guess what it was about.

The rest of the group changed the subject while Ray filled me in - quietly - why stronger Hobs could be a sign of a Goblin Swarm. Goblin Swarms happened when Goblins began to suppress the monsters around them. When that happened, more Goblins lived, which meant more Goblins Leveled. So a high Level Hobgoblin - especially in a tribe that had multiple Evolved Goblins - could be a sign that too many Goblins were surviving too long.

However, Rauvin had a very good point. There were monsters here that wouldnt give a damn about numbers and could turn almost any amount of Goblins into a buffet. I cant imagine any amount of Goblins bothering that turtle, for example. Plus, even if there was a Swarm, Ivano would just wave a hand at it and it would go away - along with everything in that general direction.

*The Next Day*

[Dancing has Leveled up! Dancing is now Level 3!]

...Yes, Ill admit I was dancing in place with excitement. How could I not? I had purchased - or Ray had purchased for me, using my money - information on Wyvern Evolutions! Ray and I had simply walked down to the Guild and bought it! I had not honestly expected them to hand it over; I sure wouldnt have done so if I had to decide whether or not to give the flying magic shark information on how to become an even more deadly flying magic shark!

Perhaps it was because it was printed with magic into a packet, and the [Guild Receptionist] was well aware that I didnt have the ability to turn the pages! Ray had to do it for me! Well, Ylma was doing it now actually. Ray, Ylma, and Tamlin had all been interested in my future Evolutions - although I think Tamlin was mostly interested because Ray was.

Wow, there are a lot of Evolutions, he was saying with a whistle.

Wyverns are considered one of the most adaptable monster species that exist, Ylma noted as she scanned each page quickly before turning it. They can live just about anywhere and their eggs are easily affected by high mana concentration - although I do have to agree, this is a lot more than I expected as well.

It had cost me a lot more than it would have if I had asked about another species because the Guild had to print multiple pages, and magic printing in this world was not nearly as convenient as the scientific one was.

Volcano Wyvern, Lava Wyvern, Magma Wyvern - how are they even different!? Ylma started muttering, Even if we just stick to Evolutions that come from Gale Wyverns, there are so many!

Why not just pick the strongest and head towards that? Tamlin asked, and frankly it wasnt the worst idea. However, I could tell Ray was about to respond to that.

Strongest isnt something so easily measured. Consider yesterdays fight, Ray pointed out. Hewka already has her own strength; she should choose something that enhances what she already has.

Poison and/or durability then, Ylma says, passing the booklet to Tamlin who begins to leaf through it. With her eyes closed she begins to recite from memory, So for poison youd want a way to deliver it from range. Let me think Smoke, Ash, Mist, Fog, or Cloud Wyverns would be the best bet there. As for durability Dust maybe? Honestly, starting from Gale you dont have many choices in that unless you want to aim for a triple Element Elder stage Evolution, but only Ray and you would be alive to see something like that.

She could do a horizontal Evolution, Tamlin suggested, shrugging as Ylmas face twisted into a scowl. Sure, it adds a lot to her needed xp, but it opens up a lot more options, doesnt it?

The issue with that would be that my Stats would still be low, I said, with Ray and Tamlin nodding in understanding while Ylma was still confused as to what I said. They dont show the exact Stats in this information, but based on what I have seen I am expecting a large boost from my Juvenile Evolution. Enough that I wont have to worry about a random Hob braining me.

Ylma though, once it was explained to her, had an idea.

You were a Lesser Wyvern, and now you are a regular Gale Wyvern, she said smiling at me suddenly. But you could be a Greater Wyvern if you did a horizontal Evolution, right?

She grabbed the booklet back from Tamlin and flipped to the page she needed, You could Evolve into a Young Greater Lake Wyvern, I think. You have that ability called [Breathes through her Skin], right? It would take some effort, but with proper training you could meet the requirements for that and it would probably be a better Stat boost than the one that you got for becoming a Young Gale Wyvern, plus it would set you up for a dual-element Juvenile Evolution!

At first I wasnt so sure, but for all of Ylmas flaws, being unpersuasive was definitely not one of them.