To be a Cast-Off: Monster Reincarnation CYOA Chapter 12

Day 63

It wouldn't be long before I embarked on my hunt, with my MP fully recharged. Anticipation coursed through my veins, and I could barely contain my excitement. I paced back and forth, brimming with energy, ready to venture out and collect my souls.

"Alright, focus. Let's prepare those pots."

As the dust settled and dried, I knew it needed a few more hours to reach its maximum potency. I sat down, gazing at the dust in contemplation.

"There has to be a more efficient way to do this," I muttered aloud. "Perhaps if I had access to..." And then it struck me, a realization tinged with a hint of self-ridicule. I possessed the knowledge of three stone ages, encompassing not only tools and craftsmanship but also culture, medicine, construction, and survival methods.

"Of course... the answer is right there," I said, smacking my forehead at my own oversight, again. I’m beginning to wonder if my intelligence, or wisdom stat, is lower than when I was human.

With renewed determination, I delved into my memories, tapping into the vast wealth of knowledge about powders and their handling. I quickly recalled a method of using heat that worked well in cave environments.

"Right," I muttered, springing into action. I gathered one of my torches and several clay plates I had crafted, carefully spreading the dust in a thin layer over each plate. Placing the plates over the torch, I allowed the heat to do its work. Though the plates would be destroyed, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make in the name of progress.

"That should expedite the process, although it's already nearing completion."

Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by a strange sensation of power welling up within me. Confusion washed over me as I tried to make sense of the unexpected surge.

"What in the world?" I wondered, before realizing that I felt this sensation before.

I opened my character sheet and examined it closely. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary until I noticed an additional stat point, marked "Int," beside the others.

A slow blink punctuated my surprise as I stared at the highlighted number.

“I have a free point?” I murmured, a mix of astonishment and curiosity coloring my voice. I furrowed my brow, trying to dissect the chain of events that led to this unexpected development.

And then, a realization slowly took shape.

"Wait... could it be? By actively applying my knowledge to solve a problem, I triggered this increase in stats?..."

A surge of excitement intermingled with cautious skepticism surged within me. If I had stumbled onto a way to increase my stat without needing souls...

Restless energy coursed through my veins as I paced back and forth within the confines of my hole, my mind racing to explore the implications. If I could actually raise my stats simply by accomplishing actions related to that particular stat…

With a contemplative nod, I settled on an experiment. Lowering myself to the floor, I began a series of push-ups, my muscles straining due to untested strength. The exertion pushed me to my limits, my breath coming in ragged gasps, but I pressed on, driven by the hope of witnessing another surge of power.

As I collapsed onto the floor, exhausted, and for a long moment of nothing happening, I thought myself an idiot for thinking it could be so easy. Even if it were the case that actions equal gains, it likely wasn’t without a goal behind the action. I sighed as I stood up, but as I fully stood, I was hit with yet another burst of energy. It shocked me, but then I felt elated, and eagerly glanced at my character sheet. There, before my eyes, were two more points—one for Strength, and another... for Wisdom.

I studied the numbers intently. I understood strength, by why wisdom?

Then I realized why. It was not the pushups that pushed it over the edge. The wisdom point was earned through the realization of how one acquired points in the first place. It wasn’t just “Do this” and you earn points. No, you had to have a goal, a quest…

Once more, realization as I remembered how Stat points were gained. Accomplishing a quest. I thought I was not given quests because of my weakness, but then the truth hit me like a brick to the head.

Who said one had to be given to you by another? That was the wisdom gained.

I stared down at the plates for a minute, getting the burst of emotion I had under control before settling for a thoughtful frown.

“No…it can’t be that easy. Otherwise, everyone here would be doing that.” I said in an uncertain tone.

I looked out the doorway to the tribal area, where most of the gobs are going about their activities. What were they doing? No idea. I never really participate…

“...and that might be the problem.” I say to myself. Given how I was treated so early in my new life here, I wanted as little to do with the tribe as possible. Seeking my own safety in solitude, and only going out when I needed to, and always to the surface rather than any part of the hole save places I needed to go.

If quests, whether self-imposed or given are what increase stats…

I looked at my clay plates, giving them a quick look over, and determined they were nearly done and could be used as is. I proceed to place the powder into their clay pots, and cover them before placing them on my belt.

Picking up my mace, I contemplate how I would leave, before realizing that I needed to equip myself further. By the time I was ready to leave, I had hide clothing on that would act as light armor, but mostly just covers me.

I sat there next to the fire, allowing its heat to comfort me as I contemplated the action I was about to take. Memories of my first few weeks, horrible as they were, came to the fore, and I remembered why I had hidden myself in such a distant part of the tribal hole, and kept to myself.

The attacks, the beatings, the nearly being eaten, and possible rapes. It was not a good time.

And now, I was stepping back into that world for the chance at getting stronger. My heart wasn’t in it, and I had to quash the desire to just forget it and see what I could do here on my own. Bitterness filled my chest, and anger colored my expression as I rallied what I had to push through and move forward.

I stood up, taking the mace in hand, and was about to grab a torch before a last-minute decision came to me. I took a piece of leather, and after ten minutes, fashioned a bandanna mask to cover my ugly mug. Sure, I wasn’t fugly anymore, but I was still the child you ignored.

Pulling my hood over my mess of a head, and placing on the mask, I began my trek out of the hole and into the cavern. While most of the hole was dirt, and rock, occasionally I passed by what looked to be ancient masonry. Worn by age and moisture, it was impossible for me to determine how long it had been here.

I ignored that as I walked out of the passage way, past other holes which were unoccupied, and eventually to the opening that led to the common area.

The common area, as it was, was not noteworthy to me due to never using it except as the means to go to and from the surface world of the grasslands. For the most part, goblins congregated here for the purpose of journeying to the surface, and back with whatever foraging or successful hunt they could bring. Girls always met their Male, or the males would try to woo the females, before moving further into the cavern.

It was that part of the cavern I was heading to, which I hadn’t set foot in since the first weeks I arrived here. It was where the heart of Goblin society was. Aside from the Elder, who was always near the common area, most of the goblins lived, worked, mingled, and more, in the deeper chambers.

As I passed through the moderate crowd of Gobs, who were in various states of undress, unlike myself who was fully covered, I was fortunate no one bothered me. I felt and heard more than a few double-takes when they realized who I was, but otherwise I was unmolested and bothered.

It was when I neared the threshold into the deeper caves that I hesitated for a moment. A flash of bad memories flew through my head like a bullet, making my chest feel crushed again. Once more, I forced it away with a growl and a smack to my temple.

“Enough! Forget it. Move forward fucking moron!” I hissed harshly at myself, before stepping forward with more willpower.

As I walk into the tunnel that led deeper into the cave system, I took note of the gobs that were walking past me, and ahead of me. Most of them were jovial among themselves, though they gave an eye for anyone that passed by until they were no longer within ambush distance from each other.

It was mostly a reflex action than anyone being against one another. Everyone was a rival to each other on some level, as a result of Goblin drive to show who was the best Goblin through merit and cunning.

Which is why when I passed by several holes leading to a larger chamber, I took note of it and realized it was a training area. I stopped and starred for a moment before deciding to walk in and lean against the wall to watch.

“Move quietly! Like shadow in the wind!” shouted one larger Goblin. He was an older one. Not like the Elder, but old enough to be one if he wanted to be. He looked more like what I expected Goblins to look like when I came to this world. Not the cute females, or ugly-cute males I was raised with. No, he looked like the stereotypical goblin from Warcraft. Large eared, big nose, sharp eyed, no hair, and a wicked grin.

His eyes watched various young goblins like a hawk, and shouted for corrections when he felt it was needed. Which was a lot. I could only wince slightly as I witness the trainees trying and failing to be stealthy and ambush each other. I never received the training here, or anything else, but with my life experience as a hunter in my old human life, plus the knowledge I possess from the stone ages, I could spot ever single mistake they made without even trying.

I must have made noise or something, because the Trainer’s eyes suddenly were meeting mine. Face to face we were, and I immediately tensed.

He stared at me for a moment, before snorting. “You’re stealthy. I can see it.”

I just starred as he then steps aside and points to the course with a thumb.

“Show these idiots how it’s done.” He commanded.

I was about to just do out to avoid trouble, when I remembered what I learned in my hole. My eyes narrowed and I stepped forward to accomplish this “task” that was given to me. I wanted to test and see if it was what I hypothesized, and here was the opportunity.

As I entered the area, I had taken in the terrain. Most of it was fake, to make it appear like the grasslands above. So, it was with silence that I walked into the “tall grass” and went quiet and small, as I crouch walked through the field the area had.

“Now, you hunt him! Ambush and sneak, before he does it to you!” the instructor shouted.

They were quieter than I was, which likely had to do with whatever agility stat they had, but they were green as hell. Both literally and figuratively. They stood out from the rest of the area, which was a dead brown that plants get when they were cut down. I was wearing hide clothing, hood, and mask, which was as brown as everything else. I could see wherever they were despite how quiet they were.

They were also inexperienced. They often jumped each other than not. It led to squabbles which I used to move around, or away if they were too close. They began to become frustrated after five minutes had passed, and I decided to earn my quest reward.

I took a page out of Adam Jensen’s book and snuck up behind one, and tapped his shoulder, causing him to jolt and look. The left side of his face met my fist, which I empowered with the “Goblin Punch” skill. Given I snuck up on the target, not only did I do “damage” to him, but the stealth mechanics of the system allowed me to add my agility to the damage, and a double damage multiplier for a headshot. The goblin lolled, his eyes rolling up as he fell unconscious and into the grass.

I had been about to pull him away to hide when suddenly I felt the vacuum of souls enter me. I wash shocked by it, but then remembered I got them by “defeating” the opponent, not just killing. I muttered a quiet curse as I dragged the body away.

I repeated this repeatedly, and got into the zone. No longer focused on the “quest,” and focused on beating these Gobbos. It was not until around four goblins were left that the four got a clue. when they finally noticed the rest of their class were suspiciously absent. The four of them added up to a full brain, and watched each other’s back.

As jumpy as they were now, I increased their paranoia by tossing stones around them. Making them look too and fro, trying to spot someone sneaking up on them. Then I tossed one at the back of the head. It missed, but the sudden movement of something flying by the ear caused that Goblin to panic and run into another one.

It wasn’t what I was aiming to cause, but it worked regardless.

The pair fell to the ground, and began kicking up a fuss, making the other two watch.

Then there were three. Then there were two.

The two finally stood up, and saw the other two goblins on the ground, and out of it.

The one that panicked screeched and ran away, but deeper into the field. The other was frozen stiff, and I knocked him down with a blow to the back of the head.

I stalked towards the one that ran around like an idiot until he fell, breathing hard. His eyes were wild, and were looking all over as he hyperventilated. It came to a stop, when I got behind him, and placed a blade against his neck while I took a hold of his forehead.

He froze like a deer, and turned to look at me. My golden eyes met his brown, and I admit, I was grinning like a demon.

“Hello there, little mouse.” I spoke in a smooth tone.

He fainted. Souls get.

I stood up, and began to walk out of the field, and met the trainer when I got there.

He was grinning wickedly, as a larger group of young gobbos were horrified, apparently having seen everything from where they were.

“Now THAT is stealth and Ambush! That is how it is done!” he shouted as he turned to face the young ones. “If you learn it, you can sneak on anything! You do that, you can kill anything!”

He turned back to me, and pulled out a blade from a satchel he had. He handed it over to me, and I slowly took it.

“Night blade. You didn’t train under me, but you more or less passed the tests I would give if you had. You earned it.”

The sudden flush of power came to me, and it overwhelmed me. The trainer simply turned away as I was experiencing it, and I numbly placed the blade in my belt as I walked out of the chamber. The trainer began to shout orders to the youngsters to drag their classmates out of the field, and I was getting stares of awe and fear as I walked out.

I leaned against the wall of the tunnel, as I finally caught my breath and looked at my sheet.

My eyes became like dinner plates, as I saw I gained enough souls to put thirty-eight points into my stats. I also gained the title “Night Blade” in a part of the sheet that wasn’t there before.

“Night Blade: A Stealthy Goblin that is like a shadow. New Skill: Shadow Strike Level 1 – Double Agility damage while sneaking (x4 modifier) – Cost: 20 MP.”

Not only did my theory turn out to be correct, but now I had a real idea of how this damned system worked. I could only feel cold anger fill me as I realized I was going about this all wrong. I was not in Dark Souls world where only fights got you power. I was in a damned J-Action RPG.

I took several minutes to calm down and disperse my damned points. Now all but Skill, and Lewd were at the requirements to become a level one Beast Tamer.

I felt my muscles shift, and I was now where most young goblins were at a third of my age. My movements were more fluid and steadier. No longer was I feeling clumsy. My skin was hard like worn leather, and muscles were hard like rocks.

Rather than celebrate, I grumbled, and turned to go deeper into the cave. Now, no longer in fear, because I was too pissed off at myself, and the world, to give a damned.