Re: Monster - World's Reversal

An important thing to note, I think I've realised why some of the goblins stare at me. As a guy, I don't tend to put too much thought into how I look, just making sure that I'm clean, well fed and my fair isn't too scruffy. However, my biological make-up in this life is that of a female, and thus, I have to deal with certain perks and problems. Most prominently at the moment is my absolutely stunning figure, something I might actually be starting to despise.Currently, I stand at around 4"6, dwarfing any and all of my previous acquaintances, with bronzed skin, vibrant red hair and a lithe figure… But the goblins are probably only interested in my c-cup b.r.e.a.s.ts and moderate rear. In fitting with my species, my eye colour is a faded orange, and my fingers are slender. Being perfectly toned, despite the connotations, does not mean having rippling muscles or a bulging six-pack, but rather having flexibility and strength in those muscles. Not that I would mind being a muscular woman, because it would detract from the unhealthy stares I'm getting somewhat… Is this what all women have to put up with?

As usual, I greet a few of the more diligent goblins. Freaks like Rou and Kichi excluded, these guys are the most likely to get anywhere, so forming at least some kind of bond is a good idea. If evolved goblins are also shunned by society… No loss on my part, I can claim ignorance.

"Oi, Gobuji, pretty sure your gonna rank up soon, how close are you to working out my healing hands?"

"Not too well milady… But I can do it a bit now, and I will make it stronger to help Goburou!"

Yup, this one is definitely a hero worshipper. Rou decided not to tell anyone that I beat him, so he's still under the misguided belief that Rou is all-powerful… Rou is also the one who instigated the use of 'milady', much to my disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e. He's been studying my passive regeneration and healing hands, so I guess he wants to be a cleric of some sort. To be clear I did not commit acts of self-harm to trigger my regeneration, in fact, the only times it did activate were when I decided to give Kichi a number of different weapons and told him to slash or stab me with them in a variety of different ways to test the limits of my defensive capabilities. Suffice to say, he had to strike with everything he had in order to leave any lasting damage.

"Just keep it up, you'll get the hang of it eventually. Uhm, if you see Gobue, could you ask her to come see me at some point? I'll be needing an extra set of hands for my next project, and she always seems ready to help with this kind of stuff."

"I will do that sir. Speaking of which, might I ask you a question from Gobue herself?"

Well spoken as ever. Possibly the biggest reason I don't resent talking to him, other than the fact that he doesn't try to **** me with his eyes, is that he actually acts respectfully instead of being as blunt as a troll's club. He's definitely as dense as one though, don't get me wrong.

"Go on, I've got time."

"She was just wondering what your thoughts were in terms of meat… Apparently Jii told her Nymphs don't eat meat at all, so she was worried you would be put off by the idea."

"Eh? I've been killing plenty of animals and the such-like, so why would I be inclined not to eat them? They would just go to waste otherwise… He was right to some extent though, most Nymphs and their different variations do consider all life to be equally valuable and the practice of eating meat as horrendous. Personally, if it's edible, I'll eat it… And I might try even if it isn't."

"... Please don't start eating swords like Goburou."

"... I make no promises."

…

Shortly afterwards, I realize that Gobue had become a hobgoblin. It's good to know that my allies are getting stronger. When I saw her, she flashed me a brief smile and gestured for me to follow. Naturally I did, and responded with a smile of my own, since for the most part I am playing the role of guest at the moment. Theoretically I am a member of the clan proper thanks to Goburou, but he can only do so much, and there is still a great deal of wariness due to my nature as an outsider. I can't afford to be overly careless. I do like Gobue though, she's enthusiastic and friendly, and she pays attention to the little details.

As we walk along I begin to chuckle. Purely synthetic of course, but no-one has to know that. Thankfully, Gobue takes the bait.

"Eh? Why'd you suddenly start chuckling?!

I shake my head and smile.

"Ah, I might have said it before, but you guys get stronger freakishly fast. I thought I was pretty damn abnormal, but here that IS normal. Frankly it's kinda terrifying."

Linking her hands behind her head in a relaxed posture she scoffs a little.

"Gobujii tells us that as well. Apparently we're the quickest growing group of goblins he's ever seen. We couldn't be doing it without Goburou though." She pauses, standing still and dropping her hands before speaking again "We… I know he's only helping us to help himself, but it can't be denied that we're getting stronger, and getting stronger is really the only way to make sure we can protect what we love, right?"

I stand next to her, looking in the same direction - the cave entrance. Steadying myself and taking a deep breath, I answer solemnly and with great heaviness in my voice, knowing full well that her future impressions of me depend greatly on this moment.

"... You're wrong."

Turning towards me, her face surely shows a mixture of confusion and disappointment.

"But then-"

"-I never said it was wrong to seek strength. However, it is impossible to protect the people you love from everything. Some of us become physically or magically strong, hoping to destroy anything that might harm their loved ones. Some of us seek to become great leaders, so that under a stable rule their loved ones might be safe. Then there are those who follow these great leaders, hoping that they in turn might benefit from that stable rule… Now, there is yet another way that some people protect the ones they love… keeping them ignorant. If they don't know of a wider world, they don't feel threatened by it, and this protects their happiness... But that is protecting a different part of that person. Their innocence. Then again, another person would claim that this isn't true protection of the person, because they aren't allowed to experience everything they can. By protecting innocence, you are sacrificing their happiness… So in the end, you have to decide- What, or who, are you fighting for, and why are you fighting for it? If you can't decide that, there's no point fighting in the first place, because it won't accomplish anything."

I lean my head toward her, a sad smile across my face. This smile is not fake, because everything I just said to her I truly believe myself. Stumbling forwards without a goal only gets you so far before you fall. I learnt that one the hard way. Seeming deep in thought, she gazes at me for a moment before asking, hesitantly, possibly the biggest question there is.

"So… Why do you fight?.."

My smile morphs into a small smirk.

"Me? I fight to find a home… Now come on, ya shouldn't have stopped in the first place, we've got catch-up work to do."

"Wh-Wait!"

I run out towards the exit, shaking my head before, upon exiting the cave, looking up at the sky and making a deep sigh, ensuring it's barely within earshot of the hobgoblin… Just like that I'm back to lying about everything.

----- A few animals later -----

"So, Rou. What's the plan?"

"Hmmm? We're attacking the orcs."

"Yes, I got that. HOW are we attacking the orcs."

"We're waiting until midday when there are least guards, and we storm the place."

"Bloody… You know what, give me the paper and let me draw out a decent fecking strategy."

Over the course of the last week I've been making some paper. Actually, it only got finished today, so I'm pretty excited to actually be using it, but having decent equipment to write on is the first step to society, and to draw up plans for a raid seems like a worthy usage for my first ever hand-made writing papers.

First of all I divided the battle-ready goblins into 4 squadrons. Rou's, Kichi's, Gobumi's (with myself as vice-captain), and Gobue's. Rou and Kichi were to take out the two guard posts that give the orcs view of everything that goes on. While that happens, Gobumi and her speed-oriented squad rush into the mine itself and eliminate those inside, who will likely still be unprepared considering their nature as miners, capitalising on any moment in which the enemy does not have armour or a proper weapon to deliver decisive strikes, with Gobue's squad to deal with stragglers who might bring reinforcements…

That's how it was supposed to go. In reality, strategy was in fact useless in the end, and the orcs got butchered without a single casualty on our side, and even the three injured only had wounds which would heal themselves. An overwhelming victory… And I got 2 new abilities.

-----

[Natural Predator [S+] - Suffer -20% damage from species which you have eaten members of previously]

[Stench [B] - The smell of rotting carcasses hangs about you in incredible strength. Can be repressed, but if so, repression is released while the user is sleeping]

-----

I like the first one better. Although, I guess the second one makes assassination attempts unlikely… Maybe? I guess I'll just have to train it to A rank and hope I can fully repress it I guess. Again, I still haven't levelled up. I guess it makes sense though. I'm at a high level anyway, so it'll take massive amounts of low-level monsters to level me up even once now. Looking to the future, I wonder when I'm going to find humanity... Rou has obviously come into contact with... them... Oh no.

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[Name: Alaya]

[Level: 35]

[Species: Hesperide]

[Focus: Learning]

[Titles: Reincarnator [EX++], Kingslayer I [C - 0%]]

[Craftsman [C+]:

Skills: Golden Thread [C - 48%], Appraisal [E - 50%]

Abilities: Eagle Eye [D], Mental Mapping [A]]

[Druid [C]:

Skills: Healing Hands [D - 32%], Nature's Command [C - 79%]]

Abilities: Adaptable [D-], Aura of Growth [B--]]

[Magician [D+]:

Skills: Air Slash [D - 13%], Mana Pulse [E - 27%], Minor Terraforming [C - 56%], Pyrokinesis [C - 43%]

Abilities: Regeneration [C-]]

[Swordsman [D+]:

Skills:Cleave [C - 86%], Swift Strike [E - 81%, Consecutive Raging Strikes [A - 0%]]

Abilities: Weapons Mastery (Swords [D], Spears [D+], Bows [E+])]

[Offensive:

Skills: Ambush [B - 32%], Bloodl.u.s.t [C - 0%], Evasion [E - 61%], Venomous Bite [E - 0%]

Abilities: Lesser Leg Strength [E-], Natural Predator [S+] Vampirephilia [C]

[Defensive:

Skills: Adamantium Carapace [E - 11%]

Abilities: Stench [B]

[Misc:

Abilities: Absorption [U], Dominating Presence [B-], Echolocation [A], Language (Goblin, Human, Orc, Kobold), Muscle Strength [A], Streamlined [A], Waterproof [B], Night Vision [C], Sense Presence [D], Paralysing Breath [A]]

[Resistances: All-Element [E], Heat [A], Paralysis [A], Poison [B]]

[Traits:

Natural: Durable [D], Follower [C], Genius [D], Living Arrow [C], Merciless [D], Scholarly [C], Swift [D], Wall of Flesh [C], Wise [D]]

Unnatural: Accelerated Growth [R], All return to the Cycle [U], Daughter of Nyx [EX++], Natural Titan [U]]

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[Stats:]

[STR: 48]

[END: 103]

[WIS: 142]

[INT: 143]

[SPD: 103]

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[Racial multiplier: 2]

[Free stat points: 0]

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