Monster Girl Menagerie - Celestial Archive

After my first encounter with the goblin, I didn't have another one until an hour later. By that point I was feeling thirsty and hungry but had found no refreshments.

The goblin that I was staring at was dozing off. It held a purple crystal to its chest, hugging it tightly. Just as I thought, something about that crystal attracted the goblins.

Instead of using my Sprint, I advanced using my Basic Stealth. The monster didn't notice my approach, and it was already late by the time it did. The moment its eyes snapped open, I stabbed my dagger right into its throat.

I watched it gurgle and choke on its blood, confusion and pain evident in its features. How human, I thought. Just like that wolf monster, these goblins seemed capable of empathy. I felt no pity, though.

There was a famous saying in Aetheria that went something like this: To show mercy to your enemy was to be cruel to yourself. I wholeheartedly agreed with that. Survival of the fittest, as some might say.

Taking its crystal, I added to my collection. For a brief moment I wondered if I was also acting like these monsters, then shook my head. I felt no emotions toward the purple crystals whatsoever.

Walking in the cavern lit by the glow of mana crystals, I was starting to feel lethargic. The previous goblin had lacked even a basic sack.

My priority now shifted to finding food and water. As I was walking, I glimpsed something in the distance. Taking a wider look around, I concluded the space was empty, though I still bore caution as I walked over.

There was an altar embedded inside the floor, on a slightly elevated rock bed. Carved atop were symbols and esoteric markings that left me feeling dizzy. Surrounding these markings were four groves.

I paused before the structure, then, pushing past my hesitation, I stretched a hand to feel the texture. Thankfully nothing untoward happened, and I was able to continue my study.

"Hmm?"

I leaned forward near the grove, noting the shape to be similar to the crystal I had in my hand.

"What's the worst that can happen?" Death was the answer to that question. Though it awaited me if I didn't manage my way out. Feeling daring, I inserted the crystal into the grove, finding it a snug fit.

At first nothing happened, but then the entire altar lit up. All the runes glowed a dim purple light and remained such.

I glanced at the only other crystal in my hand and inserted that one too. The glow spread over the altar and then the floor. It was only then I realized the pattern carved into the floor was connected to the altar.

I traced the markings further, and it continued toward the wall and then climbed it all over. The wall itself was particularly smooth, not the curve I had become familiar with all this while.

"It's not a wall..." The realization struck like a hammer when I noted the middle vein of the pattern was actually a split in the rock. "It's a door!"

Relief washed over me, and I nearly dropped to my knees in elation. I had found the way out. I didn't know what lay on the other side, but I had struggled, and that was all that mattered.

It made me recall the words my father had once told me, when he wasn't the insufferable drunkard wasting his life away. 'To leave the world without a single regret,' he had said.

And I now realized what he meant.

Even if the death welcomed me on the other side, I would die knowing I hadn't wasted my life or given up without a fight. That I didn't have any regrets.

"I need two more of those crystals." Now that I wasn't caught up in the emotions anymore, my reasoning powers returned. I needed to find two more purple crystals to complete the altar formation. And I knew where to find them.

Finding goblins was ...let's say not difficult. Getting my hands on their belongings, though, was going to be a challenge.

I stood atop a crystal growth jutting from the wall, my Basic Stealth working to provide whatever protection it could. My eyes were busy watching a group of about five goblins carrying a cart full of crystal. And there were a few purple ones among those.

I had yet to find the goblin settlement; that is, if they even had any. But I wasn't looking to dive in that direction anymore, not with my latest findings.

Goblins in general didn't seem strong; I could probably take on one or two alone. There were five here, though, and I wasn't confident in stealing from them, much less killing them.

The only question was: Do I approach this situation with patience or dive right in and hope for the best? The problem with the former was that it may take a long time, and I had no desire to spend a moment longer in this cave than necessary.

Of course, much of the reasoning behind it came from the fact that I could not sustain myself for long. And the more time I spent here, the weaker I would grow. This was my prime opportunity, or rather, this was my only opportunity.

I had already devised a plan, and all that was needed was to put it in motion. Holding my body as still as possible, I pulled out a normal mana crystal from my belt. I aimed for the corner and threw the crystal.

With a clatter the crystal bounced off the ground, sending all the attention toward the corner. One of the goblins tilted its head and let out a yowling cry and pointed in the direction of the sound.

Two goblins holding the cart glanced at each other and then took out their crude spears. They were using mana crystals as spearheads for their weapons, and I didn't know whether to call them foolish or extravagant.

My thoughts didn't matter, though, as the goblins rounded the corner with their weapons. The other three goblins, including the leader, had their gazes fixed on the bend. I took that moment to strike.

Leaping from the crystal, I gave up my stealth for the ferociousness. My charge caught their attention, but it was already too late. I leapt straight for the leader.

He gawked at my gliding form, dagger drawn and ready to strike. Maybe I hadn't given them much credit, but the monster actually managed to compose itself and fish out its own spear.

The blade of the dagger cut halfway into the wooden shaft, and the goblin was pushed back. I cursed as I planted my feet to the ground. The other four goblins were already rounding up one of me.

With a thought, Sprint activated, and my sudden burst of speed alongside the damaged weapon surprised the goblin. He put up no defense this time, and my dagger stabbed him right in his chest.

The next instant my senses cried in alarm, and I ducked and waved away from the spear that swiped above me. The other goblin was quick to follow, but my second activation of the Sprint pulled me out of harm's way.

By now the sound of our clash had drawn the two goblins from earlier, and they would be entering the fray in a few seconds. Then it will be me against four of them. I did not like my chances, so I decided to take some risk.

Diving head straight into the battle, I let out a cry and made to punch the goblin straight in the face. He growled, baring rotten teeth at me. My fist connected to his jaw, but then I felt the sharp tip of the other goblin's spear stab me in the hip.

I grimaced from the sudden flare of pain, but my free hand holding the dagger was already advancing in on the bastard. Trading injuries for injuries wasn't something I would advocate for, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

My dagger stabbed the bastard right through its neck, and I pulled the spear from my hip with my other hand before twisting it and jabbing it straight into the belly of the one disoriented goblin before me.

The other two goblins were already here. While my dagger still rested in the neck of the one lying on the ground, I still held the crude spear in my hand. And I was bleeding.

The wound wasn't deep, and I would probably survive, but the loss of blood did make me feel queasy. I pushed the feeling aside, determined to see things through.

As the two goblins came upon me, a moment of clarity let me trace the path of their weapons. I ducked beneath one, my spear swiping up to meet the one on my left. I batted it aside, and without a single wasted motion, continued with the spin and slashed the goblin right in the chest.

It stumbled back, and I focused on the other one. It had already recovered from my parry and was ready to stab at me. I gave it no time. Using Sprint with the last of my mana, I appeared within its personal space with my spear already on its way to meet its belly.

Needless to say, the tip went through, then the shaft, and then it broke. The spear wasn't able to handle the strain from my enhanced movement speed.

That only left one goblin, and I was about to round up on him when I heard a shrill cry echo through the cavern. My head snapped toward the source and found it to be the goblin leader I had stabbed first. He was holding his bleeding shoulder and letting strange cries.

"Shit!" When I realized he might be calling for help, I felt my gut twist in fury and worry. The injured goblin from earlier wasn't attacking me anymore, understanding the risk I posed.

I calculated my options and then lunged straight for the neck-stabbed goblin. Withdrawing my dagger, I breathed a sigh of relief at its pristine form.

Using the last dregs of mana that I had barely recovered, I activated my Sprint to arrive before the cart. Taking two purple crystals, I was ready to bolt when the sound of footsteps drew my attention.

"Oh God!"

I was getting swarmed.