It had been a month since I had been reincarnated into this world. And I had been having a nice enough time. Now more than ever, since this was the first time I met another sentient creature. A goblin to be exact.
A teenager I assumed, comparable to a 14 year old human. Silver hair went past his pointy ears, and of course the dark green skin color. He moved with urgency as he guided me to his village.
"This way sir!" He said, his voice exited as he repeatedly pointed forward. Over roots and rocks we went with no sign of slowing down. Actually, we were jogging now. I could keep up of course. This body that god gave me looked similar, but as soon as I landed here you could tell the difference.
I was stronger and faster than ever. I remember my first day here, when I got ambushed by a tiger like animal. I was scared as hell, and felt defeated as he nibbled on my neck, not believing that I would die so soon after my second chance. Only to realize that it didn't hurt. Or that he didn't even pierce my skin. That was the start of it all.
It was a dense forest with threes that shot up in the air for at least 60 meters. Bushes and rivers, bunnies and spiders. It was a pretty nice place.
"Hey kid," I forgot his name "when will we be there."
"Soon Golin I promi-" he gasped, "there it is!" He yelled as he began full on sprinting. I saw it, in the distance. Houses with straw roofs made out of mud.
Pretty primitive but I didn't expect much of this world already. Then the people. Or ehh goblins.
Men and women of all ages. Wearing leather clothing, carrying crude spears or axes, some with baskets on their backs.
It were probably 300 people, no goblins that stopped and looked at me. They murmured, whispered and glanced at me. "A human…"
"I doubt he can…" "Sterm and his…"
Some people giggled but I ignored it.
That was his name, Sterm. Strange name but whatever. Their goblins. All of them grew silent as another presence appeared. The small grows that had formed parting for some guy. Oh. A old guy.
Bones and skulls around his neck. A walking stick, and leather clothing that seemed more elaborate than the others. Blue and red shades of clothing overlapping. He was old, hunched and wrinkly. His deep eyebrows covering his eyes.
Ahh, I see this must be the sage, the village leader. He must've foreseen my arrival one hundred lifetimes ago.
"WHAT IS GOING ON!" He barked in a way that was not very sagelike. "A human!" He squirmed when he saw me. His blue eyes now clearly visible.
"Great elder, I've found him. The strong man, the one I saw defeat and eat the red tiger with his bear hands." He held an open hand when he referred to me, like I was some grand prize.
"Ehh, hi." I can't lie I felt a bit embarrassed. The old man's eyebrows came together as a furious expression came to life. "You stupid boy! You and your lies. Always such an inconvenience to this village. Tell me, have we made a mistake by taking you in."
Sterm seemed hurt by that, "Great elder, I'm not lying. I saw it with my own eyes. He did it with such ease. What do you think he could do with a Washant."
He turned to me, "right, tell them."
I mean, I came because he asked my, might as well support him. "Whatever this Washant is. I can take it down old man no problem." I gave my best smile. He only sighed. Shaking his head in defeat, "Birds of a feather…" I heard softly.
"I have heard about many wonders of mankind. Great kingdoms, great technologies and greater magics. But you sir don't seem to have any capability to take down a Washant or anything at all." He looked me up and down.
It might be a good time to mention that I wasn't wearing anything at all.
Listen, I spawned in naked and I don't know how to make clothing. I tried something with leaves and it didn't work. Of course using hide was obvious. But the process from animal hide to clothing wasn't entirely clear alright.
I just walked around naked cause why not. Then this kid found me and he brought me here and I didn't have a lot of time to plan things out.
Guys I promise, when you walk around naked for a month you forget.
"Listen old guy, I took care of myself. I'm gonna kill that Washant and your gonna like it."
"Oh yeah." His expression showed that he didn't take me serious, "fine. If you kill that Washant, you can become our chieftain."
A gasp went around the villagers. "You sure you wanna make that bet."
"Oh I'm sure. Better yet. Planted in the shoulder blade of that awful creature is a sword. Retrieve it and I'll know you have killed it. You think you can do that, human boy."
"oh yeah I'm sure alright."
He nodded slowly, "Sterm you can help him find it." The boy perked up. "Your lies have bothered the village for long enough Sterm. Return without this man or the sword and you'll be banished, understand."
I wasn't entirely sure but a special kind of attention was put on the boy. The negative kind. I saw the eyes of the many villagers on him, gazing at him like he was some animal.
With that we left the village. It was a long travel, but its not like the area seemed different. What can I say except that it was more forest. "What is this Washant anyway?"
Sterm didn't even look at me but I saw a face filled with determination and fear. "It's this huge beast." He said soft, "We first saw it when we arrived here a few weeks ago." So they are also new. "It's twice as big as you, with long limbs and a thick fur."
"Geez, seems like a scary thing." "It is, we wanted to settle here but that animal attacked us." I saw his eyes go towards a not so distant past, "Our former chieftain led an offense, but he and many others were killed. That's why the beast has a sword stuck in it." He was quiet for a moment, then he spoke again, more optimistic.
"But you can kill it Colin. I saw your power. And when you've proven yourself you can be our new chieftain." He smiled when he looked me in the eyes.
Oh and, my name isn't Colin. It's actually Nick Freeman, but when your reborn in a new world with superhuman strength. Why would you choose a name so lame. Now that I think about it Colin is not much better. But it'll do.
The longer we walked the darker it became as the sun began to set. But also, real signs of this Washant became obvious. Giant footprints twice the size of my head, blood, damn even broken trees.
But then something different happened. I could sense it. I could feel it in the distance, maybe not more than two kilometers away from us.
I had this sense before. Even with the villagers but it was more subtle, I had to pay attention to even notice that feeling. Now, I could feel the Washant all around me, like a could cloak wrapped around me. Telling me it wants to kill me.
I saw Sterm shivering, "You sense that too?" "Just a little bit. I can't help but shiver like last time."
I looked ahead, not far from here. "Stay behind, I'll take a look."
"No! It was my job to guide you all the way, so that's what I'm gonna do."
Before I could say anything he was walking ahead. I'll give it to him he is brave. Then it came to view: long human like limbs, but sharp claws, snout like that of a wolf together with sharp white teeth, pitch black fur and scariest of all were its red eyes. Seemingly bloodshot.
Pink irises focused on the deer it was eating. It's guts spilled open and its body limp. I saw the sword, silver and shining in the light. Still in it's body, still not healed.
I did not know if it saw us but I did know I didn't wanna mess with it. "Sorry kid, but that old guy might have been right. I'm not messing with that." He looked at me shocked, like I just killed his grandma.
Shaking his head he blurted, "But… why not! I know you can kill that thing. Colin, you can kill that, please."
"I'm sorry, but that thing is simply to powerful." I think, I'm not actually sure. But look at that thing you want me to fight that. Risk my life that I've been given by god. I suffered enough in my previous life.
"But if you don't, I'll be alone…" he said defeated, lowering his head. I couldn't answer that, especially since I felt like death was right next to me. I turned my head to see that the Washant was frozen, its red eyes on me specifically.
Could it sense me, like I sensed it. It was if it was signaling directly to my brain, that it was going to kill me. The fear parilized me. And Sterm, he was whimpering in fear when he noticed what I had.
Then in quick agile movement the Washant rushed towards us.