Satou sat in the dim, damp cave, his stomach growling loud enough to echo off the moss-covered walls. The air was thick with the stench of wet fur and rotting meat, making his empty gut twist in protest.
He was lost in thought, trying to figure out how to use his new Devouring skill, when the sound of shuffling footsteps snapped him back to reality.
The old goblin appeared first, followed by a hulking brute twice his size. Between them, they carried a cracked wooden plate slick with something dark and wet. Blood dripped from the edges, leaving a trail of crimson splatters across the stone floor. Whatever lay on that plate, Satou couldn't see clearly—just a lumpy, glistening heap that made his skin crawl.
As they passed, the old goblin tore off a chunk of the mystery meat and shoved it into a nearby baby goblin's mouth. The little creature gnawed happily, juices running down its chin.
At least it's edible, Satou thought, relief washing over him. His stomach roared again, louder this time. He couldn't help it—he threw up his hands and let out a loud, desperate cheer.
"Finally, food! It's been a day since I came to this world—I haven't eaten anything!"
But his excitement faltered almost instantly. A cold doubt slithered into his mind.
Wait… what do goblins even eat? Do they cook their food? Or just tear into it raw like wild animals?
Before he could answer his own question, the two goblins stopped right in front of him. With a wet plop, the plate hit the ground. The contents spilled out a mangled heap of flesh, bone, and gristle, still dripping with dark, congealed blood.
Satou's throat clenched. His stomach lurched, bile rising in the back of his mouth. He barely managed to swallow it down, forcing his face to stay blank. The other baby goblins were already digging in, chewing noisily, so he couldn't afford to look disgusted.
The old goblin's beady eyes locked onto him. "Eat. You will need the energy."
Without another word, the elder shuffled off.
Satou stared at the mess in front of him, hands trembling.
So it's today… the "selection" they've been talking about. If I want to survive, I don't have a choice.
His tiny fists clenched, nails biting into his palms.
Those two gods… I swear, once I get stronger, I'll make you regret this. I'll kill you both myself.
Days later…
The cave hadn't gotten any less disgusting, but at least the baby goblins could now walk—clumsy, wobbling steps, but progress nonetheless.
Satou sat hunched over, clutching a cold, slimy chunk of something that might've once been meat. It reeked like a week-dead carcass left in the sun.
His stomach twisted in protest, but hunger was worse. If he didn't eat, he wouldn't stand a chance in the upcoming selection.
Gritting his teeth, he clamped a hand over his nose and took a bite.
It was horrible.
The taste was like chewing on rotten eggs soaked in sewage. The texture was worse , rubbery, with bits that crunched in all the wrong ways. His eyes watered, but he kept swallowing, bite after miserable bite.
Then, as the last piece slid down his throat, something inside him shifted.
A burning, writhing sensation exploded in his gut—not pain, but transformation. His body trembled as the rancid meat dissolved unnaturally fast.
A bright notification flashed before his eyes:
[Skill Acquired: Goblin's Iron Stomach]
Skill Effects:
Rot-Eater's Resilience
Can eat spoiled, raw, or lightly poisoned meat without puking.
Gains minimal nutrients from garbage (still tastes like wet cardboard).
Downside: Permanent bad breath and faint rotting odor.
Crude Toxin Resistance
Handles weak poisons (rot, venom, etc.).
Useless against magic or advanced alchemy.
Pain Dulling
Terrible food only causes mild discomfort instead of crippling cramps.
Side Effect: Might not notice fatal poisoning.
Satou blinked, then broke into a grin.
"Yes! This skill is a lifesaver! Now I won't have to taste this disgusting—"
He stopped mid-sentence as the notification scrolled down further.
[Skill Acquired: Demon Wolf's Enhanced Senses]
Keen Smell: Track prey or sniff out hidden enemies.
Night Vision: See clearly in near-total darkness.
Enhanced Hearing: Detect faint sounds easily.
Weakness: Overwhelmed by strong odors or loud noises.
Nearby, a baby goblin sniffed the air, then gagged. "Ugh. Who died?"
Another one pointed at Satou. "Him. His breath smells like a corpse's butt."
Satou scowled. "Oh, shut up. Like yours is any better."
The first goblin took a whiff of its own armpit and grinned. "Nope. Mine's worse."
Satou groaned. Great. I'm stuck in a cave with monsters who take pride in smelling awful.