《Gods' Game》


 Life before Hell...Chapter 1.0

    I was just the average, overweight, slightly constipated, drug addict. I did whatever I could to get what I needed, which is drugs. It was during one of these ¡®Errands¡¯ that my tire blew out. High, and out of my mind I couldn¡¯t retain control and the truck began to fishtail. Believing I could just press the pedal and the truck would fix itself I did just that, boy I am a fucking idiot.


    I slammed into a pole and because of no seatbelt, my forehead decided to kiss Mrs. Windsheild. Let¡¯s just say someone was a virgin.


    That was when I died. Blood loss. Let me just tell you something, Nauseating from blood loss is the worst, not even my five-inch flap of skin showing bone felt as bad. But I digress.


    Being swallowed by the darkness, I felt nothing and I was not aware of nothing. Anyway, time probably passed before I actually felt like myself¡­Just without legs, or arms, or even the manliest part of my body. And before me stood a human shaped light, it looked exactly like what someone would think a god without a face looked like. It also just so happens he was. Usually I would say something but being enamored by a faceless light I have to wait for the god to tickle his throat to gather my attention since I apparently ignored a god.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    The conversation from the point of introductions went a lot like crap. Apparently, I was supposed to be left in Tartarus for a while. I guess that was why it was so dark and full of nothingness.


    ¡°So, Mr. Almighty why am I being taken out now?¡± I asked. His answer was not very welcoming.


    ¡°Gods¡¯ Game¡± was his, still glowing and expressionless answer. Asking the usual questions, a mortal soul much like myself would ask I got the gist of this ¡®Gods¡¯ Game¡¯. Basically, it is all out war, similar to the roman coliseum for gladiators. Problem is the entertainment for the gods is not just some average coliseum, it¡¯s an entire world.


    Did I also mention the world has a medieval like setting or so the god says but with magic? It seems like my dreams will be finally coming true, except for having to kill a bunch of people and things for the entertainment of the gods. So, with the God suddenly raising an arm he sends me back to darkness, only this time I¡¯m aware. And beginning to suffocate.

 Chapter 1.1

    Suddenly the darkness lessens and I breathe air. Looking around I seem to be in some ruined castle or something since this world is medieval. Continuing to look around a popping sound brings my attention elsewhere, behind me. What I see freaks me out at first as I see a man with horns, a tail, and a blue glow coming from his eyes.


    ¡°You are the one from Tartarus?¡± The man asks in a very normal voice.


    ¡°Maybe?¡± I reply with my knees shacking. This man is exerting some sort of pressure making me feel terrified.


    ¡°So, you are the one, well beside the point, I¡¯m your sponsor.¡± The man sighs very dramatically before continuing.


    ¡°Being your sponsor God means that you can wield magic or be talented in similar areas as my own. I revolve around the fire and desire domains. Unofficially I¡¯m most talented with entertaining myself.¡± The man with the horns similar to a male goat except being far longer and thicker says before moving his hand towards where his heart should be and pulling out a vibrant red and blue orb that swirled together in a calm manor.


    ¡°Can I least have some money for equipment or something!¡± I say in a loud voice as the wind surrounding us begins to vibrate. The man tosses the orb into my own chest.


    ¡°You already have my gifts, use them to survive¡­if you can.¡± Disappearing right as he finishes. Finding myself swarmed with a clashing purple light surrounding me I scream in pain as it feels like my heart is constricting. My tailbone screams in agony and I begin to feel a migraine. Except for everything is two times worse than anything you could imagine¡­I wish I was bleeding out again is my last thought before I pass out.


    Awaking with a fuzzy head I try to wipe my forehead since I feel a weight that shouldn¡¯t be there. When my hand touches something. It¡¯s hard and reminds me of when I held an ale horn, except for it being thicker and much harder. My other hand reaches for my forehead as well and I discover two potrusions from my forehead. Messing around with them for a while I believe they rise above my head by a foot. Looking around in case of any other changes I discover I also have a tail which I don¡¯t have much control of. The tail has no scales or hair, it¡¯s completely covered in skin ending at a point. Also realizing this is not my body. This body matches my old one in height and bone structure, big bones and barely reaching 5¡¯10. But this body isin shape,as ifit dropped eighty pounds showing the muscles I made back in high school.


    Enjoying the feeling offinally seeing my six pack lines from all the sit ups and crunches I did from high school I find myself getting distracted with the changes. Soon realizing I¡¯m still where the god left me I try to figure out what I¡¯m supposed to do. No money, no weapons and with no idea what to expect I begin to walk away.


    ¡°Hey! Hey you!¡± Did I hear something? ¡°Wait, hey come back!¡± I definitely heard something that time. Looking behind me, I find a man with dark blonde hair, a sword sheathed at his waist wearing what looks like video game starting gear. Brown leather boots, patched pants and a dirty tunic.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Finally caught up!¡± The man pants'' with his hands on his knees.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± I ask in a curious tone. The blonde guy than looks up about to explain when he sees me.


    ¡°Woah! One of the more unique changes I¡¯ve seen so far.¡± Not believing I heard him right.


    ¡°What do you, there¡¯s others like me?¡± I ask in slight shock and full of curiosity.


    ¡°No one looking like you but many gods change their sponsored looks, it¡¯s not purposeful or anything but when we receive our God¡¯s power we tend to also adapt some of their properties. However, that doesn¡¯t matter. The names Owen and my God told me to find you¡­¡± Owen begins to mumble to himself after mentioning his god but I don¡¯t worry too much about it. His God wanted him to find me? Could this be my Sponsors cousin?


    ¡°Well why did your God send you to me?¡± I ask once more. Owen stops mumbling and smiles once more.


    ¡°Well he said we should party up, you know travel together and he also said your God¡¯s lazy so he wanted me to help you understand this place.¡± Owen finishes and I can¡¯t help but see only one bad side. Betrayal. I would like to say I have a good moral indicator since I was an addict and allbut it¡¯s not existent. So, with a semi heavy heart I decide I would travel with him as the knowledge gained could beuseful.


    ¡°Fine, but first how the hell do I get money?¡± I ask in an exasperated tone.


    ¡°Your god truly is lazy, basically killing animals or monsters and taking what¡¯s valuable off them. Animals sell dirt cheap and depending on the rank and materials of the monster depends what it will sell for, there is also banditry, mercenary work, guards and so on.¡± Owen finishes as we step into the forest surrounding my grey tower¡¯s ruins.


    ¡°Oh yeah, I forgot to mention we call money coins, money is paper and well there is no paper coins!¡± Owen laughs at his own unfunny joke. We continue to walk against the sun through the forest as Owen explains the basics to me. Like how rankings are from Z to A for this continent. Meaning this is the weakest continent on this world and even an A ranked person is considered weak to any other continent. There is also only copper and silver in this continent as well since nothing worth a gold coin would willingly live here besides the failures who could not survive in the stronger continents.


    Owen also brings to my attention that most God¡¯s have numerous proxies. Proxies being the one sponsored. All due to the fact of many could be potential talents that turn out to be weak emotionally or physically and soon are casted out and since the gift can¡¯t be taken back these same proxies are then basically abandoned. Our talks continued as Owen proved to me there was magic in this world by slashing a tree and leaving a slight cut within the trunk with a light similar to the guy who talked to me first after my death. The attack was not very powerful but it proved there was magic so I was happy to learn although he did mention we can only use what our God can use which put a dampener to my mood although only slightly as I have finally found what I wanted, a world where the strong live and the weak serve. Only problem is I¡¯m the weakest of them all.


    Once the sun goes completely down Owen and I stop for the night to sleep but as it turns out I had no sleeping bag or skin or whatever this new world¡¯s term is for a sleeping bag and Owen wouldn¡¯t lend me his. Obviously, I slept on the ground as I thought of ways to raise my rank and discover the stronger continents, what I will need to do and how to do it. However, thinking of these continents made me think of my old world and how my family was but yet I can¡¯t seem to remember if I had a family. Hell, I can¡¯t even remember my name even if my God was supposed to give me one. Thinking further as my eye lids droop I finally decide maybe it¡¯s better if I forget my old life and live in my new one.

 Chapter 1.2

    Having been walking for nearly three hours we finally saw something looking like a trail, except being wide enough for three horses to walk side by side. Having decided to follow the road for the last two hours and with no animals or monsters to have attacked I wondered how anyone was to rank up in this world but Owen explained some of it as he did not fully understand it himself since he just arrived two weeks ago and is only X rated.


    We proxy apparently rank up depending on our talent. Talent like being faster, smarter, stronger due to some minimum DNA changes if we were still on earth. Here that talent translates to possible growth and how far that growth reaches, most proxy who fall short end up abandoned and remain on this continent. Those that fall short later in other continents usually will become artisans and merchants to make their living on that continent. Sadly, talent is something that is unrankable, in other words the proxy has to rank as far as he can go before finally realizing his ceiling.


    I don¡¯t like how that works because great effort will then go down the drain if you were looking for above so using my same point of view of never getting my hopes up I decide to only shoot for the rank above me after surpassing A rank, still have to have a goal, right? I have three goals as of now.


    My first is to gain control on the fire domain of my god, or other words fire magic.


    My second goal is to gain some sort of gear and since I don¡¯t plan on owning a mount anytime soon mage like robes or leather armor.


    My last is to grow past this continent, or in other words surpass A rank.


    Believing Owen to be somewhat as a friend I add him to my calculations as I ask about how he controls his domain.


    ¡°When I met a monster, and was about to die I took a desperate swing hoping for a quick kill when, POP, the light shone on my swords and beheaded the goblin.¡± Owen explained as he acted out the scene as we walk. After his demonstration, we walked in silence as I began to draw on my domain. Believing it has to do with trying to draw yourself out or something like that I began to make faces like I am constipated as I will every bush we cross to light on fire, or for a small flame to appear within my palm. No such luck.


    Having worked with trying to change my surroundings for the last two hours I could not help but notice the ending of the forest.


    ¡°Almost to Wakers Village!¡± Owen shouts.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here before?¡± I ask. Owen just nods and I soon see the village looming before my eyes and about a hundred yards away. Surrounding the wooden houses is an eight-foot wooden fence surrounding the village. A gate with two guards probably standing upon pillars watching the trail, or currently watching us. Owen just waves to the guards and then shouts once were about fifteen yards away from the gate.


    ¡°Sup! Think we could enter for a while to hunt the monsters in the forest!¡± Owen shouts up to the guards before they say anything.


    ¡°Ah, Owen, we¡¯ll open the doors in a sec, how has the hunting been?¡± The guard asked. Guessing the guard knows Owen I stay out of the conversation as the large wooden doors open outwards.


    ¡°Same old same old, just the out ring of the goblin city but hopefully that can be fixed with my new friend here!¡± Owen says it all with a small smile as he points to me. The guard having finally noticed me after talking with Owen just nods in my direction, not to be rude I do the same. Who knows if the dude is a psycho?


    With Owen and the guard finishing the conversation we enter the village and its much smaller than it looks. Just looking around there seems to only be two shops and an inn. A blacksmith and a leatherworker and all on the same main path. Owen just leads me straight to the inn.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay for the double bed room since it¡¯s only a copper a night here, food and drink not included but that¡¯s also cheap and we can make that much with four or five goblins tomorrow.¡± Owen mentions to me.


    ¡°Thanks, but how am I supposed to fight a goblin? I have no weapon and can¡¯t use my domain yet.¡± I reply but he just waves my words away with a slight gesture.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it I got you covered!¡± Owen replies as we enter the inn. The inn surprises me. The inside has wood in the coloring of pine, smoothed and glazed over making the light slightly reflect off the tables and counter. A large fireplace made of a rectangular looking shape made of brick about three feet long and two wide lays in the middle bringing unneeded heat but much needed light to the inn.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Owen walks up to the man manning the bar as I continue to gaze around me. Tomorrow I fight but today I began my adventure. If only I could use my domain¡­


    Owen finishes talking to the inn keeper and calls me over with a plate of chicken legs in each hand. Handing a plate over to me we find a seat. The chicken was delicious, pulling out my water skin Owen gave me I wash it all down and then lick the greasy deliciousness. The sky outside begins to grow dark as we chat about tomorrows goblin hunt. What I have to do, how I¡¯m going to get a weapon and how the best training is done through actual combat. I know how to use my fists, but to kill, not even close.


    A little after our tactic discussion I make way into our room and fall on one of the two twin sized beds. My eyes immediately close and my breathing becomes more even.


    Waking up to Owen¡¯s shaking. I push him off and say the classic line.


    ¡°Five more minutes¡­¡± All with a groan as I pull the sheets tighter around me.


    ¡°Well I guess you don¡¯t want a hot breakfast before hunting?¡± Owen asks. Opening one eye I see Owen¡¯s smug smirk. Usually this does not work but ever since coming here I feel like an even larger glutton then back on earth. Standing up slowly I say fine as I put on my own rough sown trousers and shirt. Climbing down Owen buys breakfast once again while I find a seat.


    Breakfast was just sausage and bacon which was delicious. Not long after Owen and I head into the forest once more, to the outskirts of the Goblin Town. Walking once more through the gates we reach the forest trail/road. About thirty minutes into our walk Owen makes a ninety degree left turn straight into the thick shrubs. Following behind I recall my appearance in the mirror after waking up. I look like Hellboy, somewhat. Instead of stubs my horns are full, my tail is eerily similar but without his control. However, I¡¯m thankful that my skin colored remains the same. White, but with a natural born tan. My quarter Asian heritage also came through as well. My slightly narrowed eyes with Asian hair lining my features. My nostrils are wide like an Asian. My bridge has the strong noble look of my white heritage. High cheek bones and a sharp define my facial features giving me a diamond shaped face. All in all, I look pretty handsome, not boy band or actor like but more along the lines of a fighter. Like boxing or UFC. Rough and rugged handsome or ¡®devil like handsomeness defines my features nicely. Disappointingly, my height of 5¡¯10 did not disappear. I¡¯m still short but with wide shoulders making me look short and stocky, like a dwarf.


    Well besides my height which I shall never mention again, Owen spots our first hunt. Three goblins on patrol it seems from the spears and swords in their hands. Owen begins to sneak closer. Ending about ten yards away from the current walking path he waits beside a tree to remain hidden. I unsheathe the dagger Owen is letting me barrow till I snatch a real weapon from one of these goblins soon to be dead hands. They¡¯re a few steps away from Owen¡¯s tree. I wait and watch as their thin legs get closer and closer.


    SPLAT


    There goes one goblin head. The other goblins don¡¯t even hesitate, they try to stab into Owen with their swords. Owen manages to swerve around him with his agile body and cuts another goblins head. The last goblin is holding a spear and seems to be keeping Owen from getting close. Deciding to join the fray, mentally preparing myself for the kill I attack. Having been no more than ten yards from Owen I arrived quickly and stabbed my dagger into the goblins thin neck. The slight resistance and the slight squishing sound reminded me of squeezing a wet sponge. This was my first kill but yet I don¡¯t feel anything besides not wanting the goblins blood to reach my hand. It sickened me to the core that I felt nothing. The most of what I could feel was like stepping on a cockroach. Just in this case the goblins neck was the roach and my dagger was the shoe. I give it minor thought once the deed is done and begin to loot this goblin as Owen loots the others. We also talked about the split in loot. Take what you kill.


    This works with me as I take the goblins spear which feels more like a large cane then a spear along with the goblins money pouch, I needed one of those. The pouch happened to have some worthless shiny material, not sure if it is sellable I keep it as I follow Owen deeper into the Goblin Town territory. Of course, I returned his dagger after I found a spear, no need to steal from maybe friends.


    The next three patrols ended the same way, Owen drew the attention and I stabbed from behind their backs. Two of those patrols had four goblins instead of three and I ended up killing 5 while Owen took eight but I still felt good about being to help at all. The feeling of killing the monsters has already passed, like I said for some reason it only felt like killing a cockroach, you feel bad before you do it but once the deed is done you just send it off with a wave as it spirals into the sewer. Not long after with hardly any sweat breaking from my skin while Owen needs a bath we reach Goblin Town. Five foot walls are what is supposed to keep the danger out, too bad for these little puke green beings that I used to hop fences taller than myself when I was fat and weighed two hundred and eighty pounds. These beings will help me make money and gain life or death experiences all in one. I¡¯m ready!

 Chapter 1.3

    Taking it easy we hop over the barrier quite easily. Passing a few rough looking branch huts that unluckily had no goblins or anything of value held within we continued. Of course, it is not long before a small bonfire appears in the middle of town along with fifty or so goblins surrounding it. Goblin¡¯s talking to each other could be seen and heard. Thankfully goblins have brains of monkey¡¯s. Their homes being placed wherever there was a space which allowed Owen and I easy hiding places. I can honestly say there is no way I can defeat so many goblins, hell, even Owen would have trouble facing more than ten alone. Giving Owen a glare I whisper my complaints.


    ¡°Ease up, I have some a plan.¡± This is Owens answer. If we don¡¯t make it through this I¡¯m dragging his sorry ass back to Tartarus.


    ¡°What is this amazing plan, then?¡± I whisper back to him. He gives me a sly smile while he takes out two spheres from his coin purse. Suddenly one begins to glow, then the second. He tosses each to opposite sides of the bonfire.


    ¡°Get down!¡± He whispers in a hiss. I watch like the newbie I am, ignoring his warnings. Suddenly I watch as the glow of the sphere begin to flow outward in quick slashes. In a three hundred sixty degree manner, I watched as more than half of the goblins are either killed or injured in matter of fifteen seconds. The goblins to shocked to move for at least ten caused even more deaths and wounded. The last five the goblins got the hint. I really want to ask Owen what he did but I have no chance as my head was spotted. The goblin shrill shriek draws the other goblins attention to myself. With no choice, I ready my spear as Owen holds his sword into hands with a heaving chest. The attack must have worn him out as I don¡¯t see his common grin anywhere in sight. He stares at the goblins in unrivaled concentration.


    Before I can do the same the first goblin strikes at me with his sword requiring him to use two hands. Dodging I thrust with my sharp cane which is considered a spear. The goblin having over swung loses balance which saved his life. Only for a second longer as the second thrust stabs into his chest about three inches deep. Now the whole horde of what¡¯s left is beginning to circle around us. I¡¯m not sure what to do next. Looking at Owen, he¡¯s preparing himself by making his sword glow. Not knowing my own domain, I can only grab my spear tighter. The horde comes upon us. I¡¯m terrified.


    Like a roller-coaster I release a war shout filled with fear as I charge into the fifteen to thirty goblins left. At first all I did was thrust and dodge. But my breath was getting faster and more uneven. The spear became a stick. Or a whacking staff. I no longer thrust. I just slash and hit everything around me. I watch as one goblin got hit by the staff part of my spear instead of the blade but he still went down from the inertia. I slash left and right. I¡¯m still hoping Owen is protecting my back, no spare time to look, only to slash. Back and forth. My body growing tired and I have only killed or incapacitated six. I just arrived in this world, if this was my old body I would have already died to exhaustion. Yet, I continue with my sweeping strikes. No rest for the wicked, or however the saying goes.


    The goblins remain in a semi-circle around me. Ever so slowly the step closer as my strikes become slower and lose their strength. Owen shouts something in the background but I can¡¯t comprehend. My mind is only doing one thing and that one thing is to keep my arms swinging the spear like a Warhammer. Three more go down before the last eight or ten goblins begin to gain on me. Stepping ever closer they then begin to charge. Not even capable of mustering the strength for a war cry full of fear I charge at them as if the air below my waist is honey. Yet I continue. Two of the remaining goblins thrust their own spears at me. The results sting but I hardly feel it with adrenaline running through my veins.


    Going back to old habits I throw a spear at one of the goblin spear holders. It goes through his side and he shrieks as the light of life leaves his eyes. Twisting myself around a sword slash I punch the goblin where a normal person would be knocked out due to a shaking brain. The goblin only sprawls before trying to get up. As three swords begin to thrust at my side I jump back falling on my back. The goblin who I just punched is about to grab his sword that five yards away from him and only three from my position. Half rolling and half sliding I manage to grab the hilt before the downed goblin. Stabbing into the goblins stomach I quickly pull the sword back out.


    ¡®Move! Don¡¯t stop moving!¡¯ The only thought in my mind. Legs dead tired, breath only rasps and the blood drenching my cheap medieval clothes are becoming dyed in crimson. Rolling away from the dying goblin I manage to get on my feet before I feel a thrust next to my head. It pierces my ear. The spear is pulled back as the remaining sword and dagger carrying goblins charge me, hate easily seen on their features as they snarl and growl.


    Slashing with my sword as the first goblin reaches me were both surprised as my sword overpowers his slash. Feeling slight resistance as the sword slashes down the goblins chest, it goes down in agony. The spear thrusted once more hits my arm in nearly the same area as the other wound. Glad the goblin is poor with his aim I¡¯m left with only two goblins. One holding a chipped and menacing looking dagger while the other holds his spear stained with blood. My blood.


    Beginning to feel light headed as my left arm is barely accepting my commands I wait for the goblins to move as I circle around them. Still terrified and dead tired I can only see myself dying after I kill one more but yet for the first time in my life I don¡¯t want to die, I want to accept my new reality. I don¡¯t want to smoke chemicals, I wish to breathe the fresh air of this world, go on adventures, worry about finding a girlfriend and losing my virginity, not that my partner will ever know that but for the first time in my life I feel my will. My will to survive and live. Not go through life with a foggy mind and expectations weighing me down. Or hoping for Armageddon or zombie apocalypses to destroy the world so I can enjoy life my way. No, I finally understand my will to become something, not just to survive, but to thrive in my new environment.


    The goblins charge as I muster up my own war cry full of my desires. Suddenly my body begins to feel less strained. I also watch as the goblins stop in confusion, staring at me with wide eyes. Then the charge forward once more. The goblin with the spear thrusts once close enough. Side stepping, I grab the goblin spear, at the blade. A hiss of pain forces me to let go. The dagger wielding goblin is about to stab my stomach. I jump to the side and fall on my ribs hard. My breath taken from the shock, I¡¯m stunned. Gasping for air. When I finally feel the air enter my lungs, I watch as the spear wielding goblin begin to throw his spear. With little choice, I toss my sword before rolling away as fast as I can to my right to end up smashing through a branch made hut. Full of minor cuts and scrapes my body keeps on rolling. Smashing through the other side I slowly get up but my second wind is calming down and I feel the fatigue once more.


    With no weapons on my person and the dagger wielding goblin charging my once more I send out a step behind side kick. A Tae kwon doe technique taught at the white belt stage. Beginners kick in other words but it still holds the potential energy before I release the kick into the goblins chest. Who knew goblins could make the best kicking bag for the less agile.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    The goblin goes flying as it drops its dagger in shock. Grabbing the letter opener sized dagger, I chase after the fallen goblin and stab it where it¡¯s heart should be if it was human all the while keeping well aware of the spear throwing goblin. Seemingly the goblin found his spear and is now charging alone. Its own shrill war cry reaches my ears. Wincing slightly from the shrill cry I wait for the goblin to come closer. Believing that I can dodge faster than the goblin can thrust I wait for the thrust.


    The Spear slashes my side mid twist (I should have stayed still¡­I¡¯m an idiot). Crying out in pain as the momentum carries me into the unsuspecting goblin. Falling on top of him with the dagger held in hand I slash its throat as I roar in triumph and pain. The blood loss begins to catch up to me. The pain on my side burning me, the world goes black.


    <u>  </u>


    <u>Owen</u>


    I watched as the remaining goblins from the spirit bomb attack circled us. The man next to me with the lazy god who didn¡¯t give him a name was seen first. Most of the left-over goblins head his way. counting fourteen forming a half circle around him, I watch as the other ten surround me. Having experience with goblins I know I can kill these ten with maybe a few injuries but the two spirit bomb attacks took a lot out of me. I¡¯ll consider getting out of this with a few scrapes as a miracle but I still send my spirit through my body and blade. The small skirmish begins.


    Slashing and thrusting I quickly kill three, then four, five, six. All in quick succession. Allowing my spirit to extend further from my blade for the extra three kills. My spirit begins to falter and a fog begins to muddle my mind, slowing my reaction speed, and making me lose hand eye coordination. That doesn¡¯t stop me from killing another leaving me with only three. My mind not so far gone I hear my companion behind me shout in pain but I can¡¯t lose my own focus. The goblins charge as I draw my spirit back into me. We exchange blows. I parry and counter. Feeling that the fight might not end soon due to my weakened state I shout at the man behind, hopefully he is watching my back as I am his.


    ¡°Hold a bit longer!¡± Is what I said. After killing another goblin leaving me with two when I unexpectedly hear a war cry followed not soon after by snapping of branches behind me, followed no more than two seconds after by another snapping sound of wood. A little worried but yet preoccupied with my own opponents I don¡¯t pay attention, I only care about killing my last two opponents.


    Killing the last two within the next twenty seconds I then hear a shout full of pain and triumph. Leaning on my sword I wait to catch a breath before I shout for my companion.


    ¡°You alright!¡± Waiting for a few moments but yet I hear nothing. Slowly catching my breath, I stumble through the branch huts looking for the man who I travelled here with. Finally finding him passed out on top of a dead goblin in its own pool of blood I see the state of my companion. His shirt dyed red along with minor scrapes and scratches along his body. Taking out a small wine skin I pour a couple drops into his mouth before feeding the goblin bonfire since the forest gets very dangerous at night.


    As the potion begins to work on the man and I¡¯m rested enough I begin to loot the dead goblins. Beginning to loot I can¡¯t help but be surprised with how well my companion did against the goblins. Even if they are the weakest, for a newbie not even two days old in this world to confront a group of goblins and win, this man can be very influential if he lives past the second continent.


    <u>  </u>


    Awaking with a minor headache I look around my surroundings. Seeing a bonfire which my body is next to along with a pile of goblin weapons and Owen sleeping next to them. Raising my left hand to cover I feel a slight stiffness but I could move it! Remembering the places where my injuries are, I find only slight scratches and stab wounds, as if I spent two weeks in bed healing. Not exactly sure how I could heal so fast especially when Owen mentioned there is no such thing as healing magic. Could it have been a potion? Like in the role playing online games I used to play?


    I can always get answers later but for right now I¡¯m starving even if my head feels like it¡¯s suffocating in a thick fog. Searching around for any sort of meal I spot a small pot. Inside of the pot is some brownish looking slop but I¡¯m so hungry I could eat vegetables with a smile. Using the ladle within the pot as a spoon I eat my fill. Of course, I squinted and almost barfed the nasty slop but it still went down and satiated my hunger. Beginning to feel tired I find my old spot and set in for the rest of the night.


    Morning arrives in which Owen wakes me. Seeing what is around me in daylight I can now see the weapons are piled on a thick blanket with enough room to be wrapped within the blanket. There is also some human looking armor on the pile as well. Owen hands me a bowl of something yellow. Taking a small nibble, I find it to be quite pleasant and begin to eat in earnest, even asking for seconds. Luckily, we managed to finish what Owen made (I hate wasting food).


    Owen then ties the four corners of the blanket together above the pile. Then tying two thick six foot ropes on the knot he hands me one rope and he takes another. No need to even ask what we¡¯re doing. Even if Owen didn¡¯t explain about the looting, it¡¯s easy see what we¡¯re doing.


    Preparing for the long trek back to Wakers. I can only wish we had some sort of ride. Dragging around fifty pounds or more of metal and leather is not fun, its hard work¡­fingers blistering up while sweat is drenching my back while Owen looks fit as a fiddle holding his rope. It wouldn¡¯t be till we got back to the village I learned he used his domain magic to strengthen his body. Life is and always will be unfair.

 Chapter 2.0

    Getting back was simple. Getting there in perfect shape is not so simple. Turns out this body might be my real age but the body still has the skin of a newborn, meaning I have no callouses from my previous life so when we returned my hands and feet had enough popped blisters to make even a monster to feel pity. But I digress. The pain sucks but the coins we will get from the goblin loot has my eyes shining in obvious greed. Dragging the weapons to the blacksmith we watch as the burly man shifts through the weapons with a slight frown but in the end, he just harrumphs.


    ¡°fifteen coppers for the armor and thirty five for all the weapons.¡± The price seems kind of low, like really low. Just a copper piece per goblin low. Owen doesn¡¯t look so happy with the price either.


    ¡°Make it sixty five for everything and you got a deal.¡± I said. Thinking this is the perfect time to bargain like in some of the fantasy books I read but Owen shoots me a glare and quickly speaks up.


    ¡°Fifty coins sounds good, we¡¯ll take it!¡± Now it¡¯s my turn to shoot Owen a glare. We are so getting underpaid for risking our lives, even if it is voluntary.


    The blacksmith grabs a coin pouch from somewhere behind him and tosses it over to Owen with an ugly grin and a wink at me. I wish I could hit the guy, winking at me like that? Oh no, I will get my revenge someday¡­if I remember him later.


    Owen just walks out of the shop and I follow. Not even fifteen steps away Owen whirls to face me.


    ¡°What the hell was that about!¡± I nearly shouted. Owen just sighs in his own disappointment.


    ¡°Bargaining in villages is a quick way to not make money. There is only oneper a profession andthe shop owner will just refuse to sell or buy from you and pass the word along to other shop ownersthat your cheap and some other untruthful rumors." Owen shakes his head slowly as he releases a sigh before continuing."Large towns and cities is where we can find a halfway decent price but large towns and any halfway decent city is in places for those of D ranks and better,¡± Owentakes a breathin the mist of his long-winded speech, takes a gulp of his water skin and begins, once again. ¡°We got a long way to go, no doubt about that but until were off this continent it¡¯s going to be dog eat shit type of world or at least that is what my God says.¡±


    Owen having finally finishes takes a few more gulps of his water skin after handing me twenty five coins as my share from yesterday. What Owen just said though is something to worry about but this is like the fiftieth time that Owen said his god told him something, when do I get conversations with my damn God!


    Just when will I be able to ask how I felt refreshed halfway through the battle or how to use his domains and so on¡­I have so many questions on how to get powerful but my main question is what the fuck am I supposed to do! Live life like Mary Poppins? Or Little Debbie as she stuffed her face in baked sweets? Do I just live life and the gods watch it as if I¡¯m the main actor in a movie or am I the side character that people forget? If we''re the Gods¡¯ entertainment then I guess we''re all the actors and the Gods¡¯ the audience, if what I¡¯m thinking is true I don¡¯t want to be stuck as some sort of side character everyone forgets two seconds after seeing them on screen. No, I want to be that guy, that guy who always looks badass evenwhen he fails, the same guy who makes all the bold and right decisions but most of all I want to be the guy that gets the girls, or even that one guy in Shameless who gets two girls!The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    If I managed to woo two women I could die happy, hell even just one is fine but it¡¯s still unlikely. I was the guy who didn¡¯t stand out, except for my size. The girls always wanted my best friend, he was skinny like a twig but he the boy band pretty boy looks that girls just can¡¯t help but like. Had I dropped eighty pounds back then I would look how I do now minus the horns and tail but I guess thinking of my previous life is pointless. I¡¯m never going to see anyone from their again, I mean hell, I was in Tartarus for who knows how long. Probably swirling around Zeus¡¯s papa. At least I don¡¯t have to worry about my looks anymore, I¡¯m skinny and I got the ruggedly handsome devil thing going for me and the best part I stayed my old skin tone. Slightly white with a good ole natural born tan. Damn, I¡¯m sad.


    Owen left me behind after giving me my share of the coins, where for the last two minutes I was looking off into the sky and thinking to myself. Realizing I¡¯m looking like I¡¯m mentally handicapped with drool escaping through the sides of my mouth I go to the inn where I find some paper and chalk. It¡¯s time to put my goals on paper while I remake my goals. Let¡¯s add women in there, take out this and that and done!


    No Name¡¯s Goals


    1) Get a name


    2) Learn how to use a weapon to some effectiveness


    3) Find and learn how to use my abilities


    4) Forget leather, it stinks to high hell, get bath looking robes. Comfortable/no stink and easy to toss over cotton clothes


    5) Become strong enough for girls to fall for me instantly.


    And rich, girls love money


    Having finally realized I have no name and I can¡¯t remember my old one I need to make one or find one, preferably a name that rolls right off the tongue, cool, and smooth. However, I¡¯m an idiot, writing with blistered hands is annoying. Yup, I am an idiot. Maybe I should run a name through Owen or I can start listing names but this can be done later since I have some money and I can nowfinally buy things. Preferably robes, bath robe style just without the sash, comfortable and convenient along with something I can just swing around. Swords require finesse, so do spears and staffs although staffs can become quite the whacker as seen in Lord of The Rings, well at least in the movies.


    Having wide shoulders, thick bones that make my arms look even larger, I need a Warhammer! Hell, my spear became a stick in my first fight in this world, I think a Warhammer can suite me quite well. I can just imagine myself now, with a sledge hammer looking hammer, just with a giant sledge on the end, like in the cartoons or the carnival strength test, I need a two-handed mallet yet light enough to keep smashing for as long as I need. Or a studded club, simillar to a bat, but won''t break. First, lets get comfortable clothes.


    Cross out three, check mark next to two. Done and done. Now I need a name, I¡¯m tired of ¡®HEY¡¯. My subsitute name is ''HEY'', and i''m tired of it butIt just feels so wrong giving myself a name.Makes onewonder if transvestites name themselves, or is ittheir lover? Well, a name, a name, and for god fucking sake,I need a name!

 Sorry, sorry, not a chapter

    Just realized I posted that in authors comment but I''m planning to have the mc have more personality, and with that a name, like in the previous chapter it was mentioned, if any got an idea, don''t be afraid to post it.


    so....need the rest of the characters for this chapter and I''m seriously hoping this giant word ramble to working to reach the goal, perhaps I might bring in giant dragons, hydras, elephants like in lord of the rings, couldn''t get into the books, don''t know why, haven''t tried since 13...If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    anyway sorry for the awful deceit and have a nice morning, evening, or night depending where your reading and thanks for enjoying!

 Chapter 2.1

    Lying in bed while thinking of names for myself, I find it to be incredibly hard.


    Pete, Joe, Greg, Craige, Rage, Iggy, Ziggy, Tom, Bob, Don, Dom, Dominic, Jake, Jacob¡­So many names but yet they all just sound so wrong! What if I mixed two names in one? Or favorite foods, name myself Pizza, who forgets pizza? Or Lasagna, sounds girly, never mind. This is all entirely impossible!


    Should I just ask Owen for help when I see him later? Nay. I¡¯ll come up with my own name but I just wish I could remember my own. How the hell can most of my memories disappear but all the meaningless movies and other things I did remain! I wish I could sucker punch God right now. But yet I digress, still wanting to hit a certain someone but yet I need a name more. What is the God supposed to say after I punch him?


    ¡°Hey you!¡± No, it needs to be more like, ¡°Joseph!!!¡± Nope, that name sucks.


    What about Nop, no, no not that one. I feel bad for the parents who have to come with names, but I¡¯m jealous of the newborns, there born with a blank slate, no memories, not knowing who they are¡­ Just a blank slate just like me. What about Slade, almost sounds like spade. But I think Slate might be better. The name could be used as a literal insult. Perfect.


    On second thought, perhaps not. Will I be good, bad, or neutral when I finally have the power to do what I wish? Of what I can remember of my last life, I am pretty damn lazy. I watched anime due to the numerous magical type shows. I watched movies to pass the time, illegally I might add and well, I liked to get high on man-made chemicals. I was a total couch potato, or driver seat potato. Love to sit in my damn truck and go to parties till glowing red and blue lights made everyone run, I always drove away perfectly fine.


    Was I good in my last world, no. That is an easy answer. Was I bad? Oh yeah. I robbed and ransacked houses to enjoy my shitty life. Did I remain neutral when bad things happened around me? Most definitely, what thief wants to be outed by their own kind, well at least in public, never trust a thief is something I learned, hell I don¡¯t even trust myself. Wonder where that thought came from?


    Anyways, I was not some perfect citizen, when someone passed out drunk, I would put them on their side or if someone turned blue due to overdose I threw them in a nearby dumpster and called 911 on their phone, if they did not have one, or a payphone was not nearby I brought them to a house and rang the doorbell over and over again till I saw a few lights appear in the windows, I then ran leaving the half dead there. I¡¯m not some hero, I¡¯m just the average teen who lived a shitty life in a shitty world. My adrenaline only pumped when I fought or when I did something considered illegal. I could only ever enjoy the shitty world when I was high or wasted. Now that I think about it, perhaps hitting the pole was more of my fault then the tires, maybe? All I know is that if I wasn¡¯t good and I wasn¡¯t neutral I deserved to be in Tartarus. If the Christian god was real then hell. I¡¯m full of sins. Greed, sloth, pride, wrath, and gluttony. Maybe a tiny bit of envy, if only I could inherit a fortune for an easy life.


    Perhaps I should name myself Sin? Seems simple, easy to remember and matches my personality pretty damn well. I won¡¯t be some weirdo saying I¡¯ll kill all the gods, but I do wish to have people fear me, like one of my favorite books once stated, ¡®there is no greater respect than fear.¡¯ Fear is what keeps people from messing with you or for those who are close to you. You don¡¯t see some gang boss mess with the mafia. The mafia scares people, even cops turn a blind eye unless there is solid evidence because they want protective vests at all times, plus mafia love their family, and they can pick and choose¡­sometimes.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Let¡¯s go with the example of a hero commanding an army against the undead lich, the army once seeing the destruction will run in fear. Even if the hero commands them to fight, they will just run for their lives, the lich will bite down on its pearly whites in absolute happiness. Fear truly is the greatest respect. No one will disrespect someone or something feared. Sin is easy and undeniably a name easy to remember and a name that can be grown to be feared.


    From this day forward I dub thyself, Sin, the one to be feared. Well the name can be worked on but I shall call myself Sin. Last name? Who the hell needs it, my name is already unique and even if it is not, I¡¯ll call myself Sin Bad. People will fear and monsters will run when they see me coming once I figure out my domains. Fire seems like a mage to me and desires, I have no clue where to start with that. Hopefully my domains give me the ability to be a mage, I always enjoyed the stories of magic killing thousands in wars and battles, but now that I think about it, perhaps I should say hidden in the wars or not fight at all.


    The rest of my plans can happen when I¡¯m stronger, when I finally get off this continent and join the people recognized as talented. That will be my first milestone and I¡¯ll go from there, by the end no one will not know the name of Sin Bad. My name is Sin and I¡¯m breaking bad. That defiantly sounds lousy, perhaps my fearful title will be my second?


    Tomorrow I¡¯ll get mage robes, find a blunt weapon, go hunting to become stronger, I¡¯m going to break the record for fastest A rank. I¡¯ll show the world and gods¡¯ all my talent, I¡¯m up for any challenge! Suddenly a laugh brings me from my thoughts.


    ¡°You wish for a challenge? So be it, you wish to be feared? Earn it.¡± The man who brought me to this world was standing behind me. His horns in fully glory, his eyes still peering as if into my soul, and his fangs still look menacing.


    ¡°I came here because you finally came up with a name and you used a domain during your pathetic skirmish with the weakest beings.¡± The god said. His face finally shows emotion as he sneers.


    ¡°My proxy, so weak, so fragile, and you think you can name give yourself a last name? Bad is not acceptable, Sin may be kept, it goes along with my duties anyway.¡± The man sighs loudly. I¡¯m to shocked to even mutter, he can hear my thoughts and I used a domain?


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a last name, only if you prove what you just claimed in your thoughts and your notes! You must also never wear anything but robes, fifty women must be able to fall in love with your power at first notice, use a weapon to a proficiency you can kill a dragon within ten minutes without use of domains.¡± The man is now smirking, and it looks completely evil.


    ¡°you must become strong enough in a domain to slay 250 men with one spell.¡± I¡¯m shocked, I have never heard him talk so much, sure this is only the second time, but before he was just...There?


    ¡°By the time you complete this you will be within the average rating of the second continent. This means you would be talentless if you don¡¯t succeed within the next six months. Three in this continent and three in the next. To fail, you will lose my sponsorship and be immediately sent back here to live your days as a peasant,¡± He breathes in, then sneers once more. ¡°Pass and you will not only receive a last name but you will step closer to your hidden desire of being feared.¡± The man disappears before I can even ask anything, not even in smoke.


    If only the man told me how I used my domain or even when. Can¡¯t be fire or I would have noticed the flames, is it desire? Then my goals turned against me like that? The man is just too damn cruel and unusual. Fifty women, 250 people in one spell, and kill a dragon using only a melee weapon? The man is insane but it seems I have no choice, I have no wish to lose my chance for a life of excitement, a life I can build where position does not matter, but rather what you want. Bad will no longer be part of my name. From now on Sin will be my name and one day all who I do not love, will fear me, this I vow.


    By all, does that mean the gods¡¯? God, I hope not.