Chapter 106: Training

Barely more than a few hundred long-strides into the fungal fields that surrounded the dwarven city, Kaius spotten his first goblin. It was a good way off, far enough that it wouldn’t notice them unless they actively tried to get its attention.

It was an ugly, wretched thing. Dressed in little more than rotting cotton and scavenged burlap, it looked even more twisted and malnourished than the standard hordelings that lurked in the city proper.

Holding a bare sheet of metal, roughly hacked and sharpened into the shape of a machete, it prowled through the fields, inspecting the dizzying array of fungi before occasionally stopping by a choice specimen to crudely chop off a chunk and then depositing it in the basket on its back.

He doubted it would last more than an eyeblink in open combat with him. Especially now, after everything. He could feel the power that thrummed through his body. More than just the quantifiable increase from his latest Honour, his new beast blood ran hot with the violent joy of the hunt. Strengthening him, even as it enticed his Bloodsong.

A perfect opponent to train his Lesser Regeneration. Unlike the rest of his skills, it required him to actually get hurt, which meant the most effective thing to do would be to at least remove his cuirass.

In the city, that would be far too risky. With the goblins congregating in gangs, he would have no way of controlling the chaotic melee. A duel with an inferior opponent was far, far better.

He stopped, Porkchop pulling up beside him as he felt his intentions through their bond.

“This the one?”

“Yeah,” Kaius nodded, undoing the buckles of his armour. He pulled it free, allowing the weighty scale to drop to the earth with a clatter of metal on metal. Then he removed his reinforced jacket. While it was thin enough that it wouldn’t hamper his efforts, he saw no reason to get it bloody and torn.

The jacket joined the cuirass. “Stay here and watch my stuff, would you?” Kaius said, stepping forwards.

Porkchop chuffed, and Kaius felt his friend settle down next to his gear. “Put on a good show!” he called from behind him.

Kaius simply shook his head and smiled, keeping his eyes locked on the half-starved form of the working goblin serf. He focused his True Sight, bringing up the depths-born’s status.

Goblin Serf – Level 14:

Depths-born, Low Race

He whistled, a piercing and pure note cutting through the air. The goblin’s head snapped towards him, a vicious snarl revealing chipped and blackened teeth as it let out a guttural growl. Slinging the basket off its back, and spilling its cargo of fungi as it did so, the depths-born scampered towards him.

Kaius’s heart thumped, a wry smile crossing his face as the cool air of the cavern brushed against his skin, heightening his senses and juxtaposing the rushing heat that coursed through his veins.

This was going to be fun.

With a flicker of intent, he cranked True Vision higher, boosting his acuity until his head began to throb. Immediately the goblin was thrown into a stark relief. Even half a field away, he could see the years of dirt that had been worked into its skin, the hard calluses and ropey scars from a life of forced labour, and the way each thread in its garb was fraying.

It was a lot, more than he had ever tried to bear in combat before. He needed to do it. If he never pushed his limits to the skill, it would only ever be a useful scouting tool. A waste of its full potential.

He started to jog, arms pumping. A Father’s Gift stayed firmly nestled in its sheath, using his blade would defeat the purpose of what he wanted to do. Afterall, you couldn’t get stabbed if you parried, and he wasn’t trying to kill the depths-born. At least, not yet.

They met in the middle, the goblin throwing itself forward with a howl and a thrust. Kaius watched the blade, his mind racing as his eyes drank in every detail they could. It was slow, almost like the depths-born were moving underwater.

Dodging would have been simplicity itself. Hell, the danger sense of his last legacy skill didn’t even flare.

He stepped in, pivoting slightly, pulling his torso just to the left.

The shard of rusted iron that the goblin used as a machete sunk into the left of his abdomen, a handspan above his hip. Kaius grunted, observing the stride of metal that had impaled him with clinical detachment. It was cold, if only just for a moment before the wound started to burn.

A confused expression briefly crossed the goblin’s face, as if it was surprised at its success. Kaius suspected it was too used to failure in all aspects of its mockery of a life. Then the power of the Depths reasserted itself over its creation, the creature’s face twisting with rage as it yanked its blade free.

Kaius grunted, the rusted and pitted metal catching torturously on the edges of his split flesh. Thick blood welled up from the wound, trickling free with unnatural slowness. His Health ignited, rushing to the ragged tear in his flesh to reknit him back to wholeness.

It itched terribly.

**Ding! Lesser Regeneration has reached level 15!**

Screaming a war cry, the goblin rushed in once more, turning into a wild and uncontrolled swing that it put the full weight of its body behind. Kaius brought his hands up, using his vambrace to protect his face. His helmet could deal with the rest.

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Rolling in and under the cut, the crude machete tinked off his arm guards in a shower of sparks, skittering down the plate and scale to cut deeply into the muscle of his shoulder. Kaius felt his arm slacken, drooping slightly as the damaged muscle struggled to hold up the weight.

The goblin howled in glee. The sight of his blood seemed to have incensed the beast into a manic frenzy. Nearly foaming at the mouth, it drew back and flew into another horizontal chop towards his belly.

Kaius stepped back, bringing his leg up into a pugilists guard. The machete slammed into his leg, deflecting off his shinbone to leave a flap of meat hanging free. Kaius grit his teeth through the pain, pushing through it with ease. Compared to having his chest caved in by a Champion, this was nothing.

More Health rushed in, skin, muscle, and fat wriggling as they sealed themselves shut with nauseating agility.

It was probably enough for now, taking any more wounds before he had healed risked leaving him weak enough that he would struggle to defend. Not that he thought he would be in real danger, but it would be bloody embarrassing if Porkchop saw that. He’d never hear the end of it.

He snapped out with his wounded leg, cool air stinging the exposed interior as he booted the rabid goblin full in the chest. With his newly empowered strength, and the goblins small and withered body, he sent the beast flying back to fall into a twisted tangle of limbs.