When gamer geek Ryota gets zapped into his favorite MMORPG, he's no longer slaying dragons; he's dodging angry mobs as the world's grumpiest goblin!
With allies like half-elf archer Lia, who's better with snark than a bow, and Toshi, a mage who thi...
Ryota groggily opened his eyes, squinting against the bright rays of sunlight that pierced through the thick canopy of trees above. He was surrounded by a dense forest, its atmosphere heavy with mist and the scent of earth. Pushing himself up, he was immediately struck by how close the ground felt. "What a weird dream..." he murmured, scratching his head.
But as he looked at his hands, Ryota froze. These weren't the hands he recognized. They were gnarled, greenish, and rough. He frantically searched for a reflective surface, and his eyes settled on a small, clear pond nearby. Approaching it, he was met with the reflection of a goblin staring back at him. "No way... this can't be happening," he whispered in horror.
His internal panic was interrupted by distant voices. Straining his newfound pointed ears, he picked up the conversation of two hunters discussing a fresh spawn of goblins and the lucrative bounty they could collect. His heart raced. "Goblins? Bounty? I need to escape... now."
Using his in-game knowledge, Ryota carefully evaded the hunters, astonished by his goblin agility. But in his haste, he stumbled upon a magic trap which burst into flames.
Emerging from the smoke, a disheveled figure coughed. His unkempt brown hair hung loosely around his face, framing a pair of mischievous, twinkling eyes. Dressed in a robe that had seen better days, with patches and frayed edges, the man looked out of place in the dense forest. "Who triggered my campfire spell prematurely?" the man exclaimed. It was Toshi, the mage.
Ryota, desperate for allies, quickly explained his situation. Toshi, ever the goofy optimist, found the entire scenario both puzzling and amusing. "You, a player turned goblin? This I have to see!" Toshi remarked, chuckling. "But first, let's get some food."
Toshi began chanting, drawing a circle in the dirt. A grand gesture later, and... a pile of berries appeared. "It's a... light snack," Toshi said, a tad sheepishly.
They were interrupted by a sudden net dropping over them. Hunters burst from the trees, weapons drawn. Ryota's heart sank, but before the hunters could celebrate their catch, an arrow whizzed past, barely missing one of them.
From the shadows emerged a figure with a distinct, almost regal presence. Lia stood tall, her long silver hair cascading down her back, catching the soft glimmers of the setting sun. Her half-elven heritage was evident in her slightly pointed ears, which peeked out from her hair, and the almond-shaped, piercing blue eyes that surveyed the scene with caution and precision. Dressed in fitted leather armor adorned with subtle silver embroidery, she looked every bit the skilled archer.
A stern voice echoed, "Leave them be!" Emerging from the shadows, with a bow in hand, was Lia. A fierce skirmish ensued. With Lia's expert archery, Toshi's unpredictable spells, and Ryota's newfound agility, they managed to fend off the hunters.
Lia approached, her gaze fixed on Ryota. "A goblin? And you?" she said, pointing at Toshi, "A mage who can't even conjure a proper meal?"
Toshi grinned, "It's a work in progress."
The chapter concluded with the trio, bound by circumstance, deciding to join forces. With the promise of adventure ahead, they set off, not fully grasping the epic journey that awaited them.
---------------------------------------------
Concept Art for Lia:
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
