The truck jolted to a halt, the sudden stop nearly sending crashing into the tal bars.
Around , the other hostages stirred, so groaning in pain while others sat silently, their faces pale and defeated.
The engine sputtered, then went quiet, leaving an eerie silence that was soon filled with the guttural growls and hisses of the goblins outside.
The driver leapt down, growling and gesturing wildly, as though berating the rusted beast for its betrayal.
Around , the other hostages shifted uneasily, glancing at each other with pale faces.
Through the gaps in the truck, I saw a Orc, a hulking brute with mismatched armor and a crude wrench in its clawed hand, examining the engine.
It barked orders in its guttural language, and two smaller goblins scrambled to assist, their clumsy movents almost comical if not for the situation.
A sharp command echoed, and the cage door swung open with a screech.
One by one, we were herded out like cattle, rough hands shoving us into a small clearing.
The forest surrounded us, dark and humid, the air thick with the earthy sll of moss and decaying leaves, and the distant sounds of unseen creatures added an unsettling backdrop to the scene.
They herded us into a rough circle by the roadside, their yellow eyes scanning us like predators watching their prey.
One goblin, larger than the rest and looked more older, it was wearing a filthy vest that suggested so kind of rank, crouched beneath the truck.
It seed to know what it was doing, or at least more than the others.
I sat on the damp ground, my hands resting on my knees.
The others were quiet, their fear a tangible weight in the air.
My mind, however, was working furiously.
My plan was in motion, but I needed an opening.
I scanned my surroundings, noting the positions of the goblins and the way they moved.
The goblins were distracted, their crude weapons slung carelessly over their backs.
Two of them stood nearby, glaring at the group with expressions that would have been intimidating if they didn’t look so... dim.
I pushed myself to my feet, brushing dirt off my pants.
A few of the hostages looked up, their eyes wide with fear, but I ignored them.
My focus was on the two goblins, their beady eyes darting around nervously.
"Hey!" I called out, raising a hand as if surrendering.
The goblins turned toward , their heads tilting in confusion.
I approached them slowly, keeping my movents deliberate and non-threatening.
"I need to... you know," I said, miming the act of relieving myself.
The goblins stared at blankly, their expressions unreadable.
I sighed, pointing to the trees.
"Ease myself? Nature calls?"
One of the goblins hissed, waving its weapon, a crude spear, in my direction.
The other seed more curious than hostile, cocking its head as it watched .
I shrugged, feigning indifference.
"Look, I’m not trying to escape. Where am I gonna go? Just let do my business, alright?" I said, pointing toward the trees. "I need to go,"
I mid the act of relieving myself, exaggerating the motion for emphasis.
The goblins stared at , uncomprehending.
I sighed dramatically, repeating the motion with more urgency.
One of them tilted its head, exchanging a glance with the other.
They muttered sothing in their harsh language, but I could see the confusion in their eyes.
They didn’t understand , and that was exactly what I was counting on.
I put on my best sheepish expression, clasping my hands together as if pleading.
"Just let go for a minute. You don’t want doing it here, trust ."
After a tense mont, the curious goblin grunted and waved off, muttering sothing to its companion.
I nodded in thanks, making a ntal note of their stupidity as I walked toward the trees.
Once I was out of their line of sight, I ducked behind a thick trunk and summoned Ori.
The black wolf appeared silently in a swirl of black mist, its form coalescing into the familiar shape of a sleek black wolf.
Its piercing eyes locking onto mine.
"Stay in your mist form," I whispered. "Surround and keep hidden."
Ori obeyed without hesitation it dessolved into a cloud of dark vapor, swirling around like a living shadow.
The darkness clung to like a second skin, muffling my footsteps and blending seamlessly into the surrounding shadows.
I moved carefully, my eyes scanning the goblin camp as I crept toward the second truck.
The goblins were too preoccupied to notice as I passed them.
Or maybe they couldn’t notice .
Their guttural voices blending with the sounds of the forest, it was too easy to evade them.
The second truck lood ahead, its bulk silhouetted against the dim forest light.
Reaching the second truck, I noticed two goblins were there chatting secretly in their unknown language.
"Ori, can you take them out," I muttered.
The darkness left and passed them like a ghost with incredible speed.
The goblins instantly fell.
And the darkness returned back to .
I stared at them a bit surprised, I expected Ori to attack them and deal so physical damage like a wolf should do.
I walked closer to the two bodies, and noticed sothing.
They weren’t knocked out.
They were totally dead.
Suddenly a system screen appeared.
[Ding!]
[Your Ta (Ori), Has Made It First Kill]
[Ding!]
[Your Ta (Ori), System Has Successfully Activated]
"Huh..!"
[Ding!]
--------
Na: Ori
Master: Sky
Title: Spawn Of A Null
Rank: Null
Abilities:
Fear Manipulation: The ability to exploit opponents’ deepest fears against them.
Ethereal Form: Transformation into a black mist, rendering it untouchable.
Infinite Expansion: The capacity to grow in size without limit.
Absolute Self-Resurrection: the ability to instantly restore itself from any damage or death, regardless of the ans of complete destruction or erasure, it will be able to return, and this power cannot be removed by any ans from it, making permanent death impossible.
Miasmic Affliction: Manipulation of black mist that infects and dooms those who linger within it.
Existence Rend: The ability to attack an enemy’s fundantal essence.
Energy Negation: The capability to nullify any energy-based attacks.
-------------
Damn.... Ori abilities are... too cool.
But sothing bothered , which is why Ori system just activated.
Does that an Ori system was locked.
If it was, I think it’s because Ori was sealed before.
But, that seriously prevented from knowing more about Ori...
Well now that I know, I will be able to use Ori correctly during combat or other things.
Like beating people.
But unfortunately i don’t have much ti left to ask myself more questions.
I quickly slipped inside the truck, Ori’s mist masking my presence.
The interior was cluttered with crates and strange items, the sll of damp wood and sothing sickly sweet filling the air.
My eyes scanned the interior, and there it was, a row of green canisters, glowing faintly in the dim light.
The healing potion.
This was it.
The reason I’d let myself be captured in the first place.
I crouched beside the canisters, picking one up carefully.
The liquid inside shimred, its erald hue almost hypnotic.
I unscrewed the cap, and the faint, herbal scent that wafted out was enough to make my stomach growl.
I brought it to my lips and drank slowly, the cool liquid sliding down my throat.
Almost imdiately, I felt it, a warmth spreading through my chest, dulling the pain in my ribs and easing the ache in my limbs.
After drinking half the potion, I capped the canister and slipped it into my spatial inventory.
I didn’t collect only one...
I collected all of them.
I couldn’t afford to leave them, who knew when I’d need it again?
I left the truck as quietly as I had entered, the mist still cloaking .
But as I approached the clearing.
A chill ran down my spine.
Sothing was wrong.
The air was still, the usual chatter of the goblins replaced by an eerie silence.
I stepped into the clearing.
And what I saw made my heart sink.
The goblins and hostages were all dead.
Bodies lay strewn across the ground, their lifeless eyes staring into nothing.
Blood pooled around them, dark and sticky against the earth.
Amidst of the dead corpses a figure stood.
The figure slowly turned to my direction, and said.
"It looks like one mogrel is remaining"
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