Kael's first sensation was pain—a dull, throbbing ache that pulsed through his entire body, as if his bones had been rearranged and his flesh stitched anew. His eyelids fluttered open, greeted by the dim, flickering light of a torch casting jagged shadows across a damp stone wall. The air was thick with the stench of decay, sweat, and something faintly metallic. He groaned, his voice a rasping croak, alien to his ears. Where was he? His mind scrambled, piecing together fragments of memory: the screech of tires, the blinding pain of impact, the cold asphalt beneath him as life slipped away. He had died. He was sure of it.
Yet here he was, alive, sprawled on a pile of filthy straw in what looked like a crude, underground hovel. His limbs felt wrong—too short, too wiry. Panic surged as he pushed himself up, his hands brushing against rough, greenish skin. Green? His heart pounded as he stumbled toward a cracked, tarnished mirror propped against the wall, its edges chipped and its surface smeared with grime. It was probably stolen, he thought absently, a merchant's prize now relegated to this dank hole.
The reflection staring back at him was not his own. A grotesque creature with pointed ears, a bulbous nose, and beady red eyes gawked at him. His skin was a sickly green, his teeth jagged and uneven. A goblin. He was a goblin. Kael's breath hitched, his clawed fingers trembling as they traced the unfamiliar contours of his face. "No… this can't be real," he whispered, his voice a guttural rasp.
Before despair could fully take hold, a sharp ding echoed in his mind, like the chime of a distant bell. A translucent blue screen materialized before his eyes, glowing faintly in the gloom. Words scrolled across it in crisp, white text, as if etched by an unseen hand.
Welcome, Host Kael, to the Evolution System.
Kael blinked, his panic momentarily eclipsed by confusion. "Evolution… System?" he muttered, his goblin voice grating against his ears. The screen responded, its text shifting seamlessly.
The Evolution System is designed to aid your survival and growth in this world. As a Common Goblin (Rank F), you are among the weakest creatures. However, through the System's functions, you can evolve, grow stronger, and reshape your destiny. Below are your available functions:
[Status] - View your current level, skills, monster rank, and statistics (Ranked F to SSS).
[Shop] - Purchase items, skills, and enhancements using Evolution Points.
[Inventory] - Store non-living items with infinite capacity.
[Evolve] - Evolve your form and abilities by accumulating 1000 Evolution Points. Points are earned through defeating enemies (monsters, humans, etc.), consuming their remains, or siring offspring with female goblins or humans.
Current Evolution Points: 0
Kael's mind reeled. A system? Like some kind of game? He'd read enough web novels in his past life to recognize the concept, but living it was another matter entirely. He focused on the first option, willing the system to respond. "Status," he said aloud, his voice tentative.
The screen flickered, and a new display appeared:
Name: Kael
Race: Common Goblin
Rank: F
Level: 1
Statistics:
Strength: F
Agility: F
Intelligence: E
Endurance: F
Magic: N/A
Skills: None
Evolution Points: 0
Kael stared at the pitiful stats. A Common Goblin, the lowest of the low. He recalled the system's words: goblins were the weakest monsters in this world, hunted for their skins and… other reasons. A chill ran down his spine as he remembered the system's mention of siring offspring. In his past life, he'd heard tales of goblins in fantasy worlds—mindless brutes driven by instinct. But as he took in his surroundings, the crude bedding, the stolen mirror, the faint murmurs of guttural voices beyond the hovel's walls, he sensed something different. These goblins weren't just beasts. They had reasoning, purpose, even if it was primitive.
He shook his head, trying to focus. The system was his lifeline. If he was stuck in this body, in this world, he needed to survive. And to survive, he needed to evolve. The thought of killing or… impregnating others made his stomach churn, but he pushed it aside. First, he needed to understand his situation.
Stepping cautiously toward the hovel's entrance, Kael peered out. The settlement was a chaotic sprawl of crude huts and burrows carved into a rocky hillside. Goblins scurried about—some carrying crude weapons, others dragging sacks of what looked like stolen goods. Their movements were purposeful, not the frenzied chaos he'd expected. A few glanced his way, their red eyes narrowing with suspicion or indifference. Kael ducked back inside, his heart racing. He was weak, vulnerable, and in a world where goblins were prey.
The system chimed again, unprompted.
Quest Alert: Survive Your First Day
Objective: Avoid death for 24 hours.
Reward: 50 Evolution Points, Basic Weapon (Shop Unlock).
Failure: Death.
Kael's lips twisted into a grim smile. "Great. Survive. Easy enough, right?" he muttered, though the weight of his new reality pressed down on him. He opened the [Shop] function, curious. A list of items appeared, each with a price in Evolution Points:
Rusty Dagger: 50 Points
Leather Scrap Armor: 75 Points
Minor Healing Potion: 100 Points
Skill: Stealth (F): 200 Points
The list went on, but everything was out of reach with his zero points. He closed the shop and checked [Inventory], finding it empty. The [Evolve] function was grayed out, a mocking reminder of his current weakness. "One thousand points to evolve," he muttered. "Killing, eating, or… yeah, not thinking about that last one yet."
A sudden shout from outside snapped him out of his thoughts. "Kael! Get out here, you lazy runt!" The voice was guttural, commanding. Kael's goblin instincts twitched, urging him to obey, but his human mind resisted. He wasn't just a goblin. He was Kael, and he had a system. Whatever this world threw at him, he'd find a way to rise above it—or at least survive the day.
Steeling himself, he stepped out into the settlement.