Mention how Naruto always knew Spear of End ever since he became a variant and use the explanation about magic from chapter 10. Maybe make it so getting the druid job unlocked healing magic.
Hey everyone, MagmaKyuubi here with a new chapter. Sorry I'm late, but I did end up writing around 13K words, I just need to get into the habit of writing daily, even if it's just a bit.
So, I will be replying to a few reviews in the beginning (By the way, I really like reading comments, so please leave some). Also, I changed a few things in previous chapters, they'll be listed in the Author's Notes.
BBWulf: Don't worry, the party system will be very limited, as you'll see in this chapter. Still, if it doesn't really work, everyone please tell me. It's better to deal with issues early on.
Snake551g: Yeah, they're very different characters, so the way they react to things will be very different. Some things will seem a bit OOC for Naruto, mainly because you can't really write a fanfiction without the character changing a bit. The fic will follow the plot for the next chapter or two, but since Naruto will definitely make different choices and decisions than Rou, it will start differing. Right now, it will be slightly similar, but starting next chapter, the way they act and react to things will be very different.
GhastlyRedacted: Yeah, right now Naruto is pretty much reacting to everything going on around him. And yeah, you will start seeing the Gamer taking a bigger role in the fic, with extra quests and rewards, and things will start differing significantly.
As usual, my Author's Notes will be at the bottom of the chapter.
I don't own Naruto or Re: Monster or any other Anime/Manga or other references I use.
Regular Speech - "Rasengan!"
Thoughts - 'Nani!'
The Gamer - [Level Up!]
Chapter 3: Reunions and Magic
Day 14
When he woke up, Naruto found out that his body had grown and that his skin had turned black. Swiping away the morning message, he saw another notification that explained what happened.
[Rank Up]
Goburuto has successfully evolved into [Hobgoblin – Variant]!
Goburuto has obtained the Perk [Divine Protection of the Great God of Origin and Demise]!
Goburuto has obtained the Skills [Origin Magic] and [Demise Magic]!
[Divine Protection of the Great God of Origin and Demise: You have gained the blessings of the Great God of Origin and Demise, granting you the power to utilize Origin Magic and Demise Magic.
[Origin Magic] and [Demise Magic] Skills
[Origin Magic] (Passive, Lvl: Max): Rather than grant spells, this magic instead grants the ability to easily learn many things including but not limited to any magic. This magic also grants a significant boost to the user's memory. This magic can only be obtained through the [Divine Protection of the Great God of Origin and Demise].
[Demise Magic] (Active, Lvl: 1): A powerful magic system, obtainable only by through the [Divine Protection of the Great God of Origin and Demise, it allows the user to destroy anything and everything they desire. Using it showcases that its user possesses the blessings of the Great God of Origin and Demise. It's quite difficult to learn and master, but its sheer power is unmatched in the world.
'So that's what the message from last night was about. Good thing I accidentally accepted the [Rank Up].' Naruto thought as he swiped away the windows blocking his vision, 'I may not know how to perform magic, so I won't be able to use [Demise Magic]. It's a bit annoying, but the entire thing sounds just too powerful. I was also given a warning about it, like something bad will happen if people know about it, I wonder why?'
Despite knowing the spells [Healing Hands] and [Repair, Naruto learned them through Skill Books, meaning he knew nothing about magic. He only knew how to cast the spells themselves. He'd already decided to learn more about magic and how spells work, if only to try and remake some of his old techniques, so it didn't really bother him too much.
Looking around, he saw that Gobukichi had also evolved into a hobgoblin, so he probably also reached level 100 yesterday. His body looked much more human-like, but his skin was still green. His face was still plain and his eyes empty, but he now had brown hair covering the top of his head.
"Are you really Goburuto?" Gobukichi asked him.
"Well, yeah, more or less." Naruto replied while scratching his cheek. Wondering how he looked, he found the crude knife he kept near him. It was now too small for him, but he was able to use it as a mirror. The face he saw in the knife's reflection was one he was very familiar with, it was his human face, whisker marks included.
What happened was so amazing that it scared him a bit. Overnight he had grown to about 170 cm tall and he could tell that his powers and abilities had powered up. His body also felt much stronger than before, but he still didn't feel any muscle pain or soreness or anything of the sort. Eating a bug, Naruto calmed down from the strange high he was experiencing, and Gobukichi and him went to hear more of Gobujii's wisdom.
He actually learned quite a bit from the elderly goblin, things that he was really glad to know about. He already knew what the [Divine Protection of the Great God of Origin and Demise] did, but the old goblin's explanation on blessings was really informative.
Blessings from gods can generally provide a few benefits to their owners, such as granting a significant boost to attributes like strength or magic, grant specialized types of magic, or bestow a nigh-unbreakable weapon with great power and unique abilities. However, it is rare for a blessing to encompass more than one or two of these effects.
He also learned that all goblins evolve into hobgoblins, which are oddly similar to humans in appearance and physique. The reason Gobukichi and him have different coloured skin is because Naruto's a variant. A variant is stronger than the normal specimens of the species, but they're rare due to requiring special conditions to be met.
Black is the colour of one of the old great gods, the one that governs origin and demise and that gives him the ability to use [Demise Magic, but he already knew that. What was really important from Gobujii's lecture, was learning that someone might want to capture him for possessing the great god's blessing, or really the blessing of various gods.
"You guys have ranked up within a month of being born. Everything about you is weird..." Gobukichi told them, explaining that of the forty goblins that left the cave, only three were hobgoblins.
Now that the two of them hold the top ranks in the community, that gives them the privilege of freely using the treasure room and the human women. Of course, Naruto wasn't going to do the latter thing, but some of the weapons might be really useful, especially since he can use [Repair] to fix them up.
However, for now, he needed to hide the signs of the great god's protection, so he began working on making some clothes. He only managed to make two pairs of shorts, before he was interrupted by Gobukichi.
"Ah, just in time Gobukichi. I'm making new pants, so I'll need to know what siz..."
"Goburuto, I want to know, just how strong I've become." Gobukichi interrupted him, "Let's fight!"
That made Naruto smile, since he also wanted to test out his new strength. So, instead of hunting, Naruto spent the day sparring with Gobukichi to test out their new bodies. There was obviously no way Naruto would lose, he simply had too much experience, especially in taijutsu, but it was clear that Gobukichi simply had more raw strength. Maybe if he used some of his skills, he could match him, but with his growth, Gobukichi was naturally a better tank and damage dealer.
They were thankfully wearing the shorts he made, which really functioned more like boxers to the duo. After spending the first half of the day sparring, Naruto ended up crafting some new gear for them and adjusting their older equipment. Some of the other goblins brought them some food to eat, but Naruto was still pretty antsy.
There was still some light out, so he decided to head out to the forest to clear his head. Gobukichi had fallen asleep after he finished eating, and Gobumi was busy practicing with her sling staff. Seeing her two hunting partners rank up must have lit a fire under her, so Naruto decided to not bother her.
He ended up leaving by himself, which wasn't a big deal, since he was just going for a walk. He might hunt down something if he feels a bit peckish, but considering his abilities and his stronger body, there wasn't anything that could challenge him in this section of the forest.
He had put on the clothes he had just made, which mainly consisted of a pair of pants over his boxer shorts, a shirt and a vest over it. He also had a belt that looped around his waist a few times, with parts designed to hold sheaths for weapons or hooks for pouches and bags. He also made some fingerless gloves using the Night Viper skin, hoping to use its tough hide to deflect attacks.
While walking he decided to look into the reward that he got from completing the quest, [It's Time to Rank Up]. He minimized the screens, something he figured out a few days ago, in the morning, so he just opened them back up and began reading through them.
[Party System]
Why live through life alone, when you can have companions to assist you. This is the purpose of the [Party System, to grant the Gamer System to your fellow part members. Their version won't be as powerful as yours, but they will still benefit greatly from it.
A portion of all the XP you earn will be distributed among your party members, and the same will happen to them, allowing you all to grow stronger at the same time.
There are additional benefits to having a party, such as the removal of language barriers between members and the ability to communicate over long distances through group messages.
Due to the restrictions placed by ?, you may only have 1 party member at this time, and beware that once a party member is chosen, only death will remove them from your party.
"That's pretty useless..." Naruto grumbled to himself, upset at the lacklustre reward. He already knew what a party was, having seen it in previous games, but his version was nowhere near as useful. The biggest problem was the fact that he could only have one other party member, and he couldn't remove them after inviting them. Deciding that he might as well ignore this part of his abilities, he wasn't too surprised by another screen popping up after swiping the previous one away.
[Quest Alert!]
[Party Formation]
You have gained access to the [Party System]! Now, invite someone into your party to share with them the benefits from having the Gamer System.
Main Objective: Invite Party Member
Rewards: Random Skill Book
Failure: N/A
[Accept / Decline]
Naruto wanted to decline the quest, as the possible reward of a random skill book wasn't enough to make up for the limitations of the [Party System]. However, he couldn't decline since the button was greyed out, so he accepted the quest while grumbling to himself.
He noticed that he was near the creek, and figured that he might as well, follow it up to the river and see if he can get himself some fish to eat. After finally reaching the river, which was thankfully not too far away, Naruto saw a creature he didn't recognize drinking from the river.
It had had red fur and as he came closer, he saw that it had three tails waving about behind it. What he saw shocked him to his core, and it wasn't the creature's rabbit-like ears, despite its vulpine body, that shocked him. Rather, it was the floating name above it that shook him to his core.
KuramaLvl. 14
Naruto didn't believe it. His friend, his best friend really, considering Sasuke killed him. The person who had been with him since the day he was born, and the person who was with him through thick and thin. He honestly thought that he'll never see him again, and Naruto couldn't just accept what he saw. Stating [Observe] aloud, not noticing the three tailed fox turning towards him with a growl and glistening fangs, and then freezing as it saw him.
Name: Kurama
Race: 3-Tailed Demon FoxLevel: 14
Title: Kyūbi no Kitsune
Perks: [Demon Fox, [Remnant of Divinity, [Strongest Tailed Beast]
The most powerful of the tailed beasts, Kurama or more commonly known as the Kyūbi. Created by the Sage of Six Paths from the Ten Tails Chakra, Kurama hated humans after centuries of being regarded as a mindless monster and sought after as a tool of war. Eventually sealed into Naruto Uzumaki, this young boy managed to change his cynical perspective of the world and befriend the mighty being. He chose to reincarnate alongside his best friend, after they died fighting.
"Kur...Kurama? Is that you?" Naruto asked hesitantly, not wanting to believe his eyes. However, Kurama didn't understand anything other than his name, but the combination of that and the sight of his previous host's face sparked some hope within the three tailed fox.
"Naruto? What the hell are you speaking?" Kurama replied, not understanding the gibberish that came out of the hobgoblin's mouth.
"Yeah, it's me. Also, speak normally." Naruto replied, a smile stretching across his face as he heard his friend call him by his name. Tears began leaking out of his eyes as he began crying out of happiness.
"We can't understand each other." Kurama was cut off by Naruto babbling on, which really pissed him off, causing him to shout at Naruto, "We're speaking in different languages, you stubborn moron."
That only made Naruto laugh, seeing Kurama act like he usually does. This in turn caused Kurama to get angry at him, growling and glaring at him, but Naruto did eventually come to the same conclusion as Kurama. It took a moment for him to remember something that might help them.
"Invite Kurama," Naruto stated aloud, not hesitating for a moment. He remembered that party members can communicate regardless of language barriers. He chuckled to himself as he saw Kurama jump backwards in surprise when a window opened in front of him. He waited for the fox to press his paw on the accept button, and after he did, Naruto continued talking, "It's good to see you again, Kurama."
"You idiot, haven't you figured out that we can't understand each other." Kurama replied hotly, his brain needing a few moments to register that they now can in fact understand one another. "How can we understand each other now? What the hell was that screen that popped up? Where the hell are we, Naruto!?"
Laughing a bit, having missed the snarky attitude of his partner and friend, Naruto explained the situation to him. How they died in the explosion from their fight with Sasuke, how he was reborn as a goblin, the Gamer powers that he got, how he hunted animals and ranked up. Eventually, Naruto began talking to Kurama about what has been bothering him for a while.
Naruto told him about his [Absorption] ability and the conflict brewing within him about having to eventually use it on humans or any other sapient being. He told Kurama about their encounter with the orc and how he was worried that he killed and ate it for more power. Naruto was worried that he's becoming a monster that will kill and eat anything, just so he can get its abilities.
"You just keep getting into problems, don't you." Kurama replied in his ever so gentle manner, "Honestly, what is it with you and getting into the most fucking weird situations."
"Oi! I didn't choose to get reincarnated or get into any of this crap."
"Fine, fine..." Kurama replied with an eye roll as he began thinking for a bit, "What's the problem with eating humans or anything else for that matter."
"What do you mean what's the problem with it? I used to be human, you know!"
"But you're not human now. Besides, you're doing this to gain their abilities, so what's the problem." Kurama replied, not seeing a problem with eating others. He continued, "If it's because you think its gross, need I remind you that you've done far more disgusting things, like being swallowed by a giant snake and exploding it from the inside, swallowing that sealing toad, having a living crow shoved down your throat, that time when you threw up all those living snakes..."
"Alright! Alright! Stop!" Naruto exclaimed loudly, cutting him off, as he began turning green at being reminded of all those events. Even more began replaying inside his head, like when he was swallowed by Isobu, the times he's been inside a giant toad, or when his entire skin was burned off during the fight with Nagato. "Stop reminding me of those things, you sadistic prick. It's not that its gross, but because...well I don't know. It just feels like the only thing I can do is kill and eat to get stronger. When I was a goblin, I trained daily, but that barely helped. I'm really worried why I have this urge to get stronger."
"Well, that's an easy question to answer." Kurama replied, grinning at getting to Naruto, "You're now extremely weak, especially in comparison to the creatures in this forest. The ones outside of it are even more dangerous, which is the reason I haven't left yet. Of course you want, no need, to get stronger. You no longer have my endless power, or even you're own not insignificant chakra reserves. You no longer have your friends and village to help protect you."
"Thanks for the reassurance..." Naruto replied with a dead pan, his voice monotonous.
"I wasn't done. What I mean, is that there's no problem with growing stronger. That's not an inherently a bad thing, and right now, you need to get stronger. At your current level, at ours really, we'll eventually be killed by something or someone." Kurama told him, "I know you better than you know yourself, so you can believe me when I tell you that you aren't like those snake freaks or the Uchihas. Don't worry about hunting and eating things, since I know that you'll never cross the line. Don't worry too much about things, you never have. You just go with the flow..."
"What is it? Why'd you stop talking?"
"I'm starting to sound like that infernal friend of Gyuki. The one that only speaks in that horrible style." Kurama huffed angrily, "Anyways, my point is that right now, your focus should be on getting stronger. So, hunt and eat to your liking, because I know you'll make the right decisions when it matters."
"Huh..." Naruto sat there for a little while, thinking about what Kurama told him. Despite his gruff attitude, he really gave good advice. His words managed to take a load off his shoulders, causing the whiskered hobgoblin to smile and hug the three tailed fox tightly. "Thanks, that really helped a lot."
"No problem, now get off." Kurama snapped as he shook himself free from Naruto's grip, "You mentioned something about ranking up, what do you mean by that?"
"Oh, I guess you wouldn't know about it." Naruto muttered to himself, before he then explained the [Rank Up] system and how monsters and creatures can evolve into stronger forms. "I'm guessing the same happened to you? Because you definitely don't have nine tails, and I'm guessing you were reborn with one."
"Don't look so smug, you idiot. You were reborn as, what do you call it, trash. That's the term you used to refer to goblins in your video games, didn't you." Kurama took pleasure to see Naruto's head drop in depression, at being reminded of that. "What else's bugging you? Don't look so surprised, I can still sense negative emotions, that's really been useful in surviving out here. There's still something that's bothering you."
"I guess you're right. Here's the thing, do you know how goblins are born?" Naruto asked him, before explaining how the goblins kidnap human women and rape them, how there are a group of them kept prisoner in the cave. "I think I already know what I have to do. It'll be a mercy killing, but that doesn't make me feel much better. It's just something I have to do."
Kurama frowned at not being able to help him, but he also knew that Naruto's mind was made. He didn't disagree with him, after hearing about the situation, he agreed that there was really only one solution. Changing the topic, they talked for a bit about the animals in the forest, exchanging tips and tricks to taking some of them down. Eventually, Naruto noticed that it was getting dark and got up.
"It was really nice to see you again, Kurama." Naruto told him, "But it's getting late, and the more dangerous creatures will start coming out. I'd ask you to stay with me, but the goblins there might try and attack you."
"You think they'll manage to kill me!" Kurama shouted in anger.
"No, the opposite. You'll probably slaughter them, and I honestly don't want that. Give me some time, I'll think of something. Oh crap, I forgot!"
"What'd you forget?" Kurama replied with a huff.
"I finished a quest and forgot all about the reward from it, let me check it out." Naruto told him as he opened his [Inventory] and pressed on the book icon to see what the Skill Book was.
[Skill Book]
[Omnilingual] (Passive): An interesting skill, one that allows its user to learn any language after hearing it spoken for a length of time. This doesn't mean they can read it, but only understand and speak it. This only applies to spoken languages, so sign language and others are not included.
"Huh, that's a handy skill. Here you go," Naruto said as he took out the book and placed it on the ground, "Touch it and then press accept to get the skill. I can learn language skills by eating, so this skill will be most useful to you. Besides, if you can speak goblin, I don't know the name of the language, that'll help me convince the other goblins to not try and eat you."
"Well, maybe you should have thought about this before we spent all that time talking." Kurama snarked, after he read the skill's description from the Naruto's window. He ended up learning the skill, acknowledging its usefulness. "I'll see you later, and besides, we can talk through this [Party System]."
Bidding him farewell, Naruto began making his way towards the cave, making sure to hurry. He made it back, just as the final rays of light began dissipating. He was met by Gobumi, who was worried that something happened to him, but he reassured her he was fine.
"I thought I'd get some fish by the river, but surprisingly there weren't any. I'll have to look into it at some point." Naruto told her, and he was surprised by the quest that popped up afterwards.
[Quest Alert!]
[Where da Fishies?]
You saw no fish swimming in the river, something that is very unusual. Deciding to investigate this anomaly, you must now venture to the mouth of the river and find out what's wrong.
Main Objective: Investigate the River Source
Bonus Objective: Find the Hidden Secret
Rewards: XP, Random Reward
Failure: Possible Death and Injury, No Fish in the River
[Accept / Decline]
'Yeah, I guess I'll do this quest.' Naruto thought to himself as he accepted it. He figured he can investigate the river in the next few days. For now, he was pretty tired, so he found a place to lay down and fell asleep.
Day 15
During their first hunt after Gobukichi and Naruto ranked up, the trio decided to fight and hunt enemies that they previously avoided. They ended up finding two wolf-like humanoids with armour and weapons.
Kobold Lvl:25
A dog-like humanoid monster, these beings are of a higher rank than Goblins and about the same rank as Orcs, but they are smarter and faster than the latter. These creatures eat their own kind many times, and the strong amongst them feed on the weak.
'Kobolds? I thought Kobolds were lizard-like, at least according to the games I played. Also, does the Gamer consider these to be mooks, or what? They have a language, so why don't they have names?' Naruto thought to himself, slightly sweat dropping, as he sat on a branch observing the kobolds, 'Anyway, Kurama was right. I thought about what he said, and he isn't wrong. I need to get stronger, just to survive this forest. If I ran across these as a goblin, I would have been easily slaughtered. Even if they don't give me any useful abilities, their gear will be incredibly helpful.'
Motioning to his companions the plan, Naruto readied himself and activated [Pump Up] as Gobumi threw a rock at one of the kobolds using her sling staff. The kobold managed to block the attack using its sword, but it didn't notice Naruto fly towards it with a kick. Stunning the kobold for a few moments, Naruto quickly used his animal horn to stab it in the neck, killing it instantly. While that happened, Gobukichi had rushed the other kobold.
'Hold on...' Naruto thought to himself as he readied his weapon, pausing as he saw the fight continue, 'Gobukichi should be able to do it! I need to be able to trust them.'
After the kobold blocked Gobukichi's attack, it managed to throw him backwards. The two didn't escape their clash unharmed, Gobukichi getting a shallow cut on his face and the kobold leaking some blood from its mouth. They rushed at each other, but it was clear to Naruto what would happen. Gobukichi simply had too much raw strength and managed to disarm the kobold and then crush his skull.
"I... I DID IT!" Gobukichi shouted in excitement, happy with his new strength.
"Good job, Gobukichi!" Naruto complimented him as he pondered how frightening the rank up system is, how yesterday's weaklings are today's champions.
While Gobumi treated Gobukichi's injuries, Naruto gathered up the kobold's weapons, armour and bags, leaving them in their underwear. He decided to take the two rusty swords for himself, being the only one to know how to use them. He'll have to use [Repair] to fix them back up, but he can do that later.
Naruto didn't notice that his previous aversion to eating sapient creatures had mysteriously disappeared as he was eating the kobold. What Kurama and he didn't realize that the [Gamer's Mind] skill granted him an immunity to mental disorders, which played a large role in Naruto getting over his hang ups. Neither would realize it for a while, and while Naruto was unhappy with how he was manipulated, if you could call it that, he couldn't argue that it was essential to his survival early in his new life.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of eating a Kobold, you have gained the Passive skill [Kobold Language]!
[Kobold Language] (Passive, Lvl: Max): This is a racial skill that all Kobolds are born with, allowing them to communicate and speak with one another.
Grants the user the ability to speak and communicate using the kobold language
[Skill Created!]
As a result of eating a Kobold, you have gained the Active skill [Predict]!
[Predict] (Active, Lvl: 1): A skill often found with veteran combatants, this specific variant of it is a racial skill that all Kobolds are born with. It allows its user to see the trajectory of opponent's attacks as red threads.
Swiping away the screen, happy that he got at least one useful skill, Naruto was broken out of his ponderings when Gobumi came to ask him something.
"Goburuto, what do you think these pretty stones are?" Gobumi asked him, while showing him some shiny red gems. She had been looking into the kobold's gear after they finished eating, with Naruto too busy reading about the new skills he got.
"Hmm..." Naruto hummed as he used [Observe] on the glowing rock.
[Fire Spirit Stone]
Spirit Stones are stones in which non-sentient, low level spirits reside. These spirits all have an elemental attribute. Spirit stones are usually found in places that corresponds with their elemental attribute, for example, a Fire Spirit Stone may be found in hot places, like volcanoes. These stones can be forged into items, drastically improving their performance.
This stone contains a weak fire spirit.
"WHY ARE YOU EATING IT!?" Gobumi exclaimed in surprise as Naruto took a bite out of the rock.
While reading the description of the [Fire Spirit Stone, Naruto remembered that his [Absorption] ability doesn't just work on food. It also lets him eat normally inedible things, like rocks and metal. However, after testing it on a few regular rocks and not getting it, Naruto figured that only special or magical items could grant him skills if eaten. He was proven right once a window popped up informing him of his newly obtained skill.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of eating a [Fire Spirit Stone, you have gained the Active skill [Pyrokinesis]!
[Pyrokinesis] (Active, Lvl: 1): Fire is amongst the most dangerous of elements, and the ability to create and control it has always been sought after. This skill allows the user to create and manipulate flames, but it does not grant immunity or resistance to flames not created by the user. This skill uses MP to create and control fire.
"WOAH!" Naruto exclaimed in surprise, when fire jumped out of his hand after he tried out the skill. He knew that it was going to happen, but it surprised him regardless. He was really happy that he got this skill, since he can now control fire. Even ignoring its offensive potential, having access to fire is pretty important for survival. He can now cook the food they catch, something he was really looking forward to. As he continued testing it out, he realized that he'll need to practice it a lot more if he plans to use it in combat. He saw that his control over fire is not great, and he doesn't want to start a forest fire.
When they returned to the cave, Naruto was happy to see that some of the goblins managed to catch an Armoured Tanuki. After complimenting them on a job well done, he cooked the meat for them and planned on making a shield from its scales for them. He never noticed a couple of goblins giving him odd looks.
Day 16
"WE'RE BEGGING YOU." Exclaimed a female goblin, wearing a bandana on her head, to Naruto while on her hands and knees, "PLEASE TEACH US MORE WAYS OF KILLING THINGS!"
She wasn't alone in that position, as the rest of the goblins near his age were doing the same thing. It didn't take Naruto long to realize why they were doing this. While they were able to hunt Horned Rabbits, maybe even Armoured Tanukis, they had no way to deal with more dangerous monsters like Night Vipers. They wanted him to teach them that, and Naruto had to think about it for a bit.
'If I teach them, then they won't stop at the Night Viper. Their gluttony will keep growing and eventually they'll attack something far too dangerous, and they'll die.' Naruto pondered, but the kneeling goblins seemed to become worried that he's going to refuse, so the female one who spoke, spoke again.
"We'll even offer you part of our spoils for the day." She said, and from her expression it was clear that they were worried he might ask for more. Naruto then realized that they're going to go after more dangerous animals regardless, so he might as well make sure they don't die.
Agreeing to their deal, since he didn't want to make things awkward and refuse it, possibly causing a misunderstanding, he decided that they should spend the morning training them with the help of Gobukichi and Gobumi.
They wouldn't suddenly become master fighters after one day, but Naruto decided to at least drill in the basics of fighting, things like punching, kicking, countering, blocking and dodging. He beat those basic skills into them, to try and make it instinctive. He pushed their bodies to the limit, making sure to not destroy their minds or bodies. He even spared with Gobukichi and Gobumi, getting a feel for how they fight to see what taijutsu style he can teach them. Eventually, he was the only one left standing, as the rest of the goblins were lying on the ground, unconscious or groaning in pain.
"Well, we'll end it here today." Naruto chuckled a bit before saying that, slightly winded by the exercise, before continuing to say, "Just for today, I'll be nice and catch some food for you guys as well."
"Oh, before I forget. Depending on what you manage to hunt, I might make you some new equipment." Naruto told them, as he stopped for a few moments, "So good luck with that. Just try not to die."
Gobumi was showing off her armour and necklace to the other female goblins, but Naruto pretended to not notice. That afternoon, he went out hunting on his own for the first time. The night he met Kurama didn't count, since he was just going out for a walk to clear his head. He took with him the two swords they got from the Kobolds, tying the sheaths to his belt. He also grabbed a length of cloth, to use as a sack to carry his catch.
While wandering through the forest to find everyone some food, he made sure to use [Repair] on his swords to improve their quality and sharpness. Having real metal weapons made hunting much easier, the blades capable of cutting through even the Night Viper's tough hide.
He also gained a skill that he was expecting, [Bladed Weapon Mastery] and it was pretty much like all the other weapon mastery skills. Still, it's useful, especially if he gets other skills that improve sword damage. He also looked at the skills he got from teaching the other goblins the basics of fighting, the first being [Unarmed Combat Mastery, which was just like the weapon mastery skills, and the second being [Teach, which surprised him a bit. He was surprised because he figured he should have gotten this a while ago, but apparently, he has to actually teach something hands on for this skill to be obtained.
[Bladed Weapon Mastery] (Passive, Lvl: 3): The most common weapon used by all species, swords are the type that dominates this category. The sword comes in many different shapes and sizes, but this skill also covers daggers, axes and other bladed weapons. Bladed weapons are very dangerous, capable of causing severe injuries to opponents through sharp edges. This skill allows the user to freely handle bladed weapons, increasing the damage caused and the speed of attacks.
Increased Attack Damage and Attack Speed with Bladed Weapons
[Unarmed Combat Mastery] (Passive, Lvl: 2): When people began fighting, the first thing they used were their fists and feet. It was soon overshadowed with the rise of weapons, but somehow the art of unarmed combat still managed to stick around. Many different fighting styles were born, with different philosophies and methods, all focused on turning the body into a weapon of war. This skill grants the user the foundation of unarmed combat, increasing the damage caused and the speed of attacks.
Increased Attack Damage and Attack Speed with Unarmed Combat
[Teach] (Active, Lvl: 1): The skill that formed civilization, many would find it hard to argue against that. Teaching is the very foundation that allowed societies to form, spreading knowledge and skill to everyone. This skill allows you to do the same, allowing you to pass on knowledge and techniques to others with enough time and dedication. Many skills may not be taught to others, due to various restrictions or inability to learn them.
Later that night, while everyone was asleep, Naruto went to the treasure room. He thought he might be able to communicate with the trapped women, in his new form.
"Hey are you alright?" Naruto asked, "Hey..."
In the end, he couldn't talk to them. They were completely broken, and he could smell death about them. It wasn't the first time he's seen this, having taken down bandit hide outs during his career as a shinobi, and he already knew what he was going to have to do. Thankfully, having given birth two weeks ago, none of them were pregnant, having checked with [Observe] just to make sure. That made what he was going to do easier.
"Do you wish to die?" Naruto asked them. They didn't respond, but he understood their desire. They wanted to escape this horrible life, of being raped and used to breed more goblins. It was a mercy killing, and something Naruto's unfortunately had to do before. Placing a small bottle with a dark liquid inside it, he left and didn't look back. He spent some time praying for their lives and talking with Kurama about what happened.
He knew that it was the only real option, but this was still something that he hated doing. He'd have preferred to help them escape, but that option wasn't really viable. It would take too long for him to heal them, something that would be constantly hindered by the other goblins constantly paying them visits, and they would then have to travel through the forest at night. The monsters that come out then are too dangerous, even for Naruto. Not wanting to prolong their suffering, and finally having a way to make their passing easier, he knew that this was the best decision he could have done.
Day 17
Naruto was looking for Gobujii, and he found him cuddling his blanket with a smile on his face.
"Gobujii," Naruto said as he began shaking him to wake him up, "Wake up, Gobujii. It's really important."
That morning, all the female humans in the cave had quietly passed away. They ended up drinking the poison given to them and died in their sleep. Of course, Naruto didn't say any of this, having woken up early in the morning and after making sure that no one else was awake, disposed of the bottle that held the poison. As Gobujii wept at the loss of the women, Naruto offered to take their bodies and cremate them. After making sure that no one else was around, Naruto ate parts of their corpses, something he did reluctantly.
Despite gaining a few abilities, Naruto hated every bite he took of the human flesh, but he knew that in order to survive, he'll have to do things he doesn't like. Having gathered a good deal of wood, he used his [Pyrokinesis] skill to light the pyre he built.
'Rest in peace...' Naruto prayed for them, ignoring the windows popping up informing him of new skills. Naruto didn't know how long he stayed there, watching the flames dance in the air, but eventually he made his way back to the cave. Looking over the windows that popped up, he figured that a couple of the women must have been adventurers and that the goblins that left the cave were pretty strong. While looking through the windows, he was introduced to the system used by humans to grow stronger, the counterpart to the [Rank Up System] used by monsters.
[Jobs System]
The counterpart to the [Rank Up System] that monsters use, humans instead rely on Jobs they can obtain. These jobs provide benefits and compensation to allow humans to fight on equal terms with powerful foes, and to make up for the difference in base power compared to monsters. Humans can choose their jobs, and they can even level it up by investing time into it. If one has the aptitude, one can even rank it up into a better one.
Monsters cannot normally obtain Jobs, except through extremely rare and special cases, such as ?. In this case, the ability [Absorption] has allowed its user to gain Jobs and make use of them, but the user is unable to develop them. They provide various bonuses to skills falling under their purview and increase their growth rate.
[Job Obtained!]
As a result of consuming Asuna Kinatsu, you have obtained the Job [Light Swordsman]!
[Light Swordsman: This job allows its user to become a swordsman specializing in utilizing light swords.
Grants Bonuses to Light Sword Skills
Increases Growth Rate to Light Sword Skills
[Job Obtained!]
As a result of consuming Adelena Lenzeller, you have obtained the Job [Craftsman]!
[Craftsman: This job allows its user to become a craftsman specializing in crafting various items.
Grants Bonuses to Crafting Skills
Increases Growth Rate to Crafting Skills
[Job Obtained!]
As a result of consuming Evana Numara, you have obtained the Job [Magician]!
[Magician: This job allows its user to become a magician specializing in utilizing magic offensively.
Grants Bonuses to Offensive Magic Skills
Increases Growth Rate to Offensive Magic Skills
[Job Obtained!]
As a result of consuming Morne Ornelle, you have obtained the Job [Druid]!
[Druid: This job allows its user to become a druid specializing in utilizing healing-based magic.
Grants Bonuses to Healing Magic Skills
Increases Growth Rate to Healing Magic Skills
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming Humans, you have gained the Passive Skill [Human Language]!
[Human Language] (Passive, Lvl: Max): Unlike monsters, humans aren't born with the knowledge of their language, instead they learn it as they grow up. In this world there is only one that all humans speak, although different dialects exist.
Grants the user the ability to speak and communicate using the human language
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming Asuna Kinatsu, you have gained the Active Skill [Parry]!
[Parry] (Active, Lvl: 1): A skill that all swordsmen learn, it allows them to divert blows rather than block them, allowing them to negate almost all of the damage they would have received.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming Morne Ornelle, you have gained the Active Skill [Gardening]!
[Gardening] (Active, Lvl: 1): A skill that is essential to societies, allowing them to grow food and cultivate herbs. This is a common skill, known to farmers, alchemists, pharmacists and many others. This skill grants the user the ability to plant, take care of and harvest a number of different plants.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of obtaining the [Druid] Job, you have gained the Passive Skill [Healing Magic]!
[Healing Magic] (Passive, Lvl: 1): A magic dedicated towards helping others, it has a large number of spells falling under its domain. Everything from curing ailments, healing wounds and breaking curses, this type of magic is highly valued by everyone. Mostly practiced by druids and clerics, both have different methods of utilizing it. This skill allows the user to more easily learn spells falling under its domain and develop new ones.
"Sorry, you two, I'll just be crafting today. You'll have to h..." Naruto was telling his companions, not having any desire to test out his abilities or hunt at the moment. He was going to ask Gobukichi and Gobumi to go out by themselves, but as he laid his eyes on Gobumi he was speechless. "Wait... Gobumi?"
She had ranked up, becoming a hobgoblin as well, and she was incredibly cute. Naruto's cheeks flushed at seeing her, and her only response was a slight giggle at his surprise. Naruto was so surprised by how cute she'd become, since it was such as change compared to when she was a goblin. He gave her some of the spare equipment he has, but it was a bit off. He decided he'll make her some new clothes later, and [Job: Craftsman] immediately proved its worth when he started crafting. He was able to make items and equipment faster and at a higher quality. He ended up making her a top and skirt out of Night Viper hide and Seven-Coloured Bat wings. She also wore some shorts he made underneath as well them.
While crafting, Naruto told Kurama what happened through their [Party System]. Kurama made fun of him, at having joined him in the club of human eaters. Naruto replied that at least he didn't have his guts eaten by them and some of his power stolen, and their chat devolved into bickering. Naruto did eventually relent that Kurama was right, that he'll need to put aside the remaining hang ups at eating sapient beings, since he'll need the power to survive in this world. Kurama also told him about some of the animals he's seen, like the wolf packs and what seemed to be slimes. He also told Naruto that he developed a skill called [Intimidation, which was a weaker version of killing intent, in a very smug tone.
Day 18
After spending the morning training with the goblins, the trio headed out to hunt as usual. They ended up finding three kobolds, and one of them had a short bow. Recognizing that they needed to take out that one first, Gobumi threw a rock fast into his face, blinding one of his eyes.
While the kobolds were reacting to the attack, the trio moved forwards rapidly, Naruto slashing one across the throat with one of his swords. Gobukichi slammed his club into the head of one of the kobolds, while Gobumi rushed the last one before he could take out his bow. She stabbed him deep in the chest with the obsidian knife she had.
'Gobumi is fast and clever, and that intelligence is needed for some weapons.' Naruto thought as he looked at the aftermath of the fight, 'Meanwhile, Gobukichi's sheer strength let him hit the kobold so hard that all his bones were destroyed. What a gruesome sight.'
Afterwards they cut apart the bodies and took their weapons. Naruto gave Gobumi the short bow and the quiver, and he used the small bags to store some medicinal herbs and roots he found nearby. He didn't gain any new abilities from the kobolds, but the extra gear was really useful.
Day 19
Today, Naruto looked around the treasure room in the cave. He'd been there quite a few times, looking at the stuff in there, but until he became a hobgoblin, he could only take the more basic materials, like cloth, leather and rope. He was looking around, hoping to find some better gear than what they currently have. He's looked through some of this stuff before, but now his [Observe] was much stronger. Now, this place was an actual treasure trove, despite its outward appearance, there were still plenty of useful items stashed away there.
He found quite a bit of usable equipment, like some magic potions, old backpacks and field packs, and to his joy some books about magic. He even managed to find an estoc and bowie knife, that were of much better condition and quality than the two swords he currently has. The estoc was an interesting weapon, one Naruto had never seen before, and it was a type of piercing sword, one meant to stab rather than slash. He thought about eating the swords he was using, but considering they weren't magical or special, he doubted he'd get any abilities out of them. He stashed them in the treasure room, figuring that someone else could use them eventually.
Perhaps it was the new weapons, but the trio managed to catch way more than usual. Naruto returned the offerings to the goblins, since it's too much for him to eat. He told the other goblins that the gesture alone is enough for him.
Day 20
It has been five days since they started training the goblins, and the goblins have changed. Because of their fast growth, the training has changed them rather quickly, mainly by instilling actual fighting ability and discipline into them, but the physical benefits were impressive as well. Of course, if the training didn't help them, they wouldn't be alive now.
In the afternoon, the trio went out hunting as usual, and the improved equipment really helped. After training that morning they looked through the treasure room to see if they could find anything else, and they did end up finding a few hidden pieces. Naruto only found a gauntlet to cover his left arm, which wasn't much but he already got several pieces of gear yesterday.
During their hunt they managed to catch ten Night Vipers, fourteen Armoured Tanukis and five Kobolds. Gobumi's precisely aimed poison arrows and the crossbow they found in the treasure room, made her a very effective ranged attacker. Meanwhile, Gobukichi's heavy defence and heavy attacks with the battle axe they found, allowed him to tank and deliver heavy amounts of damage. Alongside Naruto's numerous skills and leadership, they could even take down groups of Kobolds that outnumbered them two to one. To his surprise they haven't encountered or seen any orcs other than the first one, and to his shame he was looking forward to finding some as he really loved how they tasted like pork.
Returning early today, Naruto decided to read the magic books that he found, since learning how to use magic was like a dream come true. He was interested in it ever since he was a kid, having seen how cool it is in his video games. He did recognize that ninjutsu was pretty much ninja magic, but to him it was just something normal, it wasn't magic.
Having gotten [Healing Hands] and [Repair] through Skill Books, it meant that he didn't know anything about magic or how it works, let alone how to use it. While it was nice having [Job: Magician, which boosted his magical abilities, he still didn't know anything about magic, so it didn't really help him at the moment. [Job: Druid] did boost [Healing Hands, which was really useful and something he needs to train up, but that didn't help him learn more healing magic spells. Even after reading the books he found in the storage room, they didn't even mention the basics of the basics.
'If only I could at least see an example once, and those skills don't count. It's really annoying, it's like the System is punishing me for using Skill Books despite giving them to me.' Naruto grumbled to himself, as time kept flowing as he agonized internally at not understanding magic at all.
Day 21
While it hasn't been a week since the goblins began their training, the results are starting to show. They've begun bringing back Night Vipers, when only a few days ago they couldn't even manage to catch their own meals. While he was proud of them as their teacher, the awe and fear in the eyes of the older goblins annoyed him.
Through all the training, spars and their hunting trips, Naruto managed to grasp the abilities of his companions and concluded that Gobukichi and Gobumi were really outstanding. Gobukichi learned techniques that let him exhibit his overwhelming strength, and Naruto was considering introducing him to Goken, knowing at least some of the moves from sparring with Lee. Gobumi's quick and dexterous movements turned her bare hands into weapons that rival a blade, to the point that Naruto was wondering how deadly she could be with actual weapons. The power rankings however had Naruto at the top, with Gobukichi taking second spot and Gobumi last.
Normally after training, the three of them would go out hunting, but today they decided to bring along another goblin. That goblin will be Gobue, and in terms of power she was just behind Gobumi, making her the fourth strongest goblin in the cave. She was also the first one to ask for training.
"Huh? Me?" Gobue replied when she was first asked, "Won't I just be in the way?"
They reassured her that she won't be in the way. After finding all that equipment yesterday, they needed someone to carry it, and that was the main reason they picked her out of everyone else to come with them. They outfitted her with Gobukichi's old shield, Gobumi's sling staff and Naruto made her a special razor outfit using his bowie knife. All of this makes a world of difference compared to a horn, though she kept her bandana.
After that they went out on their hunt. While minor, Gobue did help a little, managing to kill an Armoured Tanuki with her sling staff and raising her level. Naruto wondered if she'll become a hobgoblin like them soon.
Day 22
"We've gotten pretty strong lately! Hunting is a cinch now."
"Do we even need any more training?"
"I know, we're plenty strong."
A few goblins were getting cocky and didn't notice that Naruto was nearby as they were talking. He ended up beating them, leaving them alive of course. He was teaching them how a moment of carelessness will lead to death, and that training is not something to ignore.
"Survival isn't that easy, got it?" Naruto asked them, waiting for them to agree with him. They might develop a grudge, but he'll just beat them down if they try anything. He was becoming quite fond of his fellow goblins, and he'd rather not see them die.
While out hunting, they found a group of six kobolds. They could easily take them on, but before they could they saw another one appear. From his appearance, and by using [Observe, Naruto realized that this was a Kobold Mage. Gobujii had previously explained that sometimes goblins and kobolds are able to use magic. While not exactly a rare variant, a mage is still extremely uncommon and strong.
Initially, Naruto was worried that fighting them might be tough, but then he realized that it was a rare opportunity. He figured that if he could watch the kobold cast magic, he might be able to figure out how to cast it himself. Motioning for the rest of his group to not engage and just follow them, they tailed the group.
Eventually they came across a Green Slime, a being that's impervious to physical damage, which was destroyed instantly by the kobold mage. Naruto somehow managed to learn a little bit about magic from watching the kobold, and he wasn't sure how he managed that. After killing the Green Slime, the kobolds' guards were now lowered, so Naruto motioned for his companions to attack.
As strong as a kobold mage may be, they can't do much if they're taken out quickly. Naruto rushed him and pierced through his chest using his estoc, leaving the rest of the kobolds to his teammates. Eating the hearts of all seven kobolds, the flesh of the mage, the slime core that was there and the skull that the kobold mage wore, Naruto obtained a number of skills. That skull belonged to a Triple Horned Horse, a monster that was still out Naruto's league, so getting a skill from its skull was a real lucky find.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a Kobold Mage, you have gained the Active Skill [Intimidating Roar]!
[Intimidating Roar] (Active, Lvl: 1): Loud sounds generally cause animals and even people to hesitate and feel fear, but this skill makes roaring even more effective. A skill that most apex predators eventually develop or some variant of it, it is capable of intimidating monsters and even veteran adventurers. This skill allows the user to shout an incredibly loud roar that can inflict enemies with Stun and Paralysis. Stun has a higher chance to be inflicted than Paralysis.
Chance of Inflicting Stun and/or Paralysis
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a Kobold Mage, you have gained the Active Skill [Internal Mana Control]!
[Internal Mana Control] (Active, Lvl: 1): The ability to utilize magic is quite uncommon, especially amongst monsters, but among the most basic skills needed is this one. The ability to refine the necessary amount of magical power, or mana, inside the body is essential to learning magic. This skill allows the user to decrease the amount of MP used by spells and skills in general.
Decrease MP Cost of Skills
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a Kobold Mage, you have gained the Passive Skill [Magician's Wisdom]!
[Magician's Wisdom] (Passive, Lvl: Max): Understanding magic is no easy task, and it's something that takes time and practice. This skill is one some practitioners develop, making their studies into the mystic arts easier. It grants its user the ability to intuitively understand how magic works and how to handle it.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a Triple Horned Horse, you have gained the Passive Skill [Strong Body]!
[Strong Body] (Passive, Lvl: Max): A strong body is often obtained through extensive hard work and effort, but some creatures are simply born tougher and more durable than others. This skill enhances the durability of the user's body, imparting benefits such as strengthening their bones and ligaments.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a Green Slime, you have gained the Passive Skill [Physical Damage Reduction]!
[Physical Damage Reduction] (Passive, Lvl: 1): Normally, most creatures dodge blows or use their natural armour to protect themselves, others possess skills that allow them to reduce the power behind attacks. This skill reduces the amount of physical damage the user receives from attacks.
After reading through the last skill he got, he learned that Green Slimes weren't impervious to physical damage, they were just extremely resistant to it. Their fluid body, combined with this skill, made physical attacks seemingly ineffective, but Naruto learned how to deal with them. He can just burn them with [Pyrokinesis]. Looking through the gear they got from the kobolds, Naruto ended up finding a [Fire Spirit Stones, [Water Spirit Stones] and [Lightning Spirit Stones, and he ended up eating all of them along with the Kobold Mage's staff. He was surprised that none of his companions asked him how and why he eats these things, and how he has these abilities.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a [Water Spirit Stone, you have gained the Active Skill [Hydro-Hand]!
[Hydro-Hand] (Active, Lvl: 1): Water is a deadly element, despite its harmless appearance. Water erodes mountains into pebbles, cuts through the toughest rock and with enough pressure slices through flesh and armour. Creating and controlling this element will grant the user a deadly weapon in their arsenal. This skill allows the user to create and manipulate water, but it does not grant immunity or resistance to water not created by the user. This skill may not be a spell, but it still uses MP to create and control water.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a [Water Spirit Stone, you have gained the Passive Skill [Aqua Resistance]!
[Aqua Resistance] (Passive, Lvl: 1): A rare skill, one that is only found within enchanted items, through blessings or specific species. This skill reduces the damage the user takes from water-based attacks.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a [Lightning Spirit Stone, you have gained the Active Skill [Electro-Master]!
[Electro-Master] (Active, Lvl: 1): Lightning is an incredibly deadly element, capable of killing with extreme efficiency. However, it is just as difficult to control, making most mages rely on other elements. This skill allows the user to create and manipulate lightning, but it does not grant immunity or resistance to lightning not created by the user. This skill may not be a spell, but it still uses MP to create and control lightning.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a [Lightning Spirit Stone, you have gained the Passive Skill [Lightning Resistance]!
[Lightning Resistance] (Passive, Lvl: 1): A rare skill, one that is only found within enchanted items, through blessings or specific species. This skill reduces the damage the user takes from lightning-based attacks.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a [Fire Spirit Stone, you have gained the Passive Skill [Flame Resistance]!
[Fire Resistance] (Passive, Lvl: 1): A rare skill, one that is only found within enchanted items, through blessings or specific species. This skill reduces the damage the user takes from fire-based attacks.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a Magical Staff, you have gained the Passive Skill [External Mana Operation]!
[External Mana Operation] (Passive, Lvl: 1): The ability to control the mana released by the body into the environment, shaping it and constructing its type, this skill is an extremely difficult one to learn and master. It is necessary if a mage wishes to be able to cast spells and mould magic without the assistance of skills, jobs, blessings or equipment, such as magic staffs.
Naruto was extremely pleased with today's hunt, having gotten many different skills. He was really happy, since he was now confident that he can now use magic after enough practice. The combination of several skills, jobs, watching the Kobold Mage, the books that he read and his own understanding of ninjutsu, Naruto was sure he knew how to begin performing magic. They continued hunting while heading back, mainly for Gobue to gain some more experience. Naruto even managed to get the rest of the skills from the Night Viper and Armoured Tanuki.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming an Armoured Tanuki, you have gained the Passive Skill [Endurance]!
[Endurance] (Passive, Lvl: Max): This skill is most commonly found with prey animals, who have evolved to running away from predators for long periods of time. This skill increases the user's endurance, allowing them to function for much longer periods of time as well as considerably improving the rate at which they regain stamina.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a Night Viper, you have gained the Passive Skill [Evil Eye Resistance]!
[Evil Eye Resistance] (Passive, Lvl: 1): A rare skill, one often developed by those with strong wills in response to having skills such as [Evil Eye] utilized on them. This skill grants its user a resistance to [Evil Eye, and similar variants, allowing them to resist the Fear status effect.
They were useful skills, but Naruto was stuffed, he'd eaten plenty. Later in the evening, he left the cave to find a sport to practice magic, making sure to stay relatively nearby. He chatted with Kurama, asking for his opinion and help, figuring that the centuries old Biju has a wealth of knowledge on manipulating energies, even if it's mostly chakra.
Naruto decided to first try working on his [Healing Magic, something he didn't realize he got. When he got it, he just swiped away all the windows, and he only noticed it recently while looking through his skills. Getting the [Druid] Job gave him the [Healing Magic] skill, but it didn't really give him any information about how to cast magic.
From what he has learned, magic has three main parts to it. There is the spell, which from what he understood from the book, allowed the user to interfere with the laws of the world. He wasn't too sure what that meant, but gaining the [Healing Magic] skill gave him knowledge of a tier one spell, different from [Healing Hands]. That fulfilled the first requirement. There is the ability to refine mana withing the body, refining the required amount using [Internal Mana Control, a skill he had obtained. Naruto actually understood why this part was important, it being very similar to chakra control, meaning unless he had the correct amount of mana, the spell is likely to not work. The last part, which is several times more difficult than the other two, is controlling the magic in the air and the spell itself. Most mages use something like a staff, or focus, but some use jobs and certain skills instead. Naruto was of the latter type, having acquired the [External Mana Operation] skill from the magic staff.
After gaining all these skills, as well as knowledge from watching the kobold mage and reading the books about magic, Naruto understood [Healing Hands] a bit more. Beginning to work towards casting the [Regeneration] spell, which he knew about as soon as he obtained the [Healing Magic] skill, Naruto actually managed to succeed in casting it. This was of course after having worked for over an hour, raising the levels of [Internal Mana Control] and [External Mana Operation] from his failed attempts. Still, he was smiling after seeing the window informing him of the new skill he obtained.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of your hard work, you have gained the Active Skill [Regeneration]!
[Heal] (Active, Lvl: 1): A much stronger version of [Healing Hands, it is much more useful. The user of this spell isn't limited to having to heal using the aura from their hands, rather they can heal all of their target's injuries. This spell is capable of healing moderate to severe injuries, such as broken bones, deep cuts and heavy burns, and the user is capable of reattaching lost limbs if done in time. However, this spell cannot heal the user, and it is much more costly in terms of MP. This skill uses MP to heal.
He had been practicing on a tree, having cut it and trying to use [Regeneration] on it, and he did eventually succeed. It was a bit of a shame that he couldn't use the spell on himself, but he figured that he'll need another spell or skill to help with that. He was also happy to see that his MP reserves had gotten much larger after ranking up and that his MP Regen had also grown as well.
Having gotten more used to magic, Naruto decided to move on to a more offensive one. He already had one in mind that he has been wanting to try out. He didn't plan on using it, especially in public, but he would be an idiot to not train and master it, just in case he ever needs it. Thankfully, since he already had the [Demise Magic] skill, along with all the other skills and jobs that helped increase his magical aptitude greatly, it only took him another hour to finally get somewhere. Similarly to [Healing Magic, [Demise Magic] gave him the knowledge of a tier one destruction spell. It was significantly more difficult than learning to cast [Regeneration, but he eventually managed to succeed.
He managed to summon this black energy from his hand. He managed to summon this black energy from his hand, and he managed to shape it into the form of a spear. Cutting off the mana flow caused the spear of dark energy to dissipate, and trying to cast it again took some time. His [Presence Sensor] informed him of something making its way towards him, if at a relatively low pace, and he began moving towards it. It was a Green Slime, and Naruto realized he had a perfect target to test his magic on. Calling upon his new spell, he sent the spear of destructive magic speeding towards the slime. The slime was killed instantaneously, making Naruto's eyes pop.
"Jeez, this [Demise Magic] is way too overpowered. Seriously, what the hell will I do with it?" Naruto muttered to himself as he ignored the window that popped up, "What if I end up hitting someone on my side... They'll instantly die from something like that."
Talking with Kurama about this magic he can now use, they both agreed that using it is way too risky. He'll still practice with it every now and then, but the danger of accidentally hitting someone or getting discovered by its unique appearance was too high. It was a strong ace up his sleeve, but unless he was out of options, he doesn't plan on using it. In fact, his plan is to gather more skills, just so he doesn't have to rely on it.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of you hard work, you have gained the Active Skill [Spear of the End]!
[Spear of the End] (Active, Lvl: 1): A destructive first-tier spell, the user shapes Demise magic into the form of a spear and launches it at their opponents. This is the weakest spell of [Demise Magic, but its power is exceptional. This skill uses MP to create the destructive spear.
Naruto picked up the slime core that was dropped and ate it. He checked what the skill he got was as he made his way towards the cave, after seeing how dark it got. He wasn't too sure about getting this skill, recognizing that its somewhat useful in specific situations.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming Green Slime, you have gained the Active Skill [Self-Body Fluid Control]!
[Self-Body Fluid Control] (Active, Lvl: 1): This skill allows the user to transform their own bodily fluids such as sweat, blood and saliva into other liquids such as acid or oil.
Day 23
"All right, it's over!" Naruto exclaimed, stopping the spar that was going on.
It was raining, so they decided to stay inside and have a little event. It didn't escape Naruto's notice that the goblins his age considered him their boss or chief, and he figured out that goblin society, if you can call it that, is built on a hierarchy of strength. Naruto is the strongest one there and thus the boss, so everyone was sparring to determine the rest of the hierarchy. Naruto already knew after him comes Gobukichi, Gobumi and then Gobue, but he figured a small contest would be fun and help improve the goblins' skills.
"Next is..." Naruto began saying, before he was interrupted by goblins shouting to be picked next.
The results were as he expected, and after the event ended, Naruto explained how the hierarchy works to the goblins. He was hoping to use this as the foundation to improve the way goblins live, so he took inspiration from how things ran in Konohagakure. He explained how the higher ranks have duties and command the lower ranks, while the lower ranks must obey the orders from the higher ranks. He gave them a rundown of the rules and gave a simple explanation of the chain of command. He would've liked to establish a class system, or divisions, each one specializing in certain fields, just like how Konoha had its main forces, its ANBU, its medic corps, its intelligence division and several others, but he'll have to wait till there are more of them to do so. For now, this will have to do.
"Keep up the good work." Gobujii told him as they passed each other, with Naruto agreeing to his comment.
Naruto spent the rest of the day looking over the weapons in the treasure room, making great use of [Repair] to improve their condition. He even managed to find another estoc, which was a great find for him. Later in the evening, when the rain died down, Naruto went out to practice with his skills.
Deciding to work on improving his spirit magic skills, which were [Pyrokinesis, [Hydro-Hand] and [Electro-Master, Naruto set out to improve his control over these elements. He was pretty surprised to learn that they technically counted as magic, and he somehow managed to get skills that let him easily utilize elemental magic through his consumption of the spirit stones. He shrugged and decided to look for any other types of spirit stones, wanting to expand his arsenal of magic. As a bonus from practicing with these skills, he managed to level up [Internal Mana Control] a few times by actively controlling how much mana he was using. He didn't get any skills from shaping the elements into shapes or attacks, but he didn't mind too much. He did wonder what made spirit magic different from regular magic, but he put it out of his mind as he made his way back to the cave.
Day 24
The first thing they found on today's hunt, was a Demon Spider. It was a very large black spider with yellow lines, and it had made a giant web between the trees. They were encountering more and more dangerous creatures as they were venturing further into the forest. Naruto decided to burn it all with [Pyrokinesis, but the web burned so well, that it became quite a situation. He ended up using [Hydro-Hand] to put it out, since the last thing they needed was a forest fire.
Despite his apprehension towards eating bugs, from the trauma inflicted on him by Ma's cooking, he actually found himself enjoying the fried Demon Spider. It tasted oddly like shrimp, and the skill he got was really useful.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming Demon Spider, you have gained the Active Skill [Spider Silk Creation]!
[Spider Silk Creation] (Active, Lvl: 1): Spider silk is renowned for having tensile strength that is comparable to steel, well steel wires of the same thickness, and elasticity comparable to rubber. This makes it incredibly useful for creating traps, binding enemies and even making clothes, if you don't mind them being highly flammable. This skill allows the user to create spider silk at the cost of MP.
Testing out the skill, Naruto ended up firing a great deal of spider silk from his finger, but lacking any control over it, it ended up covering Gobukichi who was sitting across him. After apologizing and cleaning up, Naruto had them hunt down three more Demon Spiders, hoping to get a skill that lets him control the silk he creates, and he lucked out on the third one.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming a Demon Spider, you have gained the Passive Skill [Silk Spinning Arts]!
[Silk Spinning Arts] (Passive, Lvl: 1): The ability to spin silk and thread is difficult to master, but highly valued amongst tailors and seamstresses. This skill may not allow the user to freely control the silk they produce, but it does grant them far greater control over it. They can shape the silk they create, easily creating intricate webs and traps.
'This is pretty useful for capturing enemies, or even just sewing things together. The only problem with it is that its flammable, but that can be helpful on occasion.' Naruto thought to himself as he created some thread looping it around his hands, 'The carapace looks sturdy, so we'll take that back with us. Maybe I can make some light armour using it.'
After walking around for a bit, the trio ended up finding orcs for the first time in a while. To Naruto's shame, it was something he was excited for, since they were the closest thing that tasted like pork. There were six of them and they were far more heavily armoured than before. There was also a tough-looking one with the best equipment, which was probably their boss. It was clear that they couldn't attack them like they are, so instead they tailed them to gather some intelligence.
After following them for an hour, they arrived at a mountain and found the orc's mining operation. Using [Echolocation, which was now at a very high level from constant use, Naruto learned that there were dozens more orcs inside the mines. After they learned that, the trio quietly left, since attacking with these numbers is suicide. As they were going back, they came across three orcs, each equipped with only a hoe. They were far enough that there was no risk of reinforcements, so giving Gobumi and Gobue the signal, they fired their crossbows at the rocs hitting two in the head.
Springing immediately from his position, Naruto used [Electro-Master] to shock and stun the last orc, before he sliced open its throat with his bowie knife. They dragged the bodies to a safe location and enjoyed eating them there. Of course, they burned the smelly clothes they had on but took the pickaxes they had with them. Naruto did gain a skill, but he really didn't want it.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming an Orc, you have gained the Active Skill [Stench]!
[Stench] (Active, Lvl: 1): Some creatures develop methods of scaring away predators, but the most disgusting one is releasing a horrible smell from their bodies. There are some truly disgusting creatures, that somehow mastered the art of stink, that they can release a horribly revolting stench at will. This skill uses MP to release a disgusting stench.
'Nope! I don't want it! I know orcs smell, but...' Naruto grumbled to himself, 'I can't see any scenario where I would use this. Can't I just delete it or lock it?'
As he said that, he was given a prompt asking him if he wanted to lock away the skill, making it unusable until he unlocks it. He locked it away without another thought.
Day 25
During spars, there are some who have trouble. There isn't' anyone dying on hunts now, which is reassures Naruto that his training is helping. He makes sure to reassure those having trouble, that they're doing fine, keeping in mind that they might be better in other areas.
After training, when the trio went out hunting, they found new prey. Kurama had already told him about how he's heard wolf packs every now and then howling, and this must be one of them. Their black fur looked like it was made of metal, and using [Observe] gave him a bit more information about them.
Black WolfLvl: 38
These monsters resemble wolves, except for their black fur and hide, which is like metal. They're considered dangerous, not only because they are predatory animals, but because of the amazing teamwork they use to overwhelm prey. This teamwork is due to being led by a subspecies known as Black Wolf Leader.
The wolves were in the middle of a meal, and luckily, they were downwind from them, allowing the group to observe them freely. The thing that would cause them the most trouble wasn't their teamwork, but their leader. He was really easy to spot, being at least twice the size of the others and he had two tails. His abilities also likely reflected his size and position as leader of this pack. Using [Observe] on him, Naruto didn't learn anything new about him.
Naruto motioned for Gobumi to shoot the leader with her crossbow, and an arrow that was coated in a poison secreted by Naruto, since a normal arrow would not have likely killed the beast. This surprise attack completely undermined their numbers and teamwork, the biggest advantage they had going for them. The rest of them were taken down relatively quickly, with the goblins' teamwork.
It was the first time he'd fought anything like a wolf since reincarnating. Killing them wasn't too difficult, Naruto activating [Pump Up] to increase his strength and let him pierce through their tough skin with his sword, and Gobukichi just using his sheer strength and axe to deal with them. Eventually Naruto used a combination of [Hydro-Hand] and [Electro-Master] to stun a number of them, allowing Gobumi and Gobue to finish them off.
Having lost their greatest asset, teamwork, and their bites not having any real effect, the entire pack of black wolves was wiped out. Afterwards, they all began taking apart the trophies, except Gobukichi, who is just unsuited for this kind of work. Naruto had him keep watch, despite having [Presence Sensor] and [Echolocation] to warn him of any danger, he figured that Gobukichi should do something to keep him busy.
After dealing with all of this, Naruto figured that the girls should have probably learned some [Disassembly] or [Skinning] skill. He didn't have either, but from reading through [Manufacturing, the skill includes things like that. After collecting the pelts, they split the meat, and everyone got around four black wolves each. Naturally, Naruto got the leader, and he was really glad that he did, since the skills he got were extremely useful.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming Black Wolf Leader, you have gained the Passive Skill [Pack Leader]!
[Pack Leader] (Passive, Lvl: 1): This skill, and its variants, is something that every leader develops at some point. It allows the user to select who is the most suitable person for a task more quickly.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming Black Wolf Leader, you have gained the Passive Skill [Pack Hunting Knowledge]!
[Pack Hunting Knowledge] (Passive, Lvl: 1): This skill, and its variants, is something that every leader develops at some point. It allows the user to issue orders faster and have them followed efficiently.
[Skill Created!]
As a result of consuming Black Wolf Leader, you have gained the Passive Skill [Steel Skin]!
[Steel Skin] (Passive, Lvl: Max): This skill increases the protection granted by armours that use leather and pelts. It also increases the toughness and durability of the user's skin and hair.
Naruto was really pleased with the new skills that he gained, the first two helping him improve the coordination and teamwork of the other goblins, who consider him their boss. The third skill simply making him tougher and more durable, helping increase his odds of survival.
After returning to the cave, Naruto went out and met with Kurama, to see if he could teach him the goblin language. Now that he was pretty much the boss of the goblins, something Kurama mocked him about, it shouldn't be too hard to introduce Kurama and have them accept him. He also practiced several of his skills, hoping to hone them further.
I thought about locking away [Demise Magic] and only making it available later one, but I ended up having it available now. Naruto still won't use it; in fact, he'll use it less than Rou. So don't worry about it but tell me what you think. Should I remove it entirely, or lock it away till he evolves for the fourth or fifth time?
The parts where I'm writing about Naruto's issues with eating sapient people, I'm not sure I ended up writing them very well. They feel a bit weak, like Kurama's argument was not too bad in my opinion, but the entire thing feels sort of forced. But I couldn't just have Naruto eat others without problem, because he would have problems with it. Here's the thing, killing and eating animals, even if they're monsters, is okay with him. He would have eaten them regardless, and getting some skills from them is just a bonus. The problem comes when he's going to be eating something sapient (I mean I can write the fic with him not doing that, but it will be really limiting, since he does get some really important skills from doing this). The killing I can work with, since it's not like Naruto's never killed anyone, especially since he's most likely done a lot more missions off screen, so he's definitely killed a few bandits and rogue ninja. The problem comes with eating sapient beings like orcs, kobolds, humans and others. It wouldn't be something Naruto is okay with, but I wasn't really sure how to address it. I'm not sure I did it that well, but honestly, it's the best I could do since I was having a lot of difficulty writing it. Please tell me what you think and how can I improve it.
So, what I basically changed was making the treasure room or warehouse area less accessible to Naruto, since it's supposed to be this place where they store treasure. He'll still get things he needs to make stuff from it, but I just wanted to convey that it's a treasure pile rather than junk pile.
So, I changed the skills gained from consuming the human women, I also gave them names because well, it felt weird not to. I mainly changed the skills, because [Mental Mapping] is useless with the Gamer (I think this skill lets you create a mental map, I'm not sure since it's not explained), and I have no clue what [Continental Letter Deciphering] even is (and to where I've gotten in the manga, neither of these skills is ever used, so I can replace them with things that are more useful). Also, the names I gave them are random.
I ended up going with calling [Pyrokinesis] and all the other skills gained from the spirit stones as spirit magic, since that's sort of what they're called in the wiki. Basically, by eating the spirit stones, Naruto got shortcut skills allowing him to use this magic without all the normal requirements. What do you think, should I have them as just regular manipulation of elements or keep them as is?
