Cleaning his teeth with his tongue, Uriel left the cave with a slight smile on his lips. The cold mountain air cut against his skin, but he didn't seem to care, his mind filled with excitement.
"Hehehe, let's go to the sky!" Uriel exclaimed, his voice full of enthusiasm. With a powerful beat of his wings, he soared into the sky, the sensation of the wind against his body making him feel even more alive. He ascended with surprising ease, as if the very sky were calling to him.
"But it's not as easy as it seems!" Uriel said, laughing at himself. The wind seemed to enjoy challenging him, and for a moment, he lost his balance. A chill ran down his spine as he almost fell, but with a quick effort, he managed to stabilize, his wings beating hard to regain control. He circled in the air, a fluid and graceful dance, before finally landing softly in the snow, flakes falling around him.
"Okay, now I can really look around." Uriel murmured to himself, taking a deep breath. He looked around attentively, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. Before hesitating too long, he took off again, his gaze fixed ahead.
Not far from where he had taken off, Uriel spotted something in the distance. The snow covering the ground and the trees didn't hide the village that stood ahead, a small wooden structure that seemed a little out of place in that white and solitary landscape.
"It looks recent, built in a hurry... but in the middle of the snow? That's strange." Uriel murmured to himself, frowning as he observed the village with an analytical gaze. His eyes scanned the construction, trying to catch every detail, as if each piece of the village were a clue to something bigger.
"Wait... are those goblins?" He looked closer, a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. "Could the one I killed have come from there? It's not far from the cave, so it's quite possible." He focused on his observations, analyzing the goblins' movements with the precision of an experienced hunter. "My eyesight is great. If I fly through the clouds, they'll never see me." Uriel said to himself, flapping his wings harder and moving silently between the clouds.
Then, his eyes fixed on one goblin. It was different from the others, more imposing. Its body was larger, more muscular, and its posture exuded authority that the other goblins didn't seem to have. Uriel watched the goblin more closely, his eyes scanning every detail. It was speaking to another goblin, and its presence seemed to attract the attention of everyone around.
---
Name: Goblin Leader
Race: Goblin
Level: 17/25
HP: 500
MP: 400
Statistics:
- Strength: 9
- Speed: 13
- Intelligence: 8
- Vitality: 10
- Defense: 10
Skills:
- [Command Shout]: With a powerful shout, the goblin leader can boost the morale of the goblins around him, making them fight with fierce strength as if possessed by the will to win.
- [Critical Hit]: When the leader strikes, his chances of landing a critical hit are extremely high, with his attacks infused with energy that amplifies the power of his blades.
- [Goblin Leadership]: The presence of this goblin enhances the stats of all his subordinates, granting them more strength, resistance, and courage when he is near. His leadership is a force to be feared.
Equipment:
- [Alpha Moose Hide Shirt]: Made from the hide of an Alpha moose, this shirt offers extra protection against heavy blows. The hide is thick and resistant, providing 3 defense points.
- [Goblin War Axe]: A primitive weapon, made with sharp stones and durable wood. The axe is heavy with a short blade, ideal for quick and deep cuts, its brutal impacts being relentless.
- [Goblin Iron Helmet]: A simple yet solid helmet, forged from iron. It was built to resist the most violent impacts, although its small size makes it appear disproportionate to the goblin's body. It grants 1 defense point.
- [Amulet of Primordial Strength]: A strange amulet made of bones and stones, adorned with ancient runes that emit a mysterious energy. This artifact significantly increases the strength and intelligence of its bearer, imbuing them with the power of forgotten primordial forces. It grants a +1 increase in strength and intelligence.
---
"The speed... it's the same as mine." Uriel's golden eyes widened, a chill running down his scales. He hadn't expected that. How could he? He was a dragon! A superior being, blessed with an imposing body and naturally high stats. Yet there it was, that being, moving with the same agility as him.
"This doesn't make sense… My attributes should surpass his in everything, but the speed... The speed is lower. Could it be because of the type of dragon I evolved into?" Uriel pondered, his wings cutting through the clouds like blades. "Maybe... That makes sense. But still, there's the level difference. Even if he has much more experience than me, in the end, he still loses in almost every other stat."
His sharp gaze turned to the snow-covered ground below. The cold didn't bother him, but hunger was starting to gnaw at his insides like an impatient beast.
"If I fly, even if I'm close to the ground, he won't be able to catch me. I'm almost certain of it. The stats should only represent the base of the attributes, not their total value... Or maybe I'm wrong? No... I think it's unlikely." Uriel murmured to himself, his sharp mind trying to calculate the variables.
His stomach growled. Hunger was becoming an annoyance. His reptilian eyes landed on the distant village. The goblins walked between the simple wooden and stone structures, their presence vibrating with intelligence and civilization.
"All of them... They should be enough to fill my stomach." Uriel licked his scaly lips. "They seem like a community... Beings that think, that feel. But that doesn't matter. If I don't find anything to eat, they will be my meal."
He smiled to himself, his sharp fangs reflecting the pale light of the cloudy sky. No one there could hear him, but even so, his words carried a silent promise. With a strong flap of his wings, he moved away from the village, diving between the snowy mountains in search of a more convenient prey.
Minutes passed.
Snow. Just snow. The vast whiteness stretched as far as his eyes could see. The biting wind howled, lifting swirling icy gusts into the air. The dragon furrowed his brow, his patience running thin.
"Looks like... that village will have to end up in my stomach." Uriel growled, muscles tense as he changed direction. "Seems like I have no choice but to go back there."
Then, something caught his attention.
A presence.
His eyes narrowed as he detected a movement below. And then, he saw it.
There was a being, a robust creature, dragging a huge dead animal through the snow. The sight made Uriel's eyes shine.
"Finally... A prey appeared." He smiled, spreading his wings with excitement. "It's about time."
But when he tried to inspect the creature... Nothing.
"Hm? Strange..." Uriel blinked, confused. "Why isn't the status screen appearing for this being? This has never happened before..."
His instincts were on alert. There were two possibilities. The first: the being was powerful enough to block his evaluation. The second: it had some item that hid it from the system.
"But I don't sense any threat..." Uriel murmured, his curiosity growing. "What is it, after all?"
Without hesitation, he dove from the sky in a swift plunge, his wings folding against his body to gain more speed. His target had no idea what was about to happen.
Or... did it?
The being stopped suddenly. Its head lifted, and its eyes turned directly to Uriel.
"He sensed me?!" The dragon's eyes widened. His altitude was still high, but even so... The being had detected him. "Impressive... Its sense is sharp enough to notice my presence even through the clouds."
Before Uriel could react, the blue being let out a fierce roar. Its muscles contracted, and in a surprising move, it lifted a massive stone — larger than itself — and hurled it with incredible force.
The rock cut through the air, whistling like a deadly projectile.
Uriel, however, didn't move.
The stone collided with his body with a deafening crash... And shattered.
Shards flew in all directions, mixing with the snow. The impact didn't even make him budge.
The dragon blinked, surprised.
"Interesting..." A cruel smile appeared on his face.
"I just wanted your hunt... But since you want to fight..." His eyes glowed with a predatory gleam. "You'll be my prey too!"
Without hesitation, Uriel charged. His wings flared in a single motion, propelling his body forward like an arrow shot from a bow.
The blue being roared again. It screamed words in an unknown language, but Uriel didn't care. It made no difference.
The punch came quickly.
[You took 100 damage]
[You suffered from stun]
[You dealt 15 damage]
The impact reverberated through Uriel's body, making his vision wobble. His brain seemed to disconnect for a moment, his claws losing precision.
The being was thrown a few steps back by the blow, but Uriel was also forced to retreat. His five-meter-long body slid through the snow, sinking it with his massive weight. The shock caused small fissures around him, the ground shaking from the impact.
Uriel's mind spun. He blinked several times, trying to concentrate, but a strange sensation overtook him.
- [Stunned]: You are confused for 3 seconds, unable to act properly and unable to think clearly.