Chapter 2: Part 1
(Jee-shahn's Internal Monologue)
Hey everyone, I see you're doing well. Friends, I'm done here, so let's get back on topic. You might be wondering where I am and what I'm doing. Well, let's just say I've realized I'm lying on the ground, covered in what I really hope is just thick mud and dust, and a giant-sized hammer is currently poised to smash my face.How did all this happen?The answer, sadly, is simple: it all goes back to where the last chapter ended. Hmmm... Oh,right. I keep forgetting how I wound up in this mess. Let's take a trip down memory lane. Ithink it all happened just a few hours ago, when——Past Sense—Jee-shahn strode through the dense, unfamiliar jungle, the humid air heavy with the smell of damp earth and strange, exotic blossoms. He carried the beautiful goblina lady efortlessly in his arms, his newfound strength making her feel as light as a feather.After a long period of silence, he looked down at the woman nestled against his chest.Seeing her still confused, she looked up and asked, "Is something wrong?"Jee-shahn blinked, surprised she could speak coherently now. He ofered a warm smile."Nothing at all. But I realized something: you haven't told me your name."The goblina's eyes widened, a profound look of shock and confusion washing over her face before a sad smile replaced it. "I don't think you know much about... that.""About what?" Jee-shahn asked, genuinely curious."About having a name," she explained quietly. "For monsters, a name is a symbol of legacy.It's rare. When a monster gains a legacy symbol, they can... evolve."Jee-shahn, hanging onto every word, asked, "So how many types of legacy symbols are there? And you don't have one?"Her face clouded with a deep sadness. "There are two types. Legacy Symbol 1: The Family Relic. A powerful artifact passed down through generations. It gains its own spirit and desires. When it comes into a monster's hands, it not only evolves itself but evolves that generation of monster, too. We call those monsters Titans."She paused, her voice trembling slightly. "Then there is Legacy Symbol 2: The Name. A name is only given by a high-ranking monster, usually a parent. It takes a monumentaltoll—it costs them too much life span and power. But after receiving a name, the recipient evolves and their abilities improve."She fell silent, her eyes welling up."Hey, are you okay?" Jee-shahn asked, concerned by her sudden distress.Tears began to fall. "My father tried to give me a name, but he wasn't successful. He... he turned to ashes."Jee-shahn felt a surge of unexpected sympathy. He gently placed her down on the soft moss and wiped the tears from her cheek."Please don't try," she pleaded, thinking of the cost."What about if I give you a name?" Jee-shahn proposed, his voice soft but firm.Her eyes snapped wide. "No! You'll die, too!"Jee-shahn smiled, a genuine, powerful look of determination. "But I owe you a big favor for saving my life. That's a debt I have to repay.""No!" she insisted, shaking her head.He gently pulled her into a hug, cradling her head against his chest. He whispered into her ear, a voice filled with an aching sorrow from his own long-buried grief."Little one, a name is a gift, a promise, and a memory. I love you, Shizuka."The goblina—now Shizuka—went completely stiff with shock, then her body relaxed entirely.She fell into a deep, immediate sleep in his arms.Jee-shahn smiled, a complex mix of sadness and satisfaction. He carefully picked her up again and continued walking in the direction she had pointed, his heart strangely lighter.After another hour, Jee-shahn suddenly spun his head around, whispering to himself. "Hmm,I see Something is wrongI just heard footsteps". . .He turned back around, ready to address his sleeping companion, and froze.Shizuka was gone.He screamed in comic alarm. "Hey, Shizuka! Where did you go? We're in a hurry!"From behind a massive, moss-covered tree, a shadow emerged and immediately attacked,lunging at Jee-shahn with a wickedly sharp spear.Jee-shahn side stepped easily, the spear slicing through the air where his head had been. He flashed a cocky, winning smile. "Hey! That's all you can do?"He felt a massive presence loom behind him—but it was too late. A gargantuan, knotty hammer, made from the dark, gnarled wood of an ancient oak tree, slammed into the side ofhis head.Jee-shahn went flying, crashing hard against a tree on the opposite side of the clearing. He grabbed his throbbing head, vision spinning.When the world stabilized, he saw ten figures, all wearing the same coconut-leaf masks Shizuka had worn. And one of them was gently holding the still-sleeping Shizuka in her arms.Jee-shahn scrambled to his feet, ignoring the throbbing pain. "Hey! It's not a fair fight!"In response, all ten figures simultaneously removed their masks.Jee-shahn's breath hitched. They were all stunningly beautiful, every one of them a goblina.He whispered to himself in awe struck disbelief. "They're all beautiful goblinas..."Then his eyes landed on the woman at the front, who held a spear pointed menacingly at his neck. She was formidable, regal, and perhaps even more intensely beautiful than Shizuka.Jee-shahn, momentarily forgetting the danger, whispered with a faint, perverted grimace,"She's so beautiful... even more beautiful than Shizuka..."The lead goblina's eyes narrowed, her voice deep and cold as a winter stream."What have you done with my daughter?"Jee-shahn's mind went blank. He stood silent for a long, stunned moment, then screamedinternally: YOUR DAUGHTER?!
Chapter 2: Part 2
Jee-shahn's eyes were fixed on Shizuka's mother, his immediate shock at her identity replaced by an awe-struck admiration for her unmatched beauty. A sly, perverse grimace spread across his lips—a look that instantly sent a wave of unease through the surrounding goblin warriors.Shizuka's mother, sensing his inappropriate shift in focus, shoved the spear tip slightly harder against his neck."What did you do with my little flower?" she demanded, her voice tight with fury and maternal worry.Jee-shahn paused, then flashed a wide, unnerving smile. "She's just sleeping. Like—"At that exact moment, the lead goblina realized something was wrong. Her eyes flickered away from Jee-shahn, and she turned her head slightly to check on her unconscious daughter."—Like what?" she asked, confused.When she snapped her gaze back, Jee-shahn was gone.She felt a chilling draft behind her and spun around. Her eyes widened in shock: all ten ofher elite guards were already sprawled on the ground, unconscious. And her daughter,Shizuka, was missing from their arms."What—!"A voice boomed from behind her. She whirled around again, only to see Jee-shahn right there. He was holding Shizuka efortlessly in one arm, his expression a triumphant, slightly mad grin."—Like all of you sleeping!" Jee-shahn finished, delivering a sharp, precise blow.Shizuka's mother, caught completely off guard, instantly fainted. Jee-shahn, ever the gentleman despite the fight, caught her before she could hit the ground, gently cradling both mother and daughter in his arms.He stood for a silent, glorious moment, holding the two most beautiful women in the jungle.Then, he threw his head back and burst into thunderous, manic laughter."How's the winner?!" he roared at the sleeping jungle. "Who's the man of this jungle?!"He punched the air in a ridiculous victory dance. "Me! Me! Me!"The Aftermath and the 'Crafting' Challenge Mid-celebration, Jee-shahn froze. He glanced down at the two beautiful women in his arms and then at the unconscious warriors scattered around him.Wait.He realized that the moment he'd deployed his power, not only had his targets been knocked out, but their clothing—crude though it was—had been shredded to pieces. He looked at himself and realized his own tattered shirt was barely clinging to his shoulders."Oh, damn," he muttered, gently laying Shizuka and her mother down. He quickly snatched a large leaf to cover himself.He stared at the fainted goblinas, their beautiful bodies now exposed. "I think I used too much strength against them. Look at this! I destroyed their beautiful outfits, and their… well,their beautiful bodies are shining from the trees!" He winced. "It all happened because I forgot I now have the status and strength of an S-Rank Male Goblina. So, this kind of destruction is obvious."Jee-shahn sighed. "The question is, how do I cover up their beauty now? And me?"He thought for a moment, then his eyes went wide with realization. "Hmmmm, I also have the Low-Level Crafting skill! I should try that!"But his hope instantly deflated. "I don't have anything to craft clothes with!"At that exact moment, a low, guttural "EEEMMM!" sounded nearby.Jee-shahn turned to see a massive, crocodile-like creature—a forest lizard of truly terrifying size—standing over him, its massive jaw wide, letting out a deafening roar. A yello wish liquid dripped onto Jee-shahn's head.Jee-shahn didn't panic. He simply grinned, picked up one of the abandoned spears, and rushed toward the monstrous lizard.The sun rose hours later. Shizuka, her mother, and the other goblinas slowly opened their eyes, greeted by a stunning scene: Jee-shahn was sitting beside a huge campfire he hadbuilt using several whole trees. Suspended over the flames was the roasted carcass of thegiant crocodile-like beast, alongside the smaller, familiar fishes Shizuka had caught earlier.The goblinas, driven by hunger, silently approached. They took pieces of the perfectly roasted meat and began to eat.Shizuka was the first to approach Jee-shahn. She sat down close beside him, her eyes shining. "I'm glad you're fine."Jee-shahn turned his head, looking at her intently. A slow smile spread across his face."You've become much more beautiful after you evolved," he observed quietly.Shizuka blushed deeply, touching her cheek.Her mother, who had been standing a distance away, immediately noticed the intimate exchange. She hurried forward, positioning herself defensively in front of Jee-shahn."Hey! What are you trying to do—"A sudden, sharp pain flared in her jaw, stopping her mid-sentence. Shizuka cried out in alarm.Jee-shahn instantly grasped Shizuka's mother's hand. She looked at him in shock, feeling aweird warmth already radiating from his palm. Before she could react, Jee-shahn gave agentle tug.She lost her balance and tumbled forward, collapsing right onto Jee-shahn. Her face was inches from his, and her hands landed directly on his chest. Her eyes widened in surprise;she could feel that strange, healing warmth flowing from his body.Jee-shahn put his hand on her cheek, holding her gaze. He whispered softly into her ear,leaning in close."Nothing," he murmured, then quickly whispered to himself: "Heal."The lingering ache in her jaw—a consequence of his previous knockout blow—vanished instantly. Shizuka's mother stared at him, astonishment replacing her fury.Jee-shahn smiled slightly, looking deep into her eyes. She stared back, equally lost in his gaze. Their lips were impossibly close; they could feel each other's breath.In that charged moment, Jee-shahn pressed forward and kissed Shizuka's mother.Her eyes went wide, swimming in utter shock.The stakes are impossibly high now! Jee-shahn just kissed the leader of the tribe, the mother of the woman he named, and the source of all his current trouble!
To be continued