Curtis tried to find Jessa again, but it was futile - there were just too many, and all it let him sort by was Rank #. He did find there were now "Pitiful Berserkers" listed under Class, and Goblins and Kobolds under Race - also a couple of "snake" and "bat" race choices. Dead near the top of the list was "Seekthedeep", an Orc Fighter, dead from "exploding spellbook".

  Overall, the rate of new Ranks seemed to be slowing down - probably fewer people just throwing themselves into deathtraps, either due to getting batter at avoiding dangers, or because dying sucked and they couldn't keep dealing with that much pain. Curtis himself would be dead again if he hadn't lucked out in wearing the right suit when walking into the Ooze, and he hadn't been trying to take wild risks. And the Rat disease might have finished him off as well, without the fortunate potion and scrolls, now that he thought about it.

  He considered his options - a locked office door, which he was sure he could force with time and a lot of noise. A manhole, which would probably open with a bit of rebar leverage, but he no longer had the suit to protect him from the environment down there. Or the two library doors with the rust-rat young still lurking around.

  Sadly, he was still barefoot, and now back to wearing just a loincloth and hard hat - near-zero protection from rats. BUT, if he could find the 3 young rats and kill them, at 2 points each, that should get him to level 2, and hopefully give him more power and options.

  After a brief nap, Curtis headed off, refilling his wine bottle but leaving the beer behind (the jug was starting to crack), and grabbing a second weapon (a wooden dowel over 3' long "1-3 damage"). There were no signs of life in the library room. He lifted the shelf unit he had knocked over back up, to make sure no rats were still there. There were no rats, but he caught a glitter from the spilled bedding that had been the rat nest. It turned out to be a fine silver chain necklace, which he put in inventory for now.

  The first door he tried was stuck, but yielded to his rebar fairly quickly. It opened into a long hallway, with doors halfway along each side and at the end. He heard a slamming from the far end as he looked in, then muffled shouts. The far door was then flung open and a small humanoid rushed towards him, wielding a hand axe and small shield, as he realized he'd just been standing there watching like an idiot.

  As he slammed the door shut, he saw at least one more little monster behind the first. He ran back for "home", all the way up into the altar room. They followed. From the open trapdoor, he saw 3 "Goblin 7/7" with weapons and crude leather armor. The dirty little fiends looked like a cross between a rat and Chucky, and they looked at him like he was to be their next meal. They ranted something at him and one pulled out a crude sling, so he slammed the trapdoor shut.

  As he calmed himself a bit, he heard them speaking to each other in evil, high-pitched squeals. Peeking out, there was one stationed tight below him, while the others were checking the exits. One vanished down the ooze hallway, and the other into the barrel room. After a bit, the one below saw him peeking through and shook its fist at him - then made rude faces and gestures.

  Since it didn't call out for the others right away, Curtis decided it was probably now or never. He flung the trapdoor open and threw his dagger at the goblin (total miss), then swung himself down, rebar in hand, to smash the creature. It didn't work out - he took a light blow "-1" from the hand axe, and was tripped up against the wall on landing, hitting his head for another "-1". Squaring off, Curtis had reach, but the goblin had a small shield and seemed to know how to use it. It cackled and charged him.

  This time Curtis did better, his blow glancing off the shield, but still hitting for 2 points, while his shin was struck lightly for another "-1". His blow had damaged the shield as staggering the little beast, so he immediately swung again, getting blocked but still doing it another point of damage. NOW it finally shouted out for help - Curtis needed to finish it off before help arrived.

  They swung at one another yet again. This time the block failed and the goblin took 3 points, while he only took "-1" yet again - these things just weren't very strong, fortunately for him! Looking around, Curtis saw the door to the barrel room had been closed, while the goblin coming back from the break room was plodding through the ooze remains. Instead of joining in, it got out its sling again. He could swear it was laughing at its comrade's plight.

  The next blow was full-tilt for both of them - Curtis got a direct wallop straight through the shield, crippling the goblin and flinging it aside (3 damage), but took a full "-2" in return, and was then struck "-1" by a stone from the sling. He immediately charged he slinger before it could get another shot off or change weapons - doing 3 points to it. It stepped back into the goo and both it and Curtis lost footing for a moment as it readied its weapon (some kind of short spear or javelin a bit less than 3' long).

  On the next exchange, Curtis hit for 2, the goblin for "-1". The almost-dead one was limping back towards the library. No sign of the 3rd one yet. A couple rounds later, after taking another 4 points damage, Curtis' rebar came down on the goblin's head and he felt a surge "+5" go through him, and his whole body suddenly seemed more fit.

  Not having any immediate enemies, Curtis stole a moment to look in the mirror:

  Mundane Human - Curtis

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  Class - Pitiful Rogue

  Level 2 (4/200)

  Health 8/20

  Strength - 1

  On the goblin, he found a "crude javelin 1-2", and "crude sling 1-2", 8 sling stones, a "crude leather jerkin (1 defense)", and 4 "leather scraps", as well as 2 copper coins looking identical to the others he had found. Strangely, the body still had a pop-up, which now said "Harvest? Y/N". Curtis selected Yes, just to see what happened.

  Suddenly, the goblin body just dissolved away, leaving "goblin meat" x 2. Nope - not touching that! Curtis thought - it reminded him of rotten pork. As all this was happening, the other goblin never showed up. He could understand the wounded one fleeing, but what had happened to the one in the barrel room?

  He walked over to the door - what sort of screech-humming was coming from the other side of the door? Was it in pain or something? Diseased? Or maybe the beer or wine had poisoned it? He tried to carefully open the door a crack to see, but it was firmly wedged shut - very firmly, in fact. Looking down, he saw the points of some kind of wedges used to secure the door shut.

  It finally occurred to Curtis what was going on. The goblin had discovered the beer and wine, secured the door, and was in there getting plastered!!