Several goblins run towards all trees. I mentally prepare myself to continually use 『Wood Growth』. After all, that is my only means of offense and defense.

  “Gahahahaaaaawwawa” the goblins scream as they pounce at my tree. Steadily they start climbing and I take a defensive stance.

  Two of them reach the branch and start running towards me.

  “『Wood Growth』”.

  Long and thin needles pierce the goblins from where they were on the branch stopping them in their path. The skill level up improved the length and strength of these wooden needles.

  The goblins howl in pain as they pluck out their hands and legs from these wooden needles.

  I scream『Wood Growth』a few more times while two more goblins make their way up to the branch.

  “Not so fast you little fuckers!”

  “『Wood Growth』”.

  But is this all I can do? Momentarily lock them in place until they free themselves and eventually eat me?? This skill isn’t 『Wood Needles』it’s 『Wood Growth』 . It’s a long shot but can I use the『Appraisal』on another skill?

  『Wood Growth: Basic magic spell influencing instantaneous growth of wood in a specific manner and direction. Better control on direction and shape of growing wood can be achieved with higher skill level.』

  “It worked!! I think I know what to do now.”

  I close my eyes and concentrate on the goblins. I scream『Wood Growth』picturing large needles impaling goblins from the front pushing them off the branch.

  It didn’t work.

  I couldn’t manage to push them off the branch but I did start pushing them back. I think the『Wood Growth』is LV3 right now. I need to level it up more if I want to decisively push them off.

  I glance to my sides and see goblins who’ve made their way up to the other trees and are viciously eating other sprites. Some squish the heads popping out blood and licking it off their hands; crunching entire sprites into their mouths without remorse and not stopping.

  I look in horror as one goblin sets free from the needles and grabs me from my torso. He grips tightly crushing my body with a crackling sound. I feel myself losing blood and almost fainting.

  “Iff….. thhhhiss ww...ww---wwworkks, yyyy-yy...ou’re go.......oinnng to-oo regretttt holllding mm….mmme youuu PIECE OF SHIT!! 『Wood Growth』!!!”.

  I remembered my body looks like wooden sticks and imagined needles coming out from all over the place.

  It worked this time.

  Long needles pierced the goblins hand inducing considerable pain to it. He screamed and threw me away. I hit the tree trunk behind while the goblin stumbled behind and triggered the goblin dominoes I think?? as they all pushed each each other and started falling off the branch.

  Four goblins fell off the branch.

  I feel some of my strength returning. I think levelling up increases your strength??

  First and foremost I need to rest. I imagine several needles around me in the shape of a triangular dome covering me whilst barely uttering “『Wood Growth』”.

  Wooden stakes surround me in the exact manner I had imagined it to do. Looks like 『Wood Growth』now gives me stakes and not needles. Yayyy??

  Now that I think about it didn't 『Appraisal』 level up too? Let me look at myself.

  “This isn’t good. Doesn’t HP and MP stand for Health Points and Magic Points? I’m low on both of them. I cannot fight anymore. Ooof. Can’t I have some potion or something?? Games have those don’t they?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes.”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The timing was perfect. As soon as I started feeling better, I could the hear the goblins that had surrounded me.

  I didn’t need to look. These creatures almost killed me. I’m not throwing them off the branches anymore. We’re gonna kill these little fuckers.

  I close my eyes and concentrate again. I try to remember the feeling of when the needles had surrounded me a while back. I try to recreate the picture with these stakes now.

  “『Wood Growth』” I calmly mutter.

  I hear screams outside of my dome. However sadistic, I couldn’t help but let out a grin. I repeat 『Wood Growth 』 again and again till I received this message.

  “One more time. 『Wood Growth』!!”

  I use 『Appraisal』on myself again.

  "Ehhhh? What's that title??"

  "So these titles are like skills which give me bonuses? And what is the Battle shit?"

  "Wow. Lack of information is shitty isn't it. Fuck this shit maan."

  When no movement followed for a few moments I came out of the dome and look at the mess made.

  It looked pretty graphic. The branch was dyed green with goblin blood and some of it was dripping off too.

  Decapitated goblin body bart stuck on multiple wooden stakes looked pretty satisfying??

  I had killed six more goblins now. I’m happy with this. Now all this scene needs is a clean up.

  “Isn’t there a way to just throw all this shit off my tree??”

  The blood starts flowing towards me. Coming in close proximity it glows a bright green and vanishes; I feel better.

  “Did i just…”

  This is too good to be true.

  By the time another goblin makes its way up to me, I had absorbed all of the disgusting green blood. Initially I would’ve been repulsed by absorbing Goblin blood but I had used 『Appraisal』on myself and realised that I was recovering both HP and MP. After using 『Appraisal』on 『Sap Steal』

  Before anything else, I used 『Wood Growth』on the incoming goblin and one-hit KO(ing) him. A large wooden spike had impaled him and rendered him dead

  “I’ve grown pretty strong haven’t I? Let’s absorb this little shit too. 『Sap Steal』!”

  By the time the tutorial ended, I had killed about twenty goblins in total and levelled up to LV9. 『Sap Steal LV1』had become 『Sap Steal LV3』and 『Wood Growth LV8』had become 『Wood Growth LV9』It seems levelling up becomes tougher as you reach a higher number. The goblin mob had reduced considerably in comparison to it's original size.

  "『Appraisal』!!"

  "Oh no. Wooden Sprite is a no go. I don't care about my physical build right now but if my『Wood Growth』were to weaken, I don't know if I'll make it."

  "...........WHAT?!?!?! If i choose this I am to become the spirit of my hometree?? Nahh bro. I wanna live as myself."

  "Hmmmmm. This is dicey. They seem very strong but they gain this status at the cost of their freedom? I can't let this happen to me. But does that mean the other sprites who couldn't fight the goblins and hid to survive will be forced to rank up into this? Cruel."

  "It doesn't say much about this one but only this sounds the most plausible. Hmmmmmm.............

  Fine. I choose 『Forest Sprite』."