Goblin King: My Innate Skill Is OP-Chapter 270: Safeguard

[Umbral Ink Core (A)] — Passive

A corruption-aligned trait that generates and stabilizes cursed ink within the user’s body. The core continuously produces viscous black essence capable of draining vitality, disrupting energy flow, and inflicting creeping decay. It reinforces the user’s tolerance to corruption and prevents self-infection from the ink’s effects. Higher ranks increase ink density, corruption potency, and the user’s ability to manipulate the ink as an extension of their own will.

• Cursed Regeneration (A) — Passive

A dark healing trait that restores flesh using corrupted energy. Regeneration increases when wounded, but leaves faint curse traces that strengthen the user over time. Higher ranks accelerate recovery from fatal damage

[Apex Sight (B)] — Passive

A refined perceptive trait that heightens visual clarity, depth recognition, and micro-movement detection. Apex Sight enhances eye-muscle response, improves focus under pressure, and allows the user to track motion far beyond normal limits. With this passive active, the user can perceive openings, weak points, and movement patterns with unnatural precision. Higher ranks refine long-range lock-on accuracy and reaction time.

• Focus (D)] — Passive

Steadies the mind, sharpening concentration and execution under stress. Reduces casting disruption, increases accuracy, and improves stamina control. Higher ranks allow momentary clarity even in chaotic environments.

When it came to my passive skills, there wasn’t much to debate. They required no effort to maintain, no special conditions to activate, and no risk of misusing them, so I could share every single one without worry.

Active skills were where things got tricky.

Active Skills

[Muscle Strengthening (D)] — Active

Temporarily enhances muscle fibers, increasing raw strength and explosive power. Higher ranks extend duration and reduce strain.

[Sonic Roar (C)] — Active

Unleashes a compressed roar that destabilizes hearing, balance, and weak structures. Higher ranks increase range and shock intensity, capable of rupturing internal organs.

[Berserker Frenzy (B)] — Active

Triggers a controlled battle madness. Strength, speed, and aggression spike while pain becomes muted. Higher ranks improve control, reducing the risk of losing awareness.

[Shock Pulse (C)] — Active

Releases a concussive burst from the body, repelling nearby enemies and disrupting their actions. Higher ranks create directional or chained pulses.

[Water Piston (C)] — Active

Compresses water around the limbs or weapon and fires it like hydraulic force. Ideal for piercing, striking, or accelerating movement. Higher ranks increase pressure and range.

[Decay (A)] — Active

Inflicts rapid decomposition on organic matter. Armor rots, flesh withers, and vitality drains. Higher ranks bypass basic resistances and spread decay faster.

[Blackflame Surge (A)] — Active

Summons a dense wave of black fire that burns not only flesh but life force. Higher ranks intensify consumption, allowing the flames to cling and spread.

[Soulrot Hex (A)] — Active

A curse that erodes the target’s spirit. Weakens skills, drains energy, and induces spiritual pain. Higher ranks corrupt deeper layers of the soul.

[Witherfield (A)] — Active

Creates an area of stagnant energy that slows regeneration, weakens stamina flow, and corrodes physical strength. Higher ranks expand the radius and intensify the withering effect.

[Spirit Leech (B)] — Active

Steals small fragments of the enemy’s spirit or willpower to fuel your own energy reserves. Higher ranks allow leeching through indirect contact.

[Gravebound (B)] — Active

Channels death-aligned mana to bind a target’s movement. The binding stiffens muscles and drags the victim toward a spectral weight. Higher ranks increase the immobilization strength.

[Muscle Strengthening] and [Berserker Frenzy] practically had Dribb and Gobbo’s names carved into them; those two were born to hit things until either they or the enemy fell over. Giving them raw physical boosters was simply common sense.

The chain of abilities from Blackflame Surge down to Gravebound, however, that entire set belonged with Narg. I’d taken those skills from the shaman I killed, so passing them on to my shaman felt fitting. Almost symbolic.

But after those obvious picks... everything became harder.

The next batch of skills didn’t point toward a clear recipient.

[Frost Vein (A)]

A cold-aligned innate ability created from the slain ice Chosen’s core power. The user’s internal energy develops a secondary frost pathway that allows them to generate extreme cold on demand. Attacks, movement, and defenses can all be infused with chilling force, and the user becomes resistant to freezing temperatures. Higher mastery crystallizes the frost within the body, sharpening control and enabling advanced manipulation of ice.

[Chill Pulse (C)]

Releases a short-range burst of cold energy that slows enemy movement and reaction speed. The pulse reduces muscle efficiency and drains stamina, making opponents sluggish and inaccurate for a brief duration.

[Glacier Skin (B)]

Forms a thin crystalline layer over the user’s skin, greatly increasing resistance to physical damage and fire while lowering incoming temperature effects. The barrier regenerates slowly while active and can temporarily harden on impact to prevent critical injuries.

[Frostbound Execution (A)]

Concentrates frost energy into a single strike that freezes whatever it touches from the point of impact outward. The freeze begins by locking muscles, then spreads to weapons, armor, or internal organs, depending on the target’s strength. Against weaker enemies, it can instantly immobilize or shatter them.

[Pain Rush (B)] — Active

Converts inflicted pain into combat power. For a short period, each wound boosts speed, strength, and aggression. Higher ranks increase efficiency and reduce backlash.

• Pain Channeling (B)

Redirects mild pain into short bursts of strength and speed.

• Redline Surge (B)

The more severe the injury, the faster your body accelerates. Grants unstable boosts that stack temporarily.

• Agony Overdrive (A)

Major wounds trigger a controlled berserk state where pain fuels devastating power spikes. You remain aware and can act with clarity.

These pain-type ones also suited Dribb and Gobbo, who stood in the front line and took hits. The pain could grant them power boosts.

[Bone Forge (B)] — Active

Channels bone essence outward to form temporary constructs, weapons, armor, or skeletal augments. When active, the user can shape and harden condensed bone into functional combat tools or reinforcements. Higher ranks increase construct stability, hardness, and transformative speed.

• Bone Edge (C)

Forms small blades, claws, or spikes from condensed bone essence.

• Osteo Shield (C)

Creates large bone plates or shields that...