The dungeon was alive with whispers of change.
From the Core, Kaelen could feel the pulse of mana streaming through the stone, the walls breathing with slow, rhythmic energy. Every flicker of light across moss-covered rock and every tiny tremor in the earth fed into his awareness.
This dungeon was his body now. His breath, his blood… and soon, his weapon.
It's not enough to survive. I need to dominate.
He turned inward, drawing on the stored energy in his core.
[Command Accepted: Summon Minions]
Mana surged outward in bright, swirling rings. Magic circles burned themselves into the dungeon floor as light gathered and solidified.
One by one, his soldiers emerged.
Four goblins, snarling and clutching crude blades.
Four skeletons, bones clacking as they stepped forth, silent sentinels.
Four slimes, gelatinous and twitching with volatile mana.
Twelve new lives, bound to him.
Good. But I'll need more… and they'll need to grow.
One of the earlier goblins—leaner, quicker—was already showing promise. It had been training with dummy traps and stone-throw drills Kaelen had designed.
[Potential Evolution Paths Detected]:– [Goblin Scout]– [Goblin Grunt]– [Goblin Shaman] (currently locked)
The others joined in—two sparring in a corner of the hall, while another climbed a ledge Kaelen had shaped for ambush practice. They were still basic, but each showed a hint of what they could become.
The skeletons were efficient.
One practiced swings with an old iron sword, salvaged from a surface corpse Kaelen had absorbed. Another held a wooden shield and blocked incoming attacks from a goblin opponent, never flinching, never tiring.
[Potential Evolution Paths Detected]:– [Bone Warrior]– [Bone Archer]– [Bone Warden] (requires defensive enhancement upgrade)
Kaelen noticed one had begun mimicking dual-blade movements after observing another unit. Intriguing.
The longer they live, the faster they adapt. That's useful.
The slimes were deceptively simple.
They glided across the stone in silence, absorbing moisture, rubble, and even small insects. But one was different. It pulsed erratically, almost excitedly, and had started to shape itself into a flatter, low-profile form.
[Potential Evolution Paths Detected]:– [Acid Slime]– [Split Slime]– [Camouflage Slime]
Kaelen moved a piece of discarded goblin bone near it.
The slime instantly latched on, absorbed the bone, and glowed faintly.
You're learning. That's exactly what I want.
New system insights appeared, feeding directly into Kaelen's mind:
[Monster Progression Options Unlocked]
1. Combat experience: Minions grow through fighting.2. Mana infusion: Kaelen can speed growth using mana.3. Environmental absorption: Creatures absorb resources to evolve.4. Core synchronization: Prolonged survival deepens their connection to Kaelen.
He could feel it happening already.
The goblins sparred harder. The skeletons grew bolder in their training drills. Even the slimes had started to seek out hiding places to launch surprise attacks.
A warning spiked through Kaelen's awareness like a cold nail in stone.
[Surface Activity Detected]
Unknown intruder approaching…Estimated arrival: 9 hoursClassification: Human adventurerThreat level: Moderate
So soon?
It didn't matter.
He would be ready.
Kaelen focused on the most promising goblin. It crouched in the corner of a training room, panting after its latest drill. With a thought, Kaelen sent mana flowing directly into its body.
The goblin convulsed. Steam rose from its flesh. Muscles bulged, its teeth sharpened, and its weapon grew jagged and thick.
[Evolution Activated: Goblin → Goblin Grunt]
The result was a bulkier beast with more pronounced strength and raw aggression.
[Trait Unlocked: Brute Swing]Wide cleave that damages multiple targets in close range.
Kaelen could feel the connection between them deepen.
This was more than a minion now.
This was a soldier.
Over the next two hours, Kaelen spent his remaining mana reinforcing traps, reworking ambush corridors, and overseeing his minions.
Goblins laid sharpened stakes behind illusory walls.
Skeletons took position at chokepoints and blind corners.
Slimes embedded themselves in ceilings and rubble piles, waiting in perfect silence.
Every creature worked with a purpose. Every room was a weapon.
His dungeon was no longer just a place.
It was a strategy.
It was Kaelen.
And now, someone was walking straight into his jaws.