Three days passed after the Forest Ogre's defeat.
The goblin village was no longer the same.
Stronger.
Safer.
More united than ever.
And everywhere Atria rolled, goblins bowed with respect not fear.
Baru, the blacksmith, walked up to Atria with soot on his face.
"Atria-sama! Look! With the metal you helped melt and reshape, I made real weapons now!"
He held up a short sword with a clean edge and polished finish.
Better than anything goblins usually had.
Atria pulsed approvingly.
Rugo appeared next, dragging a thick stack of logs.
"Atria-sama! We built a real wall! Strong enough to hold back most monsters!"
Teka leapt down from a tree, landing lightly.
"I scouted the area. No monsters nearby… but there is something."
Atria turned toward her.
"What did you find?"
She pointed north.
"A human caravan. About a day away. They're heading our direction."
The goblins stiffened.
"Humans hate goblins…"
"They'll attack us…"
"Should we hide?"
Atria considered.
Humans could mean trade… or slaughter.
But running would make them a forever-fearful tribe.
No they needed allies.
And he needed information about the world.
Atria pulsed firmly:
"We prepare. Not for war for contact."
Before the caravan could reach them, something unexpected happened.
A small figure emerged from the trees.
A young wolf pup monster, wounded and limping, collapsed at the village entrance.
Lena rushed over. "It's hurt!"
The goblins backed away nervously.
"Wolves eat goblins…"
"What if its pack is nearby?"
Atria approached the pup slowly.
Its breathing was shallow. Its fur was matted with blood.
He placed a slimy tendril gently on the pup's forehead.
Predator Core: Healing Mode
You may heal instead of absorb.
Warm light flowed into the creature.
The wolf pup opened its eyes bright, silver, intelligent.
It sniffed Atria.
Then it nuzzled him.
Rugo blinked. "Did it… accept you?"
Teka added, "It thinks Atria-sama is its parent!"
Lena squealed, "It's adorable!"
Atria felt a system message:
You have formed a Monster Bond
Bond Partner: Silver Wolf Pup unnamed
Abilities Shared: Minor Speed Boost, Pack Sense
Not a god tier skill.
Just a real, natural bond.
The pup barked happily and curled beside him.
Atria thought for a moment.
"Your name is… Silva."
The pup glowed softly.
Monster Evolution Triggered
Silver Wolf Pup Swiftfang Wolf Young
Gained: Tracking Sense, Sharp Claw Swipe
The goblins cheered.
Atria had formed his first monster companion.
The Human Caravan Arrives
The goblins stood behind the new wall, ready but not hostile.
Atria waited at the front with Silva at his side.
Hooves approached.
Carriage wheels rumbled.
The caravan stopped.
A group of armored humans stared at the village.
One stepped forward a woman in light armor with silver hair and a calm expression.
"I am Captain Aria of the Frontier Scouts. We detected strong monster signals here. Tell us… is this village hostile?"
Rugo gulped. Teka hid behind the gate.
Atria slid forward, glowing gently and unthreateningly.
The woman froze.
"A slime This slime is the leader?"
Atria nodded.
Slowly, very slowly, he lifted a tendril and wrote glowing letters in the dirt:
"Peace."
The captain blinked.
Then smiled.
"A thinking slime… and an organized goblin village. This is… unexpected, but not unwelcome."
She sheathed her sword.
"We seek trade, not battle."
Teka whispered, "Is this good?"
Atria pulsed with calm confidence.
"This is very good."
The humans entered peacefully.
They traded food, tools, healing herbs, and cloth in exchange for lumber, metal ore, and pelts from the monsters Atria had defeated.
Aria approached Atria personally.
"You're special. Intelligent. Peace-oriented. If you continue protecting the goblins, I'll make sure the human kingdom recognizes your village."
Atria's core glowed bright.
Recognition.
Safety.
A future.
This was the path he wanted:
not domination, but real growth.
Before leaving, Aria bowed lightly.
"Slime leader Atria… I hope we meet again."
As the caravan departed, Silva curled around Atria and the goblins cheered.
Their village wasn't just surviving anymore.
It was rising.