The Goblin Pact
The goblin scratched its pointy green ear, then glared directly at the Dungeon Core.
Kai stared back—if pulsing faintly counted as staring.
"Do you… understand me?"
The goblin blinked. "You… boss?"
> [Lesser Goblin Intelligence: Above Average]
[Bond Option Available: Dungeon Pact]
[Cost: 2 DP. Confirm?]
Kai paused. A talking goblin? That's rare. In most games, they just screamed and died.
"Confirm," Kai said mentally.
> [Dungeon Pact Formed]
[Subject: Gribbik]
[Status: Bound Minion. Loyalty: 60%]
The goblin—Gribbik—stood taller. "Gribbik serve dungeon. Gribbik smarter than others. Me lead tribe someday."
"Great," Kai muttered. "A goblin with ambition."
Still, it was progress. He could feel the connection—like a thin thread linking their minds. Not full control, but enough.
"Build barricades," he ordered. "Drag fallen adventurers to the pit."
Gribbik cackled. "Yesss, boss!"
As the goblin scurried off, Kai felt something shift. Not physically, but emotionally.
He was bonding with monsters now.
Was this how necromancers felt?
> [New Trait Acquired: Tactical Commander I]
[+5% efficiency to all minions when following orders.]
Kai's pulse flickered with glee.
Then a new alert popped:
> [Adventurer: Scout-Class detected at outer edge.]
[Status: Investigating dungeon. Danger Level: Low.]
[Decision: Engage or conceal?]
Kai weighed the options. Strike fast and gain XP—or lay low, gather strength.
"Gribbik," he called out.
The goblin peeked around the corner. "Boss?"
"Bring me that scout. Alive."