The curious Viru asked Albus to explain more about this Dungeon Gate.
'The Dungeon Gate will have it's own space of land inside it. The Dungeon master can choose it's terrain. When the Dungeon Gate is placed, the enemies should pass through the Gate to enter the Dungeon main hall. This will be the only way to enter the Dungeon'
Albus explained.
With the idea of the dungeon gate, Viru's ambition raised. The prospect of choosing his own terrain and crafting a space that was truly his own excited him. It was more than a tactical advantage—it was the seed of a kingdom. The only currency required was enough experience for stage 5, and Viru was ready to invest.
As the night's embrace tightened around the jungle, Viru, alongside Pyra, Zain, Luther, and Rex, braced themselves for the hunt. The core's aura permeated the air, an invisible beacon calling forth creatures from the shadows. The trap was set, the bait was out—now they waited.
The peace of the night was broken by the rustle of movement. Four first-stage evolved goblins, one an archer with bow in hand, the others carrying crude but lethal weaponry, entered the main hall. The archer took an arrow, its tip sparkling with venom under the moonlight, while his companions gripped their weapons, their eyes gleaming with greed and malice.
Viru gave the signal, and the battle erupted. Pyra, swift as a shooting star, took to the air, her talons outstretched, aiming for the archer. Zain, Luther, and Rex moved as one—a symphony of muscle and might—each finding their mark. The archer loosed his arrow, but Pyra's dive was quicker, her body a bladed whirlwind that knocked the arrow off its deadly course.
The melee goblins charged, their cries a savage chorus. Zain met the first with a clash, his own weapon parrying and thrusting in a dance of death. Luther, with a roar, barreled into the second goblin, his strength irresistible. Rex, silent and deadly, circled, waiting for an opening to deliver a crippling blow.
Viru, at the heart of the fray, was a commander and a warrior. His core's powers flowed through him, guiding his movements. He avoided a wild swing attack, his counter-attack precisely sent one goblin shaking back into the wooden walls.
The archer, recovering from Pyra's assault, notched another arrow, but Zain was upon him. With a skillful move, Zain knocked the bow aside, rendering the archer defenseless. Luther and Rex, having subdued their opponents, assembled to assist.
The goblins, fierce but outmatched, fell one by one under the relentless assault. Pyra's aerial advantage, Zain's tactical strikes, Luther's brute force, and Rex's silent lethality—combined with Viru's strategic command—proved too much for the intruders.
As the last goblin fell, Viru stood amidst his victorious comrades. The night air was heavy with the scent of victory and the promise of more battles to come. The goblins, now defeated, would be the newest additions to Viru's burgeoning force, each one a step closer to the grand vision of the dungeon gate and the city that would rise within.
The quarrel with the goblins, though brief, had drained the energy from Viru and his companions. With the day's trials weighing heavily upon them, Viru declared a halt of battles for the night. He knew the importance of rest for himself and his subordinates—vital if they were to maintain their strength for the challenges ahead.
Viru assigned a rotating watch, requiring that two of their number should always guard the perimeter of the fence. This precaution was essential until the dungeon gate could be summoned, a beacon of safety and power in this unpredictable world.
As his subordinates settled into their roles, Viru's thoughts ventured beyond immediate concerns. He thought about the existence of other human domains and the possibility of kingdoms and empires occupying the vast expanse of this land. Rex's origins, half-human and half-goblin, suggested a world where various civilizations crossed, perhaps even clashed.
Viru's leadership style was one of friendship and fairness. He distributed their provisions with an even hand, his actions reinforcing the bonds of loyalty and respect among his growing band. The recent goblin recruits, subdued but now part of a Viru's force, talked about their origins. They were from a small goblin village nestled miles away.
The notion of raiding this village for more subordinates flashed in Viru's mind like a shadow. It was a strategic option that could strengthen his ranks significantly. Yet, it posed moral questions he hadn't expected to grapple with so soon. For now, he put off the idea, allowing the quiet of the night to relieve his strategic mind as they all yielded to the embrace of slumber, guarded by the watchful eyes of their comrades.
As Viru lay down for the night, his mind buzzed with the blueprint of a future that opened beyond mere survival. He fantasized a thriving hub within his dungeon's realm, a stronghold where each of his subordinates would have their own quarters—a place they could call home.
The pressing need for utility subordinates who could fulfill roles such as builders, craftsmen, and gatherers was obvious. A stable food source was essential; hunting was a temporary solution, but sustainability was key. He pondered the possibilities of farming, of domesticating the wild creatures that roamed the lands, or perhaps even trade with any civilizations that might exist beyond the reaches of his domain.
As the dungeon gate loomed in his mind's eye, Viru saw the potential for civilization within its magical bounds. He could cultivate the land, create spaces for commerce, training, and rest. The main hall space, once a mere concept, now took shape as the heart of a bustling community under his leadership.
These thoughts accompanied Viru into slumber, his dreams a montage of construction, growth, and prosperity—a leader not just of a band of subordinates, but of a society that could stand as a beacon in the untamed wilds. It was a future worth fighting for, worth the trials and battles that lay ahead. With each passing day, Viru was laying the foundation stones of his empire, and as he drifted off to sleep, the conviction of his purpose was as steadfast as the earth itself.