In my new form the dungeon felt alive, perhaps it was because I had temporarily assimilated with the wolf-like creature. But I could hear distant growls, footsteps and the deep tremors that vibrated through the walls of the dungeon. The Abyssal Pit was vast and twisted, caverns and caves that were connected by a network of passages. The deeper it descended the more dangerous it became, as stronger monsters lurked in the depths of the pit.

At first I had thought of exploring the top floor to find a way back up, it made the most sense until I remembered the court mages controlled the entrance to the dungeon. Once I had been thrown in, it was most likely sealed immediately after they had confirmed I was gone.

Instead I relived my brief time as an adventurer, every dungeon had a core that was protected by a boss monster. Although I was not an adventurer, on a good day I had the power to rival an S-rank adventurer, but they were monsters in themselves. And I was a commanding officer of my father's army, not a monster slaying dungeon delver. However I was no longer in my peak, nor did I have the power of an army to back me up.

First I had to become accustomed to this new form - it still didn't feel like me. I had become some sort of shadowy parasite. I could still mimic the wolf's body, but for some reason I was unable to replicate my own. So I began to explore the dungeon as a shadowy reflection of the wolf, made of tendrils and smoke. I should have stayed within the wolf, I felt stronger than I did like this. But I still felt like I had taken some of the wolf's properties for my own, however limited when we had separated.

My first decision was simple: avoid the minotaur. It was a presence that I could feel as much as hear, its massive frame, its hooves echoing against the stone. There was no way I could defeat such a creature yet, I needed to start smaller.

I moved cautiously, sticking to the darker corridors where I could remain unnoticed. In the form of a wolf, I was built for speed and subtlety. I could avoid most of the dangers lurking on the first floor of the dungeon, but thanks to my enhanced senses I could also smell something - the faint scent of a goblin.

Goblins were weak, we would often run into small scouting parties in the wilds and they served to break in new soldiers. But in larger numbers they quickly became a threat, though they had little intelligence and I'm convinced they had even less strategy.

I turned a corner and slowed, crouching low as I allowed the remnant instincts of the wolf to guide me. They were scattered ahead in small groups, moving carefully and oblivious to my presence. I could smell their fear and that made me smile, in whatever way a wolf made of shadows smiles anyway.

As I moved closer, their stench grew stronger. The unpleasant scent of musk and sweat filled my senses. They didn't know it yet, but they were being hunted.

I paused, feeling the air shifting around me, listening to the goblins' crude and primitive chatter. They had no idea that something was stalking them and that gave me an excited thrill. There's five of them in total, warmed with primitive weapons they had scavenged. They were looking for something - signs of an intruder? Or perhaps their next meal?

It doesn't matter to me though, the moment I entered their domain they were never going to leave alive.

I edged closer, feeling my new found hunger gnawing away at me. It needed to be satiated, an odd sensation that was more than just desire. It was an incredible thirst that ran deeper, a craving to consume, to grow stronger. The more I could consume, the more complete I would become.

I coiled my body low, like a spring ready to pounce, tendrils forming around my joints and limbs to form missing muscles that gathered tension. I was changing, adapting. My senses were honed in on the entire area, to the point that I felt like I could feel a pin drop.

One of the goblins - the largest of the group - was exploring furthest away from the group. His armour was crude, scraping together with each step. Using all of my senses it felt like I could see him from every possible angle.

I could hear his uneven movements, I could smell his putrid stench, I could feel the way his body pushed the stale air, I could taste his fear, I could see him.

I moved in silence, my feet barely making a sound as the padded tendrils moved around in the shadows. With every step I moved closer, yet seemingly invisible as I stalked my prey from the dark corners of the cave.

The goblin didn't notice me until it was too late, too busy in it's search it failed to notice the shadow approaching.

With a graceful leap, I erupted from the darkness. Crashing into the largest goblin like a wave of tar, the second my front paws left the ground I had lost all of my shape in excitement.

Before the goblin could react, I had pinned it to the floor. Flooding through its orifices, seeping in through its skin. I assimilated with the goblin, forcing its body into submission as I took over.

We were one.

Within an instant the goblin had been silenced, his body limp as tendrils erupted from its joints to keep it upright while I gained control of its limbs. After a few seconds of moving erratically I finally came to my senses again. Similar to when I assimilated with the wolf, I could feel part of the goblin permanently imprinting on my mind. But for now, the goblin and I were one.

I looked around at the other goblins, they either hadn't noticed or didn't care enthralled in their own searches. I looked down at my hands, it felt strange to have hands again but these hands had a green hue and savage claw-like nails. Inhabiting the goblin helped me to feel whole, but it didn't help to satiate me. I still wanted to consume those that remained.

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I cautiously approached two of them, they gave me a glance before resuming their search. I moved up to them quickly, getting behind one of them before plunging my claws into its spine. The goblin began to crumple instantly before me, my clawed hand quickly dissolved into tendrils as I consumed the goblin whole. It was like scratching an itch, the pleasant relief was heavenly.

The second goblin seemed to notice something was off as my tendrils reformed into a hand. The goblin quickly went for its weapon, but it was too late. I was already in front of the goblin, my hand around its throat, crushing its windpipe. It tried to call out to the others, but what left its mouth was a pitiful gasp of air.

I could feel a smile forming on my face, my hand crushing the goblins neck like a vice. Again my arm reverted to tendrils as I absorbed another. The sense of relief washing over my body was quickly becoming my new addiction, I couldn't get enough of that sensation.

There were two goblins left now, on the other side of the room. I darted over to them, drawing the crude blade from my side that I had inherited from the goblin I was possessing. I made quick work of the remnants. Beheading one and impaling the other before consuming them.

With each meal I felt stronger, like I had increased my understanding of the creatures, their thoughts, their habits. Consuming them allowed me to absorb some of their power, making it my own. Allowing me to further empower the goblin I was inhabiting. It was no longer a regular goblin, not with me inside.

With that I looked around the cave the goblins had been searching, I came to understand that they were searching for food or useful materials for their main camp. But after using my enhanced senses I concluded there was nothing here that I could use, except for the crude weapons lying around as the only remaining sign that the goblins were here.

So I decided to venture forward, further into the dungeon to see if I could find anything else. It wasn't long before I picked up another scent, this time fouler than the goblins. I could hardly believe there was a more repugnant smell until I caught it. It wasn't dissimilar to a goblin, but it was twice as strong. A hobgoblin.

I crept toward the hobgoblin, cautious and silent. The creature was larger and more muscular than the goblins I had just consumed. It sat on a crude stone perch, gnawing on a piece of indiscernible meat, oblivious to the fact that its scouting party would never return. My senses altered me to the subtle shift in its posture - as if it was readying itself, its jaw became tense. This was no ordinary goblin, hobgoblins were smarter, stronger and far more dangerous than their lesser counterparts.

My stomach flipped with anticipation, the goblin body I was inhabiting was useful, but I was already hungry for something stronger. If I could take over the hobgoblin's body, I would be a step closer to my true potential. And it would definitely give me a better chance of surviving the dangers lurking deeper in the dungeon.

I crouched in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment. The hobgoblins' instincts had it on edge, but it wasn't aware of me yet. It stretched its neck and sniffed the air, trying to smell anything unusual, but it didn't move from its spot. I took a slow step forward, gauging the distance between us. I'd have to move quickly and strike hard, aiming to subdue it long enough to assimilate with it.

With a deep breath, I lunged forward. Tendrils snapping forward like a whip, aiming for the hobgoblin's blind spot. It reacted instantly, letting out a guttural roar as it spun and slashed at me with its sharp, rusted blade. This wasn't going to be as easy as I anticipated.

Considering its size, it moved with surprising speed. Swinging its weapon in wide arcs to keep me at a distance. I ducked and weaved, utilising the goblins' smaller stature to try and close the gap. But the hobgoblin fought with an unrelenting furocity, making it difficult to get close without risking losing a limb. Each time I moved forward, it counter attacked with sheer force, forcing me to step back before I could make contact. I could feel my frustration beginning to boil, I needed to end this quickly before it became a battle of attrition or it attracted attention from something else nearby.

The hobgoblin snared as it continued to swing its blade, raising it high in the air. I seized that opportunity, stepping beneath the strike and lunging forward. My claws sank into its side, feeling a sense of triumph. But the hobgoblin was tougher than I expected, it twisted and slammed a fist into my chest. Knocking the wind out of me and pushing me backwards.

My chest panged with pain, the bloodlust of the goblin responding from within me as I was overcome with an instinctual fury. Shadowy tendrils burst from my form, lashing out with anger as it wrapped around the hobgoblin's limbs, pinning it in place. The hobgoblin struggled, roaring out in defiance, but I held it tightly, my tendrils tightening around it like the iron chains that had bound me not long ago.

I moved in closer, preparing to transfer myself from the goblin to the hobgoblin. To force my essence into its flesh, but the hobgoblin seemed to have other ideas. It continued to struggle, fighting against my hold. Its muscles strained and its teeth baring down as it snarled in desperation. Through sheer strength it managed to pull an arm free, bringing its blade down as it sliced through my tendrils.

I reacted in anger, tightening my hold on the hobgoblin as I dug deep into its limbs, tearing into its flesh. Its body began to bleed, but I wasn't done yet. The hobgoblin let out another defiant roar, struggling as blood began to seep from its wounds. The strength draining from its body, I couldn't inhabit this weakened mess anymore. I had taken it too far, but I couldn't inhabit it as planned - the damage was already too severe.

With a resigned sigh, I shifted the purpose of my tendrils. Instead of trying to assimilate with the hobgoblin, in frustration I had to settle with just consuming it.

I enveloped the hobgoblin in a shroud of shadow, my tendrils digging into its flesh as I began to eat away at its life force. It writhed and howled, struggling until the bitter end. Its resistance weakened with each passing moment, but the hobgoblin's strength and energy was becoming a part of me. Fragments of its skills and instincts merging with my own subconscious.

As I devoured it, I could feel my own disappointment building in contrast to my satisfaction with the feast. I had wanted to inhabit the hobgoblin, to make use of its powerful body. But even without possessing it, I could feel its essence enhancing the very core of my being and in turn, enhancing the goblin.

With the hobgoblin's body finally devoured, my tendrils retreated, coiling back into my goblin body. It felt stronger, tougher than before. The hobgoblin's abilities were now mine, even if I was unable to assume its physical form. But still, the fraction of power I had gained wasn't enough.

I needed more. I needed to grow stronger, to evolve further if I wanted to survive deeper in the dungeon. The minotaur was still out there, a presence that loomed over the dungeon and my current goal. I needed to get stronger so that I could defeat the minotaur and progress further into the dungeon.

But for now I would continue exploring, consuming smaller creatures as I worked my way up the food chain. Until I was ready to take on the minotaur. I turned to explore behind the hobgoblin, to investigate where it had come from, sticking to the shadows as I prepared for what was to come.