I stretched out my muscles, trying to ease the tension in this new body. The goblin chief was undeniably stronger compared to my previous host, yet it came with its own quirks. During my fight with the spider, the goblin chief’s muscle memory clashed with my own. It was like wearing armour that was too small, movements I could execute with precision as a human now lumbering and awkward. I felt clumsy, stiff. Caught between my own instincts and those that belonged to the goblin chief that now served as my host.

The goblins around me snuck glances, a curiosity imbued with fear and awe. They had seen their chief completely dominate the cave spider, appearing to have been in an uncharacteristic trance. My movements had changed, my fighting style differed from the goblin chief’s. Surrounded by his loyal soldiers, some of them were bound to have picked up on it.

“Keep moving,” I growled at them, not bothering to hide my irritation as we marched through the dungeon.

They obeyed, although I caught a few uneasy glances. Ignoring them, I focused on my own movements. Trying to better calibrate to my new host, I wanted to be in sync as much as possible. Imposing my own sense of balance over his reckless aggression. My muscles strained slightly as I adjusted my grip and posture, as if I was wrestling to make this body my own.

The tension in my body lessened as I pushed on, training myself in this new form to move how I wanted. Though it wasn’t perfect, it would suffice given the situation. I was leading the goblins further into the dungeon, further than I had explored on my own. I wanted to reach the second floor.

Ahead, I felt a faint tremor. A distant rumble that I was hoping to avoid, the other goblins hadn’t appeared to sense it yet. The minotaur. Even from here, its presence shook my core, dread building in the back of my mind as I recalled our first encounter. I raised my hand, signalling for the goblins to fall silent. I could feel the chief’s body wanting to stomp forward, but I remained in control, infusing each step with the silent grace of the wolf.

The scent of the dungeon became noticeably stronger, decay and damp stone flooded my nostrils. It served as a reminder that the dungeon housed two types of beings: predators and prey.

The sound of padded footsteps closed in, accompanied by low growls. For now the minotaur could wait, I motioned for the goblins to slide into a basic formation, forming a semicircle as we approached a corner. Peering around the jagged wall of the tunnel, I saw a pack of wolves feasting on a fallen creature. It looked like a massive rat. The wolves tore into it with a desperate hunger, pulling at the meat and wrestling with each other for a bigger share.

Perfect. A thrill ran through me. I had encountered a wolf when I first entered the dungeon, but now I had the opportunity to make better use of them. They would serve as a useful asset if I could find a way to consume them. I still had questions about my power, taking over a host and consuming a creature seemed to empower me in different ways, each with its own benefits. I wanted to understand more about my capabilities.

I glanced at my subordinates, noting their tension as they stood in a state of cautious fear. They were waiting on my instruction, as if their survival was now dependent on my guidance. I gave a nod, clenching my fist and pointing towards the pack of wolves.

The goblins charged, following my instruction. Letting out a guttural roar that vibrated along the tunnel, they charged forward with their clubs and spears at the ready.

The wolves reacted with snarls, their hackles raised as they snapped their jaws. Meeting the goblins in a head on collision. Blood sprayed as fangs met flesh and weapons met fur, growls and shrieks filling the air. I joined the fight, swinging my club in controlled arcs, smashing it into the ribs of one wolf sending it sprawling. Another wolf lunged for my throat, my senses acutely aware as I sidestepped and shoved it away with a sharp jab to the side of its muzzle.

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My focus sharpened, the chaos of battle surrounding me, it flowed according to my calculated rhythm as I gave goblins warnings and instructions throughout the fight. Another wolf lunged at me, trying to bite hold of my arm. I grabbed hold of it by the scruff of its mane, slamming it into the ground. Subtly injecting my tendrils into its head as I consumed the creature from the inside, leaving a hollow husk as warmth surged through my body, filling me with the wolf’s vitality.

It was noticeably different to the imprint I gained from my first encounter with a wolf. Unlike possession where I completely entered the body and took over, this was empowering in its own way. Integrating qualities of the beast into my actual being rather than relying on the power of the host. I evolved when I consumed, taking parts of the monster I ate. Whether that’s a particular skill, or a specific attribute. It became mine. Not my hosts. That meant that I could recall that power no matter which host I was in.

The battle with the wolves continued, I found myself adapting better to the chief’s ferocious nature. The swift bestial nature of the wolf worked in tandem with the chief’s own disposition, combined with the strength I inherited from the hobgoblin, I was a force to be reckoned with.

I let the goblins handle the majority of the wolves, under my leadership they held the advantage. Despite their crude weaponry, they were picking the wolves apart, the battlefield was quickly becoming adorned in wolf blood. I had picked out the pack’s leader. A scarred beast with a fierce mane of fur, its eyes held a piercing rage.

The wolf and I circled each other, its hackles raised as it was ready to defend its territory and its kill. We lunged at each other, my club hitting the air as the wolf dodged to the side, snapping at my arm in retaliation. I let it come close, then jabbed the blunt end of the club into the beast's jaw. It staggered back as I swung again, this time catching its flank with a satisfying thud.

The wolf faltered, I became relentless at the sight of opportunity. I swung my club down with all my might, feeling the crack as its skull shattered beneath me. The wolf collapsed into a heap, but now I had garnered an audience. The goblins had encircled us and I was unable to consume the leader of the pack without revealing my true nature.

I allowed myself to enjoy the victory for a moment, the goblins cheering in excitement and awe at the triumph of their chief. However we had stayed here too long for my liking and I was eager to descend to the next floor away from the minotaur.

“Gather what you need,” I said in a cold gravelly voice. “We move.”

The goblins instantly began scavenging the area, taking anything useful from the wolves before discarding the carcasses. I cast one last glance at the scene of our battle, I had at least consumed one of the wolves and gained some additional power. My understanding of my own powers had deepened as well.

I led the group forward, deeper through the twisting passages and tunnels. Fragments of the chief’s memory acted as our guide. I could feel that we were delving deeper, the air was growing heavier. An ominous feeling prickled at the edges of my awareness, I was focusing on my senses to keep them sharp, straining to catch every faint sound in the distance.

At one point we felt the hooves of the minotaur approaching from a side tunnel, we were quick to hide our presence. The goblins needed little instruction to hide from the minotaur once they detected it approaching. After a tense moment, when we had dug ourselves into fox holes we felt an uneasy calm as it passed us by.

Relief washing over us, we continued on. We hugged the walls as much as we could when traversing through open spaces, marching silently through the shadows like bugs. Eventually we reached the end of a derelict tunnel.

At the end of our destination was a wide, ancient staircase that spiralled down, stone steps had been deliberately carved to mark the descent to another level. The walls were adorned with strange carvings I couldn’t recognise, but the fear on the goblins faces told me this was the way to the next floor.

There was something built into their subconscious that made them fearful of moving to another floor, as if the dungeon itself had instructed them to remain in their own domain. But they were bound to me, and they obeyed when I commanded them to follow my lead.

“Onward,” I muttered, my voice a hushed whisper. “The second floor, this way. Keep eyes open.”

I could feel an eerie cold intensifying as we began to walk down the staircase. We couldn’t see the bottom of the stairs from where we were, the darkness seemed to thicken.

The carved steps felt out of place, as if they had been crafted by hand generations ago. The architecture was primal, but at the same time they held a certain sophistication that was unlike the rest of the first floor.

With the exception of the small cave I had found with the runes, there had been little signs that a civilization had existed in the dungeon. But perhaps there was further evidence deeper in the dungeon, all I knew was that the deeper we went, the more suffocating the darkness became.

I felt a strange thrill - dread and anticipation. Maybe I should have amassed more power before venturing to the next level, but I was excited to find out what awaited us below.