15

It was an involuntary action. My lips tilted downwards, my eyes downcast as my body leaned against the stone. I barely even noticed I was doing such a thing.

Stern thoughts warred across my mind. Why? Why were they there, was there some kind of special reason… some truth I was missing.

I felt a tug at my sleeve. There she was. In all her beauty. Lily stood with grand purpose, trying to cheer me up despite my dogged efforts at shunning her.

And so I sighed. Let her rest a hand over my fluffy hair and comfort me. Her arms burrowed against my neck and pulled me closer, her scent buried me in this heady feeling.

And then… then it was gone.

I smiled up at her.

"Are… are you alright? Now?"

I nodded, as best I could under the pressure of her breasts. "Yeah… yeah I'm fine."

Her hands parted and soon she was over in the corner. Her grip under that girl, so purposeful in her movements.

"As much as…"

After that I couldn't hear what she had muttered. But I could guess. Something- something hatred. Something- something doing the right thing.

She carried the girl like a princess, her head draped over one hand and her torso the other.

I touched my lips.

"Weird… so weird…"

Lily tilted her head in askance.

"The blood."

She furrowed her brows.

"Was it not to your liking? I can-"

I raised my arm.

"It's fine."

I guess I was more worried about the small window that appeared above my vision. Proclaiming my claim to this here dungeon.

[You have conquered a rival dungeon; would you like to consume the XP or take control of the dungeon]

Should I?

I don't know.

On the one hand it would probably give me enough XP to level up. But… but if I devoured the dungeon - quite appealing to my hinger - there was this slight, tiny problem.

That being that this dungeon was in the middle of the damned city. Not in some dingy forest where it's disappearance wouldn't be noted. But in the bowels of a populous city.

I scowled.

It seemed like there was really only one option despite the choices given to me.

Hah- I guess it was fine. Long term and short-term benefits… and all that.

And so, I made the mental decision. Pressed the button flying around my mind. The deck on was made.

[You have taken control of the |Goblin Dungeon| unlocked feature, |Alternative XP gain| as a reward for taking control of your second dungeon]

[The |Goblin Dungeon| is capable of constantly spawning a set number of Goblins would you like to change the spawn rate]

[As a reward for taking control of the |Goblin Dungeon| you have gained the skill |Spawn Goblin|.]

Oh~ OH~

That was nice. That was great. That was really great. I smiled. Grinned really.

It must've been quite the sight. Seeing me go through so many emotions in what amounted to a couple of seconds.

Ah- but to sum my gains.

For one there was this |Alternative XP gain| it didn't really say how it worked but I'd figure it out. That's a promise. Yep, a promise.

Oh, and there was the understanding. I just had to be a bit patient, and all would reveal itself. Basically, when one of my monsters terrorized a person, basically meaning that they didn't kill the dude, I would still get XP.

Yay? I guess.

I mean I wasn't even using my dungeon for its intended purpose. Not really. Ah- who was I kidding I wasn't using it for its purpose at all.

I mean I abandoned it at the first opportunity.

Oh- but the next feature.

I could control this dungeon, the rate of spawn and so on. That was cool. Oh and the first feature came in handy again 'cause I would gain XP for people coming here too.

Cool.

I could up the spawn rate. Cool.

There were probably about 30 level 2's and one level 3. Now I could double, even triple that. Yay for murder.

Oh, and I probably just upped the danger level of this dungeon majorly. I mean there was a huge difference between level 3's and level 2's. I mean really huge.

There was no comparison, I mean my fight wasn't that good of an indication, but I could tell the difference, and it was super big.

Oh! Oh!

And then there was the final notification. Basically, saying that I could summon goblins whenever I wanted. And yeah, goblins are and will probably always be weak… well it doesn't have to be limited to goblins.

I can always conquer another dungeon and take their species, and they'll probably be much stronger and much deadlier.

So, yay! YAY! For all the tools of murder I gained. Yay for everything this dungeon let me realize.

"Something good happen?"

I jumped in surprise.

"Gah- you scared me."

It was only Lily. She had snuck over to me and placed her chin over my head.

"Yeah!"

"Want to tell me." She clapped, a grand smile on her face.

"Almost leveled up!"

She clapped even faster.

"That's amazing. What skill almost leveled?"

Skill?

I smiled and nodded.

"Don't know."

Skills… not an overall improvement... weird. But it made sense the stronger the skills the stronger the person. It was probably like them getting a stronger skill and their body making up for their deficiency… maybe?

She blinked and rubbed my head.

"If you don't want to say…"

I shook my head.

"No. I just realized… it's… it's called |blood|. More I drink stronger I get."

Technically true… I guess.

Lily smiled. She turned the body over to one hand, quite effortlessly at that, and reached down with her other hand.

I took it.

And there we went. Out of the dungeon. Hand in hand. Hers carrying a body and mine smiling. For I had grown. If only by a small insignificant bit.

Knowing of a greater, grander power that would come. Oh, it would come. That I knew, in my body… in my mind… and in my heart.