“Glooms and Goblins: A Dungeon Tale”[chapter 07]

"Ah, man, I'm so tired and hungry right now,"

I muttered to myself as I slumped against the cold stone wall of the cramped dungeon. After spending hours battling the ever-replenishing glooms, their ethereal forms fading into the darkness, I realized just how unremarkable this underground prison was. The dungeon's dimensions felt confined, a limited space that offered no surprises beyond the shadowy figures of the stubborn glooms. With a sigh, I decided it was time to leave this mundane tomb behind.

As I ascended from the depths of the dungeon, the soft rustle of grass caught my attention. I paused mid-step, keenly aware that someone was approaching. It was time to fade into the background. Scanning the area, I spotted a grand, ancient tree standing proudly at the entrance. It beckoned me with its gnarled branches. In a swift motion, I climbed up into its embrace, positioning myself on a sturdy limb where I could keep watch over the dungeon entrance.

Minutes turned into what felt like hours as I waited, my heart pounding with anticipation. Then, as if the forest itself had conspired to reveal a secret, I heard the unmistakable chatter of voices drawing nearer. My breath caught in my throat when a sudden emergence from the underbrush materialized into a group of small green creatures. Goblins! 

They stood between three and four feet tall, their skin a ragged shade of green mottled with grime. With sunken cheeks and protruding bones, it was clear these goblins were not well-fed; they made an unsettling sight, their modesty barely masked by leaves draped awkwardly over their lower forms. There were five of them, all bearing crude stone weapons, and despite their shabby appearance, I could tell they were a scrappy bunch. My instinct urged me to pounce and easily dispatch them, but curiosity gripped me stronger than the urge to fight. I wanted to see their village.

As the goblins shuffled into the dungeon, I whispered a command to my loyal companion, the black gloom, instructing it to keep an eye on them while I indulged in a much-needed nap. Fatigue washed over me, and the exhaustion of the past few hours lulled me into a dreamless slumber. Shortly after that, I felt a peculiar disturbance; my gloom, previously calm, began to shimmer with red energy. 

"What's happening?"

I jolted awake, my instincts on high alert as I peered below. The goblins emerged, their faces twisted in fury. Why were they angry? Had I struck a nerve by defeating so many glooms

"Good job, gloom," I murmured, stroking its shadowy head as it returned to my side—these undead creatures coiled within me, a living testament to my thriving, albeit unconventional, household.

With my mind set on my next move, I decided to track the goblins. Channeling skills I didn't know I possessed, I shadowed them discreetly, traversing a range of hills and sidestepping a gurgling river that twisted through the landscape. It wasn't long before the goblins, overwhelmed by their own exhaustion, took a break. I waited in silence, my eyes trained on the setting sun that painted the world in hues of orange and gold. 

By the time we reached their village, the sky had darkened into a blanket of indigo, stars twinkling overhead. I perched in the branches of a tree just beyond the village's wooden barricades, my curiosity piqued as I surveyed my surroundings. The village was small and primitive—about ten rickety huts formed a cluster within a wooden fence, where a solitary goblin sentinel stood guard at the entrance. It seemed less of a fortress and more of a shabby encampment.

"What should I do?"

I pondered, my mind racing. Should I attack and take them by surprise, or was waiting for a more prudent course of action? 

During my travel, I had observed the goblins gathering strange, crimson fruits. Curious, I had collected some for myself, and after consulting my gloom, discovered they were edible. Now, as darkness enveloped the world, I feasted on the tart yet sweet morsels, feeling the comforting weight of exhaustion settling in once again. Here I was, reflecting on silk beds, now resigned to the rough embrace of branches punctuated by the incessant buzzing of insects—a strange twist of fate, indeed.

The following day dawned, and I awoke with renewed purpose. I planned to eliminate the goblin guarding the main gate that night and extract whatever information I could about their village. I had seen enough of their clumsiness; they were not as cautious as they should be and often underestimated their surroundings.

As night fell, cloaked in darkness, I approached stealthily, moving like a whisper among the natural world. "All right, this should be a decent distance" I noted, eyeing the goblin with acute focus.

"Gloom, create a distraction; I'll launch my sludge bomb from here." The refined ability i had received by gloom, was potent—a single hit was bound to end the goblin's watch.

Executing the plan, I drew a deep breath, my heart racing as I prepared to strike. This would be my chance to understand more about these mysterious creatures and their primitive world. 

As the shadows deepened around me, Gloom dutifully obeyed my command, advancing toward the goblin with a menacing grace. The creature, caught off guard, was too preoccupied to notice its impending doom—a fatal distraction. I focused my energy, aiming my palm toward the unsuspecting foe, and began to chant the incantation that would seal its fate.

"Sludge Bomb!"

The words slipped from my lips like a whisper of the wind, but the power behind them was anything but subtle. A formidable projectile of dark, viscous energy erupted forth, soaring through the air and striking the goblin squarely in the forehead. In an instant, the creature crumpled to the ground, lifeless—a testament to my precise aim and the formidable skill I had cultivated.

"Nice aim!" I muttered to myself, a wave of satisfaction washing over me. The thrill of victory tinged my thoughts as I approached the fallen goblin. Methodically, I hoisted its body and carried it toward the ancient tree where I had sought refuge.

I USED MY SKILL UNDEAD ON IT

"Resurrect Goblin."

In response to my invocation, a mysterious circle began to form on the ground, shimmering with ethereal light where the goblin lay. The light intensified, enveloping the body in a cocoon of energy, and in an awe-inspiring moment, the goblin reemerged—not as it once was, but transformed. It stood before me, entirely shrouded in obsidian black, with piercing red eyes that seemed to flicker with a life of their own, adorned with strange markings that mirrored those on Gloom's own dark frame.

The newly resurrected goblin dropped to one knee, bowing its head in a gesture of submission. 

"What is it you wish to know, master?" it asked, its voice gravelly yet respectful.

"Tell me about your village, and the leader who governs it,"