Seeds of Domination

The stolen essence, though small, felt like a rush of warmth. He could almost feel his tiny goblin muscles tightening, his senses sharpening. His strength stat, perhaps, had infinitesimally crept up. The success ignited a cold fire in his belly. This was the way. Cunning over confrontation.

He spent the next few 'cycles' – he had no way to tell if it was day or night – observing the cavern. It wasn't just the boars. Small, luminescent insects flitted near the glowing moss. Larger, shadow-like creatures, too quick to properly identify, occasionally darted through the deeper recesses. This was an ecosystem, and he was at the bottom. For now.

He practiced his [Earth Sense (F)], using it in short bursts, letting his mana regenerate. He mapped the cavern in his mind: the boar's primary cultivation spot, their foraging paths, the shadowy tunnels leading to other parts of the underground. He even found a trickle of fresh water, a cool relief to his parched throat.

His stomach, however, remained a persistent complaint. The occasional Cave Cricket or Fungal Root wasn't enough. He needed more. He needed to hunt.

He focused on the smaller creatures. Those luminescent insects, for example. They seemed oblivious to his presence, drawn to the glowing moss.

He activated [Scavenge (E)]. This time, the system offered something new.

[Item Found]: Lumina-Beetle (Common) - Edible. Provides minor nutritional value and faint Mana regeneration.

Mana regeneration? That caught his attention. More mana meant more use of [Earth Sense], which meant better navigation and more chances to absorb essence.

The beetles were too quick for a direct pounce. He needed a trap. Using loose pebbles, he created a crude funnel-like structure near a cluster of the glowing moss. He then waited, patiently, a tiny hunter in the vast darkness.

It took time, but eventually, a few Lumina-Beetles tumbled into his makeshift trap. He quickly dispatched them, crunching their shells. The taste was subtly sweet, and he felt a faint tingle, confirming the mana boost. It wasn't much, but it was another piece of the puzzle. He was adapting.

He also returned to his 'essence-stealing' strategy. During the boar's deepest cultivation, he would dart out, snatch a few precious seconds of absorption, then retreat. Each time, the rush of Earth Essence felt stronger, more invigorating.

[Cultivation Progress]: Earth Essence absorbed: 0.15 units.

His core felt slightly warmer, his senses sharper. He still felt weak, but the feeling of utter helplessness was fading, replaced by a growing confidence. He was no longer just a terrified runt. He was a survivor. A strategist.

He looked at the two Cave Boars, then around the vast cavern. This could be his first territory. Once he was strong enough, he would drive them out. Or perhaps, use them. They were powerful, but mindless. If he could dominate them, they could be his first, crude warriors.

The thought of an army of creatures, bending to his will, stirred something primal within him. This was the beginning. Not just of his own strength, but of his future tribe. The first seeds of his ambition, cold and calculating, were taking root in the darkness of the cavern.