The Cavern's New Master

The constant torment worked. The two Cave Boars, once the undisputed masters of the cavern, grew increasingly agitated. Their cultivation suffered. Their foraging became a frustrated hunt for an unseen enemy. They snorted, pawed at the ground, and frequently let out frustrated grunts and roars, but could never locate the tiny, cunning source of their misery.

Eventually, their patience, limited to begin with, snapped. With a frustrated roar that echoed through the vast space, the male boar stomped towards the cavern's main exit, the female grunting nervously at its heels. They didn't flee in a panic, but with a clear, exasperated decision to find a more peaceful territory.

He watched them go from his high perch, a tiny, green figure bathed in the faint glow of the Mana Vein chamber. A sense of profound satisfaction, cold and absolute, settled over him. He had done it. He, a mere goblin runt, had outsmarted and driven out creatures far larger and physically stronger than himself.

The cavern was silent now, save for the rhythmic hum of the Earth Essence from the glowing patches. He descended, moving with a newfound swagger. This was his territory. Every glowing crystal, every damp rock, every hidden crevice – it was all his.

He immediately went to the largest Earth Essence patch. The energy here was palpable, practically begging to be absorbed. He settled into a deep meditative state, channeling his [Goblin Path] cultivation. With no distractions, no lurking dangers, he could focus entirely on absorbing the abundant essence.

Hours, perhaps days, passed in this intensive cultivation. The Earth Essence poured into him, a warm, invigorating flood. His senses sharpened further, and he felt his goblin body solidifying, growing denser. The earlier feeling of being a weak runt was replaced by a sense of compact, coiled power.

[Cultivation Progress]: Earth Essence absorbed: 0.70 units.

[Cultivation Progress]: Earth Essence absorbed: 1.05 units.

[Cultivation Progress]: Earth Essence absorbed: 1.50 units.

The rapid progress was exhilarating. He was on the verge of another breakthrough. The Mana Vein was critical too. When his Mana reserves ran low from constant [Earth Sense] use or his attempts at [Minor Earth Manipulation] (he was still experimenting, learning to shape smaller, more useful tools from pebbles), he would simply retreat to the Mana Vein chamber and feast on Mana Moths. This symbiotic relationship between Earth Essence for cultivation and Mana for skills and regeneration was becoming the cornerstone of his power.

He also used his [Minor Earth Manipulation] to begin fortifying his Mana Vein chamber. He couldn't create thick walls yet, but he could subtly shift rock and dirt to narrow the entrance, making it less conspicuous and harder for larger creatures to enter. It was a crude defensive measure, but it offered a sense of security.

As he worked, a new thought began to form. This cavern was vast. It was rich. But it was just one cavern. His initial vow was not just to become strong, but to slaughter other races and increase his goblin group. To do that, he needed more than just a safe cultivation spot. He needed numbers. He needed loyal subordinates.

He was a goblin now, and the instincts of the race, mixed with his human ambition, began to guide him. Goblins were pack creatures, brutish, but also fiercely territorial. He needed a pack. But not the weak, subservient kind. He needed strong goblins, goblins that would follow him. And if he couldn't find them, he would make them.

A new objective solidified in his mind. He would continue to cultivate here, to consolidate his power. But soon, he would venture beyond this cavern, beyond the tunnels. He would find other creatures, other goblins, and bend them to his will. The cavern was merely his first stronghold, the launching pad for his future dominion. His red eyes gleamed with cold, calculating ambition.