The First Scout

The cavern, once a battlefield of hidden cunning, was now his sanctuary. Weeks, perhaps even months, passed in a relentless pursuit of power. He ate Mana Moths to keep his reserves full, devoured the occasional Cave Cricket he found, and most importantly, constantly absorbed the abundant Earth Essence from the glowing patches. His body transformed, subtly but noticeably. His skin grew thicker, almost like hardened bark. His frame, while still compact, felt denser, more robust. His movements were fluid, predatory.

[Cultivation Progress]: Earth Essence absorbed: 2.10 units.

[Cultivation Progress]: Earth Essence absorbed: 2.50 units.

[Notification]: Host's Cultivation progress has reached a bottleneck. Advance to [Mortal Realm, High-Grade] to increase Mana Cap and unlock new capabilities.

Another bottleneck. He had almost expected it. He was pushing the limits of his current realm. But this time, he felt ready. He pushed harder, focusing every fiber of his being on drawing in the essence, on forcing his goblin core to expand. The feeling of pressure built, intense and constant, but he welcomed it.

In his downtime, he explored the limits of his [Minor Earth Manipulation (E)]. He learned to subtly shift small rocks to block narrow passages, creating crude but effective diversions. He could even create small, temporary tremors in the ground, just enough to startle a creature or collapse a loose pile of rubble. It was a tool for manipulation, for control, not direct combat.

The cavern was now truly his. He had charted every nook and cranny. He knew where the Mana Moths clustered, where the driest corners were for rest, where the most potent essence patches lay. But his ambition demanded more. He needed to find other goblins, to begin building his army.

He chose one of the lesser-used tunnels, one that seemed to slope upwards, away from the deep earth. This wasn't about finding more essence; it was about finding his kind. Before venturing out, he spent hours preparing. He practiced using his [Earth Sense (F)] for long durations, gauging his mana consumption. He would need to be constantly aware of his surroundings.

He also found a crude, broken flint shard – likely from a human tool – left behind by the attacking cultivators. It was sharper than his claws and, with a few uses of [Minor Earth Manipulation] to chip away at its edges, he fashioned it into a rudimentary, jagged knife. It was pathetic compared to a human weapon, but in his goblin hand, it felt like a symbol of his growing self-reliance.

Taking a deep breath, he began his ascent. The tunnel was long, winding, and completely unfamiliar. The air gradually grew cooler, less damp, and the faint, earthy scent of the deep cavern began to fade, replaced by something wilder, hinting at the surface.

He moved cautiously, a tiny green predator in a world far larger than himself. Every shadow held potential danger. His [Earth Sense] was his constant companion, a radar mapping the vibrations around him. He felt the subtle movements of small, unseen insects, the distant scurrying of larger burrowing creatures.

After what felt like an eternity, he saw it: a faint, greenish light ahead. Not the ethereal glow of essence, but something filtered, diffused. It was the light of a world beyond the deep earth. He was nearing the surface.

A new scent drifted down the tunnel, distinct from the cave's musk. It was a faint, acrid odor, mixed with the smell of damp leaves and a hint of... unwashed goblin. His heart thumped faster. It wasn't the scent of his old tribe, but it was undeniable. Other goblins.

He slowed his pace, becoming a silent hunter. He remembered his old tribe's weakness, their squalor. He wouldn't lead that kind of group. He would lead something new, something strong. He crept forward, the scent growing stronger, his new purpose burning fiercely within him. He was a scout now, venturing into the unknown, not for survival, but for conquest.