The forest was quiet after the battle.
Too quiet.
The massive body of the Goblin Champion still lay in the clearing, smoke rising faintly from the crater where Marcus's final meteor had crushed its skull.
Marcus stood there for a moment, catching his breath.
Nine meteors.
That was his limit.
His chest still felt hollow, like something had been drained out of him.
Lyrielle gently steadied him.
"My lord, we should return before more monsters arrive."
Marcus nodded.
"Yeah."
He looked down at the three fallen wolves.
The sight stung more than he expected.
But that was part of building an army.
Losses.
He exhaled slowly.
Then his attention shifted back to the system interface.
The loot window still floated in front of him.
Four Goblin Worker cards.
And the spider drops from earlier.
And the wolf drops from the pack fight.
Marcus rubbed his chin.
"Actually…"
Lyrielle tilted her head.
"My lord?"
Marcus held up several cards.
"We might as well replace the losses now."
The rabbit girls gathered closer again.
They had developed a strange habit of clustering around him whenever he used the system.
Marcus activated the first set of cards.
Six Spider Unit Cards.
Silver summoning light burst across the clearing.
The energy gathered and twisted.
Marcus expected to see giant spiders appear again.
Instead—
Six tall shapes formed.
The light faded.
Marcus blinked.
"...Uh."
Standing before him were six women.
But not normal women.
From the waist down they had massive spider bodies covered in glossy black chitin.
Eight long legs rested against the ground.
From the waist up they were humanoid.
Beautiful.
Pale skin.
Long dark hair.
And sharp crimson eyes.
Each wore natural chitin armor across their bodies.
Marcus stared.
"...Arachne?"
One of them bowed her head slightly.
"Greetings, Master."
The rabbit girls gasped.
Lyrielle's violet eyes widened.
Marcus rubbed his face.
"Okay."
"That was unexpected."
But he still had more cards.
Nine Wolf Unit Cards.
He activated them.
Silver light erupted again.
Nine figures formed.
Marcus expected wolves.
Instead—
Nine tall men stepped forward.
They had powerful athletic builds and sharp animal features.
Wolf ears rested atop their heads.
Gray or dark hair fell around their shoulders.
Their eyes glowed faintly gold.
Behind them, thick wolf tails swayed slowly.
Each one knelt immediately.
"Alpha acknowledged."
Marcus stared.
Then looked at Lyrielle.
"...Did my wolves just turn into people?"
Lyrielle blinked several times.
"My lord…"
She stepped closer to one of the new wolf warriors.
She studied his ears.
His eyes.
His posture.
Then she looked back at Marcus.
"This… is unusual."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"Unusual how?"
Lyrielle thought carefully.
"Sometimes monsters evolve when bound to powerful masters."
Marcus blinked.
"Wait."
"So this is because of me?"
Lyrielle nodded slowly.
"Perhaps."
Marcus looked back at the group.
Six female Arachne.
Nine male wolf demi-humans.
The Alpha Dire Wolf padded closer to them and growled softly.
The new wolf men lowered their heads in immediate respect.
Marcus scratched his head.
"Well…"
"I guess I have soldiers now."
One of the wolf demi-humans stepped forward.
He was tall, easily over six feet, with dark gray hair and strong shoulders.
"Master."
Marcus pointed at himself.
"Yeah?"
The wolf warrior nodded respectfully.
"We will protect the territory."
Marcus smiled slightly.
"I like that attitude."
He looked back at Lyrielle.
"Lyrielle."
She nodded.
"Yes, my lord?"
Marcus gestured toward the new units.
"Is this… normal?"
Lyrielle hesitated.
"Not normally."
She folded her arms thoughtfully.
"But it has happened before."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"When?"
Lyrielle looked toward the forest.
"In ancient stories."
"When powerful leaders gathered monsters beneath them…"
"Those monsters sometimes evolved."
Marcus chuckled.
"So my army is leveling up."
Lyrielle smiled slightly.
"It would seem so."
Marcus turned back toward the territory direction.
"Alright."
"Let's go home."
The group began walking through the forest.
Now the formation looked very different.
The wolf demi-humans moved along the outer edges like natural guards.
The arachne glided smoothly between trees, their long legs silent against the forest floor.
The rabbit girls walked near Marcus again.
Very close.
Lyrielle remained at his side.
The forest grew darker as the sun began lowering.
Then suddenly—
Lyrielle froze.
"My lord."
Marcus stopped.
"What?"
She pointed ahead.
A figure stood in the shadows between two trees.
Tall.
Slender.
Green skin.
But very different from the goblins they had fought earlier.
She wore crude armor pieces across her chest and waist.
Her eyes were intelligent.
Watching.
Studying.
The system interface appeared instantly.
Goblin Lord – Level 15
Marcus felt the tension ripple through the group.
The wolves growled.
The arachne raised their front legs slightly.
The rabbit girls gripped their spears.
But the Goblin Lord didn't attack.
She simply stood there.
Watching.
Marcus slowly raised a hand.
"...Hello?"
The Goblin Lord tilted her head slightly.
Her yellow eyes moved across the group.
Counting.
Evaluating.
Then she stepped back.
And turned.
Walking away into the trees.
Marcus blinked.
"...That's it?"
Lyrielle frowned.
"That was strange."
But before Marcus could respond—
Leaves rustled behind them.
Marcus turned.
The Goblin Lord had returned.
But she still didn't attack.
Instead she simply followed them.
Keeping distance.
Always just far enough away.
Watching.
Studying.
Marcus frowned.
"...She's stalking us."
Lyrielle nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Marcus sighed.
"Alright."
"That's mildly creepy."
They continued walking.
And the Goblin Lord followed them the entire way.
Silent.
Patient.
Curious.
Until the familiar glow of Marcus's territory barrier appeared through the trees.
The Goblin Lord stopped at the edge of the forest.
Marcus stepped through the barrier first.
Clean air rushed into his lungs again.
The rest of the group entered behind him.
Marcus looked back.
The Goblin Lord stood outside the barrier.
Watching the settlement.
But still…
She did nothing.
Marcus folded his arms.
"...Okay."
"Now I really want to know what she wants."