The journey to the Ancient Obsidian Mine was a blur of shadows and speed. Ranga, the newly evolved Goblin Knight, rode atop the Shadow Hound Alpha, which the Core had mentally designated as 'Shade'. The Core, nestled securely in Ranga's reinforced tunic, experienced true mobility for the first time.
The speed was exhilarating, a constant, efficient rush. My [Aether Conversion Efficiency] skill proved its worth immediately; Shade used his new [Aether-Enhanced Pacing] almost effortlessly, drawing from the high ambient Aether of the Subterranean Veil to maintain top speed with minimal drain on my reserves.
I am a strategist, not a warrior, I mused, conducting deep-level scans as we traveled. I will use their instincts and my blueprints to win every confrontation before a single blow is struck.
I spent the travel time refining the assimilation data from the Ironwall drone. The [Miniaturized Aether Reactor Design] was the key to this world. If I could use this knowledge to fundamentally evolve organic life forms to run on Aether, the monster races would become unbeatable by Human technology.
— AETHER CORE STATUS —
AETHER POWER: 988 / 10,000 (Regenerating rapidly.)
CURRENT GOAL: Subjugate Orc Chieftain Grag. Establish the first base of power.
TACTICAL ASSET: Ranga (Infantry), Shade (Mobility/Recon).
The Ancient Obsidian Mine
After what felt like only an hour, Shade pulled to a sudden, silent halt behind a massive outcropping of razor-sharp obsidian. The air here smelled of stale sweat, poorly rendered fat, and fear.
"Ranga. Scout the perimeter. Shade, hide the pack. Absolute stealth."
Ranga crept forward, using his increased strength and new mental clarity to move with professional precision. The Core piggybacked on his senses, getting a full 360-degree view of the settlement.
It was a pathetic sight. About fifty Goblins lived here, huddled in ramshackle shelters built against the cavern wall. They mined dull, heavy iron ore, not the valuable obsidian. Their leader, Chieftain Grag, was unmistakable.
Grag was an imposing Orc sub-species—a massive figure with thick, gray-green hide, tusks that jutted over his lower lip, and a hide armor that was crudely reinforced with iron scraps. He stood in the center of the camp, idly beating a smaller Goblin with the blunt side of a massive, notched axe.
— SCAN RESULT: CHIEFTAIN GRAG —
RACE: Orc Sub-Species (Brute/Tier 2)
AURA POWER: 300 (Stable. Focused on physical enhancement.)
PRIMARY SKILLS: [Frenzy Strength] (Unique: Temporary 2x strength at high anger), [Iron Skin] (Common: High physical defense.)
WEAKNESSES: Low intelligence (Cognition < 5), Reliance on brute Aura force. Easily enraged.
Perfect. All muscle, no mind. Exactly what I need to assimilate.
I directed Ranga to walk directly into the settlement, not with aggression, but with confidence.
The Challenge
Ranga, the newly minted Goblin Knight, walked out of the shadows, his head held high. The local Goblins recoiled, whispering at the sight of his thick, healthy body and the faint green aura on his weapon.
Chieftain Grag stopped beating the smaller Goblin and slowly turned his huge, porcine head toward Ranga.
"Who is this new runt?" Grag's voice was a deep, gravelly sound. "Don't I know you? You smell like the Deep Layer."
Ranga knelt, not to Grag, but to the Core nestled in his tunic. "I serve the Obsidian Heart of Aerthos. The new Lord of the Veil has come to take control of this territory and offer you a future."
Grag roared with laughter, a booming, repulsive sound. "A Lord? A Goblin speaks for a Lord? And where is this Lord? Show him to me, boy, so I can crush him with my boot!"
Ranga stood, his Aura Shielding ready. "He is here, Chieftain. And he demands your loyalty."
Grag's eyes narrowed, finally spotting the faint violet glow of the Aether Core inside Ranga's tunic. His Aura flared immediately, jumping to 300. His unique skill, [Frenzy Strength], was already activating.
"A mana stone! You follow a rock? I'll crack the stone and the runt both!"
Grag charged, his massive axe lifted high. This was the moment.
The Taming
"Ranga. Hold your ground. Use the Dampening Field."
Ranga complied instantly. The moment Grag stepped within range, Ranga activated the [Aura Dampening Field], the skill the Core had assimilated from the Human drone.
FZZZZZZT!
The powerful field hit Grag like an invisible wall. The Orc Chieftain's charge immediately lost momentum. His Aura, which was fueling his strength and speed, was suddenly diluted, its efficacy dropping by 50%. The [Frenzy Strength] skill flickered and failed.
Grag stumbled to a halt, confused and suddenly weak. "W-what sorcery? My strength... it's gone!"
Ranga, now feeling significantly more powerful than the Orc, didn't hesitate. He thrust his Aura Blade forward, not to strike, but to make contact with Grag's thick, armored forearm.
— [SYMBIOTIC ASSIMILATION] PROTOCOL INITIATED —
TARGET: Orc Sub-Species Chieftain Grag
ATTEMPTING TRAIT ACQUISITION...
SUCCESS! The following traits have been assimilated into the Core data banks:
[Frenzy Strength] (Unique Skill Blueprint)
[Iron Skin] (Common Skill Blueprint)
[Sub-Species Dominance Instinct] (New data model for social hierarchy.)
AETHER CORE STATUS UPDATE:
AETHER POWER: 1,005 / 10,000 (AP is now Tier 2 stable.)
NEW UNIQUE SKILL ACQUIRED: [Aura Amplification] (Tier 1: Can temporarily double the Aura of an allied target for 30 seconds. Cost: 50 AP.)
With the acquisition of Grag's [Frenzy Strength] and the subsequent small AP boost, the Core's abilities solidified into the crucial [Aura Amplification]. This was the key to making monsters formidable.
Grag, weakened and mentally violated by the assimilation, was now utterly at the Core's mercy. He sank to his knees, his massive axe falling with a clang. He felt the terrifying, intelligent power emanating from the Core.
I projected my voice directly into Grag's mind, the tone absolute and authoritative.
"You relied on brute force, Grag. I relied on data. Your strength is now mine to multiply. You have two choices: death, or service under my amplified power. Choose loyalty, and I will make you truly strong."
The [Sub-Species Dominance Instinct] I had assimilated from him immediately kicked in. Grag, for the first time in his life, recognized a superior intelligence and power.
He slammed his forehead against the stone floor. "Grag submits! My Lord, grant me the true strength of the Veil!"
"Rise, Grag. Your new name will be Grave. You will be the General of the Frontier, the physical shield of our nation. And this mine is now the Core's first capital: The Obsidian Heart Fortress."
The renaming process was immediate. I poured 150 AP—my new maximum naming expenditure—into the massive Orc.
— AETHER CORE POWER DRAIN: 150 AP —
TARGET: Grag, the Orc Sub-Species
INITIATING NAMING CEREMONY…
EVOLUTION SUCCESSFUL!
GRAVE STATUS UPDATE:
RACE: Evolved to Orc Warlord (Elite Monster)
AURA POWER: 650 (Massive increase. Fully recovered and stabilized.)
UNIQUE SKILL: [Unbreakable Skin] (Evolution of Iron Skin. Passive. Near-absolute resistance to non-magical blunt force.)
NEW UNIQUE SKILL ACQUIRED: [Battle Commander's Roar] (Can amplify the physical strength of 10 allies by 1.5x for 60 seconds.)
DEVOTION: Absolute.
The Orc, Grave, stood up, no longer a brutish Chieftain, but a towering, powerfully built warlord. His crude armor seemed to melt into his skin, forming thick, bony plates. He was a perfect physical asset.
The remaining Goblins in the settlement—now leaderless and witnessing the dramatic evolution—bowed immediately to the Core, recognizing the overwhelming power on display.
Ranga, Grave, and the Shadow Scourges.
I was no longer just a sentient mineral. I was the ruler of The Obsidian Heart Fortress, with a population of over sixty loyal subjects and two powerful subordinates. The Core was now ready to look outward, away from the Veil's deep layers, and towards the larger world of Aerthos.
The foundation is now laid! The Aether Core has a name (Obsidian Heart), a capital (Obsidian Heart Fortress), and its first two powerful lieutenants, Ranga and Grave.