Volume 1: The Foundation of the Abandoned
Chapter 3: System Overload & The Great Evolution
Ren stood in the center of the camp, looking at his citizens.
It was an unbalanced sight. Mogs (the Elder) was now a massive, iron-skinned tank of a creature. But the other eleven goblins were still small, scrawny, and shivering. They looked like toddlers standing next to a bodybuilder.
"This won't work," Ren muttered. "Mogs can't do all the heavy lifting alone. If a pack of wolves attacks, the rest of you are just snacks."
[Analysis: The disparity in power is 900%. Efficiency rating: Poor. Proposal: Apply 'Bio-Synthesis' to the remaining subjects to standardize the workforce.]
"Can I do that?" Ren asked. "I don't have another Boar corpse to use for spare parts."
[Correction: You do not need external parts for basic optimization. You can use your own Mana to rewrite their genetic defects. By assigning a 'Code Name' to each subject, you can stabilize their evolution. Think of it as installing a driver update.]
Ren grinned. "So, if I name them, they get stronger?"
[Affirmative. However, this will consume significant Mana.]
"I'm a Demon Lord," Ren flexed his arm. "I've got plenty of juice. Line up, everyone!"
The goblins scrambled into a line. Pip, the scrawny thief, was first.
Ren placed his hand on Pip's head. "From today, you are Pip. You shall be the shadow that protects this home."
Flash.
A golden light enveloped Pip. Ren felt a chunk of energy leave his stomach, like he had skipped a meal.
"Next!"
Ren moved down the line.
To the trembling female goblins, he gave names like "Hana," "Yumi," and "Lola."
To the males, he gave names like "Gorb," "Truk," and "Zot."
With every name, the drain on his body got heavier.
Name 4: Ren felt dizzy.
Name 7: Ren's knees started shaking.
Name 10: Ren's vision blurred.
[Warning: Mana Reserves at 15%. Host is entering 'Mana Fatigue' state. Recommendation: Stop immediately.]
"Just... one... more..." Ren panted. He reached the last goblin, a tiny female holding a wooden bucket.
"You..." Ren gasped, his hand trembling on her head. "You are... Rina."
BOOM.
The final surge of magic left him. It felt like someone had pulled the plug on a bathtub. Ren's vision went black.
"My Lord!" Mogs's voice sounded very far away.
Ren crumpled forward, hitting the dirt face-first.
[System Boot... Time Elapsed: 24 Hours.]
[Mana Core Reconstruction Complete. Capacity Increased.]
Ren gasped, bolting upright. "I'm awake!"
He was lying on a pile of soft furs inside the new wooden cabin. He felt... incredible. The headache was gone. In fact, his body felt lighter, and he could feel the mana flowing through his veins like a roaring river, much stronger than before.
[Notification: You survived 'Mana Depletion'. By completely emptying your tank, your body was forced to expand its capacity to survive. Mana Limit increased by 200%.]
"Ha!" Ren clenched his fist, purple sparks flying. "It's like working out a muscle. No pain, no gain."
"My Lord? You are awake?"
Ren turned toward the door and froze.
Standing there was a woman. She was stunning. She had smooth, pale-green skin that looked like jade, long silky hair, and a figure that looked like a fitness model. She was wearing a simple leather tunic that fit her... very well.
"Who are you?" Ren asked, blushing slightly. "Where are the goblins?"
The beauty smiled, bowing gracefully. "I am Rina, My Lord. The one you named last."
"Rina?!" Ren's jaw dropped. "You were three feet tall and bald yesterday!"
Ren scrambled out of the hut. "Everyone! Report!"
The "Goblins" were waiting outside. But they weren't goblins anymore.
The men stood nearly six feet tall. They had broad shoulders, ripped abs, and sharp, intelligent eyes. They looked like elite green-skinned spartans.
The women were elegant and curvy, their harsh features softened into exotic beauty.
"We await your command, My Lord!" The group shouted in unison, their voices strong.
[Analysis: Evolution Complete. Species Change: 'High Goblin' (Hobgoblin/Goblinas). Physical attributes increased by 500%. Intelligence increased. They are no longer scavengers; they are Warriors.]
Ren looked at his new, beautiful, gym-body army.
"Well," Ren smirked. "Now we look like a proper civilization."
CRASH.
A loud noise came from the other side of the room. Ren spun around.
Vera, the Red Ogre he had captured, was sitting up in the corner. She was awake. And she was staring at Ren with wide, shocked golden eyes.
She had seen the whole thing. The evolution. The loyalty.
"You..." Vera whispered, clutching her blanket. "You named an entire pack at once? And survived? Just how much Mana do you have, Monster?"
Ren shrugged. "Enough to make sure you get breakfast. You hungry?"
Vera looked at Ren, then at the powerful High Goblins, and finally at her own stomach which gave a traitorous growl.
She lowered her head, her face turning red. "I... I could eat."
End of Chapter 3.