Chapter 10: Shadow Strategy
Riven stood amidst the carnage of the goblin war camp, his breath steady as he observed his newly acquired shadow, the Hobgoblin Captain. Unlike the lesser goblins, this one exuded a commanding presence even in undeath. It knelt before him, awaiting orders.
He opened his status page to assess his progress after the intense battle.
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◆◆ STATUS PAGE ◆◆
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◆ Name: Riven
◆ Level: 7
◆ HP: 800/800
◆ MP: 600/600
◆ Strength: 12
◆ Agility: 13
◆ Intelligence: 13
◆ Endurance: 10
◆ Free Stat Points: 10
◆ Shadow Soldier Count: 30
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A grin tugged at his lips. He had grown stronger. His mana pool had increased, his physical stats were improving, and his army of shadows was expanding at an impressive rate.
His newest shadow had been powerful in life, which meant it retained much of its strength even in death. Riven focused his mind and instinctively accessed its skills.
◆ Hobgoblin Captain Shadow Abilities:
War Cry – Temporarily boosts the attack power of all allies in range.
Blade Mastery – Increased proficiency with large swords.
Iron Skin – Passive ability that reduces damage taken.
"Perfect," Riven muttered, pleased with his acquisition. This shadow would be crucial for commanding his growing army.
With the war camp cleared, he turned his attention to the deeper tunnels leading to the 15th floor. The air grew heavier, thick with the scent of damp earth and something fouler—something lurking in the darkness ahead.
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The 15th floor was unlike the previous levels. The walls were lined with primitive carvings, depicting rituals and sacrifices. A dim, eerie glow pulsed from scattered clusters of bioluminescent fungi, barely illuminating the cavernous expanse.
Riven didn't need his senses to tell him this place was dangerous. He could feel it. Something strong was here.
A low growl echoed from deeper within the chamber.
Then, from the shadows, they emerged.
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◆◆ ENEMY ANALYSIS ◆◆
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◆ Feral Gnolls (x10) – Taller than goblins, more muscular. Savage and relentless.
◆ Gnoll Pack Leader (x1) – Smarter, faster, deadlier. Commands the pack.
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Gnolls. Unlike goblins, they weren't cowardly. They wouldn't scatter. They fought as a pack, and they were damn good at it.
"This will be interesting," Riven mused, stepping forward.
◆ Shadow Formation! ◆
His shadows moved instantly. The Hobgoblin Captain took the front, its massive sword gleaming in the dim light. The Goblin Shaman Shadow stayed near the rear, readying spells. The rest took flanking positions, awaiting his command.
Then, the gnolls charged.
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The first gnoll lunged, jagged claws swiping for Riven's throat. He sidestepped, countering with a swift dagger thrust into its ribs. The creature howled in pain, but it wasn't dead yet.
Before it could retaliate, an arrow pierced its eye—his Goblin Archer Shadow had landed a perfect shot.
One down.
The battlefield erupted into chaos.
The Hobgoblin Captain Shadow roared, activating War Cry. His shadows surged with newfound strength, hacking and slashing through the enemy ranks.
The Gnoll Pack Leader barked an order, and two gnolls broke off, targeting Riven directly.
He grinned. "Let's see how fast you are."
He dashed forward, his dagger slicing the first gnoll's throat clean through. The second lunged, jaws snapping—
Arise!
The first gnoll's corpse twitched. Then it rose as one of his shadows—
—and immediately tackled the second gnoll to the ground, tearing into its former ally.
Riven didn't hesitate. He drove his dagger into the downed creature's heart, ending it instantly.
◆ Shadow Extraction Successful! ◆ ◆ New Shadow Soldier Added: Feral Gnoll (D-Rank) ◆ ◆ Shadow Soldier Count: 31 ◆
Meanwhile, his Goblin Shaman Shadow launched Firebolt after Firebolt, setting the battlefield ablaze. Gnolls howled as flames consumed them, turning their advantage of numbers into a massacre.
Now, only one remained—the Gnoll Pack Leader.
It snarled, gripping a crude, rusted axe. Despite being alone, its bloodlust hadn't faded.
Riven stepped forward. "You're brave."
The gnoll roared and charged.
Riven was ready.
He dodged the first wild swing, slashing at its leg. It stumbled but didn't fall. The beast fought like a berserker, its axe a blur.
But Riven was faster.
The moment it overextended, he dashed in, dagger flashing—
A clean cut across the throat.
The gnoll gurgled, stumbling backward before collapsing.
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◆◆ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ◆◆
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◆ Enemy Defeated: Gnoll Pack Leader
◆ EXP Gained: 200
◆ Level Up!
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Riven exhaled, rolling his shoulders. He was getting better. Stronger.
He raised a hand over the fallen leader's corpse.
Arise.
A low growl rumbled through the cavern as the Gnoll Pack Leader Shadow rose to its feet, its glowing red eyes locking onto him.
Another powerful addition to his army.
Riven smirked.
The dungeon was his hunting ground now. And he was just getting started.
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Riven stood at the edge of the 16th floor entrance, his eyes scanning the vast cavernous expanse ahead of him. The atmosphere was heavy with the scent of sulfur, and the ground beneath his feet vibrated with the faint tremors of distant movement. His shadows were poised around him, waiting for his next command. With each floor, the dungeon seemed to grow more challenging, its threats more calculated. This time, it wasn't just goblins he'd have to deal with.
His army had grown stronger after the battle with the Hobgoblin Captain, but that victory was only the beginning. Now, he had new tactical challenges ahead.
The floor was alive with danger—giant spiders, venomous serpents, and worst of all, Lurking Shadows, creatures capable of blending seamlessly into the darkness. Riven had to tread carefully, and this time, he wouldn't rush into combat blindly.
"Shaman," he called softly. The Goblin Shaman Shadow stepped forward. "Can you sense anything?"
The shadow gave a low hum of acknowledgment, its eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. Without words, it raised its staff, casting a small Detect Magic aura that swept across the floor. Riven's hand instinctively rested on the hilt of his dagger as he scanned the surroundings, waiting for the results.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
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◆ Spell Used: Detect Magic
◆ Result: Several high-concentration energy signals detected. Possible traps and ambushes ahead.
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A faint smile crossed Riven's face. "So it begins."
He signaled to his Goblin Archer Shadow