“The name of kings, of conquerors, of generals, of leaders,” the death knight said, “Then it is settled, Alexander shall be my name.” It was pleased with the name, and I was glad since it was a struggle making one. My track record was far from perfect; after naming the slime ‘Slime’, leaving Tal’s name the same, and ignoring everything else, my name creativity was obviously lacking. Alexander, however, did not mind.

Alexander asked, “Take me to the skeletons and zombies. Our forces need to be inspected.” He now sounded reserved, a distinct difference from his high and might booming voice earlier. Getting smashed through a doorway through Slime reigned him in.

I took the death knight to the third floor to show him the skeletons. Slime was nearly attached my side and her presence caused Alexander to lag several paces behind. Slime was skipping and frolicking almost dancing as it walked. It was enjoying its new limbs.

The skeletons were digging away the tunnel and explained to Alexander, “I ordered them to dig this tunnel to make a path under the river north of us. That way we have a safe path across the river.”

“Excellent foresight.” It stroked its nonexistent beard instead dragging out the wispy green energies that made his form. “They are doing good work,” Alexander said examining the deep progression, “But how are their combat skills?”

I shook my head, “They haven’t fought anything yet. I made them spar a little against themselves when I first made them, but that was it. For some time now I have been feeding them extra mana – there hasn’t been any evolution or development because of it.”

“Verily.” Alexander strode up to the skeletons and they stopped their work. “They do not grow because they do not have direction.” He examined them picking at their bones. “Do they have weapons?”

“They each have a boar spear.”

Alexander nodded to himself. “Give me control of them,” he requested, “I will develop them into fine soldiers.”

“Am I even able to do that?”

“Of course. As the dungeon master and creator, you have that power. You can shape the powers and growth of everything in your realm as you see fit.”

I engaged my dungeon powers to verify his claim. Each skeleton had a flame of mana flickering, their life force. Mana, energy, health, vital information was readily available. Although they had been digging straight for days their vitals were clear and mana consumption wasn’t problematic either. Their life forces healthily twinkled. Next to them the force of Alexander’s roared like an inferno. I focused on the skeleton’s energy and dragged it out like a string. The threads spun through the air and I led them to Alexander. His life force snatched them. A pulse of energy shot down through each, disintegrating them as it went. It reached the skeletons and their life force momentarily flared.

“It is done,” commented Alexander. Whatever I did must have worked. “They will still answer to you ultimately, but now control is also mine.”

“So what plans do you have for them?”

“To trample on the fields of man and slaughter all of humanity of course. But first they need to be stronger. I will work on that.”

“Great! Now I wonder who will dig these tunnels for me.” I joked. No one joined in the laughter. “What about the golems,” I wondered aloud to recover myself. They were sitting outside guarding the dungeon. They didn’t have a job right now. Through my dungeon senses I overlooked my newest creations. The pair were inactive since we left them but now they were moving. Curious, I extended out and surveyed the land. “We have trouble.” My face paled. They weren’t knights or men-at-arms or adventures but, “A large force of goblins are headed straight this way.” Even though they were generally weak, goblins were nothing to laugh at. Their pain tolerance is high. Their bloodlust and savagery without bounds. Their numbers overwhelming. The best of knights or even heroes could fall to an army of goblins.

An invading force trampled on the dungeon territory and Alexander howled in laughter, “Fortune smiles upon me! My first battle draws near. Let us go check their advance.” His motions were smooth and immediate. The skeletons scrambled behind him grabbing their boar spears. I couldn’t muster any words at the display and followed Alexander to the surface with Slime.

Alexander stood out front peering deep into the forest. “Where are the golems?” They were not under his power so he was unable to sense their position with accuracy.

“Straight west. They are slowly advancing towards the goblins. Right now there are 30… no 40 goblins headed our way.” The numbers slowly rose the more I observed. Monsters and demons were naturally attracted to the dungeon; its miasma and empowering capabilities were a natural lure making them typical homes for such creatures. My more frequent work and generation of miasma must have attracted the goblins,

“Recall the golems back. We will consolidate our forces in this clearing. Golems in front, skeletons will support from behind them with their spears.” Alexander stood arms crossed. His spirit churned under his armor. The coming battle had him excited. I relayed the orders to the golems and they returned at a hastened pace.

Alexander took charge. The golems were wide and their reach impressive with their four arms. He situated them in the front and had a skeleton standing on the sides and middle. The goblins were close – I could hear their rustling without my dungeon senses. Alexander remained composed, not flinching at the cracking of branches or the rustling of leaves.

“Here they come.” The death knight called out. And they came crashing. Out of every opening they poured out like ants with wooden clubs and sharp stone. The battle had begun.

I watched at ease from the back as the little green devils crashed into the stone protectors. Slime hummed a metallic tune to itself, oblivious to the ongoing battle. Her presence put me at ease for if a single goblin got close I was sure her murderous tendencies would snap right back. There was nothing sticks and stones could do against heavy metal.

With their sprawling four arms the golems smashed and tossed around goblins like they were dolls. Every goblin they got their hands on were left a mangled bloody pulp. Some were smashed into the earth, others flung into the trees. The three skeletons formed a defense barrier behind them, stabbing and slicing any goblin that sought to break through. Bodies and blood piled up on the floor and Alexander quivered in his armor as the dying shrieks of the goblins gave him pleasure.

Goblins, however, kept pouring out. Far too many for me to count in my dungeon senses. Even though the line Alexander set up held well, the numbers was becoming too much. More and more goblins broke through the golems and assaulted the skeleton back line. They were nothing but bone, vulnerable and weak. The short goblins got underneath them and hacked at their legs. One was sent tumbling to the ground. It was strange to watch. The skeleton had its legs chopped down but its life force raged on. A raging skeleton on the floor stabbing at green midgets almost made me chuckle.

“I’ve had enough playing games. Give me a sword,” Alexander reached out his hand to me. I took mine and out and tossed it over. He looked over the blade and said, “The goblins made a mistake sending out only expeditionary force. I shall carve fear and death into their very existence – I will teach them that the meaning of their pitiful life is to grovel at the feet of superior beings such as ourselves.” He leapt dozens of feet into the air in one motion and plummeted down into the swarm of goblins. One sweep, one cut, and a dozen goblin heads flew in the air raining blood onto the earth. Alexander gave off a natural cold, but his chill intensified and frosted the world. My spine shivered, my breath visible, my teeth chattering.

The eyes of a goblin were an empty thing. A common foe, even I fought them before. They were single-minded creatures: kill, pillage, hunt, grow. Goblins live off their basic instincts of survival. Their eyes were empty because they were an empty monster. The goblins now reflected a green flame. They beheld the blueish green eminence of the death knight. Fear was in their eyes. Every swing mowed down their ranks and Alexander’s cackled vibrated through the night, echoing off of every tree.

The goblins came for food and were served death on a platter with the grim reaper as their waiter. Fighting was beyond them – death was the only result in engaging Alexander. Just as they swarmed out from the trees and brush, they fled back with shrieks of terror.

The sweet deep voice of Alexander said, “I’m not done with you yet…” His blood-stained armor clanged as moved to hunt the vermin. His voice resonated through the entire forest, “I have taught you death; now it is time for me to teach you fear.”