It was absolute chaos with tunnels popping up everywhere with goblin either trying to plug up and hold them or hunting the ants already swarming over the mountain side. With all the chaos the dungeon still running on automatic randomly spawned low level goblin around the dungeon just to be immediately crushed in most cases. Steve was shocked that things could have changed so quickly in the few days he'd been gone.

Trying to get a hold of the situation he rapidly formed stone spawning huts so his goblins wouldn't instantly die. Checking the status of his goblins he has down to about ninety or so goblins the lowest level 11 and Zig sitting at level 18. Zig was currently jumping from ant to ant stabbing and preforming acrobatics utilizing his weight manipulation power to evade counter attacks. Marveling at his abilities and effectiveness Steve set the dungeon to spawn level 10 goblins in order to get them access to an extra their first perk. Steve really didn't want to have to do this since a level 10 cost five times what a level 9 did but he didn't have much choice.

Slowly the reinforcements started coming into the battle having some effect. Steve directed them to guard new tunnels slowing the swarm but every time Steve's goblins started gaining control over the battle field a new whole would start spewing more scourge ants and he'd scramble to to send his troops to cover the break through. Steve started to notice that a new type of ant had started to accompany the regular scourge ants. It was maybe six feet tall and built for speed instead of power and durability like the regular scourge ants. They seemed to be slightly more intelligent than the big ones circling and trying to ambush goblins from behind instead of charging at the first goblin in sight.

"Why couldn't they just be dumb bugs" shouting and cursing Steve sent Zig and Ash being his highest level goblins to hunt the new variety down. "We'd already be completely overwhelmed if they didn't take the time to retrieve the dead ants". With a frustrated growl Steve released that this wasn't likely to end quickly so he slowed down his reinforcements spawning so he could have a small reserve. He had to be smart and hope he could last long enough for one of his goblins to hit level 20 and hope that will be enough to hold the tide.

Jacoby Cane had gathered every single guard and servant he could spare. They packed as much tools, food and weapons they could loading them onto a small merchant vessel his his house owned. With a grin Jacoby looked over his twenty or so guards three of which had a perk like himself. The guard captain had his two lieutenants cost as much and fifty ordinary elves but they were well worth it.

His captain Cole had a perk allowing him to regenerate from injuries at a rate visible to the naked eye. The first lieutenant Derek had the perk increasing his reflexes the same as lord Jacoby himself. The second lieutenants perk was a lot more rare than this one or Coles however. He could see the heat of a creature whe he focused and while in most situations it wasn't too useful Tracking and fighting in jungles made it extremely valuable.

"Gentleman you may have heard that my son has recently obtained a perk but what you don't yet know is how it happened" The troops before him watch their master in silence. "He had won it in battle yet not in the traditional way by reaching level 10 but as a reward for slayings his foe". The troops erupted in confused muttering. "It seems this type of monster has a chance of dropping a shard of its own power when slain allowing him to obtain his first perk at level 5" at that moment Jacoby signaled and Douglas proudly walked out onto the deck. Thrusting his hand in the air so everyone could see he summoned a small arc of lightning to dance on his palm.

Shocked the guards started shouting questions rapidly. Captain Cole who was in charge of discipline just gaped at the boys hand. "This expedition is to find those monsters lair and obtain those very power shards" looking at his men with a wild grin " the Cane merchant house is about to become the most powerful house on the continent". With a glint in his eye Jacoby watched his men cheer with anticipation of what was about to come.

When hours they had arrived on the opposite bank of the river setting up camp and sending the first group of guards over lead by captain Cole and the second lieutenant scouting the area. The found a small trail leading deeper into the jungle and followed it. Rounding the corner the second lieutenant waved everyone to a hult spotting a a small hut with two small blue monsters that fit Douglas's description. Focusing on these little creatures didn't show up in his heat vision but he did spot a handful of little forms roaming around in the jungle near by. Informing the captain they carefully approached the little monsters with the two regular guards facing outward to the jungle letting the captain and first lieutenant take the blue ones alone.

Catching sight of them the blue little monsters screeched charging arms out. An echoing reply came from all sides as half a dozen multi colored monsters popped out of the brush. Stepping forward captain Cole swiftly kicked the first goblin swiping his axe and the second killing it instantly. As he turned to finish of the second it had scrambled to its feet and longed gripping into his leg. Ignoring the pain Cole slammed his axe into the goblin's back partly hitting his own leg. Paying no attention to his leg Cole watched as his squad took care of the remaining six monsters when he saw it happen.

Out of the corner of his eye he caught a blue shimmer over the first goblin he'd struck down. Testing his leg it had seemed to be completely healed so he collected this so called power crystal and got an offer to equip it. Selecting no he gathered up his squad heading back under orders of his lord to return as soon as he obtained a power crystal.