I wake up feeling like I've been hit by a truck. My muscles ache from yesterday's battle, though I didn't do much of the actual fighting. Mostly just shouting orders and trying not to get killed. I splash some swamp water on my face, God, I miss running water, and try to get my head straight before the morning meeting with my lieutenants.

  As I leave my quarters, a goblin rushes up to me, practically bouncing with excitement.

  "Master! Master! Look!" He points to himself, and I realize this isn't just any goblin. He's bigger, his posture straighter, small ridges beginning to form on his shoulders. Another one evolving.

  I smile despite my exhaustion. "Congratulations. When did it start?"

  "After battle! Many of us changing now!" He grins, showing teeth that are definitely sharper than they were yesterday. "Misha says it's the death-magic. When we kill death knights, their power goes somewhere. Goes to us!"

  That's interesting. This is the first time so many monsters are evolving after a battle. As I make my way to our command area, I notice it everywhere, dozens of goblins showing signs of evolution, orcs with metallic patterns emerging on their skin, hagravens with more vibrant feathers and stronger magical auras.

  Nerk confirms it as soon as our morning council begins. "Mass evolution event occurring throughout army," he reports, his evolved form somehow even more impressive than before. "Seventy-three goblins transitioning to hobgoblin state. Forty-two orcs developing metallic skin patterns. Even trolls showing accelerated healing rates."

  "The fragments," Morrigan explains, her transformed presence casting subtle shadows that move independently of the light. "When we destroyed the Death Knights, their fragment-derived power didn't simply dissipate. It was absorbed by our bond network, distributed through the hierarchy."

  "Like killing a boss in a video game and everyone getting XP," I mutter, then realize they have no idea what I'm talking about. "Never mind. The point is we're stronger now."

  "Much stronger," Gorthal agrees, the metallic sheen of his skin catching the morning light. "Blood-warriors report enhanced capabilities. Weapons respond better to ritual activation. Some developing limited regeneration similar to trolls."

  This is great news, but even now I can see that there is something else bothering my lieutenants.

  "What is it?" I ask, running a hand through my hair. "Just spit it out."

  Nerk nods gravely. "Current hunting and foraging insufficient for projected growth. Need sustainable solution before shortage reaches critical threshold."

  Fuck. So we’re running low on food.

  "We need to start farming," I decide. "Not just hunting and gathering. Actual cultivation."

  Morkath's ancient eyes light up with interest. "Swamp offers unique cultivation opportunities. Waters rich in nutrients. Many edible species thrive here."

  "Like what?" I ask.

  "Razorfish in deeper pools," he begins, rootlets extending as he connects to the swamp's knowledge. "Prolific breeders, reach harvestable size quickly. Flesh dense in proteins orcs require."

  He continues listing possibilities: "Mushroom fields on partly submerged logs. Dozens of edible varieties. Some enhance strength when prepared correctly. Swamp rice in shallows. Grows twice as fast as normal rice."

  "That sounds perfect," I say, actually getting excited about swamp farming, which is something I never thought would happen. "But who's going to do the work? We can't pull warriors from defense."

  "Younger trolls have natural affinity for swamp growth," Morkath suggests. "Not powerful enough for combat yet, but sufficient for agricultural duties."

  Nerk adds, "Smaller goblins too weak for archer units still possess adequate dexterity for harvesting. Proper oversight creates efficient system."

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  "My lesser hagravens can establish weather enhancement circles," Morrigan offers. "Once set up, they require minimal maintenance but provide optimal growing conditions."

  "Perfect. Let's get it started immediately," I decide. "Morkath, find young trolls with growing talent and pair them with goblin work teams. Nerk, organize your non-combat goblins into harvesting groups. Morrigan, start those weather spells over wherever we're planting."

  With food production addressed, my mind turns to our next opportunity. The Death Knights' defeat has opened up possibilities we didn't have before.

  "The Thunder Mountains," I say, pointing to the northern border on our crude map. "The undead are gone, at least temporarily. We should establish mining operations while we have the chance."

  "For what purpose?" Morkath asks.

  "Metal," I reply. "We need it for weapons, armor, tools. The swamp doesn't provide that. Nerk, what do you think?"

  The goblin king's tactical mind is already working. "Excellent strategic initiative. Thunder Mountains historically rich in iron, copper, some precious metals. Goblins traditionally skilled miners, even without enhancement."

  "And orcs provide security, heavy lifting," Gorthal adds, clearly seeing the value. "Many blood-warriors come from mountain tribes. Know terrain."

  "Exactly," I nod. "I want to establish permanent mining settlements in the foothills. Nerk, can you select a hundred of your most mining-experienced goblins? And Gorthal, we'll need about two hundred orcs for security and labor."

  They both acknowledge the assignment with obvious enthusiasm. The prospect of securing metal resources clearly appeals to their strategic instincts.

  "But that's not all," I continue, feeling a bit reckless but excited by the possibilities. "Morkath, I've been wondering... is it possible to expand the swamp's boundaries? Specifically toward the northern mountains?"

  The troll's ancient eyes widen slightly at the audacity of my question. His root system extends deeper into the soil as he communes with the swamp, seeking answers to this unprecedented idea.

  "Possible," he finally pronounces, "but difficult. Would require massive water flow changes. Redirecting underground sources. Creating new channels from mountain runoff."

  "And from a magical perspective?" I ask Morrigan.

  She considers this, her evolved form somehow becoming more focused as she thinks. "Major terraforming magic exists. Ancient spells for changing landscapes. Extremely power-intensive, but..." she gestures to the crystal lens fragment hanging around my neck, "with fragment enhancement, potentially achievable."

  "We'd need to establish water flow patterns first," Nerk adds immediately. "Identify mountain springs, calculate channel routes. Establish control points at key locations."

  I pace back and forth, trying to contain my excitement. This could be huge. Extending our swamp territory to the mountain foothills would create a continuous domain under our control, eliminating the gap that currently exists. It would also bring those mining operations under our protective umbrella.

  "Here's the plan," I say, stopping and facing my lieutenants. "We send a specialized expedition north. Morkath, give us fifty of your best trolls who understand terrain. Morrigan, add ten hagravens for magical assessment. Nerk, thirty hobgoblin scouts would be perfect. Their mission: survey everything between our northern borders and the mountains. Water sources, elevation, soil types, the works."

  My lieutenants nod, understanding the scope of what I'm proposing.

  "Once we have the surveys, we develop a three-phase expansion," I continue, warming to the idea. "First, we set up water control points where they'll do the most good. Second, we start digging channels and diverting water. Third, we use a massive terraforming spell to kickstart the whole swampification process."

  "Ambitious," Morkath rumbles, but I can hear excitement beneath his measured tone. "Swamp consciousness... intrigued by possibility of expansion. Has not grown significantly in centuries."

  "The fragment energy we've absorbed makes this possible," I remind them, touching the crystal lens hanging at my chest. It pulses warmly in response. "We should use that advantage while our enemies are still licking their wounds."

  As my lieutenants depart to organize these new initiatives, I step outside our command tent and look out over our territory. Everywhere, monsters are evolving, growing stronger in the aftermath of our victory. The Death Knights came expecting to crush us and instead fed our development.

  I spot a group of young trolls already learning cultivation techniques from Morkath, their tiny root systems extending experimentally into prepared mud beds. Nearby, goblin teams are constructing specialized harvesting tools under Nerk's supervision. The hagravens circle overhead, their wing patterns creating subtle changes in air currents that guide rain clouds toward designated growing areas.

  From a random guy dropped into an alien forest to the leader of an evolving monster civilization, it's been one hell of a journey. And with that fifth bond slot still open, waiting for the right monster to complete our command structure, our potential for growth is nowhere near its peak.

  I grin despite the perpetual damp of swamp air that makes my clothes feel like they're never truly dry. The Monster Lord's army isn't just surviving anymore, we're building something lasting. And if anyone else wants to test us like those Death Knights did? Well, we'll just absorb their power too.