Supreme Gacha System

Chapter 12; Alliance

Stella, her face calm and composed, turned back to Leo's side. The goblin chief, a wiry creature with a face etched with years of hardship, stood before them, her eyes shining with gratitude.

"Lady," she said, her voice rough like gravel, "thank you for your encouragement. Those words... they were like a fire in my heart. They gave me hope, hope for my people, hope for our future."

She gestured towards her companions, a motley crew of goblins, each with their own unique personalities. "I forgot to introduce myself. I am the goblin chief, the leader of these groups of goblins. This," she pointed to a wizened goblin with eyes that seemed to hold ancient wisdom, "is Elder Flame, the oldest in our tribe. And this is the Goblin General, one of the strongest warriors in our tribe."

She then pointed to a goblin with a face twisted in a perpetual scowl, "This is Elder Violent. As you heard, she has a… violent temperament."

Elder Violent, hearing this, was about to retort, but Elder Flame quickly silenced her with a sharp glare.

The chief continued, "And this little one," she said, gesturing to a young goblin with a bow slung over her back, "is Little Ranger. She's the most skilled archer in our tribe. She's still young, but she has a natural talent for the bow."

She paused, a thoughtful look on her face. "As you know, we goblins don't have names. We call ourselves by titles, by our roles. Unless someone gives us a name… a name given by our master, someone we pledge our loyalty to."

The goblin chief opened her mouth to speak, but before a single syllable escaped her lips, Fei shifted. Her form rippled, snow colored furs dissolving into smooth skin, claws retracting into delicate fingers. A gasp, a collective intake of breath, rippled through the goblin ranks. Even the chief, her eyes wide with disbelief, stumbled back. Three of the goblin elders, positioned directly behind her, froze.

Fei met Leon's gaze, a playful wink flashing between them. Leon, understanding instantly, offered a subtle nod. The goblins, however, were far from subtle. Their narrowed eyes spoke volumes of suspicion and dawning horror. How…? the question echoed in their minds. A First Tier… transforming into human form? The ancient texts painstakingly spoke of such feats is possible for legendary dragon, unless it reached adulthood that is fifth tier, yet here she stood.

The revelation struck them like a physical blow. Unless… the thought bloomed simultaneously in every goblin mind, a terrifying seed of understanding taking root. "Unless it's a Mythical Rank".

The goblin chief and her three elders, their knowledge of beast transformations far exceeding that of the average goblin, felt a tremor run through them. Despite their superior Tiers, their hands clenched, slick with sweat. A cold chill flows down their spines.

Their gaze, unified in its awe and terror, fixed on Fei. This was unprecedented. This was the first time they had ever laid eyes on a Mythical beast.

I knew these beasts weren't ordinary, the goblin chief thought, her heart pounding with a frantic rhythm , but this… this surpasses all expectations.

The same chilling realization gripped the three elders—the Goblin General, Elder Violent, and Elder Flame. A Mythical beast, the strongest of all creatures, a being comparable to the pure blood dragons known as Ancient Dragons, the strongest dragons in existence in the world of Primordial Heaven Continent.

Then, a second transformation. Luna, still in her fearsome beast form, shimmered and solidified into a breathtakingly cute and petite girl. The goblin chief and elders' eyes widened even further. " Another Mythical Beast"! The thought screamed in their minds, a deafening cacophony of disbelief. Not one, but two Mythical beasts stood before them. And what was even more astounding—the Mythical Fox, served as a mount to the young man in front of them. The Mythical wolf, equally formidable, was the mount of the ethereal elf woman.

Why would such creatures submit? The question echoed through their minds, a puzzle that defied all logic. Legendary beasts were creatures of immense pride, Mythical beasts were even more so. Unless… unless their master possessed qualification equal to, or even surpassing, their own.

The sheer weight of this possibility, this breathtaking revelation, left their minds about to explode. The goblin chief sucked in a sharp breath of cold air, a sound that could also be heard by his three elders. They had reached the same, terrifying conclusion.

Elder Violent, though fear gnawed at her, felt a fighting spirit ignite within her. A flicker of ambition, a yearning to rise above her current limitations, burned in her eyes. She wanted... she craved the strength to one day face a Mythical Being, to test her skills against a creature of legend.

The goblin Little Ranger and the other goblins, their knowledge limited to the basics of their world, were utterly bewildered. Beast transformations? Mythical beasts? These were concepts beyond their comprehension.

The goblin chief, snapping out of her shock, stammered a bit, her voice nervous. "I... I apologize for my disrespect. You all must be tired travelling from the 11th to the 19th floor," please follow me to the hall and have a seat.She whispered, her voice a little shaken, her gaze darting between Leon, Stella, and the two Mythical beasts. Elder Violent, with her arrogant and violent temperament, remained unmoved, her gaze unwavering. The other two goblin elders, mimicking their chief, nodded like chickens pecking at rice in unison, their eyes wide with awe and fear.

The goblin chief led the way, her steps a little unsteady, her mind still reeling from the revelations. Soon, Leon, Stella, Fei, and Luna found themselves seated in the goblin hall, facing the chief and her elders. Surprisingly, the chief didn't sit on her throne; instead, she sat down on a chair, on equal ground with Leon's group, a gesture of respect that spoke volumes.

"Noble young master and noble ladies," the goblin chief said, her voice more respectful than before, a stark contrast to her previous demeanor. She'd even changed her address for Leon and the girls, from "noble gentleman" and "beautiful ladies" to "noble young master," and "noble ladies," a subtle acknowledgement of her newfound understanding of Leon's group status.

Before Leon could reply, Fei, ever the quick wit, interjected, "No need to be polite. Indeed, we are here to conquer this dungeon, and we want it to be our base." She paused, her gaze meeting Leon's, seeking his approval. Leon nodded, and she continued. "But you wouldn't have to worry, your tribe wouldn't be implicated, as long as you wouldn't stop us. Also, we are here to make a proposal that you can't refuse."

"What might that be?" Elder Violent, impatient and ever-ready for a fight, interjected.

Luna, her eyes narrowed, didn't appreciate the interruption. "Hmmmp... They're talking to your chief, not you. Who gave you the right to speak?" She stared at Elder Violent, her voice dripping with disdain.

Elder Violent, her temper flaring, bristled. "Little girl... you're just a girl, even if you are a mythical beast, do you think I'm afraid of you?" She stood up, glaring at Luna, her fists clenched.

Luna, unfazed, stood up as well, her gaze meeting Elder Violent's. "You're just a little green ugly monster," she retorted, her voice dripping with arrogance. "I can slap you to death with my paw." She looked down at Elder Violent, her expression disdainful.

"You... you... who are you calling a little green ugly monster?" Elder Violent shrieked, her voice trembling with anger. She pointed a shaking finger at Luna, her face contorted with fury. It was clear she was ready to unleash her anger on the arrogant little girl.

The tension in the hall was thick enough to cut with a knife. Luna and Elder Violent, both fueled by anger and pride, were about to unleash their fury on each other. They were inches apart, their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills, ready to erupt into a chaotic brawl. Sparks seemed to fly between them, the air crackling with anticipation.

But then, a voice, cold and ethereal, cut through the tension. "Luna," Stella said, her voice a whisper, yet carrying an authority that silenced the room. Luna, despite her irritation, stopped in her tracks. Except for her deceased parents, there was only one person she respected more than herself, and that was Stella.

"Elder Violent!" the goblin chief exclaimed, her voice laced with urgency. She knew that a fight between them would spell disaster for her tribe.

Elder Violent, giving face to her chief,

reluctantly stopped, her anger simmering beneath the surface. But even as she held back, a flicker of defiance burned in her eyes, a spark of a warrior's spirit refusing to be extinguished. She wanted to be stronger, to test her limits, to stand against these mythical beings. The thought, like a wild flame, flickered in her heart, a burning desire for power and a chance to prove herself.

The goblin chief, her gaze fixed on Fei, nodded subtly, urging her to continue. "Our proposal is to make an alliance," Fei said, her voice calm and steady. "When we conquer the dungeon, as a sign of our sincerity, you and your tribe can continue to live here. We will also provide you with an unlimited supply of food."

The goblin chief and her elders were taken aback. An unlimited supply of food? Their eyes widened in disbelief. They were seasoned veterans, experienced in the harsh realities of survival. They knew that nothing good came for free. There had to be a catch.

"What are your conditions?" the goblin chief asked, her voice cautious, her eyes narrowed.

Fei smiled, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "First condition," she said, "we will provide you with an unlimited supply of food, but you need to exchange it using magic crystals. The second condition is that when we need help in a dire state, you should provide support to help us resolve the problems. That's also the same with us. We will also provide you with some help if you need it."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the goblins, her voice taking on a persuasive tone. "As I said before, these conditions are not necessary conditions. It's a win-win situation for your side. You gain a secure home, a constant supply of food, and the support of the alliance. We gain a valuable ally and a strategic base of operations. It's a simple exchange, a mutually beneficial agreement."

The goblins, their minds reeling from the unexpected offer, couldn't believe what they were hearing. As Fei said, it was indeed a win-win situation for them. Now faced with a proposition that was both alluring and unsettling, the goblins looked at each other, a murmur of agreement rippling through them.

Even Elder Violent, her temper simmering, couldn't help but be intrigued. She'd been around long enough to remember a time when goblins traded with humans and beastkin merchants on the surface. But the problem, the ever-present concern, was the price. Could they afford it? This was the question that gnawed at the goblin chief and her elders, a constant worry etched into their faces.

"May I ask what's the price of the food you will provide us?" the goblin chief asked, her voice wary, her eyes searching for a hint of deception. "We still have some magic crystals available, but we are not sure if it's enough to buy food."

She paused, a wave of sadness washing over her. "To tell you the truth," she continued, her voice laced with bitterness, "we once lived on the surface, and we traded with beastkin and human merchants. But the beastkin merchants provided us with better deals, so we chose to buy our supplies from them. But the sad thing is, a human merchant killed the beastkin merchant and blamed us for his death."

Her hands clenched into fists, her face contorted with anger, a raw, untamed fury burning in her eyes. "Because of that, we were hunted by the beastkins and humans. They attacked our base, almost annihilating our tribe. My father, many elders, they all died in that battle."

The three goblin elders, Elder Violent, Elder Flame, and the Goblin General, also filled with anger. Their eyes, filled with a deep-seated resentment, reflected the pain of that tragic event. They were young then, but the memory of that battle, the loss of their elders, the near annihilation of their tribe, was a wound that had never healed. Only Elder Flame, his face etched with the wisdom of countless years, seemed to bear the weight of that tragedy with a stoic acceptance.

The goblin chief's words, laced with pain and anger, painted a picture of a tribe that had been hunted, and nearly destroyed. They were survivors, yes, but they were also victims, forever scarred by the cruelty of the surface world. Their trust in humans and beastkin had been shattered, their hearts hardened by the experience.

The goblins, while their hostility towards Leon's group had lessened, didn't mean they trusted them completely.

Fei, sensing their hesitation, leaned closer to Leon, her voice a seductive whisper in his ear. "Master," she purred, "is there any product, something cheap, but enough to provide them from hunger?"

Leon, his ear twitching at her suggestive tone, turned to the system shop. He scrolled through the food supplies, his eyes widening in disbelief. He almost cursed, his frustration bubbling to the surface. He'd been so focused on conquering dungeons, on battling monsters, that he hadn't paid much attention to the prices of basic necessities. He'd assumed, naively, that food would be expensive. But the reality was far more shocking.

One bag of rice, a hefty 50 kg bag, cost only 2 magic crystals. Two! He'd been paying 1 magic crystal for a single pack of instant noodles, when 10 packs cost only 1 magic crystal! He'd even bought cooked rice, 10 cups for 1 magic crystal. He'd been ripped off, overpaying for convenience, for the luxury of not having to cook.

"Damn," Leon sighed, his frustration mounting. "I can't blame the system, it's my fault for not looking carefully at the products available. It's just... it's more convenient to buy cooked food, rather than uncooked. After all, I'm barely standing after each dungeon floor, there's no time or strength left for me to cook."

As Leon's frustration simmered, Fei leaned closer, her voice a seductive whisper in his ear. "Master," she purred, "make it 10 times the price."

Leon was surprised by Fei's suggestion. He also understood that Fei was helping him, that he needed magic crystals the most.

Leon bought one bag of rice, stood up, and walked to the empty space. With a wave of his hand, a bag of rice materialized on the floor.

"This is one bag of rice. I can sell it to you for 20 magic crystals," he said, looking at the goblins. He hoped they wouldn't notice his nervousness, the slight tremor in his voice.

The goblins looked at each other, exchanging uneasy glances. Elder Flame spoke, his voice cautious. "Isn't the price a bit exaggerated ?" Elder Flame knew that the price was already lower compared to the merchant they had encountered on the surface before.

"Why not open it and look at what's inside?" They looked at each other, unsure. The Goblin General moved forward, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword before drawing it back. He took out his sword from his waist and carefully sliced open the bag of rice. When he saw what was inside, he was shocked.

"This... this is..." he sputtered, unable to articulate his astonishment.

The goblin chief, Elder Flame, and Elder Violent also gasped. Their eyes widened in disbelief.

"What kind of rice is this?" the Goblin General shouted in a shock voice, "It's so white and the grain is whole."

"How could this be possible, don't tell me they pill the chaff off one by one?" he asked in disbelief. His eyes darted back and forth between the rice and Leon, searching for answers. He couldn't fathom how this rice could be so perfect.

Compared to the rice they bought on the surface in the past, this rice was a revelation. Its color was as white as snow, a stark contrast to the brownish rice they used to eat. Unlike the past, where even a whole grain was hard to find, this rice boasted plump, perfectly formed grains, a testament to its superior quality.

But even so, the goblins didn't accept the price immediately. After some tense haggling, they agreed to the price of 10 magic crystals per bag of rice.

Leon also offered them noodles and canned goods, and when the goblin chief and elders tasted the noodles and canned goods, their eyes widened in amazement. They couldn't believe it; it was their first time eating such tasty food. Of course, Leon taught them how to cook noodles, and they ate it while tears flows down in their eyes from happiness.

Leon sold the noodles for 10 packs for 5 magic crystals. What surprised Leon the most was that the goblins brought 1,000 bags of rice, which translated to 10,000 low-grade magic crystals. He had never expected to make such a profit from basic food supplies.

Leon also offered them some clothing, which the goblins wore with enthusiasm. Leon, again, earned another 10,000 low-grade magic crystals. Of course, not all of the magic crystals were low grade; they also included some medium grade and even higher grade magic crystals.

Magic Crystal Exchange Rates

- Low Grade: 1 Low Grade Magic Crystal = 1 Gold Coin

- Mid Grade: 1 Mid Grade Magic Crystal = 100 Low Grade Magic Crystals

- High Grade: 1 High Grade Magic Crystal = 100 Mid Grade Magic Crystals

- Top Grade: 1 Top Grade Magic Crystal = 100 High Grade Magic Crystals

- Supreme Grade: 1 Supreme Grade Magic Crystal = 100 Top Grade Magic Crystals

Divine Magic Crystals

- Low Divine: 1 Low Divine Magic Crystal = 100 Supreme Grade Magic Crystals

- Mid Divine: 1 Mid Divine Magic Crystal = 100 Low Divine Magic Crystals

- High Divine: 1 High Divine Magic Crystal = 100 Mid Divine Magic Crystals

- Top Divine: 1 Top Divine Magic Crystal = 100 High Divine Magic Crystals

Story continues…