Morrigan examines the unconscious ogre, her talons gently probing its skull as if reading something through its thick skin. "Interesting," she mutters, her beady eyes narrowed in concentration.

  "What's the problem?" I demand, frustration edging my voice. The third slot is open, humming with potential energy—I can feel it like an empty socket waiting to be filled. "This thing is perfect for melee combat. Exactly what we need."

  The hagraven straightens up, wiping her bloodied talons on a leaf. "Not problem of strength. Problem of..." she taps her own head, "...mind connection. Ogre brain too simple for deep bond."

  "Bullshit. Goblins aren't exactly geniuses either," I counter, gesturing toward our forces who are efficiently stripping the dead bandits of anything useful.

  "Different kind of simple," Nerk intervenes, crouching beside the massive unconscious form. "Goblins crafty. Understand hierarchy, loyalty, tactics. Ogres..." he pokes the creature's massive arm, "just want smash, eat, sleep."

  "He's right," Morrigan nods. "Third bond more complex than first two. Requires creature with greater... potential. Ogre can be commanded, can follow orders, but cannot lead others effectively. Cannot recruit many followers."

  That's the key insight that clicks everything into place. I've been thinking about this all wrong. My first two bonds are with creatures that themselves can lead—Nerk commands the goblin tribe, and Morrigan, while not a natural leader of troops, possesses the intelligence and power to direct others if needed.

  "I need a leader-type monster," I say aloud, the realization crystallizing. "Something that can potentially recruit many followers on its own."

  "Yes!" Morrigan's feathers ruffle with excitement. "Something with natural authority. Something other creatures follow willingly."

  Nerk nods thoughtfully. "Many such beasts. Minotaur chieftains. Orc warlords. Troll kings." He looks up at me. "Even human champions sometimes."

  "So what do we do with these?" I gesture to the two captured ogres. The leader is still unconscious, while the other one stares at us with dull hatred, bound securely with multiple ropes.

  "Still useful," Morrigan says pragmatically. "Not as bond, but as muscle. Can be controlled through lesser connection." She taps Nerk's shoulder. "Like goblins through hobgoblin, but weaker link."

  "You're saying I can still command them, just not through a direct bond?"

  "Yes. Through Nerk maybe, or me." She demonstrates by approaching the conscious ogre and weaving her claws in a complicated pattern. The creature's eyes glaze slightly, and it stops struggling against its bonds. "See? Not full bond, but workable control."

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  This is an interesting development. Even without using my precious third slot, I can still add these powerful melee fighters to our army. They'll serve as useful tanks while we search for the perfect third bond.

  "Fine," I decide. "We'll keep them. Nerk, assign some of your stronger goblins to guard and handle them. Morrigan, maintain whatever control you can."

  As the caravan prepares to continue its journey, I pull my two bonded monsters aside for a private conference behind one of the wagons.

  "So what exactly am I looking for?" I ask them. "What kind of creature would make the ideal third bond?"

  Morrigan and Nerk exchange glances, a silent communication passing between them.

  "Depends on master's goal," Nerk finally says. "Army needs different pieces. Different strengths."

  "I want to build a powerful monster army," I state plainly. "That's the goal. And I need something that complements what we already have."

  Morrigan nods slowly. "Already have leadership through Nerk. Already have magic through Morrigan. Need something else." She taps her beak thoughtfully. "Something that inspires fear, perhaps. Something that commands respect through power alone."

  "Like what?"

  "Many possibilities," Nerk says. "Dragon best, but extremely rare and dangerous to approach. Wyvern similar but lesser. Griffin noble and strong."

  "Vampire lord," Morrigan suggests. "Intelligent, powerful, already commands lesser undead naturally."

  "Or live option," Nerk counters. "Orc warlord. Natural leader of warriors. Better fighter than Nerk, could command entire war band."

  I consider these options, weighing their potential. "Dragons sound too dangerous at our current level. Vampires might be hard to find. Orcs..." I glance at Nerk. "Would you be okay with that? Having another warrior-type in our hierarchy?"

  Nerk pounds his chest. "Nerk secure in position. More strong fighters make army stronger. Nerk see big picture."

  "That's... surprisingly mature of you," I admit.

  He grins, showing sharp teeth. "Master's influence make Nerk smarter every day."

  The merchant captain approaches, interrupting our conference. "We're ready to move out if your... people are," he says, still maintaining a careful distance from my monstrous companions.

  "We'll be right behind you," I assure him. "Our scouts have already cleared the path ahead."

  As the caravan starts moving, we fall in at a discrete distance, our goblins melting into the forest on either side of the road while staying within earshot. The bound ogres lumber along under guard, their massive forms surprisingly quiet under Morrigan's influence.

  "So we continue to Hillbrook," I say as we march, "collect our bounty, and then start actively hunting for this leader-type monster for my third bond."

  "Yes," Morrigan agrees. "And listen for rumors. Often, powerful beasts make themselves known through stories, warnings."

  "Keep eyes open at all times," Nerk adds. "Perfect third bond might appear when least expected."

  I nod, scanning the forest around us almost unconsciously, as if the ideal monster might step out from behind a tree at any moment. My third slot remains open, waiting, ready for the perfect creature to complete the next phase of my growing army.