Akira staggered into the Beastling village with the Blood-Tinged Wolf cubs trailing behind him, their glowing crimson eyes shimmering under the moonlight. The sight drew immediate attention. Beastlings of all ages stared in astonishment, murmuring amongst themselves as Akira headed toward the elders’ tent.
Inside, the elders rose to greet him, their expressions a mix of relief and disbelief.
Elder 1: "You’ve returned... and with the wolves no less. How did you manage this, Akira?"
Akira sat cross-legged, his exhaustion apparent, and recounted the events of the Ogre-Kin outpost—the battle with the necromancer, the shattered crystal, and the wolves’ rescue. The elders listened intently, their eyes growing wide at every detail.
When Akira finished, the elders exchanged looks and excused themselves to discuss privately. Alone in the tent, Akira’s hand moved to his pocket. He retrieved the glowing red crystal core, its surface radiating a faint heat and pulsing softly.
Akira (softly): "Athena, can you analyze this?"
Athena: "Analysis complete. This core contains high levels of concentrated magical energy. Consuming it would grant specific skills related to its origin. Its properties are potent but unpredictable."
Intrigued, Akira stashed the core into his system inventory. “I’ll figure out what to do with it later,” he muttered, rising to his feet.
As he stepped outside, the sight that greeted him was baffling. All 200 wolf cubs sat in perfect formation in front of the tent, their red-tinged eyes fixed on him.
Akira (confused): "Athena, what’s going on? Bring up the emotional state menu for the wolves."
The menu materialized in his vision, displaying a unified status: Loyalty: Absolute | Entity: Akira Azami.
A prompt appeared before him:
"Would you like to gain the Blood-Tinged Wolf Cubs x200 as your subordinates?"
Akira hesitated, the sheer scale of the decision overwhelming. But the loyalty in their eyes and the significance of their presence stirred something deep within him. He selected Accept.
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The Price of Loyalty
As soon as Akira confirmed, a crimson glow enveloped all 200 cubs. A powerful surge of energy coursed through the air, and Akira felt his own magic draining rapidly. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his breath ragged.
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Akira (weakly): "What’s... happening to me?"
Athena: "Your magical reserves have been depleted due to the binding process. You are experiencing severe mana fatigue. Entering rest mode now."
Darkness overtook him as he slipped into unconsciousness.
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Two Days Later
Akira awoke to the sound of soft chanting. The elder sat beside him, their face lighting up with a smile as he stirred.
Elder 2: "Ah, you’ve awakened. You gave us quite the scare, sleeping for two whole days."
Akira groaned, sitting up slowly. His body felt heavier, though not in a debilitating way—it was the weight of new power.
Akira: "Two days? What happened to me?"
Athena: "Vitals stable. You recovered from severe mana fatigue. No long-term damage sustained."
Nodding, Akira got to his feet and stepped outside. His eyes widened in disbelief. The wolf cubs had grown into full-fledged adult Blood-Tinged Wolves, their sleek crimson fur glistening under the sunlight. They stood tall, powerful, and disciplined.
Akira: "Athena, what’s going on with the wolves?"
Athena: "Upon becoming their master, the wolves underwent a significant evolution. Their loyalty and bond with you catalyzed their growth. All wolves have reached the adult stage."
A series of prompts appeared:
* "Title acquired: Beast Master (for taming at least 10 beast-type monsters)."
* "Title upgraded: Beast General (for taming at least 50 beast-type monsters)."
* "Title upgraded: Beast King (for taming at least 150 beast-type monsters)."
* "Title upgraded: Beast Lord (for taming at least 200 beast-type monsters)."
Title Effects:
* All tamed beast-type monsters gain a 40% buff to speed and strength.
* Unique skills unlocked: Thought Communication, Apex Howl, Poison Nullification.
A final prompt appeared:
"Would you like to appoint a wolf as the alpha?"
Without hesitation, Akira selected Accept.
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Choosing the Alpha
Akira surveyed the pack. “Athena, analyze each wolf and find the one with the highest magic energy count.”
The wolves stood at attention as Athena’s systems scanned them. Finally, her voice rang out.
Athena: "The wolf at the rear has the highest magic energy. Marking its position."
The pack parted as Akira walked toward the chosen wolf, a majestic creature with an aura of calm dominance. Its fur seemed to shimmer more vividly than the others.
Akira (softly): "You. Become their leader. Guide them with strength and wisdom."
A prompt appeared: "Please choose a name for the alpha wolf."
After a moment’s thought, Akira spoke firmly. “Apollo.”
The moment the name was declared, Apollo was enveloped in a brilliant crimson light. When it faded, he had grown larger, his eyes glowing with intelligence. A new prompt appeared:
"Blood-Tinged Wolf Alpha evolved. Name: Apollo. New ability unlocked: Speech."
Apollo turned to Akira, his deep, commanding voice resonating.
Apollo: "I am honored, Master Akira. I will lead my brethren faithfully."
Akira nodded, his lips curving into a rare smile. “I trust you, Apollo. Let’s protect this world together.”
The wolves howled in unison, their cries echoing through the village, a declaration of their newfound unity and purpose.