I took off my gauntlets briefly and looked at my fingers. While they were red due to the cold, there was no sign of frostbite. I was sure at least the tips of my fingers would be damaged but I was fine.
“Did you do that?”
I asked the puppy. He barked and exposed his belly. I scratched his belly and he tapped his hind leg to the ground to show his satisfaction.
“I have to give you a name now, huh?”
I said to myself. Shit. I wasn’t good at naming things.
“Yes. Names have power. You should give him a good name.”
Interus said as if he wasn’t growling at the puppy just a second ago.
“Why don’t you do it? Aren’t you his brother?”
Also, names have power, huh? It was something I heard back at Earth too. I can’t say I believe it. To me, names were nothing but convenience when speaking. I didn’t put any special meaning to it. But since this world had magic, maybe names really did have power.
“He was born out of your mana so the same could be said for you too. Also, you will be taking care of him so it is your responsibility.”
I petted him as I thought. A name. A name.
“What I should call you?”
He looked at me and tilted his head at the same time as me. His huge ears flopped with his movement.
“Your eyes are pretty. Like sky. Sky, gök, Gökbörü?”
He wagged his tail.
“You liked it?”
He licked my palm for the answer.
“Okay, I will call you Gökbörü.”
A warm feeling blossomed in my chest.
(You bonded with a Mythical Beast.)
(You acquired passive and active skill Synchronization.)
(You acquired the title Mythical Beast’s Partner.)
(You can check your partner’s status as long as they give consent.)
Wow. That’s a lot of notifications.
“Hey, can I check your status?”
He wagged his tail.
Name Gökbörü Strength 5 Agility 7 Vitality 5 Mana 10 Charisma 7 Defense 4 Personal Skills Monstrous Strength E(Active)
Combat Instinct E(Passive)
Enhanced Senses E(Passive)
Regeneration E(Passive)
Ice Wolf’s Breath E(Active)
Greater Ice Resistance E(Passive)
Abnormal Status Resistance E(Passive)
Predation E(Passive)
Synchronization ?(Passive & Active) Titles
Heir of Wolf King
Outsider’s Partner
Mythical Beast
Holy Hell. He is just born but he has this many skills? He had more skills than me. Or wait. I got several notifications too so maybe our skills were equal. I have to look at my status after his. But first, can I learn what some of his skills do? Some of them were self-explanatory like his resistances. Let’s start with Combat Instinct. I too had something like that but mine was called Combat Sense.
(Combat Instinct: A sign that someone was born with proper instincts to fight. User will innately know what is the best course of action in combat.)
Isn’t this just having a talent for combat? What’s the difference between mine and his?
Hmm. Thinking about it, my skill told me it was born out of experience but his was innate. Skipping his sense and healing skill since I could guess what they did, I looked at his next skill:
(Ice Wolf’s Breath:
Innate ability to create and manipulate ice using mana. How much ice can be created and controlled will depend on skill level. User can overtake ice created by other beings if their skill level and mana are greater than the target.)
Is this the skill Blue Guardian used at the entrance? If this is the same one just by itself it was too powerful!
“You are really a piece of work, aren’t you?”
Gökbörü wagged his tail and barked. I patted him.
His resistances were solid. Not only he had “greater” resistance to an element he also had resistance to all status effects. But what about the last one?
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
(Predation: Ability to consume and get stronger. User can inherit small amounts of physical attributes of beings they eat. Magical attributes or skills can’t be inherited. Devoured beings must be above certain power for this skill to take effect.)
I coughed. Damn.
“I am sure some protagonists would kill for a skill like this.”
While it had many restrictions, there wasn’t a set limit for how many stats he could acquire. Meaning he could grow infinitely as long as they were strong enemies around.
And lastly the skill I also acquired.
(Synchronization:
Breathing at the same time, thinking the same thing, and coordinating without speaking. Depending on how deep your bond is you can communicate without even seeing each other. Depending on your strength and bond you can share your skills with your partner. Both sides must consent for it to take effect. Skills will be ranked down depending on your distance and bond.)
What! Are you telling me I can use his skills and he can use mine? Considering his skills, I was getting the better side but I can’t say I am complaining!
I was about to look at his titles too but Interus called out:
“Hey! What that name means?”
He looked like a worried brother. Even though he was growling toward him just a second ago, he must care about his brother. I guess this is how brothers are. I only had sisters so it was unfamiliar to me.
“It roughly translates to Sky Wolf. It is seen as a symbol for my people in past.”
“An important one?”
“If it wasn’t, we wouldn’t make it our symbol.”
“That’s… Acceptable.”
He looked content with my answer.
“Anyways. Get your reward for clearing this floor and get out of here. You no longer have anything to do here.”
Is he trying to throw me away?
“I have to wait for my companions.”
“They may never get out.”
He shook his head.
“Anyways, it is have been around 3 days since they entered the last floor. They probably are going to die in the next day or so.”
“Then I can just wait for one day or so. Plus, wouldn’t be it awkward if I went out without waiting and they actually managed to get out?”
“Do whatever you please.”
He walked back and I followed him. Gökbörü also followed me, his little legs struggling to keep up with mine. I grabbed him by his neck and lifted him up to my face level. He barked and tried to lick my face. I put him on my shoulder.
“About this reward. I was told it was being calculated. Who is calculating it? Or why does it needs to be calculated? Other rewards were given instantly.”
“I don’t know. It is probably System’s doing.”
“You know, for a being that lived for a long time you don’t know a lot of stuff.”
“You know, for a weakling of a human you don’t know how to shut up.”
Damn. That was a good comeback.
“Fair enough.”
If I thought for a second I could come up with a comeback but I didn’t. Mainly because a gate opened in front of us and Blanche came out of it. I wanted to greet her but she threw her rapier at Interus. He managed to dodge rather effortlessly.
“You… You! You will tell me how I get rid of this curse!”
She screamed like a madwoman. She didn’t look at me and I doubted she realized I was even there. She looked horrible. While she had her bad moments before, she looked unhinged now. There were bags under her eyes and her lips were chapped. But she had water? No. Wait. Are those bite marks? Was she biting her lips?
“There is no curse, ice bitch queen. Your ancestor copied us and you are just too weak to overcome what we experience on daily basis.”
Oh, good. Another thing I have no idea about. But despite his harsh words and cold voice, Interus didn’t attack back. I knew he could but he just looked down on Blanche.
“Too weak? I trained for my entire life to control this power! Do you know how much I sacrificed? Yet… Yet!”
“Blanche! Calm down!”
I shouted. She slowly turned to me.
“Poyraz?”
She said weakly.
“Okay, let’s calm down. I don’t know what are you talking about but you must be tired. Just rest for now.”
I turned at Interus.
“He won’t be going anywhere anyways.”
“No. No.”
She held her head. The mark I witnessed before started to give out blue light again.
“I… Run.”
Blue lightning shot out from her body. I cursed as I rolled on the ground to dodge it.
“Interus, help m- Motherfucker!”
He was gone!
“Bark! Bark!”
Gökbörü was still on my shoulder barking at her. He bit my hood and pulled me to the side. For an unknown reason, I felt compelled to move in that direction, fast. Blanche out of nowhere swung her sword. Several sharp ice shards hit where I stood.
“Blanche!”
“Growl!”
I called out to her but the only answer I got was a bestial growl. Fuck. She lost control. I need to stop her without killing her.
She rushed forward and slammed her sword into my shield. Her strike was heavy.
“Goddamnit, it’s not even been an hour since my last nearly fatal moment!”