Jack stood amidst a lush forest, feeling the soft ground beneath his paws. The world through the wolf's eyes was a symphony of scents and sounds. He experienced the thrill of chasing butterflies as a playful pup, the first time he howled at the moon, and the warmth of the pack huddled together on a cold night.
He remembered growing older and getting stronger with each kill he made. He remembered challenging his packs Alpha and taking its place after winning their duel.
He remembered his mate and felt a surge of affection and connection as he relived moments with the Alpha Greatwolf's mate. They had shared the joy of raising their pups, the camaraderie in the pack, and the warmth of each other's company under the moonlit sky.
He felt grief tear through him as he stood at the edge of the clearing, watching his mates skull split open by a laughing horned invader. He felt the rage, the need for vengeance, but also the need to protect the pup he carried in his mouth, the last of the packs young.
Even as Jack experienced the wolfs memories, the wolfs mind was expanding and changing in ways it had never dreamed of before. For the first time it understood the System. Before it had vaguely understood that killing things made it stronger, but now it understood that Strength made its blows more deadly, that Agility made it swifter. The wolf comprehended the significance of experience points and the growth of its Skills. It understood that the pursuit of strength wasn't just a primal instinct but a strategic advantage in the quest for vengeance and the protection of the last surviving pup.
It also felt its mind fusing with the two-legs-with Jacks-mind. It felt vague memories of an unsatisfying life lived in a far away place. It felt the excitement of coming here, of a place where power and progress were tangible, governed by rules and systems that could be understood and exploited. It felt the desperation of struggling with the Waterborne Tuskbeast, the savage joy of successfully defeating the beast, a joy that resonated with the wolfs own primal instincts.
Jack opened his eyes, groggily shaking his head as notifications flooded his vision.
[Congratulations! You have established a Companionship bond with Awakened Alpha Greatwolf]
[You and your Companion now share a bond that stretches between your very souls]
Jack looked around. It was morning and the sunlight was glinting off the pool, casting a warm and inviting glow over the surrounding landscape. The air carried a crisp freshness, and the scent of pine trees mingled with the earthy aroma of the forest. His furry friend lay a few feet off to the side, the sleeping pup nestled against him for warmth.
As Jack stood up, he saw the wolf getting to its feet as well, his eyes blinking sleepily in the morning light. Jack frowned. Weren’t those eyes amber before?
He checked his reflection in the pool then looked back at his new Companion. There was no doubt about it. The wolfs eyes had changed to the same golden hue as Jacks own.
Looking back at his notifications, Jack saw a new word had appeared in the corner of his vision. Companion. Jack focused on it.
[Companion
Name:N/A
Race: Awakened Alpha Greatwolf
Exp: 23070/40000
Class: N/A
Level: 13
Strength: 45
Agility: 45
Dexterity: 24
Wisdom: 2
Intelligence: 1
Charisma: 8
Constitution: 22
Endurance: 26
Free Points: 0
Health pool: 220/220
Mana pool: 10/10
Stamina: 260/260
Skills: Shadow Pounce (Level 11), Spectral Bite (Level 5), Tracking (Level 14), Night Vision (Level 15)
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Spells: N/A
Titles: Alpha
Resistances: N/A
Abilities: N/A
Upgrades: Pending
]
The wolf walked over to him and stared straight into Jacks eyes, eyes that mirrored his own. Jack could feel the connection between them, could feel his new Companions emotions. Joy at their newfound connection, a fierce protectiveness for the pup who still lay curled up on the forest floor, rage at the monsters who had taken his pack from him. Jack somehow knew that the wolf could feel his emotions as well, their connection going both ways.
“First things first” he muttered as he stared into his Companions eyes. “You need a name”. The wolf made a chuffing sound and Jack could tell he understood.
“How about Fluffy”. The wolf looked at him reproachfully as if to say” Really? Fluffy?”. “All right all right” Jack chuckled as he tried to think of a more suitable name. He glanced around the serene forest, the golden sunlight filtering through the tall trees. An idea struck him, inspired by the colors of the morning and the transformation they had both undergone.
"Goldeyes," Jack suggested, a nod to the wolf's now-golden eyes and the lush, earthy surroundings they found themselves in. The wolf perked up at the sound of the new name, seemingly approving.
Jack saw the name appear on the wolfs status sheet. Presumably, that meant it had been accepted.
Next Jack looked through his Companions Skills.
[Night Vision
Rarity: Uncommon
Type: Passive
Level: 15
Description: This Skill allows the host to see better in the dark. Vision is improved by advancing Skill level. Skill is at Apprentice Rank which gives the Visual Clarity effect. Visual Clarity allows the host to see perfectly not only in low-light conditions but also in complete darkness.
Note: Skill level can be increased through use.]
[Shadow Pounce
Rarity: Uncommon
Type: Active
Level: 11
Description: This Skill allows the host to travel through its own shadow and reappear from a different shadow at a cost of 50 Stamina. Range is increased by advancing Skill level. Skill is at Apprentice Rank which gives the Shadowy Claws effect. Shadowy Claws makes the hosts weapons deal an additional 10 Shadow damage for 5 seconds.
Note: Skill level can be increased through use.]
[Spectral Bite
Rarity: Scarce
Type: Active
Level: 5
Description: This Skill doubles the power of the hosts Bite attack at a cost of 20% of maximum Stamina. Stamina cost is decreased by advancing Skill level.
Note: Skill level can be increased through use.]
[Tracking
Rarity: Common
Type: Passive
Level: 14
Description: This Skill allows the host to track down their prey better. Tracking proficiency is improved by advancing Skill level. Skill is at Apprentice Rank which gives the Trailblend Tracking effect. Trailblend Tracking allows the Tracking skill to function even if prey has used the Trailblend Skill to hide their tracks.
Note: Trailblend Tracking only functions if the hosts Tracking Skill is of a higher level than their preys Trailblend Skill.
Note: Skill level can be increased through use.]
Jack figured Shadow Pounce and Spectral Bite must be the Skills he had seen Goldeyes use against the Tuskbeast Patriarch. “So, active Skills cost Stamina” he mused out loud. Endurance just became a much higher priority on his list of stats to focus on. Jack didn’t want to get a powerful skill only to discover he couldn’t use it because the Stamina requirements were too high.
The passives were interesting as well. It seemed that both passive and active skills gained an extra effect at Apprentice Rank. Jack assumed, based on what he saw in Goldeyes status sheet, that Apprentice was the Rank a Skill reached when it got to 10. He wondered what effects his Skills might get once they ranked up.
Jack turned his attention to the one thing Goldeyes Status sheet had that his did not. Upgrades.
[Upgrades: Upgrades are Abilities that can be purchased and advanced using Bond Points.
Bond points are obtained through actions that bring you and your Companion closer together.
Upgrade points available: 4
Upgrades available: Resource Channeling, Mental Link, Dimensional Pocket, Empathic Shielding
Dimensional Pocket:
* Cost: 4 Bond Points
* Description: Unlocks the ability to create a shared dimensional pocket accessible only to the host and Companion. This pocket can be used for secure storage, allowing them to carry more items and resources within Dimensional Pocket:
Empathic Shielding:
* Cost: 2 Bond Points
* Description: Establishes an empathic shield between the host and Companion, offering protection against harmful psychic and emotional influences. This upgrade helps to maintain focus and mental resilience in challenging situations.
Mental Link:
* Cost: 2 Bond Points
* Description: Establishes a telepathic connection between the host and the Companion, enabling seamless communication and sharing of thoughts. Alse enhances Companions intellect and capability for abstract thought.
Resource Channeling:
* Cost: 3 Bond Points
* Description: Allows the transfer of energy between the host and the Companion, aiding in the recovery of Health, Mana, and Stamina. Efficiency increases with upgraded levels.
Jack studied the options carefully. It was hard to choose between them. Each one of the upgrades seemed enormously useful. Dimensional Pocket would let him transport large amounts of loot in a safe place without having to worry about being overburdened. Mental Link would increase the connection between him and Goldeyes letting him feel not just the wolfs emotions but his actual thoughts. With Resource Channeling, if Jack or Goldeyes were in a desperate situation and in need of healing or a Stamina boost, they could share their energy for mutual recovery.
Empathic Shielding could protect them from psychic and emotional threats, ensuring mental resilience during encounters with entities that could influence their minds.
Jack let the wolf know about his feelings of indecision. Goldeyes sent him a feeling of reassurance indicating that he trusted Jack to make the right decision.
Jack went over the options one more time, then made his decision.