2026-09-29 05:05:41The next morning, Ethan woke before sunrise.
For a few seconds, he stared at the ceiling, wondering if everything that happened yesterday had been a dream.
Then he heard a low growl beside his bed.
Ethan turned his head.
Ash was staring at him.
The wolf was completely different from the creature he had found in the shelter.
Its dark fur looked healthier, its body was stronger, and its golden eyes carried a strange sharpness.
Ethan smiled.
“So it wasn't a dream.”
Ash's tail moved once.
Ethan sat up.
“Today, we're going hunting.”
Ash immediately stood.
Its ears pointed toward the door.
Ethan couldn't help laughing.
“You understood that?”
The wolf gave a low growl.
“Right. Let's go.”
---
The eastern gate of Graywall City was already crowded.
Hundreds of Beast Masters gathered outside the enormous metal gate.
Some carried weapons.
Others stood beside their contracted beasts.
There were wolves, giant birds, armored boars, lizards, cats, and creatures Ethan couldn't even recognize.
The wilderness began several kilometers beyond the city.
It was divided into different zones according to the danger level of the monsters living there.
The outer zone contained mostly F-Rank and E-Rank beasts.
The deeper zones contained stronger creatures.
Some were powerful enough to destroy entire cities.
Ethan showed his temporary wilderness pass to the guard.
The guard looked at it.
Then he looked at Ethan.
Then at Ash.
“You're a new Beast Master?”
“Yes.”
“First time outside?”
Ethan nodded.
The guard sighed.
“Stay in the outer zone. Don't get brave.”
Ethan smiled.
“I will.”
The massive gate slowly opened.
CREAK!
A cold wind swept through the entrance.
Beyond it was an endless forest.
Trees stretched toward the sky.
The further Ethan looked, the darker the forest became.
He swallowed.
For the first time, the reality of what he was doing truly hit him.
There were no instructors here.
No protective walls.
No emergency medical team.
If something went wrong…
He could die.
Ethan took a deep breath.
“Ash.”
The wolf walked beside him.
“Let's go.”
They entered the wilderness.
---
Several hours later, Ethan was beginning to understand why people feared this place.
The forest was strangely quiet.
Every few minutes, Ethan would hear something moving in the distance.
Sometimes it was the sound of wings.
Sometimes a roar.
Sometimes footsteps.
But he hadn't encountered a beast yet.
Ethan checked the system.
[Current Evolution Energy: 200]
He needed 300 more.
“Where are all the monsters?”
Ash suddenly stopped.
Ethan immediately became alert.
“What is it?”
Ash lowered its body.
Its ears moved.
Something was nearby.
Ethan activated Beast Insight.
A few seconds later—
Rustle.
The bushes ahead moved.
A small creature emerged.
It looked like a rabbit.
But its eyes were red.
Its teeth were sharp.
[Beast detected.]
[Species: Blood Rabbit]
[Rank: F]
[Level: 3]
[Threat Level: Low]
Ethan smiled.
“That's our first target.”
The Blood Rabbit suddenly charged.
Ash moved.
BOOM!
The wolf struck the rabbit with one paw.
The creature flew several meters before crashing into a tree.
It tried to stand.
Ash was already there.
One quick bite.
The Blood Rabbit stopped moving.
[Ding!]
[You have defeated an F-Rank beast.]
[+10 Evolution Energy.]
Ethan's eyes lit up.
“Ten?”
He looked at Ash.
“That's actually pretty good.”
Ash wagged its tail.
Ethan walked toward the fallen beast.
Then he noticed something strange.
A small red crystal was lying beside its body.
“What is that?”
He picked it up.
[Ding!]
[Low-grade Beast Core detected.]
[Can be converted into 5 Evolution Energy.]
Ethan's eyes widened.
“So beast cores can give me Evolution Energy too?”
He immediately converted it.
[+5 Evolution Energy.]
[Current Evolution Energy: 215.]
Ethan smiled.
At this rate, he could gather the required energy.
But then—
A roar shook the forest.
ROOOOAAAR!
Birds exploded from the trees.
Ethan froze.
Ash immediately moved in front of him.
“That wasn't an F-Rank beast.”
Another roar followed.
Closer.
The ground began vibrating.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Something enormous was approaching.
Ethan's heart began pounding.
He activated Beast Insight.
The bushes ahead exploded apart.
A massive creature charged into view.
It looked like a wild boar.
Except it was nearly three meters tall.
Two enormous tusks protruded from its mouth.
Its body was covered in thick black armor-like skin.
[Ding!]
[Beast detected.]
[Species: Ironhide Boar]
[Rank: E]
[Level: 12]
[Strength: 76]
[Agility: 31]
[Defense: 82]
[Threat Level: High]
Ethan's face became serious.
Level 12.
Ash was only Level 5.
The Ironhide Boar lowered its head.
Then it charged.
“ASH!”
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath the beast's feet.
Ash jumped aside.
The boar smashed into a tree.
CRACK!
The entire tree collapsed.
Ethan's heart jumped.
“That defense…”
Ash circled the creature.
The boar turned.
Its red eyes locked onto Ash.
Then it charged again.
Ash dodged.
But the beast turned surprisingly quickly.
Its tusk grazed Ash's side.
The wolf was thrown across the ground.
“Ash!”
Ethan's expression changed.
The wolf stood again.
Blood dripped from its side.
Ethan clenched his fists.
He couldn't fight this thing directly.
He needed a strategy.
He looked around.
The forest was filled with trees.
The Ironhide Boar was incredibly strong.
But it was also heavy.
Slow.
Ethan suddenly noticed a steep slope behind the creature.
An idea appeared in his mind.
“Ash!”
The wolf looked at him.
“Keep it busy.”
Ash growled and charged.
The Ironhide Boar followed.
Ethan ran toward the slope.
He grabbed a large branch from the ground and threw it.
The branch struck the boar's face.
The creature became enraged.
It turned toward Ethan.
“Come on!”
The boar charged.
Ethan ran.
Faster.
Faster.
The beast followed.
Then Ethan jumped sideways.
The Ironhide Boar couldn't stop.
It rushed directly toward the slope.
“Now!”
Ash attacked from the side.
The boar lost its balance.
Its massive body rolled down the slope.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
It crashed into several trees before finally stopping.
Ethan stared.
“Did we get it?”
Silence.
Then the boar slowly stood.
Ethan's face fell.
“Seriously?”
The creature was injured.
But still alive.
Its eyes became even redder.
Ash growled.
Ethan looked at the system.
[Warning.]
[Host's contracted beast is severely outmatched.]
[Recommended action: Retreat.]
Ethan clenched his teeth.
Retreat?
Maybe that was the smart thing to do.
But then he remembered the 500 Evolution Energy requirement.
He needed power.
He couldn't run from every stronger beast.
He needed to learn how to win.
Ethan looked at Ash.
“Ash.”
The wolf turned toward him.
“We're not running.”
The Ironhide Boar charged again.
Ethan smiled.
“Let's evolve.”
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Chapter 20 — The Enemy Beyond Evolution
Darkness.Complete, suffocating darkness.Ethan couldn't see his hands. He couldn't feel the ground beneath his feet. Even the sound of his own breathing had disappeared.“Ash?”No answer.“Mira?”Silence.He tried to move, but his body seemed to have vanished.Then a familiar notification appeared in the darkness.[System Reboot Complete.][Host: Ethan Vale.][Current Location: Unknown.][Contracted Beast: Ash.][Connection Status: Severely Weakened.]Ethan's heart tightened.“Where is Ash? What happened to everyone?”[Unable to determine.]“Then find out!”[Insufficient authority.]Ethan clenched his fists.“I'm tired of hearing that!”A faint golden light appeared in the distance.He ran toward it.With every step, the darkness grew thinner until he found himself standing in a vast field beneath a blood-red sky.The battlefield from his inheritance trial was gone.In its place stood an endless ocean of black water.At the center of the ocean floated a golden throne.And beside it l
Chapter 19 — Kill Your Former Self
"Now, kill me.”Ethan stared at the man sitting on the golden throne.The resemblance was impossible to ignore.The same face. The same dark hair. The same eyes.But the man looked older, perhaps in his late twenties, and wore black-and-gold armor covered in cracks. A long sword rested across his knees, its blade stained with something that looked disturbingly like blood.Ethan slowly rose to his feet.“Who are you?”The man smiled.“You really have forgotten everything.”“I'm getting tired of people saying that.”“Then perhaps you should start remembering.”Ethan clenched his fists.“I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but I'm not killing anyone just because you tell me to.”The man leaned forward.“Even if I'm the reason you're alive?”Ethan fell silent.Behind him, Mira was helping her teammates stand. Ash remained close to Ethan, his golden eyes fixed on the stranger.The Bloodmoon Wolf growled.Something about the man frightened it.The stranger noticed.“Ah. The Ancie
Chapter 18 — The Evolution That Demanded a Life
"ASH!”Ethan's scream echoed through the chamber.Golden light swallowed the wolf completely. The markings on Ash's body spread like burning veins, while the floor beneath his paws fractured under the pressure of his awakening.The system's warning continued flashing.[Critical Warning!][Contracted Beast: Ash.][Evolution Status: Forced Completion.][Required Sacrifice: The Beast's Life Force.][Estimated Survival Probability: 3%.]Ethan's blood ran cold.Three percent.That wasn't evolution.It was a death sentence.“Cancel it!” Ethan shouted. “System, cancel the evolution!”[Unable to cancel.][The beast has initiated the process willingly.]“Then override it!”[Authority insufficient.]Ethan slammed his fist against the floor.“YOU'RE MY SYSTEM! FIND A WAY!”For the first time since its restoration, the system remained silent.Across the chamber, Lord Veyron watched the golden light with growing alarm.“So the Ancient Wolf King bloodline has finally reached twenty percent.”His ex
Chapter 17 — The Man Who Killed the King
"My king.”The two words echoed through the chamber.Ethan stared at the man standing in the doorway.He appeared to be in his early thirties, with silver hair, pale skin, and eyes so dark they seemed to swallow the light around them. He wore a long black coat decorated with silver symbols.Unlike General Kael Voss, he carried no visible weapon.Yet the moment he entered, the entire chamber trembled.The little golden creature immediately hid behind Ethan's neck.“Don't move,” it whispered.Ethan swallowed.“Who is he?”The creature's voice shook.“Lord Veyron.”The stranger smiled.“It's been a long time, little guardian.”“You shouldn't be alive!” the creature snapped.“Neither should he.”Veyron's gaze settled on Ethan.“And yet, here we are.”General Kael stepped aside, lowering his head respectfully.“Lord Veyron, the target has been confirmed. The Ancient Wolf King bloodline has also awakened.”Veyron barely acknowledged him.His attention remained fixed on Ethan.“Tell me, boy.
Chapter 16 — The Succession Trial
The tunnel seemed endless.Ethan walked at the front, one hand pressed against his injured shoulder while Mira supported him from the side. Behind them, the Bloodmoon Wolf carried Ash on its back.Nobody spoke for several minutes.They had survived General Kael Voss.But Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that the real danger had only begun.Finally, Mira broke the silence.“Ethan, what exactly did that message mean?”He glanced at her. “Which one?”“The succession trial. And that message about the system choosing a new master.”Ethan hesitated.“I don't know.”It was the truth.He barely understood his own system, and now powerful people seemed to know more about it than he did.Mira studied him.“You're hiding something.”“I'm hiding several things. Most of them, I don't understand myself.”“That isn't reassuring.”“I'm not trying to reassure you.”She gave him an annoyed look.Even in their current situation, Ethan almost smiled.Then Ash groaned behind them.Ethan immediately turned
Chapter 15 — The General Who Feared No Beast
The moment General Kael Voss raised his spear, the entire chamber seemed to shrink.A suffocating pressure descended upon everyone.Mira's knees nearly buckled. One of her teammates dropped his weapon, while another stumbled backward and grabbed the wall to keep himself standing.Even the Bloodmoon Wolf lowered its head.Ethan felt the pressure pressing against his chest.His instincts screamed at him to run.But he couldn't.Ash was standing beside him, still recovering from his incomplete bloodline awakening.And the general was looking at them as though he had already decided their fate.“So,” Kael said calmly, “you are Ethan Vale.”Ethan forced himself to stand straight.“And you're the man who sent that masked coward after us?”A faint smile crossed the general's face.“Commander Riven was acting under my authority.”Riven.So that was the masked commander's name.Ethan filed the information away.Kael continued, “You have caused considerable trouble. You destroyed one of our res
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