2026-09-29 05:06:22The Ironhide Boar charged.
Its massive body tore through the forest, snapping branches and crushing everything in its path.
Ethan's heart pounded.
He had never fought a beast this strong before.
The system's warning remained in front of his eyes.
[Warning.]
[Host's contracted beast is severely outmatched.]
[Recommended action: Retreat.]
Ethan ignored it.
“Ash!”
The wolf immediately moved.
It didn't charge the Ironhide Boar head-on.
Instead, Ash darted between the trees.
The boar followed.
Ethan watched carefully.
The beast was powerful.
Its defense was almost twice Ash's strength.
A direct attack wouldn't work.
They needed another weakness.
“Beast Insight.”
The moment Ethan activated the skill, information appeared.
[Ironhide Boar]
[Rank: E]
[Level: 12]
[Strength: 76]
[Agility: 31]
[Defense: 82]
[Weakness: Lower abdomen.]
[Weakness: Poor turning ability at high speed.]
Ethan's eyes lit up.
“There!”
He finally found it.
“Ash, don't attack its body!”
The wolf glanced at him.
“Target its lower abdomen!”
Ash immediately understood.
The Ironhide Boar charged again.
Ash waited.
At the last possible moment, it jumped onto a tree trunk.
The boar passed underneath.
Ash kicked off the tree.
Its claws flashed.
SLASH!
The claws struck the boar's lower abdomen.
Blood sprayed across the grass.
The Ironhide Boar screamed.
ROOOAAAR!
It turned violently.
But Ash had already escaped.
Ethan smiled.
“It worked!”
The boar became furious.
It charged wildly through the forest.
Trees fell one after another.
Ash continued dodging.
Another attack.
SLASH!
Another wound.
SLASH!
The Ironhide Boar's movements became slower.
Its breathing grew heavier.
Ethan clenched his fists.
“Just a little more.”
Suddenly, the boar stopped.
Ash froze.
Ethan's expression changed.
“What is it doing?”
The creature lowered its head.
A strange energy began gathering around its body.
[Ding!]
[Warning.]
[Ironhide Boar is activating a defensive skill.]
[Skill: Iron Armor.]
The boar's skin hardened.
A metallic sheen covered its entire body.
Ethan's eyes widened.
“So its defense can increase even further?”
The Ironhide Boar charged.
This time, Ash couldn't dodge completely.
BOOM!
The wolf was struck.
It flew through the air and crashed into a tree.
“Ash!”
Ethan ran toward it.
The wolf struggled to stand.
Blood covered its fur.
Its breathing was heavy.
Ethan felt his chest tighten.
He had already seen Ash nearly die once.
He wouldn't let it happen again.
The Ironhide Boar turned toward them.
It was coming.
Ethan looked around desperately.
There had to be another way.
Then he remembered something.
The system.
He opened Ash's status.
[Beast: Ash]
[Species: Ironclaw Wolf]
[Rank: E-Rank]
[Level: 5]
[Evolution Energy: 215]
[Available Skills: Ironclaw]
[Potential Evolution: Available]
Ethan stared at the final line.
Available.
But he needed 500 Evolution Energy.
He only had 215.
“Damn it.”
The Ironhide Boar charged.
Ethan looked at Ash.
Then at the forest.
Then at the boar.
An idea came to him.
It was dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
But there was no other choice.
“Ash.”
The wolf looked at him.
“Can you still fight?”
Ash slowly stood.
Its golden eyes burned with determination.
Ethan smiled.
“I'll trust you.”
He pointed toward the Ironhide Boar.
“We're going all in.”
Ash growled.
The Ironhide Boar charged.
Ash charged too.
The two beasts collided.
BOOM!
The impact shook the ground.
Ash's claws struck the Ironhide Boar.
The boar's tusks tore through Ash's fur.
Neither side backed down.
Ethan watched.
He waited.
The Ironhide Boar raised its head.
Its abdomen was exposed.
“NOW!”
Ash twisted its body.
Its claws flashed with metallic light.
IRONCLAW!
SLASH!
The attack struck the same wounded spot.
The Ironhide Boar screamed.
Its legs buckled.
It fell heavily to the ground.
Silence.
Ethan stared.
“Did we…?”
The boar tried to stand.
Its legs trembled.
Then it collapsed.
[Ding!]
[Ironhide Boar defeated.]
[+50 Evolution Energy.]
[+1 E-Rank Beast Core.]
[Current Evolution Energy: 265.]
Ethan released a breath.
“We did it.”
Ash collapsed beside him.
Ethan rushed over.
“Ash!”
The wolf was breathing.
Barely.
Ethan immediately checked its status.
[Health: 12%]
His expression changed.
“You idiot…”
He gently placed his hand against Ash's head.
“You could have died.”
Ash opened one eye.
Its tail moved weakly.
Ethan couldn't help smiling.
“Don't ever do that again.”
Another notification appeared.
[Ding!]
[Battle achievement completed.]
[Host defeated an E-Rank beast while fighting above the recommended level.]
[Reward: 50 Evolution Energy.]
Ethan blinked.
Another 50?
[Current Evolution Energy: 315.]
He smiled.
Only 185 more.
Then—
A strange sound came from the dead Ironhide Boar.
Crack.
Ethan turned.
The beast's body suddenly began glowing.
“What?”
The system flashed.
[Ding!]
[Rare Beast Core detected.]
[Special energy detected.]
[Would the host like to absorb the energy?]
Ethan's eyes widened.
“Yes.”
The moment he confirmed, a powerful energy surged from the beast.
It entered Ash.
The wolf's body suddenly began glowing.
Ethan froze.
“What is happening?”
Ash's body trembled.
Its wounds began closing.
Its muscles tightened.
Its golden eyes became brighter.
Then—
[Ding!]
[Unexpected mutation detected.]
[Ironclaw Wolf has absorbed rare evolutionary energy.]
[Bloodline mutation has begun.]
[Evolution requirements have changed.]
Ethan stared at the system.
“What does that mean?”
The screen flickered.
Then a new message appeared.
[Hidden evolution path discovered.]
[Unknown Bloodline: 1% awakened.]
Ethan's breathing stopped.
Unknown bloodline.
So the strange potential he had sensed in Ash wasn't his imagination.
There was something inside Ash.
Something even the system couldn't fully identify.
But before Ethan could investigate further—
A terrifying roar echoed from deep within the forest.
ROOOOOOOAR!
Ash immediately opened its eyes.
Its entire body became tense.
Ethan slowly stood.
That roar was different.
Much deeper.
Much stronger.
And it wasn't coming from nearby.
The forest became completely silent.
Even the insects stopped making noise.
Ethan looked toward the darkness between the trees.
Something was watching them.
The system suddenly flashed red.
[DANGER.]
[High-level beast detected.]
[Estimated Rank: D+ or higher.]
Ethan's blood ran cold.
D+?
That was far beyond their current strength.
Ash stood in front of Ethan despite its injuries.
The darkness shifted.
Two enormous red eyes appeared between the trees.
Ethan swallowed.
The Ironhide Boar had been the hunter.
But now…
They were the prey.
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter 21 — The Secret Beneath the King's Grave
"Don't trust Aurelion.”The voice disappeared.Ethan stood motionless, staring into the darkness beyond the statue.He had heard that voice before.It was his own.Not the voice of the man who had appeared on the golden throne. Not the voice of his previous self during the inheritance trial.This voice sounded exactly like the Ethan Vale who had awakened with an F-Rank talent and been laughed at by everyone around him.His present self.“How is that possible?” he whispered.Mira moved closer.“What did you hear?”Ethan hesitated.“Someone told me not to trust Aurelion.”The little golden creature, which had finally recovered enough to flutter around his head, suddenly stopped moving.“You heard that voice too?”Ethan turned sharply.“You know something?”The creature avoided his eyes.“Not enough.”“That isn't an answer.”“It's the only one I have.”Ash stepped forward, placing himself between Ethan and the statue.“I don't like this place.”“That's becoming your opinion of every plac
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
You may also like
Secretly The Quadrillionaire's Heir
Viki West125.4K viewsThe Secret Billionaire Son-in-law
Perry will92.3K viewsHidden Billionaire Son-in-law
Deliaha Shine127.6K viewsEthan Storm’s Dark Awakening
Magical Inspirations312.6K viewsGhost Rank
Tunde175 viewsThe Billionaire Husband They Humiliated
Desmond Benson52 viewsSHE DUMPED ME FOR HER FIRST LOVE, NOW I’M HER BOSS
L writes 243 viewsThe Slothful Sovereign
orion177 views