My pet

If there were basic-tier beasts in the area, there was always a good chance of encountering an intermediate-tier beast as well. This was due to how evolution worked among Magical Beasts. They hunted and consumed the magical crystals of other beasts. Once a beast had devoured enough crystals, it would evolve to the next tier.

When hunting the group of Fanged Boars, Ray should have known there was a chance a stronger beast lurked nearby.

He stood as still as possible, not moving a hair, waiting for the boar to act. When it charged at him, he managed to sidestep at the last second, the beast missing him by mere inches.

But he was too slow like this. If he kept relying on basic dodging, he would eventually get hurt. Ray shifted into his beast form, gripping his sword in his mouth as he crouched low like a tiger. This time, when the beast charged, he ran straight at it. The boar snapped its massive fangs toward him, but Ray leaped onto a nearby tree, his fingers sinking an inch deep into the bark.

His strength had improved dramatically after absorbing the crystals. He was not the same person he had been ten years ago.

The boar glared up at him, clearly frustrated. Lacking the ability to climb or fly, it resorted to the only option it had—it began slamming into the trees, shaking the ground with its immense strength.

Ray quickly jumped from tree to tree as they crashed down behind him. The chase was beginning to exhaust him. He needed to act soon, or he would run out of stamina.

Then he spotted an opportunity—a massive tree, twice the size of the others. He sprinted toward it, the boar recklessly following. When the beast rammed into it, the tree wobbled but didn't collapse. The impact stunned the boar, leaving it momentarily dazed.

This was his chance.

Ray sprinted down the tree, using his momentum to propel himself forward. With his blade clenched tightly in his jaws, he launched himself at the boar, slicing down from the tip of its head to the end of its tail in a single, fluid motion. Blood sprayed as the beast collapsed.

He took a moment to catch his breath. The fight had been tougher than expected. He had deliberately avoided injury—if he returned to camp wounded, it would raise too many questions.

Ray retrieved his sword and reflected on the battle. His beast form was excellent for speed and agility but lacked the raw strength of his human form. He relied on momentum rather than raw power. It also sacrificed defense—against humans, he would need to learn how to block and counter instead of dodging. If he could somehow merge his two fighting styles, he would become far deadlier.

A slight disappointment nagged at him. The system hadn't granted him a message, which meant he hadn't absorbed the beast's crystal. He walked over and retrieved it manually, slipping it into a pouch around his waist. Even if he couldn't absorb it, the crystal could be used for crafting armor or weapons. Worst case, he could sell it.

Deciding he'd had enough excitement for one night, Ray headed back to camp. Using Dragon Eyes, he timed his approach perfectly, sneaking past the guard patrol and slipping into his tent.

Gary was still snoring loudly, completely unaware of Ray's absence.

Ray struggled to sleep, his mind racing with questions. What would happen when he reached a hundred points?

His best guess was that upon reaching a hundred points with basic-tier crystals, he would unlock the ability to absorb intermediate-tier crystals. But how could he test this theory?

Then it hit him.

There was something else that absorbed crystals—the black wolf cub he had acquired. In all this time, he had nearly forgotten about it.

Closing his eyes, he focused, summoning an image of the cub in his mind. It hadn't grown at all in ten years. Perhaps it would evolve if he started feeding it more crystals?

A grin spread across Ray's face. He would continue hunting in the forest over the next few days. Any crystals he obtained would go to the wolf. Once it reached a hundred points, he would have his answer.

If he was going to use the cub more often, it needed a name.

[Would you like to name the Black Wolf Cub?]

[Yes] [No]

As usual, the system responded as soon as he had the thought.

[What would you like to name your pet?]

The wolf's black fur reminded him of a dragon he had once been close to—a dragon with deep black scales. Ray was certain the old friend would have approved of this choice.

[You have named your pet Noir.]