Chapter 13: Exploration Continues

Arin began experimenting with giving simple commands to his wolves. He thought about instructing them to stay within a 500-meter radius and hunt on their own. He told them that if they encountered any monsters stronger than a rabbit, they should alert him and return immediately. Although the wolves didn't seem to understand his words, they surprisingly followed his commands. They ran off and began circling the area, diving deeper into the forest.

After about seven minutes, as Arin walked eastward, notifications started popping up in his vision: +10 XP, +10 XP, +10 XP... Within five minutes, this happened seventeen times. Arin stopped, trying to figure out where the experience points were coming from. It seemed that both wolves had found a den and were lucky enough to kill seventeen rabbits. Arin decided not to check the corpses, knowing that rabbits didn't drop valuable materials worth the time to process them.

As he continued, he stopped receiving experience points, indicating that his wolves hadn't found another den. Suddenly, he felt an instinctual connection, a warning from his wolves. Both wolves returned almost simultaneously from different directions, which surprised Arin. It seemed they were more intelligent than he had initially thought. The wolves led him back through the forest. They occasionally paused, looking back at Arin, who wasn't as fast. This showed that the wolves understood not to stray too far ahead, a realization that both relieved and frustrated Arin.

After following his wolves for about two minutes, they reached a clearing where Arin saw a pack of wild dogs or perhaps mutated wolves feasting on a den of fresh rabbit carcasses. He wasn't entirely sure about their level, but based on what he learned in school about identifying basic monsters, they shouldn't be higher than level 3. This was a chance for significant experience.

Arin mentally prepared a teleportation scroll in case things got out of hand. He drew his short sword, but the sound of the blade leaving its sheath alerted the wild dogs. They began to sniff the air, sensing his presence. Without waiting, he commanded his wolves, "Kill them!" The wolves sprang into action, and a brutal fight ensued.

The wolves, twice the size of the wild dogs, were not only stronger but also more agile. The forest echoed with the sounds of growling, yelping, and flesh tearing. Blood sprayed in all directions as the wolves tore into the wild dogs with savage efficiency. Arin watched in horror and fascination as the battle unfolded. The ground was soon soaked with blood, and entrails were scattered everywhere. Within a minute, the wolves had killed all five wild dogs, leaving their bodies mutilated and lifeless.

Arin stood there, his short sword still in hand, his breath shallow and rapid. He had never seen so much blood in his life. While he had seen dead bodies in the slums, this level of brutality was new to him. It was a gruesome awakening to the dangers of dungeon life. Each dead dog earned him 30 experience points, bringing his total to 390/1000 XP.

Arin observed his wolves standing over the torn corpses of the dogs, their fur matted with blood. Their eyes gleamed with a wild ferocity that he had never seen before. He called them back, and they obediently returned to his side. Up close, he noticed that one of the wolves had a deep gash on its side, while the other had blood-stained jaws and a piece of flesh hanging from its teeth.

Arin leaned against a tree to steady himself. The sight of so much blood was overwhelming. Even though he had seen dead bodies in the slums, this was different – raw, bloody, and terrifying. Yet, he felt a strange sense of relief. His wolves were strong and capable fighters.

Arin began to consider summoning another wolf since his mana was fully regenerated. However, when he tried, nothing happened. He checked the bestiary and saw a message indicating he didn't have enough willpower. Summoning each wolf required 20 willpower, and with his current willpower of 50, he could only summon two and a half wolves. Disappointed but undeterred, he decided to search the wild dogs' bodies for useful materials.

He thought about sending his wolves farther away to gather more experience points for him. He gave them the same instructions to return if they encountered a formidable group. The wolves seemed to understand and dashed off. Arin turned his attention to the dead wild dogs.

Aside from a few claws and teeth, there was nothing valuable. He recalled that such materials had some worth, according to the encyclopedia he had read. He drew his short sword and began collecting the teeth and claws. Some were damaged, but he managed to gather 34 usable pieces, which he stored in his ring.

As Arin processed the third carcass, he received notifications: +30 XP, +30 XP, +30 XP. He looked up, trying to spot his wolves but saw nothing. Continuing with his task, he kept an eye out for any sign of danger. After collecting the last of the usable materials, he paused to reflect on his progress.

Arin pondered that he had been in the dungeon for almost three hours and managed to gather 480 experience points. This wasn't bad at all. He considered that if he expanded the range within which his wolves hunted, he might achieve even better results. However, he realized that it didn't seem likely he would reach level two today. Given the time, he estimated how long it would take him to reach the dungeon exit. Deciding to head back, he turned and started walking west, as he had initially moved eastward.

Arin called out to his wolves mentally, instructing them to return to him. He wanted to test if his mental commands worked. As he set off towards the exit, one wolf appeared beside him within a minute, and the second one followed shortly after. Arin felt a surge of satisfaction, realizing that he could indeed command his wolves without shouting. This was one of the downsides of being a summoner at low levels; typically, he had to yell commands. He recalled reading or hearing that only summoners who reached level 60 could control their familiars with their minds, and even then, not all summoned creatures were intelligent enough to respond to mental commands.

Having confirmed that his mental commands were effective, Arin instructed the wolves to stay within a kilometer radius and hunt in the direction of the exit. This meant he could follow them and continue to gather experience points along the way. The wolves seemed to understand immediately and darted off towards the dungeon exit. Arin felt even more reassured, knowing that his wolves were obedient and capable.

As he made his way west, Arin reflected on his progress. He had gathered significant experience points and materials, and his wolves had proven to be invaluable companions.