The Silver Fenrir
[Host laziness does not become you at all. Please check your status in full.]
'Ugh, fine, Sylph.' With that, I called up my status screen to see what had changed.
[Name: Axel Wolf
Age: 21
Sex: Male
Race: Hybrid (Human 75% / Beastman 25%)
Bloodline: Silver Fenrir (Locked)
Cultivation Level: Gathering Realm Level 2
Strength: 124 (Average stats for normal human: 10)
Perception: 120
Endurance: 126
Charisma: 199
Intelligence: 137
Agility: 125
Luck: 199
Blessings: ???,???,??? (Due to host cultivation being too low, you cannot know the names of your blessings as it would implode your soul should you try and force it)
Skill: Inventory, Synthesis, Tame, Parallel Mind, Shapeshifting (Wolf Form), Weapons Master
Host, due to your low cultivation, you will not be able to see most of the system's abilities. You need to get stronger to utilize the system fully.
Hint: The host needs to be in the core formation stage at least before starting to access more functions of the system.]
'Damn, that is a huge jump. Sylph, what is the Gathering Realm? Also, how did my stats grow so much?' I couldn't believe the increase in my stats was this exaggerated—100 points even across the board.
[Host, it needs to be taken into account that you broke through an entire major realm and had your body perfected even more after going through the Body Refinement Realm. Now you are in the Gathering Realm, the Realm that gathers the world energy known by many names, but here I will call it something easy for you to understand, mana. Mana is the energy that flows through most worlds; it even flows in the lower worlds like the one you came from, just in extremely low quantities.]
[DING]
[Host a mana capacity display has been added to your status. Please look now.]
[Name: Axel Wolf
Age: 21
Sex: Male
Race: Hybrid (Human 75% / Beastman 25%)
Bloodline: Silver Fenrir (Locked)
Cultivation Level: Gathering Realm Level 2
Mana Capacity: 1000/5000
Mana needed to advance to the next level of realm: 5000
*Note* Due to the rebuilt host, capacities are higher than those of a normal cultivator.
Strength: 124 (Average stats for normal human: 10)
Perception: 120
Endurance: 126
Charisma: 199
Intelligence: 137
Agility: 125
Luck: 199
Blessings: ???,???,??? (Due to host cultivation being too low, you cannot know the names of your blessings as it would implode your soul should you try and force it)
Skill: Inventory, Synthesis, Tame, Parallel Mind, Shapeshifting (Wolf Form), Weapons Master
Host, due to your low cultivation, you will not be able to see most of the system's abilities. You need to get stronger to utilize the system fully.
Hint: The host needs to be in the core formation stage at least before starting to access more functions of the system.]
'Ok, Sylph, how do I raise my mana levels and I am going to need you t-'
[DING]
[The host needs to stop talking and listen. You will die if you do not follow my instructions.]
I stopped worrying about everything else when I heard what Sylph had said. I had almost forgotten that I was technically surrounded.
[Now that it seems I have your attention. Could you please use your taming ability right now at full blast? Just think about that ability while activating your mana. Trust me, when you finally feel it activate, you will know. Afterward, use as much mana as needed until you count exactly 24 Fenrir tamed. After that, the real test will come.]
I didn't respond to Sylph with my words; instead, I just started acting on her words. I thought about my taming skill and tried to feel for it to activate. After about five seconds, I felt it. The skill seemed feeble until I tried to make the feeling more intense.
If I had been paying better attention to my body, I would have noticed that the mana inside of me was cycling in a strange pattern. As I forced the feeling to become stronger, the system notifications kept coming in at a fast rate.
[DING]
[ Host has successfully tamed X3 Grey Fenrir]
[Host has successfully tamed X2 Brown Fenrir]
[Host has successfully tamed X5 Black Fenrir...]
The notifications kept going for about 30 more seconds. By the time I was done taming all of what I believed to be the Fenrir besides the alpha Silver Fenrir, I was astonished. This pack's alpha brought multiple types of Fenrir under their control. There was quite a variety, but I couldn't concentrate on them now because Sylph asked me to start moving.
[Host, it is time to equip your armor and, finally, time to open your eyes and see your new world. It's time to finish your first encounter in this world.]
'This is it,' I thought to myself. The anticipation was finally getting to me. I took a deep breath and willed the armor in my inventory onto my body. I slowly opened my eyes and...
The giant faces of the Fenrir were right there, startling me so much that I yelped and closed my eyes again. I didn't end up calming down until I heard the Fenrir...laughing at me? No, it was more of a chuffing sound, but it was clearly laughter. Slowly, I peaked my eyes open again, and they were all still there, just I could see the almost human-like amusement on their faces.
At first, I didn't know what to think about it, and then it hit me: These things have human-like intelligence. And as if to prove my thoughts, I heard a deep voice speak out.
"Human, you have stolen my pack from me. How do you think I should kill you?"
I looked over and saw an enormous Fenrir with silver fur all over its body. It stood at least 6 meters at its shoulders, while the other Fenrir stood around 4 meters high at the shoulders.
The Silver Fenrir truly looked majestic. I could see and feel the power coming off of it, but what really mesmerized me were its eyes. I swear the deep shade of purple just gave me the feeling that this being was not as ruthless as it was letting on. Getting my head straight, I answered the Fenrir.
"Look, I am sorry that I took your pack. If I could give them back, I would, but I fear being eaten by you all in return." I spoke quickly, trying to keep myself from looking into its eyes because they kept pulling me back.
"Human, why do you avoid looking into my eyes? Do you not think it rude?"
"It may be rude, but...but... your eyes are too pretty. They keep drawing me in, and I want a clear head right now. I can't afford to admire your beauty while talking with you. I feel that would be even more rude."
If I had been looking at the Silver Fenrir right now, I would have probably noticed the blush spreading across its face. "Di... did you just call me beautiful?"
I was stunned by Fenrir's words. So stunned, I looked up quickly and was startled to see a blush. 'What the hell is this? I thought I was about to be eaten, and now this thing is going on about my calling it beautiful. What the hell is wrong here?'
[DING]
[ In reply to the host. Nothing is wrong as she is a female. Do you expect any female not to blush when a handsome man compliments her?]
'Oh...Oh... OH SHIT,' I thought to myself while staring at the ground. Right then, I saw a shot of silver flash into existence. When I looked up, the Silver Fenrir was right in front of me. This time, there was no blush on her face.
"Human, since you called me beautiful, I will give you a chance. Fight me and prove that you are not just a weak blade of grass to be stepped on. Prove that you are strong enough for me to hold my head high next to you."
[DING]
[First Hidden Quest Found: Prove your potential to the Silver Fenrir and have her submit to you.
*Note* Host does not need to win this fight. Just prove you are worthy of the mighty Silver Fenrir.
*Note* Host Bloodline is showing signs of activation, currently at 1% activated
Rewards for completing quest: Hidden will unlock upon completion.]
Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm down again, but seeing the hidden quest, I felt a rush of excitement, but I knew I needed to keep a level head. Taking another deep breath, I raised my head again and looked straight into her eyes.
"I will gladly take up your challenge."
"Good! I want to see your spirit and potential, so do not hold back."
Without saying a word or drawing my sword, I shot at the Silver Fenrir with all my speed and swung my fist at her side. For some reason, I didn't want to hit her face. I knew that it was a wrong decision, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
I know she could tell because I could see a smile on her K-9-looking face. She moved before I could reach her. She raised one paw in defense and caught my fist against it. However, it looked like I surprised her when she slid back about a foot.
It did not do anything to faze her, though. She moved with a flash and attacked me back. With almost no time to brace myself, she hit me with her tail and sent me flying across the room.
"Damn, that hurt a bit. You are powerful as well. You could have easily ended me right there with that speed and power. Thank you for not doing so, but I will continue now."
"Haha, you are a smart and amusing human. Come, keep playing with me."
For almost two hours, we fought back and forth. I felt like my body was going to fall apart, but I kept on getting up. It wasn't that I felt the need to truly prove myself to this Fenrir. No, it was that I could feel myself growing more proficient while I was fighting her.
It was like she was silently training me and trying to push me beyond my limits. My punches started getting intense and faster, more precise with each clash of flesh and claw. I could feel it even though I was exhausted and felt my strength running low. I was having more fun than I had ever had.