One hell of a puppy

At first glance, the small puppy sleeping at the doorstep seemed harmless, innocent, even. Its body was curled up into a fluffy ball, tail twitching slightly with every soft snore it released. For a second, Alex almost laughed. This was the terrifying behemoth the system warned him about?

Then the air grew cold.

Without warning, a pulse of mana rippled out from the creature. The puppy's body began to twitch, its soft form convulsing and expanding at an unnatural speed. Bones cracked. Flesh warped. And within seconds, the adorable little ball of fur was gone.

In its place stood a monstrous canine, several feet tall and easily the size of a full-grown horse. Its body had transformed into something grotesque, fur now coarse and shadowy, eyes glowing with a deep crimson glare.