Chapter 54 - Darkness Has a Tail

Fang! He was awake. He had recovered.

The wolf's sudden movement caught more than just Tave's attention. Soon, others began approaching, curiosity drawing them in. Oriana and Lily were the first to join him, both settling down beside Tave with cautious interest.

Fang stretched, his limbs stiff at first, and let out a low woof, tired, soft, but present. Tave didn't move toward him, didn't call out again. He knew. The wolf wasn't done yet. Something was still shifting inside.

Honestly, Tave had always had high hopes for Fang. From the moment they bonded, he believed in the beast's potential. This shadow-born creature that had fought and bled beside him.

And now, something was happening.

Fang's body tensed. He lowered his head close to the ground, a growl vibrating through his chest. Not from aggression, but from something deeper. Strain. Pressure.

Pain.

Tave's breath caught as he watched dark energy begin to coil around the wolf. It rose like smoke, thick and shadowy, wrapping tighter and tighter around his form.

No doubt now.

This was a breakthrough.

The signs were unmistakable. Fang's aura swelling, his core pushing past its limits. The once smoke-thin wisps of energy had condensed into a concentrated shroud, cloaking his entire frame.

Then the changes began.

His fur grew longer, darker, almost inky black now. The body that once resembled a large, lean dog began to shift. Bones thickening, limbs expanding, especially around the jaw and shoulders. His head broadened, jawline sharpening into a far more predatory, defined structure. 

The creature was no longer just a beast. It was beginning to look like a true shadow wolf.

The three of them watched in silence, eyes slowly rising as Fang's form grew taller, heavier. No longer the size of a grown dog. He now stood closer to a large war beast, sleek and powerful, every inch of him a living weapon cloaked in darkness.

This… was no longer the same wolf.

This was the next stage.

Woof! Woof! 

Fang let out two soft barks, low and steady, the sound rippling through the clearing like a quiet declaration. His breakthrough was complete.

Tave couldn't help the smile that rose to his face. Fang, as if sensing the shift in mood, padded forward and nudged his snout against Tave's chest, his body pressed close like he wanted to embrace him.

Tave wrapped his arms around the beast's thickened neck and gently ran a hand along the now darker, longer fur.

"Good job, Fang. You did it."

"Congratulations, Fang… I'm proud of you," Lily said with a bright giggle.

"Yeah, good job, Fang." Oriana added, smirking as her gaze shifted to Tave. "You even left your master behind as the only Gaia Apprentice. Some loyalty." Her tone was teasing, light, and warm.

Fang made a huffing noise. Somewhere between a proud growl and a cheeky bark as Tave opened his interface and checked the wolf's updated status.

[ Name: Fang – Shadow Wolf ]

[ Grade: Elite ]

[ Level: 21 ]

[ Element: Dark (High) | Shadow (High) ]

Tave exhaled, slow and steady. Tier 3.

Fang had reached Level 21, breaking through the threshold, and not just that, but he had unlocked High Affinity with Shadow Element. Not merely Dark, but advanced Shadow, the more refined, more dangerous progression.

It was… incredible.

He couldn't have asked for anything better.

Yes, Fang had always been a Shadow Wolf, and Shadow was his natural path. But awakening it at such a high affinity? That was beyond rare.

Tave could already feel it. The possibilities, the growth ahead.

And while he knew… that the Tier 3 Shadow Wolf they'd met back near Deadbay City was still far stronger, at least for now. This was a good beginning.

A damn good one.

Tave leaned in, rubbing firmly along Fang's jaw and the top of his head, grinning as the wolf responded with two excited woof woofs and a quick wag of his thickened tail.

"Now Fang," he said with a smirk, "show me what you can do."

The wolf barked again, clearly energized and ready. His tail swished back and forth, and his eyes gleamed with that wild, focused light. Monsters always grew faster than ordinary animals, that was common knowledge. But it still felt surreal. Just a few weeks ago, Fang had looked like a pup. Now? He looked like something out of a nightmare, sleek, powerful, sharp-edged.

And his progress was only accelerating.

Fang stepped back slowly, still woofing under his breath. His paws dragged trails in the dust as shadow energy began to swirl off his body. It rose like a fog, dark and cool… and then, all at once, he vanished.

He sank… into his own shadow.

"Woah…" Oriana whispered nearby.

Even Tave was stunned, his eyes locked on the slick pool of darkness that had once been Fang. The shadow shifted, then moved. It slithered across the ground, slipping beneath Tave's own shadow, then darted toward Lily's, and again toward Oriana's, weaving and gliding without a sound.

And then, boom!

From behind them, the shadow burst upward. Fang reemerged, red eyes flaring, mouth wide in a silent snarl as he lunged straight toward Tave's chest.

Tave caught him midair with a laugh, staggering back as the beast collided into him with playful force.

"Damn it, Fang," he chuckled, hugging the wolf tightly. "That's insane. That's really insane."

The others stared, half-stunned, half-amused.

Lily stepped in closer, eyes shining as she reached out and cupped both sides of Fang's head gently. Her fingers sank into the thickened fur around his jaw, and she couldn't stop the wide smile spreading across her face.

"Fang, you're seriously amazing…" she whispered.

Woof! Woof!

Fang barked in response, his tail swishing like crazy as he leaned into her touch.

Lily giggled and kept petting him. "You were already adorable, but now? You're terrifying and adorable. That's dangerous, you know?"

Woof!

"You saved Tave, scared the life out of us, then turned into shadow-smoke and did some kind of spooky ambush thing. Are you trying to be cooler than your master?"

Woof!

"Thought so," Lily grinned, glancing toward Tave. "You better start leveling faster, Tave. Your partner's showing you up."

Woof!

Fang barked again, tail thumping on the ground with pure smug energy.

Tave just rolled his eyes and laughed under his breath. 

Lily stood up, brushing off her knees, and gave Fang a playful tug by the scruff of his neck. 

"Come on, Fang. I've got food for you… You haven't eaten in days, right?" she added with a soft laugh.

Fang barked in agreement and followed immediately, tail wagging. He stuck close to Lily like she was his second master, and honestly? It kind of looked like she was.

Tave watched them walk off with a quiet grin tugging at the edge of his lips.

Yes. This is incredible.

With the ability Fang had just awakened. The power to melt into shadows and move silently through them. Tave's role as the team's scout had just evolved into something far more dangerous and precise.

Fang could now move undetected in areas that would've been death traps before. He could scan deeper, push farther, and guarantee the team's safety in ways that no one else could offer. And soon… very soon… he'd finally be able to search for the perfect place to awaken Tave's Relic.

The idea alone made Tave's chest tighten with anticipation.

And the best part? He hadn't even scratched the surface of what Fang could do.

There were more skills to discover, instinctual techniques that would only show themselves in the middle of battle.

And surely, with Fang's transformation, Tave's role within the team had shifted drastically. He wasn't just the quiet scout anymore. Now, he had tools, knowledge, and a beast companion that could rival the frontline fighters. Their chances of finishing this Rift expedition was way higher.

Later, as the team settled down again, Tave found himself chatting more with Oriana. It had become something of a habit, sharing knowledge, insights, and strategies. But today, the topic was more focused. 

Because, Oriana seemed so interested to learn more about her sigil.

"Use it through your sword when you fight. It'll increase your freezing effect. Switch it to armor when you're taking hits. It's not just defense. It adapts."

Oriana's eyes widened with a spark of realization. "Damn. That's not easy to pull off…" she admitted, before grinning. "But I'll try."

And just like that…

Day ten of the Rift Expedition had arrived. No one said it aloud, but they could all feel it:

They were getting closer.