Adlof approached the most prominent and imposing dog in the area, who was evidently the leader.
"I'm from another region," Adlof said. "Could you explain how things work around here?"
The canine leader nodded, understanding Adlof's unfamiliarity, and began to elucidate the structure of their society.
"Our community is organized based on size and cognitive ability," the leader explained. "Here's how we classify ourselves:"
1. Common Aggressive Dogs
- Intelligence: Comparable to a one-year-old human child.
- Behavior: Driven primarily by hunger; they are the most numerous and have the highest mortality rate.
- Tasks: Assigned simple duties like direct assaults.
- Size: Approximately 1.5 to 2 meters in height.
2. Voracious Dogs
- Intelligence: Equivalent to a five-year-old human child.
- Behavior: Capable of distinguishing between commands and requests; they can identify allies and adversaries.
- Tasks: Engaged in more complex operations such as reconnaissance, hunting, and basic information gathering about battlefields.
- Size: Ranges from 2 to 2.5 meters.
3. Intermediate Dogs
- Intelligence: Comparable to a 12 to 13-year-old human adolescent.
- Behavior: Often serve as leaders of shelters; they are fewer in number but exhibit higher intelligence.
- Tasks: Capable of leadership, strategic planning, and adapting tactics to avoid repeating mistakes.
- Size: Between 3 to 5 meters.
- Notable Incidents: The incident involving the four evolved intermediate dogs and Lilith.
4. Upper-Intermediate Dogs
- Behavior: Typically responsible for establishing shelter locations; they are precursors to hybrids.
- Physical Traits: Often bipedal and utilize primitive weapons; adept at setting traps and designating shelter leaders.
- Size: Approximately 4 to 6 meters.
- Encounters: Nourredine encountered one and managed to escape alive, though he did not defeat the creature.
5. Superior Dogs
- Description: These beings are advanced hybrids, combining human and canine traits.
- Intelligence: Exhibit exceptional cognitive abilities.
- Size: Towering between 16 to 20 meters.
Adlof listened intently, absorbing the hierarchy and understanding the challenges ahead.
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