35: The Night of Bonding

Chapter 35: The Night of Bonding

James had no idea why he felt so at peace tonight.

His body ached slightly, reminders of the battle earlier that day, but inside... he felt something warm. A glow of accomplishment. A quiet pride.

Just a month ago, he had seen Moon and Kai fighting that terrifying creature—the Obscure Octopus. He still remembered how helpless he had felt back then, hiding behind their power . How he asks them to make him their student .

But today?

Today he had faced an essence creature on his own. It might have been a low-class fighter-level beast, but it was still fighter-level. And he had won. Alone.

That moment stayed with him.

A smile appeared on his lips as he lay on his sleeping mat, eyes closing. "A victory is a victory," he mumbled softly. "And an improvement is still an improvement... even if it's small."

He drifted into deep sleep, heart calm, breath steady.

---

It was midnight. The sky above the Shrunken Canopy was a velvety black, sprinkled with quiet stars. No wind. No howls. Just peace.

Everyone was asleep in their small camp. Ruby, Kai, Minji, —even James was snoring softly under his blanket. The group had sprayed the repellent fluid around the camp's perimeter, a foul-smelling but effective beast deterrent.

And in the middle of that peaceful silence...

Moon's fingers twitched.

At first, it was just a slight flicker, then his hand jerked. His breathing grew deeper, faster. His closed eyes darted beneath their lids. It was clear something strange was happening.

Next to him, nestled close to his side, a small creature stirred.

A black-furred wolf cub, no bigger than a pillow, with glowing golden pupils and a slightly curled tail.

The cub's ears twitched. It tilted its head and looked at Moon, sensing something.

Something... awakening.

It gave a soft, curious whimper. Then, instinctively, it leaned forward and began licking Moon's cheek.

One. Two. Three licks.

A faint glow began to rise from Moon's body. A soft, silver-white light like starlight, coating his skin.

The wolf cub paused, tilted its head again, and then let out the cutest little sneeze.

Moon's eyes snapped open.

He blinked rapidly, disoriented. For a brief moment, all he could register was a soft warmth on his face. Something wet. A strange ticklish feeling.

Then—

WHOOSH!

His body moved on its own.

In less than a second, he leapt backward—ten whole meters—his instincts taking full control. He landed crouched beside the camp cart, his heartbeat pounding, adrenaline flooding his veins.

His eyes scanned the area.

Then he saw it.

The small, black wolf cub sitting innocently in the cart, its tail wagging.

Moon blinked again.

Wait... wasn't this the same cub that had been curled up beside him?

Then—strange. His heart was still beating fast, but not from fear. No. It was something else.

Something... familiar.

Like a thread connecting him to the cub.

He felt it.

A spiritual link.

Moon took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.

"Let's test this properly," he whispered.

He focused his mind. His awareness dove inward. Past his thoughts. Past his heartbeat.

Down to his soul.

---

His inner world appeared.

A vast, misty ocean stretched in every direction. This was his Soul Sea.

He stood on its surface, barefoot, calm.

Spheres of light floated in the distance—his memories, his power, his thoughts.

Echoes of battles. Of laughter. Of pain.

But Moon ignored them all.

He looked ahead.

In the far horizon, there was a golden door.

Beast Space.

It hadn't always been golden.

But now... it shined. As if it had awakened.

He approached the door and touched it gently.

It opened slowly with a soft hum.

Inside... was emptiness.

Moon's heart thudded.

He came out of his soul sea .

He stepped forward slowly, awe in his eyes.

"Are you... my spiritual beast?"

The cub tilted its head, then replied in a voice only Moon could hear—

"Yes."

The voice was calm. Gentle. Young.

But more importantly...

It was connected to him.

Like family.

Moon knelt down, placing a hand on the cub's head. It leaned into his touch.

"Did anyone give you a name yet?" he asked.

The cub wagged its tail and replied, "No... mummy."

Moon froze.

His eye twitched.

He stared.

"Did you just call me... mummy?"

The wolf cub nodded, happily.

Moon sighed, facepalming. "No no no, I'm not your mummy. I'm your papa. Papa, okay? I'm a guy."

The cub looked confused.

It turned its head sideways.

Then it lifted a paw and pointed behind Moon.

"Papa is... that one."

Moon turned.

It was pointing to a image of Ruby.

RUBY.

On a mountain. With a glowing background. Heroic music playing.

Moon's expression was... priceless.

"Okay—what the actual—no. Just—no."

He spent the next five minutes trying to explain the difference between moms, dads, wolves, genders, and spiritual contracts.

The wolf cub nodded seriously the entire time.

Then promptly ignored everything and called him mummy again.

Moon gave up.

He flopped back on the ground and stared at the imaginary ceiling.

"Why me..."

The cub curled up next to him.

"What happened while I was unconscious?" Moon asked finally.

The cub's eyes lit up. "I ate food. Ruby-papa carried me on shoulder. I looked at trees. Then I licked you. Then I slept."

Moon blinked.

He chuckled softly. It was kind of... adorable.

Then he looked down at the cub. "You know... we should give you a proper name. Something cool. Something epic. Like... Galaxy Destroyer."

The cub stared.

Then slowly shook its head. "Too much."

"Okay... what about Shadow King?"

"Nope."

"Oblivion Howler?"

"Ehh."

"Midnight Doom Wolf?"

"Scary."

Moon sighed again. He went through at least twenty-five more names. Rejected. All of them.

Then, after a pause, he muttered, "...What about Kurokami?"

The cub's ears perked up.

Its eyes widened.

Then it let out a loud, long howl.

"Awoooooooooo!!"

Though the sound was high-pitched and cute... it was loud.

Everyone woke up.

One by one, sleepy faces peeked out of tents and blankets.

Kai rubbed his eyes. "Was that... a howl?"

Minji blinked. "Something small... and high-pitched."

Ruby opened one eye. Her senses kicked in immediately.

All eyes turned toward the direction of the sound.

There, in the moonlight, they saw Moon.

Sitting calmly.

With a tiny black wolf cub in his lap.

Talking to it.

Laughing.

And the wolf? It howled again, proudly.

Moon scratched its ears. "Okay okay. Kurokami is your full name. But I'll call you Kuro."

"Awooo!"

The cub happily nuzzled into Moon's chest.

And for the first time in weeks...

Moon smiled.

A real, soft, warm smile.

---

To be continued...