I Am a Hero With A Hundred Abilities-Chapter 12: Ch 11. New Pet

[System Notification]

[Pet Found!]

A true hunter does not rely solely on skill and weaponry. The wild is a battlefield where survival is dictated by more than just strength—a hunter must possess instinct, patience, and above all... a loyal companion.

[New Companion Detected: Duskfang Lupir Cub]

[Companion Information]

Name: [Unregistered]

Species: Duskfang Lupir (Cub)

Age: 3 Months

Current Strength: Extremely Weak

Position in Food Chain: 4th (Above Horned Skervel, Below Grave Mawler)

Evolution: Possible [Requires Points]

Traits: None [To Be Unlocked]

[Background]

This Duskfang Lupir Cub was once brimming with potential. Born to the Alpha of the Pack, it carried the bloodline of a leader. However, when its father fell in battle, the pack underwent a brutal shift in power. The new Alpha saw the cub as nothing more than a burden.

Neglected. Abandoned. Rejected.

While the rest of the new alpha's cubs grew strong, it was left starving, barely able to fight for scraps. It was beaten, ridiculed, and cast aside—an outcast among its own kind.

But potential is never truly lost.

Though weak now, its blood still remembers the power it once held. Through proper training, nourishment, and care, it may yet reclaim its rightful strength—perhaps even surpass those who once cast it aside.

[Evolution Pathway Available]

Evolution is locked.

Evolution requires allocated points.

Unique Traits and Abilities may manifest upon evolution.

Bond Strength Affects Growth Potential.

Would you like to register this companion?

[YES] – [Confirm Companion Bond]

[NO] – [Release]

Ethan's eyes flickered as he processed the notification. A pet system. He hadn't expected that.

And yet, as he glanced down at the small cub still rubbing its head against his leg, he felt something he hadn't in a long time— Companionship.

Ethan took a deep breath and selected [Yes] to confirm the companion bond.

The moment he did, a surge of warmth spread through his chest, like a thread connecting his soul to the frail cub.

The cub, suddenly let out a soft whimper as a golden glow enveloped its body.

Ethan took a step back, watching in shock as the radiance grew brighter, engulfing the entire den in a soft, pulsing light.

Then, just as abruptly as it began, the light dimmed—and the cub was gone. In its place lay a large egg, its dark surface etched with faint, pulsating runes.

Ethan's eyes widened. "What the hell?" He crouched, poking the egg with his finger. It was warm, almost alive, a slow rhythm pulsing through its shell.

Before he could make sense of what happened, a system notification appeared before him.

[System Notification] Your companion is undergoing evolutionary advancement. Due to its extreme malnourishment and weak state, the bond ritual has triggered a full metamorphosis.

Estimated time for completion: 1 week. During this time, the egg must remain protected.

Ethan stared at the notification, then at the egg. His expectations had been high—he thought he'd walk out of the den with a loyal companion by his side.

Instead, he was stuck with a damn egg.

He picked it up, holding it under one arm. "Seriously? I have to wait a whole week for this little guy?" He sighed, already resigning himself to the delay.

But just as he was about to put the matter aside, another notification appeared.

[System Notice] Would you like to shorten the evolution time?

Time reduction is available using Points.

1 hour = 100,000 points.

Full week reduction = 1,680,000 points.

Ethan's momentary excitement vanished. His expression darkened as he read the ridiculous cost. "100,000 points for a single hour? That's robbery!"

He checked his current points—nowhere near enough. Not even close.

With a defeated sigh, he tucked the egg into his storage ring. "Looks like you'll be waiting a week, little guy." He shook his head. "Oh well, I've been hunting alone this whole time anyway. Nothing really changes."

With the pet situation set aside, Ethan turned his attention back to his mission. He needed to move deeper into the den. But just as he took a step forward—

A deep, guttural growl echoed through the cave.

Ethan froze.

From the shadows ahead, glowing red eyes emerged, one pair after another. Heavy footfalls thudded against the stone floor. The pack was back.

The Lupir wolves had cut their hunt short, sensing something was wrong within their den.

Now, as they took in the sight of their slaughtered cubs, their usual bloodlust twisted into something far darker—an unrelenting fury.

Their leader, a massive Lupir Alpha, stepped forward. Its silver fur bristled, its muscles coiled tight like a drawn bowstring.

Then its sharp gaze landed on the headless corpse of one of its cubs.

The beast's lips curled back into a vicious snarl.

Ethan smirked.

"Oh, are you looking for this?"

With a flick of his wrist, he pulled the severed head from his storage ring and held it up. The Alpha's growl cut off, its eyes burning with unrestrained rage.

Ethan twirled the head between his fingers. "I was thinking of keeping it as a souvenir." He shrugged. "Hope you don't mind."

Whatever control the pack had left snapped.

With a chorus of enraged howls, the Lupir wolves charged, their only intent: to tear Ethan apart.

But Ethan only smiled.

This was exactly what he wanted.

The Lupir pack lunged toward Ethan—twenty snarling, bloodthirsty beasts moving as one.

Their glowing red eyes locked onto him like a pack of demons, their claws carving deep trenches into the stone floor as they pounced.

Ethan tightened his grip around his dagger, steadying himself. He had no chance in a direct fight—not yet. But he didn't need to fight them head-on.

Just as the first Lupir closed in—

PSSSHHHH!

Thick, dark smoke exploded into the air as Ethan threw down a handful of smoke bombs.

The fume expanded instantly, consuming everything in its path like a living shadow, dragging the pack and Ethan into an inescapable abyss.

PSSSHHHH!

The air thickened with the bitter scent of burning resin, the world around them vanishing in the black haze.

The Lupir pack howled in alarm, their glowing eyes flickering in and out of the dense fog.

Ethan didn't stop there.

With swift hands, he uncorked his last remaining Scent-Erasing Potion and smashed it against the ground.

The mist-like vapor spread, merging into the smoke, completely erasing his scent.

The effect was immediate.

The Lupir wolves stumbled in the darkness, their noses twitching aggressively. The air, once thick with Ethan's scent, was now empty—as if he had ceased to exist.

But Ethan knew better.

Even if they couldn't see him... even if they couldn't smell him...

The moment he attacked, they would sense him.

So, he stayed hidden.

Low to the ground, he moved silently, his breath shallow, his heart pounding in sync with the frustrated growls around him.

The Lupir pack grew wild with rage. Their howls turned into enraged snaps, their claws scraping across the cave floor as they blindly searched for him.

Ethan maneuvered through the smoke like a shadow, keeping his distance from the rampaging beasts. This was his playground now.

But he wasn't perfect.

Just as he took a careful step to reposition—

A sudden prickle of cold ran up his spine.

Something was behind him.

Before he could react—

BAM!

A massive paw slammed into his back, sending him flying forward.

Ethan crashed against the ground, pain exploding across his ribs. His armor absorbed part of the impact, but the sheer force still rattled his bones.

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He gritted his teeth, rolling instinctively, coming up fast, dagger raised—

His eyes met the Alpha Lupir.

The massive beast stood before him, its silver fur rippling in the smoke, its glowing red eyes locked onto Ethan with a chilling intensity.

It hadn't needed sight. It hadn't needed scent.

It had felt him.

Ethan's fingers clenched around his dagger as he exhaled sharply.

"...Shit."