C
"Long time no see, Lord Rover. I'm here!"
Jack slipped into character effortlessly. By Rover's side, claws that could pierce Demon-level monsters became gentle grooming tools—perfect for detangling the beast's coarse, matted fur.
Those hairs were tough. Even normal Dragon-levels struggled to penetrate them. Cleaning out embedded debris? A nightmare.
But Jack had Rover's own abilities. Stamina? Endurance? Limitless.
He worked methodically—scrubbing, massaging, picking out dirt. Rover's six eyes gradually slitted with pleasure.
"Woof... Purrrr..."
Contented rumbles echoed across the underground river.
Minutes later. Jack exhaled—white mist in the cold air.
Done.
Rover stood. Shook.
Water droplets flew like arrows—blasting shallow craters into distant rock walls.
But the result? Glossy fur. Distinct. Spirited. A massive black dog, transformed.
Rover was delighted. He lowered his head again—six burning eyes fixed on Jack.
Ride.
First time awkward. Second time? Familiar.
Jack leaped—practiced, light—landing on Rover's broad skull. The fur, soaked moments ago, was already dry. Evaporated by Rover's terrifying body temperature. Hot, dry, perfect.
"WOOF! WOOF WOOF—!" (LET'S GO! AGAIN NEXT TIME—!)
Black lightning scrambled up the rock wall. Onto the stone bridge. Into darkness.
Back in his territory.
Jack replayed the ride. The closeness. The dependence.
Like a simulation game. Except the pet is a city-destroying Dragon-level.
If favorability existed? Rover's little hearts would be maxed.
Unexpectedly cozy. Situation? Excellent.
But—
Dangers lurked everywhere. Even with explosive growth, five beings in this Association could still instantly kill him.
Not enough. Still far from enough.
He approached his territory. Chaotic roars already audible.
Daily scene.
Wolf-level monsters tore at each other over corpses. Severed limbs flew. Internal organs splattered.
Blood fueled more violence. More joined. Chaos escalated.
Tiger-levels watched coldly. Occasionally "mediated"—dragging away the mutually destroyed weak. Disemboweling. Fresh meals.
Monster Association ecology. Chaotic. Barbaric. Orderless.
Jack ignored it. Slime Octopus's time? Same. Now? Same.
Behind this chaos? Psykos. Her "Near-Death Evolution Theory." Saiyan-style cheat code.
Threat of death → evolution. Lower to higher. Creating usable monsters.
But more often than not...
Not every monster was a Super Saiyan. Most who faced death? Just died.
But Dragon-levels were rare. Wolf-levels? Plentiful.
Even one or two Demon or Dragon-level successes from thousands of deaths? Huge profit. Psykos's math was cold. Efficient.
Jack's three-meter frame emerged. Chaos froze.
Every monster—fighting, eating, bleeding—stopped. Awe and fear turned toward their Demon-level ruler.
The Tiger-levels noticed something else. Jack's aura. Deeper. More unfathomable than before.
He ignored them all. Waved off Sharp Fang's fawning. Walked straight to his lair.
New abilities. Need study.
System panel open.
SSR — 「Gale Wind」
SR — 「Monsterfication」
Test the SSR first.
A thought.
BUZZ—!
Invisible wind exploded from his core.
His heavy, spike-armored body lightened—several times over. Joints, muscles, everything filled with unprecedented agility. Airflow sensitivity? Maxed.
WHOOSH—
Blurred afterimage. His original spot empty. True body at the lair's other end. Teleported.
"Hiss... fast."
His normal speed now matched his previous combat-mode bursts.
Jack raised his spiky claw. Fingers splayed.
Strands of faint green airflow—alive—wrapped around his fingertips. Dancing at his will.
Wind power.
He focused. Controlled.
WHOOSH—!
A pale green wind blade shot from his fingertip. Silent. Deadly.
Ten meters away—a protruding rock split. Smooth. Mirror-like cut.
Gale Wind's slashing enhancement. Understood.
The original owner? Still adapting. Learning.
Jack? Lv1 SSR. Copy = direct mastery. Upgradeable.
In a sense? He understood wind power better than Gale Wind himself.
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