Lick, lick… woof. Lick, lick… woof.
Tave flinched, startled awake.
Sunlight slammed into his eyes like a slap, and he immediately winced, shutting them again with a groan.
That sound. That wet, persistent noise.
Something was licking his face. Woofing softly.
He blinked against the light, still half-lost in a fog of exhaustion, but the weight of sleep slowly lifted.
He felt sore all over, but… better. A lot better.
Dragging himself upright, he finally sat up, and realized the sun was already high in the sky. Midday? Damn. He must've passed out right after the Bloodline Override ritual last night.
Good thing he'd managed to leap back over the railing just before he lost consciousness.
Had he collapsed inside the forest, he probably would've become some monster's midnight snack.
The small wolf pup sat nearby, tail flicking, head tilted, staring at him with big round eyes and letting out another soft, "Woof."
"Hey, little buddy," he murmured, voice still rough. "How are you doing?"
With a grunt, he reached into his bag and pulled out a healing potion. The vial felt cool against his skin as he popped the cork and drank deep.
The liquid slid down his throat, and instantly he felt it. His heart thudded harder in his chest like he'd just downed a shot of pure energy.
A strange ticklish sensation danced across his body, especially around the injured parts. He could feel himself recovering. Fast.
He looked down at the vial, still containing a bit of shimmering faint red liquid.
If only he could bring something like this back to the real world… he'd be rich beyond belief.
He chuckled quietly to himself, then paused.
Something felt… different.
His senses.
The air around him, he could smell it all. His own sweat, the metallic tang of dried blood on his skin, the stench of the dead adult wolf still lying just beyond the railing.
The scent of pine, soil, moss.
Even the distant rustle of trees and birdsong from deep within the forest. He could hear everything.
This was the Bloodline Override.
It had changed him.
He'd inherited traits from the wolf.
And it was incredible.
Wolves were born hunters, deadly, agile, born to track and survive in the wild.
And now, those instincts were his.
This... this was the true power of the Bloodline Override.
So few knew how to perform it. Even fewer had the resolve to go through with it.
But he had.
Hah.
Tave, now feeling steadier in his body, clenched his fists and held them up, testing his strength. He could feel it, power, raw and real. His muscles felt tighter, more compact, as if his whole frame had been reconditioned from the inside out.
He stood slowly, still aware of the dull numbness lingering in his limbs, the echo of last night's chaos. Or rather, last night's hunt.
No. He corrected himself. He was the one being hunted.
He flexed his legs, shifting his weight from side to side, and moved his feet through the grass. Lighter. Everything felt lighter.
He took a step. Then a hop.
Then he jumped.
Higher than usual. Significantly higher.
He landed, eyes wide, a grin pulling at his face.
He jumped again, higher!
Lighter, faster, stronger.
This wasn't just heightened senses. Though yes, his smell and hearing had clearly sharpened to an almost surreal level.
He'd received physical enhancements too.
He'd need to spend time getting used to this, testing every limit, learning which traits had fused with his body.
But even now, just from this… It was already one hell of an upgrade.
He pulled up his status screen, curious to see the changes.
[ Name: Tave ]
[ Level - Stage: 15 - Gaia Apprentice ]
[ Elements: Dark (High) ]
[ Sigils: Shadow Cloak ]
[ Relics: None ]
[ Echoes: None ]
[ Pacts: None ]
And… hell!
His eyes widened.
Four whole levels.
He'd jumped up four levels just from completing the Bloodline Override.
"Haah… unbelievable," he muttered under his breath, still stunned. One night. Just a single night and he had already caught up to what he had been struggling to achieve for so long.
This was insane.
He couldn't help but feel a rush of satisfaction. Finally.
He had broken free from the limitations of the Gaia Force. This body, his body now, was something new. Reforged. Upgraded.
And he couldn't wait to push it even further.
Still brimming with curiosity about his transformation, Tave sat back down on the grass and folded his legs beneath him, entering a meditative posture.
He closed his eyes and inhaled slowly, drawing in the silence.
His senses sharpened. Everything around him fell away.
And then, just like before, he saw them.
Elemental particles.
They floated gently through the air, soft points of glowing white. But this time, this time something was different.
Alongside the white, he saw dark-colored particles, thicker, heavier, faintly pulsating like drops of shadow suspended in the air.
He focused on them, eyes still shut, reaching out with his mind.
Come to me…
And they responded.
They moved.
The particles drifted toward him, drawn by his call, flowing into his body through each breath.
He could feel them entering his chest, slowly sinking into the core of his being, pulled toward his heart.
Filling him.
Connecting with him.
He stayed like that for a few more moments, letting the particles gather within him… Until he stopped.
He exhaled and opened his eyes.
This was better done in darkness. He'd feel the connection even more clearly.
He stood and turned his gaze back toward the forest. The adult wolf's body still lay where he had left it, beyond the railing.
Tave thought for a long moment, then reached into his bag and pulled out a small digging tool.
With slow, respectful steps, he found a patch of soft earth and began to dig.
The wolf pup remained outside the barrier, letting out the occasional soft "Woof", watching as Tave worked in silence.
Time passed. Dirt piled up at his sides. His hands grew sore, his breath heavy, but he kept going.
When he finally finished, the hole was deep enough.
He looked back at the adult wolf's carcass, then stepped over and carefully dragged it toward the grave.
"You gave your life for me… so I'll give you a proper burial," he said quietly.
With effort, he laid the body to rest.
After a while, he stood again, brushing the dirt from his hands, breathing softly.
Done... now let's see how the Gaia Force responds when I do this in the shadows, he thought.
Tave sat back down beneath the canopy where the forest's light dimmed into shadow. He settled into position, steadying his breath, and closed his eyes once again.
The elemental particles flickered back into view around him, soft glowing specks dancing in the air.
He reached out with his mind, and they responded.
This time, the reaction was different.
The particles moved faster, swirling toward him eagerly, as if his presence now carried a stronger pull. They didn't just drift in his direction. They rushed toward him, wrapping around his body in spirals of energy.
Ah… this was deeply satisfying.
He sat there, letting them flow into him, calm, quiet, focused.
Time passed unnoticed.
The only thing interrupting his meditation was the occasional woof woof from the wolf pup still waiting outside the barrier.
Eventually, he opened his eyes and smiled.
"I think that's enough hunting for now. Time to head back… and get ready for the next one."
He stepped beyond the railing and glanced toward the pup, who barked again, its eyes following him intently.
He paused, considered for a moment, then gently lifted the little wolf and placed it back inside the forest boundary.
"Bye, little buddy. See you later," he said with a small smile.
He turned and began to walk away only for the barking to grow louder.
He stopped.
Turned.
The pup was still there. But now it was bouncing on its paws, tail wagging, barking enthusiastically as if trying to get his attention.
Tave squinted. "What…?"
The pup hopped a few steps closer. Then jumped again. Barked.
Excited. Calling him.
He blinked, then walked back toward it, picked it and lowered the pup to the ground.
Again, he turned to leave, and this time, the pup ran ahead of him, leaping through the grass, turning back every few steps to bark again.
Tave chuckled under his breath.
"So… you want to come with me?" he asked.
And smiled.