It was impossible to carry Loki now, so Hal could only rest beside the big pup while it was unconscious, casting [Heal] a few times just to be sure, even though Loki’s breathing had already returned to normal.
Hal was also exhausted today.
He didn’t realize that he, too, fell asleep, and surprisingly soundly at that.
By the time he woke up, the sun was on the rise, and Loki was nowhere to be seen.
Hal initially panicked.
But then, he heard munching sounds, which meant that the big pup was alive and kicking, sighing in relief for a moment before panicking again.
What the hell was Loki eating?!
He hadn’t prepared any food, and only boxes of crafting materials were inside the workshop.
There were a few poisonous ones among them that could kill Loki!
Hal sprang up in fright, rushing to enter the workshop.
The first thing he noticed was that Loki seemed to have grown bigger again, now at the same height as him, plus he was longer.
The huge pup was now as big as a fully grown Dharmwolf, even though it should’ve taken him at least two years to reach full maturity.
Nonetheless, Hal was relieved.
The poisonous sacs were untouched.
The monster cores, on the other hand, were violated, and only half remained.
There was still a lot in the union chamber’s storage room, though, so Hal didn’t care much and was merely fascinated by Loki’s changes.
"L-Loki! You can consume cores now?"
Hearing his master’s voice, the pup turned to look, gulping in satisfaction before replying with a slightly deeper "Woof!", his huge tail wagging.
Loki would’ve looked far more menacing, had it not been for his crossed eyes.
Hal walked closer, looking at the box of cores, then at Loki.
It seemed that it was time for him to hunt again soon...
Fortunately, with the [Adept Arcanist’s Tome of Knowledge 2], Hal’s artifact crafting speed increased considerably.
He was able to finish the delivery in just four days, granting him three days of free time to stock up on Loki’s food and explore the changes in the huge pup’s body.
This was also his chance to gather [Rare]-tier materials from higher-ranked beasts and monsters.
Hal’s targets were the B-ranked creatures this time.
The reason for this was because of his next arcanist quest:
Quest Title: Rise of Chaos’ Novice
Act 1: Completed! [Tap to Expand]
Act 2: Completed! [Tap to Expand]
Act 3: To The Next Level
Craft: Rare-tier artifact - 0/1 (Superior-grade and above)
Reward: Chaos’ Arcane Links (Second Set), Demondorf’s Honey
Hal had to craft his very first [Rare]-tier artifact, but unfortunately, only the top graduating students could hunt for the materials of such an artifact.
He could only hunt for them himself.
This was but a small step towards his goals, but it was a step forward nonetheless.
Done with his preparations, Hal left Aeloria, informing his master where he would go.
Isolde was a bit worried, since Hal was headed to a dangerous destination: Hazan Windswept Mountain.
However, she also knew that she shouldn’t stop her student.
It would be difficult for him to grow to his full potential otherwise.
The Headmistress could only pray for his safety.
Beneath the cloudy skies, a manatech engine snarled, followed by the ecstatic howls of a delighted wolf.
It had been so long since Loki got to go with his master in the wilds, and oh boy, did he miss these moments?
The dirt road, scenery passing by, and winds brushing against his now-darker fur.
The huge pup simply felt alive.
It had been a few hours since they left Aeloria, heading further and further north.
They’ve passed several towns and villages and are now approaching the dangerous Hazan Windswept Mountain.
Unfortunately, the Pathblazer IV could only take them so far.
It wasn’t an all-terrain vehicle.
They’ve arrived at a river, where massive rocks and boulders are aplenty.
Hal and Loki had to cross it to make it to their destination.
They had to stock up on food!
While he brought a lot of water to save Chaos Points, preparing lots of meals was quite the hassle, and Hal also missed the rich and juicy taste of well-seasoned roasted meat.
Hal made sure to bring lots of salt, pepper, and other rubs and powders that would enhance the flavor.
Looking around, Hal noticed there were quite a few trees, cattail plants, and massive boulders lining the riverbanks.
It was a good ecosystem to thrive in.
He was sure that, even though there seemed to be no beasts around, there were some hiding or munching on herbs further away.
Hal quickly summoned the Spirit Sparrow.
However, the moment he shifted his vision, he was surprised to find that Loki was already on the prowl, sniffing while advancing on a low stance, seemingly following the trail of another beast.
He quickly activated [Shadow Walk], following the stalking wolf and observing through the eyes of his summon.
This was the first time he saw Loki , and as his master, Hal somehow felt proud and excited.
His little cross-eyed cub was now hunting!
Loki’s senses were no joke even from when he was a mere whelp, so Hal could only imagine how sharp they must be now, especially after the pup’s evolution.
He followed enthusiastically.
Soon, an E-ranked Ironskull Hog came into view—one of Loki’s favorite meals due to the rich and mildly gamy taste of its meat.
The pup hadn’t seen it yet due to the massive boulder blocking his vision, but astonishingly, he knew and was certain that it was there.
Loki lowered his stance even further for a few moments, inching closer...and closer...
Then, suddenly, the pup bolted off, leaping over the boulder, landing accurately atop the back of the grazing hog, and sinking his fangs and jagged teeth deep into the back of the prey’s neck.
Loki then shook his head hard, snarling and drooling.
The beast collapsed after a momentary squeal.
The pup’s ambush was perfectly executed, resulting in an easy kill.
Hal dissolved his invisibility and flashed a thumbs-up gesture to his companion.
"Woof!" Loki responded with utter pride and delight, wagging his massive tail.