Sylvaris hissed softly, almost defensively. Arthur smirked, shaking his head. "Relax, I'm not blaming you. I'm glad you actually got it,"
'It's quite surprising there are such powerful things in the village only, a fruit that can increase your talent rank... that's surprising.' He thought as he stroked Sylvaris's scales.
He placed a hand on the serpent's shimmering head, patting it lightly. "This fruit of yours might be unique. But, there could be more out there. If there are, we're going to find them. If one fruit could turn you into an epic-ranked beast, your brothers here Hank and Borak need them."
Sylvaris coiled in closer, its head lowering in agreement.
'This just got interesting,' He marvelled in his head, before heading out of the cave.
As Arthur walked back towards the village, the memory of the lone wolf he had killed earlier appeared in his mind.
"Let's see if it's still there," he muttered, a flicker of hope in his voice.
His steps slowed as he neared the area where the battle had taken place. But upon arrival, his heart sank slightly.
The area was empty...
Not a trace of the wolf's corpse remained. Even the bloodstains had faded as if the battle had never occurred.
"Sigh... I should've just added it to my summons back then," Arthur groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "But no, I was too worried about saving room for the serpent. Now it's gone."
As he stood there, disappointment etched on his face, an idea sparked in his mind.
"Wait a second..." His eyes widened as he clenched his fists. "Why not give it a try?"
Arthur closed his eyes and focused, letting the image of the lone wolf form in his thoughts.
He pictured its every detail—the way it had snarled, its silver fur, and the power it exuded even as it fell.
Taking a deep breath, "Awaken!" he commanded.
For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then, like a ripple through his mind, a list materialized.
It was faint at first but quickly grew clearer, a comprehensive catalogue of every beast he had slain.
Arthur's brows furrowed as his gaze darted across the mental list until he found it.
[Lone Wolf (Level 5, Pseudo-Elite)]
His lips curled into a grin. "There you are."
A summoning circle appeared in front of him, glowing with power. The air around it grew thick as energy pulsed from the portal. Slowly, a familiar figure emerged its powerful build and silver fur unmistakable.
The lone wolf stepped forward, its silver eyes glowing faintly as it lowered its head in submission.
Arthur's jaw dropped slightly. "It works! It actually works!" he exclaimed, unable to suppress his excitement. "I don't even need to be near the corpse or have the body in sight. I've been an idiot this entire time!"
He slapped his forehead in disbelief, a chuckle escaping his lips as he thought back to all the times he'd hovered awkwardly over fallen beasts, fumbling to summon them before they disappeared.
"Still gonna do it," he muttered, smirking. "Looks cool anyway."
The wolf stood tall, its muscles rippling beneath its silver coat as it stared at Arthur with unwavering loyalty.
[You have summoned the Lone Wolf. They are now completely and utterly loyal to you. They will do as you instruct them without fail. You have the right to name them.]
[Would you like to name the 'Lone Wolf'?]
Arthur's smirk deepened. "Yes," he said firmly. "Lupin."
[Name Confirmed. The summoned 'Lone Wolf' is now called 'Lupin.']
The wolf gave a low growl, its ears perking up as it awaited Arthur's commands.
Arthur crouched down, meeting Lupin's intense gaze. He placed a hand on its head, patting it gently.
"Welcome back, Lupin. I think you're going to be a fine addition to the family."
Lupin's tail swished slightly, the only break in its otherwise stoic demeanour.
"Let's head back to the village," Arthur said, standing and glancing around the now-empty clearing. "We've got work to do, and with you and Sylvaris added to the group, things are about to get interesting."
As they walked, Arthur glanced at Lupin from the corner of his eye, a sense of pride swelling in his chest.
"Yeah," he muttered to himself with a grin. "Things are definitely going to get interesting."
Checking Lupin's status, Arthur wasn't as shocked as Sylvaris.
'I guess that's the difference between an Epic Boss and a pseudo-Elite boss'
[Talent:] Enhanced Speed (C-Rank)
[Damage Resistance:] 8
[Attributes:] Strength 8, Agility 14, Vitality 6, Intelligence 5
[Skills:] Scent Tracker (Rare)
[Attribute Points:] 0
'His health points and mana points are quite low, but I guess he is more agility-based,' Arthur thought, glancing at Lupin.
After adding the Lupin to his summons, Arthur continued his way to the village, excited about the extra coins and skill he would receive from John.
In the village, Arthur made his way to the place where the drunk, John, always stayed. Spotting the man slouched against the side of a small house, a half-empty bottle in his hand, Arthur approached.
John's eyes became more alert as he spotted Arthur in the distance, his drunkness evaporating almost instantly.
The man stood unsteadily, swaying slightly but visibly more alert.
"How did it go?" John asked, his voice carrying an edge of urgency. "Tell me, did you kill it?"
Arthur frowned, his expression darkening. He stepped closer, his voice becoming a whisper to avoid drawing the attention of nearby players.
"You wanted me to kill that thing?" he said his tone a mixture of disbelief and accusation.
John blinked, his grip tightening on the bottle. "What do you mean? Did you—"
"We need to talk. Somewhere private," Arthur interrupted, his voice darker. "Is that your house?" He nodded toward the small structure nearby.
John frowned, then nodded, sensing the seriousness in Arthur's words. "Yeah, it is. Come inside."