Waking was a surprise to begin with, but waking with a tongue licking my face was an even bigger surprise. For a moment, it almost felt like I was back on Earth. My dog Jake used to do this—lick my ears and hair when I fell out of bed. If you’ve never been woken up by a dog licking your ears, let me tell you—it’s weird, unsettling, and hilariously ticklish all at once.

  What greeted me, though, when I opened my eyes wasn’t Jake, my goofy lab, but the baby Nyxalith, standing proudly like it had just conquered the world. Apparently, smashing Ravros into the cage had done the trick, finally breaking it and freeing the little pup. "Well, good morning to you too," I muttered, wiping the slobber off my face and glaring half-heartedly at her. "Was licking me awake really necessary?"

  Seeing I wasn’t in any immediate danger, I shuffled over to Ravros’ body, curious to find out what had actually killed him. Flipping him over, I found nothing at first—no gaping wounds, no hidden weapons, not even a dramatic scorch mark. "Really?" I muttered, half expecting some theatrical death clue. Then I spotted it—a broken necklace lying nearby, almost gleaming like it wanted attention.

  Picking it up, I raised an eyebrow. "You brought your phylactery with you? Really?" I let out a massive sigh, holding the shattered piece up for emphasis. "After all the trouble you put me through, I can’t decide if I’m more impressed by your confidence or disappointed by how dumb this move was. Either way, thanks for making my life easier."

  Going through his pockets didn’t turn up anything exciting either. Other than the broken necklace, all he had was a steel ring on his finger. "What’s this? A consolation prize?" I joked, looking at the ring. Figuring I should at least take his body to show my father, I grabbed him and tried to use Inventory—only to be denied by a notification I quickly dismissed.

  Spatial devices cannot be placed inside the Inventory.

  I stared at the words, then back at the body, my mind working through the obvious culprit. It had to be the ring. "Alright, magic jewelry, let’s see what you’ve got," I muttered, sliding it onto my finger with the same level of caution you’d give to opening a fridge after a blackout. With a deep breath, I tried again. This time, the body vanished without a trace. "Well, guess that’s one mystery solved," I said to no one in particular, brushing my hands off theatrically as if I’d done something impressive.

  As soon as the body vanished, the Nyxalith pounced at the empty space with an adorable growl-bark combo, her oversized paws skidding slightly on the dirt. "I guess I owe you for breaking the necklace," I said, scratching my head as I watched her puff out her chest like she’d just won the grand prize at a pet show.

  "Ravros said he turned you back into a pup," I continued, crouching down to her level, "but does that mean you remember being an adult?" The beast tilted her head in that universal sign of confused curiosity, then trotted over and began rubbing herself against my legs like an overgrown cat, her tail wagging with enough force to nearly topple me over.

  With a tired sigh, I plopped down onto the ground, and the Nyxalith wasted no time climbing into my lap. “Okay, fine, you win,” I said, scratching behind her ears. “But if you drool on me, I will be dropping you on the ground, understand me?”

  I petted the ferocious little thing and turned my attention to my notifications.

  Ravros the Damned (E)- Level 51- Revenant- Talent: Necromancy

  +1200xp

  Zombie – Level 19

  +0xp

  Zombie – Level 30

  +0xp

  Zombie – Level 20

  +0xp

  …

  The list of zombie kills stretched on endlessly—far longer than the number I had actually slain. It didn’t take long to figure out why. Killing Ravros must have been the equivalent of cutting the strings on a puppet master, taking all his summoned zombies down with him.

  Disappointingly, I didn’t gain any experience for them. Even the ones near my level refused to reward me. My best guess? They were too tightly tied to Ravros’ talent. Sure, their sheer numbers made them annoying, but individually? They were more like speed bumps than real threats. A horde of speed bumps, sure, but speed bumps nonetheless.

  Void Touched Nyxalith wishes to form a bond with you. Do you accept?

  I couldn’t help but smile as I glanced down. The little beast was already curled up on my legs, its tiny frame rising and falling with each steady breath. Turning it down wasn’t even a consideration. Compared to earlier, its unique blend of bear, tiger, and wolf features was even more striking. Its round, bear-cub-like body looked deceptively cuddly, covered in fur that shimmered with a dark orange hue, the black stripes like a tiger’s adding a fierce edge. The orange was darker now, richer, as though it had absorbed some of the void energy during the fight. For all its ferocious lineage, in this moment, it looked like the world’s most dangerous stuffed animal.

  Its oversized paws, far too large for its round body, gave it a slightly clumsy charm, like a toddler wearing shoes three sizes too big. Though its eyes were shut now in peaceful slumber, earlier they had shimmered with a startling innocence that seemed almost out of place given its ferocious origins. Its fur was impossibly soft, like the finest velvet, and it radiated a comforting warmth that seeped into my skin, making the chaos of the fight feel like a distant memory. And, well, I’ve always had a soft spot for dogs—or in this case, dog-like creatures with the potential to bite someone’s face off. Smiling to myself, I accepted.

  Congratulations, you have started a bond with a Void Touched Nyxalith.

  Immediately, I opened my Status to check her information. When I didn’t find anything about the bond there, I tried opening a Bond Status page, and sure enough, it appeared in front of me.

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  Name: N/A

  Level: 1

  Experience: 0/100

  Race: Void Touched Nyxalith

  Strength – 4

  Dexterity – 14

  Endurance – 3

  Constitution – 3

  Wisdom – 4

  Intelligence – 2

  Luck – 50

  Skills:

  Void Claw – Level 1 Void Warp – Level 1 Bite – Level 1

  I was a little surprised by her stats. At first glance, they seemed underwhelming, especially for something that had once been full grown, but her Dexterity stood out sharply against her other attributes. It was as if she had been built for speed and precision rather than brute strength. Intrigued, I decided to Identify her skills, curious to see how her abilities complemented her potential.

  Void Claw – Channel void energy in the claws, delivering a swipe infused with the void, allowing the swipe to bypass most armor.

  Void Warp – Briefly tap into the void to displace yourself, allowing for very short-range teleports.

  Bite – Bite down on a target and cause a bleed effect.

  Her skills were fascinating, especially Void Claw, which had the potential to make her a powerhouse against armored opponents—a clear gap in my own abilities. It wasn’t just a powerful skill; it was a perfect complement to my combat style, addressing a critical weakness. The idea of her claws slicing effortlessly through defenses that would have stalled me added a strategic depth to our bond. She wasn’t just a companion—she was an indispensable partner who could change the course of a fight.

  Seeing she didn’t have a name; I decided that was an easy fix. Naming animals has never been my strong suit—Jake, my dog back home, had been named by someone else, and I didn’t complain. But looking at her now, inspiration struck like a lightning bolt. "How about we call you Nixy?" I asked, testing the name aloud as if it were some magical incantation unlocking our bond.

  She didn’t wake up, but her purring grew louder, a soft, rhythmic vibration that seemed to hum with contentment. It was the kind of sound that melted away the chaos of the day, wrapping the moment in an unexpected, serene warmth. If she was happy with the name, I figured I must have gotten it right.

  Bond completed. Your bond now receives 25% of your stats.

  Staring at the message in surprise, I barely had time to process what was happening before Nixy let out a heart-wrenching yowl that made my chest tighten. Her tiny frame quivered as her body began to shift, bones popping and muscles stretching in a grotesque yet awe-inspiring display.

  It was as if her very essence was being rewritten before my eyes. The two-foot chubby bear cub, with its oversized paws and innocent charm, transformed into a sleek, almost five-foot powerhouse of raw potential. Her fur darkened to a richer shade, and her features sharpened, radiating an aura of quiet ferocity that felt worlds apart from the cuddly creature I’d just bonded with.

  The entire time, I whispered softly, “It’s okay, Nixy. You’re going to be fine.” Her trembling slowed with each word, and as the transformation finally stopped, I gently pulled her into my lap. She was much heavier now, easily over a hundred pounds, but I didn’t care. “Alright, big girl,” I said with a small laugh, stroking her impossibly soft fur, “we’re going to need to figure out how to get you into town.”

  She didn’t respond—her body was limp, and her breathing shallow, but steady. It was clear she had passed out from the strain, leaving me to marvel at the sleek, powerful creature she had become while also feeling a pang of worry for what she had endured.

  Her fur was softer than ever, a comforting velvet-like texture that made the weight of the day melt away. The warmth she radiated was more than physical—it felt like a reassurance, a silent bond forming between us. Deciding we both needed rest, I set up an alarm ward, skipped setting up the tent entirely, and curled up with Nixy under the stars. Her steady breathing and the faint rise and fall of her body made it impossible not to smile as I settled in.

  My thoughts drifted to the ring Ravros had carried. Curious, I tried channeling Arcane mana into it, hoping to unlock whatever secrets it might hold. When nothing happened, I shrugged, deciding it was a mystery for tomorrow, I’d let my father deal with it.

  The next thing I knew—or at least what felt like moments later—I was jolted awake by the sensation of Nixy trying to curl up on my chest. Her newly enlarged frame made the attempt less adorable and more suffocating.

  “Nixy, get off me, you big lummox! You’re going to crush me!” I wheezed, squirming under her weight.

  Through our bond, I felt her understanding. With a dramatic huff that somehow conveyed both annoyance and affection, she shifted off me. Standing, I brushed myself off, muttering something about oversized lap dogs. After packing up my things, I climbed a nearby tree to get my bearings. The view wasn’t much—just endless forest with the faint silhouette of the city walls in the distance—but it was enough.

  Nixy trotted alongside me as we started moving, occasionally bumping my leg with her oversized head like she was reminding me she was there. At one point, she darted off to hunt, only to return moments later with a small rabbit in her mouth, tail wagging like she’d just won a prize. "Alright, I get it. You’re the hunter, I’m the tagalong," I said, laughing as she pranced proudly around me.

  Between her antics and the quiet rustle of the forest, the walk home felt less like a mission and more like an adventure with an overzealous partner.

  Honestly, if dogs and cats on Earth could form bonds like this, trainers wouldn’t stand a chance. Nixy seemed to have an uncanny ability to read my thoughts, often reacting before I even fully processed them. If I thought I heard something, she was already creeping in that direction, her movements nearly silent despite her size.

  When my Panoptic Sense picked up a disturbance, she would dart off like a shadow, investigating with the kind of precision that made me question if she had her own hidden system skills. It was nothing short of amazing, and more than a little humbling to watch her work.

  It didn’t take long before the city’s walls came into view, their towering silhouette a welcome sight after the chaos of the forest. I turned and knelt in front of Nixy, who tilted her head curiously, her tail wagging slightly as if she already knew I was about to say something she wouldn’t like. "Alright, girl," I began, scratching behind her ears for emphasis, "I’m going to need you to stay here for a bit. I have no idea how to get you into the city without causing a scene. When I get home, I’ll talk to my dad—he’ll know what to do, okay?"

  Nixy stared at me for a moment, her large eyes filled with something that almost resembled judgment, before letting out a soft huff. Then, in true Nixy fashion, she leaned in, licked my face with a wet, exaggerated swipe, and trotted off back the way we had come. Watching her go, I sighed in relief, knowing that if I really needed her, I could call her through our bond. "At least she listens better than Jake ever did," I muttered to myself, turning toward the gates and jogging to close the distance.

  The line for the gate was mercifully short, and as I stepped forward to face the guards, I was greeted with the classic script they probably recited in their sleep. “Name and business in Magnon?” one of the guards asked, his tone so flat you might hear more emotion from a dead guy, I mean look at Ravros.

  “Jace Obexis, I am coming home.” At my words the guards snapped to attention the one on the right pointing his spear at me and the other yelling out.

  “Jace Obexis! You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit treason. You will be taken into custody and questioned by a senior investigator. Do not resist or we will use force!”

  As the second guard approached, the first kept his spear pointed at me. I slowly raised my hands, making sure to show that I did not have any weapons in them. Once my hands were all the way up the second guard tackled me and twisted me around to get the cuffs on my wrists.

  “This is not the welcome home I imagined.” I said with some amusement and not a little anger.

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