Darkan couldn't move.

  His disciple was about to be devoured, yet he remained frozen by an invisible force. No technique or ambient mana manipulation held him in place. It was pure pressure—an overwhelming presence emanating from somewhere far away. Or more terrifyingly, from very close by, undetectable to his senses.

  This could only mean one thing: his opponent possessed cultivation far beyond his own. Not just above Tier 4 Spirit Cultivation, but also surpassing Physical Cultivation to render him helpless like this.

  Cold sweat trickled down Darkan's back, a sensation he hadn't experienced in a very long time.

  "Do not intervene, human," a deep voice resonated in his mind. "Unless you wish for instant death."

  Swallowing hard, he could only blink to signal his compliance, his head refusing to nod.

  Nevertheless, he was already channeling power through his body, seeking the emotional trigger needed to activate his Berserker state. Even if it meant risking everything, he had to try. Nathan couldn't die here. There were plans in motion for the boy. Darkan refused to believe that even at full power, he couldn't resist this hidden entity.

  "I know what you're thinking," the voice spoke again. "Like you, the human child also has been chosen by us. So stay quiet!"

  The hot blood coursing through Darkan's veins cooled instantly.

  Also? he repeated mentally.

  So the White Ward wasn't trying to eat his disciple—it had other intentions.

  Indeed, the monster only opened its maw to grasp Nathan gently, its teeth careful not to cause any harm. With a flick of its head, it tossed the boy onto its back, laying him spread-eagled across its soft fur. Despite its exhaustion, it carried him back to the clearing by Crimson Lotus Lake.

  Darkan finally relaxed, understanding what had just transpired.

  His disciple's future had taken another turn. Whether for better or worse remained to be seen.

  Nathan remained unconscious for two full days before regaining consciousness.

  His eyes were hazy as he struggled to open them. His memories were a blur, stopping at the moment he decided to fully activate his Berserker state.

  If I'm alive, does that mean I won? he wondered.

  He attempted to raise his head but remained too weak to succeed, letting it fall back onto the soft pillow behind him.

  Soft pillow? His eyes shot wide open, panic spreading throughout his body.

  Only now did he notice the fur brushing against his ears was incredibly soft. Warmth radiated from his neck. His shoulders seemed to rest against one of the finest cushions he'd ever experienced.

  "Grrrr."

  He slowly turned his head to the right, where the breathing sound had come from. Had he possessed the strength, he would have leaped up immediately. His still-weakened heart seemed to skip a beat.

  The White Ward's head, as large as Nathan's entire body, rested on its paws, its nose twitching with steady breaths as it slept. The monster's breathing movements transmitted warmth to Nathan, who was lying against its stomach.

  What the hell is going on? He couldn't comprehend the situation.

  Scanning his surroundings, he discovered he was in the clearing near the Crimson Lotus lake. The Great Spine Wolf's fur coat covered his naked body. Nearby, he spotted the Lunar Shadow's corpse, its monster core and skill orb scattered about. He was fairly certain those items should have been lost somewhere else. Someone must have collected and left them here.

  His gaze instinctively returned to the White Ward, though skeptical, he couldn't help but consider it as the culprit. With its demonstrated intelligence, the tiger-like monster was the only being he could think of capable of such actions.

  [Tingling Sense] hadn't activated, suggesting the White Ward harbored no ill intentions. But that didn't stop him from trembling in fear.

  As he attempted to stand, pain shot through his entire body, causing him to black out once more.

  When he regained consciousness, he no longer rested against the White Ward but lay on a makeshift bed of branches and dried leaves. Not far from him, a bonfire crackled cheerfully. The Vermilion Apes had returned, diligently watching over him and constantly adding fresh firewood to prevent him from freezing to death.

  Finally, he managed to sit up. His head buzzed slightly but remained clear enough. He couldn't believe how thoroughly the Berserker state had drained him. He wondered how the battle had unfolded to leave him in such a devastated state. According to his knowledge, he should have only been incapacitated for a day or two. With his Titan physique, he could have shortened that recovery time significantly, just as when he received Darkan's inheritance—his recovery rate exceeded even his master's.

  The PsiLink had become useless without power. With no footage to review, Nathan shook his head in resignation.

  The motion caused him to notice something in his peripheral vision.

  The Passive System had a bright red notification.

  Quest 'Become the Lord of the Forest' Completed!

  Rewards Granted: 5 Skill Rolls, New Items in Shop.

  Proceed as you wish.

  His eyes widened in disbelief at what he saw.

  I really won?

  But the White Ward was clearly still alive. His confusion about everything only deepened. No one had died, yet he was somehow the victor, after lying unconscious for three or four days.

  He still couldn't accept that he was now the Lord of the Forest. He didn't feel any different. If anything, it felt rather anticlimactic. He knew any monster that received this title would gain special abilities related to environmental manipulation. Yet clearly, he felt no connection whatsoever to Moirath Forest.

  Unable to resist his curiosity, he opened the system's shop tab.

  Shop

  Skill Roll: 200 credits.

  Skill Point: 100 credits.

  Skill Breaker: 5000 credits.

  Skill Revealer (Rare): 500 credits.

  Skill Revealer (Very Rare): 750 credits.

  Skill Revealer (Ultra Rare): 1000 credits.

  Skill Locker: 500 credits.

  *Further items require unlocking.

  *Prices are subjected to change.

  --

  [Skill Revealer]

  Description: Reveals which skill will appear in the next roll. If used again, the skill pool will automatically shuffle without using a [Skill Roll], providing a different skill instead of repeating.

  [Skill Locker]

  Description: Bind a skill revealed by [Skill Revealer] into place, preventing it from being shuffled out of the available pool. The locked skill will persist through all subsequent rolls until successfully chosen.

  Damn, it really thought this through, Nathan couldn't help but curse at the system. It sure know how to milk credits.

  Now he understood—each roll shuffled the available skills. A Rare skill that could appear in one roll might be replaced by another in the next. The two new shop items primarily increased his control over subsequent skills. Calculating the implications, these items could become crucial if an essential skill appeared, helping avoid duplicate or redundant skills, something the system had already done to him.

  Thinking about how difficult it was to roll a Rare skill only to get [Cooking] made him wonder how many sleepless nights it would take to get over that pain. By his calculations, he was very close to getting another Rare skill.

  While excited about the system's possibilities, a looming shadow appeared, blocking the morning sunlight warming him.

  His body stiffened, his head turning rigidly to one side.

  The White Ward stared at him with its stark white eyes and fearsome tiger face.

  With a flick of its head, the White Ward tossed a mangled Two-horned Boar from its mouth onto the ground. Then it lowered its head and nudged the battered creature toward Nathan, sniffing and gesturing to him.

  "Is this for me?" Nathan asked, his voice still weak.

  The White Ward gave a slight nod of its massive head, one paw continuing to push the Two-horned Boar forward.

  Frozen for several seconds, Nathan didn't know how to react.

  What was with this respectful, nurturing attitude from this terrifying monster? He stared blankly, as if experiencing an unimaginable shock, not touching the offered item.

  Seeing this, the White Ward stood slightly straighter, its stomach rumbling with sounds of dissatisfaction. It had humbled itself to hunt prey, and now the human wouldn't accept it.

  Startled, Nathan quickly raised both hands in a placating gesture, stammering.

  "Calm down, calm down. I'll take it. Just lie back down. You're scaring me when you stand!"

  Hearing this, the White Ward curled its lips in what seemed like a contemptuous smile. But it obeyed, actually lying down on all fours, head still tilted toward Nathan, eyes wide with expectation.

  If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  Nathan was terrified by all this attention. He couldn't sense any hostility from the monster. But good grief, who could remain calm when a four-meter-tall tiger was staring at them intently?

  He was certain he couldn't activate the Berserker state in his current condition. That was one of the prices paid for absolute power. If the White Ward decided to act up, he could only lie still and take whatever came.

  Darkan!

  His mind flashed to his master's presence. From the beginning, he had wondered if the old man was here, but the warning before Nathan transformed had confirmed everything. Now, the notorious inner sect elder wasn't intervening. This meant Nathan wasn't in any danger near the White Ward.

  Thinking this way, he felt considerably relieved. After all, he was starving from not having eaten for days. Ignoring the massive head watching him, he struggled to his feet and approached the Two-horned Boar's carcass. After some effort, he managed to hoist the heavy body up to roast it.

  An hour later, the aroma spread throughout the area. The Vermilion Apes, catching the scent, hooted continuously from the treetops, begging for a taste. They didn't dare come closer like before due to the White Ward's presence.

  As for the tiger monster itself, it too was unconsciously twitching its nose, saliva dripping uncontrollably. Like other monsters, it had a voracious appetite. But eating raw meat day after day had dulled its palate. Yet the aroma before it made it want to pounce forward and devour everything. Still, it maintained its dignity. It had brought the Two-horned Boar for the human, so it wouldn't fight for it.

  Nathan glanced around, internally cursing what a greedy bunch they were. But it seemed the title of Lord of the Forest had indeed been bestowed upon him. Even the White Ward was having to restrain itself.

  Smiling proudly, he cut off a leg for himself, then tossed the rest to the tiger monster as a reward for hunting food for him.

  Before he could even start eating, the White Ward raised its head and snapped up the remaining Two-horned Boar in one bite. Nathan's lips trembled as he heard bones crunching in that massive mouth. It swallowed with a gulp, and the entire Two-horned Boar was gone, leaving nothing behind. The Vermilion Apes could only grimace at the sight, unable to do anything. Provoking the White Ward would only get them served up next.

  Nathan shook his head watching the monster using its claws to pick its teeth, its eyes still fixed on the boar leg in his hands. To eat in peace, he turned his back and began replenishing his energy.

  While eating, Nathan reassessed everything. The Berserker state truly was a double-edged sword. Though unclear about what had happened, he guessed he had fought until completely broken down. Only then would his body push its limits to the maximum and beyond. The consequence was a body worn out for days. Perhaps at higher Tiers, he could better control the transformation process.

  Releasing the Berserker state also required emotional motivation, an aspect warned about in Darkan's skill orb knowledge bank. Nathan currently used the ever-present anger at being unfairly thrown into this world. Long periods of tension had placed him on the edge of explosion at any moment. So with just a little provocation, he became no different from PTSD patients, becoming difficult to control. Or perhaps he was already suffering from it, and Berserker had come to him as a method of coping.

  Each time Berserker activated, the user would gradually lose emotional connection to the event that triggered the explosion. Memories and worries about his mother would slowly become calloused. Anger and self-pity would eventually become things hardly worth noticing. In other words, the Berserker path resembled a psychological treatment program. When overwhelmed, release it, destroy things, and then everything would get better. Though extreme, the effects were undeniable.

  Unless Nathan experienced another severe trauma, he needed to limit activating full Berserker, using it only in life-or-death situations. He couldn't imagine forgetting his love for his mother, the terrifying pressure this world imposed on him, or his responsibility to Jessica. Now, he understood why Darkan had asked him what he fought for on that very first day.

  He simultaneously understood why his master had let him experience this transformation. Because right now, trying to remember, he could feel his emotions were no longer the devastating tsunami they once were, but had become lighter. Sighing deeply, he wondered how many times Darkan had gone through this process, leading to his master's carefree attitude toward everyone.

  Having finished eating and regained his energy, Nathan turned back to look at the White Ward lying listlessly nearby. Its massive form still overwhelmed him. The fear of the monster wasn't as great as before but remained present.

  "Can you speak?" Nathan asked.

  He couldn't find any descriptions of the monster before him on PsiLink. A few related searches yielded nothing exactly matching. Some had similar attributes but different appearances. Others were the opposite. The closest match had different colored eyes.

  The White Ward raised its head, shaking it back and forth.

  "So you can understand," Nathan concluded.

  That was good enough already.

  "What do you want?"

  As if asked the right question, the White Ward stood up, walking slowly toward him. He barely reached its chin when standing.

  Nathan instinctively wanted to run. However, neither [Tingling Sense] nor [Adrenaline Boost] activated, so he forced down his emotions.

  The monster extended a front paw toward him. While wondering what it planned, a golden light flashed. Immediately after, its white pad was cut with a line, red blood seeping out. It pushed its paw toward him, head shaking as if signaling something.

  Nathan squinted, not understanding. Just as he was about to search PsiLink, a voice echoed in his head.

  "Cut your hand and press it against White Ward's paw, kid."

  Darkan's voice held urgency, as if afraid his disciple would miss a crucial moment.

  Without too much hesitation, Nathan obeyed.

  After cutting his skin with a knife, he grasped the paw that dwarfed his own.

  The moment their blood mingled, a shockwave resonated within him. He couldn't identify what it was, but something had just formed in his mind. When he looked up, the White Ward made the same motion. It shook its head as if regaining clarity.

  When their eyes met in mutual confusion, an invisible bond signaled the other's emotions. Nathan felt bewildered, while the White Ward seemed relieved.

  "Can you talk now?"

  Another signal came. It had no sound or language. It was purely the most basic expression of an idea. And that was a "No!" from the White Ward.

  Nathan blinked at what was happening before his eyes.

  Is this the monster contract people talked about?

  Correct, the White Ward's concept answered.

  "So you're my pet now?"

  As soon as he said that, the White Ward bared its teeth, growling threateningly at Nathan.

  With just that action, he knew he'd been too optimistic.

  Though the White Ward didn't explain, Darkan helped clarify some of his disciple's confusion.

  "The monster just proposed one of the ancient rituals, a blood bond. From now on, you and it will be like brothers, becoming partners. However, you still hold the higher position, since it was the one who proposed, and from what I see, it's accepting its defeat in the recent battle. Even I find it a bit puzzling, but that's what you need to know."

  "But why?" Nathan asked.

  "You'll have to ask that little cat about that."

  "Little cat? This thing?"

  "It's small compared to what I know."

  "So what species is it actually?"

  "Go figure that out yourself."

  A few sentences in and Nathan was already irritated with his master. All this cryptic talk annoyed him to no end.

  When asked why it wanted to become Nathan's partner, the White Ward only replied that it was for the future. There was a small possibility that it and Nathan would bring about a transformation for its bloodline. Which bloodline, it wouldn't reveal. Even how it knew this remained unsaid.

  "Yin-yang eye," Darkan, as if unable to hold back, connected with his disciple again.

  Nathan remained silent, waiting to see if his troublesome old master would say anything more.

  The result was just some meaningless muttering.

  The PsiLink search results were rather sparse. But they all referred to one effect, though with considerable debate.

  Yin-yang eye could allow its user to see a glimpse of the future, specifically the relationship between the user and their target. Additionally, because it interfered with one of the powerful aspects—space and time—both parties' minds would experience a moment of suspension. Most discussions around this topic were skeptical and dismissive. The main reason was that this skill had been lost in the river of time, with no one to verify it.

  Reading this made Nathan look at the White Ward with newfound respect. He was quite certain the monster was a special type, perhaps even surpassing the Lunar Shadow. The thought of signing a contract with a monster royalty made him tremble with excitement. If he ever went to the Monster Republic, the White Ward would be his exclusive S-rank bodyguard.

  The tiger monster squinted at his dirty grin with contempt. It was quite resistant to the vision it had seen when using its life-saving skill. Its original intention had been to make Nathan faint and then eat him. Yet the vision had forced it to change course. Of course, it wouldn't reveal this to its new partner unless it wanted to be lorded over constantly.

  The White Ward's growl made Nathan turn to look at it. The concept it just transmitted requested him to give it a name. The contract process would only be complete when he gave it a unique name.

  Without hesitation, Nathan blurted out.

  "Fluffy?" he had always wanted to name his cat that.

  Tigers belonged to the cat family, right?

  The White Ward's claws dug into the ground, clearly showing its cringe at the suggestion.

  Nathan froze when he received signals of insult and irritation from the White Ward. It seemed ready to curse his ancestors for daring to suggest such a low-class name.

  "But Fluffy suits you!" he persisted, trying to convince it. "Hasn't anyone ever told you how soft and amazing your fur is?"

  As if to counter this, the White Ward activated its technique. Its fur stood straight up, each strand gleaming sharp and deadly.

  Seeing the monster puff up like a hedgehog made Nathan bite his lip to keep from laughing too loudly. Since realizing this was about forming a contract, he had become much less afraid of the monster.

  He raised his hands, gesturing for it to calm down.

  "Then how about Snowball? Your skin is so white after all."

  This time the monster's face dropped, baring its fangs without bothering to send a warning signal. Its breath felt like needles pricking Nathan's skin, making his whole body itch.

  "Alright, alright. Let me think."

  After some consideration, Nathan's lips curled up. He grabbed his wolf fur coat and spun it behind him, making a dramatic entrance.

  The White Ward tilted its head, seeming to wait in anticipation.

  "Your name will be..." Nathan turned back, declaring in a grand voice. "Argentius."

  His eyes opened wide, expectantly looking at the White Ward. Yet it only stared back at him uncomprehendingly.

  Sighing in disappointment, he had thought this through very carefully.

  Looking at the confused face before him, Nathan could only explain.

  "Argentius means 'Silvery One.' Your fur is white, and you possess the Metal aspect. Most importantly, you thrashed me during the snow season. Now do you understand?"

  The White Ward moved its head up and down, seeming quite satisfied. The name still sounded dignified, unlike 'Fluffy' or 'Snowball'. It sat down on its hind legs, head held high, sending a signal to Nathan.

  The White Ward accepted this name.

  Suppressing a secret laugh, Nathan declared solemnly.

  "Then from now on, your name shall be Argentius."

  The White Ward roared, expressing its approval. The actions of both sealed the invisible bond tighter. The feeling was strange, but it brought with it a sense of trust. A commitment of blood.

  "For short, I'll call you Argy," Nathan grinned widely.

  The White Ward suddenly froze, its instincts disliking being called that. Its whiskers trembled as it bared its teeth at Nathan.

  But he acted fearlessly, unconcerned. Having signed the contract, neither side could intentionally harm the other. Doing so would result in painful backlash. Blood had been given, the name bestowed—all procedures were complete.

  "Too late to regret it now," Nathan's smile grew wider.

  Argentius growled angrily, pacing back and forth to show its frustration.

  "Aww, is Argy-bargy grumpy today?" he teased.

  The giant cat grew even more furious, tearing at its surroundings with its magnificent claws.

  Seeing the monster's cute side like this, Nathan was glad he had chosen to stay and fight Argentius. He wasn't clear what vision his partner had seen, but he guessed it must have been worth it for such a powerful monster to choose to follow him.

  After being irritated for a while, Argentius calmed down. Its wild nature didn't let it dwell too long on any issue. It still hated being called 'Argy', but as long as no one else called it that, it could tolerate it.

  After some exchanges, Nathan understood his current position. He was indeed Lord of the Forest, but the power remained in Argentius's hands. If he wanted to receive it, it would transfer it to him. Naturally, he declined.

  From Argentius's concepts, he understood this role carried quite a few responsibilities. Discovering that the Lunar Shadow had been the main target made him want to both laugh and cry. According to the rules, he would have to intervene when disciples from other sects or organizations came to Moirath Forest for training if they engaged in indiscriminate slaughter.

  Therefore, he left everything to Argentius. The monster seemed unconcerned; for it, this role mattered little either way. Having it made hunting easier, not having it just meant spending more time. As it was considered Nathan's subordinate, it would still carry out any reasonable requests.

  Having understood everything, Nathan went around organizing the Vermilion Ape pack and finding some crude clothing for himself. He really needed indestructible pants like a certain green giant.

  He saw the deep and shallow craters he had created while fighting Argentius. Curious, he jumped down to examine them. He truly felt tiny amid these bowls in the earth.

  I have gone so far, Nathan smiled proudly.

  In just about two months, he didn't know how many times he had taken risks. Training, moving, and constant combat had changed him. Both outside and inside. He could hardly believe he had managed everything from food supplies to time management and strategy, even if it was with less intelligent monsters.

  Yet here he was today, far more confident. Though he couldn't compare to geniuses like Keira, Xander, Zahra, and especially Zeryn, he was no longer lagging so far behind. He believed that one day, he would catch up to them.

  Especially now that he had found one of the skills most important to him. A skill that could change everything in the future after using five hundred credits to try a [Skill Revealer].

  You used a [Rare Skill Revealer].

  Your next Rare Skill is [Mind of Tranquility].

  [Mind of Tranquility]

  Description: allows the user to maintain perfect clarity of thought even in situations that would normally shatter one's mental state. While active, the user gains heightened resistance against mental interference, though it doesn't grant complete immunity to such effects.

  Notice: If you want to keep this skill for further rolls, use a [Skill Locker]. Or else, if you do not get this skill on your next roll, the subsequent rolls will not guarantee [Mind of Tranquility].