Confronting the Heavenly Wolf
[Constellation ‘Sung Hyun-sook’ is moved to tears by the explosive growth of ‘Our Son♡’!]
“...I really ought to bow toward the direction of that divine beast's house once a day.”
Before realizing my dream of acquiring a familiar, I decided it was time to check my current status.
If I didn't, I might actually drop dead—no joke.
“The guy I'm about to hunt is the strongest creature on Wild Island. Full preparation is essential.”
Constellation ‘Sung Hyun-sook’ questions whether the strongest on Wild Island isn't the ruler, Jin Soo-hyun!
“Jin Soo-hyun is indeed the ruler here.”
Stealth
[Sniff! Sniff?]
At that moment, a horned bear that had been prowling nearby approached me, sniffing curiously. It wore a puzzled expression before simply passing by my side.
Stealth truly is an excellent skill.
As I continued walking, I picked up where I'd left off.
“But the strongest being on Wild Island is someone else entirely.”
Constellation ‘Sung Hyun-sook’ guesses the correct answer!
“Exactly.”
Just then, a dilapidated temple covered in patches of moss came into view in the distance. An ominous aura emanated from the rundown ruins.
The true overlord of that place—and the one who would become my first familiar—was waiting inside.
As my heart pounded with anticipation, I arrived at the temple entrance.
“Hoo...”
After a deep breath, the moment I placed my palm on the firmly shut stone door—
Crackle!
“...!”
A stinging pain shot through my entire body. At the same time, the mana flow I'd been controlling tangled chaotically, causing Stealth to break.
[Kee-gik!]
Now fully exposed, I turned toward the direction of the frivolous cry.
There, a brown monkey sparking with electricity all over its body was perched on a tree branch, looking down at me and cackling.
Sentry Monkey. A famous one.
As evident, it generates a special magnetic field that temporarily disrupts mana operation in its vicinity. No matter how well you hide with Stealth, you can't escape the Sentry Monkey's radar.
The perfect guard beast.
That's why it's known as a top priority for recruitment if you find a way to befriend monsters.
Jin Soo-hyun didn't place Sentry Monkeys near the temple for nothing.
[Chit-chit! Kee-ik!]
The Sentry Monkey capered about as if shouting, “Intruder spotted!”
It would probably rush to Jin Soo-hyun and tattle about the uninvited guest at the temple.
And report via telepathy.
It can share the scenes it witnesses with others.
The only way to stop the Sentry Monkey from tattling? Kill it, obviously.
But...
“Hey. You watching, Jin Soo-hyun?”
I had zero intention of killing the Sentry Monkey.
Why kill it? I'd been waiting for her to show up.
I flipped her the bird and stuck out my tongue.
“The beast inside this temple? Mad Dog claims it.”
...In the guise of Kang Tae-sik.
As I've said many times, Ice Mask even replicates the target's attire from life.
In other words, I was now wearing clothes boldly emblazoned with the Mad Dog guild emblem.
I even yanked open the collar over my chest to make the mark nice and visible. See?
[Uh, uh-kee-ik...? Uh-kee-ik...?]
The flustered Sentry Monkey stared at me with eyes screaming, “What the hell is this psycho?”
No intruder had ever been this brazen before, right?
“If you're pissed, come to our guild HQ.”
I waggled my middle finger for emphasis.
[Uh-kee-ik-!]
This psycho has to be dealt with! I must report no matter what!
With a roar full of such resolve, the Sentry Monkey bolted from the spot like a shot.
“Good, good. Go deliver the message nice and clear.”
I watched its retreating figure with satisfaction before opening the stone door and entering the temple.
Constellation ‘Sung Hyun-sook’ holds her forehead, fretting that ‘Our Son♡’ seems to be getting craftier by the day!
Yeah, tell me about it. Who the hell did I get this from?
Suddenly, an interview from three years in the future came to mind.
- Why didn't you tame that monster with your Absolute Taming skill, Player?
- The casualties are already immense! Do you have any concrete plans moving forward?
The protagonist of the Seoul press conference was Jin Soo-hyun.
The ruler of Wild Island was facing the cameras for the first time in years.
As all eyes focused on her, her response was curt.
- Shut your trap. I nearly died too.
“Yeah... she had every right to curse back then.”
I muttered blankly upon reaching the deepest chamber inside the temple.
A colossal wolf lay sleeping before me.
A super-massive wolf standing over 10 meters at the shoulder.
[Grrr... Grooo...]
Its massive body was covered in pristine white fur. Blue flames blazed like a mane around its neck. Its enormous, greatsword-like fangs peeked out with every snore.
This beast radiating an insane pressure was none other than Cheonrang.
The one I intended to make my familiar today.
...No matter how I thought about it, this felt like utter madness.
Constellation ‘Sung Hyun-sook’ sweats anxiously, asking if you're confident!
“I was confident... but now it feels like that confidence is evaporating.”
Constellation ‘Sung Hyun-sook’ searches for a Return Stone!
“It's fine, Mom.”
Right then, a stone barrier rose up, sealing the chamber entrance.
And then... Whoosh!
Goblin-fire-like blue flames erupted everywhere, illuminating the pitch-black interior without a single shadow.
“...I've come this far. Time to clash and see if I live or die, right?”
I flashed a sweaty grin.
The system message appeared next.
The guardian of the Demonic Temple, ‘Cheonrang’, awakens from its long slumber!
With the warning-like system alert, Rumble...
Cheonrang, deeply asleep, finally uncurled its massive body.
It threw its head back and—
[Awooo---!!]
—let out a howl powerful enough to collapse the entire temple.
“Kuh...!”
The terrifying aura exploding from its howl pushed my body sliding backward.
‘Cheonrang’ uses skill, Fear!
Fear is a debuff skill that plunges the target into a state of terror, temporarily lowering stats.
A disgusting sensation like thousands of needles pricking my skin made my hair stand on end, but...
“Shut up, you mutt.”
Spirit King's Favor activated!
Status ailment ‘Fear’ nullified!
I had the ultimate shield that let me withstand any threat in the world.
“First card blocked...”
Even with full stats, victory wasn't guaranteed against this foe.
I couldn't afford a single slip-up from the start.
Next, the second card!
[Grrr-!]
Killing intent flickered in its fiercely glowing eyes.
In response, the goblin fires encircling the area began swelling larger.
‘Beast's Domain’ activated!
All targets entering the domain have stats reduced by 40%!
It's throwing every debuff in the book. No mercy.
Constellation ‘Sung Hyun-sook’ is shocked at this utterly conscienceless pup!
“Even a lion hunts a rabbit with full effort, but this is overkill—and it's not even a lion.”
Without Jin Soo-hyun's testimony from her first visit, I'd be panicking right now.
“No wonder even she freaked out, used a Return Stone, and fled.”
Apparently, Absolute Taming doesn't work on beings of comparable power.
And Cheonrang was the one monster on Wild Island she failed to tame.
The fact that I was putting myself through this hell to make it my familiar... well.
I'm the crazy one.
With a resigned smile, I murmured low.
“...Protect me.”
Shhh!
Black waves rippled from my shoulders, enveloping my body.
The moment I donned Divine Living Armor, I felt the strength draining from Beast's Domain recover.
This was its first function: adapting its defensive properties to the environment.
“Direct constellation handiwork really makes a difference.”
[Grrr...!]
Fear didn't work. Neither did Beast's Domain.
This must be a first for prey like me.
Cheonrang, gazing down imperiously, finally lowered its stance warily and—
Flash!
—charged at me with blinding speed.
“...?!”
I hadn't even blinked, yet my dynamic vision couldn't keep up!
I urgently kicked off the ground to create distance, but—Crunch!
“Kuh...!”
It was already upon me, savagely tearing into my right shoulder with saw-like fangs.
The agony drew a groan from my lips.
But hey, a groan meant I was still alive.
“Y-Yeah... this thing...”
If I'd groaned, it meant I'd survived somehow.
Had my whole shoulder been ripped off, I'd have gone into shock without a sound.
“Feels almost guilty taking it for free...!”
If the bitten area hadn't hardened like diamond, I'd have bled out and died on the spot.
[Grrr...?!]
Cheonrang's eyes trembled up close.
Even its monstrous bite force failed—must be confusing as hell.
“My turn now?”
Clank!
Pandora's Box provided metal gauntlets studded with razor blades for this wolf fight.
Beat man-eating beasts to death, huh? Ruthless.
“If you're doing it, do it right.”
Whoosh!
Ether flames that spiked the area's temperature enveloped the gauntlets in a vortex.
And not just that.
Vrrr!
Purple veins bulged like arteries over Divine Living Armor, accompanied by an eerie hum.
A surge of immense power coursed through my body.
“This is...”
No doubt about it. The fourth effect, right?
Converts accumulated bodily damage into attack energy!
It must have triggered the moment its molars sank into my shoulder.
Now, release it or not? My call.
“Already enchanted with ether, and now this on top...”
No reason to hesitate.
I chose release.
“This'll hurt a bit.”
BOOM!!
I unleashed a strike packed with devastating power straight at Cheonrang's face.
[Yelp...?!]
Its lower jaw shattered pathetically as it let out a pitiful yelp and flew back.
My wrist ached from the impact—and I was the one who threw it.
[Whine...]
Cheonrang staggered, trying to regain its balance after tumbling to the opposite wall.
Honestly, I'd swung that hoping for a one-shot kill.
Yet it was still just whimpering.
“Fighting you really is insane.”
But it was too late to back out now.
No choice but to see it through.
“Might as well go all in. Let's see who wins.”
No matter the gear advantage, a prolonged fight against a stamina monster like this would favor it eventually.
Better to end it quick.
Skill, Warrior's Awakening, activated!
All stats increase by 200% for 3 minutes!
Crackle!
A brilliant golden aura erupted, and merely stepping down cratered the ground.
“First time using it since the Emperor Centipede.”
[Grrr-!]
“Come on already. I'll finish you in three minutes.”
With that, BOOM!
We exploded toward each other with ferocious momentum.
“Whoa...”
Atop a throne made of monster bones sat a woman with bronze skin draped in a fur coat, her mouth agape.
Jin Soo-hyun.
The queen of Wild Island and this horde of monsters lined up before her throne was now...
[Uh-keen... Uh-kee-keen...]
...fidgeting beside her anxious Sentry Monkey, which kept glancing at its master.
The monkey had just shared the exact scene it witnessed with Jin Soo-hyun.
Her reaction?
“Whoa... haha, whoa...?”
She swept back her hair in disbelief, letting out hollow laughs.
[Uh-kee...]
“Whoa... haha, shit... whoa, I... my head's spinning all of a sudden...?”
She looked like dynamite about to blow.
The monkey had just done its duty, but feared getting caught in the blast.
Then, Jin Soo-hyun, shoulders shaking like she'd lost it, turned to the monkey.
“Hey, this real?”
[Uh-kee...]
“...”
Of course. It wasn't words—it showed her the full scene. No way it was fake.
She just couldn't believe it.
Common sense-wise.
- Hey. You watching, Jin Soo-hyun?
- The beast inside this temple? Mad Dog claims it.
- If you're pissed, come to our guild HQ.
Some psycho sneaks onto Wild Island without permission, then openly flips her off and picks a fight.
If that didn't make her head spin, that would be weirder.
“...”
Odds were, the psycho in the footage was dead by now.
The temple's dweller was a monster even a Taming Master like her had to yield to.
I left it alone since it just sleeps quietly if undisturbed.
Of course, disturb its sleep, and you're done.
The psycho disturbed it.
So he was probably swimming in the River of Souls by now.
With the bird-flipper dead, just let it slide quietly?
“Fuck that, you bastard!”
This went beyond one death.
He trespassed on her island without permission.
And topped it with brazen provocation and insult.
“Mad Dog? Mad Dog, huh? Who was their leader again?”
Jin Soo-hyun's mind, usually detached from worldly affairs, spun like a top.
“Ah, right. Oh Chae-rin. That bitch Oh Chae-rin.”
Recalling the name, she glared with eyes blazing malice, lips twitching.
“Come to the guild HQ if you're pissed?”
Crunch!
The throne armrest crumbled to dust in her grip.
“Fine. I'll pay a visit right now, you fucking bitch.”