Chapter 4

I finally got out of the cave.

One hundred and thirty days had passed since I was reincarnated as a Ghost, and since I last saw sunlight.

I was wondering if the light would affect me negatively, since I was an undead creature, but the Librarian clarified that although the sun did harm the undead, since I was currently possessing a body that was not affected by the light at all, I shouldn't have any problems as long as I didn't revert to my Ghost form.

The exterior of the cave faced the side of a very big mountain, which then led to a small forest and beyond it, one could see the sea. It seemed to be noon, if the position of this world's sun could be trusted. And apparently it was, since the Librarian came with an internal clock included.

I went down the rocky side of the mountain until I reached the forest. As I made my way, I was playing and practicing with my skills, trying to find new ways to use them. Once I got to the forest, I decided to follow what seemed to be a small dirt road that I found.

Everything in the forest seemed calm. The animals didn't come near me, as if they somehow knew I was an enemy they couldn't win against. I was able to find some fruit here and there, and even though my body didn't need food to function, the sheer pleasure of eating something pushed me to eat my fill.

As I made my way through the forest, my "Magic Sense" spotted something.

About a kilometer from where I was, two wolves were locked in a fight.

Both wolves had brown fur and were large in terms of my previous world, easily exceeding two meters in height, but one of them, the one who was winning the fight, was much larger than his opponent, who seemed to be much younger and inexperienced.

The battle continued and it became more and more obvious that the little wolf would lose. The bigger wolf attacked him mercilessly, and he fought dirty, attacking the little one even when he was down.

I never liked bullies when I lived in my previous world, and that feeling was also reborn with me in this one, so I decided to intervene. If then the little one attacked me, well, that would be solved later.

Using "Gravity Manipulation" and obtaining the wings of a Salamander with "Mimicry: Salamander" I quickly flew into the fight, arriving a few seconds after I took off.

Those few seconds it took me to get there had cost the little wolf. The big wolf had pinned him to the ground and was standing over him, about to deliver the final blow with his fangs.

I quickly used "Sticky Thread" as if I was that spider guy from my world, wrapping it around the older wolf, and then pulling.

The effect was much more dramatic than I thought.

Apparently, even though I was possessing a distinctly human body, my undead nature made me unnaturally strong, for with a single tug of the thread, the big wolf shot out, hovering above me and landing against some trees a few meter away.

With the big wolf busy for the moment, I approached the little wolf, which the Librarian had identified as a Direwolf. Wondering how smart he would be, I decided to use "Thought Communication" to try and communicate with him.

"Hello little one." – I said, even though the Direwolf was several centimeters taller than me. "Are you okay?"

"It hurts. Who are you, human?" - I could hear a faint voice in my head.

"My name is Rogan. I was just passing by, and I saw that the fight seemed unfair so I decided to intervene."

"Did you come to save me?" – The Direwolf asked me, completely surprised.

"Yep. It was clearly an unfair battle, and I hate bullies."

Even in my home world, I hated injustice and I tried to fight it wherever I saw it. I usually ended up getting my ass kicked, but I never hesitated to do what was right. I didn't go around picking fights with everyone, but I always tried to help when I could. I guess even though I was now a monster and reborn in another world, my moral values hadn't changed.

"Stay down, little one. I will take care of this abuser." - I told the Direwolf and turned to face the biggest Direwolf, which "Magic Sense" had warned me, had gotten rid of my threads using his fangs and claws.

The Direwolf rose to his feet and attacked. I did not try to reason with him, as I did with the little one. I had no interest in engaging in conversation with someone who abused the weak. Dodging his attack, while making sure to protect the little one, I fired my threads again, but this time he was prepared and dodged them with ease.

He was smart enough that the same strategy wouldn't work twice, so I tried something new.

I first cast the "Fire Lance" fire magic spell on him, and as I imagined, the Direwolf jumped to avoid it, but while he was in the air, I used the earth magic spell "Liquidize" to turn the ground the Direwolf was going to land on into clay. Since he was airborne, he couldn't do anything as he fell into my trap and got stuck in the clay.

I could have finished him off right there with fire magic, but it would have been a waste of skills, so I quickly closed in on him, careful he couldn't attack me, and used Selfish One.

Do you want to activate the Forced Possession sub-skill of Unique Skill "Selfish One"?

Yes

No

Yes!

Huges's body, which I was currently occupying, decomposed into magicules and I regained my true form for only a few moments, before assuming the Direwolf's body.

Analysis completed. Skills gained through Unique Skill "Selfish One": Mimicry: Direwolf, Intrinsic Skill "Keen Smell", Common Skill "Coercion".

Once the possession ended, I approached the little Direwolf, which now seemed small, since my new body exceeded two meters. As I approached, the little Direwolf began to tremble with fear.

Oh. I was still in the body of the Direwolf. Normal that he was scared. I use "Mimicry: Human" and go back to Huges body.

"Don't worry little one. It's me." - I say trying to reassure him, and apparently I succeed since his tremors stop and he opens his eyes to look at me.

"Is that you, Master Rogan?" - He asks me… Wait a second. "Master"?

"That's right, pup. It's me."

"You're not human, master?" he asked.

"Nop. I'm a Wraith. I'm just possessing this body. ¿Can you tell me why that bully was attacking you?" - I asked.

"You see, Master Rogan. I was a member of a pack of Direwolves that lives in the Forest of Jura, far to the south. In fact, I was the youngest son of the head of the Pack, but as you can see I am very small and weak compared to the others. Also, like you, I don't like those who try to abuse the weakest. It is true that in this world only the strongest prevail, but you don't have to be cruel about it. My father, the head of the pack, is very cruel and enjoys hurting the weakest, and the rest of the pack, including my older brother, are not powerful enough to oppose him, so his behavior has become increasingly more abusive. His latest plan, now that the protector god Veldora seems to have disappeared, is to attack and destroy the goblins that live within the Forest of Jura and take over the forest for himself. I didn't agree with this, but I wasn't strong enough to object either, so I decided to run away from my pack so I wouldn't have to be part of that bloodbath. But my father realized that I had run away, branded me a deserter and sent one of his wolves to kill me. I fled very far, but still the wolf managed to find me" – little by little, the Direwolf told me his story.

"Your father is an idiot, you know? – I told him.

"He is, Master Rogan." – He agreed, while finally getting up from the ground and dusting himself off.

"I just have one more question... Why do you keep calling me master?" – I finally ask him.

"Well… since Master Rogan saved me, I owe you. A Life Debt. Therefore, I swear to dedicate my life to serving you in any way I can!" – He told me while his tail moved as if he were a house dog, instead of a gigantic wolf.

"No, no, there is no need. I did it because I wanted to, I did not expect any kind of compensation." - I said and immediately the good humor of the Direwolf vanished.

"Master doesn't love me?" - He asked me, and for some reason his eyes widened and watered and his lips, which barely managed to hide his gigantic fangs, began to tremble as if he were crying.

It was not fair! No self-respecting wolf should be able to make that face!

Ugh. I give up. I can't deny anything to someone who makes that face, no matter if it's a gigantic and scary wolf.

"Okay, okay. You can come with me." – I finally gave up. I was a softy, wasn't I?

My surrender seemed to cheer the Direwolf up infinitely, and he began to wag his tail again.

"You won't regret it, master. I may not be as big as other Direwolves, but I will find a way to serve you." – Said the Direwolf, puffing out his chest, as if making a pose.

"Yea, Yea. Whatever you say. By the way, what is your name?" - I asked. It felt weird to keep talking to him without knowing his name.

"I have no name, master. Most of us monsters don't have one." – He answered me.

"Yes, someone I knew told me something similar." I said, thinking of Huges. "But talking would be so much easier if you had a name. Do you want me to give you one?"

"Really, master? Would you give me a name? – If I thought he was happy before, now he practically radiated happiness.

"Of course. You are my partner right? Then I will give you a name." - I said and began to think of a suitable name. The Direwolf was young and playful, and ever since he tricked me into letting him travel with me, he was pretty naughty too… naughty? Maybe… "I know. Your name will be, Rogue."

Warning

Naming the target will cost magicules. Do you want to use the magicules stored by your Unique Skill "Siphon"?

Yes

No

Yes, Mr Librarian. Use as many as necessary! I have a lot, after all.

And as I imagined, the change in Rogue was drastic.

Warning

The subordinate "Rogue" has met the necessary conditions to evolve.

The body structure will reformulate and evolve into a new species.

Checked

Evolution from "Direwolf" to "Nightmare Wolf" …

Successfully done.

Increased all physical skills…

Successfully done.

Relearn all past skills and resistances...

Successfully done.

New Skills and Resistances:

- Common Skill "Shadow Step"

- Common Skill "Shadow Motioning"

- Extra Skill "Ghost Flame"

- Extra Skill "Nightmare Eruption"

- Physical Attack Resistance

- Temperature Fluctuation Resistance

Successfully obtained.

This ends the evolution.

Once the evolution was over, Rogue had completely changed. His previous lack of stature had completely disappeared, and he was now up to three meters tall. His brown fur had turned completely black, except for a few blood-colored streaks that covered certain parts of his body and that were shaped like an evil bloody smile… he was definitely a Nightmare Wolf. Anyone who saw him would have nightmares just looking at him... that's for sure, if they didn't see him wagging his tail like he's doing right now! Seriously, that ruined any fear he might generate.

"Thank you very much, Master! Now I can really serve you! I'm very happy!" Rogue said, before running his giant tongue all over my body. Ugh, giant dog drool.

"Okay, okay, calm down, will you?"

"Where are we going now, master?" Rogue asked me, as his ecstasy began to wane.

"At the moment, I don't have a fixed destination. I have a long-term goal, but for now let's keep walking through the forest, until we find some village."

"As you say, master." – Rogue said, as he walked by my side, his giant steps leaving me behind.