6 THE WOLF

I had been walking without clothes for over an hour, and frankly, who would even come to this forsaken forest to take a peek at me? The dense, overgrown trees stretched endlessly in every direction, their gnarled branches blocking most of the sunlight. The air was thick and humid, carrying the faint scent of moss and decay, and the ground beneath my feet was uneven, dotted with roots that threatened to trip me with every step. Shaking off the thought of my appearance, I turned my focus to the ant nest I was heading toward, trying to block out the discomfort of twigs scratching against my skin and the occasional sting of sharp stones underfoot.

As I walked, I remained unaware of the creature lurking in the shadows. Hidden among the thick undergrowth, it watched me intently, its eyes gleaming with hunger. The soft rustle of leaves and the distant calls of birds did little to alert me to the danger. My mind was consumed with my task, while it had already set its sights on me, eager to savor its next meal.

"There it is," I muttered under my breath, spotting the ant nest. A large mound of dirt rose ahead, surrounded by a steady stream of tiny workers carrying their loads with mechanical precision. The sight gave me an odd sense of fascination, though I couldn't let it distract me for long.

The moment I bent down to capture an ant, a rustling sound from the nearby bushes startled me. My entire body tensed as my heart began pounding in my chest. Slowly, I turned my head to face the source of the sound, only to freeze in shock and disbelief.

A wolf.

A bloody, snarling wolf had emerged from the shadows, its sharp eyes locked onto me with predatory intent. Its gray fur was matted and patchy, stained with dirt and what looked like old blood. Its lips curled back to reveal sharp, yellowed teeth, and a low, menacing growl rumbled deep in its throat.

"Hey, wolf dude, why don't we sit down and talk this out? Let's not fight," I blurted, my voice tinged with nervous humor, though my legs felt like they could give out at any moment.

The wolf didn't respond—of course, it wouldn't. Instead, it lunged at me without hesitation, snarling with murderous intent. Its sheer speed was terrifying, and I barely had time to raise my arms in defense.

Its strength was overwhelming, far greater than anything I'd encountered before. I threw punch after punch, each blow landing with all the force I could muster, but it was like hitting a wall of solid muscle. The attacks only seemed to enrage the beast further. It snapped its jaws with ferocious power, each bite coming closer to tearing into me.

Panic surged through me as I realized how utterly outmatched I was. My breathing grew ragged, my movements frantic, and every fiber of my being screamed at me to survive. Was this how it all ended? Would I really be torn apart here, in this desolate forest, by a wolf that saw me as nothing more than its next meal?

Just as despair began to creep in, the voice of my spirit companion, Lumeria, echoed in my mind with startling clarity.

"Adam, what are you doing? Bite it! Use the poison skill you got from the spider!"

Her words hit me like a jolt of electricity. That's right—the poison skill! The memory of acquiring it flashed through my mind, and determination surged within me. But as I tried to sink my teeth into the wolf, it thrashed wildly, snapping its jaws with renewed ferocity. Its eyes burned with hunger and rage, and its claws raked at my flesh with brutal precision.

Suddenly, its fangs pierced my shoulder, sending a sharp, searing pain through my body. I cried out in agony, but there was no time to dwell on the pain. Its claws followed, raking across my chest and leaving deep, stinging wounds that oozed blood. Gritting my teeth against the agony, I twisted my head and finally managed to sink my teeth into its neck. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, making me gag, but I held on with every ounce of strength I had left.

The poison worked quickly. Within moments, the wolf's frantic movements began to slow. Its body went limp, but I didn't stop. Adrenaline and rage coursed through me, driving me to continue pounding on the beast until it was nothing more than a bloodied pulp. My knuckles stung with each impact, but I didn't care. Finally, when my strength gave out, I collapsed next to its lifeless form, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.

After a few minutes, I called out to Lumeria, my voice hoarse. "Lumeria, should I absorb it now?"

"Yes," she replied calmly. "You can eat any part of it to gain its essence."

Without hesitation, I tore off a piece of raw meat from the wolf's body. The taste was revolting—iron, dirt, and a sickly sweetness that turned my stomach—but the taste didn't matter. Only the strength I would gain mattered.

Strength. That was all that mattered now. Strength so no one could decide my fate. Power so I could live without fear. Absolute invincibility—that was my goal.

After consuming the wolf and capturing an ant from the nest, I moved away from the area. The blood would soon attract other predators, and I couldn't afford another fight in my current state. Rolling in the dirt to mask the scent of blood clinging to my skin, I decided I'd wash in a river if I found one. For now, survival was all that mattered.

Not long after, I stumbled upon a small, empty cave. It wasn't much—just a shallow hollow in the side of a rocky hill—but it would do for the night. Exhausted, I settled down and began meditating, focusing on integrating the bloodlines I had absorbed.

"Lumeria," I asked as I steadied my breathing, "what did I gain from the wolf and the ant?"

"You've obtained the following:

- From the wolf: Lunar Empowerment, Shadow Cloak, Alpha's Command, and Predator's Leap.

- From the ant: Titan Grip, Hive Mind Connection, Living Carapace, and Corrosive Breath."

"Wow," I muttered, impressed despite my exhaustion. "These are some powerful skills. What about their affinities?"

"The wolf granted you Shadow and Lunar affinities, while the ant gave you Earth and Acid affinities," Lumeria explained, her voice calm and steady.

"But why did they have these affinities?" I asked, curiosity briefly overpowering my fatigue.

"They were magical creatures," Lumeria replied simply. "The wolf likely underestimated you, thinking you were easy prey, so it didn't use its skills. That's why you were able to kill it."

"Yeah," I said thoughtfully, leaning back against the cave wall. "Lesson learned—never judge a book by its cover."

With that, I focused on creating my mana core. I had absorbed the essence of three creatures so far, and the process of attracting mana to my body had become slightly easier. Still, I knew it wouldn't be enough to sustain me in the long run. I needed more.

Time blurred as I meditated, drawing in mana and shaping it into a core. Minutes turned into hours, and by the time I succeeded, the pale light of dawn was already spilling into the cave. My entire body ached, but the sense of accomplishment made it all worthwhile.

The last day had been chaotic. First, I was a politician; then I died and was reborn here. If that wasn't enough, I'd had to fight a wolf barehanded. But today was different. I had a mana core now, and I could already feel the difference—the strength coursing through me, the faint hum of mana resonating within my body.

It was time to start practicing the skills I had gained.

"Hey, Lumeria, can you tell me the details of the skills I got yesterday?"

"Yes, Adam," she replied.

As she spoke, the book she was a part of appeared in front of me, opening on its own. Each skill I had gained was listed there in clear, precise detail.

### Wolf Bloodline Skills

1. Lunar Empowerment: During the night or under moonlight, the persons physical strength, speed, and senses are significantly enhanced.

2. Shadow Cloak: The ability to envelop oneself in shadow, reducing visibility and making stealth attacks easier.

3. Alpha's Command: A mental aura that influences and motivates allies, boosting their combat capabilities or coordination.

4. Predator's Leap: An explosive burst of speed for powerful jumps or charges, ideal for closing gaps or evading attacks.

### Ant Bloodline Skills

1. Titan Grip: The person gains immense physical strength, capable of lifting or breaking objects far beyond normal persons limits.

2. Hive Mind Connection: The ability to form temporary mental links with allies, sharing sensory information and enhancing group tactics.

3. Living Carapace: The skin can harden into a chitin-like armor at will, providing temporary resistance to both physical and magical attacks.

4. Corrosive Breath: A potent ability to expel a spray of acid that can weaken or destroy armor, barriers, or enemies.