New World New Rules! (2)

***

Seth scanned the area, analyzing the Frostbite Wolf's surroundings and identifying its blind spot. Carefully, he instructed Raynar to use Shadowmeld and flank the monster.

Without hesitation, Raynar dissolved into the shadows, gliding seamlessly from one to another. Moving swiftly, it navigated between debris and finally positioned itself within the shadow cast by a collapsed pillar, right beside the wolf.

"Now, hit it hard with Umbral Strike," Seth commanded through their bond.

Raynar reacted instantly, manifesting a shadowy whip that lashed out with incredible force. The strike landed on the wolf's side, sending the monster hurtling into a pile of rubble opposite Raynar.

Seth cautiously approached the creature, his guard still up. As he drew closer, he inspected the mangled body of the Frostbite Wolf. "Ugh... that Umbral Strike packs a punch. It's like this thing got flattened by a truck," he muttered, marveling at the damage.

The wolf lay still, its body battered and motionless. Seth couldn't help but feel a newfound respect for the power of his first companion. "Raynar's strength is no joke... with this, maybe surviving here isn't as impossible as I thought."

Suddenly, a monster pounced on Seth, sending him flying into the ruins of the building they had been heading toward. Raynar immediately rushed to his side, adopting a defensive stance to shield Seth from further attacks.

Seth coughed and winced in pain, slumping against a fragment of the wall. "Ugh... damn, that hurt. What just hit me?" He squinted at the creature standing before them.

"Another wolf? Of course. How could I forget wolves always hunt in packs?" Seth groaned, scanning the surroundings. Luckily, no others seemed to be lurking nearby.

The wolf snarled and charged toward them, its movements rapid and deadly. Seth's pulse raced as he shouted, "Knock it back!"

Raynar obeyed instantly, lashing out with Umbral Strike to hurl the wolf backward. However, the attack didn't inflict significant damage. Seth grimaced as he observed the monster. "Is it stronger than the first one? Its coat is darker... and those teeth, they look like polished steel."

Focusing on the spot Raynar's strike had landed, Seth's mind raced. "I need a plan to take this thing down in one hit."

With determination, Seth issued a new command: "Raynar, morph your shadow whip into a pointed spear. Wait for my signal before striking."

Raynar's shadow weapon shifted, forming a sharp, arrow-like point. Meanwhile, the wolf growled and sprinted forward, leaping straight at them.

"Not yet... not yet..." Seth murmured, carefully timing his strike.

As the wolf closed the distance, Seth shouted, "Now! Go for its neck!"

Raynar unleashed a precise attack, aiming for the wolf's throat. However, the creature reacted faster than anticipated, twisting mid-air. The spear missed its target, but luckily the attack hit the wolf's stomach and ripped it open.

The wolf landed on its feet but collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain and unable to move.

"Did that do it?" Seth muttered, slowly getting to his feet despite the soreness in his body. He approached the weakened wolf cautiously.

Staring down at the creature, Seth considered ending its life. However, when his eyes met the wolf's, he hesitated. Its expression, though fierce, held an undercurrent of anger and sorrow.

Suddenly, the artifact on his arm began to glow, and a familiar interface appeared before him:

[Taming conditions met.]

[Would you like to tame this creature?]

[Yes / No]

"Huh? I can tame this wolf?" Seth wondered aloud. Then, with a small shrug, he thought, "Why not? The more allies, the better, right? Yes."

As soon as he made his choice, a new interface appeared:

[Confirmed: Monster Tamed]

Name: Abyss Howler

Race: Abyssals

Rank: Rare

"Whoa, it's a Rare rank? No wonder it was tougher than the first wolf."

A soft light radiated from Seth's artifact, washing over the Abyss Howler and healing its wounds.

"It can even heal tamed monsters? Nice. But what about my injuries?" Seth glanced down at himself and then asked the artifact. There was no response.

"Tch. Playing favorites, huh?" he muttered under his breath, shooting the artifact a disgruntled look.

He turned back to the Abyss Howler, now sitting obediently with its tongue out, looking remarkably docile. Its tail wagged slowly, giving it the appearance of a playful pup.

"You look way less scary now," Seth remarked. "Alright then, welcome aboard, uh... Abyss Howler. Ugh, why do all your default names have to be such a mouthful? Want me to give you a proper name?"

The Abyss Howler barked once, its tail wagging furiously in agreement.

Seth pondered what name would suit the Abyss Howler. "What should I call you? Ugh, I really hate naming things. Alright, let's see... You're a wolf with a dark, almost purplish hue, and your teeth shine like they're made of steel or silver. Teeth... purple... abyss... hell..." He thought aloud, piecing together ideas until inspiration struck.

"Alright, I've got it. From now on, your name will be Cerbyss."

The Abyss Howler tilted its head, seeming confused.

"Why that name, you ask?" Seth smirked. "Because I want you to become the strongest wolf, even in hell itself. 'Cer' comes from Cerberus the guardian of Hell's gate, and 'byss' from Abyss. Together, that makes Cerbyss." Seth dramatically pointed at the Abyss Howler as if declaring its destiny.

Cerbyss barked twice and let out a proud howl, its tail wagging enthusiastically, thumping against the ground.

"Looks like you like it," Seth said with a chuckle.

Suddenly, the interface appeared:

[Confirmed: Tamed Monster's Name Updated.]

Name: Cerbyss (Abyss Howler)

Race: Abyssals

Rank: Rare

"Nice, all set."

Just as Seth was admiring the updated status, he heard a low growling sound. Alarmed, he scanned his surroundings.

"What? Another monster?" he muttered, only to realize the sound was coming from his own stomach. "Oh, right. I haven't eaten all day."

Looking up, he noticed the dim light outside. "So it's already night? I didn't even notice time passing."

Turning to Cerbyss, he introduced Raynar with a playful grin. "Alright, Cerbyss, let me introduce you to your elder sibling. This is Raynar, and you'd better show him respect."

Raynar, hearing the title of elder sibling, immediately straightened its form, taking on a taller and prouder stance, clearly basking in the acknowledgment and relishing the idea of having a subordinate.

Cerbyss, on the other hand, barked in response, wagging its tail but looking as if it didn't quite understand the concept of hierarchy yet.

"Alright, Raynar. Now, show me the food you mentioned earlier," Seth said, clutching his grumbling stomach.

Without hesitation, Raynar moved, leading Seth deeper into the crumbling structure. The further they ventured, the brighter Raynar's glow became, illuminating the path for Seth like a living lantern. After a few minutes, they reached what appeared to be the ruins of a shopping center buried within the building.

"Whoa... Look at all this food," Seth exclaimed, marveling at the shelves lined with dusty items and overgrown with creeping plants. "But wait, is any of this even edible? How long has this place been abandoned?"

Curious but cautious, he opened a defunct refrigerator, retrieving a dusty can of food. Checking the expiration date, Seth frowned.

"Wait a second. I don't even know what year it is in this world," he muttered, his voice laced with frustration. "Guess I'll just have to test it manually."

He walked over to Cerbyss, placing the can beneath the wolf's sharp fangs. "Alright, buddy, help me out here." Cerbyss obediently bit into the can, tearing it open with ease.

"You're a lifesaver, Cerbyss," Seth said proudly. Cerbyss barked in delight, wagging his tail furiously.

Bringing the opened can closer, Seth sniffed the contents cautiously. "Hmm, it doesn't smell rancid... and it looks..." He held the can closer to Raynar's light for a better look. "Looks fine. Guess I'll give it a try."

Scooping out a small portion with his thumb and forefinger, Seth tasted it hesitantly. His face lit up.

"Not bad! It's actually pretty good. Thanks, Raynar. You're the best," he said, patting the glowing creature on its shadowy back.

Raynar visibly puffed up, growing slightly taller as if to bask in the praise, even casting a smug glance at Cerbyss.

Cerbyss, meanwhile, wagged his tail like an overexcited pup, oblivious to Raynar's posturing. Instead, he panted happily, tongue lolling out as if content just to be part of the moment.

Seth indulged himself with a large amount of canned food until he was utterly stuffed. With a satisfied groan, he leaned back against Cerbyss, using the wolf-like creature as a makeshift cushion.

"Ahh, finally, I feel alive again. A full stomach really does wonders," he said contentedly. After a brief pause, a thought struck him. "By the way, what do you guys eat?"

He turned to Raynar, who responded with a low growl. The artifact on Seth's arm translated: "Meat. Bones. Your food."

"Huh, so you can eat the same food as me. Good to know. What about you, Cerbyss?" Seth asked, looking at the Abyss Howler.

Cerbyss barked enthusiastically, prompting the artifact to interpret: "Meat. Bones. Meat. Meat."

"As expected, you're just like a regular dog," Seth chuckled. "Alright then."

Standing up, he gathered a pile of canned food for both Raynar and Cerbyss. "For now, you'll have to make do with these. Later, I'll figure out something better for you guys."

Both creatures growled happily, clearly pleased. Seth smiled and knelt beside them, using Cerbyss's sharp teeth to open the cans.

He watched them eat with a sense of satisfaction, noting how Raynar consumed the food with an almost elegant precision, while Cerbyss devoured his share with wild enthusiasm, wagging his tail furiously.

Suddenly, a familiar interface screen appeared before Seth.

[Bond Level Increased]

Name: Raynar (Voidshade Umbra)

Bond Level: 2

[Bond Level Increased]

Name: Cerbyss (Abyss Howler)

Bond Level: 2

"Whoa, their bond levels increased? I guess sharing food and taking care of them really helps," Seth mused, feeling a sense of accomplishment as he watched his companions eat.

After finishing their meals, Raynar and Cerbyss settled down, seemingly content. Seth stretched out and reclined against Cerbyss's warm, furry belly, using it as a cushion. The Abyss Howler didn't seem to mind, letting out a low, relaxed growl.

As Seth stared at the dim ceiling of the ruined building, his thoughts began to wander.

"Why did I transmigrate to another world? Was I summoned by someone? Or was it just bad luck?"

The questions swirled in his mind, unanswered and persistent. His new reality was filled with danger, mystery, and uncertainty, but amidst the chaos, there was a strange sense of comfort being surrounded by his two loyal companions.

Lost in his thoughts, exhaustion from the day's events caught up with him. His eyelids grew heavier, and before long, Seth drifted off into a deep sleep, his breathing steady and calm as he lay nestled against Cerbyss.

Raynar, ever-watchful, moved slightly closer, his form faintly glowing as he kept a silent vigil over Seth and their surroundings. Meanwhile, Cerbyss, enjoying the warmth of Seth's presence, let out a soft snore, the room enveloped in peaceful stillness.