TLWD 08

Chapter : 8. The Hour of Dog and Wolf (1)

By completely tearing and regenerating [C+] my muscles, I increased my strength stat by +4.

‘Since you get +1 stat per level…’

It was like leveling up 4 times all at once.

Even though +4 may not seem like much, it definitely wasn’t small.

The stats were based on the average adult male.

So, Strength 1 meant the strength of one adult man.

Strength +4 meant I had the strength of four adult men.

And because Solo Level-Up [EX] gave me an extra +1 stat each time I leveled up, I could keep gaining the physical power of one adult man every time.

Just as I expected.

The secret to Ian’s ridiculous strength was Solo Level-Up [EX].

==「Player Info」==

[Name] = Adrian Whitewolf
[Level] = Level 6
[HP] = 12
[MP] = 0
[Stats] = Strength: 7, Agility: 1, Stamina: 1, Mana: 1
[EXP] = 12.7%

I got +3 levels from defeating the Ice Troll.

+2 more levels for clearing the tutorial quest.

Total of level 6, and that gave me +5 stats.

Then I got +1 extra stat as a quest bonus.

So in total, I had +6 stats.

I spread them evenly between Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Mana.

It was to check how effective each stat point was. That’s how I found out that each stat point was equal to one adult man’s ability.

At first, my stats were all zero.

That meant I was way below the average adult male.

Yeah, I really was a disgrace in the past…

‘Raising EXP is definitely the most efficient way to grow.’

Besides gaining extra stats, I could also get new abilities with my own power, Devour [S+].

Ian’s ability was Solo Level-Up [EX].

My ability was Devour [S+].

Using both, monster hunting became a way to grow explosively.

‘But in my current state, hunting is impossible.’

Right now, I wasn’t a predator of the Allied Army—I was just the Count Family’s disgrace.

‘I nearly died trying to hunt.’

Before I returned to the family, I went monster hunting in the snowy mountains.

And I almost died.

All I had was a practice sword, completely useless in a real fight. Even swinging it a few times left me gasping for breath.

I couldn’t even dream of my Predator days.

My current body wasn’t even at a basic soldier’s level.

‘The sudden snowstorm saved me.’

If it hadn’t come, I’d be dead before even meeting Ian.

‘That weakened Ice Troll I met first—that was pure luck.’

Anyway, I had to train my body first.

With this body ruined by gambling and pleasure, there was no way I could hunt monsters.

I didn’t need to become like the old Predator again, but at least strong enough to fight a bit.

So I gave up on hunting and returned to the family.

Used my remaining +2 stats on Strength, then used those to rebuild my muscles and gained +4 more Strength.

Now my Strength was 7.

That was the power of seven adult men.

‘Definitely…’

I could feel the explosive power from my rebuilt muscles.

Normally, this kind of fast growth wasn’t possible.

But thanks to the Ice Troll’s Regeneration [C+], it was.

‘Even Trolls didn’t recover this fast.’

When I was a Predator, I devoured a Troll’s heart and got Recovery.

Even that ability was amazing.

Cuts, burns, bruises healed in minutes.

Even if a limb was cut off, I could reattach and recover it.

The Ice Troll was a mutant form of the Troll.

Its regeneration was five times better.

I expected it to be strong…

But not this strong.

‘It’s nearly at Saint level.’

Not an exaggeration. It could be compared to the miracle powers of the Allied Army’s hero, the Saint.

And this wasn’t even full gene integration—just basic Regeneration [C+].

I can’t even imagine what powers I’d gain if I got more genes from more Ice Trolls.

‘No wonder the Emperor captured and bred them all.’

But it’s not just Ice Trolls.

This continent has many rare monsters with powers just as great.

In my past life, the Emperor captured them all.

But in this time… not yet.

There are rare monsters out there stronger than Ice Trolls.

‘If I can get all those powers…’

I could surpass even the old Predator version of me.

Growwwl…!!

Suddenly, my stomach roared like thunder.

I got dizzy. The hunger was overwhelming.

The Ice Troll’s regeneration didn’t heal endlessly.

It had a cost.

The Saint’s miracles required divine power.

The Ice Troll’s regeneration ability required…

◆ Due to massive protein use, you feel extreme hunger! ◆

Nutrients.

I needed food.

My body’s protein was completely used up from reconstructing my muscles.

‘It should be time for a meal now.’

I stood up, trying to ignore the hunger.

Then came the shocked voices of the soldiers.

“Whoa!!”

“H-He’s up and walking!!”

“What the hell…?!”

They all stared at me wide-eyed.

Their jaws were hanging open.

It wasn’t just shock—it was like they were watching a bizarre creature in a zoo.

All that… just because I was exercising?

‘Have they never seen someone work out before?’

Then I remembered—I’m the Count Family’s disgrace.

Back in the army, I trained daily.

But in the Count’s house, I was only known for drinking and gambling.

‘No wonder this is their first time seeing me like this.’

Of course they were surprised.

I stood up and brushed the dirt off my clothes.

“U-Uwaah!!”

“M-Monster…! He’s a monster…!”

Okay, surprise is one thing, but calling me a monster?

That’s going too far.

I was just about to scold them when—

◆ Overwhelming hunger makes you see everything as food! ◆

Suddenly I got dizzy again.

I blinked and tried to focus.

But my vision was already warped.

The wooden training swords looked like long loaves of bread.

The straw dummies looked like giant cheese blocks.

And the soldiers… looked like fresh meat.

I wanted to sink my teeth into their throats.

Chew their flesh to end my hunger.

Drink their blood to quench my thirst.

Thump!

My heart pounded wildly.

My eyes filled with bloodlust. Madness overtook me.

The instincts of a predator with prey in sight.

My body moved on its own.

I blinked once—

And found myself charging at the soldiers.

My reconstructed muscles made me much faster and stronger than before.

BOOM!

The ground cracked under my feet.

The recoil sent my body flying.

The soldiers couldn’t react.

They were too shocked to move, let alone fight back.

Even if they weren’t, I was too fast for them to even notice.

The distance between us closed fast.

My eyes locked on the nearest soldier. I reached out, ready to grab his neck and tear—

And then—

◆ Your Willpower [EX] resists the devouring hunger! ◆

A translucent message popped up.

Suddenly, my mind cleared.

I quickly pulled my hand back.

But someone else reached me first.

Smack—!

A strong hand grabbed my wrist. I tried to shake it off instinctively—but I couldn’t.

Even with my new strength, I couldn’t break free.

Clatter—!

I heard something fall.

Looking down, I saw a tray on the floor. Turkey spilled everywhere.

Must’ve been the meal I asked Bernard for.

But the person who grabbed me wasn’t Bernard.

I slowly looked up.

And saw a man with a twisted, almost demonic face.

“What on earth are you doing…!!”

I recognized the face.

I remembered the name clearly.

Even though my memories were scarred by war, I could never forget this man.

How could I?

“Sir Kai!”

This bastard who slaughtered my fellow soldiers without mercy.

I first met Kai when I was five.

My father had gone to the royal capital and came back with a shabby little boy.

Small, skinny, and frail.

My father named him Kai, meaning “dog that resembles a tiger.”

He often called him a “usable stray dog.”

He also told me:

– He’s smart, but not clever. Easy to handle. If he recognizes you as his master, he’ll never betray you. Raise him well—use him as your limbs.

So my father gave Kai to me.

And my father was right.

Kai was a loyal knight, ready to die for me.

Looking back… things were okay between us when we were young.

I cared for Kai. He cared for me.

We were more like brothers than master and servant.

But at some point…

Something broke between us.

We could no longer be brothers.

After Seraphia fell, our relationship fell apart completely.

Now, back in the past—

Kai stood in front of me like a noble wolf.

Holding my wrist, standing tall like a snowfield wolf…

He suited the White Wolf name more than I ever did.

But his name, Kai, still meant a dog like a tiger.

Dogs and wolves share the same genes.

Long ago, some wolves got close to humans—that’s how dogs were born.

So they look alike.

But what separates a dog from a wolf… is what’s inside.

Loyalty.

Dogs wag their tails at humans.

Wolves glare and attack.

But in the twilight, when the light fades—

You can’t tell a dog from a wolf.

“Leave the Count’s territory right now.”

So the Kai standing before me now—

Was he a dog or a wolf?

If he’s a dog, he’ll wag his tail.

“If I say no?”

If he’s a wolf… he’ll attack me.