Roar!!
A loud roar came from afar, startling all the kids and Aoyama himself. Curious, he decided to check it out immediately
"I'll be back. I'll put up a sound-suppressing barrier and an invisible domain formation. Stay put… and no, 'job' does not include inventing new ways to break my stuff."
"Haii!!!" said everyone.
He rushed outside, leaping branch by branch, and saw a dreadfully large beast strangling its prey. He assessed its movements and concealed his presence on a nearby branch
"System, what is this beast called? I haven't seen it in my records."
Ding
[System Alert] Beast information: All-Devouring Sky Demon Lunar Wolf
Beast Level: 70 (Nascent Soul)
{Description}: The All-Devouring Sky Demon Lunar Wolf is said to be the most ferocious beast in all 13 realms. This one is probably the youngest of its kind and the last species due to ascension.
Age: 500 years old
Cultivation: Nascent Soul Realm (Mid)
Constitution: All-Devouring Crystal of the Void, Transformation Body (5 Levels) (Level 3 to 5 not yet unlocked)
State: Hungry, Friendly, Agitated due to being Attacked
Beast Taming Info: {Can Be Tamed}
"All-Devouring Sky Demon Lunar Wolf… new record. Best not to kill it… Also, note to self: avoid hugging it. Definitely avoid hugging it."
Wolf senses something
"Grrr! Who is there?" said the All-Devouring Demon Lunar Wolf
Aoyama appeared
"What are you doing here, All-Devouring Demon Lunar Wolf?"
"I didn't expect you to know our kind. Who are you, human?"
"Me?" Toggled Aura
A subtle vibration spread through the land, deep and resonant, like the pulse of the world itself. The forests, rivers, and mountains seemed to shiver in recognition of it.
Somewhere in Tavareth, near the capital
"By the heavens… an aura of profound cultivation has descended! Even the sacred texts do not speak of one like this!" said a minister, awestruck.
Somewhere in the Beast Kingdom
"My lord! Have you sensed it?"
"The flow of the heavens stirs… this is no ordinary aura. Gather the guardians. The one who walks in such power may turn the tides of the realms!"
Somewhere among the demon tribes
"My Demon King! A being of incomparable aura has appeared. Our schemes may be disrupted!"
"Do not disturb me! Just report the location and leave at once!"
"Ye-yes, my Demon King! We obey!"
Meanwhile, at the midlands of the world
"Emperor! There is a presence… I estimate near Tavareth, in the eastern forests. It radiates with a mastery unlike any we've recorded."
"Prepare an envoy… but caution. Even a single misstep may awaken its wrath."
Back to present
"keeuK!!!!! A…a…a… being of immense power!"
(Huh? Immense power? Not a 'immortal'?)
"This humble one surrenders to you, master," said the All-Devouring Demon Lunar Wolf.
"Huh? He surrendered already? I haven't even… done anything yet."
Looks at the sky and sees rainy clouds forming
"Why now? Go away!"
Disperses
"Phew! Just false rain. Okay, let's proceed. Hey, blacky! What is your name?"
"Mm-my name? I have none, senior. You may name me, and I will swear my loyalty as your companion."
"Oh! Finally, a big dog companion. Someone to fetch sticks… or maybe fight for me."
(A big dog?) thought the wolf. Well, bigger than most dogs… and slightly terrifying.
(A big dog?) thought the wolf. Well… bigger than most dogs, and probably smarter too.
"Anyway, senior, what is your name? You are not of this land. Are you… a trans…?"
"My name is Aoyama. And yes, I'm not from here. Wait, what do you mean by trans…?"
(Crap, did he figure out I came from another world?)
"Are you… a translator?"
"Huh? No… although that might explain why I sometimes talk to myself in three languages."
"Oh senior Aoyama! Did you descend from the heavens themselves?"
(Phew… false alarm. He doesn't know I'm just a mortal-level cultivator… technically a Qi Refiner, but apparently my aura makes me look like I'm 100 levels above everyone else. He probably thinks Nascent Soul cultivators are gods.)
Let's see really… what exactly are the cultivation tiers of this world?
Mortal Realms (Lv. 1–99) – Refining the body and spirit to step away from mortality.• Qi Gathering (Lv. 1–19)• Foundation Establishment (Lv. 20–39)• Core Formation (Lv. 40–59)• Nascent Soul (Lv. 60–79)• Spirit Severing (Lv. 80–99)
Transcendent Realms (Lv. 100–299) – Transcending mortality, touching the Dao.• Void Refining (Lv. 100–139)• Dao Fusion (Lv. 140–179)• Saint Ascension (Lv. 180–219)• Heavenly Saint (Lv. 220–259)• Divine King (Lv. 260–299)
(Huh… so technically I'm still just a low-level Qi Refiner, but my aura makes me appear like a Lv. 260-299 Divine King cultivator. No wonder Junichiro thought I came from the heavens… Great. Now I have to act like a god for this wolf. Fantastic.)
Wait… is there anything above Divine King?
Ding
[System Alert] Higher cultivation tiers exist, but details are currently locked. Further exploration or certain conditions are required to access them.
(Huh… so there's something beyond even this? Interesting… this world really does have layers I haven't seen yet. Guess I'll figure that out later...)
"Ahh, hehe… I'm just a passerby. Stayed in the woods with some refugees, and then we heard your roar."
"Well, probably my fault. I was attacked in my dormant state."
"Ahh, I see. About that oath to become your companion?"
"It is a pact. I swear loyalty to you, senior Aoyama. Ever since the last 500 years, I haven't found a master. But now…"
"Ahh, so that's how it is. I've already thought of a befitting name for you: Junichiro Souma."
"Oohh! Junichiro Souma, I like it, master!" said the wolf happily.
"It means {He Who Takes Moonlight, as Beautiful as the Moon}."
"Wow! I like that meaning!" said Junichiro while jumping happily.
"Now my turn."
"I, Junichiro Souma, swear to the heavens that if I betray my master, I will be struck by lightning and never be reborn."
Lights appear in the sky
(I didn't know swearing an oath could be this dramatic. Next time, maybe I'll stick to simpler contracts… Netflix subscriptions.)
"It is done, master," said Junichiro.
"Great! I'll be in your care, Junichiro!"
"Thank you, master! I'll be in your care too."
(What a great being! This wolf will be an amazing companion.)
"Shrink your size. I don't want the kids startled."
"Alright, master!"
Shrinks into a puppy
"Wow! So cute!"
"Hehehe, thank you, master!"
Aoyama returns to the campsite; Eleanor sees him
"Big brother! Big Brother is here!! Everyone, Big brother is here!!"
Everyone lunges forward, full of warm laughter
"Big brother, you are back! What did you find?"
"Oh nothing much. Just a very cute puppy."
Shows Junichiro
"Wow! So cute!!" said all the children.
"Hahahaha! Am I right? His name is Junichiro Souma. Found him near an open field of rocks. Whispers to the dog Keep up the acting. Dog whispers back Yes master, I'll try not to slip up. <---Worst actor ever"
"Anyways kids, we'll stay here for the night. I have a surprise for you all!"
"Yay! Can't wait!" said the children happily.
"Sleep tight. I'll be back shortly. Junichiro, protect the kids. No blood. These kids had enough trauma."
"Alright, master," whispered Junichiro.
Aoyama proceeds to build a carriage for 20 people, floating style
"Okay, leaves for fluffy chairs… no horse? Floating carriage it is. How to make it float… thinks of gravity and science stuff…"
Ding
[System Alert] Skill: [Sky Flowing Formation] [Level: Advance] has been created {description: An advanced formation that lets objects levitate. Capacity: 0 / 4,000 kg}
"Normal for me now. Still fun seeing the formation come to life. Except binary numbers… eyes sore. Why is this carriage judging me?"
After building the carriage
"Hmm… why isn't it floating? Inject qi? Qi it is."
Injects qi
Carriage glows and floats, transforming into a spiritual weapon
Ding
[System Alert] You have injected qi into [Multi-Link Carriage] and it has transformed into [Heavenly Multi-Link Carriage Immortal] {Description: A multi-linked carriage transformed into an Immortal Artifact. May require a horse suitable to the glory of a Godly Emperor.}
"What the heck!!!!"