----
"A key, huh?" Edward muttered, tilting his head as the glowing message hovered in the air, faint sparks curling along its edges. "Didn't something like this appear before… when I had to accept that legendary wolf beast as my pet?"
He patted his coat, fingers sliding over every pocket. "Nothing… just some old bills." He frowned. "Guess this message is a mistake."
The wind whispered across the plain like a cold breath, lifting loose dust and dried leaves. Beyond him, the horizon bent under a violet sky, scarred and jagged from the dimensional storm that had spit him into this world. The air smelled faintly of ozone and charred earth, and somewhere in the distance, a creature's howl cut through the wind like a knife.
"Before worrying about any key, I should accept the request," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Otherwise… that beast will swallow me whole. Great—trapped here either way."
Edward hesitated, then slowly lifted a hand toward the glowing text.
> Accept or Reject
Two shimmering symbols hovered before him, like liquid light suspended in midair.
"What… my hand just passed straight through?" he whispered, staring at his palm. "How did I even touch it the first time?"
He shook his head, forcing focus. "I… accept."
The letters rippled like water disturbed by a stone. He felt no weight, no heat—only the faint chill of air.
"I accepted… now what?"
Another message appeared almost immediately:
> Do you want to name your pet?
Edward scratched his chin, the corner of his mouth twitching into a grin. "Name, huh? Alright then… I'll call you—Cerberus."
Lightning began crawling along the massive wolf's fur in silver-blue veins. Edward took a step back. "Why… are you glowing?"
The creature's body trembled, then began shrinking rapidly. In seconds, where a towering wolf had stood, there was now a small pup, no bigger than a housecat, fur crackling faintly with static energy. A translucent panel unfolded before Edward's eyes:
---
Cerberus — The Mythic Fang
• Title: One of the Seven Mythic Creatures
• Alias: Thunder Emperor
• Abilities: Thunder Rush · Electro Burst · Hyper Flash
• Nature: Loyal · Attention-seeking · Enjoys head pats
---
"One of the Seven Mythic Creatures…" Edward muttered, voice catching in disbelief. "Thunder Emperor? What kind of monster did I just befriend?"
Another option blinked below the description:
> Transform — Switch between forms at will
"That… might come in handy." He crouched and rested a palm on the pup's head. Cerberus yipped, sparks dancing along its fur.
For a heartbeat, the tension of survival melted away. Edward laughed, brushing his hand across the pup's back. "Hah! Your fur's softer than clouds. I like you, buddy."
Cerberus barked, a playful crackle of electricity in its voice.
---
Night crept over the land. The violet sky deepened to black, twin moons rising behind tattered clouds. Edward found a crooked tree and sank down, Cerberus curled beside him, glowing faintly like a living ember in the darkness.
"My first night here," Edward whispered, watching shadows stretch across the scarred landscape. "No roof, no food… perfect." His stomach growled loudly, as if reminding him of every mistake of the day. "If I bring fruit, you'll just eat it, huh?"
He pushed to his feet. "Guess I'll have to hunt something."
The forest around him rustled unnaturally. Then—CRACK!
A force slammed him backward into a tree. Bark exploded, splinters embedding in his coat. Edward groaned, struggling to open his eyes. From the shadows stepped a monstrous creature, the size of a carriage, with horns gleaming in the moonlight. Its eyes burned red like molten coals.
"A bison?" he gasped. "No… look at those eyes…"
The monster snorted, steam rising from its nostrils. Cerberus barked sharply, standing his ground even in puppy form.
Edward gritted his teeth. "Time to test you. Transform, Cerberus!"
The world ignited in light. Azure lightning slashed through the forest, carving the air with screaming wind. Edward's eyes squeezed shut as the thunder roared, shaking the ground beneath him.
"ROOOAAAAR!"
When the brightness faded, the pup was gone. In its place, a colossal wolf stood, eyes glowing white-blue, muscles rippling under crackling fur. One movement—a blinding flash of lightning—and the bison vanished. The earth burned where it had stood, a crater blackened and smoking.
Edward staggered forward, awe-struck. "You… did this?"
Cerberus's eyes softened. The colossal wolf lowered its head, nudging Edward before collapsing back into playful puppy form, licking his face with infectious energy.
"Can't… breathe…" Edward wheezed, laughing, caught between relief and exhaustion. Darkness rolled over him, heavy and welcoming.
---
He awoke to the soft light of dawn. Cerberus was curled against his side, small, warm, and alive. Edward smiled weakly, scratching behind its ears. "You're trustworthy… my first companion."
His stomach rumbled. "And apparently… the hungriest man alive."
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
> Restore Everything?
Edward blinked. "You can do that too?" He pressed Yes. A golden warmth flowed through him. Pain, hunger, and fatigue vanished as if erased.
Flexing his hands, he murmured, "This isn't just a message… it's a system. That's what I'll call you. System."
---
Hours passed as Edward and Cerberus traveled through the charred battlefield of last night. Silver light filtered through the trees. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and ash.
"How strong are you really, Cerberus?" he asked aloud. The pup yipped softly, nuzzling his boot.
After hours of walking, greenery returned. The forest shimmered with dew, yet eyes glimmered from the shadows—predators watching, unseen.
Edward exhaled. "Alright… let's try this again. Transform!"
Nothing happened.
A message flickered in front of him:
> Transformation limit reached (10 hours).
"What? So that's why you turned back on your own…" He groaned. "Should've read your info properly… too lazy."
Another line appeared:
> Bond stabilization in progress — Power sealed to prevent rampage.
Edward nodded slowly. "Makes sense. If you went berserk… the world might end."
Drawing his sword, he grinned. "Then it's my turn."
He lunged. The blade cut through air—and deeper, into something primal. Space seemed to split like glass. Light folded inward. Sound vanished. For a heartbeat, he felt suspended in eternity.
When the world snapped back, every beast was gone. Only shimmering air marked where they had stood.
Edward stared at his sword, awe flooding him. "That strike… it felt like Cerberus's power. Am I this strong… or is the world this fragile?"
The earth trembled beneath him. Cracks raced along the ground.
"Wait—oh, come on—!"
The soil gave way, and Edward plunged into darkness, wind screaming around him, swallowed by the abyss below.
---
To be continued…