'Hell yeah!'
Since Pochi was being so enthusiastic, Hans wasn't about to hold back.
He leapt up, body light and fast as lightning, and landed steadily on the giant beast's broad, rock-hard head.
Beneath his boots, he could feel the coarse yet tough texture of Pochi's fur and the volcanic heat radiating from the immense energy within that body. For a moment, Hans's spirits soared.
'Guys, who could understand this feeling.'
'It's only my second day here, and a Dragon-level monster is offering me a ride!'
'This kind of treatment? Absolutely insane!'
'No way I'm passing this up!'
"ROAR!" (Hold on tight!)
Pochi had no idea what Hans was thinking.
If it did, it would've probably flung him off right away and fired a real Scorched Bomb at his face to wake him up.
The beast let out a low, rumbling growl, planted its massive limbs, and burst into motion!
Rumble
The earth shook as the gigantic black beast exploded forward with speed that completely defied its size.
In just a few strides, it kicked off the tunnel walls, rocketing deeper into the base!
Whoosh!
The wind howled wildly. The rocky walls blurred past them, melting into streaks of shadow.
Hans sat firm atop Pochi's head, feeling the crushing air pressure and the thunderous tremors beneath him. Once again, he was reminded of just how terrifying Dragon-level monsters really were.
Pochi's speed was absurd. Before Hans could even enjoy the ride, the air ahead had already turned damp and fresh, faint echoes hinting at a vast open space.
A second later, man and beast burst into an enormous underground cavern, the view ahead opening wide!
The cave was breathtaking. A massive stone bridge, built by hand, stretched across the middle, connecting two cliffs. The ceiling rose so high it vanished into the darkness above, while below, a bottomless abyss yawned endlessly.
From deep within that black pit came the faint sound of flowing water, an underground river, broad and quiet, hidden in the depths.
As Pochi came to a halt, Hans realized there was another presence here, not weak, either.
At the center of the bridge, a green figure was darting around several scattered boulders, moving with impossible speed.
Only a blur of green afterimages could be seen flashing between the rocks, each movement slicing the air with sharp, tearing sounds.
It was a handsome man in a black combat suit, with flowing green hair that danced like a whip in the wind.
But during one brief pause, Hans saw clearly,
The man's long, narrow eyes were sharp like a hawk's, his nails black and beast-like.
Across his face, neck, and arms ran strange, leopard-like black markings.
A vicious aura radiated from him; he looked like a killer risen straight from hell.
Such clear monster traits meant only one thing: this guy was no longer human.
Hans narrowed his eyes, a familiar name flashing through his mind.
As a transmigrant, he knew this one.
A long-famed S-Class wanted criminal.
The senior of Speed-o'-Sound Sonic.
A top assassin from the Ninja Village,
"Gale Wind!"
Hans remembered well, this man had willingly taken monster cells to gain greater power and had joined the Monster Association on his own.
He just hadn't expected to see him this early.
Clearly, Psykos had been preparing for her grand plan for a long time, quietly recruiting every powerful force she could, even elite killers from the underworld like him.
But Pochi didn't care who stood on the bridge.
All it was thinking about was its upcoming bath. In a great mood, it simply lumbered forward, step by step.
At that moment, Gale Wind was lost in the rush of his new monstrous speed, reveling in the sensation of the wind itself.
Then suddenly, his sharp ninja instincts screamed a warning.
An overwhelming pressure slammed down on him, like a collapsing mountain. His expression froze instantly.
Swish!
The green blur stopped mid-motion. Gale Wind's eyes snapped toward the source of the aura, his pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Even though his power as a newly turned monster barely touched the Dragon-level threshold, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
As a top-tier ninja, his information network was excellent.
He knew who Pochi was, one of the strongest Dragon-level monsters in the entire association!
Against such a creature, someone like him stood absolutely no chance.
Instinct smothered his pride.
He didn't dare move carelessly.
Afraid that even the slightest wrong move would be seen as a provocation, he quickly let the black markings fade from his body.
Within a second, the monstrous features vanished, replaced by his human appearance. His aura dropped from low Dragon-level back to high Demon-level.
He stepped forward cautiously, intending to show respect and avoid unnecessary trouble,
But then he froze again.
Because he saw something that made his mind go blank.
A black-armored insectoid figure with a Demon-level aura had just leapt casually off the Dragon-level beast's head.
'What the hell was this?!'
'A Demon-level monster… riding on top of a Dragon-level one?!'
'What kind of joke was this!?'
The sight was so surreal it short-circuited his brain. He couldn't even process what he was looking at.
As he stared in disbelief, Hans landed lightly, his black spiked armor gleaming faintly in the dim light, radiating quiet power.
Within his vision, the system scanned the man before him.
Because Gale Wind had reverted to human form, his stats were within range.
A translucent data window appeared before Hans's eyes:
[Monster: Gale Wind]
[Disaster Level: Demon (High)]
[Ability 1: "Swift Wind (SSR)" – Upon monsterization, Gale Wind can harness the power of the wind, greatly enhancing speed and reflexes. Capable of ultra-high-speed movement and attacks beyond normal human limits.]
[Ability 2: "Monsterization (SR)" – A rare ability triggered in highly trained humans after exposure to monster cells. Allows free switching between human and monster forms, with dramatic boosts in all attributes while transformed.]
[Ability 3: "Gale Assassination Arts (SR)" – A fusion of ninja village techniques and personal combat skill, specializing in steel wires, daggers, and other weapons for lethal efficiency.]
[Ability 4: "Tempest Kick (SR)" – A secret martial art from the Ninja Village, delivering a whirlwind-fast spinning kick. Even a graze can slice flesh clean.]