Tyberius couldn't quite tell what disturbed him more.
Was it seeing his own lifeless body sprawled motionless on the ground, chest still, no sign of breath? Or was it the unsettling sensation of floating, his consciousness fully intact, yet completely separated from the physical form he'd always known? Perhaps it was the mysterious voice that echoed in his mind earlier, announcing the arrival of a new ability like some cosmic narrator.
But no. None of those held the prize for the most absurd detail of his current situation.
That honor went, undeniably, to the foul-mouthed Goddess who had so casually uprooted him from his world only to discard him like old laundry in a monster-infested land crawling with otherworldly beasts.
He didn't know who to blame anymore. The deity who summoned him? His own fate? Or the power he never asked for?
One thing, however, had become crystal clear: he had no intention of dying, not today, not like this. Survival was all that mattered now.
His body remained vulnerable, collapsed on the forest floor. But his mind? It floated above, unshackled and unseen.
Unless...
A thought sparked. What if... he could fight back?
Driven by sheer instinct, Tyberius drifted toward one of the massive canines circling his body. Before he could second-guess himself, his consciousness surged forward, straight into the creature's form.
[Notice! Due to ownership of Unique Skill: Out Of Body Experience, Intrinsic Skill Acquired: Astral Possession]
His mental voice cracked, 'Another skill?!'
Not that he was complaining. The timing couldn't be better.
Within moments of entering the wolf's body, Tyberius felt resistance. A sharp tension echoed inside the creature's mind, it was trying to expel him, to reclaim control. The beast's soul struggled, clawed for dominance.
'Stay quiet, already, would you!' his thoughts pushed.
He intensified his grip on the creature's consciousness, and then, silence. The mental fight ended as quickly as it had begun. The wolf's spirit had been crushed, leaving Tyberius in full command.
[Notice! Full body possession achieved. Due to ownership of Unique Skill: Out Of Body Experience, Intrinsic Skill Acquired: Astral Harvest]
[Harvest: Blumund Wolf – Accept? (Yes / No)]
'Yes. Yes, yes, absolutely yes!'
[Blumund Wolf harvested. You have acquired the Extra Skills:]
Form of Blumund Wolf: Transform into a Blumund Wolf and wield all associated abilities.
Alpha's Howl: Emit a commanding roar capable of taming Blumund Wolves and summoning those already bound.
Tyberius gawked internally. 'That… is ridiculously awesome.'
He now wondered why Lyssera, the so-called Goddess, had dismissed his abilities so easily. Was it because the name sounded unimpressive? Did she judge it without considering its hidden depth?
'Wouldn't put it past her,' he thought bitterly. 'With that kind of personality, she probably skimmed the title and tossed me out on impulse.'
No matter. He had more pressing concerns now.
A plan took shape.
With a flick of his will, he withdrew his mind from the possessed wolf. Instantly, the creature collapsed, its body devoid of life. Simultaneously, Tyberius re-entered his own shell. The reunion was jarring, but he didn't have time to savor it.
The other wolves froze. Their eyes darted between the sudden death of their packmate and the figure of Tyberius rising from the ground. They grew tense, alert, unsure whether to flee or pounce.
A grin crept across his face.
"Kuhuhaha..." he chuckled darkly, standing tall. "Hear my decree, Blumunds! I grant you this one chance, run while you still can."
Silence.
None of them moved.
"So be it," he muttered. "Have it your way."
He hadn't wanted to go this far, not because of morality, but due to the sheer toll the skill might take. Still, the alternative was getting torn to pieces.
He activated the ability: Form of Blumund Wolf.
It didn't require chanting or focus, just a raw, primal instinct.
His muscles twisted. Bones cracked and elongated. Pain flared through every joint as his frame contorted into something no longer human. Flesh reshaped. Fur sprouted in a cascade of silky, midnight blue strands. A gleaming bronze mane crowned his head, and claws replaced fingers.
The transformation ended with a snarl.
He now stood, a towering alpha, nearly Five feet plus tall on all fours. His new body radiated dominance, and the power rippling beneath his pelt felt wild, exhilarating.
The other wolves trembled. One of them whimpered, backing away slightly, the bloodlust in its gaze now extinguished.
From this new vantage point, Tyberius finally saw them for what they were, creatures desperate to assert control in a brutal world. They no longer looked terrifying. Pathetic? So he would say. Or rather cute. Dogs are naturally known to have such qualities regardless of the breed.
Wolves? A distant dog breed remains the cutest on the table. Ty couldn't deny, this wolves stole his heart, perhaps a bit of it.
Though a self-proclaimed cat person, Tyberius held no real hatred for dogs. His opinion had always hovered somewhere in the middle, not overly fond, not fearful either.
"So then," he said aloud, his voice layered with a supernatural growl, "what will it be? Fight... or yield?"
He didn't need to wait long.
One by one, the wolves dropped to their knees, lowering their heads in a gesture of complete surrender. They bared their necks, a sign that they had accepted him as their superior.
The sight was oddly majestic. Yet deep within, he couldn't shake a lingering suspicion.
What if they're faking it? he wondered. What if they're only kneeling out of fear, and the moment he revert, they pounce?
Caution flared.
He didn't trust them, not entirely. They were, after all, wild predators. And no matter how obedient they acted now, he was still the outsider. The anomaly. The prey.
"Fine," he muttered. "Just in case…"
Planting his paws firmly into the dirt, he tilted his head toward the sky and let out an earth-rattling howl. The sound pierced through the forest like a sonic wave. Birds scattered. The ground itself seemed to tremble.
The wolves collapsed entirely, pressing their chins to the soil, bodies rigid with terror.
[Notice! You have tamed four Blumund Wolves.]
"Nice," Tyberius whispered to himself, still panting. "But uh... what now?"
---
Current Status:
Name: Tyberius
Unique Skill: Out Of Body Experience
Intrinsic Skill: Astral Possession! Astral Projection! Astral Harvest
Extra Skill: Form Of Blumund Wolf! Alpha's Howl