On a battlefield drowned in chaos, where millions had already been claimed by the war, another life reached its final breath — a teenager with midnight-black hair and honey-colored eyes, eyes that once held warmth but now stared blankly at the sky. His name was Wolf — a strange choice to many, yet deeply meaningful to his parents. They had wished he would embody the qualities of the wolves: unwavering loyalty, a survivor's tenacity, and the instinct to protect those he loved.
Ah… and then the rain began.
At first, it was only a faint drizzle, but soon it washed over the battlefield like a shroud, covering corpses and broken weapons alike. What a beautiful farewell, I thought as the cold raindrops hit my skin. I managed to tilt my head just enough to glimpse the sky. Heavy clouds rolled above, yet I swore I could still see faint pinpricks of starlight fighting through the storm. Even in the middle of so much destruction, nature remained achingly beautiful.
And then… darkness enveloped me completely.
I no longer felt the burning pain that had ripped through my body moments ago. I no longer sensed the nauseating smell of blood, the stench of rotting flesh, or the muddy earth beneath me. Everything — every sensation — simply faded away. It was peaceful, in a tragic sort of way.
Until something wet brushed against me.
…Who's licking me?
I froze. My mind was still sluggish, almost disconnected from whatever body I was in. Shouldn't I be dead? I tried to open my eyes, but they wouldn't obey. My ears picked up only muffled sounds, as if I were underwater. Anxiety flooded me, so I focused on what else I could feel.
My body felt wrong.
Smaller. Softer. Fragile. My limbs didn't match the ones I remembered having. And then I felt it — something behind me, something that moved when I tried to shift.
A tail?
I tried to move again, instinctively recoiling, and bumped into something furry and warm. Small, trembling bodies pressed against me. Little whimpers echoed around — tiny, delicate cries full of hunger and helplessness. The sound vibrated through my bones.
That was when hunger struck me too — sharp, overwhelming, desperate. My whole body trembled with weakness. I let out a tiny whimper, clumsy and instinctive, mimicking the cries I heard around me. A gentle muzzle nudged me forward, guiding me toward a warm, soft surface. A sweet, milky scent filled my nostrils.
Without thinking, I began to feed.
Somewhere nearby, a long, powerful howl rang through the den. Even with my weak newborn senses, the sound carried authority — majestic, commanding. A voice of the wild.
And suddenly, everything made sense.
I had been reincarnated.
Not just as any animal — but as a canine. Judging by that howl… as a wolf.
How ironic. I had spent my entire life bearing the name Wolf, and now I had become one in truth. Maybe this was a twisted joke of the universe… or maybe a blessing. At least wolves lived far from the wars of mankind. In the mountains of Áurea, packs roamed freely, untouched by the bloodshed of nations.
Assuming, of course, that this world was still the same Earth I once knew.
Because everything felt different. Everything felt… magical.
As a joke — an absurd one, given the situation — I mentally whispered, Status. A silly idea, something from games and novels.
And then, impossibly, a panel appeared.
I couldn't open my eyes, yet I could see it. A board of glowing words floating in the void of my mind.
Name: ??
Race: Shadow Giant Wolf
Age: 23 h (newborn)
Family: Canidae
Strength: 5 — Physical and muscular power. (average newborn: 3)
Dexterity: 4 — Reflexes and coordination. (average: 3)
Constitution: 25 — Health and resilience. (average: 24)
Intelligence: 20 — Memory and reasoning. (average: 3)
Wisdom: 5 — Perception and intuition. (average: 6)
Charisma: 2 — Beauty and social influence. (average: 2)
Mana: 20 — Magical capacity. (average: 3)
Blessings: Loved by the Moon, Friend of Darkness, Otherworld
Loved by the Moon: Attributes double under the full moon's light.
Friend of Darkness: +20% affinity and control over the dark element.
Otherworld: ???
I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or scream. I had spoken "Status" as a joke — a mere thought! — and yet here it was, words glowing as if etched into the very fabric of my mind.
Strength. Dexterity. Mana.
I wasn't simply a wolf.
I was something far greater. Something extraordinary.
"Shadow Giant Wolf"… The name alone sounded like a creature from myths, not something meant to exist in nature. But it was the blessing Otherworld that unsettled me the most. Did it refer to my memories? To the fact that despite this newborn body, my soul still carried the weight of another life?
A soft whimper near me pulled me back. I stopped feeding, suddenly aware of the other pups pressed around me. And above us, I sensed a large presence — protective, watchful. A guardian of the pack.
Maybe my father. Maybe another adult wolf.
But whoever it was, they radiated strength and warmth.
One thing was certain:
A new life had begun.