The Wolf King stopped breathing.
Magic completely dissipated.
Life had reached its end.
All wolves surrounded it.
Let out mournful cries.
"Aowooo... aowooo..."
The sounds piercing.
Echoing through the forest.
Silver Fang lowered his head.
"The Wolf King... has fallen..."
His voice hoarse.
Carrying sorrow.
I couldn't stand steady either.
[My HP: 30/290]
Near death state.
But system notifications kept appearing.
[Killed Forest Wolf King]
[Gained 3000 experience]
[Level Up: 3/50]
[Level Up: 4/50]
[Level Up: 5/50]
[Level Up: 6/50]
Four consecutive levels.
Attributes greatly increased.
HP cap raised.
[My HP: 30/350]
[My MP: 30/320]
MP cap also increased.
But I was still very weak.
I released Horn.
It woke up.
"Is it over?"
"It's over," I said.
"We won."
Horn looked at the Wolf King's corpse.
Silent for a moment.
"It was strong."
"Yes."
I checked all members' status.
Shell: [HP: 20/450]
Near death.
Spike: [HP: 40/290]
Seriously wounded.
Venom: [HP: 130/280]
Moderately wounded.
Brownie: [HP: 120/350]
Moderately wounded.
Waspy: [HP: 150/320]
Moderately wounded.
Shadow: [HP: 170/310]
Lightly wounded.
Horn: [HP: 220/400]
Moderately wounded.
Everyone was injured.
This had been a hard battle.
The pack's mournful cries stopped.
All wolves turned to look at me.
Hatred in their eyes.
Unwillingness.
Also confusion.
The Wolf King was dead.
They'd lost their pillar.
Silver Fang stood up.
Walked toward me.
Stopped five meters away.
"You killed the Wolf King."
He said.
Voice low.
"By rights, I should avenge it."
I looked at him.
Didn't speak.
Silver Fang continued.
"However..."
He paused.
"The Wolf King's orders are absolute."
"This is our iron law."
"It told us to obey you."
"So..."
Silver Fang lowered his head.
"I will comply."
Just then.
A young wolf stepped forward.
"I don't accept this!"
It roared.
"Why should it be our king?"
"It was originally just a weak Hoarder Squirrel!"
"We are wolves!"
"Noble wolves!"
Several other wolves also stepped forward.
"Right! We don't accept!"
"It's not worthy!"
The pack began stirring.
Split into two factions.
One followed Silver Fang.
Willing to respect the Wolf King's last wish.
The other dissented.
Unwilling to obey a rat.
Silver Fang turned.
Looked at those dissenting wolves.
"Enough!"
He growled low.
Voice full of authority.
"The Wolf King's last wish cannot be defied!"
"This is iron law!"
"Who dares disobey?"
The dissenting wolves lowered their heads.
But still unwilling.
The young wolf gritted its teeth.
"Even if it's iron law."
"I still don't accept!"
"It's too weak!"
I spoke up.
"I know you don't accept this."
All wolves looked at me.
"I don't want to force you either."
"But this was the Wolf King's last wish."
"I will respect it."
"And treat you well."
The young wolf sneered.
"Treat us well?"
"We don't need it!"
Silver Fang stepped forward.
"In that case."
"According to the rules."
"The new king must accept challenges."
"Prove their strength."
He looked at me.
"This is our tradition."
"Are you willing to accept?"
I looked at my status.
[My HP: 30/350]
[My MP: 30/320]
Very poor condition.
But I had to accept.
"I accept."
The young wolf immediately stepped forward.
"I challenge!"
"Prove you're not worthy to be our king!"
I checked its information.
[Forest Wolf]
[Level: 18/30]
Not very strong.
But my condition was poor now.
Teammates were all seriously wounded.
Couldn't help.
Could only rely on myself.
The young wolf took a stance.
"Come on!"
"Let me see your strength!"
It suddenly charged.
Very fast.
Jaws wide.
Wanted to bite me.
I didn't fight head-on.
Used spatial perception to observe its movements.
Then—
Dodged to the side.
The wolf bit empty air.
It immediately turned.
A claw swept over.
I jumped back.
Dodged.
The young wolf got more anxious.
"Don't dodge!"
"Face me head-on!"
I didn't speak.
Continued dodging.
Waiting for an opportunity.
Its attacks grew more frantic.
Openings began appearing.
Now!
"Spatial Teleport!"
I vanished.
Appeared behind it.
Claws pressed against its throat.
"You lost."
The young wolf froze.
Body rigid.
It felt the claws on its throat.
If I applied force.
It would die.
"I... I lost..."
It said quietly.
I released it.
Stepped back.
The young wolf turned.
Looked at me.
Unwillingness in its eyes.
But also awe.
"You're strong."
It said.
"I concede."
Then lowered its head.
Retreated to the pack.
Two more wolves stepped forward.
"We also challenge!"
I nodded.
"Come."
Two more battles.
Both using the same method.
Dodge, wait, seize openings.
One strike to win.
Didn't kill them.
Just subdued them.
Proved I was stronger.
Both wolves also conceded.
Lowered their heads.
Retreated to the pack.
No more wolves challenged.
All wolves fell silent.
Looked at me.
Silver Fang stepped forward.
"You've proven yourself."
"Qualified to be our king."
He stopped before me.
Then—
Knelt on one knee.
"I, Silver Fang."
"On behalf of the pack."
"Pledge loyalty to the new king."
All wolves watched Silver Fang.
Hesitated for a moment.
Then—
One by one.
They all knelt.
Including those who'd dissented before.
"Hail the new king."
They said in unison.
I looked at the pack kneeling on the ground.
Mixed feelings inside.
From a weak Hoarder Squirrel.
To now becoming the pack's king.
All this felt like a dream.
"Rise," I said.
The pack stood.
"I won't change your lives."
"Hunt when you should hunt."
"Rest when you should rest."
"I only require."
"Don't attack me or my companions."
Silver Fang nodded.
"What should we do normally?"
"Patrol the territory?"
"Protect the pack?"
I thought for a moment.
"Patrol the territory."
"If there are threats, notify me."
"You manage daily affairs."
"You continue leading the pack."
"Come to me for important matters."
Gratitude flashed in Silver Fang's eyes.
"Understood, new king."
I shook my head.
"Just call me Gray."
Silver Fang paused.
"Yes, Gray."
I looked at the Wolf King's corpse.
"The Wolf King's body."
"Bury it your way."
"It was a worthy opponent."
Silver Fang lowered his head.
"Thank you."
Several wolves stepped forward.
Carefully lifted the Wolf King.
Walked toward the forest depths.
Other wolves followed.
Only Silver Fang and a few wolves remained.
I walked around the battlefield.
A tooth on the ground.
The Wolf King's fang.
Fallen during battle.
I picked it up.
[Wolf King's Fang]
[Rare Material]
"Keep it as a memento."
Put it in the Dimensional Cheek Pouch.
Silver Fang walked over.
"Gray, this way."
He led me to a cave.
At the clearing's edge.
Very concealed.
"This was the Wolf King's den."
"Now it belongs to you."
I walked in.
Some bones inside.
Also some ore.
Several special plants.
All collected by the Wolf King.
"Put everything away."
I stored the items in the space.
Then walked out of the cave.
"We need to rest."
"All injured."
Silver Fang nodded.
"I'll arrange the pack."
"Bring some medicinal herbs."
"They can heal wounds."
We rested in the clearing.
Silver Fang arranged for the pack to bring herbs.
Teammates began treatment.
I also used herbs.
Wounds slowly healing.
HP recovering.
But very slow.
Needed time.
A week passed.
All members recovered.
Wounds healed.
Condition restored.
I also fully recovered.
[My HP: 350/350]
[My MP: 320/320]
Full status.
And because I'd gained four levels.
Attributes increased considerably.
I began patrolling the territory.
The pack followed behind.
Silver Fang introduced from the side.
"This forest."
"About five kilometers radius."
"Was all the Wolf King's territory."
"Now it's yours."
We walked through the forest.
Other magic beasts saw the pack.
All retreated.
Saw me walking at the front.
Even more terrified.
News was spreading.
The Wolf King was killed.
A new king born.
A Dimension Walker.
Had become this forest's king.
Some weak magic beasts.
Actively came to submit.
Seeking protection.
I looked at them.
Accepted some.
Rejected others.
"Don't want those too weak."
"Don't want those too strong either."
"Only those willing to follow rules."
Silver Fang nodded.
"Understood."
Territory slowly expanding.
Influence increasing.
Teammates also growing.
During this time.
Everyone was training.
Fighting.
Waspy and Brownie reached level 12.
Other members also reached level 7-8.
Coordination more seamless.
Strength all improving.
A month passed.
I completely controlled this forest.
The pack loyal.
Other magic beasts in awe.
No magic beast dared challenge my authority.
I became the true Forest King.
Silver Fang came to report.
"Gray."
"Territory is stable."
"No strong enemies invading."
"The pack is safe."
I nodded.
"You've done well."
Silver Fang lowered his head.
"This is my duty."
I stood on a small hill.
Overlooking the entire forest.
Sunlight streaming down.
Warm and bright.
This was my territory.
My kingdom.
I recalled when I first transmigrated.
I was just a weak Hoarder Squirrel.
Couldn't even beat a Spike-Tail Rabbit.
Could only hide in tree holes.
Surviving carefully.
Now.
I'd become the Forest King.
Controlling the entire forest.
All this felt like a dream.
Teammates walked over.
All beside me.
"Gray," Spike said.
"Remember when we first met?"
"You saved me."
"From a Vine Serpent."
Waspy smiled.
"You saved all of us."
"Then we got stronger together."
Brownie: "Fought together."
Shadow: "Grew together."
Horn: "Evolved together."
Venom: "Faced the Wolf King together."
Shell: "Won together."
I looked at them.
Warmth in my heart.
"Yes."
"Got stronger together."
"Came this far together."
Spike: "What now?"
I looked into the distance.
Beyond the forest was a bigger world.
Stronger magic beasts.
More unknowns.
"Keep getting stronger," I said.
"Keep exploring."
"But no rush."
"First enjoy the present."
Shadow flew to my shoulder.
"I like now."
"Very safe."
"Very peaceful."
Other members nodded.
"Yeah."
"Now is good."
I closed my eyes.
Enjoying the sunlight.
Breeze blowing past.
Very comfortable.
The pack patrolling in the distance.
Other magic beasts living in the forest.
Everything peaceful.
Very tranquil.
This forest.
Full of vitality.
And I.
From a weak Hoarder Squirrel.
Grew into a Dimension Walker.
Became the Forest King.
This was my story.
What would the future bring?
I didn't know.
But I knew.
No matter what difficulties.
I could face them.
Because I was no longer that.
Weak magic beast who only knew how to flee.
I had powerful strength.
Reliable companions.
My own territory.
That was enough.
I opened my eyes.
Looked at my teammates.
"Let's go."
"Back to rest."
"Continue training tomorrow."
Everyone smiled.
"Okay."
We walked down the hill together.
Toward our base.
Sunlight on our bodies.
Shadows stretched long.
Seven figures.
Moving forward together.
In the forest.
Leaving footprints.
This was our story.
From weak to strong.
From lonely to united.
From fleeing to facing.
A story of growth.
Also a story of adventure.
More a story of friendship.
And now.
This story.
In this peaceful forest.
Temporarily came to an end.
But I knew.
This was just the beginning.
More adventures awaited.
In the future.
I looked into the distance.
Smiled.
Then turned.
Together with my companions.
Walked toward our base.
The sun setting.
Dyeing the sky red.
Also dyeing the forest red.
Everything was beautiful.