Mike slowly walked toward the Wolf King, sword lowered.

The wolf was lying on the ground, chest rising and falling weakly. Its blue flames were almost gone, leaving only faint sparks around its fur.

Mike knelt beside it.

"Hey… you still alive?"

The Wolf King opened one eye. It was tired, but there was no anger left—only respect.

Mike nodded.

"You fought hard. Harder than most bosses I've seen."

'Kidding you are my first boss like monster' He inwardly thought but didn't showed it on face.

The wolf let out a low rumble, almost like a weak growl, but not hostile. More like it was answering him.

Mike placed his hand on its head.

"Don't worry. I'm not here to finish you off."

A small notification appeared in his vision:

[ Etherfang Wolf King — Subjugation Threshold Reached ]

[ The beast acknowledges your strength. ]

[ You may choose: Kill, Spare, or Form Bond. ]

"Of course I'm here to tame you," Mike said, then activated the Knight-exclusive skill.

[ Knight King Mount ]

[ Rank: Basic ]

Allows a knight to subdue and bond a beast to themselves.

Once bound, the mount beast becomes immortal with infinite lives.

The Knight can also copy any one skill or talent from each mount.

[ Current Mount Slot: 2/2 ]

"You will be my first mount," Mike said as he placed his hand on the Wolf King's head.

The Etherfang Wolf King stiffened, blue mana rippling across its fur like flowing lightning. Its eyes—deep, intelligent, and burning with pride—locked onto his.

A system chime echoed:

[ Initiating Mount Subjugation… ]

[ Target: Etherfang Wolf King (Young Monarch) ]

[ Resistance Level: High ]

Wind roared outward from the wolf's body, kicking up dust and leaves.

Mike's cloak snapped behind him.

The Wolf King bared its fangs and growled—not hostile, not afraid… but testing him.

Mike smirked.

"Oh, don't give me that look. I'm not asking. I'm declaring."

He pushed more mana into his hand.

The ground beneath them lit up with a massive sigil—

circles, runes, and a crest shaped like a crown formed from radiant white and blue light.

The wolf's eyes widened.

[ Knight King Mount: Authority Recognition ]

[ Overriding Beast's Natural Instincts ]

The Knight King Mount is an exclusive skill of the S-rank class Knight King, but thanks to Midas touch, Mike have it even though he only has the regular E rank Knight class.

A thunderous WHUMP echoed as the sigil locked into place, anchoring itself beneath the Wolf King like a throne of mana.

The wolf let out a low, rumbling howl and lowered its head—not in fear…

but in acknowledgment.

Then—

[ Subjugation Successful ]

Light burst upward in a column that shook the forest canopy.

The system's voice boomed:

[ Mount Acquired: Etherfang Wolf King ]

[ Rank: Legendary ]

[ Immortality Granted: Infinite Lives Activated ]

—Resurrects after 24 hours.

[ Shared Skill Available: Choose one from the following— ]

[ Etherfang Monarch ] – Passive

• Increases Mana by 100% and all mana attack by 50%.

• Wolf King's attacks gain Cerulean Flame, dealing extra burn + mana damage.

[ Cerulean Pounce ]

• High-speed leap attack, creates mana shockwaves on landing.

[ Mana Howl ]

• A roar that disrupts enemy focus, reduces accuracy by 100% for 5 seconds.

[ Blade Fangs ]

• Fires three crescent-shaped mana blades at extreme speed.

[ King's Hunt ]

• Locks onto one target—cannot be evaded for 3 seconds.

[ Monarch Barrier ]

• A temporary shield of spinning mana flames that blocks one powerful attack.

[ King's Last Stand ]

• Increase all stats and power by 100% for 1 minute. After that the user will fell in exhausted state.

The list of skills floated before Mike—each more overpowered than the last.

…

Mike didn't choose any.

Not yet.

The Etherfang Wolf King, now fully healed by the contract, stood tall before him—blue flames drifting from its mane like living fire. Its massive form loomed over him, but its snout gently nudged Mike's shoulder.

Mike chuckled and rubbed the wolf's head.

"Don't worry. I'm not done with you yet."

He placed both hands on the Wolf King's body.

Golden particles began rising from Mike's palms.

He activated his talent—

[ Midas Touch ]A power that could increase the rank of anything by one full grade.

And since the Wolf King was already Legendary…

"…you're becoming Mythical," Mike whispered.

Mana surged out of him like a broken dam.

A violent rush of gold and blue energy exploded around them.

The force was so strong that the ground cracked under his feet. Mike gritted his teeth as the talent drained his mana at a terrifying rate.

"Gh—! Damn… this thing always hurts!"

He quickly uncorked a mana potion with one hand and chugged it without stopping the flow.

Gulp—gulp—gulp.

Glass bottle #1 dropped.

Mana poured out of him again.

Another potion.

Gulp—gulp—gulp.

Glass bottle #2 dropped.

A third.

A fourth.

A fifth.

Every time his mana hit zero, he nearly fainted—but he forced more out, refusing to stop.

Then—

The Wolf King's entire body glowed with intense cerulean brilliance, its flames turning almost white at the edges.

A howl rose from the Wolf King's throat—

deeper, ancient, echoing across dimensions.

A Mythical evolution howl.

Cracks of white-blue lightning burst upward as its form began to rise into the air, surrounded by spiraling flames.

The system chimed, shaking the entire forest:

[ Etherfang Wolf King is evolving… ]

[ Rank Ascension: Legendary → Mythical ]

The wolf's size grew.

Its mane thickened into blazing cerulean fire.

Its eyes burned like twin stars.

Mike stared up, panting, sweating, smiling wildly.

"Holy… hell…"

The evolution reached its peak.

And then—

BOOM!

A wave of Mythical aura exploded outward, flattening every tree within dozens of meters.

The newly ascended beast descended before Mike, flames trailing behind like royal banners.

The system announced:

[ Etherfang Wolf Emperor — Mythical Rank ]

The beast bowed its now even more majestic head to Mike.

"How do you like that?" Mike asked, grinning.

The Wolf King pressed its snout against him, snuggling even closer.

Before, Mike had sensed respect through their bond—

but now he felt something deeper.

Reverence.

Mike opened his status window, still scratching the massive wolf's head.

"Alright, buddy… let's see what changed."

The screen flooded with notifications.

[ Bond Strength Increased ]

[ Mount Evolution Completed ]

[ Your mount's skills have reacted to the Mythical Beast's mana ]

[ Several skills have evolved ]

[ New abilities unlocked ]

Mike blinked.

"…Whoa. It seems you gained a lot"

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