As Karna gazed at the system's panel before him, he found himself utterly shocked. The system, which had only existed in the realms of fiction, had become a tangible reality in his life.
A surge of excitement welled up within him as he realized the immense potential this interface offered in navigating his wolf life within the Indian wilderness.
Amidst the excitement, Karna also found himself maintaining a calm focus as he examined the information on the interface.
"Hmm... So, my current species is a subspecies of gray wolves?" Karna pondered aloud, his eyes scanning the details.
"Let me see... Ah... Indian Himalayan wolves are considered only mid-sized wolves?!"
Karna couldn't help but cast a glance towards the cave's entrance, pondering how magnitude of larger wolves in comparison. Could they possibly rival fierce creatures like lions in stature?
With curiosity driving him, Karna continued to explore the known evolution path displayed on the interface.
"Kashmiri Alpine Wolf? What kind of wolf is this? Is it another subspecies like me?"
As if sensing Karna's curiosity, the interface began to provide detailed information about the Kashmiri Alpine Wolf.
[Kashmiri Alpine Wolf]: A wolf subspecies known for its large size. Indigenous to the Kasmir in the northern region of the India, this subspecies was officially declared extinct . With a length ranging from 2 to 2.2 meters and a shoulder height between 0.9 to 1.1 meters, it boasts exceptional adaptability to diverse environments and wields a formidable bite force of nearly 720 pounds.
"Indeed, a large wolf. Both its size and stature surpass those of mid-sized wolves. Its length is more than twice that of the gray wolves," Karna contemplated, his mind vividly conjuring images of the Kashmiri Alpine Wolf's imposing presence. The Kashmiri Alpine Wolf's combat prowess and adaptability to various habitats seemed truly impressive.
However, the path to evolving into this subspecies was a mystery to Karna. The interface swiftly addressed his query.
[Instructions for evolving into a Kashmiri Alpine Wolf]
Condition One: Absorb the Sunlight for an hour each day.
Condition Two: Run for three hours each day.
Condition Three: Jump for half an hour each day.
Absorbing sunlight seemed easily achievable for Karna . However, the requirements for running and jumping were currently beyond his capabilities. It appeared he would have to wait at least another week until he reached the age of one month and could meet these conditions.
Notably, the interface did not specify the duration required for the complete evolution, only outlining the essential evolutionary conditions. It became apparent that, despite the interface's assistance, many aspects of Karna's journey required his personal effort.
Karna redirected his focus from the Kashmiri Alpine Wolf and turned his attention to the Arunachal Jungle Wolf.
The interface obligingly retracted the information about the Kashmiri Alpine Wolf and unveiled details about the Arunachal Jungle Wolf.
[Arunachal Jungle Wolf]: A large-sized wolf subspecies that once thrived on Arunachal Jungle Island in the India but was officially declared extinct. Measuring 1.7 meters in length and 0.8 meters in height, it was known for its remarkable ability to blend into jungle environments.
Karna noted that the Arunachal Jungle Wolf was also an extinct subspecies, ranking second in terms of strength. Its evolution conditions were quite similar to the Kashmiri Alpine Wolf , with a minor difference in the duration required for moonlight absorption.
After thoroughly exploring information about the Arunachal Jungle Wolf, Karna proceeded to examine the details of the final option: the Michigan Valley Wolf.
[Ancient Sun Wolf]: A large-sized wolf subspecies native to the desert area of India. This species measures between 1.5 to 2 meters in length and 0.8 to 0.9 meters in height. It is well-suited for life in Desert, forests, mountains, cold belt grasslands and anywhere.
While the numerical details indicated the other Wolf's strength surpassing that of the Ancient Sun Wolf, the variability in body length made direct comparisons challenging. Karna understood that the ranking likely pertained to overall species rather than individual strength.
Examining the evolution conditions, Karna noted that they mirrored the previous two options, with a slight variation in sunlight absorption duration.
Upon comparing the three evolution paths, karna made a firm decision to pursue the third choice: the Ancient Sun Wolf. Its formidable combat abilities and adaptability to various environments promised an advantageous future.
Moreover Ancient Sun Wolf's "Ancient" means something according to him.
Having made his selection, the interface closed, and Karna retained the awakening method of the interface in his mind.
Observing the dim forest beyond the cave's entrance, Karna recognized that the best course of action was to rest. Once he reached over a month of age, he could begin training according to the conditions of his chosen evolution path.
With this in mind, he succumbed to fatigue, yawned, and drifted into slumber.
...
The following morning arrived, casting gentle morning light into the cave. Karna gradually roused himself from the company of his fellow wolf cubs.
The two vigilant she-wolves, still guarding the wolf cubs, sat with their eyes focused on the cave's entrance. Father Wolf and Karna 's two brothers had ventured out, presumably in pursuit of the day's sustenance.
The remains of the northern mountain goat, consumed by the pack the previous day, had been reduced to mere bones. The extent of the wolves' voracious appetite was evident.
Sensing the warming sunlight permeating the cave, Karna leisurely stretched his body, appreciating the comfort of basking in the sun.
After a period of time, he embarked on his routine training, diligently exercising his limbs. While unable to walk just yet, these exercises would hasten his development.
The female wolves, already accustomed to his peculiar activities from the previous day, paid him little attention, their focus fixed on the cave's entrance. In the absence of the hunting team's return, guarding the cave had become their responsibility.
By afternoon, the wolf cubs began to awaken one by one. After receiving their fill of milk, they fell back into slumber.
The persistent hunger of the female wolves left them yearning for the return of the hunting party, whose absence had extended beyond the usual time.
As they lay on the ground, the two she-wolves anxiously awaited their return. Yet, their anticipation was marred by the arrival of an unexpected visitor, whose presence they detected through an unfamiliar scent.
Alerted by this intrusion, the female wolves promptly rose to their feet, positioning themselves in front of the wolf cubs as a protective barrier.
Unfortunately, the unwelcome guest showed no signs of retreat. It continued to advance until it fully revealed itself, unveiling its true form—an elegant snow leopard adorned with grayish-white stripes.