The path winding out of the Void Citadel was an endless stretch of jagged terrain, every step crunching against broken shards of what once formed a grand stronghold. The distant horizon shimmered, promising both respite and uncertainty.
Chen adjusted his spear on his back, feeling the lightness of the relic after its monumental use. While the Void Sovereign had been sealed, the cost left a hollow ache he couldn't quite name. Memories of Emi felt like sand slipping through his fingers—there, yet irretrievable.
"Host, your next objective awaits," the System's voice interrupted his thoughts. "The Sovereign's defeat has destabilized the energy of this realm. Your journey to restore balance is far from over."
"Fantastic," Chen muttered, more to himself than the System. "Barely survived a void god, and now I'm playing cosmic repairman. Can't wait for the bill."
The System ignored his sarcasm. "A new presence has entered your vicinity. Exercise caution—it may be hostile."
Chen froze, his senses sharpening. The nearby woods, thick with towering trees, rustled faintly. Something—or someone—was watching.
"Hostile, huh?" he whispered, gripping his spear. "Let's find out."
---
A Wild Encounter
The rustling grew louder, the bushes parting to reveal a creature that stopped Chen in his tracks.
It was a wolf, but unlike any Chen had seen before. Midnight-black fur rippled like smoke, and its eyes—one amber, the other a piercing silver—seemed almost human in their intelligence. Its size was imposing, easily dwarfing Chen, yet the way it yawned and stretched lazily across the path gave it an air of indifference.
"Uh… hey there, big guy," Chen said, lowering his spear slightly.
The wolf tilted its head, as if to say, Seriously? That's your greeting?
"Not exactly reassuring," Chen muttered, stepping back cautiously. "System, any advice?"
"This is no ordinary beast," the System replied. "It possesses a powerful elemental core. Approach with care."
Before Chen could respond, the wolf sauntered closer, plopping down unceremoniously in front of him. It gave a loud, exaggerated sigh, resting its head on its massive paws, and stared at Chen with what could only be described as utter boredom.
Chen blinked. "Is… is it ignoring me?"
The wolf's ears perked slightly, and its silver eye narrowed as if to say, Yes, genius. What gave it away?
---
A Reluctant Partnership
The stalemate broke when the wolf sat up suddenly, sniffed the air, and growled low in its throat. Chen tensed, readying his spear.
Out of the woods emerged a group of bandits, their mismatched armor glinting under the sun.
"Well, well," their leader sneered, a scar running down his cheek. "Looks like we've got ourselves a wandering hero. Hand over the spear and that fancy relic of yours, and we might let you live."
Chen rolled his eyes. "Really? You think this is going to end well for you?"
The bandits laughed, drawing their weapons. The wolf, however, yawned again, flopping onto its side.
"Oh, come on!" Chen snapped at the beast. "You're not even going to pretend to care?"
The wolf shot him a lazy glance, its silver eye gleaming with amusement. Then, with deliberate slowness, it stood and stretched, its movements fluid and graceful.
The bandits hesitated as the massive creature prowled forward.
"Uh… boss?" one of them stammered. "That's not a regular wolf."
The leader scowled. "It's just a dumb animal. Take it down!"
The wolf's eyes flashed with sudden intensity. In a blur of motion, it leaped, its claws slashing through the first bandit's weapon as if it were paper. The rest barely had time to react before the beast was among them, a whirlwind of fangs and fury.
Chen watched, stunned, as the wolf dispatched the bandits with terrifying efficiency. When the fight was over, it calmly licked its paw, then gave Chen a look that clearly said, You're welcome.
"Uh… thanks?" Chen said hesitantly.
The wolf huffed, lying down again.
---
Introducing Fenrir
As Chen prepared to leave, the wolf followed, its massive paws thudding softly against the ground.
"Wait, are you coming with me?" Chen asked.
The wolf didn't respond, simply brushing past him and plopping onto a patch of grass. It rolled onto its back, staring at him upside down with an expression that screamed feed me.
Chen groaned. "Oh, great. You're a freeloading battle-hardened wolf with attitude. Perfect."
The wolf's silver eye narrowed in mock offense, and it pawed at a fallen fruit nearby, nudging it toward Chen's pack.
"You want me to carry your snacks?" Chen asked incredulously.
The wolf blinked slowly, an expression that could only mean obviously.
"Fine," Chen sighed. "But if you eat more than me, we're having words."
The System chimed in. "Congratulations, Host. You have acquired a companion. Its intelligence and strength will prove invaluable."
"Yeah, invaluable. Sure."
The wolf snorted softly, clearly unimpressed by Chen's sarcasm.
---
The Weird Habit
As they traveled together, Chen quickly learned the wolf—who he dubbed Fenrir—had a peculiar habit: it loved collecting objects. Shiny trinkets, odd bits of metal, even random tools.
One evening, Chen found Fenrir sprawled across a pile of loot it had scavenged, chewing thoughtfully on a discarded spoon.
"Seriously?" Chen asked. "A spoon? What's next, a smartphone?"
Fenrir's ears twitched, and it glanced at the device in Chen's hand. To his horror, the wolf swiped it with alarming precision, its claws deftly scrolling through the screen.
"Hey! Give that back!" Chen lunged, but Fenrir dodged lazily, holding the phone in its jaws.
The wolf's eyes sparkled mischievously as it pawed at the screen, opening random apps. At one point, it even managed to snap a selfie, complete with its tongue lolling out.
Chen groaned. "I'm traveling with a tech-savvy kleptomaniac. Fantastic."
Fenrir dropped the phone back into Chen's hands, then curled up smugly.
---
A Bond Begins
Despite its quirks, Fenrir proved to be an invaluable ally. Its sharp instincts and strength saved Chen more than once, and its silent, expressive communication became a language of its own.
Over time, the two developed a bond that went beyond words—a partnership of light, shadow, and laughter.
And as they ventured deeper into unknown lands, Chen couldn't help but feel that Fenrir was more than just a companion. The wolf was a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there was room for humor, for connection, and for the unexpected.
Their journey had only just begun, and together, they would face whatever lay ahead—spoons, selfies, and all.