The Goblin's sword came down with a deafening crack, but it didn't strike the Beast. Instead, it was blocked by Alan, who had raised both hands in a desperate yet controlled motion.
His body pulsed with dark energy, swirling around him like an imposing aura that seemed to defy the air itself.
But it wasn't just him; his Beast was radiating that same energy, mirroring his every move, as if they were one entity, fused in purpose and intent.
With a powerful grunt, Alan threw the Goblin's sword aside. The blade skidded across the stone floor, far out of reach, as the energy surrounding him flared outward in a violent burst.
The crimson energy that had once filled the dungeon now began to dissipate, retreating from the immense presence Alan commanded.
He could feel the shift in the air — an unnatural calm settling over the battlefield, as if the very dungeon was afraid to challenge the force now before it.
Alan's heart hammered in his chest, the rhythm echoing in his ears. Each beat felt louder than the last, reverberating through his entire body.
His veins burned with power, dark energy coursing through him in a torrent, making him feel alive in a way he hadn't thought possible.
His body trembled — not from weakness, but from the raw power that surged through him.
It was as if something inside him was awakening, something primal and untamed that he had never known existed. He could feel it, a slow, almost painful transformation taking root in every fiber of his being.
The energy wrapped around him like a cloak, creeping up his spine, surging into his chest, and then cascading outward like a storm.
His breath quickened, and for a moment, he thought he might explode with the intensity of it all. But then, just as quickly, everything fell silent.
The dungeon's oppressive atmosphere seemed to still, and Alan's vision blurred.
A screen materialized in front of him, the letters flashing with a cold, impersonal efficiency:
The words struck him like a slap, and his mind went blank for a split second. Transformation? That was the only thought that flickered through his mind before the darkness took hold, clouding his vision completely.
The world seemed to fade, and all that remained was the energy — the immense, pulsating force that filled every inch of his senses.
Then, as if to mark his descent into something new, the energy wrapped itself around him.
It coiled through every strand of his hair, the dark mass of it surging into silver locks, turning the dark shade to a shimmering white.
The sensation was strange, almost euphoric, as though the transformation had awakened something that had been dormant for far too long.
Alan felt his body tingle as the power continued to infuse him, sending sparks through his skin.
The air around him seemed to hum with energy. He could feel it… this was different. It wasn't just physical change — it was something deeper, something more profound.
His crimson eyes snapped open, glowing faintly as the last remnants of the transformation settled into his being.
The dark aura that had been swirling around him was now an extension of himself — no longer just a force surrounding him, but a part of him. It was as if he had become the energy itself, and it had become him.
He reached up to touch his silver hair, fingers trembling with the realization of what had just happened.
He felt stronger, more alive than ever before. This power that had always eluded him, that had been just out of his reach as a Beast Tamer, was now his.
He had power. True power.
The Nighthound, which had been standing silently by his side throughout the whole ordeal, now caught his attention.
Alan turned his head slowly, his gaze locking onto the Beast. It was a magnificent creature — a fierce, loyal companion. But now, it was something else entirely.
The Nighthound's once-black fur had turned pure white, the sleek, soft strands glowing with an ethereal light.
It looked like a being born of moonlight, its form elegant and powerful. The creature's crimson eyes glowed with a newfound intensity, almost like a reflection of Alan's own transformation.
But there was something more — something that hadn't been there before. A jewel, small but radiant, now rested on the Nighthound's forehead, pulsating with the same energy that now flowed through Alan's body.
Alan could feel it — a connection between them, a bond that had deepened during his transformation.
It wasn't just a Tamer-Beast relationship anymore. It was something more profound, a union of power and purpose that went beyond anything he could have imagined.
The screen flashed again, this time with new information:
"Beast Overlord?" Alan whispered to himself, his mind racing.
What did that mean? The words hovered in his mind, but before he could process them, the screen disappeared, leaving him with more questions than answers. But for now, that didn't matter. There was no time to dwell on it.
He looked back over his shoulder at the Nighthound, his voice low and steady as he spoke, as though addressing an old friend. "Let's deal with them, shall we?"
The Nighthound growled softly in response, a deep, resonating sound that echoed through the dungeon. It was ready.
The Beast had been transformed as well, and now, they were both prepared for battle.
Alan's body still hummed with energy, the power flowing in waves that made every step he took feel like it was fueled by the very earth beneath him.
He wasn't sure what this new transformation meant for him, or even what this "Beast Overlord" talent entailed, but one thing was certain: he was no longer the powerless Tamer he had been.
The Goblin, who had been thrown aside earlier, now scrambled to regain his bearings, glaring at Alan with a mix of hatred and fear. As the crimson energy had receded, it was far less stronger than before.
Alan smiled grimly, the Nighthound moving beside him, its glowing eyes locked onto their enemies.
"I don't think they'll be much of a problem now," Alan muttered, the cocky confidence in his voice a sharp contrast to the quiet storm of power that crackled around him.