Tajima Sanzo, the 669th Demon King, was standing face to face with his latest and most terrifying recruit—the Nightmare Hound.
It was massive, its fur jagged like black steel, glowing red eyes piercing into his soul, and its claws sharp enough to end his miserable existence with a sneeze.
And yet…
It was now sitting obediently in front of him.
Its giant, shadowy tail wagging.
Tajima trembled. "S-So you're telling me… that this thing… that literally just tried to eat me… is now my pet?"
The system confirmed.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RECRUITED: NIGHTMARE HOUND.]
Tajima felt faint.
Mimi bounced happily. "Yay~ Another cute one~!"
Raviria shrugged. "It's big, it's scary, and it listens to you. That's a win."
Fenra nodded. "You're lucky it imprinted on you."
Tajima blinked rapidly. "Wait. Imprinted!? LIKE A BABY DUCK!?"
The Nightmare Hound let out a deep growl… and then proceeded to nuzzle its massive head against him.
Tajima screamed internally.
---
Beelzecluck watched from a nearby rock, looking mildly amused.
Mimi wrapped around the Nightmare Hound's tail. "Oooh, it's so fluffy~"
Fenra crossed her arms. "Alright, since we're keeping it, we need to give it a name."
Tajima flinched. "I… have to name it?"
The Nightmare Hound stared at him expectantly.
Tajima panicked.
"O-Okay, okay, um… how about Doomfang?"
The Nightmare Hound growled.
"Right! Too edgy. Got it. Uh… Shadowmaw?"
The Nightmare Hound bared its teeth.
"STILL TOO EDGY!? OKAY, OKAY, SOMETHING MORE FRIENDLY!"
Tajima looked around desperately. His eyes landed on Beelzecluck, who was adjusting its monocle.
"…How about Fluffykins?"
The Nightmare Hound instantly roared.
Tajima screamed and fell backward. "ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! BAD IDEA!"
Raviria facepalmed.
Fenra sighed. "Try something normal."
Tajima scrambled to his feet. "Uh… Nyx?"
The Nightmare Hound paused.
It tilted its head.
Then, slowly…
It nodded.
The system confirmed.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE OFFICIALLY NAMED 'NYX'. LOYALTY +5%.]
Tajima let out a long breath. "Okay… that was stressful."
Nyx suddenly licked his face.
Tajima screamed again.
Mimi clapped her slimy hands. "Yay! He likes you!"
Tajima was now covered in demonic wolf slobber.
"I hate my life…"
---
With Nyx officially recruited, the group continued their adventure.
Tajima, still traumatized, now walked with Nyx right beside him, tail wagging happily like a massive shadow-dog.
Fenra snorted. "I've never seen a Nightmare Hound act like this."
Mimi patted Nyx's back. "Maybe he just wanted a friend~"
Tajima whispered. "A friend that could kill me in one bite…"
Beelzecluck bawked as if to say 'sounds about right.'
Raviria stretched. "So, what's next? Are we just collecting random monsters until we have a full zoo?"
Tajima shuddered. "Please, no."
Fenra grinned. "Actually, that's a great idea."
Tajima screamed.
---
A New Challenger Approaches
The group continued through the forest, Tajima still trying to process his new terrifying pet.
Then—
The ground rumbled.
Mimi stopped bouncing.
Fenra's ears twitched.
Nyx snarled.
Tajima froze. "O-Oh no. What now?"
A giant shadow loomed from behind the trees.
Something massive stomped into view.
Tajima stared.
A towering, armored, two-legged creature covered in moss and jagged stones.
A Stone Golem.
The system identified it.
[MONSTER IDENTIFIED: STONE GUARDIAN – TERRITORIAL. APPROACH WITH CAUTION.]
Tajima's soul left his body.
"I CHANGE MY MIND! I DON'T WANT TO RECRUIT ANYMORE!"
The Stone Guardian let out a deep, earth-shaking roar.
Mimi tilted her head. "I wanna keep it~"
Fenra grinned. "This will be fun."
Raviria cracked her knuckles. "Let's see how tough it is."
Beelzecluck adjusted its monocle.
Tajima screamed.
---