The system reacted almost immediately.

✦══════════════════════════════════════✦

❂ SOVEREIGN INTENT SYSTEM ❂

✦══════════════════════════════════════✦

⟦ Intent Points Deducted ⟧

✦ -10 IP ✦

⟦ Skill Engraving Initiated ⟧

Condensing Jaw Mana…

Hardening Fang Channels…

Sharpening Claw Conduction…

Stabilizing Predator Rhythm…

━━━ ALLY SKILL AWAKENED ━━━

Skill Name: Predator Rend

Rank: E

Type: Attack / Beast Technique

⟦ Description ⟧

A savage combat technique that infuses mana into both fangs and claws, allowing the wolf to tear through flesh, armor seams, and weakened defenses with brutal efficiency.

The skill follows a natural predator rhythm: claw to stagger, bite to finish.

⟦ Core Effects ⟧

• Fang Compression Bite

Mana condenses into the jaw and fangs at the moment of contact, increasing bite penetration and grip strength.

Once latched, shaking the wolf off becomes extremely difficult.

• Rending Claw Burst

Mana floods the forelimbs and claws, increasing slashing speed and cutting depth.

Claw strikes become sharper and more precise, capable of targeting joints and tendons.

• Tear-Twist Instinct

When the bite lands, the wolf instinctively twists its body to rip sideways, causing amplified tearing damage.

• Bleed Pressure Trigger

If the target begins bleeding, Predator Rend gains a temporary increase in attack speed and aggression response.

The wolf's body enters a short hunting state.

• Pack Command Response

When acting under Arthur's direct command, mana flow stabilizes faster, reducing strain and increasing consistency.

⟦ Passive Trait ⟧

Blood Memory

The more the wolf lands successful bites and claw hits in real combat, the faster the technique evolves.

Combat is the true training ground.

✦══════════════════════════════════════✦

Arthur blinked slowly after reading the whole thing.

Then he looked down at Mel again.

"What kind of monster are you planning to become?"

The cub tilted her head innocently.

That somehow made it even scarier.

Arthur couldn't lie, he was shocked.

The aggression hidden inside the skill was ridiculous.

It felt less like a cub's ability and more like the instincts of a grown predator already carved into her body.

And the worst part?

This was only E Rank.

Arthur could already imagine how terrifying the skill would become later.

Unfortunately, there wasn't any real enemy around to test it on yet.

Only the training dummies scattered across the private hall.

Still…

Arthur suddenly pitied the dummies.

He crouched beside Mel and rubbed her head gently.

"You've been wondering why I kept smiling, huh?"

Mel nudged against his hand lightly.

Arthur chuckled.

"I'm back now. Let's continue."

He scratched behind her ears one more time before pointing toward the obstacle course.

The cub immediately dashed forward.

She still didn't fully realize she had changed.

Honestly, Arthur wouldn't have known either without the system.

But that only made this more exciting.

Mel rushed through the first obstacles quickly.

The weights attached to her body no longer slowed her down much.

Her movement flowed naturally now.

Arthur's eyes sharpened as he watched closely.

"Slip through the next gap," he instructed through the bond.

Mel obeyed instantly.

Her body squeezed between two moving wooden pillars smoothly before another dummy came into sight.

Arthur's voice came immediately after.

"Neck. Claw strike."

For the first time since training started, hesitation appeared through the bond.

Mel was scared.

Scared it wouldn't work again.

Arthur felt it clearly.

So he smiled.

"You've got it."

That single thought passed through the bond strongly.

And Mel moved.

Her tiny body burst forward with sudden speed.

Then…

Slash!

A sharp streak of mana flashed across her claws.

The attack landed cleanly across the dummy's neck.

The sound alone was different this time.

Not blunt.

Not rough.

Sharp.

Like claws cutting through thick leather.

A deep slash opened instantly across the sturdy dummy's neck, far deeper than anything Mel had done before.

Wood fragments scattered across the floor.

The claw marks remained carved deeply into the dummy like something had sliced through it with blades.

Arthur's grin widened immediately.

"There it is."

Even Mel froze after landing.

She slowly looked at her claws.

Then at the dummy.

Then immediately turned toward Arthur with wide eyes.

The confusion and excitement flowing through the bond nearly made him laugh.

Arthur nodded proudly.

"You did it."

Mel's tail started wagging wildly.

But Arthur quickly pointed forward again.

"Don't stop now. Continue."

The cub barked excitedly before rushing deeper into the obstacle course again, this time carrying far more confidence than before.

She didn't stop to celebrate.

The moment Arthur praised her, he let her head back to training, as she rushed forward again like she had been waiting for this chance her whole life.

Her excitement flowed clearly through the bond.

She knew Arthur wanted to see more.

And honestly?

She wanted to see more too.

The weights tied around her body no longer looked like burdens anymore. Her movements flowed naturally despite them, and the confidence she had just gained only pushed her faster.

Her small body shot through the obstacle course.

Another dummy entered her sight almost immediately.

Arthur's voice followed.

"Bite."

Mel reacted instantly.

She leaped sideways toward the dummy at full speed, her body twisting midair before her jaws clamped down hard on the wooden arm.

Crunch!

Arthur's heart skipped.

Even though he had already read the skill description, actually seeing it happen was completely different.

For a second, he honestly looked like a nervous father watching his kid perform for the first time.

But then pride replaced the worry.

Because Mel looked amazing.

Her jaws locked tightly around the dummy's arm and unlike before, she didn't struggle to maintain the bite.

She held on naturally.

Like a real predator.

Arthur quickly noticed it.

The mana around her fangs had condensed instinctively the moment she bit down.

Then came the next part.

Mel twisted violently.

Crack!

The entire arm tore clean off the dummy.

Arthur blinked.

"What the hell…"

The amount of aggression behind that attack shocked even him.

And the craziest part…

Mel herself looked excited by it.

Her tail wagged once before she instantly moved again.

No hesitation.

No pause.

The broken arm was still in her mouth when she stepped forward and slashed across the dummy's neck with her claws.

Slash!