Ethan rolled his shoulders as the dull ache from overusing Partial Assimilation throbbed faintly through his body.

"This is what I’ve been waiting for."

Out of all three of his beasts, there was no contest.

Wolfy was different.

Not only was it a higher rank and thus more powerful, but he also felt closest to him.

Maybe it was because it resembled a dog, or at least used to, which is man’s best friend. Or maybe it was because it was his first beast that was literally closest to his heart.

Either way, he was excited for this.

The strain was already stacking. His muscles felt heavier than before, his head carried a faint pressure, and his mana flow wasn’t as smooth as it had been earlier.

But none of that mattered.

’No pain, no gain, right?’

A grin crept onto his face.

Then, without another second of hesitation, he activated it.

’Partial Assimilation: Wolfy.’

The change was immediate, violent almost, as his body shifted.

Bones subtly realigned beneath his skin, muscles tightening and expanding in ways that felt unnatural yet somehow perfectly right. His posture slumped slightly forward, his spine curving as his centre of gravity dropped.

"Ah-!"

He caught himself instinctively, one hand slamming against the frozen ground as his breathing hitched.

His nails elongated first.

Not gradually, but all at once.

They sharpened into dark, claw-like points, thickened and reinforced, the colour deepening into something almost black. The same transformation spread to his toes, pressing painfully against his sandals before settling.

"That’s fucked up," he muttered, flexing them slowly.

He wasn’t even sure he’d use his toes as weapons; the thought of it alone was disturbing. But they would be useful to dig into the ground and enhance his movement.

Then came his teeth.

A pressure built in his jaw before it shifted, expanding slightly, his canines lengthening into sharp, predatory fangs. His tongue brushed against them instinctively, and he exhaled slowly.

"That’s crazy."

His stance wavered between upright and something lower, something more animalistic. He found himself leaning forward, almost on all fours, before straightening again.

Back and forth.

As if his body couldn’t decide what it was supposed to be.

"Half and half," he murmured. "I guess that makes sense."

He rolled his shoulders again, then paused.

"Wait..."

His hand moved to his face, and his skin felt different. It felt rough and coarse. Then his fingers brushed along his jawline, and he was shocked.

"No way."

He had a beard.

It wasn’t thick or wild, but it was far more than he’d ever been able to grow before.

"I’ve been robbed my whole life," he said flatly, before letting out a short laugh.

Despite the entire transformation, one thing stood out to Ethan.

’It didn’t hurt...’

That was unusual, and as uncomfortable as it was, he couldn’t exactly call it painful. Which was wild considering his literal body was changing, from his muscles and skin to his very bones and teeth.

"Guess summoning beasts out of tattoos sets the bar pretty high," he muttered.

But once again, the real change wasn’t physical.

It was internal.

His senses exploded as the world sharpened instantly.

The crunch of frost beneath distant movement, the subtle shift of air through branches, the faintest rustle hidden behind layers of forest - everything poured into him all at once.

And his sense of smell was overwhelmingly acute.

"What the hell," he breathed.

Cold air carried scent in thin, sharp threads, and he could distinguish them all: blood, frost, bark, decay, life.

Underlying it all was his surging instincts that guided his every moment.

’I’m like a literal werewolf now.’

Unable to resist, he pulled up his status.

{Current Status}

{Name: Ethan Crowe

Title: Lord Of Beasts

Titled Rank: D

Strength: 20 +20

Speed: 23 +20

Stamina: 22 +20

MP: 48/52 +12.5

Beasts: 3/3}

"That’s insane."

He didn’t just see the numbers; he could literally feel the changes.

Every movement was tighter, heavier, more controlled. His body wasn’t just stronger; it had morphed to best use that strength.

His fingers curled slowly, claws digging slightly into his palm.

"Yeah," he whispered, a grin forming, "this is it."

Then his nose twitched, catching a fresh scent.

His head snapped toward it instantly.

"There you are."

Ethan burst forward, but unlike with Talon, this wasn’t smooth or graceful. His movements were violent and explosive, like a wild beast.

He dropped to all fours without thinking, muscles coiling before launching forward. Snow and frost shattered beneath him as he surged ahead, weaving through trees with brutal efficiency.

Branches snapped, the ground cracked, but he didn’t glide. He simply tore through the forest, switching fluidly between running on two feet and all fours.

Instinctively, his body adapted as he closed the distance.

And then there it was, another Frostfang Lynx.

It was slightly larger than the last; its icy fur shimmered faintly, its breath visible in the cold air as it turned sharply toward him, sensing the threat too late.

Ethan didn’t even bother looking at its status.

He didn’t slow or hesitate, pouncing forward without thinking.

The impact was devastating.

His claws carved straight through its side, ripping flesh open in a single motion as the beast let out a sharp, pained cry.

Before it could react, he struck again, faster and more brutally.

Claws tore, ripping through muscle and hide, blood splattering across the snow in vivid contrast.

The lynx tried to retaliate, its paw swinging, but Ethan caught it mid-motion.

"Too slow."

He twisted, using his enhanced strength to fling the beast violently into a nearby tree.

Crack!

The trunk splintered on impact as the lynx crashed against it, momentarily stunned.

Ethan didn’t give it a second, leaping at it again.

And this time, he didn’t use his claws.

His jaws clamped down hard into its neck, fangs piercing deep as hot blood flooded his mouth. The beast convulsed, struggling weakly beneath him. He bit harder, shaking his head as he tore and ripped at it until its body went limp.

{Beast Eliminated!}

Only then did he release the beast, letting it fall onto the ground, leaving his face drenched in its metallic, warm blood.

There was a heavy silence.

Ethan stood over the corpse, chest rising and falling steadily, blood dripping from his mouth and claws.

"Hah."

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, staring down at the lifeless body.

’That was too easy.’

He hadn’t even used Wolfy’s skills.

With just raw physical power and instinct, he was able to overwhelm a D Rank Beast completely.

"That’s ridiculous," he muttered, though there was clear satisfaction in his voice.

But even as he spoke, his body tensed, his ears twitched, and his nose flared.

’Something else is coming.’

It was different and felt more dangerous.

The air shifted subtly, the forest itself seeming to grow quieter, as if something had just entered its domain.

Ethan’s grin slowly returned.

"Finally..."

His claws flexed, his stance lowered, and his eyes sharpened with anticipation.

"The first Elite Beast on a D Tier floor."

His voice dropped, almost a growl.

"Let’s see what you’ve got."

-

Cold air dulled scents.

Odour molecules moved slower, evaporated less, and sharp receptors weren’t immune to the environment. The dryness, the chill, it all worked against him against beasts that relied on their smell.

But that hadn’t stopped Ethan, and blood still called.

It had one of the most distinct smells, making the lynx’s corpse a literal beacon for beasts. And if it was brave enough to rush over, it was likely a fearsome beast.

Not that it intimidated Ethan, who stood there calmly with a grin on his face as the ground trembled slightly.

Moments later, a low, heavy crunch of snow echoed between the trees as something massive pushed through the forest.

Its presence dominated the space around it as it revealed itself.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

"Well," he murmured, "that’s new."

{Elite Beast Status}

{Race: Frostshard Ursine

Growth Stage: Prime

Beast Rank: D+

Strength: 40

Speed: 35

Stamina: 33

MP: 14/14}

It was enormous.

A towering polar bear-like creature, easily over four meters tall when fully upright. Its body was thick with dense muscle and layered in icy, jagged protrusions that jutted from its shoulders, back, and limbs like natural armour.

It had pale, almost silver-blue fur that blended seamlessly with the frozen environment. Meanwhile, its breath came out in heavy, misty bursts as its eyes locked onto Ethan.

There was a cold, predatory, and hungry look in his eyes that most beasts within the tower had.

’It’s practically a C Rank with those stats,’ Ethan observed.

Statistically, this thing rivalled lower-end C Rank beasts, which made sense considering it was an Elite Beast. That was without accounting for the fact that it was a giant freak of nature.

’But I still edge it.’

Purely in terms of stats, Ethan still had the upper hand, which was wild to think about. Not that it meant he could relax or underestimate the beast in front of him.

’The last bear I saw was that monster on Floor Zero...’

He smiled.

’...but this time I ain’t running or calling for help.’