Midnight draped the world in silver.

  Countless stars shimmered across the endless sky, and a crescent moon hung quietly above the kingdom like a sacred ornament. The night was breathtakingly beautiful.

  But beauty did not guarantee safety.

  Inside the castle, chaos reigned.

  “How did you let him go alone?!”

  The King’s voice thundered through the throne hall, his rage pressing down like a physical force. Even the knights standing guard stiffened.

  The Royal Magician bowed deeply, sweat running down his temple.

  “Y-Your Majesty… he refused to listen. We attempted to restrain him, but he insisted… he said he couldn’t stay still while others were in danger.”

  The King clenched his jaw.

  “That boy knows no magic. He hasn’t even rested since the summoning ritual.”

  He turned sharply.

  “Rehan.”

  A tall young man stepped forward from the shadows. His armor reflected the torchlight faintly. His expression was calm, but his eyes burned with restrained fury.

  “Gather a troop. Bring him back safely. No matter what it takes.”

  Rehan bowed.

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  And without another word, he left.

  Deep within the jungle…

  The air was colder here.

  The forest whispered with unseen movement. Leaves rustled without wind. The scent of damp soil and wild mana lingered thickly in the air.

  Chirag stood alone beneath the moonlight.

  “…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  The terrifying presence he had prepared himself to face—

  Was a baby slime.

  It wobbled innocently, translucent and faintly glowing blue.

  For a moment, he simply stared.

  Then he laughed weakly.

  “I thought I was about to fight some legendary monster.”

  He crouched slightly and extended his hand.

  “You’re kind of cute… Are you lost?”

  The slime bounced once.

  Twice.

  Then hopped onto his palm.

  It felt cool. Soft.

  Almost comforting.

  And then—

  Pop.

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  A luminous blue window materialized before his eyes.

  [Notification: You have successfully tamed the Slime.]

  [New Title Acquired: First Tamer]

  “…A system?”

  His heart pounded.

  Instinctively, he slashed at the screen with his sword—but the blade passed through harmlessly.

  “It’s real…”

  He stared at the slime again.

  The tiny creature wiggled happily as if proud of itself.

  Chirag let out a quiet breath.

  “Alright. Guess it’s just you and me.”

  For a moment, the crushing loneliness he’d felt since arriving in this world eased slightly.

  But peace in a jungle is an illusion.

  A sharp snap of a branch.

  A presence.

  Chirag’s body reacted before his mind did.

  He twisted sideways just as a dark blur shot past him, claws slicing through empty air.

  A Black Wolf.

  Its red eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight. Thick fur. Muscular build.

  E-Rank.

  The beast growled, circling.

  Behind Chirag, three unconscious girls lay under a makeshift leaf shelter he had built earlier. They hadn’t regained consciousness since the teleportation incident.

  He couldn’t let this wolf reach them.

  “Come on,” he muttered under his breath.

  Instead of retreating, he stepped forward.

  The wolf lunged.

  Chirag didn’t draw his blade.

  He planted his feet and threw a punch with everything he had.

  The impact landed squarely on the wolf’s neck with a heavy crack.

  The beast yelped and crashed into the dirt, sliding several meters before going limp.

  Chirag stood there, breathing heavily.

  His knuckles throbbed.

  “Sorry,” he whispered, tying vines around the wolf’s muzzle and legs. “But I can’t risk you hurting them.”

  As he finished binding it, a thought crept into his mind.

  Black wolves don’t hunt alone.

  They move in packs.

  His stomach dropped.

  A faint howl echoed in the distance.

  Then another.

  Then three more.

  His grip tightened around his sword.

  “…Of course.”

  From the darkness between the trees, glowing red eyes began appearing one by one.

  Five.

  Seven.

  Ten.

  And then—

  A larger figure stepped forward.

  A scar ran across its face.

  The leader.

  The air grew suffocating.

  Chirag positioned himself in front of the girls and the slime.

  His hands trembled slightly.

  But he didn’t step back.

  “Fine,” he whispered. “If you want them… you’ll have to go through me.”

  The pack attacked all at once.

  The clearing exploded into chaos.

  Claws slashed.

  Fangs snapped.

  Chirag moved purely on instinct—dodging, rolling, swinging his sword wildly. One wolf fell. Then another.

  But they were relentless.

  A claw grazed his shoulder.

  Another tore into his side.

  He staggered.

  Still, he stood.

  Every time one got close to the girls, he forced himself forward, ignoring the pain.

  The leader lunged last.

  It was faster.

  Stronger.

  Its fangs sank into his arm as he blocked its bite.

  He roared and slammed his forehead into the wolf’s skull.

  Blood splattered across the clearing.

  His vision began to blur.

  But he didn’t fall.

  With a final surge of strength, he drove his blade into the ground and used it to push himself upright.

  The wolves hesitated.

  Something in his eyes had changed.

  A dark aura flickered faintly around him—unseen even by himself.

  The remaining wolves retreated into the forest.

  Silence returned.

  Chirag stood there for a few seconds longer.

  Then coughed.

  Blood spilled from his lips.

  His ears rang violently.

  His nose bled.

  His body swayed.

  But the girls were safe.

  The slime bounced weakly beside him.

  “…Good job,” he whispered to it.

  Meanwhile…

  Rehan’s troop had been intercepted.

  An A-Rank Goblin strike unit blocked their path.

  The goblins laughed, confident.

  Rehan stepped forward slowly.

  His voice was cold.

  “Kyōaku-shō.”

  He raised his palm.

  “Colossal Crushing Palm.”

  He struck the earth.

  The ground shattered violently. A shockwave erupted outward, splitting the forest floor apart. The goblins screamed as the earth swallowed them whole.

  When the dust settled—

  Nothing remained.

  Rehan didn’t look back.

  “Move.”

  An hour later, they reached the coordinates.

  The mana in the air was thick.

  Unstable.

  Rehan’s heartbeat pounded in his ears.

  He tore through the final wall of bushes.

  “I’m coming, brother!”

  He burst into the clearing—

  And froze.

  The ground was drenched in blood.

  Broken trees.

  Deep claw marks.

  And in the center—

  Chirag stood alone.

  Soaked in crimson.

  Blood ran from his nose and ears.

  He coughed violently, splattering red onto the ground.

  His sword slipped from his fingers.

  Rehan appeared in front of him instantly, catching him before he collapsed.

  “Rehan…” Chirag murmured faintly.

  His trembling finger pointed toward the slime.

  “Don’t… hurt my pet…”

  The tiny slime stood protectively before the unconscious girls.

  Rehan’s vision blurred.

  “Healers! Now!”

  He dropped to his knees, holding Chirag tightly.

  “Don’t die, idiot…” his voice broke. “You haven’t even laughed properly since you came h

  ere. Where are your stupid jokes now…?”

  Chirag tried to smile.

  But darkness swallowed his vision.

  His body went limp.

  The night fell silent once more.

  To Be Continued…