Chapter 4: The Alpha Squad
Crouching behind a massive boulder, Terrence watched the chaotic battle playing out in the clearing.
Three beasts were currently surrounding a massive, rock-skinned beast.
There was a six-foot white wolf, a giant green frog, and a violet python. They were all locked in combat against a giant Ore Ogre.
Judging by its overwhelming pressure, the ogre was easily a B-Rank beast.
Terrence squinted, looking at the tamers standing behind the creatures. It didn’t take him long to recognize them.
It was the Alpha Squad, a young elite team directly managed by the Suran City government. And leading them was his cousin—another self-proclaimed genius of the Lee family.
Menard Lee. He was the owner of the porcelain-white wolf, barking out frantic orders to his team.
"Keep it contained! Don’t let it push forward!" Menard shouted, his voice cracking slightly.
The Alpha Squad was clearly struggling. Even with three beasts working together, the Ore Ogre was simply too strong.
To make matters worse, an active rift swirled directly behind the monster, spewing wild, chaotic energy that disrupted the tamers’ beasts and made them panic.
The ogre roared, swinging its heavy stone club. The air pressure alone forced the squad to retreat.
Suddenly, the battle spiraled out of control.
The green giant frog whimpered under the heavy aura, completely disobeying its tamer’s command. It turned around and leaped into the bushes, fleeing for its life.
"Hey! Get back here!" the frog’s tamer screamed, her face turning pale. "My beast broke the contract link!"
"Hold the line! Don’t panic!" Menard yelled, but his white wolf was already backing away, baring its teeth in fear.
With their formation broken, the Ore Ogre raised its massive stone fist, ready to crush the remaining tamers. They were seconds away from being wiped out.
Terrence sighed quietly from his hiding spot.
"I didn’t really want to get involved in this mess," Terrence whispered to himself. "But letting a B-Rank monster core go to waste would be a crime. I wonder if I can turn their beasts into listed beasts too?"
He thought about summoning his new Guard Slimes to test them out, but he hesitated. A slime defeating an ogre might be a bit too strange.
Instead, he looked down at the Shadow Hound sitting patiently by his boots.
"Go clean that up," Terrence instructed softly.
The Shadow Hound didn’t even bark. In a fraction of a second, it vanished into thin air.
The Ore Ogre noticed their broken formation. With a surge of confidence, it roared at the tamers and raised its massive stone fist, slamming it down directly toward them.
Before the ogre’s heavy fist could crash down on Menard, a dark blur materialized right above the monster’s nape.
The Shadow Hound landed lightly on the ogre’s shoulder, its crimson eyes flashing with cold light.
Triple Slash.
Three massive black claws sliced through the air. Blood sprayed across the grass as the ogre let out a deafening screech of pain. It stumbled back, dropping its stone club and reaching frantically for its bleeding neck.
The members of the Alpha Squad froze, completely shocked by the sudden turn of events.
"What is that?!" one of the team members gasped, pointing a shaking finger. "Is that a pup?"
"It’s on the ogre’s neck!" another shouted.
Before the ogre could grab the small black dog, the Shadow Hound struck again.
Shadow Slash.
A giant arc of pitch-black energy erupted from the hound’s claws, cleaving straight through the ogre’s thick rock armor like a hot knife through butter.
The squad watched with wide eyes as the powerful B-Rank beast was utterly dismantled in less than ten seconds. It was a completely one-sided massacre.
"Holy crap... that beast is insane!" the female tamer on the squad stammered. "Is it a wild beast?"
"No way," Menard said, his teeth clenched as he held his wolf back. "Look at its movements. It’s definitely a contracted beast. But who commands something like that?"
"Is there anyone nearby? Check the perimeter!"
"I don’t see anyone," another member replied, sweat dripping down his forehead. "Whoever owns that dog must be a high-rank tamer from the city. Maybe a senior from the company?"
The fight ended just as quickly as it started.
The Ore Ogre crashed heavy onto the dirt, completely dead. The Shadow Hound hopped down onto the monster’s chest. With one swift bite, its sharp jaws pierced through the thick hide, ripping out a glowing purple monster core and swallowing it whole.
’Yep, definitely a B-Rank core,’ Terrence thought, feeling his blood boiling.
Now with a B-Rank core, the effect on his Shadow Hound’s growth would surely be massive.
"Look!" one of the squad members pointed. "The beast is moving! It’s going back to its master! Let’s follow it!"
The squad hastily ran forward, following the small black dog as it trotted calmly toward the large boulder at the edge of the clearing.
Before they could reach it, Terrence calmly stepped out from behind the rock.
The Shadow Hound walked up to him, sitting down at his left side like a loyal, disciplined guard.
The Alpha Squad stopped dead in their tracks.
"It’s the master! Let’s greet him!" Menard announced with deep anticipation.
The expressions of relief on their faces instantly melted into sheer disbelief and confusion.
Menard stared at Terrence, his jaw dropping slightly. He blinked hard, as if expecting the vision in front of him to disappear.
’Terrence? Is that the trash Terrence?’
"No way..." Menard muttered, his voice trembling slightly. "Don’t tell me... the owner of that beast is you? Terrence Lee?!"
Menard knew his cousin well. Terrence was supposed to be the family trash—the dud who failed his awakening and got thrown out into the mud just yesterday.
How could he possibly stand here, controlling a beast that just wiped out a B-Rank ogre in seconds?
Terrence looked at his stunned cousin, offering a casual wave and a faint, amused smile.
"Yo," Terrence said naturally, his tone completely relaxed. "Are you guys all safe? Alpha Squad?"