Goblin Dependency

After advancing to Transcendent, the number and quality level of the companion battle skills and specialties obtained will be vastly different.

Dodd has prepared for the ascension ritual for many years, with expenses and efforts beyond measure.

Initially, it was merely a fantasy spell with no idea how it would manifest in reality; the key point was accidentally getting a metal silver ring from "Lailo moerton" and discovering its peculiar and special effects, gradually unfolding a plan.

Until now, everything has been prepared.

His Transcendent ascension ritual, after countless preparations, has finally begun.

"Buzz..."

It’s the high-frequency hum emitted by energy.

"Algae Scale" Dodd also lost the ability to control his body and began a slow floating suspension enveloped by a radiant blue light.

But compared to other adventurers who were startled and clueless, as the one conducting the ritual, knowing the cause and future development of all this, his heart is exceptionally calm.

The vast amounts of Deep Sea Resonating Stones acquired in exchange for collaboration with the Fishman during this period provide the most basic energy needed to start the ritual, with the one hundred specially processed resonating stones hidden on Stodd Island serving as core nodes.

Even though most of them have not yet been found, it’s enough to connect this resonance and pull the one hundred most powerful adventurers on the entire island into the Ritual Secret Realm.

Harboring fantasies about the "Transcendent" level, his heart becomes increasingly excited as the final step is about to be taken.

"Algae Scale" Dodd is just like the 100 adventurers currently floating mid-air and enveloped in blue light.

The mind gradually descends.

His consciousness, guided by the Deep Sea Resonating Stones, enters the Secret Realm built by the ritual.

...

...

The winter bed is like a kind of prison, incarcerating the human body and spirit.

If not for great determination and astonishing perseverance, it’s nearly impossible to break free.

Right now, Xia Nan is in such a state.

His eyes were tightly shut, and his consciousness muddled.

He could feel the faint cold wind seeping from a baffling place above, yet felt content with the fluffy warmth nearby.

Lingering in the haze of sleep, and an indescribable sense of security from the surroundings.

Subconsciously, he nudged his head toward the warm fuzzy area in front, curling up all four limbs, as if he wanted to huddle his entire body into a ball.

Wait?

Four limbs?

The gradually awakening consciousness made him seem to notice something peculiar.

In an instinctive manner, he detached his spirit from the dream-like confusions.

Struggling against the strong drowsiness akin to waking from a dream, he forced his eyes open.

What appeared before him was a massive body covered with thick brown fur, with a glimpse of the lofty rocky dome overhead and the spacious corridor leading to the outside with faint light from behind.

"Where am I..."

Instinctively puzzled, he surveyed the surrounding environment.

The awakening awareness slightly restored some of his cognitive abilities.

The next second, memories before passing out surged over, swallowing his attention.

"Moon Tide Banquet", "Sky reaching Light Beam", "Light Curtain Covering", "Space Solidification", "Floating Suspension"...

Xia Nan couldn’t help but be taken aback.

No time for further reflection, driven by muscle memory, he attempted to draw his sword to enter combat mode.

The thought controlled the body.

The imagined right hand wearing an armor suit and two silver rings didn’t appear.

Instead, it was a fluffy, small paw with soft cushioned pads.

What!?

Xia Nan was astonished, instinctively vocalizing.

Yet what reached his ears was an inexplicably childish whimper.

No time to react, as if disturbed by the noise he made.

The furry mass lying quietly ahead began trembling violently, accompanied by a strong, clear breathing sound, and at the far end of the mass, a far more monstrous than any terrestrial creature Xia Nan had seen, the menacing wolf head arose slowly in the dark.

The terrifying wolf eyes refracting ghostly light under the shadow were like two large lamps, instantly triggering alertness in Xia Nan’s heart.

Still not completely awake, his instincts led him to stumble to his feet, tense muscles, naturally emitting a growling "woo woo" sound.

Seemingly puzzled by his actions, the enormous wolf head akin to the sun and moon wobbled.

Then, within Xia Nan’s resistant gaze, the mouth lined with sharp teeth opened, slowly approaching...

"Zsla."

The damp long tongue licked from Xia Nan’s head down the arched spine, then to the tail’s end.

This should obviously be an extremely unpleasant and difficult-to-adapt experience.

Yet inexplicably, Xia Nan’s body felt no disgust, but rather a strange comfort and enjoyment due to the moisture.

As he pondered over this, the previously opened mouth closed gradually.

With a slightly forceful yet not-so-painful grip, it bit onto Xia Nan’s nape.

Limbs were off the ground.

The body was lifted into the air.

Meanwhile, his body naturally dangled due to gravity.

Precisely because of this, Xia Nan saw his own similarly furry belly, four dangling little feet, and a fluffy tail like a paintbrush at the bottom.

The mind trembles!

Evidently unaware of the little wolf cub’s momentary rigid body in its mouth, merely considering it as discomfort from being lifted.

Relative to Xia Nan’s currently petite frame, the adult wolf beast slowly moved its limbs, crawling away from the pup-nurturing cave.

The blinding sunlight falling overhead caused Xia Nan, who had just emerged from the dimly-lit cave, to squint.

Then, he saw dense bushes resembling jungle giant trees surrounding him and farther away, a grove formed by gigantic trees resembling the world tree, enough to make those with fear of giant objects faint immediately.

The grip on the back of his head abruptly loosened, Xia Nan’s tiny body gently landed like a ball of yarn.

Behind him was a giant wolf beast maintaining an alert stance, ears perked and surveying the surroundings;

In front of him, several stumbling fluffy bundles rolled toward him, attempting playful frolic.

The lucid air outside the cave surged into his nostrils with each breath, the cool forest wind blew by, brightening the world, dispelling the final trace of haze in Xia Nan’s mind.

This is how he could combine his previous experiences on Stodd Island; how could he not guess what’s happening to him now.

Subconsciously, Xia Nan turned his body, slightly struggling to lift his head, looking at the giant wild wolf mountain before him.

Seemingly noticing the unique nature of this pup, the wolf beast also lowered its head, looking at Xia Nan.

As he anticipated, reflected in the transparent giant wolf eyes wasn’t Xia Nan whom he knew too well, the black-haired black-eyed, sharply-featured young adventurer carrying dual swords.

But a newborn, rounded and fuzzy miniature figure like a ball of fur.

The slightly deep brown fur was a bit messy from the adult wolf beast’s licking, fluffy and dense; four undeveloped short legs awkwardly stood on the ground like four little wooden stoppers.

The head nearly occupied one-third of the mini body, clumsiness accompanied by the unique adorable clumsiness of pups; the ears couldn’t fully erect, laying dumbly beside the head, edges curving inward; the shiny, moist nose like a small button, involuntarily twitching with each breath.

Only those wolf eyes should be like those of other fellow young cubs around playing ignorant and confused, but now exhibited a wisdom spark that beasts do not contain.

"Deep Sea Resonating Stone... ’Algae Scale’ Dodd..."

"So, this is a ritual?"

Xia Nan deeply pondered in his heart.

The next second, tackled by the wolf cub frolicking from beside.