Got it! Here's Chapter 9 (Minimum 1500+ words), continuing the slow but emotional development of the MC, his pack, and family bonding.
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Chapter 9 – The Bond That Grows
In the stillness of early dawn, the gentle bleating of sheep and the playful barks of pups echoed softly in the fog-kissed fields of the village. Elric stood barefoot on the dew-covered grass, his small hand resting on the back of a dog barely taller than him—a shaggy, brown-eyed mutt named Rook. Loyal, watchful, and a gift from his grandfather.
"You're my knight now," Elric whispered, scratching Rook's ear.
The dog barked once, tail wagging, as if accepting a sacred oath.
Behind them, an older sheep with one broken horn nuzzled Elric's elbow. He turned, grinning. "And you're the general, Grom," he said, patting the sheep's head. "But don't act too proud just yet. You still run from butterflies."
His small pack was growing—slowly, naturally. These weren't creatures bound by force or magic. They followed him because they liked him, even loved him. And Elric, young and greedy-hearted in his own strange way, treasured every bond like treasure.
The days that followed were filled with simple moments that dug deep into Elric's heart. Morning training with Grandpa. Noon meals with laughter and teasing between his two younger sisters. Evening walks with his mother, her soft hums like a lullaby to his tired soul. And quiet talks at night with his father beneath the stars—conversations that danced between life, beasts, and the mysteries of the world beyond their tiny village.
But not everything was peaceful.
One afternoon, as Elric practiced controlling the strange "thread of connection" he could feel between himself and his animals, his grandfather approached, brows furrowed, a scroll in hand.
"Elric, sit. We need to talk," Grandpa said, voice low but serious.
Elric sat on a flat stone, brushing dirt from his pants. "Am I in trouble?"
"No. But you need to know something."
He unrolled the scroll, revealing faded symbols and illustrations of beast ranks. Ten tiers, each with five internal levels, marking power, intelligence, and threat level. But it wasn't just about beasts.
"There are enemies beyond the forests," Grandpa said. "This world... it's not as free as it looks. There are realms that hunger for ours—demon clans, insect empires, dead lands filled with cursed lords. One day, they'll come."
Elric didn't flinch. He just looked up, calm and curious. "And when they come?"
Grandpa's grin returned, wild and greedy. "You'll lead them to hell, boy. You'll be the storm they regret waking."
Elric laughed, the sound sharper now, older than his years. "I like that."
That night, he laid in bed, staring at the ceiling as System notifications blinked softly before his eyes.
> [Beast Affinity: Growing]
New bond formed with "Rook" [Domestic Dog – Tier 1]
New bond formed with "Grom" [Mountain Sheep – Tier 1]
Passive Skill Learned: Pack Instinct (Basic)
You can sense emotional changes and intent of bonded beasts within 30 meters.
Current Pack Members: 2
It felt small now, but Elric knew what it meant.
He was building something.
Not just strength. Not just an army.
A family. A pack. A force tied by loyalty, not chains.
And then, just before sleep pulled him under, his grandfather's voice echoed in his mind again, from earlier that day:
"Don't forget, boy. You ain't just some kid with a fancy class. You're a Shepherd. A real one. That means you protect. That means you lead. And it also means…"
He'd paused, grinning wide like a hungry wolf.
"…sometimes, you gotta steal from wolves to save the sheep."
Elric had laughed at that. But now, under the moonlight, he wasn't laughing. He was smiling—a dark, hungry smile that belonged to someone far older than his body.
He was ready.
The slow days of play and food and family wouldn't last forever.
But Elric would make sure his people d