The Enthusiastic Dumb Dog

The Enthusiastic Dumb Dog

Sure enough, the Narrator appeared.

[Your Familiar has consumed an Attribute Core. Although this core does not contain much energy, it will still need some time to absorb it at its current stage.]

[You have discovered one use of cores: they can be consumed by living creatures.]

[As a reward, you have unlocked partial information about cores.]

[Living creatures can consume cores. After consuming a core corresponding to their own attribute, they can raise their extraordinary level. The higher their extraordinary level, the greater their affinity with the corresponding attribute, and the easier it is to acquire extraordinary abilities of that attribute.]

[Please note: consuming a core that does not correspond to one's own attribute is extremely dangerous.]

[When consuming a core of a countering attribute, a creature's extraordinary affinity will decrease. It may easily fall into a state of confusion and cause its extraordinary abilities to run wild. Please use Attribute Cores with caution.]

[You have finished learning part of the Attribute Core information. Your Familiar will finish digesting it in ten minutes.]

"Ten minutes?"

That was unexpectedly fast. It seemed the energy contained within the core truly paled in comparison to the Black Fruit.

Xu Zhi controlled Doggie in the game to diligently level up while keeping an eye on Little One. The moment ten minutes were up, it opened its eyes right on time.

But there didn't seem to be any change in its appearance, so Xu Zhi shifted her attention to the game screen.

At that moment, Little One's status panel obediently popped up on the screen.

[Familiar: Snake Lv12

Mind: 160

Body: 640

Attribute: Blade

Traits: Toxin Lv5, Sharpness Lv3, Bloodlust Lv4, Cunning Lv2→Lv3

Special Ability: None]

Cunning had directly risen by one level, but the important part was the newly added Special Ability section. It had even thoughtfully written the word "None."

Xu Zhi immediately recalled what the Narrator had said about how higher affinity made it easier to acquire extraordinary abilities of that attribute.

In her view, Traits could also be considered extraordinary abilities, except they were almost all passive in nature. Her Familiars currently relied on physical brute force and the boosts from these passives when hunting; they had no extraordinary abilities they could actively use.

Perhaps active skills would appear under Special Abilities?

And perhaps active skills could only be acquired once affinity reached a certain level.

Even the modified [Bloodlust] she had obtained from her Familiar was, when all was said and done, just a passive skill.

If all creatures followed this rule, then human extraordinary beings should be the same. Yet during the year since extraordinary beings had appeared, she had heard of newly awakened extraordinary beings possessing powerful abilities they could actively unleash.

Could it be that human extraordinary beings didn't follow this rule? Was this only a rule for Familiars?

Xu Zhi tucked the question away, intending to verify it when she had the chance.

Notably, Little One's Evolution Points had also increased by five hundred, making it 700/2000 now.

It wasn't difficult to see from these changes that level represented a creature's attribute affinity to a certain extent. The higher a creature's level, the stronger it was, and the greater its extraordinary affinity.

Perhaps after Little One gained a few more levels, it could acquire an active skill.

The thought of leveling up gave Xu Zhi a headache. Having experienced the wonders of Idle Mode, she was already dissatisfied with needing to manually control things for the first ten levels. How could she get Doggie to level ten quickly and unlock Idle Mode?

Xu Zhi looked at Little One, which was idling beside her, and suddenly had an idea.

Why not have Little One carry Doggie?

Doggie leveled too slowly alone. Wouldn't it speed up with Little One helping?

Although it would slow Little One's progress, unlocking Doggie's Idle Mode was the priority right now.

With that thought, Xu Zhi immediately began operating the game. She set Little One's Idle Mode to level Doggie up, then controlled Doggie to meet up with Little One. However, although Little One was now in Idle Mode, she still had to personally control Doggie.

So Xu Zhi deliberately began searching nearby for prey stronger than Doggie. The Evolution Points gained from fighting monsters above its level really were far greater, and the points visibly began to rise.

While leveling Doggie, Xu Zhi didn't forget to observe the surroundings. There was something that had been bothering her for a while.

There were only Mutated Animals nearby, not Aberration monsters born from the mist.

Doggie had even encountered crazed humans, yet it hadn't encountered a single Aberration.

How was that possible?

Before the mist had even gathered around Cloud City, Aberration monsters emerging from it had appeared throughout the Federation. Most of them lacked reason, with twisted and horrifying appearances. They hid in dark places and attacked humans, and every Aberration possessed extraordinary abilities. They were exceptionally difficult to deal with and had once thrown the Federation into panic.

Now that nearly seventy percent of the mist had gathered here, there should only be more Aberrations, not fewer. Yet over the past few days, she hadn't spotted even one.

"Did something go wrong?"

She didn't know much about Aberrations either, only what she had seen in the news. Now, she had to explore everything on her own, so she could only keep an eye out for these questions herself.

Xu Zhi treated the trip to level Doggie as an exploration of the surrounding environment. Aside from the disappearance of Aberrations, she noticed that these Mutated Animals also seemed to be growing stronger. At the very least, compared to the animals Little One had encountered at lower levels, the Mutated Animals now were on average at least two levels higher.

They were growing too.

"And where did so many animals in the city come from?"

It was as though every wild animal had flooded into the city overnight.

Was it because of the mist's appearance and humanity's departure?

Not until night fell and Doggie successfully reached level ten did she see a single Aberration monster.

"Having someone carry you really is better. If Doggie had leveled alone, it would've taken at least another two days."

And with Little One nearby, she didn't even need to deliberately find safe places to level up. The time required had been cut by more than half.

Xu Zhi happily watched the gray dog's progress bar finish its final sliver, then eagerly opened its status panel.

[Familiar: Dog Lv10

Mind: 98

Body: 740

Attribute: Blade

Traits: Strength Lv6, Smell Lv4, Vigilance Lv2, Sharpness Lv3

Special Ability: None]

[Current Evolution Points Required: 0/1000]

Compared to Little One's stats at level ten, its Mind was slightly worse, but its Body was far stronger.

Once the attribute confirmation was complete, the familiar Narrator appeared again.

[Your Familiar has reached level 10 and gained intelligence. You may now name it.]

Xu Zhi had already decided on a name and decisively typed in Doggie.

Although she was already familiar with the Idle Mode process, it was nearly Midnight now. She couldn't send Little One and Doggie out hunting again. It would be better to call them back to stand watch for her, considering this was their first night in an unfamiliar place.

However, Xu Zhi had thought that reaching level ten with Doggie might unlock a third Familiar. The game didn't do that. Instead, new content appeared.

[Congratulations. You have enabled two Familiars to gain basic self-care abilities. When one of your Familiars reaches level 20 and Evolves to a higher stage, you will gain a third Familiar. At that time, the range of available choices will increase.]

[You have gained the initial ability to compete in this conflict, but you are still too weak and utterly vulnerable before the strong. If you wish to gain a foothold, you will need even greater strength.]

[You have unlocked an ability: Spirit Vessel]

[Use Attribute Cores to obtain a Spirit Vessel with randomly generated data. It will be randomly placed somewhere in this city for a limited time. Your consciousness can inhabit the Spirit Vessel and walk the world. When the time expires, your consciousness will return, and the Spirit Vessel will dissipate.]

[The more cores you invest, the stronger the attributes and extraordinary abilities your Spirit Vessel may randomly receive, and the longer it can exist. If the Spirit Vessel naturally dissipates after its time expires, all items acquired while possessing it can be stored in the warehouse.]

[If the Spirit Vessel dies before its time expires, you cannot bring back any items.]

As the Narrator appeared, a gray pixel-art girl portrait icon appeared in the lower-right corner of the game interface.

Xu Zhi curiously tapped the icon, and a pixelated black-haired girl appeared before her.

Although this was a pixel game, its graphics were unexpectedly good—beautiful, even. And now, Xu Zhi could see a faint resemblance to someone familiar on the face of the pixel girl in black sportswear.

As for who she resembled, naturally, it was Xu Zhi herself.

".That's kind of creepy."

To the girl's right was a brown box labeled [Deployment], which was an item that could be selected.

Xu Zhi tapped it, and a prompt appeared.

[Please set the number of cores to invest.]

[Note: randomly generated extraordinary abilities will only come from the Attribute Cores invested.]

Xu Zhi really wanted to put one in and try it now. Aside from her own [Moth] Attribute Core, she also had a [Winter] Attribute Core.

But she checked the time. It was almost Midnight. If investing a core immediately created a Spirit Vessel and couldn't be canceled, she wasn't sure whether her Spirit Vessel could move about at Midnight. Better not waste it.

"Let's sleep first today."

Little One and Doggie would be back soon anyway. She was rather curious about what Doggie looked like and what kind of personality it had in reality.

"Hopefully it won't be too clingy."

Little One alone was enough!

Soon, the two Familiars returned to the doorstep on the game screen. Xu Zhi slipped the Game Console into her pocket and walked to the door.

Honestly, she had mentally prepared herself, but she still hadn't expected what she would face after opening the door—

The instant the door opened, a gray dog lunged straight at her with overwhelming enthusiasm. Before she even had time to shout at it, it was already wildly wagging its tail, sticking out its tongue, and licking her face.

Xu Zhi clenched her fists. The heavy "burden" on her body and the wet feeling on her face immediately exhausted what little patience she had left. She swiftly reached out and shoved it away with all her strength, but—

It didn't move.

What kind of oversized idiot was this?!

Perhaps sensing her displeasure, the gray dog took a step back on its own, allowing Xu Zhi to escape being buried in fur. Oh, no.

Xu Zhi noticed that Doggie hadn't backed away voluntarily. A black snake tail wrapped around its waist had forcibly dragged it away.

Even after being forcibly pulled back, Doggie still refused to give up, paddling forward as it tried to pounce on her again.

"Heh." Xu Zhi let out a cold laugh as she looked at the dumb dog staring at her with an enthusiastic expression. A strange sensation constantly came through the air, conveying its desire to snuggle against her, mixed with the black snake's somewhat disgusted emotions.

She walked into the room and said to Little One, "Drag it inside, then close the door."

After both of them came in, Xu Zhi tentatively called out to Doggie, "Sit. Don't move without my command!"

Upon hearing her command, the big dog obediently sat on the floor. Little One released its tail as well, but even so, the dumb dog's tail kept wagging like a propeller. It stared warmly at Xu Zhi and let out eager whimpers, as though it hadn't noticed her mood at all.

".Can't you even read the room?"

Xu Zhi felt somewhat helpless. Looking at Little One, she said, "Watch it. Don't let it move around."

Then she hurried to wash her face. As she washed, she grumbled inwardly about why both of her Familiars were so enthusiastic. At least Little One knew how to restrain itself a little. This dumb dog didn't know what restraint even was!

"Is this something all Familiars have in common?"

It was a good thing that Familiars were close to her, but being overly enthusiastic could be troublesome!

After washing up, Xu Zhi looked silently at the two in the room for a moment before solemnly instructing them, "Stay by my bed tonight. Don't run around, and don't disturb my sleep!"

Little One nodded in a very humanlike manner. As for Doggie... it really looked like a dumb dog that couldn't understand human speech, staring innocently at her while wagging its tail. It even restlessly scraped its paws against the floor.

".Forget it."

Xu Zhi felt inexplicably tired. Thinking Little One would keep Doggie in check, she couldn't be bothered to say more and decisively crawled under the covers.

At five in the morning the next day, the alarm rang as usual. Xu Zhi, as usual, struggled beneath the covers for a while before climbing up with a sleepy face and picking up the Game Console. Even though it was already the apocalypse, she still had to get up punctually at five every morning!

"You two, go do what you're supposed to do."

Even after she had arranged for both Familiars to head out in the game and search for Black Fruit, the two of them still moved toward the door slowly. Little One was even using its tail to drag the reluctant dumb dog along. Xu Zhi's head began to ache.

Fortunately, her words still worked. Once she disappeared from the dumb dog's field of vision, Doggie seemed to become an entirely different dog and quickly raced downstairs to complete the task she had assigned.

Xu Zhi had no intention of idling around either. She opened the Spirit Vessel interface again, tapped Deployment, selected one [Winter] Attribute Core to invest, and pressed confirm.

[Number of cores invested: 1]

[Spirit Vessel duration: 5 minutes]

"One core only lasts five minutes?"

Her entire fortune could only support ten minutes of Spirit Vessel activity. That was far too shabby.

What could she even do in five minutes?

Xu Zhi was a little lost, but just as she had thought before, once a core was invested, it couldn't be canceled. The next second, the words [Randomly generating attributes] appeared beside the girl on the interface.

"Since this is my first time playing with this, at least give me some good random attributes!"

Xu Zhi clasped her hands together and began a useless prayer.

Was I out of my mind yesterday? The previous chapter was Chapter 12, yet I had that 90 hanging there all day and didn't even notice?!

But none of the readers noticed either. Actually, that's because there are no readers at all, right?!