Bruce

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Bruce was born to a retired military Kunming Wolfdog and a purebred Chinese Rural Dog. He was given to Chuan Wenwu shortly after birth, when Wenwu was eleven, and the two grew up together. Originally named Dahuang, he received the additional name “Bruce” during Wenwu’s middle-school years. During their childhood, Bruce saved Wenwu from drowning in a river 1 10.

While accompanying Wenwu to Fusang City before university enrollment, Bruce dug up the Four Holy Weapons Book. The book activated when Wenwu examined it and transported both of them to another world. Bruce awoke beside Wenwu on the summoning altar and was subsequently registered in the Hero system as his companion 1 2 3.

King Aultcray initially ordered Bruce removed from the royal audience, but Wenwu insisted that he was a partner and traveling companion, securing permission for him to stay. Bruce later supplied much of their early offensive power during monster hunting. At an inn, he discovered Myne stealing Wenwu’s money and raised the alarm; Wenwu deflected the fireball she fired at Bruce 4 13 16.

After leaving the palace, the pair concentrated on becoming stronger. Bruce’s biological materials unlocked the Companion Shield series, and subsequent hunting produced rapid physical growth and eventually a beastman form. His changing size led Wenwu to buy a heavy greatsword, commission custom armor, and purchase a collar that could manage equipment during transformations 20 24 25 29 32 36.

Bruce helped care for the newly rescued Raphtalia, including feeding her medicinal broth. Although she initially feared his canine appearance, he accepted her apology once he learned that a dog-like monster had killed her parents. He then welcomed her as a younger sister and promised to protect her from similar monsters 39 45 46.

Appearance

• Original appearance: A sturdy, plump yellow dog with a sleek, glossy coat 1.
• Level 14 appearance: Larger than an adult Tibetan mastiff, with thick limbs, a smoother yellow-brown coat, and increasingly intelligent black eyes 25.
• Beastman form: Nearly two and a half meters tall, with a canine head, brownish-yellow fur, iron-like muscles, and a stern, imposing expression 29.
• Giant canine form: A seven-meter-long hound with razor-sharp claws and an enormous mouth 33 34.
• Early beastman clothing: A crude animal-hide apron, later accompanied by a door-sized greatsword carried on his back 29 32.

Personality

Bruce is affectionate, obedient, and fiercely protective of Wenwu. He responds to his owner’s mood even when he cannot understand human scheming, and remains content as long as they are together. His protectiveness appears both in confronting Myne during her theft and in threatening a merchant who mistreats Wenwu; he nevertheless quiets when instructed 16 20 26.

Despite his intimidating appearance, Bruce adores young creatures, including kittens, puppies, and human children. Raphtalia’s fear hurts him, but he respects her need for distance and readily forgives her afterward. He is also considerate about money: after testing the Black Rock Heavy Iron Sword, he tries to refuse it upon hearing its twelve-gold price 32 40 46.

Abilities & Skills

Physical Strength and Natural Weapons

Bruce supplies offensive power that the Shield Hero initially lacks.

• His initial attack stat exceeds Wenwu’s by more than tenfold 3.
• He kills Orange Balloons with claws and teeth, preferring these natural weapons to a sword held in his mouth 13.
• At level 14, his triple-digit attack allows him to kill a Balloon Monster with each bite 25.
• In beastman form, he lifts the Black Rock Heavy Iron Sword effortlessly with one hand, although Elhart struggles to handle it with both arms 32.

Shapeshifting and Speech

Leveling grants Bruce the ability to alternate between a humanoid canine form and his enlarged original body.

• His beastman form has hands capable of grasping and wielding weapons 32 34.
• Returning to canine form rapidly enlarges his body and converts his hands into clawed paws 34.
• His first spoken greeting is slow and unclear; he continues to bark habitually after learning to speak 29 32 40.
• Ordinary clothing tears during transformation, creating a need for specialized equipment 34 36.
• He cannot read the local writing shown on Elhart’s armor blueprint 32.

Companion System Benefits

Bruce’s connection to Wenwu gives him access to growth support through the Shield of the Hero.

• After Ability Liberation, these bonuses remain active even when Wenwu uses another shield form 25.
• Wenwu observes that Bruce gains more stats from one level than he previously gained from several 28.
• Bruce’s monster kills also award experience to Wenwu because the system recognizes him as a companion 13.
• Wenwu suspects that their close bond explains the shield series, but neither he nor Elhart establishes the exact mechanism behind Bruce’s evolution 24 29.

Fire Magic Affinity

• A crystal-ball aptitude test reveals a strong affinity for fire magic 49.
• No learned fire spell or demonstrated magical attack is documented in the provided chapters.

Intelligence and Learned Skills

Before entering the other world, Bruce already understands people unusually well and has learned several complex activities.

• Rides an electric scooter, plays basketball and volleyball, and performs simple controls during online team fights 1.
• Uses a television remote to change channels 1.
• Keeps watch at night and alerts Wenwu to an intruder 16.
• His sense of smell does not solve every navigation problem: unfamiliar destinations and the city’s mixed odors prevent him from locating the monster market 33.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Magic Iron Sword — Briefly wielded in his mouth during early monster hunting. He abandons it in favor of his teeth and claws after it slips loose during combat 12 13.
• Helmet — Worn when leaving the weapon shop, though it is poorly secured and bounces on his head 12.
• Animal-hide apron — Early clothing for his beastman form; destroyed when he demonstrates his giant canine transformation 29 34.
• Black Rock Heavy Iron Sword — Door-sized greatsword purchased for twelve gold coins. Forged with meteorite powder for toughness, it is described by Elhart as suitable through levels forty or fifty and capable of later strengthening. The purchase includes a scabbard, blade coating, and three free maintenance upgrades 32.
• Barbarian Armor — Custom armor commissioned from Elhart, with completion expected in one or two days. Its initial quality is compared to fine equipment for levels twenty or thirty; better bones and hides can strengthen it later. Delivery is not confirmed in the provided passages 32.
• Shapeshifting Collar — Purchased for five gold coins. The black-iron collar changes size with its wearer; its bell contains storage for clothes and weapons, and a built-in magic circle automatically removes and replaces clothing during transformation 36.

Relationships

• Chuan Wenwu — Childhood companion, owner, and closest friend. Wenwu consistently describes Bruce as his brother rather than a pet; after gaining speech, Bruce calls him “boss” 1 10 29.
• Raphtalia — Younger-sister figure. Her initial fear stems from the three-headed dog-like monster that killed her parents. After her apology, Bruce forgives her, gently pats her head, and promises protection 45 46.
• Elhart — Weaponsmith who witnesses Bruce’s rapid evolution, supplies his greatsword, and agrees to make custom armor 24 28 29 32.
• Myne — Former traveling companion who attempts to kill Bruce with Flame Burst after he interrupts her theft 10 16.
• Aultcray Melromarc XXXII — King who tries to exclude Bruce from the royal audience, relenting after Wenwu defends his standing as a companion 4.

Notable Quotes

“B-boss... hello... I'm Bruce.”
— His first spoken greeting to Elhart 29

“You've already called me your big brother, so what more is there to say? Of course I forgive you!”
— Accepting Raphtalia’s apology 46

Trivia

• Bruce particularly enjoys Animal World and military documentaries, sometimes watching television for an entire afternoon 1.
• Wenwu’s Dog Fang Necklace was made from Bruce’s shed puppy teeth. One of those teeth later unlocks the strongest documented Companion Shield modifiers 24.
• His enormous appetite becomes a practical burden during forest training: most less-valuable monster meat and bones go to him, and Wenwu worries about affording his food 43.
• The author’s note introduces the “P 묘ro” race designation as an alternative to “kobold” or “canine beastman,” citing Arknights as inspiration for the naming approach 34.
• Elhart suggests Bruce could someday rival a divine beast; this is a prediction, not a confirmed rank or identity 24 28.