He leaned back slightly, eyes scanning the description as his thoughts began their usual quiet calculations.
"A sabertooth…" he muttered, tilting his head faintly. "Strong… but…"
His gaze drifted unconsciously toward Black, who was now curled up again like nothing had happened, and then toward the empty air where Tempest would soon occupy space.
"…not as versatile as a direwolf," he finished under his breath. "And no aerial advantage either."
There was no excitement in his tone.
Only assessment.
Cold.
Practical.
His eyes flicked down to his coin balance.
388 coins.
Enough for seven more spins.
The number lingered.
Tempting.
Dangerous.
For a moment, his fingers twitched slightly, hovering in mid-air as if drawn toward the button again.
Then—
He exhaled.
Long.
Controlled.
"Nah…"
His voice was quiet.
Firm.
"I've had enough gambling for one night."
He let himself fall backward onto the bed, the mattress dipping beneath his weight as a groan escaped him, low and tired.
"I need more money for everything…" he muttered, staring at the ceiling. "And chasing money just makes my chest feel tight…"
A faint grimace crossed his face.
"…pathetic."
The word hung there for a second before he shook his head lightly, as if throwing it away.
"Enough."
He sat up again.
Decision made.
No hesitation this time.
He returned to the Summoner's Shop, fingers moving quickly, efficiently.
Ding!
[Purchased: Blazing Direwolf Egg. 100 coins have been deducted.]
Ding!
[Purchased: Electral Direwolf Egg. 100 Coins have been deducted.]
Ding!
[Purchased: Terran Direwolf Egg. 100 coins have been deducted.]
The familiar rhythm grounded him.
This—
This was safe.
Predictable.
Control.
He switched to his NovaMart dashboard, adjusting listings with practiced ease, his eyes sharp, focused.
Blazing Direwolf Egg – Price: 40,000 Credits
Electral Direwolf Egg – Price: 40,000 Credits
Terran Direwolf Egg – Price: 40,000 Credits
Each listing set.
Each number deliberate.
Each decision calculated.
"Let's see…" he murmured softly, leaning slightly closer to the screen. "…how far this market stretches."
There was no rush this time.
No impatience.
Only quiet testing.
He closed the laptop with a soft click.
Then—
Paused.
Something tugged at the edge of his mind.
A loose thread.
He followed it.
Inventory.
The Lightning Pterosaur Summon Token.
Still there.
Waiting.
Arceus's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…right."
He tapped it.
[Hatching the Egg]
Ding!
Light burst outward instantly, flooding the room in a brilliant glow that painted everything gold-white for a brief moment. Even Black stirred, its ears twitching as a faint screech echoed through the air, sharp and unfamiliar.
Then—
The light collapsed inward.
And from it—
A creature emerged.
Small.
But striking.
The fledgling pterosaur hovered briefly before settling, its wings spreading instinctively. They were large, disproportionately so compared to its body, shimmering with arcs of golden electricity that danced across their surface like living threads of light.
Its presence was delicate.
Yet—
Alive with energy.
***
[You have successfully hatched: Lightning Pterosaur]
[Please assign a Name.]
***
Arceus didn't hesitate.
He watched it for a brief second, the way it puffed its chest, the way its wings flickered with pride, as if it already understood its own worth.
"Tempest," he said softly.
The name settled naturally.
"Your name is Tempest."
The pterosaur responded instantly, letting out a sharp, bright cry, its wings flaring slightly as sparks crackled around it.
Approval.
Clear.
Unmistakable.
Arceus smiled.
"Welcome to the family."
He reached out slowly, his fingers brushing along its wings. The electricity sparked against his skin, faint and warm, but not painful, more like a static hum acknowledging his touch.
"First Black…" he murmured.
Then glanced at the pup.
"…and now Tempest."
His voice lowered slightly.
"A plainfolk like me…"
A faint pause.
"…bonding with monsters like you."
There was something almost disbelieving in his tone.
Something quiet.
Something real.
His gaze drifted between the two.
Black, now pawing clumsily at the air as if trying to touch the floating newcomer.
Tempest, pulling back slightly, letting out a sharp screech and swatting the paw away with a flick of its wing.
Arceus chuckled.
"Already proud, huh?"
The room settled again.
A small silence.
Comfortable.
Then—
His expression shifted.
Focused.
"Whatever the case…"
He leaned back, stretching his arms, joints cracking one after another in a slow, satisfying rhythm.
"As long as I push both of you to Commander Tier…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I won't need to rely on anyone."
The thought carried weight.
Freedom.
Strength.
Choice.
"Wilderness. Dungeons. Hunting…"
A faint smirk formed.
"All within reach."
His fingers curled slightly.
"Leveling isn't the problem."
A glance toward the shop.
"The only problem…"
A small breath.
"…is money."
He shook his head lightly, as if brushing away the spiral before it deepened.
"Enough."
He lay down fully this time, letting his body sink into the mattress, his eyes closing slowly as his mind painted images without restraint.
The wind rushing past.
A massive pterosaur soaring through the sky.
A towering direwolf tearing through enemies below.
His lips curved slightly.
"This place…" he murmured, voice soft and amused, "is ridiculously lucky for me."
Black sneezed lightly, waddling up and settling against his chest, its warmth immediate and grounding.
Tempest tilted its head for a moment, watching, then folded its wings neatly and curled beside him, its faint electrical hum softening into a gentle rhythm.
The room quieted.
But Arceus wasn't done yet.
He pulled out his phone, the screen lighting up his face as he opened his notes, his fingers moving with deliberate intent.
"Alright…"
His voice was low.
Focused.
"June 14th, 2016."
He typed.
Each word precise.
Each goal anchored.
One, Get a Hunter's License.
Two, Evolve Black and Tempest to Commander Tier
Three, Join a reputed guild
He paused briefly.
Then continued.
"If I remember correctly…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…City Hall."
The memory surfaced.
Clear.
Unavoidable.
"Dec 31st…"
He typed.
Four, Stop the Terrorist attack on City Hall on Dec 31st.
A small breath followed.
Then—
His thoughts shifted again.
Softer.
More personal.
"Serestia…"
His fingers hovered.
Then moved.
Five, confirm Serestia's orientation and relationship status.
No hesitation.
No apology.
Just intent.
Then—
Business.
Future.
Numbers.
"…Zhonggou companies…"
His brows furrowed slightly as he recalled fragments, trends, outcomes.
"I don't have enough influence to change anything…"
A faint smirk.
"…so I might as well ride the wave."
He typed again.
Six, look for companies and invest 500,000 credits. Use 200,000 credits in mutual funds. Keep the remaining for emergencies.
He stared at the list.
Six goals.
Clear.
Defined.
A roadmap carved from memory and second chances.
"Good enough…"
he murmured.
The phone dimmed.
Then went dark.
Arceus closed his eyes.
This time—
He let sleep take him.