Seven days quietly slipped away across the frozen wilderness of the Frostfang Continent.
The snow never stopped falling for long.
Whenever the clouds parted, warm golden sunlight would pour across the endless white landscape, transforming every mountain, every pine tree, and every frozen river into glittering masterpieces sculpted by nature itself.
Life continued beneath winter’s embrace just as it had for countless generations.
Predators hunted.
Prey fled.
The strong defended their territories while the weak searched desperately for another sunrise.
Deep within Blackfang Forest, hidden beneath an ancient glacier, the Crystal Cave welcomed another peaceful dawn.
The blue crystals embedded throughout the icy walls reflected the early morning sunlight, filling the vast cavern with a gentle azure glow.
Thin streams of warm vapor drifted upward from the underground spring, keeping the nursery comfortably warm despite the freezing winds roaring beyond the cave entrance.
The familiar scents of pine resin, fresh snow, medicinal herbs, and recently hunted prey blended together, creating an atmosphere Ash had unknowingly begun calling home.
As the first rays of sunlight reached the nursery, Ash slowly opened his sapphire-blue eyes.
He blinked once before stretching his growing body.
Compared to the helpless cub that had opened its eyes only a week earlier, the difference was astonishing.
His limbs had become firmer.
His balance no longer faltered.
His breathing remained steady and controlled.
The soft white fur covering his body had grown thicker, protecting him naturally against the cold, while his senses had sharpened beyond anything he had ever imagined possible during his human life.
He could hear snow falling from distant branches outside the cave.
He could distinguish the heartbeat of his sleeping siblings beside him.
He could smell dozens of different scents drifting into the cave with the morning breeze.
Every passing day...
This world became clearer.
Ash quietly rose onto all four paws and began walking through the nursery.
His movements no longer felt forced.
During the first few days, his human mind had constantly struggled against the instincts of his new body. Every step had required conscious effort. Every movement had felt unfamiliar.
Now...
His instincts no longer fought against his memories.
Instead...
The two had slowly begun working together.
His human experience allowed him to observe, analyze, and remain calm.
His wolf instincts guided his body with flawless precision.
Neither side had disappeared.
They had simply become one.
Ash stopped near the cave entrance and quietly watched the morning activity unfolding before him.
The hunters had already returned from their earliest patrol, carrying fresh prey across the snow before respectfully placing it near the elders and mothers.
Not a single hunter ate before ensuring the weakest members of the pack had received food first.
Ash watched an older warrior gently push a large piece of meat toward a wolf whose wounds had not yet fully healed.
The injured wolf lowered his head gratefully.
No words were spoken.
None were needed.
A simple gesture carried enough meaning.
Nearby, the healer wolves carefully examined old injuries left behind by the battle with the Ice Bear. Their experienced noses inspected every wound before fresh medicinal herbs were applied with remarkable care.
Even the proud warriors patiently accepted treatment without complaint.
There was no shame in being injured while protecting the pack.
Only honor.
Ash continued observing.
The mothers remained together inside the nursery, nursing not only their own cubs but occasionally comforting another cub whose mother had stepped away for a brief moment.
No cub was neglected.
No family stood alone.
The Blackfang Pack truly lived as one.
His gaze slowly shifted toward his own parents.
His mother gently cleaned the curious cub’s fur after the little fellow rolled through muddy snow near the hot spring. His energetic brother immediately tried wrestling with one of the older cubs, only to lose his balance and tumble backward.
Their sleepy sister watched the entire scene for several moments before deciding it required far too much effort and promptly curled into another comfortable nap.
Ash smiled inwardly.
"They really haven’t changed."
His father approached shortly afterward.
The large wolf lowered his head toward each of the four cubs, gently nudging them one after another before briefly licking the top of their heads.
There was affection in every movement.
Protection.
Responsibility.
Ash had once believed fatherhood among wild animals meant little more than defending territory.
He now understood how wrong that assumption had been.
His father hunted.
Protected.
Comforted.
Watched over them from a distance.
He never demanded attention.
Yet his presence alone made every cub feel safe.
Ash quietly lowered his head.
This family...
Had accepted him without hesitation.
Despite carrying memories from another world...
He had never once felt unwanted.
His thoughts drifted toward the Alpha.
Almost instinctively, Ash lifted his gaze toward the enormous rock standing near the entrance of the Crystal Cave.
As expected...
The Alpha was already there.
His majestic white fur danced gently beneath the cold mountain breeze while countless old scars remained visible beneath the morning sunlight. Calm sapphire eyes silently overlooked the endless forest stretching toward the horizon.
At first glance...
He appeared merely to be admiring the scenery.
Ash knew better.
The Alpha’s ears constantly twitched toward distant sounds.
His nose sampled every changing scent carried by the wind.
His eyes carefully observed the movement of birds flying across the mountains.
Nothing escaped his attention.
Before long, several scout wolves returned from their morning patrol.
They respectfully lowered their heads before releasing a series of low growls accompanied by subtle movements of their ears and tails.
Ash quietly listened.
Although he still couldn’t fully understand their language, familiar meanings gradually emerged within his thoughts.
Safe.
North.
River.
Tracks.
Nothing unusual.
The Alpha listened patiently before giving several calm growls of his own.
The scouts immediately departed once more without hesitation.
Ash’s respect deepened.
"The Alpha doesn’t simply command..."
"He listens."
Throughout the morning, more wolves approached him.
Hunters reported successful patrols.
Guardians informed him about the nursery.
Healers discussed injured warriors.
Elders shared observations regarding the changing weather.
Every important decision eventually reached the Alpha.
Yet...
Not once did he raise his voice.
Not once did he display unnecessary dominance.
Leadership...
Wasn’t about fear.
It was about carrying responsibility.
Ash suddenly understood why the Alpha always stood alone upon that rock.
Everyone else eventually rested.
The Alpha never truly could.
The safety of every cub.
Every hunter.
Every elder.
Every mother.
Every life within Blackfang...
Rested upon his shoulders.
It was a burden no ordinary wolf could bear.
As the sun climbed higher into the clear blue sky, a deep howl echoed throughout Blackfang Forest.
Every wolf immediately paused.
Hunters stopped eating.
Scouts returned.
Guardians gathered.
Even playful cubs instinctively became quiet.
Ash looked toward his mother.
She gently nudged him forward before doing the same to his siblings.
Something important was about to happen.
The entire Blackfang Pack slowly gathered outside the Crystal Cave beneath the brilliant morning sunlight.
More than a hundred snow wolves formed an enormous circle upon the untouched snow.
The elders stood near the center.
The warriors formed the outer ring.
The mothers gently guided their cubs forward.
Complete silence settled across the gathering.
Then...
The Alpha slowly climbed onto the highest rock overlooking the pack.
The cold wind flowed through his magnificent fur as his piercing gaze swept across every wolf standing below.
Ash instinctively felt his heartbeat quicken.
Although he didn’t yet understand every tradition of the Blackfang Pack...
He somehow knew.
Today...
Was special.
The Alpha released a deep, resonant howl that echoed across the mountains like an ancient promise carried upon the winter wind.
One by one...
Every wolf lowered its head.
The Naming Ceremony...
Had begun.
The silence that settled over the gathering carried a weight unlike anything Ash had experienced since arriving in Aethelgard.
More than a hundred Snow Wolves stood proudly upon the untouched snow, their snow-white coats blending perfectly with the frozen landscape surrounding the Crystal Cave.
None of them moved.
None of them broke formation.
The only sound that existed was the cold mountain wind sweeping across the Frostfang peaks before gently rustling through the thick fur of every wolf gathered beneath the open sky.
Standing upon the highest rock, the Alpha slowly lowered his majestic head.
His sapphire-blue eyes swept across every family.
Every elder.
Every hunter.
Every guardian.
Every mother.
And finally...
Every cub.
Ash could feel something profound within those eyes.
There was pride.
Relief.
Responsibility.
The Alpha was not counting warriors.
He was counting lives.
Every cub that survived its first seven days represented another future guardian of Blackfang.
Another hunter.
Another healer.
Another scout.
Another mother or father who would continue the legacy of the pack long after today’s adults had become nothing more than memories carried by the wind.
An elder stepped forward beside the Alpha before releasing a long, steady howl that echoed across the frozen valley.
Ash could not understand every sound.
Yet...
His instincts translated its emotions.
Gratitude.
Life.
Continuation.
Family.
One by one, each mother gently guided her cub toward the center of the gathering.
The Alpha climbed down from the stone and calmly approached the first newborn.
He lowered his massive head until his forehead gently touched the tiny cub’s own.
For several quiet moments...
Nothing happened.
Then the Alpha released a deep howl toward the heavens.
Immediately, the entire pack answered.
Hundreds of voices merged into one magnificent chorus that rolled across the snow-covered mountains.
The little cub wagged its tail excitedly while its mother affectionately rubbed against it.
Ash slowly understood.
This was more than a ceremony.
It was acceptance.
From this day onward...
Every surviving cub officially belonged to Blackfang.
One after another, the ceremony continued.
Each family stepped forward.
Each cub received the Alpha’s blessing.
Each name was acknowledged through the united voices of the entire pack.
No one was forgotten.
No one was treated as insignificant.
Every life mattered.
Finally...
Ash’s mother gently nudged him forward.
His tiny paws sank into the soft snow as he slowly walked toward the Alpha.
Unlike before...
He no longer felt afraid.
The enormous wolf stopped directly before him.
For several long moments...
Neither moved.
Ash found himself staring into those ancient sapphire eyes once again.
This time...
He noticed something different.
The Alpha wasn’t simply looking at him.
He was observing him.
Almost as though trying to understand the unusually calm cub standing before him.
A gentle breeze drifted between them, carrying Ash’s scent toward the Alpha.
The great wolf quietly inhaled before lowering his enormous head.
Their foreheads met.
Warm.
Gentle.
Protective.
Ash instinctively closed his eyes.
Then...
A deep howl erupted from the Alpha’s chest.
It echoed across Blackfang Forest with incredible majesty.
The surrounding wolves immediately answered.
Their voices merged together beneath the brilliant morning sky, creating a sound so powerful that even distant birds took flight from the surrounding pine trees.
Within those countless howls...
Ash finally understood.
Not through words.
But through instinct.
Through belonging.
Through family.
"Ash."
The meaning settled quietly within his heart.
It was not merely a sound.
It was his place.
His identity.
His future.
His name had not been granted by fate.
Nor by some mysterious system.
It had been entrusted to him...
By the family that had accepted him without hesitation.
Ash slowly lowered his head toward the Alpha.
Not out of fear.
But respect.
When the ceremony finally ended, the wolves gradually returned to their daily responsibilities.
Life resumed as naturally as flowing water.
Hunters departed toward the forest.
Scouts vanished into the snowy mountains.
The healers returned to preparing medicine.
Mothers gathered their cubs.
Nothing seemed different.
Yet...
Everything had changed.
Ash was no longer simply another newborn.
He had become a true member of the Blackfang Pack.
As evening quietly descended, golden sunlight slowly disappeared behind the Frostfang Mountains.
The endless snowfields gradually transformed beneath soft silver moonlight.
Most of the pack had already fallen asleep after another peaceful day.
Unable to rest, Ash slowly wandered away from the nursery.
His tiny paws carried him toward the familiar rock overlooking the valley.
The same place where the Alpha often stood alone.
With some effort, Ash climbed onto one of the lower stones before sitting quietly beneath the night sky.
The cold wind gently swept across the mountain.
His white fur danced softly beneath the silver moonlight.
Above him...
Countless stars stretched endlessly across the heavens.
Ash quietly stared upward.
Only seven days.
Just seven days ago...
He had awakened terrified inside an unfamiliar body.
He had mourned the life he left behind.
Wondered why fate had chosen him.
Questioned whether he would ever belong here.
Now...
Those doubts had faded.
He looked back toward the Crystal Cave.
Inside...
His mother slept peacefully beside his father.
His energetic brother twitched happily while dreaming.
His sleepy sister remained curled into a tiny ball.
The curious cub rested with one paw draped across Ash’s usual sleeping place.
A faint smile appeared within Ash’s heart.
"This..."
"...is my family."
The realization no longer frightened him.
It comforted him.
"I don’t know what kind of future awaits me."
"I don’t know what dangers hide beyond those mountains."
"But..."
"I’ll become strong enough to protect this place."
At that exact moment...
The world suddenly became silent.
The wind stopped.
The drifting snow froze in midair.
Even the distant sound of the underground spring vanished.
Time itself appeared to stand still.
Ash’s pupils narrowed.
A warm current spread throughout his body.
It began deep within his chest before flowing through every limb like gentle waves of light.
Then...
A calm mechanical voice echoed directly inside his consciousness.
Ding.
Host survival confirmed.
Conditions fulfilled.
Bloodline Ancestor System successfully activated.
A transparent blue screen slowly unfolded before his eyes like flowing water.
Its elegant symbols glowed softly beneath the moonlight.
Ash remained completely still.
"...So it wasn’t a dream."
Words gradually appeared across the screen.
Bloodline Ancestor System
The strongest bloodline is not inherited.
It is created.
Expand your bloodline.
Lead your descendants.
Build your clan.
Rule Aethelgard.
Ash quietly read every sentence twice.
His heartbeat remained surprisingly calm.
Unlike many people who might celebrate receiving such a miraculous opportunity...
He asked the first question that came to mind.
"What... are you?"
For several seconds...
Nothing happened.
Then the screen answered.
I am the Bloodline Ancestor System.
My purpose is not to fight for you.
My purpose is to guide you.
Ash frowned slightly.
"So... you’re not going to solve every problem?"
Negative.
Only the Host can determine the future of the bloodline.
Unexpectedly...
Ash felt relieved.
A power that solved every obstacle would eventually make him dependent.
A guide...
Was far more valuable.
More words appeared.
Beginner Rewards Unlocked
Mythic Bloodline Seed (Locked)
Perfect Beast Language Comprehension
Bloodline Vision
Status Panel
Ash instinctively focused upon the final option.
A second screen quietly appeared.
Name: Ash
Race: Snow Wolf Cub
Age: 7 Days
Cultivation: None
Bloodline: Common Snow Wolf (0%)
Talent: Ordinary
Skills:
Keen Smell Lv.1
Keen Hearing Lv.1
Bloodline Points: 0
Descendants: 0
His gaze slowly shifted downward.
Another line quietly appeared.
Main Mission
Become the Ancestor of the Strongest Bloodline in Aethelgard.
Reward: Unknown
Failure: None
Ash stared silently.
"No punishment..."
"So whether I succeed..."
"Depends entirely on me."
For the first time since arriving in this world...
He smiled without hesitation.
This system wasn’t forcing him.
It was simply opening a path.
Whether he walked it...
Would always remain his own choice.
The moon continued shining above the Frostfang Mountains as the transparent screen gradually dissolved into countless particles of blue light.
The cold breeze returned.
Snowflakes once again drifted through the silent night.
Ash remained sitting alone upon the frozen rock.
His white fur gently swayed with the mountain wind.
His sapphire-blue eyes overlooked the endless world stretching beyond Blackfang Forest.
Somewhere beyond those distant mountains...
Powerful enemies waited.
Ancient beasts ruled forgotten lands.
Empires rose and fell.
And destiny patiently awaited him.
Ash slowly raised his head toward the stars.
"My second life..."
"...begins now."
To be continued....