Reincarnated into my favorite videogame

The Bond Beyond the Hunt

Nari stared at the wolf in silence, her mind racing with confusion and fear. The beast's red eyes remained locked on her, but there was no aggression in its gaze. It simply sat there, observing her with a strange intensity, as if waiting for something.

Why isn't it attacking me? she thought, gripping her staff tighter. This entire situation felt wrong. Everything in the game had rules—patterns she knew inside out from years of playing. But this... this wasn't following the script.

Suddenly, a strange energy crackled in the air, pulling Nari from her thoughts. The ground beneath the wolf trembled as a black ring of fire erupted around it, swirling with a fierce intensity. Nari's heart pounded as she stepped back, raising her staff defensively. But the flames didn't consume the wolf. Instead, they seemed to reshape it.

The massive creature shrank, its form twisting and contorting as the fire engulfed it. Nari watched, eyes wide, as the fur receded, limbs changed, and within seconds, the terrifying wolf had transformed into something completely unexpected.

Standing before her was a young girl—no older than 9 or 10—with glowing red eyes and long black hair cascading down her back. She wore a simple black dress, her pale skin almost shimmering in the dim light of the forest. Despite her age, there was an air of ancient power around her, something that didn't fit her youthful appearance.

Nari blinked, her mind trying to make sense of what she was seeing. This never happened in the game.

The girl stepped forward, her movements fluid and graceful despite her age. She bowed her head slightly and spoke in a soft, reverent voice. "Master."

Nari froze, her mind scrambling to process the word. Master? Why was this girl—no, this creature—addressing her like that? Nari had done nothing to warrant such a title, especially not after what had just happened.

"Wait... what?" Nari stammered, trying to regain control of the situation. "Why are you calling me that?"

The girl straightened up, her glowing red eyes meeting Nari's gaze without hesitation. "Because you saved me, Master," she said, her voice steady and calm. "You spared me from my fate. Therefore, I belong to you now."

Nari's heart skipped a beat. This was definitely not in the game. In all her hours of playing, there had never been an encounter like this. No black wolves transforming into strange girls. No sudden declarations of loyalty. And yet, here she was, standing in front of something completely new and unfamiliar.

Nari frowned, still trying to piece everything together. "What... what's your name?"

The girl shook her head slowly. "I do not have a name, Master. Only you can name me."

Nari's stomach tightened. Me? She wasn't prepared for this. Naming creatures wasn't something she had ever thought she'd be doing—especially not magical wolves-turned-humans. She needed to think carefully. What name would be worthy of this strange, powerful creature?

She brainstormed, running through a list of possible names. Something that wasn't too simple but also not too elaborate. A name that sounded strong yet fitting for this mysterious girl.

"How about... Valerie?" Nari said finally, unsure but hoping the name suited her.

For a moment, the girl said nothing. Then, her red eyes lit up with a sudden sparkle, and a soft smile curved her lips. "Valerie," she repeated, as if savoring the name. "I love it. Thank you, Master."

As soon as Valerie accepted her new name, Nari felt a strange sensation ripple through the air. It was like the world itself was acknowledging something profound had just occurred. A soft chime echoed in Nari's mind, and a message appeared in her vision:

Achievement Unlocked: Animal Collector

You have made a new achievement by forming a bond with a powerful companion.

Nari blinked, staring at the message in disbelief. That achievement was impossible—she had completed every other achievement in the game. The only one she had left was this elusive, mythical "Animal Collector" achievement, something she thought was more rumor than reality. And yet, here it was, showing up for the first time, now that she had named Valerie.

She glanced back at the girl, who stood there patiently, as if waiting for Nari's next move. Valerie didn't seem like the type to be tamed or controlled, but there was something else in her demeanor—a loyalty, a bond that transcended the normal master-servant dynamic. Nari hadn't just earned an achievement; she had gained something far more complex and powerful.

This was no ordinary game encounter. This was something new. And it terrified her.

Nari took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She couldn't shake the feeling that everything was changing—her world, her power, even the rules of the game itself. With Valerie by her side, things were going to get even more unpredictable.

But for now, she would have to trust her instincts. And perhaps, trust Valerie.

Taking another glance at her new companion, Nari opened her game interface, now curious to see what had changed. She navigated to the "Creature Compendium," which listed all the creatures she had tamed throughout her journey. A new tab had appeared: Companions. As she tapped it, Valerie's name flashed across the screen, along with basic information.

Valerie

Age: 10 (approximate)

Species: Former Beast

Abilities: Transformation, Shadow Manipulation, Enhanced Senses

Loyalty Level: 100%

Nari couldn't help but feel a strange surge of pride. Valerie was powerful—and the game seemed to be acknowledging that bond between them in ways she hadn't imagined. Just as she was about to close the interface, she noticed another name pop up in the list beneath Valerie's.

Iris

Age: 7 (approximate)

Species: Ethereal Familiar

Abilities: Healing, Light Projection, Flight

Loyalty Level: 100%

Note: Iris will gain the ability to switch between human form and fox form starting tomorrow.

Nari's eyes widened. Iris? She hadn't thought about Iris in ages. Iris had been her first real companion—an ethereal familiar she had discovered early on in her adventures. Clicking on Iris' name, she was shown a quick summary of her interactions with her. Nari smiled, recalling how Iris had always been by her side. The note about Iris gaining a new ability—being able to switch between a human form and her fox form—added a new layer of intrigue. It would happen tomorrow, which made Nari even more curious about how that would change things. Having Iris in a human form could bring a whole new dynamic to their adventures. Nari's mind raced with possibilities.

I need to bring her out more often, Nari thought.

But Valerie—Valerie was different. Unlike Iris, who had been a soft presence in her adventures, Valerie felt like a force of nature. The game described her abilities as shadow manipulation and enhanced senses, but Nari had a feeling there was much more to uncover.

She closed the interface, feeling the weight of her new responsibilities. Valerie was watching her silently, waiting for Nari's next command.

"Valerie," Nari said slowly, "let's see what you can do."

The girl smiled, her red eyes glinting mischievously. She raised her hand, and the shadows around them seemed to respond, swirling and shifting in response to her will. Valerie closed her fist, and the shadows condensed into a solid, dark figure—a wolf, just like the one she had been before.

Nari gasped. "You can… become a wolf again?"

Valerie nodded. "I can shift between forms, Master. The wolf is my true form, but I prefer this one when speaking with you."

The shadow wolf prowled around them before vanishing into the darkness again. Nari could feel the power radiating from Valerie, but it was controlled, as if Valerie was careful to never show more than what was needed. She didn't want to scare Nari, only to prove her loyalty.

Nari stood there, processing everything. She had unlocked something unprecedented in the game—a new kind of achievement, a new level of bonding with her companions. But it wasn't just a game anymore. The lines between reality and the virtual world were blurring, and the stakes were becoming higher.

A soft chime echoed again in her mind, and a final message appeared:

Loyalty Achieved: Valerie's bond with you has solidified. She will protect you at all costs.

It wasn't just an achievement. Nari had gained a protector, a companion who would follow her into any danger. Valerie wasn't just another entry in the Creature Compendium—she was real, in a way that nothing in the game had ever been before.