Kaede tapped her chin, thinking. "Hmm... how about... Cinnamon?" She chuckled. 'That sounds like something Maple would have done, like when she named a turtle Syrup. A lion should have a hard-core name.'
---
Name: Cinnamon
Race: Demonic Beast – Venom Tyrant
Type: Tamed Monster
Owner: Kaede
Danger Rank: Elite Knight-Class
---
Base Stats:
HP: 92,000
MP: 38,400
Strength: 470
Defense: 3100
Agility: 280
Intelligence: 800
Willpower: 1600
---
Resistances:
Poison: Immunity
Curse: High Resistance
Physical: 40% Damage Reduction
Magic: 25% Damage Reduction
Fear Effects: Immune (when near Kaede)
---
Active Abilities:
[Venom Flood] – Cinnamon releases a tide of corrosive toxin from his mane and jaws, creating a poisonous field that deals continuous damage to enemies and weakens their defenses. The longer enemies remain in the zone, the more severe the debuffs become.
[Abyss Howl] – Emits a roar that instills dread in nearby enemies, potentially stunning them for 1–3 seconds and reducing their attack power for a short duration.
[Tyrant's Lunge] – A devastating forward charge that knocks back all enemies in its path and deals massive physical damage. Gains bonus damage if enemies are affected by poison.
[Pack Command] – Cinnamon can summon spectral Blue Fur Lions to aid in combat. These allies act autonomously but follow Cinnamon's general intent.
[Dreadborn Leap] – Cinnamon leaps into the air and crashes down with immense force, creating a shockwave infused with venom. The impact stuns ground-based enemies and leaves a toxic zone behind.
---
Passive Skills:
[Venom Tyrant Physiology] – Cinnamon's entire body is coated in a subtle toxin that damages and weakens any enemy that physically touches him. This passive also grants minor regeneration while in toxic environments.
[Kaede's Bond: Beastlink] – When within 20 meters of Kaede, Cinnamon's stats increase by 15%, and he becomes immune to mind-control or fear effects. If Kaede drops below 50% HP, Cinnamon enters a frenzy state, increasing movement speed and aggression.
[Intimidation Aura] – Weaker beast-type enemies will hesitate, flee, or become paralyzed in Cinnamon's presence. This effect grows stronger if Kaede is standing beside him.
---
Special Trait: Chaos Shard (Stabilized)
A remnant of the transformation process through Kaede's Pandemonium Conversion. This shard grants Cinnamon heightened adaptability, allowing him to grow stronger over time and mutate further depending on environmental exposure or Kaede's influence.
When slain, Cinnamon can reconstitute over time if Kaede is alive and has enough mana to support his regeneration.
---
"...Huh?" Kaede paused. "No, no, no. Delete that name."
---
Name cannot be removed once placed.
---
"Fuck you too," Kaede hissed.
The massive lion whined at Kaede's outburst.
Kaede softened immediately, smiling as she rubbed his snout. "No, not you, Cinnamon. You didn't do anything wrong."
Meanwhile, the Hunters behind her were undergoing a synchronized mental breakdown.
"Is… is she talking to the lion?" Akari asked, gripping her bardiche like a lifeline. The aura Cinnamon radiated made the air feel heavier.
"Is she a necromancer?" Korra questioned. "No, wait, that thing looks demonic. Maybe a summon? So she's a tank-slash-mage-slash-summoner now? Damn, reawakening is busted. I'm jealous."
Kenzo let out a bark of laughter, loud enough to echo through the glowing mushroom fields. "That's fucking awesome! Hey Kaede, once we clear this dungeon, let me fight it!"
Kanae sighed, not even surprised. "I thought you'd want to fight her."
Kenzo shrugged. "She's obviously stronger than I am. I mean, she tanked my attack like nothing, has a poison dragon, and now a poison lion. She's probably on the same level as the guild master. That's the kind of fight I want to see."
Kanae looked toward Kaede, who was currently snuggling the embodiment of large-scale biological warfare like a housecat.
Kaede's eyes lit up. "Oh yeah! I should add you to my clan."
---
CLAN
Standard Soldier: 0/45 (Increase strength by 30%)
Elite Soldier: 0/15 (Increase strength by 50%)
Knight: 0/9 (Increase strength by 100%)
Elite Knight: 0/1 (Increase strength by 250%)
---
"Hm… You're my first pet here, just like Syrup was back home. But you're still new. And Elite Knight's supposed to be reserved for the absolute strongest." She looked up at Cinnamon, thoughtful. "What do you think?"
Cinnamon rumbled low in his throat, as if in understanding.
Kaede nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Let's keep it humble for now. We'll build up together."
She tapped the air in front of her.
"Designate Cinnamon to Knight."
She gave his snout one last affectionate rub. "You'll just have to manage with a 100% boost instead of 250%, okay?"
---
CLAN
Standard Soldier: 0/45 (Increase strength by 30%)
Elite Soldier: 0/15 (Increase strength by 50%)
Knight: 1/9 (Increase strength by 100%)
• Cinnamon
Elite Knight: 0/1 (Increase strength by 250%)
---
Cinnamon roared, and his flesh began to hiss and swell. Shadows spilled from his paws, spreading like ink across the mushroom forest as his body rapidly expanded, doubling in size within seconds.
Kaede's eyes sparkled. "Whoa… so big."
"Hey Kanae, is it just me," Akari asked, voice tight, "or did that lion just get bigger?"
Kanae's frown deepened. "You're seeing it too. He definitely doubled in size."
Akari nodded slowly. "Cool. Just wanted to make sure I'm not hallucinating. She's gonna join our guild, right? Because I think she's stronger than every S-Rank in Japan combined. Especially if she just makes monsters her pets."
Kanae said nothing, only nodding as a single thought echoed in her mind. 'Would she even listen if I reminded her to join?'
Kaede crossed her arms, puffing her cheeks. "Now you're too big, Cinnamon."
The lion let out a pleased rumble before shrinking back down, until he was only a head taller than Kaede. His massive eyes gleamed with pride, as if awaiting praise.
"Kawaii!" Kaede squealed, throwing her arms around him.
Korra exhaled. "Should we set up another camp? Though I don't think we can eat these lions, they're literally leaking poison."
Kanae shook her head. "No, we clear this dungeon fast. With Kaede here, it'll be like clearing an E-Rank."
Korra glanced at her. "You know you just jinxed us, right?"
Kanae raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking ab..?"
Growl!
Cinnamon snapped his head skyward, lips curling back to reveal jagged fangs. High above, a small dot swelled in size, screaming toward them.
Whoosh!
A metal projectile launched straight toward Kaede.
Any other S-Rank would've dodged or blocked, but Kaede, still riding the rush of one-shotting a monster, reacted just like Maple would have.
She stood there and took it.
Clasp!
A heavy device clamped onto her shoulder, a chain snapping taut and jerking her skyward.
A shadow streaked overhead, sleek, winged, fast. A giant, manta-ray-like creature with blades for wings.
Kaede's feet left the ground. In an instant, she was gone.
In that frozen moment between heartbeats, she caught a glimpse of the mushroom forest below, now rapidly shrinking.
Her team. Still clustered together. Trying to run towards her. Still unaware, of the danger they were in.
Her breath caught.
Dozens of humanoid figures moved between the trees, surrounding the Hunters. She recognized them, similar to the ones who ambushed them at the start of the dungeon. They already proved to be strong, fast, and now, there were so many of them. Too many.
There wasn't time to shout a warning. The chain held firm, dragging her into the sky.
So she did the only thing she could.
"PROTECT THEM, CINNAMON!!" Kaede roared, her voice echoing across the forest.