Chapter 48 Adult Hound, New Legacy

For the next half month, Louis and Marie worked together to refine the potion. Yet, as expected of a genius, with ample materials at her disposal, after more than a dozen failures, Marie astonishingly managed to create a derivative potion.

This new concoction could, at the cost of severe but non-lethal depletion of vital energy, achieve effects surpassing even adrenaline—essentially a harmless enhanced version of adrenaline. Unfortunately, its success rate was low, and Marie referred to it as a flawed product born out of luck amid illogical circumstances.

Soon, this batch of potions was shipped back to Miami. Simultaneously, a new litter of fierce dog pups arrived at the warehouse, awaiting Louis’s training.

However, this time, with the help of Terror, the lead dog, training would be much easier. Yet the number of lead dogs he could command was limited—ideally twenty, never exceeding thirty. Beyond that, precise control would become difficult.

Therefore, Louis planned to train another lead dog to station alongside his elder uncle, Max, for indirect command.

The following two months passed without incident.

David refrained from creating new trouble, Yurenka did not bully anyone, and Emma, not driven by jealousy, caused no harm—at worst, there were minor skirmishes.

Since Marie’s arrival, under Louis’s suppression, Emma and Yurenka’s abnormalities remained hidden from her.

Still, having left the manor alongside Emma, Marie had not forgotten when Nuell attacked her and Emma had only hidden nearby, leaving Louis to shield her.

Though now friends with Emma, Marie kept a certain distance. Her relationship with Yurenka was merely that of ordinary friends. Only with Louis was she a genuine friend, fully unguarded.

Louis had no intention to correct this; it was better for innocent and lovely Marie to keep her distance from them—she simply was not of their kind.

After a routine training session of hidden techniques, Louis carried some beef to the warehouse.

Raising these dogs was no easy task. Feeding alone demanded a considerable amount daily. Unlike common house dogs that ate leftovers, these beasts consumed pure meat.

Especially the lead dog, who aside from meat, occasionally required human blood.

They also needed daily training, hunting in the back mountains to maintain their wild nature. In America’s vast, sparsely populated lands, animals were abundant; otherwise, even keeping them would be impossible.

Clearly, not everyone could afford such an undertaking.

Louis tossed the beef to Terror. The rest of the dogs’ food was already being fed by others, but as the lead dog, Terror mostly ate only what Louis provided.

Yet today, Terror acted strangely. Instead of devouring the beef, he lay down, spreading a pair of blood-red wings wide from his back.

Louis was taken aback. "Adult dog?"

Fierce dogs matured differently from ordinary ones, and pack alpha dogs were even more special; at maturity, they underwent a unique transformation.

It seemed the time had come.

Quickly, Terror opened his blood-red eyes, devoured the beef in several bites, then darted to a large pool nearby filled with human blood purchased at great expense, and drank it swiftly. (Trivia: America is the world’s largest blood exporter; selling blood is an experience many at the lower rung have had, a practice beginning in the 80s and 90s and booming after the millennium.)

With every gulp, the changes in his body became more pronounced.

His wing feathers began to shed, replaced by tough membranes resembling blood-red jade. His form grew slightly larger. His teeth became jagged and interlaced, claws sharpened and protruded, and even his tail swayed with a fierce wind-like power.

His gaze was filled with ferocity, exuding danger. A mere glance was enough to instill fear. The eighteen fierce dogs in the warehouse lowered their tails and cowered, while the two gangsters feeding them felt their hairs stand on end, instinctively reaching for their pistols at their waists.

Only the golden dog sleeping soundly in the corner seemed awakened, darting to Louis’s side, watching Terror warily but without fear.

Watching this scene, Louis recalled some key points from the technique book. The pack wolf dog techniques were blended with the Japanese Great Tengu arts, primarily manifesting in the alpha dog.

At this moment, Terror’s transformation was complete.

Now nearly three meters long including his tail, standing over a meter tall at the shoulder, with razor-sharp claws and teeth, he rivaled a tiger in size.

With the transformation finished, the atmosphere in the warehouse shifted. The overwhelming aura of a fierce demon demanded vigilance.

Louis, however, clapped his hands.

The next moment, Terror leapt forward, sticking out his tongue, his tail wagging wildly as if craving his master’s praise.

He even gave the golden dog a playful kick, who was on alert nearby.

“Alright, tuck those wings back, and tone down the claws.”

With a howl, Terror retracted his wings, folding them neatly against his skin. They blended perfectly with his fur, becoming virtually invisible. His claws and teeth shrank slightly, less menacing in appearance.

Despite his enormous size and blood-red exterior, Terror was clearly an extraordinary fierce dog, capable of terrifying anyone if unleashed.

His wild nature was powerful, especially feeding on raw meat and human blood. Normally, such habits would almost certainly cause backlash, but the canine arts included safeguards. When first raised, talismans, secret techniques, and blood from wrist cuts were used to strengthen control.

Thus, even fully matured, Louis need not fear being attacked from within.

But ultimately, the best defense against backlash was one’s own strength. Louis now yearned to become stronger himself.

Feeling the changes stirring within the soul-bound book, Louis took a deep breath, calmed both Terror and the golden dog, then turned and left.

As soon as he departed, Terror kicked the golden dog again, strutting proudly as if to declare himself the strongest. The golden dog whimpered, retreating to the corner with eyes fixed intently on Terror.

“Just you wait!”

...

Back in his room, Louis summoned the book.

Pages flipped, revealing new techniques.

Louis nodded silently; indeed, mastering at least one canine art was necessary to truly complete the training. Now, with all three techniques successfully learned, the next inheritance would begin.

It was uncertain whether this time it would unlock the earth-based techniques or continue with the exotic arts.

Compared to the earth-based techniques, the exotic arts were clearly superior in practicality, power, and difficulty—Louis hoped for the latter.

With eager eyes, he watched as the pages gradually came to rest.

Six techniques appeared before him.

“Three earth techniques? Three exotic arts?”

“Marvelous!”