Chapter 2: Advancements

All the dogs looked up at the platform, some wagging their tails, others panting from the summer heat.

“First of all, is their any news you would like to discuss Adolph or Sigmund?”

Adolph give me a horizontal nod signaling no, and sigmund said.

“Well now that you have mentioned it, with the construction finished on the council we need workers on the construction of the southern bridge.” He said slowly, Sigmund was much younger than his appearance let on.

Adolph remembering said “I would like to add for all hunters to shift their hunting to the south of the river, the rabbit population is growing. After this meeting I would like 30 volunteers to scout deep into their territory.”

Seeing that they were done talking I start my speech.

“Hello brethren, it has been almost 6 weeks since the disappearance of our masters…” I say. Some dogs grumble in annoyance at the the mention of their old masters.

“... I feel the same friends, they have left us here in the forest to fend for ourselves, but we only prove them wrong for leaving us. We have thrived and will continue to thrive!” I say, the crowd follows with a round of hollowing.

Adolph signals them to be quiet, and Sigmund looking ever so indifferent. Not everyone was howling happily in the back a group of troublesome youths seemed to be glaring at me.

“As the leader I will work hard-” I say interrupted by the young group.

“Who made you the leader! You think you can just assume leadership and tell us what to do!” One argued.

“Yeah! You’re fancy words mean nothing to us, the people who work every day and fight outside of the city and die.” The young passionate hund said. He may be referencing the latest crisis that happened a few days ago which a squad of hunters were killed by a larger scouting party of the rabbits.

“Stop your idiotic rambling you imbeciles!” Adolph ordered.

“Ahem!” I interrupt.

“Friends, I am fighting for the spread and domination of our people. I work too everyday guiding and helping and sometimes join in hunts. The loss of your colleagues are well thought, any death to us Hunds deeply hurts me, we are working on the case of the rabbits.” I say quieting them, they looked at me angrily but seemed to understand.

“The system gifted me the title of leader, as it has gifted us the ability of deeper intelligence. It is for that reason we have have gathered here today. New gifts should be chosen, it asks that we come to an agreement and choose!” I said

“I have seen the list of available choices, many of them seem promising and we will choose them now. The first gift was “Improved Acquisition which only made our learning ability higher and leveling of our statuses.” I said, some dogs were confused of what that meant but now understood.

“Now the only choices we have left are “Racial Trait”, “Patron God” and “Race Mutation” which we have 2 of. Let us start with racial traits.”

RACIAL TRAIT OPTIONS AVAILABLE:

1. Improved Hearing - Improves hearing allowing you to pick up fainter sounds. +2 Perception

2. Improved sense of Smell - Improves sense of smell, allowing you to smell the faintest of scents. +2 Perception

3. Intelligence II- Improves intelligence +2 Intelligence

4. Improved Sight - Improves sense of sight, allowing you to see farther and more details in things. +2 Perception

Adolph read out the options, after each one was read outloud the crowd seemed to be more and more excited. Two oppositions were made, the hunters and thinkers. The Hunters and their families wanted any of the three choices for perception to help with the hunt. Thinkers and common citizens believed an improvement of intelligence would greatly help the colony.

“We need more strength for the hunts! How else could we defend against the growing horde of rabbits!” Said one dog.

“No! We need intelligence many of us cannot even count the fingers on their paws! I’m looking at you Hermann!” Argued another.

Suddenly an outbreak of arguments started amongst the thirteen thousand people. Adolph once again signaled them to stop.

“Comrades, now is not the time to argue. I suggest that we are already great hunters, our noses can smell far, and ears as well. We dominate these forests, just past the plains the rabbits hold any actual threat. They may kill a few of us but with combined forces we can wipe them out in a single try.” I say trying to comfort the hunters. They look at me worried, Adolph as well. I nod to Adolph to assure him I know what I am doing.

“With the completion of this council we need more intelligent members to hold councils and discuss what is best for you the people. You will elect and nominate these council members of course.” They all had a sudden “Oh, thats sounds right.” moment and whispered to themselves on how good of an idea that would be.

I have already thought of this idea beforehand and tried to convince them.

“We will still hold a voting, if you want intelligence raise your right hand, if you want any of the 3 perception traits raise your left.” I said. Most of them look at me confused, possibly not knowing their left from their right.

Adolph annoyed says “If you want intelligence raise your paws, if you want any of the 3 perception traits don't raise anything.” The dogs quickly get what was needed and do so.

73% chose intelligence, the rest chose perception. The hunters seemed somewhat upset.

“Do not worry hunters with new found intelligence better tools, tactics and other things will be developed to help you in your trips!” I said, they seemed contempt.

“Now for the race mutations, I do not know what race mutations mean but it may change our physical bodies.” As I said this some of them became scared others curious.

MUTATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE (2):

1. Bipedal - Allows you to walk upright, changes leg length, and foot configuration. +2 Agility

2. Thick Hide- Thick skin will make it harder for objects to pierce your body. +2 Vitality

3. Opposable Thumbs, Longer fingers - Allows you to grasp things, eat foot with your hands, climb and use tools. Allows large degree of movement for your thumbs and lengthens your fingers. +2 Dexterity

4. - Fertile - Increase fertility rate of your race, allowing for less child birth deaths and chance for more children per carriage. +2 Charisma

Adolph once again read out the options, the crowd was now even more excited. One dog howled happily. “Friends! Opposable thumbs means we will now be able to rub each others stomachs and ears!”

“You idiot we need to walk upright, it will allow us to cross large terrains, climb and go through rivers more easily.”

“Calm down, calm down.” I interrupted their argument.

“We have two choices, it seems we all agree thumbs and upright walking will be our two choices.”

Sigmund coughed and interjected “Perhaps increasing our fertility will help against the rabbit population, for ever 1 of our children 40 oh theirs are born…”

Adolph, leader of the scouting units and hunters argued “They may have a higher population but we are stronger than them, by a large margin such worries are not needed dear friend Sigmund. A higher population would only increase the need for houses and food. Upright walking and improved hands will help us in defeating those vermin!” With that the crowd all happily howled, and sigmund face returned its usual apathetic demeanor

“Stomach rubs!” They started cheering.

“I am happy to comrades but we have one more choice leftover, it is very influential to us.”

LIST OF AVAILABLE PATRON GODS:

1. THE RIVER GOD

2. GODDESS OF THE SUN

3. THE SUN GOD

4. GODDESS OF THE MOON

5. THE FOREST GOD

THE RIVER GOD

The GOD that dwells within the River, made a place for the world's first civilization.

+ Increases fertility of soil and livestock

+ Increases MP recovery rate

GODDESS OF THE SUN

The GODDESS that represents the power and force of the sun's LIGHT.

+ Increases the speed of growth of all crops and livestock

+ Increases HP recovery rate

+ reduces the casting time of magic.

THE SUN GOD

The GOD that represents the power and force of the HEAT of the sun.

+ Increase damage of fire attribute spells and skills

+ Increases STA recovery rate

+ Increases M.ATK and ATK by 20

GODDESS OF THE MOON

The GODDESS that represents the power and force of the moon.

+ Acquire Night Vision

+ Acquire Stealth Skill at night.

+ Increase movement speed and attack speed at night.

+ Automatically restore MAX HP/MP/STA when the night starts.

THE FOREST GOD

The GOD that dwells within the forest, protector of fauna and flora.

+ Increases END by 20

+ Increases nature attribute spells and skills.

+ reduce STA consumption when traversing a Forest.

+ reduce the time of Negative Status effects.

As Adolph read the last one, everyone was confused. No one knew what a god was, but the benefits seemed very important to spreading our domination.

One hunter spoke and said “Friends! Perhaps picking the Forest God will increase our trips and hunts!” Adolph seemed to agree with them. Sigmund, who was almost sleeping, woke up by the sudden screaming.

“Comrades, The Forest God is a good candidate but don't make it so you forget about the other choices. For example The Sun God, with fall and winter approaching the land will get cold, our tents cannot provide any warmth. We can create fires to keep up warm, and increase our might in the battlefield!” The crowd was skeptical as I said this, I did not know what to say.

“Choosing the Sun God will allows us to defeat the rabbits, keep us warm and make delicious food. Hunters trust me in this that this is a great addition to our people, we will not be held by the expanse of the forest forever, one day we will go to the Alpine Mountains, plains and past the great eastern river!” Adolph said backing me up, I Looked at him, surprised. He smiles back and nods.

With that the choice was made, and sigmund ended the meeting.

“Can 45 of our best thinkers come to the platform, 15 Shepherds, 15 Bull Mastiffs, 15 Dobermans and 5 beagles.” Sigmund said.

The crowd looked back and forth at each other. Each of the 4 races lives in their own communities and did not intermingle except at the city center. They all knew each other and knew who the most dull or genius was in their respective communities.

“Hans get up there, don’t hide that big brain of yours!” One hund said to their friend hiding.

Slowly the stage was filled with 50 people. “Does anyone have any objections?” Adolph asked.

“That one Shepherd Hund, Karl I have seen him chase his own tail and has gotten lost in the forest at least 11 times this past few weeks” A few people agreed with him, noticing it was him.

“Get that fool off the stage!” They started barking.

The fool walks down from the stage embarrassed, the other 49 dogs looked at him pitying him.

“We still need one more!” I announce.

A female Shepherd walks up to the platform, many of the dogs seemed troubled.

“What? A female? That bitch is unfit for such a task, she will get in heat mid council hahaha!” One Doberman jokes.

“No female would ever be in heat for you Hans, you should be worrying about your inadequate hunting skills rather than my ability to council.” She replied.

The doberman had no response as he has not caught even the smallest rabbit in the last hunt, truly a laughing stock.

“What is your name?” I ask her.

“My name is Lana, sir.” She replies.

“As far as I see being a female will not stop you from being in the council, please welcome Lana generously as well as the other 49. The first meeting will be held 5 days from now inside the tent. I will be picking the changes tonight when most of us are sleeping so when we wake it will be like a new beginning!”

The crowd sang and cheered and eventually all left back to their duties.

Adolph looks over to me and says “Good speech comrade, your way of the tongue and leadership improved everyday!”

“Yes I have gotten the skills “Inspire II” as well as some other skills which helped me.”

“Most interesting, I have gained some skills as well. One in particular is “Order I” which makes most obey my command.” Adolph replied. As we continued our conversation Sigmund joined. Sigmund was the leader of the Bull Mastiffs and often was entrusted with building and projects in the city.

“Oh Sigmund, it is nice of you to join us.” I say as he looks at me.

“I just came to tell you a few things, the construction of more tents is needed as more and more decide to join our ranks every day from other local dog groups. The bridge to the Southern River is being started tomorrow and I would like escorts as the place is overrun by rabbits. And lastly, I received a mission to build a monument for the sun god.” He replies.

“Alright, with the new upgrades all these thing shall prove to be easier. I will escort you to the Southern River with a few of my men tomorrow. As for the monument, hold that off until we finish the bridge, with it we will increase our hunting range and make it easier to reach the rabbits. Adolph I still want you to send your scouts to find where the rabbits like to call home.”

With that Sigmund said his farewells and went home, he was always tired. Many would call him lazy and apathetic but he greatly cared for the cause and was very loyal to me and the people.

“Comrade would you like to come to my home for the night?” I say, I was bored and had nothing left to do.

“Sorry friend I have many things that I must arrange another one of our groups were killed by some strange creatures as they tried to scout the mountain ranges.” Adolph replied.

With that he said his farewell, I looked up at the sky, and orange tinge lit its unending expanse. It was getting dark.

3 HOURS LATER, MC(KAISER) POV

As I lay inside my tent I think about who thought of making something like this, it was bigger than the other tents, the builders said I needed it as I was the leader. Most were asleep by now, finding it the best chance I quickly made all the decisions discussed today in the council on my status.

My body glows brightly and a tingling sensation flowed up my spine and into my brain. The sensation and glow faded away. As I open my eyes I was no sitting on my behind, 2 long upright legs laid on the dirt floor. I look at my hands, they now looked like a humans, rugged and more hairy than any human I've seen but it made my reminisce of my master, I could barely remember his face now.

My hair grew longer, I was known for my long hair but now it was even longer going down the back of my head. My coat became orange blonde, with black on certain parts of my body.

I open the race status.

Race Status

Name: Hunds (1034th)

DP: 0

Health Points

100

MP:

120

Population:

15,743

Str

10

DEX

12

Vit

10

INT

12

Char

10

Agi

12

Racial Traits:

Intelligence II, Loyal

This change did not hurt, only a slight numbness in my legs could be felt. Trying to stand up with my newfound legs i quickly fell over, after many attempts I decided it was better for tomorrow and fell asleep.