Alexander forced himself to calm down after Diana's request, because he could feel the request had no subtext.

  She probably just felt better sleeping near him than with strangers.

  The problem was that he also realized Diana probably wouldn’t reject an advance from him.

  Despite the mental description of a "big pup" that Alexander made of her, he couldn't deny that Diana was beautiful.

  She was 16 years old, which would mean she would be about 27 if she were on Earth.

  In other words, Diana was older than him, and had a 19 to 21-year-old body that had just matured.

  However, Alexander knew there were still disparities between them: differences in knowledge, life goals, principles, secrets, or even the understanding of the existence of a hormonal cycle and its implications.

  It might seem minor, but it was an overwhelming difference—especially during a developmental phase, since it can make someone temperamental and impulsive.

  Alexander knew very well that impulsiveness—heightened by hormones—can cloud a person's judgment.

  He nearly poisoned Stella and Mark in a fit of anger, even though he knew it would cause him problems.

  Regaining his senses and noticing Diana was still waiting for his answer, Alexander considered her request and decided to accept.

  "You can stay. But don't tell anyone what happens here," replied Alexander.

  However, after deliberation, he realized the ambiguity of his words and explained: "I'm referring to Ocean's evolution... Don't tell anyone about what will happen during her evolution."

  Alexander's first words threw Diana into a whirlwind of emotions she didn't know how to handle.

  Unexpectedly, his explanation to eliminate the ambiguity left her feelings even more confused.

  Diana only managed to comprehend the information she received after calming down for some time. "Wait. Ocean is going to evolve?"

  "Yes. But you don't need to worry," reassured Alexander. "She probably won't go mad and start attacking people like the rumors say."

  A look of doubt appeared on Diana's face as she heard Alexander. "Why would she go mad and attack people?"

  "It seems you don't know," sighed Alexander. "There's a rumor that says familiars go mad and attack their masters when they evolve."

  "I didn't know about that rumor… Why would they do that?" asked Diana.

  "Social control," replied Alexander. "Forming a bond with a creature isn't very difficult for someone with the slightest control over their mana, and yet it's hard to find combat familiars... Do you know why?"

  "No," admitted Diana.

  "Because the problem isn't forming the bond, it's maintaining it," explained Alexander.

  "Maintaining it?" questioned Diana. This was somewhat illogical to her.

  "Yes. The real challenge is maintaining it," assured Alexander. "Since there are so many variables, it ends up becoming a matter of compatibility."

  "The issue is that some greedy people force their bond with a creature against its will—and this usually ends in suffering for one or both sides," explained Alexander. "Especially when the familiar evolves and/or acquires the power to break free from the restrictive bond."

  "Even my bond, which can be considered special, can be broken if Ocean has superior power to mine and desires it," Alexander added. "Let alone those that are less effective than mine."

  "I understand the reason for the attacks. But what do you mean by this being social control?" asked Diana.

  "There are several points. The easiest way to explain is a power correlation," replied Alexander, giving an example: "We 'know,' almost instinctively, that we shouldn't pick a fight with Mark because of his family."

  Seeing that Diana seemed to understand and agreed with this point, Alexander continued: "Now tell me, what would happen if we had a familiar powerful enough by our side to act as our support?"

  Diana's body shuddered and understanding of the matter shone in her eyes. She knew what he meant.

  Having been born near an adventurer city and Stellar Forest, Diana had heard—since childhood—people talking about the great power creatures inhabiting the forest could have after a few evolutions.

  "It seems you understood," smiled Alexander. "The fewer familiars ordinary people have, the lower the chance of a familiar emerging in a non-noble family and getting them into trouble."

  After finishing explaining, Alexander moved to the edge of his area, cleared his mind, and focused. He used |Water Field| and |Mana Blessing| as a base to cast the |Water Barrier| spell in conjunction with the (Frozen Water Heart) enhancement at maximum power.

  With the effect of the (Frozen Water Heart) enhancement active, the |Water Barrier| spell changed and transformed into a large wall of ice that blocked and sealed the passage.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Alexander didn't stop there. He also used this effect to make a small, dense dome of ice, because he needed to transform to access all his enhancements.

  The cold air caused by the spell quickly drew the attention of Mark and Stella.

  When they went to investigate, Diana was nowhere to be found and a large wall of ice obstructed the path to Alexander's area.

  They cast strange looks at the ice wall—for various reasons—but ended up deciding to ignore it and go to sleep so as not to "poke the bear."

  Alexander didn't care what was happening on the other side of the ice wall. As long as none of them crossed the line, he didn't intend to interfere or interact with them during the night.

  With his double layer of ice built, Alexander used the |Invigorate| spell to give Ocean a good bath.

  While bathing her, he used the (Random Reward Cards) to try to get a few more growth points and further assist in Ocean's evolution.

  Ding!

  [You used 14x (Random Reward Card)]

  Ding!

  *[You received: (5 thousand XP Points), (90 thousand XP Points), (3 Growth points), (50 thousand XP Points), (20 thousand XP Points), (+1 Proficiency Level Card), (100 thousand XP Points), (2 Free attribute points), (2 Free attribute points), (4 Growth points), (+1 Level for Familiar Card), (1 Free attribute point), (80 thousand XP Points) and (Random Skill Card)]*

  Alexander was conflicted with these random rewards. Some were very good, but a large part of them were XP.

  XP wasn’t all bad. Regardless of the amount, it was a resource he could obtain later and was far from what he needed now.

  "Getting experience points as a reward is frustrating," complained Alexander mentally. "By my estimates, I need points in the millions to level up. It would be much better if there were other prizes."

  After "venting" his complaints, Alexander planned the best way to spend his points. But first he needed to prepare Ocean for the evolution he had chosen.

  Knowing that the desired evolution for Ocean should become available—even if he had to find another catalyst the next morning if he couldn't achieve it through his own means—Alexander began using his points, both free attribute points and growth points.

  [10 points were added to Vitality]

  [10 points were added to Intelligence]

  [25 points were added to Defense]

  [35 points were added to Dexterity]

  [10 points were added to Charisma]

  [10 points were added to Luck]

  Ding!

  [You learned the Tier II combat technique |Aquatic Combat|]

  [You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the enhancement (Bodily Harmony)]

  [You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the enhancement (Bodily Development)]

  [You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the enhancement (Frozen Water Heart)]

  [You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the enhancement (Poisonous Body)]

  Ding!

  [The enhancement (Growing Energy) is incompatible with the familiar (Ocean) at the moment]

  [You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the skill |Energy Modulation|]

  [You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the skill |Magical Control|]

  [You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the spell |Elemental Water Blast|]

  [You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the spell |Vapor Mist|]

  [You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the combat technique |Water Field|]

  [You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the combat technique |Aquatic Combat|]

  Performing all these enhancements, on himself and on Ocean, cost him all his free attribute points and 16 of his 20 growth points, but Alexander didn't even mind that.

  The real problem was the pain all these simultaneous changes were probably causing Ocean.

  Aware of the seriousness of Ocean's situation, Alexander initiated the analysis of the possible evolutions available for her.

  If the evolution he wanted wasn't there, he would have to intervene with medication and external factors.

  Ding!

  [Starting analysis for evolution possibilities.]

  [Analyzing previous evolutions…]

  [Analyzing current species…]

  [Analyzing current race…]

  [Analyzing genetic inheritance…]

  [Analyzing enhancements…]

  [Analyzing skills…]

  [Analyzing the environment…]

  [Analyzing titles.]

  Ding!

  [Analysis for evolution possibilities successfully completed. Checking suitable evolutions…]

  Ding!

  [Suitable evolutions found:]

  『 Evolutions: 』

  [Deep Sea Wolf: *******************************************************************************************************************.]

  [Great Alpha: ***********************************************************************************************************************************************.]

  [Giant Wolf: ********************************************************************************************************************************************.]

  [Ice Wolf: Evolution unlocked by cold-climate wolves who transform their elemental water affinity due to climate, by their descendants and/or those who maintain related enhancements. Primarily increases physical size, the Defense attribute, and body resistance. Does not develop many magical skills.]

  [Great Lone Wolf: ******************************************************************************************************************************************.]

  [Note 1: Choose carefully. The process can still be delayed, but once started, it should not be interrupted and is irreversible.]

  [Note 2: If the evolution process is interrupted, there will be serious consequences. The worst of them is death.]

  Upon seeing that the desired evolutionary line was available, Alexander didn't waste a second reading the information about the other options and started Ocean's evolution process as quickly as possible.

  During the evolution process the system would put her into dormancy and deep sleep to manage the step-by-step of her evolution. "{Ice Wolf}."

  Ding!

  [The evolution process has begun. Your familiar will be placed in dormancy and deep sleep until the process ends.]

  As soon as the evolution process began, Ocean—who was struggling not to writhe in pain from the changes she had received—lay down and slept, as if she no longer felt the changes.