"Great! With only a few days of training using my clones, the skills have improved quite a bit."

  With the levels of skills going up, Tara can't help but take another look at the amazing gains.

  **Energy Release - Level 2:**

  - More precise control over channel flow rate

  - **Special Effect:** Essence-to-EXP conversion rate doubled (up to a maximum of 100%)

  "Better control," Tara thinks. "I wonder what I can do with this ability. I don't know how the dungeon or Twitchy was able to use these channels."

  "Wait," Tara thinks, checking the conversion rate. "The conversion rate doubled. That means I'm getting twice as much EXP from essence now. That's huge."

  ---

  All clones have been using Dash constantly to move around. Natural practice, constant use. Thousands of dashes across all clones. The skill improves through regular use.

  **Dash (Common) - Level 3:**

  - Distance: 15 meters → 20 meters

  - Reduced cooldown: 2 seconds → 1.5 seconds

  "20 meters now," Tara thinks, feeling the improvement across all clones. "And faster cooldown. That's a significant improvement."

  ---

  **Energy Blast (Common) - Level 2:**

  - Improved accuracy and control

  - Can adjust blast intensity more precisely

  "Better blasts," Tara thinks. "More control. That's going to be useful in combat. And I can avoid obliterating the nest to kill a bee."

  ---

  **Shapeshift - Level 1**

  "Shapeshift hasn't been practiced much since it takes a lot of energy and I can't split into as many parts when using it. I wonder if it can even be leveled up."

  ---

  **Demonic Fission - Level 2**

  This skill didn't level up, but with "Same Same But Different" active, coordinating 26 clones is now manageable, efficient, natural. No complaints here.

  ---

  **Pack Coordination (Uncommon) - Level 1:**

  - Coordinate with pack members for enhanced hunting and combat effectiveness

  - Increases damage and accuracy when fighting alongside pack members

  - Enables shared EXP distribution among pack members

  - Improves pack coordination and communication

  "Pack Coordination," Tara thinks, examining the new skill. "I got this skill automatically, but how?"

  He tries to remember his hunts. Clone 1 spots a deer, fires an Energy Blast, hits it. The deer falls. Then... wolves appear? They grab the deer, drag it away.

  Clone 15 finds a rabbit, blasts it. Wolves grab the rabbit, carry it off.

  Clone 18 fires at a bird, misses completely. The bird tries to escape, but wolves appear, catch it, bring it back.

  He focuses more carefully on the memories. Clone 8 fires, wounds a deer. The deer tries to run. Wolves surround it, bring it down, drag it back.

  Clone 12 finds a group of rabbits, fires multiple blasts, hits some, misses others. Wolves appear, catch the ones that escaped, bring them all back.

  Clone 6 completely misses a boar. The boar runs. Wolves chase it, catch it, bring it back.

  Sure enough, there's a massive pile of dead creatures near the den. Deer, rabbits, boars, birds, all sorts of prey. Way more than the clones have been killing directly.

  "I remember now. Even when the wolves made the kill, I got some EXP out of it. Conversely, when I made the kill and the wolves were nearby, the EXP I got was less than expected."

  "This means there's some EXP sharing between us as well. But how does it work? And what effect will pack coordination have? I guess we should do a little exercise to test it out," Tara thinks, formulating a plan.

  He looks at the pile of dead creatures again. So much prey. So many kills. All brought back by the wolves, all contributing to EXP gains, all helping the pack grow stronger.

  "I got a good team," Tara thinks. "It's time I had a good look at my new family. And appraisal is going to help me."

  **Appraisal (Rare) - Level 2:**

  - Enhanced identification accuracy

  - Can transfer information from written materials

  - Can appraise living creatures and their abilities with levels less than the user's level

  "I was finally able to get this cheat ability to level 2. This is one of the biggest achievements of the training."

  He shifts to his wolf form and arrives near the den.

  Tara howls, a deep, powerful howl that echoes through the forest. The wolves hear his call, cancel whatever they're doing, and run towards the den.

  Tara shifts back to pyramid form, settling into place. Now he focuses on examining his pack. Using his Appraisal skill, he looks at each wolf, understanding them, seeing their stats, skills, and roles.

  **Scout Wolf (Level 20):**

  - **Scent Mastery (Rare)** - Can track scents from long distances, identify individual creatures by their unique scent signature, and follow trails days old. Can detect prey from over 10 kilometers away.

  - **Shadow Stalker (Uncommon)** - Moves quietly, blending into shadows and undergrowth. Reduces detection by enemies.

  - **Ambush Predator (Uncommon)** - Gains damage bonus when attacking from stealth or catching prey unaware.

  - **Pack Tracker (Common)** - Can locate and track pack members across long distances.

  - **Wind Reader (Common)** - Understands wind patterns and uses them to mask his own scent while tracking others. Can predict where scents will travel.

  - **Intelligence (Rare)** - Enhanced cognitive abilities, better problem-solving, improved memory retention.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  "No wonder he's always catching the ones that get away," Tara thinks. "He can smell them from miles away, stalk them quietly, and ambush them effectively."

  Notail notices Tara's attention and looks up, his tail (what's left of it) wagging slightly. He's a tracker, a scout, always aware and watching.

  Tara moves his attention to the alpha male. The one he defeated in single combat. Level 23. Very powerful. The alpha male is near the entrance, watching, guarding. His presence commands respect. The other wolves give him space, but they're not afraid—they respect him.

  "Okay, so the alpha," Tara thinks, examining him with Appraisal. "Level 23. Very powerful. He's got skills. Lots of skills."

  **Alpha Male (Level 23):**

  - **Alpha's Roar (Rare)** - A powerful howl that inspires pack members, increases their combat effectiveness, and can intimidate enemies for a short time.

  - **Enhanced Strength (Uncommon)** - Significantly increased physical power. Can overpower larger opponents and deliver devastating attacks.

  - **Territorial Dominance (Uncommon)** - Commands respect and authority. Enemies are more likely to flee or submit when facing him.

  - **Combat Veteran (Uncommon)** - Can read enemy movements, predict attacks, and counter with precision.

  - **Thick Hide (Common)** - Increased physical resistance. Can withstand more damage than typical wolves.

  "He's strong and powerful, a real fighter," Tara thinks, noting the Enhanced Strength and Thick Hide. "And he leads the pack with that Alpha's Roar. I should probably give him a name. Something fitting. Something big... Big Daddy. Yeah, that works."

  Big Daddy notices Tara's attention and turns, bowing slightly. His expression is respectful, but there's strength there.

  Then Tara looks at the large female wolf. Level 22. She's nearby, moving with purpose, efficiency, and coordination. Her movements are graceful and precise. Enhanced Agility, and those Sharp Claws look deadly.

  "And his partner," Tara thinks, examining her with Appraisal. "Level 22. She's almost as powerful as Big Daddy. Fast, agile, and dangerous. She's got her own set of skills."

  **Alpha Female (Level 22):**

  - **Pack Matriarch (Rare)** - Her presence helps pack cohesion and harmony. Pack members heal faster, recover from injuries quicker, and maintain better morale when she's nearby.

  - **Tactical Coordinator (Uncommon)** - Works to coordinate complex pack maneuvers.

  - **Enhanced Agility (Uncommon)** - Increased speed and flexibility. Can move with exceptional grace and precision.

  - **Sharp Claws (Common)** - Razor-sharp claws that can tear through tough hide and armor with ease.

  "She's fast and agile, and she coordinates with him," Tara thinks. "If he's Big Daddy, then she's... Big Momma. Yeah, Big Momma. That makes sense."

  Big Momma notices Tara's attention and turns, her expression respectful. She's a leader in her own right, working alongside Big Daddy, ensuring the pack functions smoothly.

  Tara continues examining the rest of the pack. He appraises each adult wolf, noting their levels. Sixteen more adult wolves. Levels range from 15 to 19. Solid, reliable pack members. Each with their own strengths and roles.

  Then he looks at the kids. Six young wolves, playing near the back of the cave, supervised by some of the adults. He appraises them too. Levels 5 to 8. They're smaller, younger, still learning and growing. They play, explore, and learn from the adults.

  "Okay, so the pack structure," Tara thinks, organizing what he sees. "Big Daddy and Big Momma are the leaders. Notail is the tracker, the scout. Then there are sixteen more adult wolves, levels 15 to 19. And six kids, levels 5 to 8. Three exceptional wolves, sixteen regular adults, six kids. Twenty-five wolves total."

  He looks around the den, feeling the connection through Pack Coordination. He can sense them all—their presence, readiness, and trust. This is his pack. His family.

  "Alright," Tara thinks, shifting to his wolf form. "Time for a pack hunting trip."

  He howls, a deep, powerful howl that echoes through the forest. The pack responds immediately. Big Daddy and Big Momma take positions at the front. Notail moves ahead, his nose already sampling the air. The other wolves fall into formation, ready, coordinated, and united.

  ********* Chapter end *********