I Contracted a Demon, but It Turned Into My Pet

"ROARR!!"

The Furious Bear let out a thunderous roar as its massive body lunged straight toward Lucian, the sheer force behind it crashing down on him like a tidal wave. The air seemed to tighten around him, making it hard to breathe.

"Tier Seven—Flame Overdive!"

In an instant, blazing flames ignited around Lucian's body, wrapping him in a fiery aura. A normal Tier Seven spell typically consumed over three times the mana of a Tier Six, but thanks to Lucian's exceptionally pure mana and efficient internal conversion rate, the cost was reduced significantly—only about the equivalent of a Tier Six spell.

Even so, the cost was steep. The moment Flame Overdive activated, nearly forty percent of his mana reserve was gone.

Had it not been for his refined mana quality, extraordinary conversion rate, and storage capacity greater than that of most Tier Six mages, he wouldn't have been able to cast the spell at all.

Then it hit him—an incredible surge of power flooded his limbs.

The Flame Overdive spell cloaked his body in elemental fire, drastically enhancing his physical prowess and amplifying the strength of his fire-based martial techniques. It was the kind of hybrid spell only someone like Elvira Sol, skilled in both magic and martial combat, would bother learning. Most mages had no interest in spells that reinforced the body.

Lucian's speed skyrocketed. The moment the Furious Bear lunged, he instinctively dove to the side, launching himself nearly ten meters away in one bound, swiftly creating distance between them.

"So fast!" he gasped in awe, feeling the burning power coursing through him.

But the next moment, his footing gave out. Unable to fully control his enhanced strength, he stumbled and tumbled along the ground, eating a mouthful of dirt in the process.

Though his physical stats had spiked, the raw power wasn't his own. It hadn't been honed gradually over time, and thus he lacked the control to wield it properly. The boost was too sudden, too overwhelming.

"Puh! Puh!" Spitting out dust and grass, Lucian scrambled back to his feet. His legs wobbled under him, but he managed to steady himself just in time to see the Furious Bear rear up and slam its hind legs into the ground.

A wave of force exploded outward.

"Tier Five innate magic—Shockwave!"

Lucian's eyes widened. He raised his arms to guard, but the impact slammed into him like a battering ram, sending his body hurtling backward until he crashed into a tree.

His entire body rattled with the blow. Pain flared through his bones. Blood dribbled from the corner of his lips.

Had Flame Overdive not reinforced his body, that single Shockwave might have ended the fight right then and there.

"RAWR!!"

Before he could recover, the Furious Bear lunged again, crimson energy swirling around its massive paw.

"Shadow Claw!" Lucian's heart clenched. If that blow landed, not even Flame Overdive would be enough to save him!

He thrust his palm forward.

"Tier Three—Earth Staircase!"

The ground beneath him rumbled as stone and soil rose rapidly, forming steps that lifted him five meters into the air. The bear's paw slammed into the staircase a heartbeat later, shattering the earthen structure in a violent explosion of debris.

Lucian leapt, just as the structure collapsed.

"Tier Three—Spotial Slow!"

His descent slowed, his body floating gently like a falling feather—but the Furious Bear was already beneath him, waiting.

This can't go on. At this rate, I'm dead!

Lucian clenched his teeth and extended both arms, concentrating his remaining mana.

"Tier Six—Lionfire Orb!"

A massive lion-shaped fireball surged to life before him. It roared with molten fury, then launched downward like a predator pouncing from the sky.

Seeing it, the Furious Bear snarled and bellowed back. Waves of hot air rolled out from its body as a blood-red aura enveloped its fur.

"Tier Five innate spell—Bloodlust Frenzy!"

"BOOM!!"

The Lionfire Orb collided with the beast in a massive blast, like a high-yield grenade detonating at point-blank range. The shockwave rippled through the forest, flinging Lucian backward through the air. He twisted midair and landed with a stumble, eyes narrowing as he scanned the rising smoke.

"Too much smoke… If this were an anime, this would mean it didn't work."

He frowned. "Which means… run!"

Without missing a beat, Lucian turned and bolted. Even as he ran, he didn't forget to use [Copy & Analyze] on Bloodlust Frenzy.

"…"

High above, Lysera quietly observed his antics with a blank stare. She was getting used to it by now.

Sure enough, no sooner had Lucian taken off than a bellow erupted from the thick haze. The smoke scattered instantly, revealing the Furious Bear once again.

Its fur was singed and its forearms scorched black, but aside from some superficial burns, it was very much still alive.

And now, very pissed.

Letting out another furious roar, the bear charged like a tank, its sheer mass shaking the ground beneath its paws.

Lucian struggled to maintain control over his enhanced body, doing his best not to trip over his own feet. But then he heard it—the sound of crashing underbrush and heavy footfalls rapidly closing in behind him.

He looked back—and broke into a cold sweat.

The Furious Bear was barely thirty meters away, and gaining fast.

He had no time to think. He just ran.

The forest terrain was rough and uneven, and with his enhanced physique still unfamiliar, he moved with an awkward rhythm—one step long, the next short, one burst of speed followed by a wild tumble. He would sprint ahead, then trip and go sprawling.

If he'd had full control over his newfound strength, he could've easily danced circles around the bear. But as things stood, even running at full speed, he could barely keep the distance from closing.

High above, Elvira Sol watched and shook her head.

"His body control is pathetic," she muttered. "Good adaptability, sure—but almost zero combat experience. The only redeeming quality… he has a brain. At least he tries to think."

Watching Lucian clumsily flee below, she grinned.

If he hadn't made the quick decision to run earlier, he'd already be bear chow by now.

But the way he was tripping and stumbling through the woods? He wouldn't make it more than a few kilometers before collapsing from exhaustion—or crashing into a tree and getting flattened.

"So… what will you do next?"

Elvira floated silently in the sky, eyes gleaming with interest as she watched events unfold.

As he ran, Lucian slowly began to regain control over his body. But it came at a cost. Blood dripped from skinned knees and elbows. Scrapes and bruises covered his arms. His pants were torn at the knees, exposing bright red underwear beneath.

He was a mess.

Each tumble and scramble sapped more and more of his strength. At most, he could keep going for another two kilometers before his stamina gave out completely—and if that happened, the Furious Bear would catch him for sure.

Sure, Elvira probably wouldn't let him die. But Lucian knew what this trial was really about.

She wanted to see how far he could go. How much he could grow.

If all he did was run until he dropped and wait for her to save him, he'd be nothing but a disappointment.

And that couldn't happen.

He couldn't afford to let the female lead lose interest in him this early on. He still had to win her over!

Besides, Elvira Sol was exactly his type—sharp, beautiful, powerful, and with a figure that could stop traffic.

No way he'd let her down now.

A spark of stubborn defiance rose in his chest.

He clenched his fists.

He wanted to know what he was truly capable of!

His mind whirled, thoughts racing at full speed.

Good thing he hadn't just blindly copied the flashiest spells earlier—he'd chosen them with care, planning for synergy.

He had copied [Flame Overdive] for physical reinforcement—to help him fight or flee.

He had another Tier Seven spell: [Flame Serpent Bind].

The idea? Use it to restrain a target long enough to cast his trump card—[Firestorm Descent], a devastating Tier Eight spell.

That was his strategy.

A bind followed by a blast. One clean, finishing combo.

He just needed to test something first—how long could [Flame Serpent Bind] hold a beast like the Furious Bear?

Lucian glanced back. The bear was still hot on his heels, holding steady at a distance of thirty meters.

Fortunately, his mana had recovered enough during his wild escape.

The higher the spell tier, the shorter the copy duration. He had about ten minutes left on [Firestorm Descent]. He had to end this within that window.

No time to waste.

As he vaulted over the trunk of a fallen tree, Lucian slammed his hand to the ground.

"Tier Three—Sinkhole Swamp!"