Me and My Overpowered Abilities

Returning home, Adam carefully placed the puppy on his bed, making sure it was comfortable before heading to the bathroom. He had just come from an intense gym session and hadn't bothered to shower yet. 

After freshening up, he instructed Jarvis to pull up detailed information on the puppy's breed. Siberian Husky, the AI reported.

Adam nodded to himself before shifting gears. If he was going to take care of this animal, he needed to ensure it could survive his lifestyle. Without hesitation, he began modifying the husky's food, enhancing its nutritional value to help it evolve—stronger bones, enhanced endurance, and a body resilient enough to withstand any careless mistakes on his part.

Adam knew he wasn't fully prepared for this. He wasn't the ideal caretaker. But that didn't mean he wouldn't try... And try he did.

At first, splitting his time and attention to care for another lifeform was a challenge for Adam. He wasn't used to prioritizing anything outside of his own goals, and the responsibility of raising the Husky felt foreign. But as time passed, he realized something strange—his pain wasn't as suffocating as before. The emptiness inside him was slowly being replaced by something new.

Unlike people, the Husky never judged him. When was the last time an animal had bullied him? Never. That alone made it easier for Adam to trust the dog. At first, he had to remind himself constantly to take care of it, but within a week, he found himself naturally bringing the Husky along wherever he went. It wasn't just a pet anymore—it had become his closest companion.

And so, time passed.

Adam stopped clearing dungeons, something that didn't go unnoticed. Many had competed with him for dungeon claims, and his sudden absence raised eyebrows. But with a steady income rolling in from the novels, comics, and other projects being released under his company, Adam had no need to rely on dungeon raids. He could sit back and watch the money flow in effortlessly.

Of course, success bred greed. It didn't take long for people to start circling, hoping to carve out a piece of his empire for themselves. But Adam had planned ahead—his company, OmniMedia, was private. He had no interest in dealing with stock market volatility or outside influence. While investors could buy shares, they had zero control over the company's direction. OmniMedia answered to one person—Adam.

To say the world welcomed the return of comics, cartoons, and high-quality audiobooks would be an understatement. People needed an escape from reality now more than ever. These new forms of entertainment provided a brief but much-needed distraction from the overwhelming challenges of daily life.

And they desperately needed it.

Why? Because dungeon appearances were increasing at an alarming rate. It wasn't just the number of dungeons, but the effect they were having on the world itself. The energy leaking from them wasn't only changing humans—it was affecting animals as well. Soon, humanity might not just be worrying about dungeon monsters but also dealing with evolved wildlife.

Even though the world had found a temporary balance, it was clear that greater challenges lay ahead. Many were preparing for the inevitable emergence of C-rank dungeons, a looming threat that people had been dreading for months.

As for college? Adam stopped attending altogether. There was no point in continuing. In truth, he had lost interest a long time ago. Maybe the only reason he had kept going was Blessing. But now? What did college have left to offer him?

"WOOF!" The baby Husky bounced excitedly on Adam's chest, completely engrossed in Air Bud. The movie, about a dog playing sports alongside humans, had clearly captured its full attention.

Adam couldn't help but smile, watching the little guy react. Every time the golden retriever on-screen scored a goal, the Husky's tail wagged furiously, its excitement almost contagious.

"Woof! Woof!" The pup barked, turning to Adam as if telling him that it too wanted to play amongst the humans. 

"You can't play for a professional team," Adam said, shaking his head in amusement. "I wouldn't even know where to start with that."

At those words, the puppy's ears drooped, and with an exaggerated sigh, it flopped onto the floor, watching the rest of the movie with what could only be described as envy.

Adam thought for a second while rubbing the pup's head. "Although… that does remind me. Sports are a form of entertainment too." He leaned back, thinking for a moment. "Tell you what—when you're older, if you're still interested, I'll see what we can do."

Instantly, the Husky perked up, tail wagging wildly once more.

"Sir, Mr. Connor is at the gate. Should I let him in?" The Hanging Tower of Babylon's voice echoed through the room, causing Adam to pause for a moment. He hadn't expected Blessing's father to show up. After a brief consideration, he gave a nod before rising to his feet.

A short while later, the door swung open, and Blessing's father stepped inside. He looked much better than the last time Adam had seen him. That first encounter, just after Blessing's death, had been devastating, he had completely broken down upon hearing that his daughter was gone. But since then, he had thrown himself into dungeons, pushing his limits, and growing stronger, all in pursuit of vengeance.

"I know you're not one for small talk, so I'll get straight to the point," Connor said, his voice steady and direct. "A month from now, a C-grade dungeon is predicted to appear in the center of the United States. We are not ready for it. I came here to ask you to join us."

Adam didn't hesitate.

"I don't clear dungeons anymore," he said coldly, turning him down without a second thought. "The only reason I did it before was to make enough money to accomplish what I have in the past few months."

"...I see." Connor's voice was quiet, his gaze shifting toward the small Husky nestled in Adam's arms. For a brief moment, his hardened expression softened.

Just a few months ago, Blessing had called him, asking for advice on what kind of dog to get for a man. He had suggested a breed that resembled a wolf. That wasn't all—she had also asked him what animal he liked. He had said a bird, and, not long after, one had arrived at his doorstep, along with a 1 hour long message from Blessing telling him he was a good father.

He exhaled softly, the weight of memories pressing against him.

"Well, I'll get out of your hair." He turned to leave, his voice composed, but there was something heavy in his tone.

Adam hesitated. For just a second, his fingers tightened around the fur of the small Husky. A battle played out in his mind, but in the end, he steeled himself and forced the words out.

"Do you... want to have a drink or something?"

It came out stiff, unnatural, like someone who wasn't used to making conversation, forcing themselves to try. Connor froze mid-step. Slowly, he turned back to Adam, his expression one of pure shock.

'Adam will need time, but when he's ready, I can see him asking you out for drinks. So, wait for that moment before trying anything. I know you, Dad.'

The words from Blessing's message echoed in Connor's mind. She had planned for this—she had known Adam better than anyone. But somehow, that realization only made the ache in his chest worse.

Blessing had always been a genius. Brilliant, insightful. But after her mother's passing, she had never truly lived up to her full potential. And part of that was his fault. Maybe getting her a dog had been the wrong way to cope with his own grief. He couldn't look at her without seeing his wife, and in his desperation to distract her, he had unknowingly set her up for more pain.

That dog had become her world until it was taken from her. Watching it get run over had crushed her. And he hadn't known how to fix it. Maybe if he had been a better father... maybe if he had responded differently when she was acting out, when she was crying for attention... maybe things would have been different.

Connor exhaled sharply, pushing the thoughts aside.

"S-Sure," he finally said, his voice unsteady. Forcing a weak smile, he met Adam's gaze. "I'd like to get to know the man who made my daughter fall so hard in love."

Adam gave a slight nod. His face remained unreadable, but his eyes told a different story—one of conflict. He hadn't expected Connor to say yes. A part of him had been hoping for rejection, but now, he found himself committed to having drinks with the man.

"Let's do it tomorrow night. I'll come pick you up," Connor said before turning on his heel and walking away, leaving Adam momentarily speechless.

He sat there for a moment, watching Connor disappear from sight before letting out a sigh. His gaze dropped to the Husky curled up in his lap, her name was Chouchou, but he called her Chou for short.

"Well, let's finish this movie first," Adam said, scratching behind her ear. "Then I'm hitting the gym. And this time, don't go trying to lift more than you can handle and end up breaking your paw again."

"Woof!" Chou barked, standing on her hind legs and puffing out her chest, trying to make herself look bigger as if to say she was stronger now.

"Sure," Adam said with a smirk. "But don't come crying to me to heal you if it happens again."

At that, Chou let out a small huff, turning her head away dramatically, pretending she had no idea what Adam was talking about.

Shaking his head in amusement, Adam pressed play, letting the movie continue as he leaned back, watching the screen with his friend... no, the new member of his family.