One Piece: Pirate Cat.

When I looked at my reflection in the river, I was speechless. The image staring back at me was not that of a cat, but of a wolf. A blue-furred wolf.

I had no idea that returning to my human form would leave me as a wolf forever. The thought caught me off guard, and for a moment, I wondered if it was a blessing or a curse. In the forest, being a wolf was definitely an advantage—more strength, more endurance. But my human side still longed for contact with others, and a wolf was far more feared than a simple feline.

Fortunately, after ten minutes, I turned back into a cat.

But this experience raised important questions: Why had it happened? Could I control the transformation? Or did it only occur after eating?

To find out, I tried to transform again. I shouted, "Transformation: WOLF!" but nothing happened. I attempted other methods, focusing on the image of the wolf reflected in the water, imagining the change within my body. Still nothing. Only after five minutes did I feel a strange sensation, as if my body was finally ready.

Following my instinct, I tried again—and this time, effortlessly, I became the blue-furred wolf once more. After several attempts, I mastered switching between forms quickly.

However, I also discovered the limitations of this ability: I could only remain a wolf for ten minutes before needing a five-minute cooldown. But if I reverted to my cat form for at least a minute before shifting back, my wolf-time reset, allowing me to extend my transformation.

By exploiting this trick, I could stay in wolf form for much longer, but there was another limitation—energy consumption. After about an hour of total use per day, my body would be exhausted. If I increased my physical strength, though, I might be able to extend this duration.

After these revelations, I decided to rest. I wasn't hungry, so I skipped dinner and climbed a tree, settling on a sturdy branch for the night.

The morning sun woke me with its blinding light. Stretching, I descended from the tree and made my way to the river for a drink. Then, I set out to hunt. Today, however, I wanted to venture deeper into the forest.

There was more prey in the depths, and if I transformed into a wolf, I would be safer. Plus, I had my slime as a secret weapon.

So I began my journey, moving slowly to avoid startling any animals. After a few minutes and about two hundred meters, I spotted a deer. It would be my prey.

Shifting into wolf form, I crept closer. When I was near enough, I lunged at full speed. The deer sensed me and bolted, but it was too late. After a frantic twenty-second chase, I reached it, sinking my fangs into its neck with all my strength.

After a brief struggle, the deer stopped moving. I let go and observed it. The sight of blood had no effect on me. Was it because I was in animal form?

I didn't dwell on it and began eating. It wasn't bad—though I still preferred cooked food.

"Hey… You shouldn't eat alone. Don't you know the rules?"

A sudden voice behind me made me jump. I spun around to face whoever had spoken.

"Are you talking to me?" I asked, spotting a white-furred wolf staring at me.

"Of course, do you see anyone else?" he replied, slightly annoyed.

Could he be speaking to me because I was in wolf form?

I studied him curiously and asked, "What do you mean? I hunted this prey myself. Why shouldn't I eat it?"

He narrowed his eyes, looking even more confused. "You're not part of the Scarred Clan?"

Scarred?

"No, I don't belong to any clan," I answered, eager to see his reaction. If I had intruded into their territory, I might be in trouble.

But his response caught me off guard.

"Really? Then you can join us! Come, I'll take you to the leader. And bring the deer—only he decides when we eat."

He didn't give me time to protest and gestured for me to follow.

Maybe it was best to play along. I didn't want to fight, and he seemed friendly enough. The only problem was time—my transformation would end in about eight minutes.

"How far is your pack?" I asked, reluctantly lifting the deer.

"Not far, just two hundred meters that way," he said, pointing with his paw.

Curiosity got the better of me. Seeing a wolf pack up close could be interesting.

And really, what could possibly go wrong?