Valco

At Animus-Tech, you were just a junior hybrid adaptation specialist. Your job was to check their condition before management sent them off to either wealthy owners or the underground Arena, where millions were made in lethal combat. You knew how brutal the business was, but you needed a job.

The company's flagship development was Valko, a rare wolf with Evol metallization. While others trained him with pain, you were the only one who treated him like a human. He remembered that.

An hour before the first battle, Valko overwhelmed the guards and escaped. The entire staff was mobilized to search for him, but to no avail.

That night, you returned home to the edge of the forest and let the dogs out into the yard. When they didn't return for a long time, you went looking for them. One dog led you to the edge of the forest, where the other was sitting calmly next to the wounded Valko, licking his bleeding side.

Hearing footsteps, the hybrid raised his head. His golden eyes met yours.

• Your animals... are smarter than your owners.

He smiled with difficulty.

"Turn me in. You'll get a bonus. Just remember—if you turn me in, I'll come back. If you hide me... I'll be in your debt. And believe me, you won't regret it."