Gagi was furious.
That little monster it had seen as mere food was now daring to challenge it?
Unforgivable. Absolutely intolerable.
But despite its rage, Gagi had lost the bone horn on its head—it couldn't use its energy beam anymore. Its two fleshy tentacles were still restraining the struggling Cain on the ground, leaving it unable to move freely.
If it wanted to attack that dog-like monster, it would have to fight up close.
And to fight up close, it had to move.
But with Cain still tangled in its tentacles, how could it rush over?
It looked from the dirt-covered Cain to the hound, torn between fury and frustration.
Crack… crack… crack…
Just as Gagi hesitated, the sound of something hard being crunched echoed through the air.
When Gagi turned its gaze forward, it froze—and then went berserk.
The dog-like monster was gnawing on its broken horn.
Actually chewing it like a bone—its bone!—and savouring it with delight.
Rage exploded like a volcano inside Gagi's chest.
With a piercing screech, Gagi swung its tentacles violently, hurling Cain far away before charging at the dog-like creature with earth-shaking steps.
Whether Cain lived or died didn't matter.
Today, this insolent hound would die!
Not even the Dark King could save it now!
Thrown high into the air, Cain twisted his body mid-flight, stabilizing himself. Then he looked down at the dog monster drawing Gagi's wrath.
"Heh… this little guy's actually pretty clever."
He couldn't help but smile in approval. With that distraction, Cain dove, driving a powerful flying kick straight into Gagi's chest.
BOOM!
The impact resounded like thunder. Boosted by speed and gravity, the kick sent Gagi flying backward, crashing hard against the translucent barrier it had created.
"Roar!"
The dog monster barked triumphantly, and for a brief moment, its eyes shone with something almost human—a smile.
"You can smile, too? Hah, you even cried earlier!"
Cain chuckled, remembering when the poor thing had whimpered in fear earlier.
Still, now wasn't the time for jokes.
He raised his arms—hands drawn back, then flung wide.
His fists clenched, forearms crossed before his chest in an L-shape stance.
Facing the fallen, powerless Gagi, Cain shouted:
"Reversed Zeperion Beam!"
The twin light rays burst from his crossed hands, a brilliant surge of golden power that engulfed Gagi completely.
A tremendous explosion followed.
Flames erupted, the air rippled with force, and the transparent barrier around them began to dissolve—its creator's energy now gone.
"Finally… I can get out of here."
Cain exhaled in relief, ready to take off—
—but suddenly, something clung tightly to his leg.
"Whoa, hey, what the—!?"
Caught off guard, he fell flat on the ground, face-first into a pile of dust.
Shaking his head and brushing dirt off, Cain turned to see the dog monster hugging his thigh tightly.
"What are you doing? Gagi's gone—you're free now! You can leave!"
He didn't feel any hostility toward it.
Unlike that time he'd been tricked by Melba during his first transformation, this dog monster had genuinely helped him.
"Rrff! Rrff! Rrff!"
The creature's eyes were filled with reluctance, its growls soft and pleading.
"I… have no idea what you're saying," Cain sighed. "I don't speak monster, you know."
He looked around helplessly. There wasn't a single being alive who could understand monster speech.
"What, you want to thank me? Don't bother! I'm just the kind of guy who helps when he sees trouble. That's all. If fate allows, we'll meet again!"
He turned to take off again—but the monster still held his leg, refusing to let go.
"Rrff! Rrff! Rrff!"
It barked urgently, as if trying to tell him something important.
"Oh, come on! What are you trying to say!?"
Just then—
a faint light emerged from the dog monster's chest, floating gently toward Cain and merging into the Colour Timer on his chest.
"Huh… what's this?"
Before he could question it further, something strange happened—he could understand the dog monster's voice inside his mind.
"You're saying… you want to come with me?"
The creature barked happily, nodding like crazy, its tail wagging in excitement.
Cain blinked in disbelief.
He never imagined that one day a monster would choose him as its master.
"Wait a second—does this make me the first giant in history to be chosen by a monster…?"
Then he thought again.
"No… Tiga-sensei was the first. He tamed monsters himself—and they followed him by choice."
He looked back at the eager creature.
"You really want to come with me?"
"Rrff! Rrff!"
Its eyes shone with determination.
Cain smiled warmly and patted its head.
"Alright then. From today on, you'll be my battle partner."
He looked around the barren land. This "dog" didn't have the markings of darkness—
it wasn't even a native of this realm. Probably wandered in by accident.
Without him, it'd be devoured by stronger monsters in no time.
Better to bring it along—and besides, Tiga-sensei tamed dark monsters too.
If his teacher could do it, why couldn't he?
"You don't have a name yet, do you?"
"Rrff!"
"Then I'll give you one."
"Rrff! Rrff!"
"Since I'm Cain, and we met because of Gagi…"
He grinned.
"Your name will be Guardie! How's that?"
"Rrff! Rrff! Rrff!!!"
The dog monster barked joyfully, tail wagging like crazy, clearly approving.
A small smile crossed Cain's face. "Good to have you with me, partner."