-Evening. Nefiru's POV-

Around two quarters after night fell, and miles beneath the surface by the entrance to the mana vein chamber, Erina and Dark 9 confront their Matriarch while Dark 8 and Wind 8 stand at my sides. Silence prevailed at the end of the cavern filled with different scents after proclaiming a dark secret well-hidden by the eldest wolf who froze in place under the perplexed stares of the other beasts.

"W...what...?! That's obviously a lie, but even if it were true, how would he even know something like that...?! How could I have this position...?" The matriarch recovered and dismissed.

The oblivious wolves turned to me demanding an explanation for the outrageous accusation.

"Nice try. But even blinded, these eyes of mine can see that your coat doesn't shine nearly as much as Dark 9 or Dark 8..." I revealed confidently.

"Why; thank you." The male in question wagged his tail and said.

"It's not a compliment!" I retorted and looked at the distant wolf. "I can distinguish the talent of darkness users, and YOU are undoubtedly low talented." I exposed.

"You... heinous beast... Cease your slandering this instant!" The accused beast demanded.

"Hey, who do you think discovered how the Firefox spied on you? Do you think there's no way to back my claim?" I countered.

"Grrr... Can you survive without limbs?!" She threatened.

I-I better stop pushing before it gets dangerous again... Hah... I want a break... I decided while enduring the fearsome beast's intimidation.

"Don't bother trying to silence him. This won't go away, and without us, the foxes will storm this place in days." Dark 8 asserted and the eldest beast's snout twitched.

"We did say the Dragon wasn't a normal creature. He can even see through walls which is more ridiculous." Wind 8 reiterated and the guilty beast shot a piercing glare at me while lowering her tail.

"Hum... We have two High-ranked light users waiting outside who can confirm it." Erina proposed and the cornered wolf lowered her ears.

That's cute... The others can't see her showing emotions... I mused observing the scene.

"There's no need... I can prove mother's innocence." Dark 9 declared and his mother eased up perking her ears.

Ugh! He's still hesitating...? I thought annoyed when the black wolf peeks back at me.

"Dragon, how do I see the invisible color of darkness affinity?" He demanded.

"Wha...!? ...Me? I thought you were gonna figure it out yourself after that speech!" I retorted. "Just compare the absorption rate of your coats and get it over with--Nevermind...!" I advice and dismissed under the glare of the scary beast.

"You are the consultant, and I'm consulting. Also, I don't want to lose my vision like you." He countered.

"Ouch! Touché buddy, touché..." I admitted and shrugged. "Look for Infrared wavelengths not from body heat... but Darkness users can't transform them to visible light at your rank to actually SEE, so you'll have to match their energy with more photons, copy the beams for constructive interference, or send the rays in rapid succession until the photoreceptors in the eye activate. You followed?" I instructed and asked before turning off the light show on my body.

"...It sounds more complicated than I thought." He answered a bit disappointed.

"Son, don't waste your time... Darkness users can't do something like that at your rank." The darkness beast discredited.

"Mother, please be quiet." Dark 9 rebuked and concentrated leaving his anxious mother. "Hosu... I'll start by isolating a range of invisible light...good. Increase their energy and mimic the workings of the eye to produce a focal point... Hosum... I see twinkles in my eyes... I must not be doing this right...it's not working..." He described the process.

"Stop! Before you harm your eyes..." His mother denounced.

"Next... Double the beams...triple...this is hard...too hard! There are too many beams refracting...I see flashes though." He ignored the uneasy she-wolf and attempted another method.

"Oh? Nice! But it seems you'd need lots of practice to make that work." I encouraged.

"We'll see... Though the last method is similar, it sounds easier... I'll start by manipulating the lowest waves of invisible light...duplicate it with a delay...and converge it! WUK!!? I see! I SEE!!!" He reported enthusiastically while looking around.

"...What...!? What?! See what?!" The matriarch questioned.

""Congratulations!"" The other wolves praised.

"Hou Hou~ You can see in the dark like the dragon?" Dark 8 asked.

"HMM... Yes, I see yellow flashes like blinking a lot. This is... heat vision like snakes, right?" Dark 9 detailed and inquired.

"Indeed. Though they use a different method with a shorter distance." I replied and compared.

"W-what about the Dragon's claim?" The matriarch timidly asked.

"HMM... I am really sorry mother, but... it's painfully clear that your coat doesn't emit this light like ours..." The darkness beast stared at his mother reveals.

"It-it can't be... Just like that...!? I can't accept this!" She obstinately rejected.

"Hmph! Do you see now, caring mutt? The ONLY valid reason for restricting Mana would be to prevent you from Ranking UP and challenging her position. Another beast would beg me to impart them knowledge and she just sees me as a threat... Bah!" I blurted in a hurry while the mother and son stare at each other dramatically.

"Even our current naming method must've been her idea of keeping track of our ranks." Wind 8 commented.

"I remember my mother saying DimShadow was the least qualified to lead, but we always knew HER as 'First Mate.'" Erina revealed and accused.

"LIES! All lies!" Dimshadow stubbornly denied.

"I... I was never sure what your talent was, but... I didn't care... I guess... neither did Father who cherished you as his first mate, and probably hushed everyone about it." Dark 9 muttered looking at the ground depressingly and looked up. "How could you do this to us, to the Tribe, to the legacy of SwiftShadow?" He demanded glaring at his mother with a sullen expression.

"HOW...?!! You all forgot your father's death and moved on!" She confessed and everyone went quiet.

"GRAAHH! Grahh...! How could I when he died because of MEEE!?! Me... mee... I should be the one to avenge him!" Dark 9 roared causing echo in the cavern. "Haff... We survived as Father wanted, and waited... We did our best and hoped... As long as we were alive, anything was possible, and then, a weird beast appeared. A Dragon so out of place that caught our interest immediately...it was what we waited for..." He calmed down and explained their point of view.

"I see... That's how you feel...true...true..." The matriarch nodded admitting. "However, YOU kept losing territory. The land soaked in the blood of those who defended it for a thousand years! I couldn't just hand over my position only to see the Mana Vein fall in that loathsome Fox's paws for the sake of survival. He's always been our enemy, and his hatred runs as deep as mine, so there cannot be any truce--EVER!" She sternly reproved.

"Mother... You are too blinded, and so were we, thinking you would change by yourself." He declared.

"Yay~ We are all blinded here--Ack!" I interjected and shrunk under another scowl.

"I just... want our Tribe to prosper. I don't care about being a leader, and the Dragon will leave one day to solve his own problems, so why can't you give him a chance?" Dark 9 reasoned.

"HUNF! I'm desperate but not stupid. And how would a mere low rank help me reach Divine?" The matriarch scoffed and countered. "Talent is just unfair. I'm so close to Divine that I can feel it, but it's taking so long regardless of my efforts. However, my affinity talent could increase with the next soul stage, and it would be possible to seek help from other immortal rankers..." She announced.

"Uhh... Don't you need to be recognized for the affinity to upgrade? If you aren't very good at it..." I pointed out.

"QUIET!" The imposing beast ordered and turned to her son. "...Immortal rankers have a reputation to uphold, so they can be allies, but an outsider with a dubious background cannot be trusted no matter how enticing the information is. Just look at you all... This accursed beast has done more damage to my tribe in days than foxes in years!" She repudiated comparing.

"How irrational. And you expect to reach Divine with that stagnated mentality." Her son countered.

"You misguided pups...this is how it SHOULD BE. I just need more time..." She reiterated.

"Wait... How old is the matriarch? Won't you die of old age before reaching Divine on your own?" Wind 8 realized and asked the eldest wolf.

"..." The wolf in question stares with a deadpan expression.

Daaaang! I think she died inside... I asserted looking at the motionless wolf.

"...So be it. We shall embrace change and make you cooperate..." Dark 9 declared getting closer to Erina's right side.

"You ungrateful pups!" The upper Rank 10 raised her hackles threatened.

"Ungrateful? WE have as much right to be down here as you do." He argued.

""Uh-hum. Yes. That's right."" The others agreed.

"Oh, Dark 9... about earlier..." I called out reminding.

He looked so determined before, yet was TOO reluctant to stop his mother from cooking me alive. I affirmed with anguish.

"I know... I'm sorry for hesitating and almost getting you killed. It won't happen again." He apologized and vowed.

"Good boy~ I'll give you a bone later." I praised jokingly.

"Just a bone? I want a roasted Fox!" He said disappointedly and demanded.

"Uh... I-I'll see what I can do..." I approved wondering the possibility to spoil him.

"Demanding isn't he?" Dark 8 commented on my side.

"Uh-huh..." I nodded affirming. "Well, then... my work here is done. I'll be taking my leave now." I announced stepping back.

"Where do you think you are going?" The matriarch asked in an aggressive tone that made me freeze.

"To, uh, start opening the tunnel," I replied. "Make sure no beast dies here or the whole tribe will find out~ Oh, and there are more surprises waiting for you outside, so behave, okay?" I said and turned around before walking away.

"You wretched monstrosity! Is there no end to your machinations? Must I be at your mercy in this wicked manner?" The cornered beast protested.

Uh... I've never been cursed so much before...it's almost funny... I asserted and stopped before looking back.

"Don't worry. I'll make you acknowledge me!" I boldly assured looking at the best thirty meters away.

"...Futile. I'm not taking another Mate..." She opposed.

"Huh? That's not... I just want to get along... I need you..." I uttered perplexed and explained my intention.

"HUNFF!! I'm coming too." The pre-divine snorted saying and started walking closer.

*Krrrrrrr!!!* Ten five-meter long stone spikes came out of the ground blocking the matriarch at fifteen meters away from the metal gate.

"GRR!" The black she-wolf growled behind the pillars.

"You can play with the dragon later, but we need you to remain here for now." Dark 9 informed.

"Oiii! I'm not into your mother." I clarified.

"...After that courting speech!?" He riposted.

"Enough of this..." The matriarch said annoyed and raised her right paw.

*KA-PRAMM! CRASH! Klack! Clack! Thud! Srrr...* She swung her paw and smashed the pillars thicker than a human into rubble.

"Dimshadow, I'm being polite here. Don't forget we are in MY element, and there's plenty Mana to test a few new tricks." Erina reproved.

"HOUHH?! You aren't going to rush at me covered in stone like usual?" The pre-divine questioned in a mocking tone.

"No... Control and attack are more important than just defense to draw attention." The golden wolf replied unaffected.

"Is that so..." She spoke ignoring the warning and resumed her pursuit.

"Let's see how much my multitasking improved," Erina announced and sizzling sounds become louder.

*TsssssSSSSHH!! KSHHH! Blurb! Blub! Pshhh!* The ground glowed red and turned to incandescent lava for 30 square meters around the matriarch while the air heats up inside the cave.

The wolves and I flinched from the sudden light source and blinked our eyes while adapting before looking at the lava pool. In the center, the eldest wolf remained calm standing on a solid stone platform which didn't melt for a small area around her.

WOAH! Look at the size of that thing... She was preparing all this time... But how deep is it? I thought and probed below Erina's Magic. Hmm... It's almost a meter deep here, but I rather not probe further underground since my Magic is unstable... That's why the matriarch only stopped Erina's control over a small area...we are less restricted in our Element, but it also depends on material... This requires more investigation. I conjectured before wondering of the applications.

The molten rock pool started making waves near the edges and increasing in size as they travel towards the center while cooling down behind and leaving the ground gauged.

"WRUFF!" The cornered beast snorted and crouched preparing to jump.

"BEHIND YOU!" The earthen wolf shouted a warning.

"WUEH!?" The black wolf glanced behind alerted and turned to the front after realizing the ruse.

But to her surprise, four sharp and thin earthen spikes with a metal tip sprung from the molten ground at an angle towards the legs.

*Shuahhh! Shuk! Shuk!* Two spikes managed to inflict shallow cuts on the hind legs while the others missed.

"HIAK!" The matriarch yelped lowering her stance behind the molten rock wall already five meters high and rising. "GRRR! You need to be taught a lesson!" She snarled saying.

*SWOOP!* The large wolf jumped while opening her mouth. *FWOOOOOOOMMM! BLURSHH!* She fired a wide and brilliant beam that burst opens a large hole in the wall on its way towards Erina.

Without time or speed to react, the golden she-wolf could only take the dangerous attack, but an invisible obstacle weakened its intensity around her...it was Dark 9's magic.

"GRNNN!" The earth user endured while losing some control of her magic arts.

*Splurshhh!* The wave of lava lost its size and expanded horizontally while the giant wolf was in the air. *THUMP! PLORP! KSSHH!!* The matriarch landed with her forepaws on the solidified stone while the hind legs sank over a meter deep in the lava wave.

"GRAAHHH!" Dimshadow yowled and yanked her legs from the sticky molten rock.

*TSSSsssss~!* Erina's coat continued burning with smoke coming out but she remained unmoving attempting to regain control over the lava pool.

Wh--!? The heck!? Was that a particle beam? Or ultra-high-frequency radio waves which can heat up the metal in Erina? Or possibly a highly energetic RADIO BURST!! Can darkness users do that? No, it makes sense they do, but that power is ridiculous... I analyzed taking a few more steps back.

*Chhhlukk!* The black wolf pulled out the hind legs with smoke coming out of her burned coat with chunks of rock solidifying.

"You'll PAY for that!" The upper rank 10 declared and ran ahead.

*Thu-Ronk! THU-RONK!* The darkness wolf clumsily ran while opening her jaws and fired. *FWOOOOOM! FWOOOOOM! FWOOOOOM!* She barraged light bursts at the golden beast mercilessly.

However, Dark 9 knowing he couldn't mitigate the beams completely, dashed in front of Erina and took the hits while she slows down the approaching beast with earthen spikes.

*TSssssss!* Smoke rose from Dark 9s right flank while a smell of charred flesh reaches my nose. *KA-WAMM! BAM! CRASH!* The matriarch burst through Erina's obstacles while slowly getting closer.

"GUK!" Dark 9 endured the rays and kept defending the golden wolf. "The pain subsided...!? Better turn over since this side is already cooked..." He commented during a pause. "Tired of absorbing attacks...returning fire..." He casually announced and opened his mouth.

*Brzzziuummmm!* The darkness wolf fired an infrared laser at his mother's legs. *Ksshhh! Tssss!* The ground and stone pillars sizzled briefly in the carvings while the pain registers in the wolf's forelegs.

"HIAK!" The matriarch yelped as she couldn't completely mitigate the ray that cut her hide. "Wh--at...!? How...!? I'm a higher rank..." She stopped and questioned in shock within 5 meters of Erina.

"It's called 'Leikser,' Mother. Guess who taught it to us?" Dark 9 bragged.

It's not as intense as Shaila's but his infrared laser is made stacking electromagnetic waves from a mass of Magic so it can only be neutralized by the equivalent... I reviewed.

"...I'll just stop you from using magic then." The eldest she-wolf said engulfing us with a suffocating magic suppression.

*Brrrrr...!* The Magic energies of the two upper rank 9 wolves and the pre-divine clash and create vibrations in the hot air near them.

Ugh... That's why she got close... But these two are in sync and it seems she can't use that attack and suppress them at the same time. She's not good at multitasking...more Magicians rank 10 would overwhelm her... I realize the upper rank 10's motive.

"Watch your step!" Erina warned while stalactites silently detach from the roof.

*Swiiiisss!* The conical rock formations accelerated in waves starting closer to Erina. *KA-TONG! BAM! PA PA PA! BANG! KLANK!* The stones larger than humans landed on the matriarch and crashed on the stone floor breaking apart into rubble.

"HIAAK! HIAAK!" The black she-wolf cried out getting hit while retreating. "YOU...! GRRR!" She stopped with a lower stance and growled menacingly.

"What? I was holding those rocks and somebeast interrupted my magic." The golden she-wolf blamed while collecting the remaining lava as two Snakes twenty meter long and one thick.

*Whooorrrrsh! Fwoorrrsh!* Two incandescent serpents closed in trying to coil around the retreating canine. *Srassshhh!* Dark 10 stopped noticing the danger and sent a kick behind with the right hindleg. *KA-PAWKK! Splursh! Whoosh!* The rock Snake on my left was partially obliterated while the rest crumbled as if it was forcibly canceled.

Dimshadow slipped behind the other molten snake and opened her mouth in line with the two wolves.

*FWOOOOOM!* The black she-wolf blasted away the standing portion of the second molten tentacle while the rest crumbled and cooled down.

However, Dark 9 defended and the moment she relaxed, another two red spots appeared on the ground left and right again.

Ah! Erina had two more hidden! I realized the sneaky move.

*FLUARRSSSHHH!* Two incandescent rock tubes splashed from the ground and quickly coiled around the matriarch. *Krresssh! Krresssh!* The black she-wolf jumped back trying to avoid the tentacles seeking their prey and fired her usual beam. *FWOOOOOM!* The radio burst disintegrated the frontal portion of a snake, but... *WHIP-BAAM! KSSHH!!* The remaining lava serpent whipped at the wolf from my right.

"HYEK!" She yelped thrown away and turned to the snake.

*FWOOOOOM!* The beam blasted away the second rock construct.

It seems she only know one ability...a dangerous ability. I asserted.

"Humph! Take this; falling rocks of DOOM!" Erina declared dramatically to catch the attention of her target.

*KRruruRUrummm!* The cave section shook for a moment making the darkness beast alerted.

"Oiii! Are you trying to bury us alive?" I rebuked.

However... *Krrrrr! Shrrrak! Shrrrak! Whoosh!* Stone spikes came out of the ground instead with an angle pointing at the pre-divine.

*Shak!* Dimshadow's chest section was pierced by a metalized stone tip and retreated further back.

"HYEK! GRRR! Confusing!" The wounded she-wolf complained.

Yes... This is painful to my ears too... I agreed.

"Stone spikes from below!" Erina called out.

"I'm not falling for th--!?" Dimshadow said when the ground beneath her paws disappeared.

*Thooomp!* She slammed onto the stone.

"OOF!" She uttered before struggling to get out.

"Rock bind!" The earthen wolf announced but the stone roof started glowing red instead.

"No, you don't--! Again?!" The matriarch opposed and noticed the molten lava above her.

Erina, you TROLL! I labeled.

Dimshadow pointed her head upwards and opened up the mouth. *FWOOOOOM!* She fired another beam to blast away the falling debris and pulled up her legs from the ground. *Crack! Krum-rum! Bam! Thud! Splat! Drip! Drip!* The trapped she-wolf pulled her legs from the ground and back-pedaled while rock chunks and lava kept falling.

*Zu-ruash! Zu-ruash!* Dark 9 used the distraction to sprint towards his mother's throat. *Whap! Srassshhh! THUMP! Thump! Kreash! Kreash!* He viciously down and hurled the matriarch away towards the metal gates before tumbling down.

""YIP! GRAHHH! GRRR! WRRRAAHHH! KHAAAH! GRRRAA-ARGHH! HYEK!"" The two giant canines engage in melee fight biting and scratching each other.

*FWOOOM! THUACK! WHOMP! Srashhhh!* The biggest beast fired another beam at close range and overwhelmed her son before smacking him away.

"HYEP!" Dark 9 yelped sliding on the ground towards the cavern's left wall.

Dang! Even with an advantage, he couldn't take her... I asserted observing the fallen wolf. Although he looks pretty bashed... I noticed observing the quivering beast.

However, Dark 9 actions weren't in vain nor Erina and Wind 8 were standing idly by, so when the matriarch turned to look at us, she was already at 15 meters away from the metal gate and the two wolves around the same distance from her.

*Swiisss! Klarsh! Tak! Tak! Kling!* A thin metal net formed the roof and fell on top of the matriarch before anchoring in the rocky ground.

"Wuoh!?" Dimshadow flinched being entrapped and glared at Erina after noticing no more attacks came. "Grrr... These cheap tricks won't hold me!" She barked our way.

"Grrr... Then how about this?" Erina growled annoyed and announced.

*TsssssSSSSHH!! KSHHH! Blurb! Blub! Pshhh!* The whole section of the cave from the gate to up Wind 8 started becoming lava again except for the spot near the matriarch and her son.

Wooooaahhh... Sometimes being efficient won't cut it huh? Her control surely improved, but controlling Lava like that must cost a TON of mana... I affirmed watching the fiery sea splash and bubbling about releasing gases.

"Hyek!!? HOT! HOT! HOT! My baaallssssss!" Dark 9 yelped after getting splashed and bolted to Erina's side with smoke coming out of his rear and paws.

The matriarch looked troubled in the middle of the gargantuan tunnel of lava when it started closing in diameter slowly while swallowing all stone pillars left standing and cooling down behind. The trapped beast realized the danger and struggled harder to get out of the net while trying to interrupt the molten walls, but they just heat up again by thermal conduction.

Moses, is that you? Note to self...never EVER fight an earth user in a closed space, especially a stone cave under the ocean. I thought sarcastically.

"EEP!" Dimshadow shrieked desperately and looked at me.

Uh-oh... I realized what the cornered creature was about to do but was hopeless to stop it.

"STOP! Or I'll kill the Dragon." The matriarch commanded with her magic inside me.

The golden wolf gave one last command before losing a large portion of her elementals and the tunnel solidified at a diameter of twenty meters.

"How cowardly. Just like what the foxes did..." Dark 9 reproached.

"It's a legitimate strategy..." Dark 8 shrugged saying.

"Continue! Cripple her for life if she kills me." I instructed feeling uncomfortable inside.

"Wh--!? A-are you not afraid...?!" The invading beast questioned baffled.

"Hmph! Death is an inconvenience for me. I'll just come back in four years." I declared.

Half-bluff actually since dying sucks, birth sucks, and losing Light and Water affinities forever sucks even more. Well, I am prepared for the worst, but it's just not worth it dying here, so please buy my bluff! I determined controlling my body to remain calm.

"..." The matriarch stopped and stared as confirming the veracity of my words.

"As unbelievable as it sounds, we confirmed that he was born just last Season." Wind 8 proclaimed.

"Impossible! No creature can reach that rank in such a short time. Not even the so-called 'Ancient's offsprings.'" She denied.

"And yet, we've witnessed him soar through ranks as if our years of effort mean nothing." The green wolf disclosed.

"It's useless, Wind 8. She won't listen." Dark 9 interjected.

"No matter. If we can't defeat, then stop." Erina declared and the trapped wolf continues her struggle.

*Ping! Peng! Crack! Krush!* The wires snap and the ground cracks open releasing the net in some places.

However, as if hearing his cue, the wind wolf standing behind Erina took a firm stance opening his mouth.

*Krrr! Whiishh~ Swiisss~* Stone bound the green wolf's legs and the hot air started circulating around him before rushing into his mouth. *SwoooooOOOSSHH~* The wind loudly sped up and inflated the belly of the beast slightly which indicated a large volume was being compressed inside of him.

"Uh-oh... " I uttered watching from twenty meters away.

"He's gonna do that, isn't he?" Dark 8 commented on my left.

"Yeah... The third stage breath attack--Elemental rampage!" I asserted.

"We should get down..." The she-wolf suggested.

"Agreed. Cover your ears and prepared to run..." I whispered and plugged my ears with ice layers.

"MOVE!!" Wind 8 yelled seconds later and echoed in the cavern before Erina stepped aside.

*KIIIIIIIIIIIIIN! KA-BOOOOOOOMMM!* The wind wolf produced ultrasonic waves from his mouth before it turned into a powerful shockwave causing tremors as it traveled through the rock tunnel where the matriarch was about to free herself. *BWOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!* A large volume of air gushed into the vein chamber and sucked from the stone cavern in our side. *WHOOsshhhh!* The rushing wind loses speed. *Kruuummm! Tak! Crack! Tack! Clack!* The stone tunnel cracks and crumbles while the matriarch rolled inside the vein chamber.

"That's--Huff! The trick to--Puff! Make elementals rampage--Haff! You let loose--Huff! Until there's no Mana--" Wind 8 said and tumbled while we get up.

*THOOMP!* The green wolf fell down and twitched while breathing heavily. *Krururummm--Klank!* The gate starts to close but slows down and fully stops two-thirds of the way while the wind picks up speed gushing into our side. *WhoooOOSH!*

"GO!" Erina yelled. "I can't close the gate yet, but it won't hold her lon...g..." She blurted before it was too loud to hear her.

*WHOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!* The rebound air pushes us from behind as we sprint towards the metalized tunnel.