Chapter 6

In the world of monsters, reaching the stage of evolution was a huge achievement. This was especially true in an environment of survival of the fittest wherein weak monsters have a lower life expectancy. Of course, this fact also meant that only those who were lucky, strong and clever enough to survive would be able to eventually evolve. That was why in the case of monsters who were by nature live in groups, the leader was always the one in the highest evolution stage.

For normal monsters, experiencing an evolution once meant that it was already an adult. Evolving the second time signified that they were tough enough to hold a rank within their group, and being able to evolve a third time was a show of their capabilities to lead a group of their own. But, for monsters of the same species, every path of the Third Evolutionary State was equal in terms of raw power. The only exception to this rule was the Special Evolutions, but that was another topic entirely.

Tempest Wolf, Frost Wolf, Flame Wolf and Lightning Wolf. These four wolf monsters were all the possible evolution for the Dire Wolf Cub if it managed to reach the Third Evolutionary State. This also meant that these four monsters should be equal in raw power alone without any exceptions…

The young wolf gazed down at the wolf who protected him. In there, in front of his eyes was his father, the alpha of their pack. That father, who the young wolf always looked at with a mixture of awe and respect was lying in a pool of blood. While looking at his bleeding father, one thought entered into the young wolf’s mind. It was his fault. His brother’s death, the invasion of their home, and now, his father being on the verge of death. All of it. It was all his fault.

While guilt and despair gripped the young wolf’s heart, his father, their alpha, stood with unsteady feet. For a moment, the young wolf felt relief, but when he saw the blood flowing from his father’s side, he once again lost all hope.

Seeing the weakened state of the Frost Wolf, the Tempest Wolf smiled from ear to ear and summoned a raging wave of wind. The Frost Wolf tried to counter it by summoning his own freezing wave but when these magic collided, the raging wave overpowered the freezing wave. With the freezing wave out of the way, the raging wind pushed toward the weakened Frost Wolf and the young wolf. Luckily, before the raging wind reached the two wolves, a Great Wolf had tackled the two of them out of the way. Of course, saving the two wolves doesn’t come without a cost. After being hit by the raging wave, the Great wolf’s body became littered with cuts and bruises. When the young wolf gazed at the Great Wolf, he realized that it was his mother.

The battered Great Wolf forced her body to stand and then walked towards the Frost Wolf. As the Frost Wolf and Great Wolf huddled together, another Dire Wolf Cub ran toward the young wolf. That Dire Wolf Cub was the young wolf’s little sister, and when the young wolf gazed at his little sister, the young wolf saw a mixture of anxiety and fear in her face. Then at the corner of the young wolf’s eyes, his second brother appeared. And like the young wolf’s father and mother, his second Brother was also injured all over probably from fighting against the members of the Tempest Wolf’s pack. But despite being near his limit, the young wolf’s brother still stood against the Tempest Wolf together with their mother and father.

It was now two battered Great Wolves and one Weakened Frost Wolf against a Tempest Wolf. Seeing that, the young wolf felt a little hopeful that maybe, those three would be able to defeat the Tempest Wolf. But when his mother looked and gestured at him to run and take his sister, the young wolf’s heart sank. And then without any warning, the Frost Wolf launched a barrage of ice spear towards the Tempest Wolf. Using a barrage of raging blades of wind, the Tempest Wolf shot down all of the ice spears. While the two alphas were having that exchange, the two Great Wolf ran into different directions and attacked the Tempest Wolf at both sides.

Pincered at both sides and locked in magic battle upfront, the Tempest Wolf had nowhere to run. At that moment, the young wolf rejoiced. But then, a wave of raging wind materialized at the opposing sides of the Tempest Wolf sending the two Great Wolf flying. From that exchange, the young wolf realized that adding two wounded wolves on the fight wasn’t going to improve their situation, the only thing they managed to do was delay the inevitable.

While the two Great Wolves forced their battered body to stand, the young wolf’s father looked at him. For the young wolf, that gesture only meant one thing; his father was telling him to run. With eyes full of despair, the young wolf looked around. Surrounding them was the wolves from their pack desperately fighting the members of the Tempest Wolf’s pack. And clearly, it was a losing battle. It was just a matter of time.

Witnessing all of that, the young wolf was once again forced to make a heart-rending decision. The young wolf grabbed his little sister by the neck and ran away at full speed. At his back, the young wolf heard the weakened howl of his father wishing him good luck. Of course, the young wolf felt an urge to look back but he ultimately decided against it. The reason was very simple. He didn’t want to witness his father fighting a losing battle. The image of his father that he wanted to burn in his mind was his father’s majesty and unfathomable strength.

And so, for the second time in his life, the young wolf ran away from battle. Dragging his terrified little sister by the neck, the young wolf ran and ran and ran and ran. Honestly, the young wolf had no idea where to go, but despite that, he still ran. He didn’t look back. He didn’t think. He just… ran… But… As if mocking all of his efforts, he felt two hostile presence following him. Even without looking back, he knew what those two presences were. It was two hostile Great Wolves out for blood…

While desperately running away from the approaching enemies, the young wolf tried to think of a way to save his and his little sister’s life. But when the young wolf heard the terrified whimper of his little sister, the realization dawned on him. It was impossible for both of them to survive. That’s right, only one of them could survive… Because while one of them was running away, the other one had to stay and be the decoy. After realizing that, the young wolf resolved his heart.

The young wolf stopped running. He then lowered his little sister into the ground. After being freed, the young wolf’s little sister gazed at him with anxious eyes. But with eyes full of resolve, the young wolf looked his sister in the eyes and gestured at her to run away. As the two Great Wolves neared them, his sister still insisted on staying. And so, the young wolf hardened his heart and pushed his little sister away then growled at her. Of course, the young wolf’s little sister knew that his brother was just acting for her sake. She even tried to resist despite their situation. But when the young wolf’s sister saw the resolve burning in his brother’s eyes, she reluctantly ran away…

Watching his sister’s back as she ran away, the young wolf felt incredibly happy. With this, the young wolf finally repaid his father, mother and two brothers. He could now die in peace. As that thought flashed into his mind, the two hostile Great Wolf finally caught up.

Two huge wolves appeared from the darkness of the trees. As the young wolf glared at the two wolves with hatred in his eyes, the two wolves sneered. Seeing that mocking smile, the young wolf growled and lowered his center of gravity. Then after mustering all his remaining strength, the young wolf ran forward with every intention to bite the nearest wolf. But with just a single flick of the Great Wolf’s front foot, the young wolf flew back and hit a tree.

Incredible pain assaulted the young wolf’s body and his vision spun around. But the Great Wolf’s wasn’t done yet… Just before the young wolf managed to stand, he was once again kicked, and again, and again, and again. That cycle was repeated so many times that the young wolf lost track of how many times he was hit. And when it finally stopped, he looked up.

Towering before him was the Great Wolf. In that dim lighted place, the Great Wolf’s eyes shined ominously, and its fangs glowed viciously. For the young wolf, it was the first time he experienced being preyed upon. What flashed on the young wolf’s mind at that time was all the times he hunted down monsters weaker than him. Maybe this was what those weak monsters felt. He thought.

At that moment, the young wolf felt incredible fear. But despite that, the young wolf forced his body to stand and face his enemy. It was the pride of a wolf. The pride he inherited from his great father. But then, he noticed. The other wolf was gone…

A chill ran through the young wolf’s spine. He looked at the Great Wolf in front of him, and he saw it sneering at him. Full of desperation, the young looked to where his sister ran and tried to chase after her. But with incredible strength, the Great Wolf stepped on the young wolf pinning him down to the ground. Unable to move, the young could only let out a howl full of resentment, regret and anguish. And as the fangs of death neared him, the young wolf closed his eyes.

The young wolf awaited his death. But no matter how long he waited, those fangs didn’t come. Not only that, the pressure on the young wolf’s back was also gone. Confused, the young wolf opened his eyes. And what he saw was the Great Wolf’s dead body lying in front of his eyes. Seeing that baffling sight, the young wolf looked around. And then, just a little distance away from the Great Wolf’s dead body, he saw someone standing. It was a human.

To be exact, there were three humans. The three were wielding a spear, a staff and a two-handed sword respectively. The most eye-catching among the three was the one wielding a two-handed sword donned by steel armor with a face covered by an equally steel headgear. On the right chest part of the steel chest armor of the masked individual, was an insignia of a winged sword stuck on a rock. And the most important part. The masked individual was holding the young wolf’s little sister in its arms.

At first, the young wolf felt relieved that his sister was safe. But then he felt the unusual aura that the masked individual was emitting. There was definitely no malice coming from the three. But the young wolf felt strangely repulsed by the aura being emitted by the masked individual. It was as if his very existence was rejecting it. The young wolf felt as if that masked individual was his natural enemy.

Driven by that mysterious urge, the young wolf growl menacingly at the three humans. Flustered by the sudden outburst of the young wolf, the three point their weapon at the young wolf. Seeing the three dangerous weapons being pointed at him, the young wolf took a few steps back. But then, the young wolf heard a high-pitched sound coming from below his feet. When the young wolf looked down, he saw light coming out from a strange pattern drawn into a solid ground. Instinctively, the young wolf looked at his sister being carried by the masked individual. He saw the confused and scared expression on his little sister's face, but then the surrounding suddenly distorted. After that, the young wolf felt a floating sensation followed by a sudden free fall. As the young wolf flailed around, he saw an expansive area covered by grass. And then, accompanied by a sudden jolt of pain, everything turned black…