Zhu Que, the vermillion bird, is a variant of the phoenix species, and the strongest of its kind. Only the rare black flames phoenix is a match for one.

However…

“Are you sure? The colour is wrong,” the boys asked after observing it carefully.

“Look. On its crown, three long feathers, and on the tail ends of each wing a beautiful long plume.”

The small bird is born fully feathered and sat proudly on the pouch as it waited for one of the boys to pick it up. On close inspection, it wasn’t actually colourful, but giving off a pure white glow from its down feathers. The longer feathers are transparent crystals covering its body and caused the baby Zhu Que to shine with rainbow spectrum.

“That is definitely a Zhu Que, though it’s of a different colour… maybe a new variant? “Kairos agreed then added, “Tommy, have you been reading up on the monsters’ book?”

For the first time, his brothers are impressed by his knowledge and Tommy couldn’t help puffing up his chest, but he shook his head and said, “Nah… that’s boring. It’s only because Snow told me.”

“OHO!”

“What’s this, you have a crush?”

“N..no!! I just remembered what she said.”

“Wow, he had been carefully listening?”

“Look, look, he’s blushing!”

“Let’s go tell on him!”

“D…don’t! Guys!”

“Nothing to worry about Tommy,” Kairos said assuredly, “If you got rejected, we’ve got your funeral portrait ready.”

He pulled out the picture that Jim drew and waved it around. He had kept it since their ten days siege.

“Gimme back!”

Their captain nimbly hid the picture again.

…..

Meanwhile, outside of the cave, a considerable commotion ravaged Tiny Town and the other smaller settlements nearby.

A sign suddenly appeared in the heavens, a rainbow that formed a gigantic halo far above.

When seeing this colourful mark on the skies, the birds turn strangely silent. They landed and looked up reverently at the seven-coloured ring.

For a moment, prey and predator alike worshipped the birth of their king.

…..

The boys continued moving through the tunnel, and this time they did not discover any more dangers.

The retching odour of rot grew heavier until they had to seal off their sense of smell.

Jim: “I don’t think I want to know what is in front of us…”

Edward: “I don’t think I want to see what caused this foul stench…”

Tommy: “I have a bad feeling about this.”

Alan: “Oh well. Oh look, there’s light in front!”

Kairos: “The wolves await. Get ready!”

When they entered the storm wolves’ den ahead, a strange sight welcomed them.

It is a vast cavern, with countless corpses, piled to the sides of the wall. In the middle, the remaining storm wolves, numbering over a hundred staring at them with unbridled rage and madness. All the alphas are present and at their front is a giant wolf twice as large as a fully grown Orc; the Wolf King.

“Damn, it’s huge!” Jim said, daggers already in hand.

Edward: “That’s not the only thing we need to worry about!”

He pointed, and when they looked to the right of the entrance, they found the Black Bat King and the silver crow staring right back at them with beady eyes and on the left of the entrance is a huge python that they had never seen before. The lord of snakes.

Tommy smiled fiercely, “One each?”

“A moment, there’s something odd here,” Edward said with a glance, “The Storm Wolves are guarding three pits behind them.”

Alan: “…They are… filled with baby beasts!”

Jim: “You reckon they are hostages? But does pythons even care for their young?”

Tommy: “Some do.”

Edward: “Tommy, let me guess, Snow told you again?”

Tommy: “S... shut up!”

Alan: “Hey, why aren’t they attacking yet?”

This time, Kairos who had been silent so far, spoke up, “It seems that they wish for us to return peacefully.”

“THAT IS RIGHT, HUMANS” Suddenly, the massive maw of the wolf king moved, and it spoke human words with a raspy voice.

Everyone jumped and shouted, “Spiritual enlightenment!”

Creatures that speak have all reached spiritual enlightenment. Of course, not all of them can pronounce words with their voice box, and some did not learn the language.

“RUN, OR DIE. YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE!”

Kairos shook his head, “There’s one other way: You die, and we walk out. ATTACK!”

The boys ran forward as one. Their footsteps are even and precise like soldiers. The Storm Wolves in their way were blown back by their initial charge as though a speeding carriage struck them. The five of them waved their weapons with fearsome force, and the wolves were easily scattered.

The Storm Wolf King finally couldn’t remain still anymore and gave a threatening growl.

Joining the Wolf King in battle, the Silver Crow and the gigantic king of bats came at the five of like a powerful gust.

Though any one of them could easily defeat those two beasts by themselves, they have long learned not to underestimate the creatures of this forest.

“Go!” Edward shouted as he raised an arm at the silver crow. A weak glow of green shone, and then the light formed into the shape of his wind wyvern, slowly materialising into flesh — the separation of a contract beast from its master.

The wind wyvern gave a terrifying roar then it gave a great flap of its wings and launched itself into the air. It shot forward with incredible velocity and hurled into the silver crow. The two pummelled backwards clawing and snapping at each other.

Similarly, Tommy summoned his white kitten that appeared on the boy’s shoulder.

The Black Bat King that saw it frantically tried to reverse directions in mid-air, but before it could get to a safe distance, the little cat jumped onto it, and the two tumbled away.

The lord of snakes was the only one that remains, but before it could join the battle, a small bird landed lightly on its thickly-muscled body. Fear instantly shot through its spine as the snake felt a terrifying omen of death.

The beautiful Zhu Que hatchling sparkled with all the colours of the rainbow and looked directly into the python’s eyes. The giant snake froze, unable to lift its head before the Zhu Que’s magnificence.

Though newly born, its presence could make beast kings bow.

As a divine beast and one of the few that could challenge the dragon race, its bloodline can easily suppress mortal realm beasts. If the mortal realm’s Heavenly Energies isn’t so diluted, it would certainly be able to live up to the terrifying strength of the Zhu Que race.

As the three beast kings are tied down, the Greys attacked the Storm Wolves.

They had enough of waiting and fought valiantly to break through the enemy pack and attack the Wolf King. Even if they worship wisdom and love peace, in the end, they are wild beasts and revenge are best exacted with one’s own two hands. Or in this case, fangs.

On Alan’s head, the little turtle opened its maws and looked threatening. It tapped Alan’s head to command him forward.

The five boys stick together in a tight circle, limiting the number of enemies they needed to fight at once. All around them are blazing lightning, striking them, and chipping away their Ki barriers.

The Wolf King stared at them quietly with its bright yellow eyes, waiting patiently for the time to strike when his preys are drained of energy.

The battle soon raged from all sides of the cave, but the beast kings are now outright fleeing from their opponents, causing the wolf king to howl in rage.

“YOU FOOLS! FIGHT BACK OR YOUR CHILDREN DIES.”

Kairos laughed and said, “Too late!”

The younglings that were held prisoners in the pits had been released. Their guards now litter the ground, shredded, shattered or burnt.

Two dragonlings hovered above the little beasts, comforting them with song.

Their humming created a powerful barrier, a magic of the dragons. It was haunting in this cave and drowned the rest of the sounds until the infants cried out for their parents and the beast kings instantly halted.

The Contract Beasts once again returned to their masters. Now with the babies freed, the three beasts turn towards the Wolf King. The great beast backed up against a corner, growled threateningly as its pack defended it.

“This is going to be a hard fight,” Kairos said

Alan: “Didn’t we win already?”

Edward: “Far from it. A cornered beast is a fearsome one.”

“B ranked enlightened beast. Can I go first?” Tommy asked with sparkling eyes.

Kairos: “Looks like you will have to wait your turn. Those beast kings are craving for its blood.”

With their younglings freed, the beast kings openly indicated their gratitude to the boys, and they turned towards the Wolf King with a vengeance.

The gigantic python sweep across the cave, rushing forward with cold rage in its eyes and smashed the smaller Storm Wolves away. Instantly the sound of broken bones and whimpering filled the cave. The Red Python King’s muscles are even harder than its kin, and no fang or claw could harm it.

The Wolf King viscously leapt forward and bit the python by its neck then a tremendous explosion shook the entire place along with a great flash of lightning struck at the snake. The bite hardly damaged it, but the thunderbolt is another thing.

The Silver Crow swooped down at this moment, seemingly unaffected by the lightning pulses around it. The crow’s sharp talons drew blood instantly, but it only made the Wolf King even more ferocious than before. It swiped at the bird with an oversized claw at lightning speed. The unsuspecting Silver Crow was pounded into the hard ground with a bone-cracking sound and a woeful shriek.

The Wolf King’s massive maws bit at the head of the bird with large drops of saliva and foam dripping onto the floor. At this timely moment, a powerful concentrated sound blast came from a dark nook in the cavern, and it struck the wolf right in its spine. The large beast wailed and crashed into the wall loudly.

The regular Storm Wolves that tried to cushion their king died instantly.

Freed once again, the Silver Crow gave the Black Bat King a thankful chirp and took to the air with a painful flap of its wings.

Pressed to a corner, the Wolf King howled savagely then turned its great teeth towards itself. Gently, it removed a small shiny object from its fur, and then swallowed it.

“It ate the Thunder God’s ring!”

The moment the Wolf King put it into its mouth, an immense pressure pressed down on everyone around. A sense of bloodcurdling danger threatened to drown them.

The Wolf King inflated like a balloon to a monstrous size. At this time when they were paralysed with fear, the leader of the Grey Wolves bravely pounced onto the Wolf King to stop its transformation. The smaller Grey was easily cast off its back, but it left a long gash on its neck.

“INSOLENT FOOLS! ALL OF YOU WILL DIE!”

In its anger, the Storm Wolf King’s fur turned into pure darkness untouched by light, and violet lightning danced on its back.

Strengthened by the magic of the ring, the wolf called down lighting upon the wounded beast kings and the Grey alpha.

If left unchecked, they will surely perish.

At this time, with glee on his voice, Tommy ran over, “It’s finally my turn, right?”

He had been obediently waiting till it’s his turn while suppressing his itch for a good fight. Without waiting for a reply, Tommy jumped straight onto the beast’s back.

“Spirits of nature dwelth within me.”

He chanted softly below his breath even as his fists pounded over and over on the wolf’s steel-like fur. The great beast clawed and bit at him, forcing him to leap around its back, dodging desperately. His training in the Formless Stance proved useful, and none of the wolf’s attacks touched him, but none of his attacks seemed to work either.

“I am the harbinger of the thunderous night, of the cold winds and of the frozen north.”

In a few short moments, the pace of battle became one-sided in the beast’s favour. The Wolf King, even with its great stature, is an extraordinarily swift creature. Deep cuts started to line across Tommy’s body, but the boy did not falter.

“Restrain my fists that cannot be contained by time and space lest all mortals perish by my wrath.”

The other beast kings did not re-join the battle. The force of their fight prevented the mindless storm wolves from coming closer.

This is a moment that solely belonged to the two.

“Lay waste to all creations…”

The gigantic beast charged up a great bolt of lightning from within its belly where the Thunder God’s Ring lies. It gathers a power more than five times over of what the Storm alphas used on the boys previously, and it aimed at Tommy to finish off his foe. A violet glow encased it, and its pupils turned to white.

When Tommy saw that, he smiled happily and with a nimble leap off its front paws, he flips above its massive head.

In mid-air, Tommy gently placed a palm upon the massive Wolf King’s head. Then, everything turns still. There was no sound, no woeful cry of pain, and no dying screams.

“… for I am the West Autumn, Byakko!”

The others only hear a faint whisper of his secret art incantation, before the great beast fell.