-Morning. Nefiru's POV-

Dark 8 and I ran on the ancient cavern for a few minutes before hearing bangings on the gate behind us, and sometime after that, a crash followed by yelps and fighting grunts. The Elders were supposed to weaken the matriarch enough for me to dominate her in front of the pack, but a pre-Divine's capabilities exceeded my expectations, and now, they merely buy time...

"HUFF! HUFF!" I stopped at the metalized tunnel panting like a human who ran a marathon. "Ugh--guff! The way up!" I winced speaking.

"Can't run anymore?" The beast on the right asked.

"I can--Huff! Barely walk--... muscles damaged--... need rest." I reported wincing and wheezing. "Show me your ass." I requested after controlling my breathing.

"EEP! W-what are you going to do?" She stammered and tucked the tail between her legs.

"Cut it out, Dark 8... I'm in danger here." I admonished and started preparing the sliding gear.

"Hou... You want me to pull you?" She asked for confirmation.

"Yeah. You are small enough to run in here, and we need to move fast to survive distant attacks..." I nodded saying.

The black wolf turns and wagged her tail on my snout.

*Fwap! Fwish! Whap!* I attempt to bite the elusive tail.

"Stap it! This is not the time to play." I disgruntled.

"I think the opposite~" The she-wolf teased.

"Hah..." I sighed ignoring the crazy wolf and turned around.

"Hey, don't ignore me!" She protested stepping on my tail.

*Sssk! Crack! Swooo~* I erected an ice wall a meter thick sealing the entrance of the tunnel hoping it could hinder the matriarch's probe even a little.

"Oww... Can you stop acting stupid?" I rebuked.

"...For now." She said and released me.

"Alright. Send the signal. My word is 'Attack.'" I ordered giving my secret part of the code.

While the darkness user sends the radio transmission with morse code, I coated the metal shoes with ice and put them on before biting the black wolf's tail.

*Srash! Srash! Whooosh!* Dark 8 sprinted upwards as fast as she could while pulling me.

Shit... Water is useless at a distance and drowning the matriarch is too risky, so... I can only rely on Lightning. It seemed like a good idea to use underground conductors to knock her out, but now I see that I can't produce an Electric shock powerful enough, AND she can even absorb it! Ugh... Maybe a Coil Gun with hundreds of magnetic rings...? No, that requires Overboost just for a single shot and might just kill her without prior tests. Denied. I can't lose an important asset... I continue meditating on options to complete the subjugation and lost track of time.

We finally reached the renowned part of the metalized tunnel and slowed down while adapting to the light of the rising sun.

"HAFF! HAFF!" Dark 8 stopped at the entrance panting.

"Ohh! the Dragon isn't dead..." The annoying wind wolf announced.

"How did it go?" An earth user inquired.

"It could've gone better," I said poking my head under Dark 8.

"That's a shame." He said looking downed.

"Is everything ready?" I inquired about their task.

"Yes. Just walk straight to us one at a time." The upper rank 7 earthen wolf reported.

We followed the instructions and walked over the renewed terrain to reach the resting wolves.

"I need some leaves and sticks scattered over that to make it look natural." I inspected the construction and instructed.

"I got it." A wind wolf offered.

"Alright. Everyone get into position!" I ordered walking to the center. "The matriarch isn't far behind, so I'm gonna need you to prepare mentally before she arrives. I want a complete focus on the mission... No one flinches, no one hesitates, and if you must, piss on the spot. This cannot fail, understood?" I sternly warned.

""YES!"" The group of high-ranks acknowledged and gathered into a circle formation forty meters away from the gate with me at the center.

Ugh... I'm screwed... not showing it though. Think Nefiru, THINK! Go to the basics... Voltage is what harms the flesh, and the cohesion effect of magic doesn't affect conductivity, so I'd have to raise it, but I can only push electrons so much while absorbing them at the other end. I need to increase the potential energy another way. Maybe with less resistance or a greater difference in charge--AHH! Of course...! I'm so dumb! I can make an intrinsically negative magnetic field around the Elementals that push electrons out, then make it positive on the absorbing end and VOILA! The voltage will multiply like crazy. And I could even guide the current efficiently... I determined.

*BrrRRZZZzzzt!* The lightning bolts jumping on my body became noisy for a moment as the Elementals stopped all processes and started again with some changes.

What... the... fuck!? It felt as if Lightning elementals rejoiced there for a second. Huh? My abilities... upgraded? Yes, I feel it... it consumes more mana, but the voltage is much higher than before. I reviewed.

"HM? What happened to you now?" Dark 8 asked looking down at my body from the right.

"The umm... temperature of the ionized air increased..." I explained and raised the right foreleg.

*Brzzzt~* I made a blue-ish white circle above my paw.

I have... better control over electricity--no, electromagnetism. No more producing electricity with that rudimentary method... though I had no choice before considering it took Rank 6 to learn the 'magnetic part' not long ago. I affirmed grinning and dismissed the circle.

*Brrrzzzt! Buzz~ Buzz~* I drew my name in the air in bluish electric arcs.

"Why...? What are you doing? teeeell meeee~" The she-wolf demanded nudging me.

"It was... an insight," I revealed pushing the letters to her snout.

""Congratulations!"" Some wolves praised.

"In lightning? Nice. But do you mind doing something about my fur?" The puffed black wolf on my left requested.

"You look fine... Furball! Haha..." I mocked.

"Wugh..." The beast grumbled shaking his head.

"So you were a newbie at lightning? I want to fight you..." The green wolf from behind asserted.

"Yeah... Habits are comfortable, but they can be bad for progress, huh?" I asserted.

"I get what you're saying. It was easy making wind blades and other attacks out of simple air, but learning to make all kinds of gases, their properties, and combinations is a headache!" He related.

""Yeah! Yes... That is true... The same goes for Earth. AND Fire!"" The wolves agreed.

"You guys are doing fine. It'll get easier in time." I encouraged.

"As long as it pays off." The troublesome wolf approved. "But I fear this will tilt hierarchy in favor of those who can learn faster, and parents or border guards don't have that much free time..." He pointed out.

"Hmm... You're right. 'Position' will have to be acknowledged by achievements, and contributions as well as potential..." I proposed.

"I see... A new system will have to be implemented that determines which is what... Haff! More complicated things. Not it!" The wind beast reviewed and cringed at the responsibility.

"You're right again, Waldo." I acknowledged naming the nosy wolf.

"Wuoh!? What's a Walduo?" He questioned puzzled.

"I believe you guys should get new names and use the current ones for military purposes," I announced looking around.

"Greeeeat. We're getting new names... again." A beast said sarcastically.

"Just another name to the list..." An old wolf interjected.

"Better than your current name tags." I retorted.

"Heyyyy... You aren't going to name us like pets, right?" Dark 8 probed.

"Too late, Damya~" I teased with a smirk.

"Wuek! You probably wanted to do that for a while. But I won't let you put a collar on me!" The darkness beast surmised and declared lifting her neck proudly.

"Haha... I think a collar would suit you though." I poked more fun.

"Hey, lizard... Couldn't you pick something better than 'Walduo?'" The green beast protested.

"I agree... I wanna be called 'Mountain Rider!'" An Earth user interjected.

"Me SkyStrider!" A wind wolf requested.

"Haha... Well... I'm picking simple names close to growls that other races could recognize. And since you guys can't see Wind, Darkness, Fire and Lightning markings, we could reserve the first pronunciation for them, or assign a letter for each first name, then a second name can be anything you want." I elaborated.

A last name huh... I wondered about my own.

""HOOHH!"" The wolves went onboard with the idea.

"I shall be known as Damya Shadowfear!" Dark 8 declared.

"Come on, you are as cute as a puppy. Damya FluffyShadow~" I teased leaning on the she-wolf.

"C-cute... HEY! You aren't courting me, right? You'll have to do that for a hundred years before putting your paws on me, alright?" She countered.

"Almost all the males on that list died..." Waldo muttered.

"You are always trying to scare others away..." I dismissed and snuggled on her left side.

"Hey! Don't ignore Damya Shadowfear! Heyyyy!" She protested trying to bite me.

We spend the time discussing names and by the second quarter of morning, the matriarch arrived battered, bashed with cuts and burns everywhere.

*Taksh!* The large she-wolf stopped at the gate and glanced at us surprised. *Swoooohh!* The wind spins clock-wise around our group rising leaves and dust as if a magician was responsible.

""Greetings, matriarch!"" The wolves chored within the whirlwind.

She looks like shit... Excellent to conduct electricity! I affirmed using light magic. Hmm... There wasn't any signal from the coast, so the three wolves are alive down there... I asserted looking at west.

"W-what is this...!? My Magic is being... blocked?!" The pre-divine blurted taken aback.

"Interesting, isn't it? How the Magic energies of this many high rankers can be arranged in a certain way to repel yours." I explained in human language.

Just as a stack of enough paper can stop a knife, multiple layers of Magic energies rotating at high-speed can stop a higher density from wriggling inside and drag air along other light objects to form a pseudo tornado.

"Clever. Employing this method to suppress higher ranks..." She muttered mildly impressed.

"Yeah, well, I had to do something about our unfair gap in rank," I announced.

"Crafty one... The only ones who posed a threat to me are sleeping, and neither of you can attack from there, so why delay the inevitable?" She said in a domineering tone.

"I'll say the same thing. Will you become mine with or without pain?" I countered.

"GRR!" Dimshadow growled and gazed at the group. "And YOU, ungrateful bunch, why are you helping him?" She demanded.

Pain it is... I confirmed.

"Apologies eldest one, but the Dragon is forcing us to do this." Eramos the upper rank 7 earthen wolf reported.

"Sorry, tribe leader, but we have no choice..." Deiyan on my left apologized.

"Ah, but we won't attack!" Wymer SkyStrider announced.

"We'll open a path straight..." The healer Aker Lugo offered.

"Yeah! Punish the evil Dragon!" Waldo incited.

These mutts... I rolled my eyes thinking.

"I'll put an end to all this foolishness." She said without hesitation and walked to our group.

And find out traps don't have to be hollow... I mused grinning.

*Creeak--SPLORP! Blurp! Blurp!* The crust of the trap cracked and the matriarch plummeted into a Tar pool with different layers of viscosity.

"HYEEK!! Wh-what madness is this...!?" The she-wolf blurted unable to get out of the sticky substance that only seal her movements with each struggle.

"SURPRISE!" I shouted while the wolves just stare with stern expressions. "That's a Tarpit and you are about to become a Fossil!" I declared recalling the source.

Found a natural tar pit near a swamp while flying and had Earth, Fire and Wind users transport it to make the trap, then left them with the task of learning how to make it with Magic arts.

"NNGRAAH! Release me!" She demanded frustratedly.

"We are not holding you. But don't worry, the bottom is solid... just walk out." I instructed with an evil smile the wolves around can't see.

Yes, yes~ Sink just a little more and touch the metal plates at the bottom... Buahah! I thought with expectations and recalled. Ah! She could melt the tar to get out... I asserted betting on her ignorance.

"WUGHH! Wait until I get out of here...I'm going to enjoy chewing you!" She spoke with hatred and straining grunts while leaning over her right.

"Nah... Don't be in a hurry, let's talk about why you shouldn't kill me." I attempted to reason once again.

"Not more talk! NNNGH!" The black beast in a sorry state stubbornly refused.

"...I do not want that stuff on my fur." Damya cringed at the scene.

"No worries, Elder. We can remove it best while it's liquid." Firdos, a fire user offered.

"No, no, no... That would leave a stain. We can remove it better solid." Egil, an earth user opposed.

What a careless bunch... I ignored the bantering wolves and used a small current in the subterranean wires. She's about to make contact with the metal plates... I determined and started the operation.

*Tak! Tash!* I step on the copper electrodes with my forepaws and channeled all Magic energy there. *Woooommm~* I began inducing a positive magnetic field on the left stripping electrons from the copper rod insulated with dried tar. *Guooon! Gweeennn~* I induced a negative field on the right paw trapping electrons and charging up.

Chew on this, bitch! Try not to die~ I said inwards and released the charge.

"GY-Y-AH!!?" Dimshadow cried out before the direct current coursed through her body increased and froze her in place.

*Brrrzzzt--BRRZZZZZT! BRRYAKSHHH!* The electric discharge started quietly and became increasingly louder forming brilliant lightning arcs superheating the air and carbonizing the wolf's hide where they passed. *BOOM! BOOOMM!! KSSHHH! BRRZZZZZT!* The Tar exploded and the lightning arcs became more visible jumping from the metal plates at the bottom or the wolf to the walls of the hole. *BRRRrrrrzzzt! Buz~ Bzzztsh! Brrrzzzt!* The discharge finally stopped and the stiff wolf toppled over to the left. *SPLORP! Splosh! Blurp! Blurp! Ksshhhh! Whoosh~* The large canine sank in the boiling Tar while a thick smoke cloud is blown away by wind users leaving behind burnt smells and ozone.

"Oh, SHIT! Everyone disperse! Healers move in from the left. Earth users go right and lift her up. Wind users go straight and help her breathe. GO!" I ordered in panic.

*Bruruu! Tash! Tash! Kram!* The wolves separated and each moved to their respective locations. *Krrrr-Blurp! Blurp! Ksshhhh!* A platform rose from the pool lifting the convulsing wolf while the tar dripped back into the hole.

"Damn, Dragon, you overdid it..." Waldo commented forcing the jaws open.

"She's... barely alive." Dark 8 commented.

"I'm sorry... I miscalculated... and it happened too fast to stop it." I said with regret.

"That's alright. She deserved more pain than that." Damya affirmed.

"Dragon, we can't heal her deep inside." The other healer Aidan Laud informed.

Ugh... Dimshadow's magic resistance is too high even if she's unconscious. Need a higher rank healer in the future. I compared and take note.

"Okay... Stop the bleedings then. Fire and Earth users, clean the Tar of her fur or remove it if necessary, then throw sand in the hole." I instructed and we continued tending the matriarch.

-Dimshadow's POV-

Uuurrgghhh... Wh..a..t happened...? Eve...everything h-hurts... So much... pain... I wondered muddleheaded with ragged breaths and slowly open my eyes. The pack...?? I'm... lying...?! I noticed the ground and my kin surrounding me in a dark place dimly illuminated. Am I... dying? Has the time to follow my beloved arrived? I... I couldn't avenge them... Forgive me all...death will cleanse my shame... I grieved extremely weakened in body and Spirit.

"...Can. You. Hear. Me?" A voice calls as if carried from far away by the wind and with great effort, I seek its source.

"YOU...!" I identified the foul beast and attempt to get up but my body responded with pain. "ARGH! HUFF! Huff!" I yowled and fell back down calming my breath.

"It's okay! It's okay! I'm not trying to harm you anymore..." The wicked beast assured on my right.

Grrr! Hateful creature... How dare you use traps and schemes to take everything from me! But if I'm dying, then I shall take you with me! DIE! I resolved and aimed for his head.

"STOP!" Earth 9 ordered after detecting my actions and stopped a spike near my right eye. "We are not going to kill you, but don't tempt me to 'fix' your head by poking the brain." She threatened bringing closer the metal tip gleaming in the yellowish light.

S-she wouldn't dare...!? I stopped and considered appalled.

"Jesh, Erina, that's worse than death. ...We have to fix her 'the hard way.' By talking!" The dragon whelp casually admonished.

"Dark 9 won't mind after what She did to him." The earthen beast disclosed.

"I'm the one wronged... k-KILL THEM! You can get the position..." I mustered the strength to bark seeking support from the beasts around.

However, they just stared with solemn expressions devoid of any respect for me who lies against a wall like a defeated unnamed beast.

Arrrgggh! These lot are not good... But I can't die yet...revenge is more important if there's a chance... I determined and inspected my reserves while observing the situation.

"Dimshadow, why do you keep refusing me? You are giving up a true chance at revenge because of useless pride! Think about how you'll be remembered after everything you did..." He spews nonsense.

Why didn't I kill this creature when it all started? I recalled with regret.

"She will be remembered as a stupid coward, then forgotten." Earth 9 followed up spitefully.

"Y O U disrespectful..." I spoke out with malice intent that made the beast surround me back away.

"Look at yourself! Your downfall already spread in the Tribe. It's time to face reality." The earthen beast rebuked with a smug expression.

"GRRRAAHH! No more!" I roared and slipped my magic inside the lizard's head. "Back off! Or his head explodes. And tell them to heal me. NOW!" I demanded.

"A-actually, we were waiting for you to wake up...the damage inside is severe." A healer meekly disclosed and started working on my organs.

"Hey, what did I say about killing me? You are the one who will be dead and gone." The delusional creature calmly repeated.

Arrrghh! This again... But my magic inside his head sensed no lie... Could rebirth truly exist? Souls are mysterious... NO! He'll say anything to achieve his goals--what are his goals? I conjectured and wondered.

"What are you after? Speak a lie and you will suffer!" I questioned with a warning that made Earth 9 bare her teeth.

"FINALLY!" The abominable beast rejoiced and the illumination increased showing the ancient cavern near the Vein.

Ah, I knew it! He's just after the mana vein. I confirmed. Just wait until I recover. No tricks or schemes will stop me...! I affirmed waiting for a response.

"We all sustained grave injuries, and had to come down here to recover." He hurriedly explained after noticing my ill intentions.

"Healing me because you need a deterrent?" I asserted.

"Don't misunderstand... I do need you and the help of this Tribe in the future, but the Mana Vein is more important for me right now." He admitted.

"GRRR..." I growled and endured my anger gnashing. "You are worse than Foxes..." I harshly compared.

"Thanks. But it's a give-and-take thing. See... I have to nurture this Tribe before anyone can actually help me, and wolves won't be the only ones... So, it wouldn't be bad to conquer the Fox Tribe later..." The vermin outrageously declared.

"WHA--!?" I sounded stumped.

"Why so surprised? Haven't you seen enough of what I can accomplish?" He gloated.

"Humph! That human knowledge can't get you far, PET!" I asserted looking at his collar.

"Hahaha! Then why don't we make a bet?" He taunted.

"What sort of bet?" I inquired annoyed.

"If you become a Divine with MY help which you have to accept without excuse, then bow down and pledge your loyalty to me." The low rank elaborated.

"Outrageous! Even if it happens by some miracle, a Divine serving a low Rank is a terrible humiliation. I wouldn't find allies and other immortal rankers would just come to mock me!" I strongly opposed.

"Well, I think its been established already that you can't achieve it on your own and pride won't help... So, what's it gonna be?" He lectured and asked.

Argh! Hateful! But... I could utilize this lizard like that rebellious son of mine suggested, then eliminate him! I decided having not much to lose.

"I'll accept with the condition to eat you and erase all traces of your influence if I become a Divine on my own," I announced my terms.

I'll only give one chance to those who have taken the wrong side... You are all alive thanks to me and Mate, so I decide who lives or dies! I asserted glancing at the disobedient beasts around me.

"...Very well. But if you betray me, know that I'll make you beg me to kill you." The lizard approved with a threat.

Humph! Didn't make any rules against beatings, and I am still pretty angry... I realized looking forward to recovery.

"The Tribe bears witness of this pact and will oversee the progress to judge the outcome." Earth 9 announced their intervention.

Grrr... I'll just wait until we're alone to put him in his place. I compromised and retracted the Magic.

""WHOOOHH!!"" The beast around rejoiced.

"Now then, let's begin your training. Picture a ball this big--" The lizard announced.

"Training to become a pet?! I'd rather die!" I said looking at his collar.

"Oi! Who'd want you as a pet...? Especially missing so much fur..." He mocked.

"...Fur?" I wondered and noticed large patches of bare hide. "NOOOO--Ghak!" I screamed and winced from the pain in my lungs.

"Hah... I'll explain things while you absorb everything on a fixed spot..." He sighed and explained.

"Why?!" I asked incredulously.

"An experiment." He replied.

...A waste of resources. It doesn't really help with magic... Whatever...his idea. I affirmed and complied.

"Dragon!" Dark 8 calls from behind me. "The Foxes are moving south-west." She informed after darkness beams washed though us.

"Oh, COME OOON! Can't a Dragon get a break?!" The scaly beast protested.

"You jinxed it!" A Wind user accused.

"His bad luck will rub on us..." A darkness beast commented and took a step back.

"What's going on?" I seek an explanation.

"Hah... While you slept, all the foxes stationed near the border rallied by the lake, and now, our scouts confirmed their intentions." He sighed and reported in human language.

"WHAT!?" I blurted turning rigid. " That loathsome Fox must've probed!" I surmised and looked away.

"I figured as much." The lizard acknowledged. "We are awaiting further reports, but it seems they are heading straight for the Mana vein." He asserted.

"Graww! Then what are you all doing about it?!" I demanded irritated.

"Everyone was alerted, and ready to intercept. However, we were too slow to respond, so our numbers at the border are no match to fight them yet." Dark 8 described our progress.

"Hmm... Tell our border sentries not to engage...they won't buy much time anyway. Just open a path for the foxes and evacuate all packs in their way." The dragon instructed making an image in the air.

"Are you crazy!? They'll kill us all!" I strongly opposed.

"Relax. When the time to panic arrives, we'll all scream and run around like headless chikkeng, but we still have options..." The dragon assured.

"Nephiroo, we're all drained of Elementals, Dark 9 is still seriously injured, and Wind 8 won't wake up. We can only fight with fangs and claws hoping we can match their ranks. But the casualties..." Earth 9 reminded.

"I'm well aware. But from what I gather, we should have a day to recover and prepare... I need Earth users building this as long as you, then this ball about this size, and these little thingies with hard metal. Fire users list out everything that you can produce and explain their properties to see what I can use..." The lizard explained making images in the air again.

"We've become builders." An earthen wolf protested.

"No doubt." Another one affirmed.

"Ohh! Ways to use fire!? We're in." A fire beast celebrated.

"More traps? Humph! You must have earth dragon and fox blood..." I snorted and derided.

"I'm a foxy Dragon! I'm sure the foxes will appreciate a trick or two~" The crazy lizard mused and turned serious. "However, I'm more concerned about the enemy's Main Force." He pointed out fixing his gaze at the wall.

"Main Force?" I asked puzzled.

"Yes. These troops coming at us seems improvised to seize the chance or act as a diversion while they mobilize a bigger force." He elaborated making another image with light magic.

"I see... You want to separate the current invaders from their main force using us as bait, and stop reinforcements..." Earth 9 theorized.

"Exactly! We have to focus on what's coming instead of chasing a few intruders. I want every fighter that is less than a day-and-half running distance to gather by the lake." The small beast ordered.

"Every fighter? Even common beasts?" The darkness she-wolf asked confirmation.

"Yes. Higher rankers will go in front though. And if we are lucky, we could stop an all-out war." The dragon declared causing the beasts around to shiver.

"Don't jinx it!" A Wind user rebuked.

"Argh! Too late!" A darkness beast lamented with a sorrowful expression.

"Shush, you two!" The scaly beast reproved.

"Okay, but I can't send complex commands until my scouts fully learn Stilus." Dark 8 shook her head and said. "I'm gonna need three Wind users to help me travel outside and spread the orders." She requested looking at the beasts.

"Not it!" The irritating beast denied.

"I'll go help then. I can fly everywhere--" The dragon offered.

"You are staying right here." Earth 9 declared and the beasts froze. "You risked your life for the vein so that you could survive future travels, but that's enough tempting luck." She admonished.

"Y-you're right. I just wanted to see foxes..." He lowered his head acknowledging.

"Huu... Like a curious pup..." The earthen she-wolf softly blew and warmly said. "Leave the war to me. I'll try to capture some foxes alive for you to play with." She vowed.

"Nice! You da best!" The lizard rejoiced. "But... you'll be seen without ears and tail..." He asked looking at the body parts encased in ice.

"I'll live. Just keep them in ice..." She reassured with a request and turned towards the vein cave before walking away.

"Alright. The rest of you replenish like your life depends on it...because it does." Nephiroo warned.

He has three affinities?!! What an enviable talent... Still, he disregards rank and beast hierarchy without fear of death like a cub playing games... He's bound to die soon at this rate... Ack! Not like I'd care! I analyzed the odd creature.