Outside of the Grey Wolves den, the little ones are wreaking havoc on the Storm Wolves. The Wind Wyvern chase down the crows by itself while avoiding the more formidable Black Bat King and Silver Crow King.

The Wind Wyvern swoop down through the dense forest canopy with a terrible cry. A fearful concentrated blast of wind and light shot out from its maw and those unfortunate to find themselves in its way felt a shock as if struck by a cannonball, but before they could cry out in pain the sharp, blade-like, whirlwind ripped into them. The Storm Wolves barely survived, but any bats or crows were shredded into pieces.

Suddenly, out of the canopy, two kings arrived. The leaders of the bats and the crows dove straight to the wyvern, their presences clearly a cut above the other fliers. Edward’s contract beast did not stop and fight, and instead, it flapped its wings and sore across the battlefield to avoid the two kings. A powerful squall trailed behind, raining hailstones that hammered down on those below mercilessly. Wherever the Wind Wyvern went, what looked like the aftermath of a natural disaster were left behind.

The twin dragonlings, with speed unmatched on the battlefield, attacked wildly with their sharp claws and fearsome frost and fire elements.

They fear neither the beaks nor the talons of the crows that covered the skies, tearing the birds of prey that challenged them apart with their sharp claws. The wolves howled with fury and leapt into the air trying to swallow them with a bite. The act irritated the twins. They each flew to an alpha, entangling their prey in a deathly embrace. Within seconds, the fight is over.

A bloody mess remained as a warning, and even crazed wolves whimpered and scurried away with their tails between their legs.

At this time on another side of the battlefield, Tommy’s white kitten roared ferociously and leapt onto an alpha’s face. Behind its tiny furry body are corpses with throats torn by a single crunch. Its small belly couldn’t contain so much meat, but it can drag all of them back to its stony human and ask him to pack them for later meals.

The tides of battles turned. The Grey Wolves that were dropping like flies found their enemies are merely food for the little ones. Just what kind of offspring are these creatures? If they grow up, just how powerful will they be?

In this place of primal carnage, only the areas with a contract beast are under control. But beasts that are near enlightenment are not to be underestimated either. The bats quickly retaliated in swarms. When combined, their hallucinatory sound waves could disrupt even a dragonling’s senses and would freeze up batches of Grey Wolves by locking them in a world of illusions. In just a few moments, the advantage they had disappeared and the flow of battle changed again.

The battle turned extremely volatile, becoming hard to tell the situation is in favour for which side.

Above, the two kings and swarms of bats cut off the twin dragonlings and the wyvern from the rest. A few wild sound blasts accidentally struck the white kitten below. The little thing that was enjoying the savage battlefield snarled with terrible rage, its soft fur-raising on its back.

The flying rodents froze in mid-flight. They could feel that a great predator eyeing them and their bestial instincts took over their will, scattering in fright. A few braver ones tried to fight back with sonic waves. When those powerful concentrated blasts of sound struck the kitten, its soft fur trembled violently and an enormous pressure attempted to flatten the feline. By now, any other creature would’ve been bleeding from their eyes. Instead, as if its might was challenged, black stripes suddenly appeared on the soft white fur of the kitten, forming an ancient symbol of ‘King’ (王) its crown. A grand and majestic aura exploded from its small figure, and it stood up regally shaking off the attacks. It reared back with eyes on the insolent rodents, then let loose a great bellow unfitting of its small stature.

*ROARRRRRRRRR*

The bats were shaken down from the skies, their trifling illusionary shattered like glass, and all who heard the terrible roar were paralysed with fear. The kitten jumped off the back of a Black Wind Wolf flying high up into the air, killing dozens and then began to chase down the bats with a vengeance.

As the battle wore on, the Storm Wolves started showing stranger behaviours. The signs of turning accursed. Whatever caused their mutation is a defilement that sapped their thoughts and turned them into mindless abominations.

Like rabid dogs, they attacked with drool and foam pouring from their maws, even as their fangs started becoming sharper and longer unnaturally. Their white, pupil-less eyes haunted the forest.

The Greys backed away instinctively, but they are unwilling to retreat because of the pups behind them. Blood matted their fur from the brutal battles, and many had broken paws or worse.

At this time, their human allies finally returned to the battlefield. Cutting short their recuperation, the wounds from before ached, and their Origin Energy is far from full but fearing that they might be too late, the boys scramble towards the lair’s exit. Along the way, Alan rushed forward and picked up something that looks like a small green pebble. The guys looked at him with incomprehension until a small reptilian head poked out of his robe’s neckband lining with fire in its tiny eyes. The little turtle had been working hard to climb out of the cavern with the dragonlings and other Contract Beast since just now. It had almost triumphed against the slippery slopes, but Alan wasted all its hard work.

The turtle struck Alan with its tiny little claw angrily, but the human didn’t even feel it. This pissed off the little thing even more, and it started making its way on top of Alan’s head. When it finally climbed to the top, it promptly assumed its position as master and commanded the now-servant Alan to bring it out of the cave.

The five of them squeezed through the tight cave’s exit that’s made for wolves. When they saw the countless lifeless grey wolves that died protecting the cave, their eyes flashed dangerously.

“Deaatthhh toooo theee wickeddddd!” Jim shouted, and he ran into the crowd without warning.

Tommy glanced at him and laughed, then ran after him.

“Don’t ease up guys. We are far from recovered,” Edward said grimly, and then he too made his way to the front and shielded the Greys behind him.

Alan was next, with the turtle on his head, he charged into the battlefield. The Secret Art he unleashed before had taken a lot out of him, but it did not dampen his fighting spirit the least. The little turtle was just as spirited. It stretched its neck out to the limits and with maws wide open it shook its head at their foes. The little beast did not need words to scream promises of death to the Storm Wolves

Wordlessly, Kairos joined them. He took out his Swallow with a whip and held it with his right hand and walked calmly amidst the fierce combat. A slash or two ensured that all that is in his path met a swift demise.

With the five joining the fight, the fragile balance was tipped over. After they sealed off the sense of hearing, the demonic bats no longer are a threat. The crows and Storm Wolves couldn’t sneak past their Soul Perception and were killed before they could get too close.

The Storm Wolves might have changed their species just to become stronger, but they are still disadvantaged against Origin Energy infusion. The density and purity of the Origin Energy are enough to make top practitioners envious, and the Ki refined from it is comparable to practising Divine realms’ cultivation methods. This means that when fighting normally, their Ki is far denser than other Cultivators, and when needed, their cultivation can surge several major stages without many side-effects.

Suppressed once again, the Storm Wolves that were mindlessly attacking like rabid dogs started hunting in groups like proper wolf packs. They moved around like patrolling sharks and tried to take a bite whenever an opportunity arises.

The boys searched for weakness in the enemy’s formation and retaliated twice as aggressively. Knowing that their advantage only lasts as long as they could keep up with the Origin Energy infusion, they had to press their attack. They called their Contract Beasts back to their sides and aimed at the alphas together.

Soon, the pressure on the Storm Wolves show cracks in their movements. The beasts are reacting a split second late like stringed marionettes. If someone charges into a pack of wolves, the creatures will only split up and surround him after three or four of them were killed. For wolves that survive on instinct, such a belated reaction is unlikely. Whatever caused them to become Storm Wolves must be controlling them.

Sensing the situation is getting dire, the alphas begin charging up another storm cloud as the other Storm Wolves tried to protect them.

“Jim! Edward!” Kairos who had been waiting for this yelled urgently. In an instant, the two fired. Daggers and arrows fly into the crowd and precisely struck leaders of Storm Wolves. Having lost the power supporting it, the dark clouds crumbled into itself and disappeared into thin air.

*WUUUUUUUUUU*

A single howl sounded the retreat.

This failure seemed to be the final straw for the mindless Storm Wolves and sent them into a decisive retreat by whoever that controlled them. Like the shadows that shy away from light, the pitch-black beasts faded back into the Black Forest undergrowth.

The exhausted boys fell to the ground or rested against their weapons. Behind them, the Grey Wolves howled their victory and mourned for their dead. Finally, morning broke, and the first light of day shone through the leaves.

“What now, captain?” the others asked listlessly. Not only had they been fighting for days without sleep, but their bodies are also battered and drained.

“It’s not going to be over until the Wolf King is dead. We recover… then travel to their lair.”

The guys grimly nodded. They brought out the items of recovery and looked for a place to enter mediation.

At this moment, a great Grey walked towards the boys.

It is looked like an oversized version of a regular alpha, but it is registered as a magical being of immense energy in their Soul Perception. Its existence is something that no human have placed their eyes upon for centuries.

In response to the otherworldly presence before him, Kairos slowly closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, a golden flickering appeared within his pupils.

When his eyes glow even his demeanour changes. At this moment, those around Kairos felt engulfed by his powerful aura, as if this is a king that stood before them. If not because they are close friends, they would bend their knees towards him and not know why.

“I have never seen you before,” Kairos said simply as if the appearance of the spectre was unsurprising.

“Great One. I am the spirit of the forest. The guardian of all that lives here,” the spectre said respectfully. Its fur glistering despite in astral form.

“And why have you appeared now?”

“I wish to aid you, for you must hurry… the wolves have broken a taboo.”

“You wish to aid me now, but not before? Speak your mind,” Kairos commanded.

“The wolves have changed, turning into Storm Wolves by nurturing the Thunder God’s ring with the souls of the dead. But this is a curse upon them - a severe punishment not just for them but for the entire forest. And soon, they will grow stronger, killing all that lives here before finally turning upon themselves, until only their king is left.

You have to stop them.”

“Begone spirit,” Kairos said without a hint of being touched by its story. Although Kairos intended to help the Greys, this ghost conveniently appeared and asked him to solve all its problems. He will not run errands for it, but the great beast refused to move.

“Great One. If you save my forest, I will serve as your guardian in the Thunder God’s ring, once you claim it yours.”

“You are now bound by your word. Speak. What is the origin of this Thunder God’s ring, why does it serve such a punishment upon the wolves, and why did they blemish it with the scent to death?”

The great forest spirit humbled itself before Kairos once more. This time bowing its great head and lay down on its tummy. Then it spoke with great remorse.

“The artefact had been in this forest since ancient times. Its great magical force eventually made the creatures here stronger and turned them into powerful immortal beasts. But soon, those that gained spiritual enlightenment craved for its power and waged a terrible battle to gain it.

The winner…. was me.

I took it, thinking that I could protect my descendants …”

“Do not lie to me, spirit,” he said with a raised eyebrow.

“… Forgive me, Great One. I did take it out of my greed,” the forest guardian said shamefully, “But I also hoped for the glory of making the grey ones into moon wolves once again. Little did I know that the ring is sentient and it tried to consume me.

It succeeded, but only partially, for I too, consumed it. And now we have become entwined.

Since then, I had used its powers to watch over this forest and my children as a guardian. Back then, the wolves all lived together, but unfortunately, it was the Black Winds that once again found the ring. They couldn’t use our powers at first, until the day they started offering souls to us, beings that were killed with unjust.

When those souls touched the ring, we felt their pain, and in anger, we struck the wolves. Yet, somehow, they are unharmed, and instead harnessed our power growing stronger!

The strength you have shown in the battle last night driven the Wolf King into desperation. The Storm Wolves you fought was impaired, they should not be the mindless fiends you fought, but their King could no longer await the curse to finish its course. It threw the ring into a cauldron that reeks of murder and wronged souls, and we struck the wolves with a bolt of immense lightning incomparable to the past. But, this time, because I knew of the wolves’ intention, I tried to stop their harnessing… however the ring…. Though we are one, its thoughts are sometimes foreign to me. Alien. Even unthinking perhaps.

It backfired resulting in this curse, and the wolves managed to harness the power as usual. Please, stop them.”

“I will destroy them, spirit,” Kairos finally nodded.

Though visibly relieved that the boy would take up its quest, it warned “Beware, oh Great One. The curse could not touch their king, and it only grows greater with rage.”