Dark Fang

Damn that women Hwei-Ru she had nearly gotten Zhong's secret out of him, every time he went to leave his house she would appear and follow him. Constantly curious about his experiment after hearing details from the girls, he couldn't blame them though as he usually did share his research with Hwei-Ru, she even tried bribing him with some crystal petal wine.

He had managed to escape though, him the alchemist Master Zhong having trouble with women, he could only sigh in his heart.

"Master Zhong"

Turning around Zhong saw Elder Chen following him as he flew through the sky, he had left at midnight why was Elder Chen here?

"Greetings Elder Chen, what brings you out tonight?"

Watching Elder Chen come closer Zhong couldn't help but frown, they had originally gotten along well until Hwei-Ru refused Elder Chen's offer of companionship and continued to stay with and near Zhong, causing their friendship to deteriorate. Watching this old fox's eyes Zhong knew that he wanted something.

"What business does Master Zhong have in the outer court mountains, as you know they are under my jurisdiction…." Cursing in his heart Zhong knew that Elder Chen was just out to cause trouble, he had undoubtedly noticed Zhong travelling to the outer court a few times and finally taken action.

"These old bones are just out for a stroll on such a fine night," maintaining his best friendly smile Zhong answered Elder Chen wishing that he would just leave already, "I had better not hold you up for too long, after all you must be busy this time of year with the new outer court disciples."

Disappearing into the clouds below him Zhong showed no hesitation in leaving Elder Chen alone in the sky, he would get to his strange friend… he just needed to take a longer route to make sure he wasn't followed.

Elder Chen watched as Zhong disappeared, he knew how tricky the old man was and how hard it would be to follow him. He had watched Zhong enter the outer court mountains repeatedly, he used his soul sense and found nothing of interest so what was Zhong here for?

He would find out and ruin whatever it was, Zhong deserved it for taking his women away… with a flourish and tempest of wind Elder Chen was gone, just the screeching of the wind marking his passage.

"What surprises do you have for me today my friend?" Zhong was once again atop his branch watching as the youth and his wolf interacted around the glade. He was hoping that by watching he could understand how the youths essence and the beasts aura could interact without naturally destroying the other. His experiment with the crystal showed that the aura and essence could interact somehow but if that equilibrium wasn't maintained then destruction came soon after, especially when confined inside the crystal.

It was fascinating for Zhong to watch a demonic beast show feelings of friendship and kindness to a human.

After a few days of the youth's treatment the wolf had begun to show signs of healing as it was now limping around the glade following the youth, when the youth went to pick herbs the wolf followed, when the youth slept the wolf slept with him, even more surprising was that when the youth cultivated the wolf bathed in his essence and lay on his lap. Was it the wolf or Zhong that allowed this to happen?

Munching on some silver finned fish and drinking the crystal pearl wine, Zhong sat atop his branch quite content to watch and enjoy following this youths life, should he bring one of the girls next time?

Over days Zhong watched the Wolf regain more of its strength, displaying speed and agility beyond that of a rank 1 demonic beast, as the wolf played with the youth chasing each other throughout the woods, tumbling and rolling as they charged around, a smile spread across both their faces as they felt alive and one with nature.

As night set they would return to the glade, the wolf catching their prey whilst the youth prepared a fire and cooked their meal. Strangely when the youth collected wood he would give some of his essence to the trees, in thanks for the wood. Any cultivator could run his essence through a tree and effect it, but none chose to as that was a waste of essence, useful only for Zhong and other Alchemists to help their plants grow.

Unfortunately, good times never lasted, as the days passed the skies continually grew darker as the wolf grew more and more pensive as if fearing something.

A tense and dark atmosphere grew over the glade as a bloodthirsty howl erupted into the air, this howl was one of fury and anger, the wolf limping to its feet let out a menacing growl as it stared off into the distance of this bloodthirsty call.

More nights passed as the bloodthirsty howl continued, the wolf growing more and more distracted as it heard the call, some nights seeking refuge behind the youth as it woke up from the call. Something wanted this wolf dead.

Today was a different day for the pair, dark clouds rolled over the sky as the light struggled to permeate through, painting the mountains in a grim shade. The wolf now fully healed faced the sky and let out a long mournful howl, causing shivers to run up Zhong's spine from the almost human sound. The youth and wolf stood in the glade facing one another, walking away the wolf lowered itself down to the ground… bowing to its friend, in farewell and thanks.

Opening his mouth at the scene below Zhong was in silence, the youth walked forward to stop the wolf his mouth opening and closing but no sounds coming out, just feral growls and moans causing the wolf to stop. Could the youth not talk?

Watching his friend draw closer a whimper escaped its lips as it trembled from the howl in the distance, calling for its death. Thumping the ground with his foot the youth let out more unintelligible cries urging the wolf to stay as tears ran down his face, looking at the youth one more time the wolf bowed its head unable to meet the stare as it walked away.

Another mournful howl tore the air as the wolf left the glade, reverberating across the mountain, sending a message…I am here.

An angry bloodthirsty howl erupted from the mountain shaking the trees and causing the clouds to condense, making it darker as the rain began to fall. Trees crashed in the distance and boulders were destroyed as a shadow charged across the mountain, hunting down its prey.

The youth now alone in the glade stood still staring at where his friend had left, the rain coming down in a flood drenching him and hiding his figure under its deluge. Fists clenched at his side as tears ran down his face, unable to speak any words to express his feelings, just an angry roar up into the heavens as it ripped itself out of his throat.

The once peaceful and natural glade, was full of nothing but misery and pain as the youth trembled, unaware of Zhong watching from above.

Zhong after his many years found his heart beating in his chest as tears formed in the edge of eyes, to see such raw emotion would affect any man regardless of how hard his heart was. Sending out his soul sense Zhong watched as the wolf and its adversary grew closer. Covered in a dark and baleful aura was the huge figure of a Dark fang wolf, covered in blood and black matted fur this wolf looked more menacing and sinister as it stood taller than its kin at a height of 2 metres and 4 metre length, a monster comparable to a rank 3 demonic beast. Something that shouldn't be on the mountain, somehow this beast had mutated and survived. Even its eyes carried a shade of crimson rarely seen in any Dark fang wolf giving it an evil air.

Watching the youths wolf charge through the forest, its height and length barely reaching a metre, an unfair match against its terrible foe ahead, this moved Zhong as he wanted to intervene. Slaying the Dark fang wolf was easy for him, but seeing the fearlessness and determination in the wolfs eyes he knew it was the wrong thing to do. So engrossed was Zhong that he never felt the youth leave his glade as he charged after his friend.

A wide-open meadow, this is where the two wolves met.

The dark light skewed by the rain as it fell illuminated the two wolves caught in their conflict. Circling the meadow they growled and snarled, absolute hate flashing through Dark fangs eyes as it stared at the smaller wolf. The blood of both species inside its body disgusted the wolf raising its shackles and further enraging it.

With a mighty howl that split the rain and sent it flying outwards, Dark fang flashed across the meadow as its ebony claws gouged at the ground and saliva ran down its cheeks, growling incessantly.

The youths wolf let loose a howl of defiance as it too charged forwards, its smaller body dwarfed as it grew closer. With a mighty crash the two wolves collided, pure savagery displayed as they tore and bit at each other, growling in pain and rage. The smaller wolf sent flying, swatted by the Dark fangs claws as they ripped open its legs, causing it to whimper and whine as it struggled to stand.

The only thing saving it being the Iron furred wolfs constitution in its body. With another earth-shattering roar the small wolf was sent flying again, rolling through the air smashing through the rain as it landed on the ground. Bones broken and bleeding it cried out, its small whimpers answered by none.

The Dark fang wolf was playing with it, having suffered only a few scratches, its body was too tough for the youths wolf to break through. Zhong was enraged, after having seen this wolf and youth interact for days he grew to like them, after seeing the cruelty and savagery of the Dark fang wolf he wanted to destroy it, but still the wind tugged at him holding him back but doing nothing to ease the anger burning in his heart.

Struggling to stand the youths wolf defiantly raised its head, watching the Dark fang wolf sneering as it brought itself up despite the pain, growling from the pain it didn't dare to give in. Another explosion of rain and the wolf was sent flying through the air, hit by Dark fangs paw, extending its torment like a dark game of cat and mouse.

The Dark fang wolf continually played with its prey across the meadow, patches of blood and rain intermingled as they ran down the mud, tufts of fur and flesh spread around as the wolfs body slowly broke. Still it continued to stand, defiant till the end.

Another explosion of force, the wolf could no longer stand as it lay bleeding on the ground its life slowly ebbing away, its muscles and body given out as its mind slowly shut down, just the image of its odd friend running through its mind.

The Dark fang wolf slowly walked across the meadow, cruelty flashing through its eyes as it licked the blood from its claws, savouring the taste. A vicious howl spread into the sky as its ebony claws brought it ever closer to its prey.

Standing above its prey it snorted as plumes of steam left its flaring nostrils, mouth open revealing its monstrous fangs as it lowered its head to rip and tear apart its foe, soaking itself in the blood of its latest victim. A small claw with no power at all hit the side of the Dark fangs face, akin to the pelting of the rain, rage clouded its eyes. Its foe had lost, lay bleeding on the ground and still it resisted thinking itself his match.

A body could heal but pride and arrogance couldn't be touched, this was the character known to describe Dark fang wolves, a violent and sinister species that only lived for slaughter and cruelty.

Letting loosing a deep and powerful cry its paw descended, a true strike of power as it sent the wolf flying, crashing and rolling over the ground, blood spiralling through the air as the wolf bled, striking and breaking a tree the wolfs body landed showered by small pieces of bark.

Its heartbeat and breath growing slower the youths wolf lay there giving into its fate.

A rich familiar smell of earth filled its nose with its last breathes, it knew this smell, struggling to stand the wolf let out small yip's trying to warn its friend to flee. To leave it and run to safety, Dark fang would spare no one.

The youth had arrived.

Stood over the body of his friend the youth opened his mouth and wailed into the sky at the sight of him torn, broken and bleeding, death but a few breathes away. Water ran down the youth's body as wet hair clung to him, crouching down he stroked his friend quieting its whimpers hoping to relive some of its pain. Dark fang stood in the centre of the meadow, surrounded by blood as howled into the sky proclaiming its dominance, its eyes staring at the youth as it ate a chunk of flesh from the floor. Slowly chewing and licking the blood from its fangs, taunting the youth as it ate part of his friend before him.

With a last pat on his friend the youth walked forwards into the meadow, past the broken tree and puddles of blood he faced Dark fang and issued out his own shout. There were no words in his shout just pure emotions of rage and sorrow as his face twisted and muscles clenched ready to fight.

His essence revolving and head raised high the youth charged forwards, Dark fang watching as it stood still not putting the youth into its eyes, it was only a human. A sadistic grin covered the wolfs face as its lips stretched revealing its bloody fangs, it would cripple the human and eat its friend before it, planning to enjoy every morsel.

The ebony claw descended on the incoming human, where Dark fang expected to see the human flying away it felt a hard impact as its body was knocked back a few steps, the human stood still after receiving its strike. Blood ran down the body of the youth as the claws had broken skin on his left shoulder, having used his arms to block the wolfs strike, the rebound force sending Dark fang backwards.

A menacing growl to cover its humiliation escaped Dark fangs lips as it stared at the human, its paw aching from the impact. Rage clouding its eyes once again, it pounced forward as the youth also charged, this time not holding back the wolf sent the youth rolling across the ground. Just like the wolf before the human stood up and resumed the fight, seemingly unaware of his wounds and pain, just determination filled his eyes as he battled on.

Wounds grew on them both as the youths fists tore away chunks of fur and bruised Dark fang, as the human was too agile for it to bite and claw at it instead used its great body to barrel and knock down the human, only then proceeding to rip at its foe.

Zhong had seen many fights against demonic beasts and been in even more himself, but seeing the sheer brutality of the youth as he clashed against Dark fang startled him. No martial skills fuelled by essence, just pure physical violence as he sought to beat down Dark fang and get revenge for his dying friend.

Unfortunately the gap between the two was too large as the youth had no real way to harm Dark fang, until he too lay bloody and wounded on the floor.

Struggling up the youth continued to stand as Dark fang watched on, the sadistic look once again filled its eyes as it knew it had won. It had been hurt by this human, bruises on its body and missing clumps of fur gave it a ragtag and pitiful appearance under the rain, watching the human sway on its feet its claw once again descended as it sent the human flying.

No longer able to stand the youth stared across the meadow towards his friend as he too lay on the wet ground, shallow and small plumes of steam showed the lack of life left, there was no fear of death in his eyes just longing, longing to see his friend escape and live.

Dark fang observing the two felt disgusted, a human and wolf both fighting for each other, both incapable of even moving, a snort escaped its throat at the thought.

Descending towards the wolf it grasped the wolf in its jaws, dragging its weak body over towards the human as it ignored its cries of pain and attempts to struggle. Dropping the wolf in the mud before the human it planned to tuck into and enjoy its meal.

A single ebony claw ran through the ground as Dark fang slowly sliced towards the wolf, watching them both writhe on the floor in pain as they wanted to resist and save the other, the claw drawing ever closer prepared to take the life of the young wolf. Their eyes looking towards each other trying to pass some unknown message between the two.

A dark and cruel snarl escaped Dark fangs lips, sounding like the very laughter of death as it came to reap souls.

This very sound pushed Zhong over the edge as he could no longer watch and do nothing, such an evil beast did not deserve to live.

With a cry, Zhong released his essence as he tore through the air, prepared to destroy this foul beast.