Thunder Wolf

Once inside, Alex dropped his cloak over a nearby chair and stretched his neck, a faint crack breaking the silence. Nyxara leaped from his shoulder onto the bed, stretching lazily before flopping down.

"So," she began, her tail flicking rhythmically as she sprawled out, "Nova's plugged in. Seven days until we've got what we need. What's next?"

Alex sat on the edge of the bed, unlacing his boots. "It's time to pay a little visit to the king of beasts on this continent."

Nyxara's ears perked up, and she lifted her head sharply. "Oh, the Thunder Wolf? Finally!" She rolled onto her back, her paws waving in the air playfully, though her grin betrayed her excitement. "I was starting to think you were going to avoid it."

He glanced at her, his expression calm but resolute. "I don't avoid what needs to be done."

She chuckled, her black-striped tail curling around her side as she rolled upright. "You're going to fight it? You know it doesn't stand a chance, right?"

Alex raised an eyebrow. "You seem confident."

"Of course I am," Nyxara replied, hopping onto her paws and padding closer to him. Her golden eyes gleamed with amusement. "That poor wolf will face not just me, a being on its level, but you. I may be Legend rank, but even I can't beat you. 

What chance does it have? It's using lightning, and you've mastered that in ways it'll never understand." She let out a mock sigh. "The poor thing doesn't even know what's coming."

Alex's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "And here I thought you'd be worried about the fight."

Nyxara snorted, flicking her tail at him. "Please. I'm not worried for you, Alex. I'm worried about it. That wolf might as well dig its own grave now." Her playful tone turned sharp, her claws lightly kneading the blanket beneath her. "It's going to be a good fight, though. It's not every day I see you in action against something with real bite."

Alex leaned back, resting his arms on the bed frame. "It's not just about the fight. If the Earth Clan falls, the Thunder Wolf will rampage. If it's left alive, it'll slaughter anyone left in its path. This is necessary."

Nyxara's playful demeanor softened momentarily, though the spark in her eyes remained. "Necessary, huh? I can't argue with that. But don't pretend you're not looking forward to it, too. A challenge like this... it's what you live for."

He didn't reply immediately, his gaze distant. "Get some rest. We leave at dawn."

Nyxara yawned, her teeth glinting briefly in the faint light. "Fine. But don't think I'm sleeping out of exhaustion. I'm just saving my energy to watch you put that wolf in its place." She curled into a ball, her black-striped fur blending into the shadows.

Alex stood and walked to the window, his hands resting on the sill as he stared into the dimly lit streets below. Somewhere out there, the Thunder Wolf awaited. The weight of what lay ahead settled on him, but he welcomed it. The journey was just beginning.

….

The journey from Geb Fortress to the southeast of what was once Ethiopia was grueling, stretching across hundreds of miles of treacherous terrain. 

Though magical beasts occupied more than half of the continent, humanity clawed out spaces of survival, fortified by the efforts of the Earth Clan and its allies. Where the Geb Fortress resided formerly known as Egypt, remained the stronghold—an anchor point for the defense of the northern regions. 

Alex's steps were steady after taking three days to get here, his cloak shielding him from the harsh sun during the day and the biting cold at night. Nyxara draped herself over his shoulders like a scarf, her tail flicking occasionally, a sign of her boundless energy despite the journey's monotony.

"You know," she began as the two descended into a rocky valley littered with the remnants of old human settlements, "for a region that's supposed to be the most dangerous on the continent, it's surprisingly quiet."

"That's the point," Alex replied, his voice steady. "The Thunder Wolf doesn't tolerate anything in its domain. It's why this area has fewer beasts than anywhere else."

Nyxara hummed thoughtfully, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "Still, it feels like walking into a graveyard. Even those ruins back there..." She gestured with her paw toward the crumbling remains of a city they had passed earlier; its walls shattered and overgrown with vines. "I can't decide if humans gave up too soon or if they just never had a chance."

"They didn't have a chance," Alex said flatly, stepping over a cracked stone path that once served as a trade route. "The Earth Clan holds the north, but the rest of the continent is fractured. Lesser and intermediate clans defend what they can, but it's not enough. Humanity only controls 46.3% of the land now. The rest belongs to the beasts—and the Thunder Wolf ensures that number doesn't grow."

Nyxara yawned dramatically, her canines gleaming in the sunlight. "So grim. You could at least pretend to be optimistic."

"I'm realistic," Alex countered. "And you're too eager for this fight."

"Of course I am!" she shot back, her eyes gleaming excitedly. "You're dragging me across half the continent for this. I might as well enjoy it. Besides, that wolf has had it too good for too long. It'll be fun to take it down a notch."

The journey continued, the environment becoming more rugged with each passing day. From the arid deserts south of Egypt, they passed through savannas dotted with acacia trees and dry riverbeds. Occasionally, they encountered signs of life—small cities manned by lesser clans tasked with holding the line against wandering beasts.

Alex avoided these settlements, sticking to less-traveled paths. He preferred to remain unnoticed, his presence hidden from humans and beasts. Nyxara, however, found the quiet unnerving.

"You know," she began as they reached a ridge overlooking a sprawling jungle, "I get that you're all about stealth and strategy, but don't you ever get tired of walking?"

"It's efficient," Alex replied without breaking stride.

"Efficiently boring," she muttered, resting her head on his shoulder. "You could at least let me run ahead. Stretch my legs."

"No," he said firmly. "We're in the Thunder Wolf's territory now. Any movement out of place could draw its attention."

Nyxara huffed but stayed quiet, her ears flicking as the first distant rumble of thunder reached them. The air grew heavier, charged with static, setting her fur on edge.

"This is it," Alex said, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the dense forest ahead. "The southeastern domain. The wolf's den is close."

Nyxara grinned, her tail swishing with excitement. "Finally. So, what's the plan? Sneak in and stab it in the back, or will we make this interesting?"

Alex didn't answer. His gaze swept over the landscape, noting the faint trails of lightning sparking between the treetops. Finally, he said, "You talk as if it is easy to assassinate a Legend–rank entity," his tone unreadable.

"Well," she said with a mock sigh, "either way, I almost feel sorry for the wolf. Between me and you, it doesn't stand a chance."