Thunder wolf (2)

The beast kings, as the humans called them, were six beasts who reached Legend against all odds amongst their races.

The world changed when mana was introduced. Once, there were seven continents, each bustling with human civilization. But when mana flooded the earth, the balance of power shifted irreversibly.

The beasts, who once cowered in the shadow of humanity's dominance, began to rise. At first, animals grew larger and more intelligent, and some even developed powers once thought to be the stuff of myths. Then came the real change. They began to fight.

Unlike humans, who built at least tried to form alliances and empires in these struggling times, the beasts lacked unity. Their path to power was solitary, brutal, and unforgiving.

Any creature nearing the threshold of the Legend rank—a pinnacle of strength and authority—found itself hunted by others as if the natural order of the world sought to prevent their rise. Yet, some survived, clawed, and fought to the top against all odds. These were the Beast Kings, rulers of their respective territories, forces of nature that even humanity feared.

South America was the first to fall. When the Earth Gorilla ascended to the Legend rank, it didn't just dominate—it annihilated. Entire cities were swallowed by jungles and crushed under landslides. The continent became a death zone where no human settlement could stand. The government sent scouts to observe and map the borders of the gorilla's dominion, but even those expeditions rarely returned. South America was lost, its borders barricaded to keep the beasts from spilling into North America.

The other continents fared little better. Each became the domain of a Beast King, whose power rivaled even the mightiest human clans.

In North America, the Seven-Tail fox rose. Masters of the seven fundamental elements—water, fire, wind, earth, lightning, light, and darkness—ruled a land fractured by storms and mana-rich chaos. It was here the fallen Thunder clan once stood and held its stance against the authority of the seven-tailed fox.

Africa became the home of the Thunder Wolf, a creature wielding chaos lightning—an uncontrollable force of destruction that scorched anything it touched. The Earth Clan stood, trying desperately to keep humanity alive on a continent where survival was brutal.

In Asia, near the stronghold of the Fire Clans, the Ice Eagle spread its frozen dominion. Wherever it soared, the land below turned into an icy grave, a wasteland that no fire could melt.

Antarctica, once a barren and desolate place now home to the water clans, became the territory of the Sea Serpent. This beast ruled the vast oceans, its power over water making it an unstoppable force in the icy seas.

Europe, too, was claimed. The Fire Phoenix, a creature of flames and rebirth, soared above the lands, its fiery wrath consuming anything that dared challenge it. The Wind Clan stood here, trying desperately to keep humanity alive on a continent where survival was brutal.

Then there was Australia—a land infamous for its dangerous wildlife even before mana changed the world. After the invasion, the continent became a battlefield unlike any other. Beasts hunted one another mercilessly, and any creature that dared approach the threshold of Legend rank was swiftly torn apart. Humanity's government had retreated here, clinging to the safety of their Grandmaster ranks—the highest level they could muster in a world where Beast Kings reigned supreme.

The Beast Kings were living calamities, their power reshaping the continents they ruled. Humanity's weapons could no longer rival them; even the strongest clans knew better than to provoke their wrath. These creatures were the apex predators of a world drenched in mana, their thrones built on blood and survival. They were the kings of the beast, no longer ruled by men.

….

The first step into the heart of the Thunder Wolf's domain was like stepping into a storm frozen in time. The air crackled with energy, each breath charged with a living tempest's raw, untamed power. The trees stood tall but lifeless; their bark scorched black, their branches devoid of leaves as if the very presence of the beast had burned the vitality out of them. Jagged lightning scars decorated the ground, marking where past storms had unleashed their fury.

Alex moved through the deadened forest with deliberate steps, his senses sharpened. The deeper they went, the more the world seemed to exist in eerie stillness. There was no birdsong, no rustling of smaller creatures in the underbrush—only the occasional rumble of thunder in the distance, like a slumbering giant murmuring in its sleep.

Nyxara perched on his shoulder, her tail flicking in excitement. "It's not even trying to hide itself," she mused, her golden eyes gleaming. "How arrogant."

"It has no reason to hide," Alex replied. "It's the apex predator here. Nothing dares challenge it."

"Except us."

He didn't respond, focused on the weight of the oppressive aura pressing down on them. The Thunder Wolf's presence was unmistakable, its power radiating through the land like a heartbeat pulsing through the earth. A beast that had ruled this region long before the Earth Clans had claimed another part of the continent.

Hours passed as they followed the aura's pull, weaving through the charred remains of trees and shattered rock formations. There was no mistaking where they were headed—toward the heart of the storm.

Eventually, they reached the edge of a massive clearing.

A jagged plateau rose before them, the rock scorched black by countless lightning strikes. At its peak, bathed in the glow of flickering storm clouds, lay the Thunder Wolf.

The massive beast didn't stir as they approached. It was sprawled atop the plateau, its dark silver fur rippling with electric arcs dancing along its body. Every breath it took sent a faint vibration through the air as though the land acknowledged its presence.

Nyxara tilted her head. "It knew we were coming."

Alex's gaze didn't waver. "Of course it did."

The Thunder Wolf's golden eyes opened.

And the storm began.

….

A low rumble echoed through the clearing, rolling t like distant thunder. Deep and filled with ancient wisdom, the golden eyes of the Thunder Wolf settled upon them.

"Why have you come?"

Its voice wasn't a mere sound—it was a force that pressed against the soul, weighty with authority. A voice that had commanded storms for decades.

But even as it spoke, it barely spared Alex a glance. Instead, its focus lay elsewhere—on the small tigress draped lazily across his shoulder.

Nyxara, who had been flicking her tail idly, suddenly felt the weight of the wolf's attention. It wasn't fear that gripped her, but a sharp realization. It had dismissed Alex, yet she could feel its wariness toward her.

Even though she had kept her aura reigned in, the Thunder Wolf had sensed the truth.

They were the same.

Legend-rank beings.

The size difference meant nothing—the wolf had lived long enough to know better. The size was insignificant when power was involved.

Nyxara met its gaze, golden against golden, unblinking. "Not bad," she murmured into Alex's mind. "Even though it looks arrogant, its instincts are sharp. I like this one."

Alex, for his part, didn't take offense at the lack of acknowledgment. Power determines respect in this world. The wolf had every right to see him as insignificant.

For now.

Without a word, he lifted his hand. A faint shimmer pulsed as a scroll appeared in his palm—a mana oath contract.

He flicked it toward the wolf, and it unfurled in midair, the ancient script glowing with ethereal light.

"I didn't come here for pointless bloodshed," Alex said. "Sign this, and I leave. Ignore it, and we settle this another way."

The Thunder Wolf's gaze finally shifted to him.

It took a slow breath, its nostrils flaring slightly as it regarded the contract.

"A binding oath?"

Alex nodded.

As the wolf began reading the oat with an amused smug "You won't attack humans again. You can still send beasts from king or queen rank and below. Anything stronger will be your doom. You won't be punished if something beyond your control causes a beast tide. That's the deal."

The contract was simple and straight to the point without any twists or turns. But even with that the Wolf couldn't help but pause and look at Alex like a madman waiting for his own death. Then, a deep, rumbling chuckle vibrated from the beast's massive chest.

"You presume to bargain with me, little one?"

Alex met its gaze, unwavering.

"I presume to end this before it becomes something worse for you."

The tension in the clearing thickened. The static in the air intensified, tiny arcs of lightning crackling between the Thunder Wolf's fur. It didn't appreciate being dictated to—but it wasn't foolish.

Nyxara stretched, yawning lazily. "Oh, just sign it already," she said, amused. "It's not like you can win if it comes to a fight."

The Thunder Wolf's eyes narrowed slightly.

It wasn't a blind beast. It had ruled this land for decades because it knew when to fight and when to yield.

And as it looked at Alex again—looked—a feeling stirred deep within its ancient instincts.

'The human wasn't normal.'

'But even though, as an entity that has surpassed the limit of mortals, I bow to no one'

A deep rumble reverberated through the clearing, a sound more akin to the growl of a storm than a mere beast. The Thunder Wolf's golden eyes remained impassive as it gazed upon Alex, but its attention quickly shifted to Nyxara, who lay lazily across his shoulders.

It huffed, a low scoff of amusement.

"You, little tigress. How far you have fallen."

Nyxara's ear flicked, but she didn't lift her head. Her golden eyes remained half-lidded, unbothered.

"Fallen?" she mused. "Last I checked, I'm right where I want to be."

The Thunder Wolf let out a bark of laughter, sharp and scornful.

"Don't fool yourself."

Its gaze turned back to Alex, scrutinizing him for a long moment before exhaling through its nose in disappointment.

"This?" It motioned toward Alex with the barest twitch of its ear. "This human is the one you've chosen to submit to? I had thought you a proud beast born to rule the skies. And yet here you are, draped across his shoulders like a common pet."

Nyxara yawned, stretching her claws lazily before flicking her tail. "And yet," she replied, "you're talking so much to someone you claim to be beneath you."

The Thunder Wolf's amusement soured.

It lowered its head, its presence pressing down like an oncoming storm.

"Do you understand what you are, tigress?" it murmured, an almost gentle voice. "A legend-rank entity should stand above mortals, not chain itself to one."

Its golden eyes gleamed.

"Tell me, does he order you around? Does he make you fight his battles? You, who could crush him without effort?"

A pause. Then it laughed again.

"How pathetic. A ruler reduced to a lapdog."

Alex remained motionless, his expression unreadable. The contract still hovered between them, glowing faintly with mana.

The Thunder Wolf turned its gaze back to him, its amusement flickering with something sharper.

"And you," it rumbled, "I have witnessed countless humans strive for power. They shine brilliantly, but ultimately, they always fade, and you are no different."

Its massive paw lifted, claws crackling with raw lightning.

Then, in one swift motion, it tore through the contract.

A pulse of mana exploded outward as the document disintegrated, its magic unraveling like shattered glass dissolving into mist.

"You bring me this thing and expect me to bow?" the wolf scoffed. "I do not fear human tricks. You hold no authority over me."

The air grew thick with static. Lightning danced between the Thunder Wolf's fur, the ground crackling with suppressed power beneath it.

"If you have come to make demands, human, you have wasted your time."

Alex remained silent, watching as the last remnants of the contract faded into nothing.

Then, finally, he sighed.

"Was worth a try," he murmured.

Nyxara, who had been quiet throughout, let out a small chuckle.

"Told you it was stubborn."

Alex rolled his shoulders, finally locking eyes with the Thunder Wolf.

The beast had dismissed him earlier. Having mocked him, he mocked Nyxara and the idea of a human standing on equal footing.

And that was fine.

For now.

But something in his gaze had changed.

Nyxara felt it, too—the faint shift in the air.

The Thunder Wolf had been amused before. Now, there was something else.

A flicker of understanding.

Of inevitability.

Alex didn't seem disappointed. If anything, he looked as if he had expected this outcome.

His fingers flexed at his sides.

Then he exhaled softly.

"Well then," he said, voice quiet.

The Thunder Wolf's golden eyes bore into Alex with disdain.

Nyxara's eyes darkened.

A slow, steady exhale left her lungs, the last trace of her relaxed demeanor slipping away.

Then, with a single step forward, she released her aura.

The world froze.

A suffocating force crashed down on the land, making the air howl with raw, unrestrained power. The ground beneath her paws shattered, cracks spider webbing outward as black lightning erupted in violent arcs. The sky itself darkened, responding to the clash of divine energies.

At that instant—

Every Grandmaster-ranked entity and above in the Earth domain felt it.

Across the continent, warriors, elders, and clan leaders snapped their heads toward the direction of the battle. A power they had never sensed before had just made itself known.

Deep within the Earth Clan's estate, a man seated on an opulent stone throne stiffened. His sharp eyes narrowed, his fingers curling over the armrest.

"What... is this presence?"

Legend-ranked beings were rare—and only a handful existed on the planet.

And yet, at this very moment, an unfamiliar Legend-rank aura was roaring through the land like a declaration of war.

The clan head, the Patrician of the Earth Clan, rose to his feet. His expression was unreadable, but his gut told him one thing—

Something was wrong.