CHAPTER 103
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The dire wolf was crippled in both hind legs and could barely keep pace. It limped away into the misty wilderness, giving Rowe just enough time to channel the Holy Light and tend to the gaping wound on his chest.
Golden light shimmered over his armor as the divine energy surged, gradually easing the stabbing pain and sealing the gash.
"Wooo…Oww…" The massive wolf had no intention of retreating. Bloodied and breathless, it still fixed its hostile eyes on Rowe, growling low and steady from deep in its throat.
With a grim expression, Rowe the Hammer of Judgment. The sacred weapon gleamed, and with a mighty swing, it crashed down, striking the giant wolf square on its neck.
The beast howled in agony, attempting once more to lunge forward, but its mutilated limbs buckled beneath it. It could no longer match Rowe's speed or ferocity.
A long battle of attrition ensued. Rowe stayed vigilant, whittling down the giant wolf's strength little by little until it was exhausted, its immense body struggling to stay upright.
"Holy Light Strike!"
"Holy Light Strike!"
He roared the incantation twice, swinging with all his might. Two searing blasts of holy energy struck the back of the wolf's neck, and the creature finally collapsed with a thundering crash, defeated.
Rowe stood over its fallen form, panting. Still cautious, he landed several more blows to ensure it was truly dead before finally sitting down, breathing heavily.
"I was wondering where you'd run off to. Turns out you were out here hunting a wolf," came Heimd's voice as he strolled up, holding a small boulder in his arms.
Rowe was too winded to reply.
Heimd placed the small Shilute on the ground and blurred into motion, scanning the area in a burst of afterimages. When he returned, there was a wolf cub cradled in his hands. "Guess what I found—bet you didn't expect this."
"Eh…" The tiny pup whimpered in Heimd's arms. Its eyes hadn't opened yet, its fur was damp and matted, and it looked weak and defenseless.
Rowe blinked in surprise, then sighed. "At least it's not a dragon cub."
Heimd chuckled. "Speaking of dragons, remember that one we caught? Turns out it was a female. She might've had offspring."
"Then why didn't we find any?" Rowe asked.
Heimd shrugged. "I don't know. Just something a dragon hunter mentioned. He guessed that the dragon got separated from her young, and that's why she went berserk when she saw us."
Rowe rose slowly, his joints aching. Heimd extended the squirming wolf cub toward him. "What're you gonna do with it? Keep it?"
Rowe looked down at the trembling bundle of fur. As he held it, he couldn't help but think of the Soul Imprint of the wolf king Lubos that he had yet to use.
As the offspring of a dire wolf, this cub likely had exceptional potential. It might even be able to inherit Lubos' legacy.
A few months ago, Rowe would've imprinted it immediately. But now? Taking care of Little Shilute was already proving chaotic. The stone creature never slept, constantly cried out, and required an endless supply of rocks to stay satisfied.
Raising a wolf cub on top of that would be a nightmare.
Still, it seemed a waste to let the Soul Imprint of Lubos go unused. He found himself torn.
"…I'll keep it for now," he finally said.
Despite working under Hela, the hunting party was allowed to keep young or uncommon creatures they captured. The wolf cub qualified.
Heimd nodded. "Let's head back when dawn breaks."
"Alright."
The two men bundled up the giant wolf's corpse, hoisted it onto their makeshift sled, and also packed up Shilute's food—the boulder—before trekking back to the shelter.
Rowe squatted down and brought out the Fist of Verigan, chipping away at the large stone.
Crack.
The boulder split into smaller chunks. He flicked one toward Shilute, who gobbled it up gleefully.
"Hey!" the small creature chirped.
After breaking the entire boulder into bite-sized pieces and feeding them to Shilute, Rowe finally rested.
By the time the sun rose, Shilute had devoured every last pebble. Yet, oddly, he still looked like a toddler, no taller or heavier than before.
Rowe hefted him up. "No change at all," he muttered. It was as if the stones vanished into another dimension.
"Yip yip." A weak sound came from the wolf cub, now crawling along the rain-soaked ground, leaving tiny muddy tracks in its wake.
Rowe groaned, picked it up, and wiped off the dirt.
"You should probably sell it," Heimd remarked with a smirk.
Rowe was quiet for a moment. "Maybe I'll give it to Her Highness Hela."
"You think Hela wants to raise a wolf?" Heimd asked skeptically. "I doubt she has the patience."
Rowe didn't reply, but the idea stuck. Hela once raised Fenris, the great wolf. Perhaps she wouldn't reject this pup, especially if it inherited Lubos' power.
Sharing the soul imprint with Hela seemed like a solid decision.
The two men finished the leftover roasted meat, then set off for the meeting point.
"That's a huge wolf!" gasped one of the light elves upon seeing the corpse.
"Need help delivering it?" another elf offered.
Heimd replied, "We'll take it to the City of Destiny after the festival."
The elf smiled knowingly. "That'll definitely draw a crowd. Especially the girls."
Heimd laughed. "Makes me almost like the Hunting Festival. Maybe I'll join again next time."
"You planning on it?" Rowe asked.
Heimd shrugged. "If there's no war, maybe. Asgard won big in Jotunheim recently, but the frost giants aren't taking it well."
Later, after finding a tent, Rowe opened his Holy Deed to the page titled Soul Mark: Wolf King Lubos. He gently placed the wolf cub on it.
Despite being muddy, the sacred tome repelled dirt effortlessly. Dust and grime slid right off as if cleansed by magic.
The cub lay sprawled across the page, kicking its hind legs and letting out feeble whimpers.
Rowe lightly tapped its head and activated the sacred ritual.
Soul Imprint: Lubos!
The Holy Deed glowed. A streak of light emerged from the page, descending upon the cub. The page dimmed as the imprint transferred completely.
The cub stilled. It hadn't opened its eyes, but it no longer whimpered. Its tiny body stopped trembling, its breathing slowed. It seemed to stand a bit prouder.
The innate bravery of the dire wolf king had taken root.
The shadow powers of Lubos had yet to manifest, but Rowe had no doubt—they would in time.
—
A few days later…
With the hunting festival's month-long span now concluded, Rowe and Heimd returned to the City of Destiny on a convoy of flying cats.
The corpse of the giant wolf was tied securely to a platform carried by four of the light elves' plump flying cats. The sight of it soaring across the skies drew astonished gazes from every corner of the city.
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