A blizzard had descended upon the lake’s central island, the icy wind cutting like knives. Even the wolf packs on the shore now felt the bone-chilling cold.
Fenrir’s Winter had absorbed Xue Ji’s spiritual energy, the sword’s blade turning transparent. If not for the ominous frost radiating from it, one might have mistaken it for nothing more than a hilt in Xue Ji’s hand.
“My king, I bear no ill will.”
Behind Xue Ji, frost and wind coalesced into the phantom of a colossal beast. With a swing of her sword, the illusion vanished—only to be replaced the next instant by a devastating slash that severed the Wolf King’s charge. The island itself was split in two by the attack.
“Hypocrite!”
The chains binding the Wolf King loosened further, and to everyone’s shock, it spoke in human tongue.
It leaped back, adopting a hunting stance—hindquarters raised, forepaws extended, muscles coiled. With each breath, it exhaled mist, soon vanishing within the swirling fog.
Xue Ji responded by planting her sword before her, spreading a glacial domain across the ravaged battlefield. Frost and mist clashed for dominance over the scarred earth.
There!
A tremor came from the left. Xue Ji swung her sword in a wide arc, aiming for a full-moon slash—only for another tremor to ripple from behind.
HOWL!
Six massive claw marks crisscrossed the ground where Xue Ji had stood, shredding the earth. But she had already completed a pre-chanted teleportation spell, blinking away just before impact.
“Human, you are not strong. You are a liar.”
Under the full moon, the mist dispersed, revealing the Wolf King’s composed figure. It gazed down at Xue Ji with the imperious air of a superior.
Xue Ji didn’t deny it. The accusation of “borrowing a tiger’s might” wasn’t entirely wrong. She swung her sword again, the invisible blade’s slash dissolving into moonlight like an illusion. The Wolf King simply closed its eyes, dodging effortlessly by instinct alone.
Then, gathering storm and wind into its maw, it unleashed a thunderous roar. The resulting shockwave tore the sword from Xue Ji’s grip, sending it plunging into the lake—where it instantly froze a swath of water solid.
The Wolf King gave her no respite. Pressing the advantage, it lunged, its massive frame blotting out the sky as it sought to crush this “lying insect” beneath its paws.
Xue Ji teleported again using a stored spell, but the sheer force of the Wolf King’s landing sent her flying regardless. Dizziness washed over her—a fleeting lapse, yet one instantly detected by the apex predator.
Moonlight vanished as the Wolf King’s shadow engulfed her. Before she could react, it was upon her.
No more prepared spells. No time to chant. Nowhere left to dodge.
BOOM!
The impact struck like thunder, sending shattered ice and earth skyward. Half the island’s terrain collapsed under the force, the frozen lake cracking apart. Through the dust, the Wolf King’s silhouette loomed.
The watching wolves held their breath. This battle had turned too abruptly—even with Xue Ji clearly outmatched in the final exchanges, an uneasy tension lingered.
Then, from the settling debris, their king emerged. Throwing back its head, it howled victory to its pack.
Bathed in moonlight, the last chains shattered. Its body grew more refined, fur turning sleek and silver, its once-ferocious features now regally composed. Though its aura seemed diminished, an unshakable authority radiated from it.
Through this battle, the Wolf King had conquered the fear in its bloodline and honed its power to perfection—breaking through the shackles that had constrained it for weeks, ascending to a new stage.
Amid its pack’s triumphant cries, the Wolf King’s guard dropped completely—so much so that it never noticed Lilith materializing behind it.
“You celebrate too soon, mutt.”
A voice dripping with malice whispered at its back. Before the Wolf King could react, dark chains coiled around its neck.
Shadowy energy crawled over its body like a living thing. The Wolf King thrashed wildly, rolling across the ground—only for the chains to tighten further. Its once-sacred silver fur now looked pitifully disheveled, as if toyed with by some cruel hand.
Worse was the gaze of its pack. Lying helplessly on the ground, their stares burned like brands. Their king—reduced to a plaything, a slave—humiliated before the very subjects who revered it.
The Wolf King’s triumph had lasted mere moments before its dignity was ground into dust. Its struggles weakened, replaced by a desperate wish—for its pack to look away, to never see it in this wretched state.
In their eyes, it saw shock. Shame. Fury. And worst of all—pity.
Lilith strolled leisurely across the Wolf King’s body, tugging the chain as the pack howled impotently from shore, forced to watch their sovereign’s degradation.
Scar-Eye, maddened with rage, led a charge toward the island—only for the Wolf King to roar them back, its voice carrying an unmistakable plea.
“Good doggy, stand.”
Xue Ji stood before it now, smiling as she issued the command.
The Wolf King shakily obeyed, claws digging into the earth.
“Sit. Let me ride you.”
This time, her tone was sweet—as if coaxing a pet.
The Wolf King’s face twisted, its once-proud eyes glistening.
“You wouldn’t want your pack to suffer the same treatment, would you?”
Lilith whispered by its ear, fingers stroking its fur with mock tenderness.
Trembling, the Wolf King shut its eyes—and slowly knelt.
“Who said you could close them? OPEN THEM!”
A vicious yank on the chains sent dark energy searing into its flesh. The Wolf King yelped as its neck burned, forced to meet its tormentor’s gaze with tear-filled eyes.
On the shore, many wolves turned away—whether from shared humiliation or mercy, none could bear to watch. Only Scar-Eye remained, glaring at Lilith with bloodshot fury.
“Good.”
Xue Ji mounted the Wolf King with deliberate slowness, gathering the chains.
“Walk.”
The Wolf King’s eyes were hollow, its spirit seemingly broken.
Yet deep within Xue Ji’s consciousness, two figures clashed—one white, one black.
Xue Ji: “Why would you do this?!”
Lilith: “I merely taught that beast a lesson. This time, I took no payment from you—you’ve no right to interfere!”
The black silhouette shook off the grasping hand, then conjured a cage of shadows to trap the white figure.
“I’m not done playing yet. Stay put.”
A final taunt echoed as the prison solidified:
“Cry all you want when you come crawling back, brat.”