Deep in the canyon, the mist churned, like a huge mouth slowly opening, with darkness lurking within.
Kaleb stood in the center of the wolf pack. Blood dripped from the blade onto the stone surface covered with moss, staining an eerie red flower. Azure Claw growled, its gaze fixed on the black shadows slowly approaching at the end of the mist.
"There are more and more of them."
A low growl faintly came from the mist. Pairs of scarlet eyes emerged, like will-o'-the-wisps in the night sky. The stray wolves gathered much faster than Kaleb had expected. It seemed that there were more of their kind gathering towards this canyon from a distance.
"It seems that we have indeed entered a place we shouldn't have come to." Kaleb licked the blood at the corner of his mouth and said in a low voice.
Azure Claw listened attentively, its tail drooping slightly, and replied in a deep voice: "We must leave here as soon as possible, otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?"
Azure Claw's gaze turned towards the top of the canyon. A slender figure was standing on the cliff, overlooking them.
It was a being even taller than an ordinary stray wolf. Its fur was as black as iron, and its eyes glowed with a faint blue light, like the calm cold stars in the night sky. Unlike other bloodthirsty and frenzied stray wolves, this wolf exuded an extreme sense of oppression, like a king patrolling his territory.
Kaleb's gaze met with that of the wolf in mid-air. In an instant, it was as if his soul had been pierced through, and a chill spread from the soles of his feet to his back.
"That is..." Azure Claw's voice was low, with a hint of awe, "The leader of the stray wolves — Black Fang."
Black Fang didn't launch an attack. It just stood on the cliff overlooking Kaleb, as if observing its prey and waiting for the best hunting opportunity.
"The remains of the Wolf King are attracting it."
Kaleb understood in his heart that the power he had awakened on the altar had been completely exposed in front of Black Fang. The bloodline of the Wolf King was an irresistible temptation for the stray wolves.
But Kaleb knew very well that if he was stopped by Black Fang here, what awaited him would be certain death.
"We can't stop."
Kaleb gave a low command to the wolf pack: "Keep moving forward. We can't let them hold us up in this canyon."
The wolf pack quickly gathered. Azure Claw took the lead and cautiously moved towards the exit of the canyon. Kaleb walked at the end, his gaze never leaving Black Fang on the cliff.
However, just when they had walked no more than a hundred meters, a strange aura suddenly rushed from behind.
— "Kaleb, be careful!"
The moment Azure Claw's warning sounded, a black shadow pounced rapidly from the mist. Its fangs glinted coldly, and its target was directly Kaleb's back!
Kaleb instinctively sideways and blocked with the blade in his backhand. The sound of metal clashing echoed in the canyon. The huge impact force made him take several steps back, and his Hegu point felt a dull ache.
As the mist cleared, Kaleb saw the appearance of the attacker — it was a huge beast even larger in size than an ordinary stray wolf. Its body was covered with scars, and the fur on its chest was charred black. It was obvious that it had once been burned by fire.
"Black Claw..." There was a hint of surprise in Azure Claw's voice, "It's actually still alive."
Kaleb's gaze was as calm as water. He slowly raised his knife and assumed a defensive posture: "No matter who it is, it will fall today."
Black Claw licked its fangs. Its low growl was like thunder. Its limbs were tense, ready to pounce.
The two sides were at a standstill for a moment. Black Claw launched the attack first. Its sharp claws scratched deep grooves in the ground, and its huge figure pounced towards Kaleb like a black bolt of lightning!
Kaleb calmly faced the attack. The light of the knife intersected with the wolf's claws, and sparks flew. Black Claw's strength was extremely astonishing. Every swing was as heavy as a landslide, forcing Kaleb to retreat step by step.
Azure Claw and several wolves tried to step forward to support, but Black Claw suddenly whipped its tail, knocking two approaching wolves to the ground. Its fangs tore the throat of a gray wolf in a backhand motion.
"Back off!" Kaleb growled, signaling the wolf pack to stay away from the battle circle.
This was his battle.
Black Claw's speed became faster and faster. Its sharp claws tore through the air, and a deep wound was scratched on Kaleb's shoulder. Blood stained his clothes.
However, his eyes became even more determined.
"Your speed is too slow."
Kaleb suddenly leaped backward, his palm tightly gripping the handle of the knife. He rushed towards Black Claw like an arrow leaving the bow. The blade glinted coldly and pointed directly at Black Claw's throat.
Black Claw let out a roar and tried to avoid the fatal blow, but Kaleb was faster than it. The long
knife traced a beautiful arc and slashed deeply into Black Claw's neck!
Blood spurted out like a fountain. Black Claw's figure froze in place, its eyes widened. Finally, it fell to the ground. After twitching for a while, it completely lost its life.
Kaleb panted heavily and slowly lowered the long knife, his gaze turning towards Black Fang on the cliff.
However, instead of being enraged by Black Claw's death, Black Fang showed a sneer, slowly turned around, and disappeared into the darkness at the top of the canyon.
"It's waiting."
Kaleb wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and his gaze was as calm as water. He knew that Black Fang was not afraid but deliberately let them go, allowing them to continue deep into the forbidden area of the Wolf Soul Mountains.
— There, perhaps, lies a greater secret.
"Kaleb, are you okay?" Azure Claw stepped forward, with a hint of worry in its eyes.
Kaleb nodded and looked towards the vast mountains in the distance: "I'm fine. Let's keep moving forward."
The wolf pack set off again, passing through the canyon and moving towards the depths of the mountains.
However, Kaleb knew that this hunt was far from over. Black Fang was spying in the dark, and the remains of the Wolf King might be the key to unlocking all the secrets of the wolf clan.
The blood moon gradually rose, illuminating the road ahead and also the unsolved mystery in Kaleb's heart.