The night fell like a black silk satin, enveloping the earth. The blood-tinged moonlight stealthily climbed to the summit of the Wolf Soul Mountains, casting an eerie glow over the vast forest. The wind whispered through the valleys, as if countless pairs of eyes were lurking in the darkness, waiting for their prey to step into the trap.
Kale stood on a rock, with Cangzhao standing silently behind him. The wolf pack spread out all around, and the eyes of each wolf reflected a dark red luster. This was the instinctive reaction of the wolf clan on the night of the full moon, with their blood surging and a longing to tear and hunt.
However, tonight's moonlight seemed even more uncanny than usual.
"Do you feel it?" Kale asked in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the mist in the distance.
Cangzhao nodded and let out a low growl: "Something is approaching... But they are hiding very well. They pose a greater threat than the last Wolf Soul."
Kale's hand slowly rested on the long knife at his waist. The cold touch of the handle brought him an inexplicable sense of reassurance.
Not far away, the mist churned, and a slender figure slowly emerged.
It was a human figure, wearing a black cloak, with the face hidden under the hood. Only the chin and the faintly glowing pupils could be seen. After staring at Kale for a moment, the corners of the person's mouth curved slightly, revealing a faint smile.
"Kale, I finally meet you." The man in black spoke, his voice hoarse and low, as harsh as stones scraping against metal.
Kale narrowed his eyes and observed the newcomer warily: "Who are you?"
The man in black slowly approached, his steps so light that there was almost no sound. He stopped when he was five steps away from Kale. He raised his head, revealing a face covered with black patterns. Those patterns coiled around the skin like vines, faintly exuding an evil aura.
"I am the Shadow Messenger, sent by the 'Master' deep within the Wolf Soul Mountains." He sized up Kale with a gaze as if examining his prey, "To be precise, my mission is to take you back – to become the true successor of the Wolf Soul King."
"The Wolf Soul King?" Kale frowned slightly, "The 'Master' you mentioned, is it the will of the Wolf Soul Mountains?"
The Shadow Messenger chuckled: "The will of the Wolf Soul Mountains? No, that's just the delusion of mortals. The Wolf Soul King has long since fallen, but his power has not dissipated. It has transformed into the darkness and blood mist in the mountains. And you, Kale, have the qualification to inherit this darkness."
"Sorry, I'm not interested in darkness." Kale replied coldly, gently patting Cangzhao's neck to signal the wolf pack to be on guard.
The Shadow Messenger shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with a hint of pity: "Do you think you still have a choice? The power of the Wolf Soul has already awakened within you. Every full
moon night, you are getting closer to the darkness. Refusal will only make you gradually degenerate in resistance."
Kale remained silent. He could feel that the Shadow Messenger was not bluffing. The restless wolf blood in his body was quietly surging, as if responding to the call of the blood-tinged moonlight.
"What if I refuse?" Kale looked up, staring straight into the Shadow Messenger's eyes, his gaze as firm as a rock.
The smile on the Shadow Messenger's lips gradually faded, and the black patterns on his skin slowly wriggled, as if they were living creatures, crawling up his arms.
"Then darkness will have to devour you personally."
Before the words were even finished, the Shadow Messenger's figure suddenly disappeared, melting into the night like a wisp of black smoke. The next moment, a dark shadow suddenly emerged behind Kale, and a sharp dagger glinted with a cold light, stabbing straight at Kale's heart.
Kale reacted extremely quickly. With a stomp of his foot, he suddenly rolled forward, barely avoiding the fatal blow. Cangzhao let out a fierce roar and pounced on the Shadow Messenger, his sharp claws slicing through the air and aiming for the vital parts.
However, the Shadow Messenger's body dissipated like an illusion, and Cangzhao's attack missed.
"An illusion?" Kale quickly got up, his eyes alert.
"You're too slow." The voice of the Shadow Messenger sounded again, this time coming from Kale's left side.
Kale swung his knife violently, the blade of light cutting through the darkness, but it only slashed through the empty air.
At that moment, a cold palm had quietly rested on his shoulder.
Kale's pupils shrank sharply, his wolf blood boiling, and the Wolf Soul within him awakened rapidly. He let out a low growl, his eyes turning a deep red, and a dark silver glow appeared on his body. The long knife in his hand was instantly covered by the power of the Wolf Soul, emitting a chilling light.
The blade spun around and slashed straight behind him!
"Bang——"
A powerful shockwave exploded in the night. The figure of the Shadow Messenger took several steps backward. A tiny crack appeared on the palm exposed under the cloak, and black blood dripped to the ground, corroding the ground and giving off a faint white smoke.
"Interesting." The Shadow Messenger licked his finger, a hint of surprise showing in his eyes, "It seems that you have already stepped into the boundary of the true Wolf Soul..."
Kale did not respond. He felt the power in his body rapidly expanding, his heart pounding like a war drum, each beat urging him to keep fighting.
But at the same time, an inexplicable darkness was also growing, quietly creeping up his consciousness like wild grass.
"Kale!" Cangzhao growled in a low voice, reminding him to stay calm.
Kale took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the surging wolf blood. He knew that if he let the power get out of control at this moment, he might very well turn into a real beast.
The Shadow Messenger stood quietly not far away, his eyes shining with anticipation: "Don't resist, Kale. Accept the darkness and become the Wolf Soul King. Only in this way can you rise above everyone else."
"I have my own path." Kale's voice was low, his gaze resolute.
The Shadow Messenger was silent for a moment, then a meaningful smile appeared on his face: "Very well, then let me see if you can make it to the end..."
As the words fell, the figure of the Shadow Messenger slowly melted into the darkness and finally disappeared completely into the night, leaving only the eerie aura lingering in the air for a long time.
Kale stood there, looking into the distance. The blood-tinged moonlight fell on him, casting a slender and lonely shadow.
He knew that this battle with the darkness had just begun.