The light of the blood moon spilled among the mountains. The outline of the Wolf Soul Mountains seemed to be outlined by blood, heavy and oppressive. Kale led the wolf pack through the mountain path. His steps were light yet vigilant. Each step was accompanied by the low growls of unknown beasts in the distance and the uneasy trembling of the leaves.
Cangzhao walked beside him, his ears slightly perked up, ready to deal with any sudden danger at any time. The wolf pack moved silently, like shadows in the night, blending into the surrounding darkness.
Yize, who was at the end of the team, followed unhurriedly. His cloak swayed slightly, and that faint smile still hung on his face, as if all fear had nothing to do with him. However, his gaze swept around from time to time, and a strange emotion was hidden deep in his eyes.
In the silence, it seemed that something was spying on them.
"Yize, you're walking so slowly. Are you afraid?" Cangzhao turned his head and gave him a cold glance.
Yize shrugged and spread his hands with a smile. "Afraid? No, I'm just enjoying this journey. After all, few people can go deep into the Wolf Soul Mountains before the fissure is sealed."
"Enjoying it? You're really crazy." Cangzhao let out a low growl and continued walking.
But at this moment, Kale stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing slightly as he stared intently at the open area ahead.
That open area was eerily quiet. The grass and trees were withered, and a smell of decay wafted up from the ground, as if the land beneath their feet had been dead for a long time.
"Is this... the entrance to the graveyard?" Cangzhao asked in a low voice, his gaze heavy.
"No." Kale shook his head slowly, a strange glint flashing in his eyes. "This is the trace left by the Shadow Messenger."
Yize stepped forward, squatted down, and touched the dry and cracked patterns on the ground with his fingers. His gaze gradually became solemn. "The power of the Shadow Messenger remains here... but this power doesn't belong to him."
"What do you mean?" Cangzhao looked at Yize warily.
Yize raised his head and stared into the distance with a profound gaze. "Can't you feel it? There's something wriggling under the ground, like a living thing..."
Before the words were finished, the ground suddenly shook violently!
Boom—
The ground ahead suddenly cracked open, and a pitch-black tentacle burst out from the ground, rushing straight towards Kale!
Kale reacted extremely quickly. The light of his knife flashed, and the blazing fire of the Wolf Soul cut through the darkness, instantly cutting off the tentacle. The tentacle twisted and struggled in
the flames, letting out a shrill wail, and turned into a pile of charred ashes.
But before Kale could catch his breath, countless pitch-black tentacles continuously emerged from the cracked ground, as if the Gate of the Abyss had opened underground, ready to swallow them all up.
"Wolf pack! On guard!" Cangzhao roared. The wolf pack quickly scattered, surrounding Kale in the center. Their sharp fangs glinted coldly, ready to tear these dark creatures apart at any moment.
Yize quickly stepped back to keep a distance, squinted his eyes, and the corners of his mouth twitched up. "It seems that the real trouble has come."
Kale ignored Yize's joke. He was fully focused, gripping his long knife tightly with both hands. The fire of the Wolf Soul in his body was beating violently. As if sensing the threat from these dark creatures, the flames burned even more vigorously.
"Cangzhao, protect the wolf pack and don't let them get close." Kale said in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the depths of the cracked ground.
Cangzhao replied in a deep voice, "Understood!"
Just then, a deep growl came from the crack. The sound seemed to come from the depths of hell, carrying endless resentment and anger.
Then, a huge figure slowly rose from the crack—a giant wolf eroded by darkness. Its body was covered with pitch-black armor, its eyes glowed with a scarlet light, and dark red liquid dripped from the corners of its mouth. With each step it took, the ground trembled slightly.
"The Black Shadow Wolf..." Cangzhao's pupils shrank, and his voice was filled with disbelief.
The Black Shadow Wolf was one of the most ancient existences in the Wolf Soul Mountains. Legend had it that it had once been the guard of the Wolf Soul King, but later it was eroded by the Abyss, fell into darkness, and became one of the guardians of the fissure.
"Is it still alive?" Yize also showed a rare solemn expression. "According to legend, the Black Shadow Wolf has long since fallen. Why is it here?"
Kale didn't answer. The Black Shadow Wolf stared straight at him, as if it had seen a familiar aura on him.
The Black Shadow Wolf let out a low growl, and its sharp claws suddenly swung down. There was a tearing sound in the air. Kale quickly sidestepped to avoid it and swung his long knife backhand. Flames surged out from the blade, rushing straight towards the heart of the Black Shadow Wolf.
But the Black Shadow Wolf was extremely fast. With a flash of its figure, it avoided Kale's attack and struck back with a claw towards his chest.
Bang—
Kale was sent flying several steps back. Cracks appeared on the ground beneath his feet. He looked down at his chest. His armor was torn open, and blood slowly flowed out from the wound.
Cangzhao roared and pounced on the Black Shadow Wolf, grappling with it. The wolf pack also launched an attack, trying to hold back this terrifying dark creature.
The battle broke out in front of the fissure. Flames and darkness intertwined, the light of the knife clashed with the sharp claws. Each encounter sparked intense sparks, and the air was filled with the smell of blood and scorch.
Kale's eyes became even more determined. He knew that this battle was not only related to his life and death but also to the future of the Wolf Soul Mountains.
The Black Shadow Wolf, the messenger of the Abyss, had to die here.