THE CRACKING SEAL
A sharp sound echoed through the clearing.
Crack.
Aria gasped.
It felt like something deep inside her chest had just split open.
Pain shot through her entire body.
She dropped to her knees.
“Aria!” the Alpha King shouted.
He caught her before she collapsed completely.
But the moment he touched her, a surge of raw power burst outward.
The ground trembled violently.
Several warriors were thrown backward.
Lucian dug his blade into the dirt to steady himself.
“Everyone stay back!”
The Bloodstone in the Blood Emperor’s hand pulsed with a deep red glow.
Each pulse made the energy around Aria grow stronger.
The Blood Emperor watched calmly.
Like a man observing an experiment.
“Beautiful,” he murmured.
Rowan struggled to stand.
His ribs still hurt from the earlier impact.
“Someone tell me this is still under control.”
Lucian didn’t look away from Aria.
“It’s not.”
Another crack echoed.
CRACK.
Aria screamed.
Her silver eyes flashed blindingly bright.
The Alpha King tightened his grip on her shoulders.
“Aria, listen to me!”
But her breathing was uneven.
Wild.
“I… can’t…”
Wind exploded outward again, ripping leaves from the trees.
The monsters surrounding the clearing began backing away nervously.
Even they were afraid now.
Elias stepped forward urgently.
“This is happening too fast.”
Lucian shot him a sharp look.
“You said the Bloodstone could break the seal.”
“Yes.”
Lucian’s voice hardened.
“So stop it.”
Elias shook his head helplessly.
“I can’t.”
Rowan groaned.
“That’s not helpful.”
The Blood Emperor slowly began walking closer.
Lucian immediately stepped in front of him.
“That’s far enough.”
The Blood Emperor didn’t even slow down.
Lucian moved faster.
His blade flashed toward the man’s throat.
But the Blood Emperor caught the blade between two fingers.
Effortlessly.
Lucian froze.
For the first time, real surprise crossed his face.
“…Impossible.”
The Blood Emperor smiled.
“You’re strong.”
Then he flicked his hand.
Lucian was thrown backward like a ragdoll.
He crashed into the dirt several meters away.
Rowan cursed.
“Okay, I officially hate this guy.”
The Alpha King growled.
His aura flared violently.
Golden energy surged around him as he stepped forward.
“You won’t take another step.”
The Blood Emperor stopped.
His red eyes studied the King with interest.
“The Alpha King himself.”
His smile returned.
“Now this might actually be entertaining.”
The King attacked first.
He moved faster than Aria had ever seen.
His fist slammed toward the Blood Emperor with terrifying force.
The impact shook the ground.
But when the dust cleared—
The Blood Emperor was still standing.
He had blocked the attack with one hand.
The King’s golden eyes flashed.
“You’re not normal.”
The Blood Emperor chuckled softly.
“That’s the idea.”
Behind them, Aria cried out again.
The energy inside her surged even stronger.
The sky above the forest began darkening.
Clouds gathered unnaturally fast.
Lightning flickered in the distance.
Rowan stared upward.
“…Is she doing that?”
Elias nodded grimly.
“The Primordial power is waking.”
Lucian pushed himself back to his feet.
Blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
“Then we’re out of time.”
Another violent crack echoed inside Aria’s chest.
She felt it.
The seal was breaking apart piece by piece.
Her wolf roared inside her mind.
The power felt ancient.
Endless.
Dangerous.
The Blood Emperor finally stepped around the Alpha King.
This time the King was too slow to stop him.
He walked straight toward Aria.
His red eyes burned with excitement.
“At last.”
The Bloodstone glowed brighter in his hand.
Aria’s power responded instantly.
The ground beneath her feet shattered.
The Alpha King grabbed the Blood Emperor’s shoulder.
“You’re done.”
But the Blood Emperor only smiled.
“No.”
He lifted the Bloodstone higher.
“This is only the beginning.”
Aria’s silver eyes suddenly snapped open.
Brighter than before.
Wild.
Ancient.
For a moment—
She didn’t look like herself anymore.
Lucian’s voice came out in a whisper.
“…She’s changing.”
Elias looked horrified.
“The seal is almost gone.”
The Blood Emperor stared directly into Aria’s glowing eyes.
“Wake up.”
The Bloodstone flashed.
And the final crack echoed through the clearing.