THE HUNTER BECOMES THE PREY
The dragon fell from the sky like a black comet.
Its massive wings folded as it dove straight toward the Blood Emperor.
The ground trembled beneath the force of its descent.
Lucian looked up sharply.
“…It’s going for him.”
Rowan, still in wolf form, skidded to a stop.
“Oh this I want to see.”
The Blood Emperor looked up just in time.
His red eyes widened slightly as the enormous creature came crashing toward him.
But he didn’t panic.
Instead—
He smiled.
Dark energy exploded around his body.
A violent wave of red power burst outward as he threw both hands forward.
“Not so fast.”
The dragon slammed into the ground where he stood.
The impact was massive.
The earth split apart, sending dust and shattered stone flying everywhere.
Warriors shielded their faces as the shockwave rolled across the clearing.
When the dust slowly cleared—
The dragon stood in the center of a massive crater.
Its claws dug into the dirt as it searched for its target.
But the Blood Emperor was gone.
Lucian immediately turned.
“Where—”
A sudden burst of dark energy exploded behind them.
The Blood Emperor reappeared near the edge of the clearing.
Floating slightly above the ground.
His cloak whipped violently in the wind.
Rowan groaned.
“Oh come on.”
The dragon turned its massive head toward him again.
Its red eyes burned with fury now.
The Blood Emperor raised his glowing hand again.
“Enough games.”
Dark symbols began forming in the air around him.
Lucian’s expression hardened.
“That’s new.”
The Alpha King stepped forward immediately.
Golden power flared around his body again.
“Stop him.”
But the Blood Emperor was already chanting.
The symbols spinning around him began glowing brighter.
The air turned cold.
The forest itself seemed to shrink away from the power gathering around him.
Aria felt it immediately.
The Primordial spirit inside her stirred violently.
That power…
Her silver eyes narrowed.
“What are you doing?”
The Blood Emperor looked directly at her.
“Something necessary.”
The dragon roared again and charged.
Its massive claws tore through the earth as it rushed toward him.
But the Blood Emperor didn’t move.
Instead—
He slammed his glowing hand toward the ground.
The symbols exploded.
A massive circle of red energy spread across the battlefield.
Lucian stopped instantly.
“…A summoning circle.”
Rowan blinked.
“You’re joking.”
The ground inside the circle began cracking open again.
Dark mist poured from the cracks.
The dragon halted, growling uneasily now.
Even it seemed cautious.
The Blood Emperor’s smile widened.
“You awakened the Primordial wolf.”
His red eyes gleamed with madness.
“So I’ll awaken something to match it.”
Lucian’s stomach dropped.
“…What?”
Aria felt the power immediately.
Something ancient.
Something dark.
Something far worse than the dragon.
The ground inside the circle exploded open.
A massive claw emerged from the darkness below.
But it wasn’t scaled like the dragon.
It was covered in black fur.
Rowan’s eyes widened.
“…Wait.”
Lucian’s voice turned quiet.
“No way.”
Another claw emerged.
Then a massive wolf’s head slowly rose from the darkness.
But this wolf was wrong.
Its body was enormous—almost as large as the dragon.
Black fur covered muscles like stone.
Its glowing eyes burned deep crimson.
And its mouth was filled with long jagged fangs.
The Blood Emperor laughed triumphantly.
“My true weapon.”
Aria’s silver eyes widened slightly.
The Primordial spirit inside her went completely silent.
Because the creature climbing from the earth wasn’t just a monster.
It was something ancient.
Something corrupted.
Lucian whispered slowly,
“…A corrupted alpha.”
Rowan stared in disbelief.
“That thing is bigger than the King.”
The Alpha King’s golden eyes hardened.
He stepped forward slowly.
Because the giant black wolf rising from the earth was staring at only one person.
Aria.
The creature finally pulled its full body from the ground.
It stood tall above the battlefield.
Then it opened its mouth.
And let out a howl so dark and powerful that the entire forest went silent.