As I sprinted through the forest with the tiger's roar shaking the trees, a burst of fire lit up the woods behind me. "I have your scent…" his voice rumbled, terrifyingly close. Fear took over completely, stealing my breath and pushing my body beyond its limits. I didn't even know where I was running—only that stopping meant death.
I leaped across a river, feet slipping on the wet stones, and forced myself deeper into unfamiliar territory. At last my strength gave out. I scrambled up the tallest tree I could find, claws digging into the bark, and collapsed on a thick branch. Blood dripped down my fur. With the pain and exhaustion crushing me, darkness swallowed everything.
I don't know how long I was unconscious.
When I finally woke, my whole body throbbed. The air was colder here—this wasn't my usual side of the forest. I pushed myself up and scanned the ground below… and froze.
There he was again.
Not the tiger—this time, from a safe distance, I saw the pale mane and frost-steamed breath of the Ice Lion. He looked furious.
A dangerous idea sparked in my mind. Maybe… maybe my problems were about to solve themselves.
I quietly climbed down, slipping away before he saw me, and made my way home. When I arrived, burn marks scarred the earth and trees. My brother, Bruno, ran to me the moment he saw me. He was out of breath—he'd been searching everywhere. He told me a tiger had been looking for a black wolf.
So he was still hunting me.
I had to stay on the far side of the forest for a while.
---
Six months passed after that incident. Only Bruno knew where I was hiding. We hunted together—he was sloppy at first, but he learned quickly. My wounds healed, and my stats rose. It was almost time for me to evolve into a dire wolf, but I held back. I had another plan.
One day, we hunted and brought down a deer. It was time.
I ran toward the tiger's domain and released a long howl. Even from miles away, I could see the scar across his right eye. So that was why he wouldn't stop searching for me.
Meanwhile, with Bruno…
He watched from afar as I drew the tiger's attention. Doing his part, he opened the deer's stomach and ate a little to spread our scent. Then he heard it—the Ice Lion's cold roar. It had found him. Bruno bolted, leaving the deer as bait.
Back to me—Kaipov.
I ran as fast as my paws could carry me, hearing the tiger's heavy steps crashing closer. I dodged through a narrow path of trees but heard the BOOM as he tore straight through them. Once I passed through a thick bush, I was at the meeting point—the Ice Lion's territory.
I leaped upward into a tree and settled on a branch to watch the show.
The tiger burst through the bush, flames crackling across his fur, only to skid in shock when he saw the Ice Lion standing before him. The fight exploded instantly. Ice trapped the tiger, only for him to burn through it with furious fire. I grinned. I was on Team Lion.
The battle raged for nearly an hour—roars, claws, flame and frost.
Finally… the Ice Lion collapsed with a dull thud. Dead.
The tiger stood victorious, but barely. Blood covered him. A hole gaped in his neck and his hind leg was nearly torn off. He staggered five steps before collapsing to one knee.
That was my moment.
I jumped out of the tree and landed before him. He looked up—fear finally in his eyes.
//Tiger//
"I… am the true king… You think you can kill me?" He tried to rise, but his body failed him.
He launched a final burst of flames—I dodged without effort.
His mana was gone. With the sneered smile I always wanted to this words
I stepped closer and whispered, "Long live the king."
Then I slashed across his remaining eye. His roar broke into a whimper. Buffing myself, I struck again and again at his neck until he lay still.
Without wasting time, I devoured his heart, liver, kidneys—everything that mattered. Heat erupted inside me as the sun climbed overhead.
My status appeared:
[Lesser Wolf > KAI]
Evolution State:
Dire Wolf – 100%
Dragon Wolf – 2%
Elemental Wolf – 98%
I stared at the 2%… and forced myself to look away.
I chose Elemental Wolf.
My body ignited with heat, growing larger, flames dancing across my fur.
> [Success! You are now a Fire Wolf.]
Next possible evolutions:
Flame Dire Wolf
Winged Fire Wolf
Dual Elemental Wolf
I remembered the Ice Lion and ran back to its body—only to find Bruno there, having eaten all the important parts. He was already evolving into an Elemental Wolf as well.
I sat beside him and opened my status:
---
[Fire Wolf > KAI]
Body Stats
Strength: 150/300
Speed: 180/300
Stamina: 259/300
Agility: 200/300
Intelligence: 599/1000
MP: 1000/1000
HP: 1000/1000
Abilities Tree Climbing • Slash • Buff • Shadowfeat
Enhanced Eyes • Marker • Stalker
Fire Throw • Fire Steps
Iron Claws • Iron Fangs
Magic Cancellation • Sound Barrier
Fast Climber • Fast Jumper
High Senses • Shadow Cover
> {Notice}: Some abilities can be combined to form stronger abilities.
I stared at the long list of new abilities glowing before me. Strength, speed, elemental skills—powers I couldn't even imagine using yet. Later, I told myself. For now, survival was more important.
Beside me, Bruno's evolution finished. Frost curled from his fur—he had become an Ice Wolf.
"We should head home," I told him. Night was falling fast.
Because we'd been gone for months, we had to return with an offering—proof that we carried no hostility toward the pack. Each of us lifted the remains of our kills, the tiger and the lion, and began the long walk back.
---
Luka POV
Winter crept over the mountains, and prey grew scarce. My mate, heavy with pups, lay deep in the den; she couldn't move far now. Today the pack caught nothing. Hunger gnawed at us.
Then I felt them—two unknown elemental wolves approaching the cave.
Strangers. Strong ones.
My hackles rose instantly. If they threatened my mate, my family, my pack…
I signaled everyone into attack position.
When the two figures came into view, I felt my blood run cold.
One radiated heat like a blazing inferno, flames rippling off his fur. The other walked with the silent breath of winter, ice forming at his paws.
Then I noticed what they carried.
Meat. Large pieces. Fresh.
Not just any meat.
The Ice Lion and the Fire Tiger.
My heart stopped.
How could this be?
They stepped closer—and their scents hit me.
Recognition.
My offspring.
My pups… had grown into monsters of power.
---
Kai POV
As we entered the cave, the entire pack bristled—teeth bared, eyes sharp. But the moment our scents carried through, the wolves parted. Respectfully. Fearfully.
I dropped the tiger meat.
Bruno dropped the lion.
Our father, Luka, stared at us with wide eyes before a rare smile cracked across his muzzle. He stepped forward, touched heads with us, and ordered the pack to eat.
I took my share of meat and slipped away. Bruno followed, carrying food for our mother.
She gasped when she saw us. Her belly was swollen—six pups this time. I placed the meat before her, bowed my head, and stepped away to give her space. Bruno stayed, curling up beside her.
I moved toward the back of the cave—and caught a familiar scent.
Luna.
My sister approached with a rush of excitement. Her tail swayed as she nuzzled me.
She and a crowd of young wolves begged for stories. My battles. The tiger. The lion. I told a little—but the moment Bruno walked in, he took over, animated and proud.
I slipped away from the crowd again, needing the quiet.
Luna followed.
---
//Luna//
"You're just like Father," she said softly. "Always choosing to be alone."
I sidestepped the comment. "So… you have a mate?"
She froze, ears flattening.
Then she bowed her head—respectfully.
Among wolves, a mate must be accepted by the female's male relatives.
I felt a knot twist in my gut.
"Who is he?" I asked, voice low.
"…Vona," she whispered. "We thought you died, so we asked Bruno and Father…"
I stiffened.
Vona?
The fool I'd scarred before I left?
Before she could finish, I smelled him nearby. He stepped out from the shadows, trembling but trying to stand tall. His scar, the one I had given him long ago, cut down his muzzle.
He growled—weak, but defiant.
Pathetic.
He was only a lesser wolf.
I didn't attack him. I didn't have to.
I stepped forward, slow, dominating, letting my aura burn around me like fire.
He collapsed into a whimper, legs shaking.
Luna watched, breath caught. She thought I would kill him.
I didn't.
I leaned down until my muzzle touched his ear and whispered,
"If my sister comes home with even a scratch…
next time, I won't miss the eye."
Then I turned and walked away, flames crackling with every step.
Behind me, Luna let out a shaky breath of relief.