Intro ; In a world where power is decided by blood… Kael was born powerless.
No claws.
No fangs.
No transformation.
In a clan of feared werewolves, that was worse than death.
Chapter 1(Scene 1); The awakening ;
Rain fell like needles from the sky.
Kael's body lay motionless in the mud, but the world around him had changed.
The forest was no longer quiet.
It was… watching.
A slow breath filled his lungs.
Then another.
His fingers twitched.
Mud cracked beneath his grip.
Alive.
Kael's eyes opened.
Gold light flickered in the darkness.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't think.
Then—
Pain.
It hit all at once.
"Ghh—!"
His body convulsed as a violent surge tore through him. Every bone in his body screamed. Muscles tightened, twisted, expanded beyond what they should be able to endure.
Crack.
His arm bent the wrong way—
Then snapped back into place.
Kael gasped, clawing at the ground. "What… is happening to me?!"
"You are waking up."
The voice.
Deep. Ancient. Unfamiliar.
Yet somehow… it felt like it had always been there.
Kael froze.
"Show yourself!" he growled.
Silence answered him.
But the presence remained.
Watching.
Waiting.
Kael pushed himself to his feet.
Slowly.
Unsteadily.
But… stronger than before.
The rain no longer felt cold. His wounds—deep, fatal wounds—were already closing. The poisoned ache in his veins had vanished like it had never existed.
"What…?" he whispered.
His breathing slowed.
Too slow.
His heartbeat—steady.
Too steady.
Everything felt… controlled.
Sharp.
Alive.
Then he heard it.
A heartbeat.
Not his own.
Kael's head snapped toward the trees.
Someone was there.
Far.
At least fifty meters away.
Hidden.
Watching him.
"How… can I hear that?" he muttered.
"Because you are no longer weak."
Kael clenched his fists.
"I was never weak."
The voice chuckled.
"Then prove it."
A twig snapped in the distance.
The hidden presence moved.
Running.
Kael didn't think.
He moved.
The ground exploded beneath his feet.
In a single step, he crossed more distance than he thought possible. The wind roared past his ears as the forest blurred into streaks of shadow and rain.
Faster.
Faster.
FASTER.
Kael's eyes widened.
"What the—?!"
The figure ahead turned in shock.
"Impossible—!"
Too late.
Kael was already there.
He crashed into the man, sending both of them slamming into a tree. The trunk splintered on impact, collapsing under the force.
The man groaned, trying to push Kael off—
But froze.
"Y-you… were dead…"
Kael stared down at him.
Recognition flickered.
One of the hunters.
The ones who killed him.
Something inside Kael… shifted.
His lips curled.
Not in anger.
Not in pain.
But in something far more dangerous.
Hunger.
"I was," Kael said quietly.
His voice no longer sounded entirely human.
The hunter's face went pale.
"No… no, stay back—"
Kael tilted his head.
"You said something earlier."
His claws slowly extended, glinting faintly in the rain.
"About Ashfang."
The hunter's breathing became frantic. "W-we were ordered! I don't know anything important—!"
Kael crouched lower.
Golden eyes glowing.
"Then you're useless."
The hunter screamed and drew a silver dagger, slashing wildly.
Kael didn't move.
The blade struck—
And stopped.
It couldn't pierce his skin.
The hunter's hand trembled.
"What… are you?"
Kael's smile widened slightly.
"I was about to ask you the same thing."
Then he moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
A blur of motion—
A flash of claws—
Silence.
The rain continued to fall.
Kael stood alone.
Blood mixed with water at his feet.
His breathing was steady.
Too steady.
Slowly… he looked down at his hands.
Clawed.
Sharp.
Not human.
"Good."
The voice returned.
Satisfied.
"Now… the hunt begins."
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
Then opened them again.
The gold burned brighter.
"Yeah…" he murmured.
"…it does."
Chapter 1(Scene 2); The rain hadn't stopped.
It fell in steady sheets, soaking the earth, washing away blood, footprints… evidence.
But it couldn't wash away what had just been born.
Kael walked.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Each step pressed into the wet soil with quiet force, his bare feet sinking slightly before lifting again. The forest stretched endlessly around him, yet it no longer felt vast.
It felt small.
Contained.
Like something that belonged to him.
That thought made him pause.
"…Mine?" he muttered under his breath.
The word felt strange.
Foreign.
And yet… natural.
His senses sharpened again.
Too sharp.
He could hear the droplets of rain striking individual leaves. Could smell damp bark, wet soil, the faint metallic trace of blood lingering beneath it all.
Not just his own.
Everything.
Alive.
Dead.
Hidden.
Nothing escaped him.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"What… is happening to me?"
"You are remembering."
The voice answered.
Not loud.
Not quiet.
Just… there.
Like it had always been part of him.
Kael stopped walking.
His golden eyes flickered slightly.
"Remembering what?" he asked.
No answer.
Instead—
The forest… changed.
The air thickened.
The sound of rain dulled.
And suddenly—
Kael wasn't standing in the forest anymore.
Darkness.
Endless.
Silent.
It stretched in every direction, swallowing light, swallowing sound, swallowing thought itself.
Kael stood alone.
Or at least… he thought he did.
A low rumble vibrated through the void.
Not sound.
Something deeper.
Something felt.
Kael turned slowly.
"Show yourself."
Two eyes opened.
Gold.
Burning.
Ancient.
They didn't just glow—they existed in a way that made everything else feel unreal.
And then—
The shape followed.
A wolf emerged from the darkness.
No.
That word was too small.
Too weak.
This was something far beyond any creature Kael had ever seen—or imagined.
Its body was massive, towering, easily several times his height even while standing on all fours. Its fur shifted like living shadows, flowing and dissolving at the edges as if it wasn't entirely bound to reality.
Each step it took didn't echo.
It pressed into existence.
Heavy.
Dominant.
Absolute.
Kael didn't move.
But his instincts did.
They screamed.
Bow.
Submit.
Kneel.
His legs trembled.
His body… wanted to yield.
Kael clenched his fists.
"No."
The word came out low.
Rough.
Defiant.
The wolf stopped.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
It laughed.
The sound wasn't normal.
It wasn't even entirely a sound.
It echoed through Kael's mind, his bones, his blood.
"Good."
The creature lowered its massive head slightly, studying him.
"You still have teeth."
Kael's jaw tightened. "What are you?"
The wolf's eyes narrowed.
"You ask the wrong question."
It stepped closer.
The distance between them vanished instantly.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
Kael didn't react in time—
And suddenly, he was face-to-face with it.
"The real question is…"
The wolf's voice dropped, heavy and suffocating.
"…what are you?"
Kael didn't answer.
Because he didn't know.
And for the first time since waking up—
That unsettled him.
The wolf circled him slowly.
Each step measured.
Deliberate.
Like a predator studying something unfamiliar… but interesting.
"Weak body."
It sniffed lightly.
"Broken instincts."
Another step.
"Dormant bloodline."
It stopped in front of him again.
"And yet…"
Its golden eyes flared slightly.
"…you survived death."
Kael's gaze sharpened.
"That wasn't survival," he said coldly. "I died."
The wolf tilted its head.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then—
"And I brought you back."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Kael stared at it.
"You… did this?"
"I allowed it."
The correction came instantly.
Sharp.
Proud.
Ancient.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"So what—you expect gratitude?"
The wolf's eyes gleamed faintly.
"No."
It leaned closer.
"I expect strength."
The pressure in the void increased.
Kael felt it pressing against him, testing him, weighing him.
Judging him.
"The Ashfang bloodline does not beg."
The wolf's voice deepened.
"It does not kneel."
Another step forward.
"It does not break."
Kael's vision flickered.
Memories—fragments—flashed through his mind.
Fire.
Screams.
Blood.
His clan.
Falling.
Dying.
Gone.
His expression darkened.
"…They died," he said quietly.
The wolf said nothing.
Kael's fists clenched.
"They were strong. Stronger than me. Stronger than anyone."
His voice grew sharper.
"And they still died."
The wolf watched him carefully.
"Yes."
No sympathy.
No comfort.
Just truth.
Kael looked up.
Golden eyes burning.
"Then what makes you think I won't?"
For the first time—
The wolf smiled.
It wasn't a kind expression.
It wasn't reassuring.
It was something far more dangerous.
"Because…"
The void trembled.
The air warped.
The presence of the creature intensified—
"…you are not them."
Power surged.
Sudden.
Violent.
Uncontrollable.
Kael dropped to one knee.
His body shook as something inside him reacted—responded—to the wolf's presence.
Not fear.
Not exactly.
Something deeper.
Recognition.
"You are the last."
The wolf's voice echoed.
"The last Alpha of Ashfang."
Kael's head snapped up.
"…Alpha?"
The word felt heavy.
Important.
Like it carried weight he didn't fully understand.
The wolf's eyes burned brighter.
"Not a warrior."
"Not a soldier."
"Not prey."
It stepped closer.
"A ruler."
The word hit differently.
Kael felt it.
Deep in his chest.
In his bones.
In his blood.
"The one who stands above all."
The wolf continued.
"The one who commands."
"The one who devours."
Kael's breathing slowed.
Again.
Too controlled.
Too steady.
"…I don't remember any of this," he said.
The wolf nodded slightly.
"Of course not."
A pause.
"You were never allowed to awaken."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
The wolf didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
It turned away.
The darkness shifted.
Images formed.
Memories—
Not his.
A clan.
Powerful.
Proud.
Wolves standing beneath a massive silver moon.
Their eyes glowing.
Their presence overwhelming.
At the center of them—
A figure stood.
Alone.
Above the rest.
Golden eyes.
Blacker markings.
Presence… absolute.
Kael's breath caught.
"That's…"
"You."
The image shattered.
Kael stumbled slightly as the void trembled again.
"No," he muttered. "That's not me."
"Not yet."
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Final.
Then—
The wolf looked back at him.
"Wake up, Kael."
Everything shattered.
The forest rushed back.
The rain.
The cold air.
The scent of blood.
Reality snapped into place—
Kael gasped.
His body jerked as he staggered forward, catching himself against a tree.
"What… was that…"
But even as he asked—
He knew.
His senses had changed again.
Evolved.
He could feel it now.
Clearly.
The forest wasn't just around him.
It was… responding to him.
The wind shifted slightly.
Toward him.
The trees creaked.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
Animals—hidden deep in the undergrowth—had gone completely still.
Not just hiding.
Waiting.
Kael's eyes slowly scanned his surroundings.
"…This is insane."
"This is power."
The voice corrected calmly.
Kael exhaled.
Then—
He frowned.
Something else.
A new sensation.
Faint.
But distinct.
He turned his head slowly.
South.
"…Someone's coming."
And this time—
He didn't need the voice to confirm it.
Chapter 1(Scene 3); The forest held its breath.
Kael stood still, head slightly tilted, golden eyes fixed toward the south.
He didn't need to see them.
He could feel them.
Five presences.
Moving fast.
Not like the last hunter—these were coordinated.
Disciplined.
Dangerous.
"…They're not ordinary," Kael muttered.
"No."
The voice in him sounded almost… pleased.
"These ones might actually be worth your time."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"Good."
The wind shifted again.
Then—
They appeared.
Five figures stepped into the clearing, emerging from the shadows like they had always been there.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
Their eyes locked onto Kael instantly.
And unlike the last hunter—
They didn't look surprised.
"So," one of them said, his voice calm but sharp,
"the corpse really did get back up."
Kael's lips curved faintly.
"Disappointed?"
The group spread out slightly, forming a loose circle around him.
Trained.
Intentional.
The one in front stepped forward.
Tall. Lean. His armor was darker than the others, with thin silver markings running across it like veins.
Different.
Leader.
"We confirmed your death," he said. "Your heart stopped. Your body went cold."
His gaze sharpened.
"And yet… here you are."
Kael shrugged lightly.
"Yeah. I get that a lot."
A faint chuckle came from one of the hunters behind.
Another cracked his neck.
But the leader didn't react.
He kept watching Kael.
Studying him.
"…Something changed," he said quietly.
Kael didn't answer.
Because something had changed.
Everything had.
The leader's eyes narrowed.
"Your presence… it's wrong."
"He can feel it."
The voice in Kael murmured.
"Good. That means he's not completely useless."
Kael smirked slightly.
"Then you should leave."
A pause.
Then—
The hunters laughed.
"Leave?" one of them repeated. "After finding you?"
Another stepped forward, spinning a short silver blade between his fingers.
"You're more valuable alive… but dead works too."
The leader raised his hand slightly.
Silence returned instantly.
Then he spoke.
"You're coming with us."
Kael blinked.
Then smiled.
"…No."
The air snapped.
For a split second—
Nothing moved.
Then—
Everything did.
One of the hunters lunged forward, faster than the last one Kael had faced.
Much faster.
His blade flashed, cutting straight toward Kael's neck.
CLANG.
The sound rang out sharply.
The blade stopped.
Kael had caught it.
Barehanded.
The hunter froze.
"…What?"
Kael looked at the blade, then at the man.
"…This is silver, right?"
The hunter's grip tightened.
"It should be burning your flesh."
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"…Huh."
He tightened his grip.
CRACK.
The blade shattered.
The hunter's eyes widened.
Kael moved.
A single step forward—
Too fast to follow—
His hand shot out, grabbing the hunter by the throat and lifting him off the ground effortlessly.
The other hunters reacted instantly.
"Move!"
Three of them attacked at once.
Blades flashing.
Precise.
Deadly.
Kael didn't let go.
Instead—
He turned.
The hunter in his hand became a shield.
SLASH.
Blood sprayed.
The attacking hunters immediately pulled back, their expressions tightening.
Kael dropped the body.
"…You hesitate," he said calmly.
The leader's gaze darkened.
"You're adapting too quickly."
Kael rolled his shoulder slightly.
"Yeah. I noticed."
"You're holding back."
The voice inside him said.
Kael's eyes flickered.
"…Am I?"
"You're thinking like prey."
Something in his chest stirred.
"Stop thinking."
Kael exhaled.
Slowly.
Then—
His posture changed.
Subtle.
But immediate.
The hesitation disappeared.
His gaze sharpened.
His breathing slowed even further.
And the air around him—
Shifted.
The hunters felt it.
"…What is this?" one of them whispered.
The leader's grip tightened on his weapon.
"Careful."
Kael took a step forward.
The ground pressed down beneath his foot.
"Let's try something," he said quietly.
Then—
He spoke.
"Kneel."
Silence.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
One of the hunters dropped.
His knees slammed into the ground.
His face twisted in shock.
"I—what—?!"
The others froze.
The leader's eyes widened slightly.
"…An Alpha command."
Kael blinked.
"…A what?"
"Good."
The voice sounded satisfied.
"You're starting to remember."
The kneeling hunter struggled to stand—
But couldn't.
His body trembled violently, as if something invisible was forcing him down.
Kael stared at him.
"…I did that?"
The leader stepped forward, his expression now serious.
"Enough playing around."
His weapon began to glow brighter.
"Kill him."
The remaining hunters moved instantly.
No hesitation.
No fear.
This time—
They didn't hold back.
Kael looked up.
Golden eyes glowing.
And smiled.
"Yeah…" he said softly.
"…this is more like it."
The forest erupted.