The Silvermane was known as the oldest Wolf half-blood clan. Its origins could be traced back more than 30,000 years ago. It was also considered as the very first noble bloodline, the king among the wolves.
Unlike their counterparts, the secret to their power did not lie in immense wealth or unstoppable strength. Instead, it was their ability to keep and maintain a pure gene bloodline through generations.
[Bloodline genes - Blood Wolf]
[Gene classification - Mythical bloodline]
[Bloodline Limit: Rank 9]
The highest rank, the purest blood, closest to the blood of the Wolf Ancestor itself.
It was what enabled the descendants of the Silvermane to triumph over their peers, allowing them to always transform into either the most powerful heroes or fearsome demons to their foes.
Many descendants across generations and times managed to create history and legacy through various wars of the past – the Primordial War, the Celestial War, and then the Elven War, which earned them a place in the Magus Alliance's Hall of Fame.
However, things have gotten worse in the last three thousand years. The name of the Silvermane has been dwindling as they had no Supreme Magus figure as a successor during that period of time, with Marcus Silvermane as the third generation of such a dark age.
Not only was he unable to bring honor to the noble Silvermane's name, but the man was also considered the weakest in Silvermane's entire history as he was unable to break through from the grand magus realm, even receiving complications that adversely affected him in the process.
The curse of the Silvermane. One that has been passed down for three generations now.
When the tension between humans and elves heated up, Marcus had been trying to find the cure for this curse of his. He did this in hopes of solidifying and uniting all of the Wolf factions once again, bringing about Silvermane's second golden age.
However, what he received for his efforts was far from what he expected. Countless acts of disobedience, various nefarious schemes to undermine Silvermane, and drained the kingdom dry.
It was at this time that fortune arrived before the Alpha King as if it was compensation for all the suffering he had suffered. Not only had he managed to find the rare [Ancient Wolf Blood], there was also a crimson grimoire among the finds, [Book of the Blood].
With each passing day that the grimoire was in his possession, it slowly gave him a confidence that he had unknowingly lost. It was as if it was whispering to him, telling him to finally make his move.
[Rituals of Bloods]
In spite of the advice of his closest confidant, the Alpha King still chose to escalate his plan even further, draining the blood from the arena that was currently filled with those who challenged him.
[Genes purified]
[Blood Wolf just went through the purifying process]
Several serpent-like torrents of blood could be seen coming in and out of the huge blood sphere floating in the sky as it forcibly drew out the blood of the people fighting in the arena and pulled some into the sphere. Screams of pain rang out clearly in the air, but no one seemed to be fazed by it. They were all still immersed in the ongoing fierce struggle.
"Not enough! I need more!!"
At this moment, finally finding a way to return to the glory days of the Silvermane Blood Wolf, the Alpha King went so far as to draw in more people from the audience and used the influence that his powerful Rank 9 Mythical bloodline was capable of as he performed the full extent of the ritual of the [Book of the Blood].
"Follow your Alpha's calling, sacrifice yourself for the birth of the supreme Blood Wolf."
Even though it seemed ordinary, those words were powerful enough to exert influence to control the hundreds of thousands of spectators currently present at the Silvermane Arena up to those at the magus level, which left only a few hundred able to control themselves – those who were Half Moon magus up to Grand Magus, those with Mythical bloodline as well as some who were bound by special bonds.
Only hundreds were able to resist the Alpha King's influence, while hundreds of thousands of those affected remained still where they were, jumping into the arena when they were given the order.
Those who tried to run away were immediately stopped by the guards and the thousands of Silvermane army, the Warhounds, who were on standby throughout the arena.
At the center of the arena, one powerful figure, Philips Corvin grabbed his unconscious son whom he himself had to shield from being influenced by the Alpha King while avoiding the snake-like torrent of blood that rampaged the area.
"Stop this fight already! Something is wrong with the King!"
Hearing those words, the dozens of magus, especially those of Locarios and Karst, nodded in agreement to the Corvin Patriarch's words.
Even Tidus seemed to have woken up from his rage and tried to save the few that could still be saved.
"Why!! My king, why?!!" Tidus cried out when he saw so many dead, so many sacrificed.
Meanwhile, Philips had a deep scowl on his face. "My brother is right! I should have listened to him!'
In a corner of the arena, Emery was still attempting to break away from Zed and his group of young warhound magus. He had given his best, but he still couldn't make it, not anytime sooner.
Then, right at this moment, some familiar people came over to where he was, seemingly intent on helping. These people were Freaki the Bone Coyote and some of the Sacred Rose who were trying their best to hold out from the Alpha King's influence.
Eight of them had come and helped him, as they also tried to make their way to exit. At the same time, more guards and warhounds closed in on their location.
With the space provided by his newfound allies, Emery quickly kicked the gears in his brain as his eyes darted around, looking for a way to lead them out.
Unfortunately for Emery, his time was limited. Seeing that the Alpha King began to hover in the air above the arena, he realized that their situation was very dire and resolutely decided to use his last card.
Emery took another of the [Spirit Explosion Pill], before this time he dashed towards Morgana.
Thanks to their connection, the red-haired girl knew exactly what he was planning and she quickly mustered her spirit energy. As their hands touched each other, both of them gathered their now connected spirit energy, and with the power of Khaos within her Emery managed to cast a spell.
"Open!!!"
It took a few seconds before a spatial distortion was created and a familiar-looking gate appeared before their eyes.
[Spatial Gate]
Because Emery still technically had not recovered his spellcasting abilities, coupled with the fact that it was in such a rush, the gate only managed to form the other end at a place several miles away from the Silvermane Arena.
"Hurry, get in!!"
Emery told his pack members to enter the Spatial Gate and they quickly complied, moving as fast as they could while enduring the struggle against Alpha King's influence. He also told Freaki and the others to enter as well.
But instead of complying, the white tattooed man chuckled as he said, "Someone has to stop this sharp-looking bunch!"
As soon as he said that, Freaki transformed into his beast mode and his figure darted forward, kicking and tackling the warhounds that were trying to rush at Emery. His actions bought the time needed for all the injured to enter the portal before he was eventually brought down to the ground.
"LEAVE!!!"
Unfortunately, it wasn't that easy for Emery and Morgana to leave as they needed some time to cut their connection. Calculating in his head, Emery realized they would only have a split second to enter the portal after it was done. So he immediately pushed Morgana into the portal first.
Just as he was about to step in, one of the serpent-like blood torrents managed to coil around Emery's body. Immediately, he could feel a force tugging him away from the swirling portal.
To his surprise, the already-safe Morgana jumped out of the portal and grabbed his arm. "Not this time, not again!"
She quickly threw her [Hellflame] at the torrent, intending to scorch the blood and rid Emery of it. However, more were coming their way and with the portal already closed, there was not much they could do. Emery stood on her back and said "We will fight them together!!"
The two managed to hold on for several seconds before both of them were pulled, their figures disappearing into the blood torrent, which has grown bigger by the seconds,
Moments after, everyone witnessed how the Alpha King transformed, not into the supreme being he claimed to be, but a 50-meter-tall beast covered in blood.
One who recognize it shouted, "That's.. a Primal form!!"
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Author's Note:
Dear readers,
With this chapter, the month of April has come to an end.
I hope you enjoy the April chapter as I have, more surprises waiting on the May chapters with encounters of people from Emery's past after the Silvermane arc conclusion.
Thank you for the support and hope you all will join me for May chapters, and don't forget to drop by our Discord channel for the end-of-the-month events!
Click the link on my website: www.avans.xyz