Chapter 34: The Price of Victory
Korrak's massive form teetered, blood pouring from the deep wound across his chest. His corrupted armor let out an eerie hum, flickering with dying glyphs. The crimson moon above cast his shadow long and broken.
Kael stood before him, claws soaked in blood, fur torn, ribs aching—but unbowed.
The ground beneath their feet was littered with the fallen. Rogue corpses twitched in their final moments. Pack members, bruised and bloodied, leaned on one another, panting but alive. The Heartfire Bonds shimmered faintly in their chests.
Korrak dropped to one knee.
"You… were supposed to be a joke," he rasped, one eye burning with disbelief. "A spoiled pup. A coward who ran."
Kael stepped closer, the wind stirring his fur like embers in a forge.
"I was," he said. "But that pup died the day I chose this path."
Korrak tried to stand again—but Tamir's blade caught him across the ankle, sending him crashing back down.
Milla emerged from the haze of battle, dragging a wounded rogue behind her. Flam limped to Kael's side, his arms covered in slash marks.
Kael raised his hand.
> System Notification:
Enemy: Korrak of Hollow Fang – Defeated
Chaos Bloodline Progress: Stage 2 Complete
Reward Gained:
➤ Chaos Pack Core – Fragment
➤ Skill Unlock: Alpha's Mark – Bind a defeated enemy's blood essence to fuel future evolution.
System Suggests: Execute the traitor for full assimilation bonus.
Kael stared down at the broken ex-Alpha.
He could feel it—the bloodline's hunger. The temptation to consume, to devour and grow stronger.
The Devourer within pulsed eagerly.
But Kael didn't move.
"Let me kill him," Flam growled. "He doesn't deserve mercy."
"No," Kael said softly.
He knelt beside Korrak, meeting his eye.
"You came here for death. But I'll give you something worse."
Korrak's lip curled.
"You… won't finish me?"
"No," Kael said. "You'll watch. You'll see this pack rise from ash and mud. You'll live to hear our howls echo over mountains you'll never climb again."
> System Update:
New Rule Proposed: Exiled Enemy Clause – Enemies who surrender and are spared will be cursed by the Oathstone, unable to raise a hand against the Crimson Howl or ally with its enemies again.
Kael pressed two fingers to the Oathstone behind him.
A black brand seared itself across Korrak's chest—the mark of Exiled Blood.
Korrak roared in pain.
Then he was dragged away by the two strongest warriors left standing.
Silence returned to the field, broken only by ragged breathing.
Kael turned to his pack.
"No more hiding," he said. "We are Crimson Howl. Not because we were born strong—but because we refuse to fall."
Cheers erupted—weak at first, then louder, rising like a wave.
> System Broadcast:
Pack Rank: 2 Achieved
Title Gained: Awakened Pack
New Features Unlocked: Tactical Formation Grid / Pack Treasury Access / Challenge Gatekeeper (Available once per moon cycle)
As the moonlight bathed their bruised forms in red-gold glow, Kael felt the pack take its first true breath.
They were broken no longer.
They were reborn.