Time seemed to stand still. The sleeping Wolf Soul King stood in the dark red light, looking down at Kale and the Shadow Messenger before him. Its eyes were as scorching as molten lava, reflecting the two candidates and examining who was worthy of carrying its bloodline and power.
Kale gripped his long knife tightly, feeling the restlessness of the Wolf Soul within him. It was a response stemming from his bloodline, as if every whisper of the Wolf Soul King could reach the depths of his soul.
The Shadow Messenger stood not far away. The black patterns on his arms quietly circulated, forming a faint black mist that circled around his body. His eyes were fanatical and greedy, seemingly waiting for the final decision of the Wolf Soul King.
"Kale," the voice of the Shadow Messenger echoed in the fissure, low and slow. "Do you understand? This is not just a simple contest but a trial of the bloodline. There is no absolute justice, nor is there so-called fate. Only the victor deserves to stand here."
Kale's gaze was sharp, and his tone was calm but firm. "You're wrong, Shadow Messenger. The bloodline is not the only answer. The Wolf Soul King won't choose someone who submits to the darkness."
The Shadow Messenger chuckled, his voice filled with mockery. "Darkness? Kale, haven't you realized yet? Darkness and light are one and the same. Darkness without light is a meaningless abyss, and light without darkness is but an illusory vision. Do you think the Wolf Soul King is pure light? Look at its eyes. That's a bottomless sea of flames."
Kale no longer replied. His gaze slowly turned to the Wolf Soul King, feeling the rhythm of its breathing and the connection in the depths of his soul.
Suddenly, the Wolf Soul King raised its huge paw violently and waved it gently. A strong wind swept through the entire fissure. The dark rock walls shattered like pieces of paper. The wolf pack trembled in fear, and Cangzhao growled and stood in front of Kale.
The space within the fissure was violently distorted, as if the Wolf Soul King was awakening the sleeping realm.
"The trial begins."
A vast murmur sounded, accompanied by the roar of the Wolf Soul King. A huge stone platform slowly rose from the center of the fissure. The stone platform was covered with ancient runes, and each rune seemed to be flowing with the power of the wolf clan, shining brightly.
The Shadow Messenger stomped his foot, quickly leaped onto the stone platform. Surrounded by a black mist, his figure turned into an afterimage and instantly approached the throne in the center of the stone platform.
Kale didn't hesitate for a moment. He followed closely behind, drawing out his long knife. The light of the knife was as fast as lightning, and a sharp blade qi slashed straight at the back of the Shadow Messenger.
The figure of the Shadow Messenger swayed slightly. He blocked with his dagger behind him. The knife and the dagger clashed, and sparks flew. The Shadow Messenger sneered, used the force to turn over, and made a sharp horizontal slash straight for Kale's throat.
Kale leaned back slightly, barely avoiding the edge of the dagger. He pushed off with his foot and stabbed the long knife straight at the chest of the Shadow Messenger.
The Shadow Messenger turned into a black shadow and disappeared into the air. When he reappeared, he was already standing in front of the throne. He gently touched the armrest of the throne, and the black patterns quickly spread along his palm, trying to erode the power of the throne.
The eyes of the Wolf Soul King darkened, and a low roar came from the fissure. Streaks of light blades appeared on the surface of the throne, suddenly shaking off the Shadow Messenger. The black mist exploded in the air, and the Shadow Messenger staggered back several steps, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
"It seems that he doesn't recognize you." Kale said coldly, his gaze fixed on the Shadow Messenger.
The Shadow Messenger wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and narrowed his eyes slightly. "The power of the Wolf Soul King is not so easily obtained, but don't be too complacent."
Inside the fissure, the Wolf Soul King slowly took steps. Each step made the space tremble slightly. Its gaze was sharp as it landed on the two people on the stone platform, and its deep voice sounded again. "The true king doesn't guard the throne but conquers it."
As soon as the words were spoken, towering flames suddenly ignited around the stone platform. Countless wolf shadows emerged from the flames. They bared their teeth and claws and rushed towards the two of them.
The Shadow Messenger's face turned ferocious. He brandished his dagger, and the black mist turned into sharp blades, instantly cutting down several wolf shadows. But more wolf shadows emerged from the flames, overwhelming them.
Kale took a deep breath and waved his long knife. The light of the knife cut through the darkness, and each strike was accompanied by the roar of the Wolf Soul, slashing down the attacking wolf shadows.
Cangzhao and the wolf pack also rushed into the sea of fire, roaring and grappling with the wolf shadows. The battlefield instantly fell into chaos.
Taking the opportunity, the Shadow Messenger rushed towards the throne again. The black mist surged under his feet, and he seemed to blend into the shadows, running close to the ground at lightning speed.
Kale quickly caught his movement. He pushed off with his foot and leaped onto the top of the throne, pointing his long knife at the Shadow Messenger below.
The Shadow Messenger stabbed his dagger upward. The knife and the dagger clashed again, and sparks flew. The two crossed in the air and passed each other. Blood dripped onto the stone platform.
A cut was made on Kale's shoulder by the dagger, and the blood stained his clothes. On the other hand, a deep wound was stabbed on the arm of the Shadow Messenger by the long knife.
The Wolf Soul King watched all this quietly. An ancient fire burned in the depths of its eyes,
seemingly expecting the final result.
The Shadow Messenger staggered back a few steps, his gaze gloomy. "Kale, do you think you can win?"
Kale slowly raised his long knife. The blade reflected the runes on the throne, and his voice was as steady as a mountain. "I don't need to win against you. As long as the throne recognizes me."
The expression of the Shadow Messenger changed. Just as he was about to launch another attack, the Wolf Soul King in the fissure suddenly let out a long howl. The flames on the stone platform burned violently and turned into a blazing beam of light that rushed straight towards Kale.
Kale didn't dodge. He let the flames envelop his whole body. The flames churned within him but didn't burn him at all. Instead, they merged with his bloodline and turned into a majestic force.
The face of the Shadow Messenger changed drastically. "Impossible..."
Kale slowly stepped onto the throne. The figure of the Wolf Soul King gradually dissipated. Instead, a pair of wolf eyes burning with flames slowly emerged behind Kale.
He had become the true heir.