&*Won't waste your time. Explanation below the chapter. Please, enjoy&*
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"BASTARDS!" the red wolf roared in anger even in its state. Then, its body moved all on its own and soon after, forcibly reattached with its head!
Were it any other circumstances, that would have been really freaky. But the wolf must have been driven to complete anger for it to regenerate that fast.
Immediately after reattaching its head though, it grew even larger in size, it's fur turning dark red with its eyes glowing a powerful orange. It turned its head at me with clear vengeance in its eyes, maybe thinking I betrayed it when it was at its lowest. In all honesty, I don't blame its assumptions. I wouldn't have trusted me either.
At this point, maybe if I was the culprit, I'd be trembling in my feet. But I knew fully well that I wasn't with the group that attacked us. But what was more infuriating was the fact that they took my potential army, friend, and I guess the demon too.
BUT MY POTENTIAL PACK WAS TAKEN RIGHT BEFORE I COULD RECRUIT THEM?!
That struck a nerve I never new I had. Unintentionally, my body was emitting a deadly presence, one that turned all the grass and trees around me to dust. The red wolf seemed hesitant to attack as it studied the area around with wide eyes.
"This kid... even at this level he still gives off a more powerful pressure than me. I don't know why, but were I to make a move against him right now, I'd have died ten times over," the red wolf thought .
I watched the red wolf carefully, waiting for it to attack but surprisingly, it did not. I finally began to calm down. The wolf also shrank down in size but we both still had our guards up.
"Listen, I know you have no reason to believe me, but I had nothing to do with this," I finally began.
"What makes you so sure I'd believe your claim now? For all I know, maybe you planned this with your friends from the start!" the red wolf sneered in anger.
"Ok then. You still want to form a blood pact? I guess that's the only way I can prove my innocence," I said, giving the wolf a weak smile.
I thought the wolf would just laugh, heal its brother miraculously, and then they'll both gang up on me to finish the job and go rescue their pack. But to my amazement....
"Heal my brother, then we'll talk," it answered.
"Or, we can do that too,"
I moved towards the purple wolf to heal it, who by the way, was still in shock of its fallen brothers. As I came closer, the red wolf moved in my way, blocking its brother from me.
"Ah... I'll have to get in contact with him first to heal him," I hesistantly said while staring down. It still did not move.
"Listen, I know you think I'm the bad guy here, but truth be told, I did this out of desperation. I can't pretend I know the pain of losing your pack, but I sure as hell know how to save them. Now all that I ask from you is to trust me, just this once,"
After what felt like ages, it finally relented and paved way for me. I placed my hand on the purple wolf's head and began the process.
***
[Alright Bradley, do it]
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<*Dark mana has been reabsorbed back to the users body!*>
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***
The purple wolf's fur turned back to its natural color, showing that I did indeed remove whatever I had put in the wolf. Soon, it was able to get up from the ground.
"Thanks, even though you gave me that poison in the first place," the purple wolf thanked me in my head.
"Your welcome?"
Two minutes later, and I was staring at both wolves as they sat side to side with each other, I too on the ground.
"Talk Furrha," the red wolf commanded in my mind.
"That's how you start a conversation? Listen, if we plan on working together, we'll have to-"
"TALK!"
"Hmph! That's some attitude you got on you, wolf. What if I say I won't help you, huh? What are you gonna do then?"
"Why you little-"
"Hey! Lives are on the line here! Brother, would it kill you to be a little more nicer . Our pack is in trouble, or have you forgotten?" the purple wolf intervened.
"...fine, please continue," the red wolf mumbled.
I could tell that that took a lot from it. Huh, this feels....how do I say, satisfying.
"Ok then. Blood pact. Are we all familiar with it?"
Both had a poker face on, until they finally realized the weight of my words, of course. I mean, I did mention it before. I guess it finally dawned to them that what I said wasn't just for show.
"I think, when I join your pack, I'll be able to track them down, therefore saving them and my friends. But we all know the rules and risks of the pact," I mentioned. Allow me diverge a little.
Let me explain it to you why it's so feared to be used.
It is the most dangerous ritual to exist in the beast verse. Both parties have to be in agreement with each other for it to be achieved, or both will suffer unimaginable consequences. It is essential for one to lead the ritual hence if all goes well ( which is rare), the leader gains control of the rest and attains the benefits of the pact, hopefully one being the pack's scent and location wherever they are which, Bradley assured me was highly possible. Unfortunately, the risks are higher than the benefits.
One guy tried the ritual with an orc (failed horribly mind you) and soon after, as if it weren't enough that he lost both legs, his entire family died of unknown means. And when I say entire family, I mean his ENTIRE family: Mother, father, wife, children, parents of wife, brothers of wife and well.... you get the idea. That's the most reasonable case at least.
Another guy who tried it... teleported into a black hole that just so happened to appear right in his pathway on a christmas morning two years later after the failed attempt. Hearing all that, now you understand why no one practices it.
But at the moment, I had no other bright ideas. I would have called for Flintheart, if Kira didn't have the flare gun, and also the wolves were here too, so we were on our own, and time was of essence.
"So, your thoughts?" I asked them both.
Both wolves stared at each other and nodded their heads.
"We have no other options now, do we? Fine by me, but you lead the ritual," the red wolf spoke, effectively issuing my death warrant since the leader is the one the most likely suffer the most. I swear, I could sense the smile resisting to form across the red wolf's poker face.
"Well then, no time to spare. Just know that if we succeed, I'll be the packs' leader Mr. Red. Hope you ready for that," I said, smiling. The wolf's eyes widened in realization, as if seeing the truth now.
"If you survive," It mumbled.
I searched for a stick while the wolves, under my instructions, moved my remaining friends into their cave. I left a letter in Bareth's shorts explaining where we were and possibly incase of my death to search for another group and signal Flintheart and let him know what went down.
I finally found one, and so drew the circle as instructed by the system. Once done, I called the wolves to begin the process. By now, one hour had already gone by, and we were praying the bandits hadn't left the planet. Seeing the red wolf was the leader of the pack, we both had to enter the circle. Then, as required, we drew blood and once it reached the centre, we both froze up.
"Now comes the hard part, acceptance," the purple wolf said from the side.
Pain suddenly flared in my body! I screamed in agony and fell to the ground. The red wolf howled an ear piercing scream, it too joining me on the ground.
The pain felt like my blood was on fire and as my heart pumped it through my body, it just made it even more excruciatingly painfull. My monster senses roared at me to stop whatever I was doing but that at the moment, it was impossible.
Suddenly, blood began bleeding from my nose and ears. It was all I could do to keep from going under. It was a long while before the pain subsided.
From there, my body began healing. I could feel that my blood got heavier but more refined. My body felt more connected to the wolves too. Hopefully, I was gaining the benefits and not a new way to die. Whether it was a success or a failure, I don't know. I guess since I'm still alive, it went well. At least I'm certain of one thing.
***
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I smiled to myself.
"Well then, pack. Are you ready to bring some havoc?"