-Southern Telum. Morning. 3RD POV-
The stubborn Grey Wolf on a journey towards the Artic, succeeded half a century later, and finally reunited with his Mate from the past life, but it wasn't the end of his struggles. The wolf pair first attempt at making a Pack resulted in Grey's death and Shimmer's grief, but they did not give up. She migrated North while He reincarnated, and journeyed half-way across the continent once again. They reunited once again on the peninsula formed by the largest river bordering the Southern Tundra in Telum continent, some 3000 Km South-East of Zhuryoh City and managed to form a Pack.
Although enemies were all around in the place they settled. Burdened with a Mate that was physically and Spiritually weak, the She-wolf decided to conquer a small intermittent Mana Vein at the edge of the Water Bears territory. A decision she did not regret, but the grief of losing her entire pack again lasted many years. Some of the former residents of this land survived, and retreated to other Tribes occupying the snowy Islands South-East, but their loss was great as well and took years to recover.
Now, on the present day, it was a tranquil wintry morning in the year 1147 of the Alkalis Calendar and the Wolf pack was gathered around their Alpha pair near the icy waters. The Wolves had suspended the mating season this year as the upper Rank 10 male Alpha was on the verge of achieving an important magic breakthrough which would make him vulnerable. Suddenly, Grey's Spirit retracted from the World and all the Mana was consumed by his Soul making him a common beast without Magic. The 18 pack members noticed his vulnerable state, but they would not challange him now, for he was their Father and protector.
Grey's Soul strands pierced the dimension and formed a network inside the Wolf's brain before creating a Spirit much potent than mortals. *Bwuom! Bwuorrrrn! KiiiiiiiNNN!* The Spirit grew in waves pushing mana and air outwards until it produced noisy vibrations that made the beasts sitting between large boulders to cringe. *Boom! Zrooom!* The complete manifestation of the Soul and birth of Willpower created a shockwave that blew snow in the surroundings along with the ambient mana in a sphere traveling at high speed.
"WOOF! I DID IT! I DID IT!" The 6-meter tall gray wolf rejoiced floating a meter above a crater on the ground.
""Congratulations!!!"" The smaller canines all around cheered and lifted their muzzle. ""AWRROOOHHHH!!"" They howled out loud for a few minutes.
"Finally... After centuries of sacrifice..." A white she-wolf rejoiced with cloudy eyes and tail wagging rapidly from happiness
"Shimmer! I own you everything...Mate." The medium talent Divine wolf declared and descended in front of her.
"Hmph! Of course! I said I would make you an immortal, and I did. You pup!" The Low-Rank 10 she-wolf scoffed and declared causing the pack members to sneer.
*Shlap! Shlep!* The two Alphas lick each other for tens of seconds while their children watch all around wagging their tails.
However, their happiness would be short-lived.
...
Minutes later, a large bear with two horns pointing backward and spikes on his limbs is being carried by the willpower of an immortal human wearing bulky golden metal armors.
*WHOooosh!* The two intruders slowed down and came to a stop near the wolf pack celebrating.
"There! It's him, Sir. He's the wolf that I killed and appeared again with the same memories..." The blue bear transmitted while pointing with a claw.
"Excellent!" The immortal sent his probe alerting the newly ascended Divine. "The information is genuine. He's the one I'm looking for..." He confirmed and lowered the bear. "As per agreement, I won't interfere with your revenge." The human affirmed and flew towards the wolves.
"Thank you, Sir!" The rank 10 bear offered his gratitude and lifted his muzzle. "GRUAAAAHHH!" He roared to the South where his family awaited the signal to attack.
On the north, the wolves froze looking at the intruders and the Divine reacted first barking at them.
"RUN!" The alpha commanded after probing.
"...Mate?" The largest she-wolf questioned tilting her head confused.
"The Bears plotted something really nasty this time. That immortal is much stronger than me and he doesn't have good intentions..." The Divine wolf revealed and ran his gaze over the pack. "RUN AWAY!" He barked making them flinch.
"N-no...NO! Why must such a thing...!? It's supposed to be a happy day! This can't be happening...It can't!" The alpha she-wolf denied reality frozen in place.
*Whoop! Whoosh!* The gray wolf jumped up in the air and flew to the west at his highest speed.
"Futile. I'm not here to chase prey... Come with me!" The human ordered in a cold tone that made the wolf shiver.
"Hmph! Catch me if you can!" Gray mate sent back taunting.
"Give it up! It'll be easier for the both of us if you just stop resisting..." The human reasoned once again.
*Shiiiing! SHIIING!* The light user fired 6 arm-thick light beams from around his body aiming at the armored human gaining distance behind. *Shuang! Bwuash! BzziOM!* The human dodged or deflected the beams with the blade which carved the permafrost ground producing vapors that quickly condensed.
Near the rocky shores of the 100 Km river, the wolves are stunned by the turn of events.
"What do we do, mother?" A 5-meter tall rank 6 gray wolf asked fearfully.
"I-I... I don't know...FirstStar..." The stunned she-wolf stuttered looking at retreating immortals.
"MOTHER! Snap out of it!" A 5-meter tall rank 7 white wolf barked rocking her body.
"Y...yes! T-thank you, Dewseeker..." The she-wolf said and looked around before magnifying her eyesight. "We'll run into other Bears to the East, the Divines are on the west, and 20 beasts are coming from the South..." She inspected the options and turned to the north. "There's only one place to go... Cross the river to the island... GO!" The mother of all wolves present determined and ordered.
"What? But mother, the ice will break!" FirstStar opposed looking at the river for a moment.
"Spread out! It should support us that way." She commanded with a reproving tone.
*Barash! Barash! Barararash!* The wolves sprinted on the rocky shores for tens of meters while fanning out before getting on the ice covering the river slowly flowing with the arrival of spring. *Thurururussh!* The white beasts ran slowly on the thawing ice which creaked under their weight and changed direction towards an island in the middle 50 Km away.
The Bear leader saw the wolves fleeing before his warriors arrived and rushed towards the distracted she-wolf looking to the west anxiously.
*Pa-rash! Pa-rash!* The approaching Bear with his magic energy extended startled the white canine who quickly followed her sons behind.
"Where do you think you lot are going?" The horned beast called out reaching the river shores while controlling the water under the ice sheet. "GRAAH!" He yelled and slammed his paws on the shore.
*BRAM! Krarak! Krieeek! Kruak!* The foot-thick ice cracked raising up as a mass of water gathered on the shallow depths reaching 5 meters high and 10 wide under his control. *BWUUASSHH! THONK! KRONK!* The water wave moved forward breaking and pushing the ice in its way until it reached the canines. *Ka-pluash! Ka-pluash! Krrsh! Krrssh!* The last three wolves lost their balance and fell in the water clawing at the ice to get back up.
""HYAK!!! Wuoh??!"" The wet beasts yelped and called for help.
"GRRR!" The mother stopped to balance her body on top of a large chunk of ice and turned around growling. "FirstLight! MistyGray! Four of you, help them!" She commanded waiting for the water to stabilize and looked at the bear 40 meters away preparing a larger wave.
*Whop! Thump! Barash! Barash! Whop!* The she-wolf jumped over the ice chunks approaching the bear on the other side of the wall of water reaching 10 meters tall and opened her mouth. *FWOOOMM!...* She fired three first-thick shiny white beams that pierced the water refracting and vaporizing it before hitting the bear on the other side. *FWUASSHH!!* The intense light burnt the fur and boiled the water under the bear hide explosively.
"GWRUAH!" The rank 10 water beast roared and changed the command of his magic.
*Shrrriiiieeeg!* The wall of water solidified with air inside stopping the laser-like rays and 10-meter long ice spikes grew from the bottom of the river aiming for the wolf that stopped attacking. *SHRUAH! Thump! SHRUA! Whop! Thump!* The white beast dodged every ice pillar thrown her way and landed on the ground before glaring at the bear twenty meters away.
Meanwhile, the wolves bit the paws of the fallen siblings and pulled them out of the water before continuing running on the cracking ice sheet.
"GRRR!" Shimmer growled hatefully and pounced.
*Pa-rash!! Pa-rash!!* The two rank 10 beasts prepared their magic while rushing at each other. *Shriieegg!!!* The bear created eight meter-long ice spikes floating around his body while a smooth sheet in front. *FWOOOMM!* The she-wolf fire another light beam from her mouth but the bear was ready and reacted. *Whoosh! Whosh! Whosh!* He throw the ice sheet towards the aiming beam seeking his body while launching the ice spikes. *FWUASHH!! CHAK!!! SHOOoo...* The light beam refracted off the smooth ice sheet in multiple directions and creating rainbows within the mist while the two ice spikes lodged in the wolf's chest. *SHIIIIIIIIIIIINNNG!* The wolf noticed her attack didn't land and change the command of the elementals into a light burst that made the bear close his eyes shut and blast away the water in the surroundings.
""GWRUARRR!!"" The two beasts roared just before clashing and opened their jaws trying to maul each other.
*KLAP! WHOosh!* The bear maw closed right next to the white neck and continued his momentum as the wolf's open jaws reached the right side of his neck. *WHAP! SHRIIIAAK!* The nearly foot-long canines pierced the thick fur and launched her body to the back ripping a patch of fur in the quick exchange.
"GRAAH!" The bear grunted from the acute pain and grinded his teeth enduring while the bleeding stopped.
*KRRrrcchhh!! Thamp!!* The two skid on the ground to a stop and turned around.
""GRRRWARR!"" The two raging beasts roared once again and rushed for another clash.
*Pa-rash!! Pa-rash!!* The magical creatures sprinted while preparing magic inside their mouths. *FWOOMM! DWUASSHH!* The light user fired another light ray while the bear shot an arch-thick slightly compressed water beam. *PUARSSHHH! BOOM!* The compressed water superheated beyond the bear's control and exploded into a cloud of vapor quickly condensing in the cold weather. *Pa-rash! Pa-rash! Thump!* The she-wolf continued rushing without knowing the bear stopped and stood on two legs reaching 12 meters tall before swatting at the incoming wolf with the left paw while twisting his body. *BWUAM! Krukk!* The bear paw connected with the wolf's right cheek pushing her head to the side while leaving red claw marks on the white fur.
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"HYAP!" Shimmer yelped before closing her mouth and slamming her paws on the frozen ground.
*KRRrrcchhh!* The wolf skid on the ground to a stop near the blue-coated beast who was twisting his body the other way to delivering another attack in succession. *BWUAM! Krukk!* The large paw caved in the wolf's belly breaking two ribs before turning upwards slicing with the claws again. *SHRriiak! WHOoosh! THU-RUM! Pa-rash!!* The she-wolf landed and took some distance before limping around the bear clockwise at 30 meters away.
"Hiee..." Shimmer whined in pain and used light magic to accelerate the cell regeneration in her wounds.
"What does it feel...?" The bear standing on two legs suddenly spoke in wolf language while looking down at her.
"...!!?" The she-wolf stopped to stare with her mouth agape and wide eyes from the East.
"That's right... I learned your tongue and waited a long time just for this moment... You, who kidnapped my Cubs and forced us out of our ancestral land will lose everything today!" He reminded of her crimes and declared opening his forearms.
"GRRR!" Shimmer snarled with her hackles raised and mobilized most of her Magic outside her head. "Youuuu hateful beast...you'll paaaay for this! It was a mistake not killing you all that I must correct..." She declared with the most aggressive body language she could show while her magic trembled transmitting the hatred.
"Hmph! You aren't getting that chance." The bear scoffed and opposed the intent attacking his mind.
*BWUASSSHHH!* The bear fueled his elementals to create a large body of icy water enveloping his body and the surroundings slowly without protecting his head since the wolf kept her mouth closed, so he couldn't see the attack coming. *FWOOOOMMM!!* The white beast fueled her elementals most of the Mana producing the most powerful light beam she could make while aiming at the bear upper body. *FWUASSHH!!* The intense light traveling in a diffusing cone burnt the bear eyeballs and fur away before he could react while the inefficient magic usage left the wolf drained.
"GRAAAAA!" The rank 10 water user bellowed and commanded the accumulated water.
*BUUWUAASSSHHH!* The water rushed in a wave reaching 8 meters tall at high speed with super freezing temperatures towards the panting wolf who was too slow to react as well. *BWURUAAM! FWURUASSH!* The water toppled the retreating wolf and enveloped her in just a couple of seconds before it turned into a crystal clear ice with air bubbles trapped inside. *SHRRRiiiiEEEKKKK!!*
"HYAK! HIEK!" Shimmer yelped struggling to break free while the bear approached on two legs.
*Thamp! SwooOOSH!* The larger beast guiding himself with a probe stopped near the downed canine and brought down the right paw whistling in the air with great force. *PA--KRRAASSHH! SHUAK!!!* The large paw broke through the ice and three claws gauged open her belly before slamming onto the ground sending shockwaves through the body and shattering her icy prison. *KRA-rash! Brak! Prak! Tok! Shrruu...* The wolf slipped out of the ice as it crumbled and quietly moved along the river shore to the East while interrupting the bear's probe.
"GRAAAH! Get back here!" The blind bear demanded and went on all fours again before giving chase in the general direction.
It hurts...it hurts...it hurts... Shimmer complains of the pain as she paced away with her organs pushing out of the wounds.
However, she was out of luck, the group of bears coming from the South were within attack distance and prepared ice lances floating above them as they marched.
*Shu! Shu! Shu! Swiiss~* The transparent icy spears do an arc in the air while gaining speed towards the wolf 60 meters away. *Chak! Chak! Chak!* The barrage poorly aimed missed the she-wolf mostly but some managed to pierce her fur.
"GUK!" The light wolf endured the new injuries and projected her image behind while hiding the real body which made the bears miss again.
Several kilometers to the West, the human in golden armors was fed up with the stubborn wolf unwilling to surrender.
"Enough games! The hard way it is!" The person declared stopping his suppression and activated wind magic.
*BOOM! WHOOOSH!* The mysterious immortal created a sonic boom and streaked across the sky towards the wolf before swinging his greatsword.
"Shimmer! I was--" The Divine wolf immediately sent his probe out calling his mate when the metal descended over his body.
*SHUAA!* The Top-quality Divine blade descended with the weight of a mountain and cut the wolf in half interrupting his Spirit as the shockwave continued downwards. *THROOOMM!* The force of the slash created a deep gash in the ground two meters wide and twenty meters long while dispersing the mist in the area.
The white she-wolf and the bears stopped to look to the west where the severed corpse fell to the ground before the human drew his sword again.
*SHUAA!! THROOOMM!!* The earth user swung his blade multiple times until a hundred-meter crater formed and the wolf body turned to dust at the bottom before pulling the damaged Divine Soul to the sky with his Willpower.
"Hmph! I told you to cease your struggles. Now this will be painful for both of us." The armored human announced and dug his gauntlet fingers into the Soul.
*Krriiieeeenn!* The powerless energy construct could only shriek in pain as his consciousness was disrupted before the human brought it to his mouth.
"You all only exist to make me stronger..." The human asserted and swallowed it before his body contorted in pain while losing altitude.
...
"Mate? Mate? N-no...no...no...no...NOOOOOOOO!" The she-wolf observing with light magic was dazed for a moment before raging emotions made her blood boil and despair washed her mind. "WOOOOoooN~!" The centuries-old wolf howled in deep sorrow.
""WUOO!!"" The bears rejoiced.
A second later, the painful howl reached her offsprings. They stopped and looked back with lamenting expressions. The cold wind whistled around their unmoving figures.
...
Near the rocky island in the middle of the river, the 18 white wolves perked their ears as the fur is flattened on a side by the frigid winds.
"What happened?" FirstStar asked peering into the distance.
"Nothing good...to Father..." Dewseeker assumed as the acting leader.
"We should've fought!" Another Rank 7 barked.
"NO!" The new alpha barked opposing and trembled suppressing his emotions. "It would crush mother being the sole survivor again... They want us to survive and that's what we'll do." He spoke recalling the stories and reaffirmed.
"Mother will d-die..." A she-wolf pointed out holding back her emotions.
"There's nothing we can do. Nothing! And...I'm not even sure we'll all survive." Dewseeker declared grinding his fangs and turned around. "Let's go...please... Don't waste their sacrifice." He pleaded with eyes closed and started speeding up.
""..."" The canines were silent for a moment and followed the eldest sibling obediently.
...
The bears enjoying the despairing wolf stopped attacking to let her die slowly and stalked from a distance. Meanwhile, the immortal human remained unmoving at the bottom of the crater as he concentrated on assimilating the wounded Soul.
*Srrrrchhh...* A 7-meter white wolf slowly walks on the frozen land while dragging her intestines on the ground. *Zhoo--THOMP!* The magical beast staggered and fell on her side.
"HA-HUFF! HA-HUFF!" The light user panted feeling the cold creep on her body with a crushing grief and silent anger boiling within.
Is this how my long life ends...? Slipping away in some nameless land...alone once again... My mate...is this how our story ends? At the claws and schemes of those accursed bears? Giving my everything for hundreds of years wasn't enough. In the end, I watched you die unfairly once again. My children, please survive... Our legacy must...continue... She contemplated her end and closed the eyes giving up when heavy footsteps called her attention.
*Thump! THUMP!! WHOOO~* A white wolf around 200 meters tall appeared out of nowhere shaking the ground and scaring all animals in the area before stopping over the dying wolf as the thick yet soft fur waved by the frigid winds. *KRUK! KRARAK! KRURUMM! BWUOOOOSHH!* The large creature sinking the frozen ground producing loud cracks and changing the landscape with its presence lowered the giant head at high speed creating swirls in the air to look at the tiny bears.
""Wh--what is THAAAAT?!?!?"" The bears shivered under the huge eyes glinting maliciously within the mist and blurted aghast. ""R-run for your lives! RUUUN!!!"" The magical water beasts screamed and fled from the area back whence they came.
*WHOOOoo--!* The wind suddenly stopped with the falling snow in midair and an eerie stillness reigned for a kilometer square before the large creature directed its attention to the small wolf on the verge of death.
"W-wh--a-t!!? Do my eyes deceive me...?" Shimmer questioned the blurry figure above her.
"I am real, little wolf. More real than a mortal like you..." A normal wolf growl sounded next to the wounded she-wolf before her bleeding stopped.
"W-wha--!? A-are thee, oh, great being a Deity?" The she-wolf stopped feeling pain and asked as politely as she could while looking around.
"Perhaps... Though formalities aren't required." The unknown being replied in a neutral tone.
"Oh, great being, I beseech you! By your mercy...could you find it in your benevolence to help me?" Shimmer begged and pointed towards gauged belly with a paw.
"I will aid your Soul, little one...but you have to die today." The Deity replied in a cryptic way.
"GUK! N-no way..." The she-wolf uttered and became gloomy again.
"Do not despair, for I offer a chance at revenge, a bright future, and...Gray Mate's memories..." The voice offered with a dramatic pause.
"...!? He's...he's gone... I saw it with my own eyes. His Soul was...eaten...devoured...ruined. There's no coming back from that...ever." She perked her ears and shook her head slightly before denying.
"Wrong! His Soul will be assimilated, yes, but the memories won't be destroyed entirely. You just need to take them!" The Deity explained glancing at the crater in the distance.
"I-I see... I wish I could...but I probably won't even remember this conversation in the next life." Shimmer acknowledged and lamented.
"That, I can help with. It's a loophole after all..." The voice revealed and muttered.
"The great Deity will? Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" The she-wolf rejoiced.
"However, it's impossible to succeed on your own." The Deity pointed out with a mocking tone.
"GUK! Not even with my pack? Are they okay?" The white wolf questioned worriedly while looking to the left.
"...They'll be fine without you. They had a good Mother." The voice paused for a moment and asserted withholding information.
"HUUUuuu... Thank goodness..." She sighed and spoke relieved blinking her silver eyes slowly.
"Unfortunately, that immortal human evolves much faster than you and he has many, many allies. Winning is impossible for you. Although it's not your fight in the first place." The Deity divulged and the little beast's expression changed to despair once more.
"N-no way... Why is my existence so wretched? It's been misery in the past, torment in the present, and the future...has more despair stored for me... Whyyyyy???" Shimmer recounted feeling melancholic and questioned the unfairness.
"Little wolf, everything has been the result of your own choices. You are just lacking the perspective to see it just as you can't experience the world from a corner of it." The voice lectured kindly.
"W-wha--!? What must I do then?" She opened her eyes wide not accepting for an instant and sought advice.
"Wait for your Soul Mate in the next life or search for him at High-Rank." The Deity announced with urgency.
"...Gray Mate was my Soul Mate." The she-wolf narrowed her eyes correcting mildly upset.
"Fufu... You say that now, but you haven't encountered him yet. A meeting is all it'll take..." The Deity chuckled and foretold amusingly.
"...I don't understand how that would be possible." Shimmer failed to imagine and commented skeptically.
"You will... But there is a price..." The being reaffirmed and posed a condition.
"HUUuuu... Nothing is free... But I am willing to do anything." The wounded beast sighed and approved.
"Even becoming human?" The voice sought confirmation.
"...Whaaaaaaat!? But I despise humans! After everything they've done to me, you want me to reborn as a human?" The she-wolf questioned the unjust request and remained with her mouth open.
"And they'll do even more horrible things to you in human form, but you have to meet the conditions... He needs that you." The large creature described the reasons.
"Wha-at!? W-why reborn in that hateful race only to suffer even more when I could meet him as a beast?" The she-wolf reasoned opposing the punishing condition.
"Fufu... Because, little wolf, countless paths have been explored already and this is the best outcome for the far future. Otherwise, many, many will die including him, and nothing will stop the destruction of your Soul." The strange being elaborated the cause and effect.
"Wha-at!? My Soul...? How does Deity know that?" Shimmer questioned unconvinced.
"I am able to determine lifetimes to a certain extent. However, your Fate was already sealed hundreds of years ago." The voice revealed in an accusing tone.
"Wh--at!? H-hooww...??!" The she-wolf demanded unable to recall such a claim.
"When Gray Mate died the second time. You begged for power, for more talent, for stronger Magic, and then the Elementals deemed you worthy and responded to your pleas..." The Deity specified.
"I... I only remember being desperate and angry. I-I did terrible things...even my own pups...because we were too weak..." She narrated her sufferings with a gloomy tone.
"I know..." The voice affirmed gently while lowering her large eyelids. "But accepting help from the Light Elementals doomed your Soul eternally." The mysterious being proclaimed the consequences.
"I don't understand well, but I, an ancient Wolf who have lived for nearly a thousand years, need him to save me? Gwuff!" Shimmer spoke sarcastically, then scoffed and rolled her eyes with indignation.
"It's not that simple. But you need him to save yourself." The enormous wolf reaffirmed and a light speck appeared. "After I merge this Soul piece with yours, you will be reborn as a feeble human girl, and your existence will start to change, but your fate will only shift by his side." The voice calmly explained presenting the nearly invisible whisp.
"Hmm... Will I...reunite with my children? Will he hate them?" The she-wolf asked expectantly.
"There's a high probability that you'll find your offsprings again. But won't you have to worry about them hating him?" The enormous creature asserted and questioned.
"D-deity has a point... Then... I, Shimmer, shall accept the gracious offer with all the burdens. I apologize for being so stubborn." She acknowledged and lowered her ears submitting.
"It's alright, little wolf. Remember...it doesn't matter what terrible things happen...YOU are a mighty Beast! All that matters is 'him,' and the new experiences..." The Deity approved and encouraged with a severe tone.
"I-I understand... But a human body will just constraint my Soul. I want a Wolf body at Divine..." Shimmer accepted and voiced her desires.
"Do as you wish." The voice approved.
"Thank you... But may I ask...Who--who is the great Deity? Why do you want me to help him so badly?" She asked out of curiosity.
"Me? I am--..." The Deity was about to reveal when an interruption came.
The 18 wolves pressed on with a gloomy mood and reached the frozen island 30 minutes later which took them an hour to cross, and then jumped into the icy waters of the north where they had to swim while being dragged by the current along with icebergs. The light wolves used magic on their bodies for warmth, but the low ranks quickly ran out of Mana and drowned leaving just 14 survivors to reach land by night before huddling together for warmth.
""Hiee... Mother!! HuHuHuff!! Hyak! Hiep! Father..."" The group of 14 wolves whined exhausted and shivering from the cold without magic to defend against threats that loomed over them.