Chapter 24: Pactborn Trials
Dust exploded into the hollow air as Kael barely rolled aside, the massive claw of the Bone Guardian missing his spine by a whisper. The beast roared—its voice more like a landslide than sound—echoing off the bone-carved walls. Every strike from its bone club cracked the ground like thunder.
"Split up!" Kael shouted. "Flam—left! Tamir—high! The rest, buy me time!"
The team scattered. The torchlight flickered back to life as Milla relit hers with trembling hands, her wolf instincts screaming for her to flee—but she stayed. Loyalty was thicker than blood in the Crimson Howl.
Kael's lungs burned as he sprinted toward the center of the hollow chamber, where an old ritual circle etched in ancient blood glowed faintly. The system hummed louder in his ears now, as if recognizing something buried in the air.
System Prompt:
Emergency Trial Activated
— Pactborn Trial of the Chaos Bloodline —
Survive until the ritual core fully awakens.
Time Remaining: 2:22
Warning: Guardian Strength Increasing
A slash of claws grazed his ribs—Kael growled in pain but didn't stop.
He could feel it.
Something deeper in the bones… calling.
Flam leapt from a crumbled ledge, his half-shifted claws raking down the beast's left shoulder. Sparks and bone chips flew, but the Guardian barely flinched. It turned—only for Tamir to drop from above, daggers flashing with imbued silver. He pierced its upper back.
"NOW, KAEL!" Tamir roared.
Kael slammed his hand into the ritual circle.
It lit up with a blinding red glow.
The Guardian paused mid-swing.
Then the chamber changed.
Everything—stone, bones, even sound—froze.
Kael stood alone now. The rest of the world muted behind a crimson veil.
Before him, a vision bloomed.
A massive wolf with fur like starlit smoke loomed in the void, wearing a crown of flame and ash.
"Child of Devourers," it growled, "Why do you bear the bloodline of gods, yet lead like a pup?"
Kael grit his teeth. "Because I'm learning."
The voice snarled with amusement. "Then prove it. Bind your pack to the chaos flame, or lose it forever."
The starlit wolf vanished.
Kael blinked—and the world returned.
System Update:
Chaos Bloodline: Stage 2 Trial Initiated
- Link pack to Chaos Core
- Survive while Guardian enters Frenzy
Time Remaining: 0:59
Reward: +7% Bloodline Sync | New Passive: Alpha's Flame
Failure: Guardian Rampage (Entire Unit Death Risk)
Kael growled. "Enough."
His wolf surged up—still imperfect, still wild—but stronger.
Flam covered his flank, Milla threw rocks from above, Tamir bled but fought, and the betas chanted the pack howl.
Kael plunged his hand deeper into the ritual circle—channeling not just his will, but his pack's will.
Then the Guardian hesitated.
A glow erupted from the chests of the pack members—deep crimson, flickering like wildfire.
The pack bond.
The bloodline answered.
BOOM. The Guardian exploded in a flash of bone dust and flame, falling into a heap of burning fragments.
Silence.
Then—
System Update:
Chaos Bloodline: Stage 2 Activated
Bloodline Sync: 48%
New Passive Unlocked: Alpha's Flame
— Boosts morale and strength of all pack members within range during battles.
Kael slumped to his knees, breathing hard.
Flam limped to his side, panting. "Tell me that was the last of it."
Kael chuckled bitterly. "If only."
They looked around at the hollow walls.
Something had awakened here—yes.
But something else… was still watching.