Snow choked the mountain pass, the wind howling like a beast in pain. Qin Mo, a low-tier disciple of the Azure Flame Sect, clung to the cliff's edge, his breath steaming in the cold. The sect's elders had sent him here—bait for the wolf king, a beast said to hold the mountain's heart. Above, the beast roared, its claws tearing stone, each strike shaking the ridge like a drum.
The sect's array flared, red lines weaving a net of fire and frost across the pass. The wolf king's pelt glowed copper, its eyes molten, unyielding. "Hold the line!" an elder barked, but Qin Mo saw the truth—their blades weren't just for the beast.
The wolf lunged, shattering a monolith with a swipe, stone dust clouding the air. Qin Mo dove, his blade grazing its flank, drawing blood that burned like fire. The core in its chest pulsed, a spark of the old gods. The elders struck, their array tightening, but the wolf's howl broke it, throwing Qin Mo against stone.
Blood seeped from his wounds. The core flared, choosing him.
[Predator's Ledger: Binding initiated. Host: Qin Mo. Wolf King's Bloodline acquired.]
The elders' eyes turned cold. "Take it," one hissed, blade gleaming.
Qin Mo ran, the core burning in his chest, the bells' first chime echoing in the storm.