Chapter 103
Chloe's POV
I stared at the creature made of pure lightning before me, so stunned I nearly forgot to breathe.
"What the hell is that?" Ivan's voice came from behind me, barely masking his shock.
I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to stay steady. "An elemental spirit."
"An elemental spirit?" he repeated, confusion written all over his face.
I turned to look at him. "This world has five primal elements—stone, ice, fire, wind, and lightning. These elemental forces were originally powers born of nature, eventually evolving into the magical abilities of werewolves. Currently, we know of the fire element wielded by the Crimson Flame Warlord of the Blood River Pack, the ice element mastered by Silver Moon nobility, and the earth element controlled by the Stone Ridge Pack." I paused, pointing toward the imprisoned creature. "But the primal elements themselves can exist as living beings, sought out and conquered by werewolves. This lightning wolf before us is very likely the elemental spirit of thunder."
Ivan frowned, only half understanding. "So... the witches' target is it?"
"Most likely." I stared at the struggling thunder wolf, my heartbeat accelerating. "Elemental power is an extremely potent force, enough to trigger wars. And the witch clan has already been subjugated by Alpha Louis of the Blood River Pack. The ones truly trying to start a war are probably the Blood River wolves."
Ivan fell silent for a moment, Zeus growling low within him. "So what do we do now?"
I didn't answer immediately. The lightning wolf's eyes—if that mass of pure white light could be called eyes—stared straight at us, filled with pleading. I could feel its pain, that despair of being imprisoned and drained.
"We have to get it out." I heard myself say.
The moment the words left my mouth, I stepped forward. But the instant I approached the stone platform, a massive electrical current slammed into me. Searing pain shot through me like countless silver needles piercing my skin simultaneously. I screamed, my body flying backward uncontrollably.
"Chloe!" Ivan rushed forward and caught me, and we both crashed to the ground.
I gasped for air, my entire body still trembling from the shock. "Damn it..." I gritted my teeth. "It's surrounded by lightning. There's no way to get close. Anyone who tries will be electrocuted to ash."
Ivan helped me sit up, his brow furrowed. He stared at the thunder wolf for a long time, then muttered to himself, "Unless... the person is naturally immune to lightning."
I froze, looking up at him.
Ivan's POV
Zeus was calling to me from deep within, his voice stronger than ever before.
"Ivan, that's one of our kind." Zeus's voice echoed in my mind, carrying a certainty that felt like destiny. "Only you can save it. This sense of fate... it's as if your body—immune to fire, to electricity, to the elements—was made for this very moment."
I felt it too. When I'd rushed to save Chloe earlier, those seemingly lethal bolts of lightning hadn't hurt me. Instead, they'd made my body feel more energized, as if recharging me.
Under Chloe's watchful gaze, I slowly stood and walked toward the chained elemental wolf.
"Ivan, what are you doing?" Chloe's voice was thick with worry.
"Trust me." I glanced back at her, then continued forward.
The crackling lightning grew more violent as I approached, the air filling with the acrid smell of ozone. I could feel the currents dancing across my skin, but they caused no harm—instead, they seemed to be testing me, confirming something.
"It's okay," I said softly, unsure whether I was reassuring myself or the thunder wolf. "I won't hurt you. I'm here to help."
One step, two steps, three. I drew closer, and the elemental wolf's eyes locked onto mine, a flicker of hope seeming to pass through that white light.
Finally, I stood at the edge of the platform. Silver chains and purple vines intertwined across its body, embedded deep into that form made of pure lightning. I reached out, trying to grasp one of the vines.
That's when the Devil's Vines overhead seemed to come alive.
Countless purple tendrils dropped from the ceiling, lunging at me like venomous serpents. I instinctively stepped back, but they were too fast. In the blink of an eye, dozens of vines had wrapped around my limbs.
"Ivan!" Chloe's scream rang out.
I had no choice. Zeus roared through my consciousness, black fur erupting from my body. The bone-cracking agony of transformation lasted only an instant, and then I stood on the platform in wolf form.
The vines showed no fear. They surged forward frantically, trying to drag me off the platform. I bit and clawed, black talons tearing through vine after vine, but they regenerated too quickly. For every one I severed, two more grew back.
I was gradually losing ground. More vines coiled around my neck and legs, beginning to force their way toward my mouth and nose. I struggled desperately, but realized these damned things were all protecting a core—a massive, grotesque mass suspended at the top of the cavern, emanating an eerie purple glow.
That was the weakness!
I gathered all my strength and charged toward that core. The vines blocked me frantically, but I was beyond caring. My fangs sank into the outer layer of the core, tearing with all my might.
But the core's shell was too thick. My bites only caused sap to splatter; I couldn't penetrate deeper. More vines wrapped around me, encasing me completely. I could feel them tightening, trying to strangle me to death.
Just when I thought I would die here, a blinding white light illuminated the entire cavern.
The elemental wolf released a massive surge of thunder.
The lightning struck me with precision—but it wasn't an attack. It was a gift.
Pure electrical energy flooded into my body, every cell screaming and boiling. I felt like a fully charged battery, power rampaging through me, seeking an outlet.
Zeus howled toward the heavens.
I opened my jaws, and a beam of thunder-like light burst forth from my mouth. The beam tore through the air, striking straight at the Devil's Vine's core.
The core was pierced instantly.
The explosion's shockwave shattered all the vines into fragments, purple sap raining down like droplets. Those once-writhing tendrils lost all vitality, drooping limply.
I crashed heavily to the ground, gasping for breath. Chloe ran over and helped me up as I returned to human form.
"Are you okay?" Her voice trembled.
I nodded, my gaze moving past her to the lightning wolf. In its eyes, that mass of white light burned brighter than before.
"We need to get it out of here," I said. "Before more trouble arrives."