Chapter 28

Chapter 28
Louis's POV

Ripples spread across the surface of the bath. I looked down at my naked body, scars covering it like medals—each one a reminder that I was no longer that humble child.

I dried myself with a rough hide towel, movements slow and reverent, as if performing some sacred ritual. Tonight, I would face her again—the purest faith in my heart, that lofty existence who had rejected me.

"Moon Goddess..." I murmured low. "Did you ever imagine that your rejection back then would create who I am today?"

I walked to the clothing rack and took down the carefully prepared black robe. This was no ordinary garment, but sewn from the most precious hides, its edges inlaid with purple lightning patterns.

I would make her see that I was no longer that werewolf unworthy of standing before her.

Memories flooded in like a tide.

It was many years ago, when Xavier was still the Crimson Flame Warlord. I had secretly followed him, wanting a glimpse of that legendary sacred realm.

When silver light bloomed on the night of the full moon, I saw her—the Moon Goddess.

She stood by the lakeside, her form condensed from moonlight itself, beautiful enough to take one's breath away. In that moment, my soul felt seized by something, an unprecedented longing burning in my chest.

I wanted to prostrate myself at her feet, to kiss the hem of her robe, to become her most loyal servant.

But her gaze... that cold contempt, still etched in my mind to this day.

"You are not an element bearer." Her voice was gentle yet cruel. "You have no right to stand here."

In that moment, what I felt was not the pain of rejection, but a humiliation that sank into my very bones. I was a pack leader, king of the Blood River tribe, yet she saw me as dust unworthy of existence.

From then on, a seed was planted in my heart—not love, but a twisted obsession. I would make her see, make her understand, that one day even a god would kneel before me.

I dressed fully, gripping that bone spear filled with thunder element. This weapon forged from Ivan's remains—every swing let me feel the roar of thunder.

I stroked the spear shaft, a cold smile curling my lips.

"Ivan, your power belongs to me now," I whispered. "And your foolish persistence ultimately brought you only death."

The full moon night descended again.

I stood on the altar, bone spear planted before me, and began chanting ancient incantations. These spells came from the packs I had devoured, from those fools who had tried to stop me.

Lightning gathered at the spear tip, purple light growing stronger and stronger, finally tearing through the barrier of space.

The sacred realm unfolded before me.

Silver lake, soft moonlight, and that figure I both craved and hated.

The Moon Goddess was still beautiful, still noble, but the expression on her face was no longer the coldness of years past, but an indescribable weariness.

"Louis." Her voice sounded, no longer gentle, but carrying obvious annoyance. "You've come."

I knelt on one knee, but this time not out of reverence, but deliberate mockery.

"Lady Goddess." I raised my head, a smile playing on my lips. "I've come to prove to you how wrong you were when you said I was 'unworthy.'"

I slowly rose, raising the bone spear in my hand. Lightning danced along the shaft, making sharp crackling sounds.

"Do you see?" My voice was full of boasting. "This is the power of thunder. I now wield elemental force. I now have the right to stand before you."

A trace of pity flashed in the Moon Goddess's eyes.

That look, that gaze as if seeing a pitiful creature, instantly ignited the fury in my heart.

"You pity me?!" I roared, all pretense torn away. "You hypocritical god! You sit on high, yet never care about those who truly worship you! You only care about those so-called 'element bearers,' turning a blind eye to us ordinary werewolves!"

"Your faith was never sincere, Louis." The Moon Goddess said calmly. "What you crave is not divinity, but conquest. What you worship is not faith, but power."

"So what?!" I laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the sacred realm. "At least I'm honest! Unlike you, wearing a cloak of mercy while being cold and ruthless! You know what? I've found the method to bring you into the mortal world—gather the power of all five elements, and then you'll no longer be a lofty god, but a prisoner kneeling at my feet!"

The Moon Goddess's expression finally changed, a trace of concern flashing in her eyes.

"The bearers of elemental power will stop you," she said. "They won't let your ambition succeed."

"Is that so?" I sneered, raising the bone spear and thrusting it violently toward her.

The spear tip passed through her body, but it was only an illusory projection. The Moon Goddess's form began to dissipate, the sacred realm's light gradually dimming.

"Louis." Her final voice was ethereal and distant. "When you gather all elemental powers, you'll discover that what you gain is not divinity, but destruction."

The sacred realm completely collapsed.

I stood on the empty altar, the bone spear in my hand still trembling. Thunder rumbled in the distance, raindrops beginning to fall, striking my face, ice-cold and piercing.

I raised my head, looking at the moon obscured by dark clouds, a mad smile curling my lips.

"Destruction?" I said quietly. "If I cannot obtain divinity, then let the entire world be destroyed with me."

The rain fell harder, the thunder grew louder. I stood alone on the altar, letting the rain wash over my body.

In my mind, that plan had become crystal clear—I would seize the elemental powers one by one.

When all five elements gathered, I could break the barrier between heaven and earth and drag the Moon Goddess into the mortal realm. Then I would make her kneel before me, make her understand how foolish it was to reject me.

"Wait for it, Lady Goddess." I whispered in the rain. "Soon you'll understand that in this world, there is nothing I cannot obtain."

Lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating my face.

In that instant, I saw my own reflection—a twisted, mad face with eyes burning with the desire to destroy everything.

But I didn't care.

I had come this far. Nothing could make me turn back.