The air stifled as a pressuring presence bore down on Rudark.

Its eyes trembled, clouding with hesitation. The lusting hunger in their depths vanished, its frame rattling from the sudden terror awash in its veins.

Air seemed scant as it began to wheeze under the pressure, its gaze fixed on Alpha's sprawled, injured figure in the distance. This feeling was familiar — too familiar.

Its instincts screamed in terror, urging it to flee. Blood flow quickened, flaming skin dulled. A fear ingrained deep in its soul had returned.

A predator it knew too well. A predator who had once walked it along the bridge of death itself.

Rudark's heart trembled, skipping a beat. Its teeth clattered together. It knew this presence — the great King Canine species: the Astral Wolf.

Gazing at Alpha's sprawled figure, Rudark saw past it. He saw a slow-rising behemoth, boundless crimson gaze staring directly into his soul. He gulped dryly, realizing… from here on out, this battle would not be easy.

Bone-crunching sounds rang out from Alpha's figure as bones cracked and bent unnaturally, his form slowly morphing in painful transformation.

Rudark trembled. His inner mind screamed for him to attack — he knew this was his only chance to stop what would inevitably be his death. But he couldn't. His frame remained stiff with fear, terror streaming through his veins, paralyzing him.

This was the rule of the animal kingdom: once faced with a natural predator, the lesser breed always found it hard to resist.

Alpha's figure grew. His fur bristled, his frame hulking, bones denser.

A deep growl rang out from Alpha's snout as his transformation ended.

Rudark's flaming fur stood on end as he finally wrestled free from the paralyzing terror.

"T-this could be my chance… to wash away my shame!" Rudark stuttered, trying to convince himself.

Alpha's frame now towered over Rudark by vast margins. His fur was snow white, his eyes crimson red, his teeth long and thick.

A chilling sense of inferiority rushed through Rudark's system. He scowled.

"If only I was here with my true body… you piddling pup, I would have devoured you in a single gulp!" Rudark barked, fuming with rancor.

Alpha gazed at the Finger in disdain, eyes taunting as though saying: Where was this excuse while I was being trashed around?

Alpha's figure burst into a white blur as he lunged at Rudark, who scampered to dodge.

He did dodge — but not without losing a good chunk of his lower rear hip.

Its teeth clenched as a familiar soul-stinging pain coursed through its body. One of the terrifying aspects of the Astral Wolves: their fangs and claws dealt damage not only to the body but also to the soul.

Alpha's face squeezed in disgust as he spat out the flaming piece of meat, dripping with the stinking rot of corruption.

Fwoom!

A raging torrent of flames belched from Rudark's throat, aiming to incinerate his foe. Claw and biting attacks would be useless due to the size difference — an advantage it once held but was now stripped away.

But the flames bounced off Alpha's pristine hide, not leaving even a blackened speck.

His hide was impervious to fire.

Alpha showed no mercy, pouncing once more for his prey. This time, more in control of his strength, his aim was more accurate.

Squelch!

An entire leg was ripped off!

Alpha spat out the flaming limb, disappointed. His aim was sloppy — he had gone for the head but only managed a leg.

Alpha felt the untamed ferocious energy broiling beneath his skin, raging through his veins. He felt unbeatable, the ceiling of power rising higher.

But as great as this power was, it burned out quickly. He had to finish this fast.

Rudark whined as flames raged around the missing limb, trying to regrow it. But it wasn't fast enough. Terror blazed through its skull — the bastard was upon him again!

Fury clouded its being. To think, as a Seventh Finger of Gluttony, it could still be oppressed so hopelessly. It couldn't stand for this!

It had clawed its way from the lower rungs of hell. It had strived for power all its life. It had faced cataclysmic battles greater than this. So why would a mere pup from a fledgling realm toy with it so?

Using a Finger to learn how to control its powers? That was humiliating.

And that humiliation it would never stomach.

Rudark's amethyst gaze flamed as an otherworldly force bypassed through space. A curbing torrent of corruption flooded its frame.

"I don't care the cost! The pain! As long as I kill you, bastard of the Astral Wolf race, I will relinquish this avatar in peace!"

As it spoke, its frame heightened. Flaming skin burned brighter, presence grew more frightening — so much so that the world itself began to react.

Ethereal chains of law appeared from the void, entangling Rudark's morphing frame, tightening, trying to stifle its growing power.

This was the exact reason the Fingers didn't dare unleash much of their power. If the world spirit detected them, not only would they be suppressed, but they would also bear extremely serious backlash to the soul.

But Rudark didn't care anymore. His power raged without restraint.

Chains clicked and tightened around his frame. He ignored them and lunged for his foe.

The two ferocious predators entangled mid-air as a gritty, violent struggle began.

His flames more intense, stronger — now able to somewhat singe Alpha's hide. The two massive behemoths clawed and bit at each other.

A gritty, transcendent dogfight ensued. Alpha's hide could no longer stay impervious to the buffed fangs of Rudark.

Aloha attacked with a more ferocious fevor, as he could feel the slow loss of power from his blood stream.

His skill Ancestral Descent was slowly losing power and very soon he would shrivel back to weakness.

His crimson pupils glowed with determination, he had to finish this faster!

His blood spilled like geysers. His enemy also suffered — flaming chunks of meat flying through the air, steaming torrents of black, rotting liquid leaking in torrents.

The two ravaged each other violently. But eventually, one gave up.

Rudark's struggle weakened as numerous ethereal chains coiled around his figure, strangling and crunching him.

Combined with Alpha's brutal attacks, Rudark slowly lost the exchange.

"YOU BASTARD, BETTER SIT TIGHT AND PROTECT THAT NECK WELL! CAUSE WHEN I TRULY DESCEND, I WILL BE HAVING IT AS MY TRO—" Rudark didn't accept this loss, swearing revenge.

But he was unable to finish, as his soul slowly dwindled away.

[Congratulations! You have fulfilled your end of accomplishment: Vanquish the Seventh Finger of Gluttony — Rudark!

Territory Quest has been fully completed!

Issuing rewards…]

Alpha lay unmoving in a pool of his own blood, his figure slowly deflating as his skill exhausted its effect.

Fortunately the battle ended right on time.

His eyes struggled to look ahead as he whimpered his first human words…

"M-Master."

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