Silence descended upon the Ice-rift Canyon.
Not ordinary silence.
But a suffocating stillness so heavy it felt almost physical, as though an invisible curtain of frozen iron had fallen across the world.
The mournful whimper of the defeated Alpha Wolf still lingered faintly in the air.
Then even that faded.
The endless blizzard weakened strangely at this moment, as though even the storm itself had bowed before the outcome of the confrontation.
Only snow remained.
Countless pale flakes drifting slowly through the gray sky.
The frozen canyon walls stood motionless, their crystal-blue surfaces reflecting a scene that would forever alter the fate of the entire Giant Bear Ridge.
The warriors of the expeditionary force remained in perfect battle formation.
Spears lowered.
Shields raised.
Muscles taut like drawn bowstrings.
Yet the expressions in their eyes had completely changed.
Shock.
Awe.
Fanatical worship.
They had just witnessed their King's mount utterly crush the ruler of this frozen wilderness with a single collision.
No prolonged battle.
No bloody struggle.
One strike.
Absolute domination.
That once-proud Alpha Wolf who had stood atop the rocks like a deity now lay sprawled across the snow like a broken stray dog, its pitiful whimpers echoing weakly through the canyon.
It was not merely victory.
It was revelation.
A direct display of overwhelming power far beyond ordinary understanding.
On the opposite side of the canyon, the eighty Snow Giant Wolves had fallen into complete chaos.
The ferocity in their icy-blue eyes vanished, replaced entirely by instinctive fear.
Their king had lost.
Not narrowly.
Not honorably.
But completely.
The spiritual pillar supporting the entire pack had shattered beneath Mo's overwhelming strength.
One after another, the giant wolves slowly lowered their heads.
Exposing their throats.
The ultimate gesture of submission.
Their instincts had already made the choice their pride could not resist.
Time itself seemed frozen.
Then—
The defeated Alpha Wolf finally moved.
Its massive body trembled violently as it struggled to rise from the snow. Every movement appeared painful, humiliating, agonizing.
Its paws carved deep trails through the white ground as it staggered forward.
Step by step.
Toward Mo.
Toward Colin.
Toward the living nightmare that had crushed its authority in an instant.
Gone was the majestic ruler who had once overlooked the wilderness with absolute confidence.
Now it resembled an aging king walking toward execution.
Broken.
Weary.
Defeated.
Finally, it stopped before Mo.
And slowly—
It lowered its head completely.
Not partial submission.
Not reluctant surrender.
Absolute obedience.
Its pale blue eyes stared at the blood-stained snow beneath its paws, utterly devoid of their former arrogance.
Colin understood immediately.
There was humiliation within those eyes.
Pain.
Despair.
But beneath all of it existed something even more primal:
Acceptance.
The instinctive recognition of absolute superiority.
"Mo."
Colin's calm voice echoed softly.
Mo stepped forward slowly.
Then the enormous Wolf King gently pressed his forehead against the defeated Alpha Wolf's head.
The motion was simple.
Yet its meaning shook the entire canyon.
The defeated wolf's body trembled violently.
Its eyes widened slightly in disbelief.
Because it felt no mockery.
No killing intent.
No cruel satisfaction from victory.
Only something vast.
Something immeasurable.
A power so great it no longer needed to prove itself through slaughter.
Mo's existence alone was enough to dominate all things.
And at that moment—
The Alpha Wolf understood completely.
A low growl escaped its throat.
No longer filled with resistance.
No longer filled with rage.
But carrying relief.
Submission.
And perhaps…
Hope.
Slowly, the former king turned around.
Then it began walking toward the depths of the basin.
Its movements carried strange rhythm now.
Almost ceremonial.
An invitation.
A guide leading its new ruler toward everything it possessed.
Toward its home.
Toward its tribe.
Toward complete surrender.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Colin's mouth.
The intelligent beast had chosen correctly.
At the Alpha Wolf's command, the massive pack parted immediately like disciplined soldiers forming a pathway.
The expeditionary force advanced cautiously behind Colin.
Weapons remained ready.
Formation remained perfect.
Yet no battle occurred.
Only silence accompanied them as they descended deeper into the hidden valley beyond the canyon.
Eventually—
They arrived before an enormous cave hidden beneath towering cliffs.
The entrance was concealed behind thick ancient vines frozen by countless winters, forming a natural curtain against the storm outside.
When the Alpha Wolf pushed through the vines—
Warm air spilled outward instantly.
Dry.
Comfortable.
Mixed with the faint scent of milk and fur.
The warriors' eyes widened.
Inside the cave existed an entirely different world.
Soft glowing crystals embedded within the ceiling illuminated the vast underground chamber like daylight.
The ground was layered with thick dry grass and animal pelts, transforming the cave into a warm sanctuary completely isolated from the frozen hell outside.
And at the deepest part of the cavern—
Life awaited them.
Seventeen enormous female Snow Giant Wolves immediately rose protectively.
Their growls rumbled low and threatening.
Their bodies formed a defensive wall around dozens of tiny white cubs peeking curiously from behind them.
Thirty-eight cubs.
Thirty-eight future Snow Giant Wolves.
Tiny snowballs with black gem-like eyes.
The mothers' hostility was immediate and absolute.
These females were fully prepared to die protecting their young.
But then—
They noticed something impossible.
Their king.
Walking behind the outsiders.
Head lowered.
Submissive.
The female wolves froze instantly.
Confusion flooded their eyes.
Fear followed.
Meanwhile, the cubs remained blissfully ignorant of everything that had happened outside. They simply stared curiously at the newcomers, their tiny tails twitching nervously.
Colin's gaze swept across the cave.
Across the mothers.
Across the cubs.
And in his eyes existed no bloodlust.
Only satisfaction.
Like a ruler gazing upon priceless treasure.
"Hask."
The sudden voice shattered the silence.
"Present!"
Hask immediately stepped forward, though his burning gaze remained fixed upon the cubs.
Colin spoke calmly.
"You and the eighty selected warriors will remain here."
Hask blinked.
For the first time since entering the wilderness, visible confusion appeared on his scarred face.
"Leader… I still wish to follow you into battle…"
"Your task is more important than conquest."
Colin's tone allowed no argument.
"Barton. Bring the fifty Boar-folk stationed outside. Unload all spare dried meat and leave it for the wolves. Especially the females and cubs."
"Yes, Leader!"
Barton's small eyes gleamed immediately.
He understood.
Everyone understood.
These cubs represented the future.
The foundation of a true Wolf Cavalry Legion.
Then Colin turned back toward Hask.
His expression became unusually serious.
"I am assigning you three tasks."
Hask straightened instantly.
"First—strengthen the bonds between our warriors and these wolves. I want true unity between rider and beast."
"Second—protect this pack. Especially the cubs and nursing females. They are among Blackwood Fortress's greatest future assets."
"Third—wait for our return. Once the expedition concludes, you will escort the entire pack safely back to Blackwood Fortress."
Hask's body trembled violently.
Finally—
He understood Colin's true plan.
A massive grin exploded across his scarred face, fierce and childlike at the same time.
"Leader!"
He slammed his fist against his chest like a drumbeat.
"I swear upon the Ancestral Spirits! I will complete this mission even if it costs my life!"
The roar echoed through the cave.
Then suddenly—
The surrendered Alpha Wolf stepped forward once more.
Its blue eyes burned with newfound determination.
It lowered its head before Colin again and released a series of low growls carrying strange rhythm and meaning.
Colin frowned slightly.
He could not understand.
But Mo could.
The great Wolf King answered with several deep growls of his own.
A silent conversation passed between the two rulers.
Moments later, Mo turned toward Colin and released a low excited rumble.
Understanding flashed across Colin's eyes instantly.
"You will no longer be called merely Alpha Wolf."
Colin stepped forward slowly.
From this day onward…
"Your name is Icefang."
The giant wolf lifted its head sharply.
For the first time since defeat, light returned to its eyes.
A new identity.
A new purpose.
No longer a fallen king.
But a servant of something greater.
Then Icefang continued growling urgently, using gestures and movement to explain further information.
And the more Colin understood—
The brighter the flames in his eyes became.
This valley did not contain only one wolf pack.
There were at least seven others.
Massive tribes scattered throughout the Giant Bear Ridge.
Each with its own king.
Its own territory.
Its own warriors.
Icefang was offering him everything.
Guidance.
Submission.
Conquest.
It wanted Colin to unify them all.
At that moment—
Colin's heartbeat thundered inside his chest.
Ambition erupted within him like wildfire.
This was no longer a hunt.
This was destiny.
"Barton!"
"Present!"
"Gather every remaining warrior immediately. The Boar-folk. The Werewolves. The Thirteen Wolf Guards."
His eyes burned like flames beneath the pale crystal light.
"We march with Icefang."
His voice shook the cavern like thunder.
"We will conquer every Snow Giant Wolf pack within the Giant Bear Ridge."
The warriors' breathing grew heavier instantly.
Wolf Cavalry.
An army capable of terrifying the entire Northlands.
A force unlike anything this world had ever seen.
And now—
Its foundation had finally appeared.
Colin turned toward the frozen mountains beyond the cave entrance.
Toward the endless wilderness awaiting conquest.
His gaze was no longer that of a hunter.
It was the gaze of a king preparing to unify an entire kingdom beneath his banner.
And thus—
Within the depths of the frozen wilderness—
A new campaign officially began.