Chapter 14: A Vow of Tears and Blood

Kale slowly closed his eyes as memories surged through his mind like a flood. At this moment, he stood before the altar, his hands touching the ancient corpse, as if reaching into the deepest recesses of his own pain and hatred. The ancient bloodline seemed to awaken within him, and an unprecedented power welled up inside, but it was accompanied by indescribable agony—his soul felt torn in two, as if two worlds were intertwining and colliding.

His body wavered, barely able to stand, yet he gripped the edge of the altar tightly, gritting his teeth against the ripping pain within. His eyes remained shut, as if he had entered another world—a world he had never truly understood, one filled with blood and fire, love and hate.

He remembered the night sky hung with a blood-red moon, remembered himself clad in armor, blade in hand, standing on the battlefield of the Wolf Clan.

Back then, he was the clan’s leader—brave and fearless—leading his people to victory after victory. Yet, in that fateful battle, everything changed utterly.

“Kale!” A familiar voice called out. It was Eileen’s voice, her figure like a beam of light appearing in his memory. She was Kale’s beloved, his soul’s anchor, and one of the greatest warriors of the Wolf Clan.

“Eileen…” Kale murmured softly, a sharp pang in his heart as if that once-beautiful love was being crushed beneath the relentless wheels of time. He remembered that night when Eileen sacrificed herself to protect him. She stood on the battlefield, welcoming death, while he was powerless to intervene. In that moment, her face was as clear as moonlight, and her final smile became a lifelong wound in Kale’s heart.

“You will fight for your people and for your love, Kale,” Eileen’s voice echoed once more—the words she spoke to him in her final moments.

“I won’t give up on you, Eileen!” The young Kale had sworn so, yet he never imagined that he would ultimately bear an unbearable burden of pain, walking the path of vengeance. That past became his lifelong shackle, one he could never break free from.

“You bear not only the flames of revenge but also… the vow we once made,” Eileen’s voice returned, tinged with sorrow. “Kale, no matter the storms you face, you must not forget the love we shared.”

Suddenly, Kale’s eyes snapped open, tears spilling uncontrollably onto the altar. A profound anguish surged within him—the sorrow of losing his beloved so intense that it nearly stole his breath away.

“Eileen…” Kale whispered, a complex emotion flickering in his gaze. “I promised you I would live on—for you, for the Wolf Clan—but is it truly worth it?”

A trace of confusion crossed his eyes, as if he was no longer the iron-willed leader of the Wolf Clan but a lonely soul haunted by pain and regret.

---

Eileen’s smile seemed to float before Kale’s eyes—the smile he had longed for deeply. Her eyes shone like stars, sparkling with hope and resolve. In that moment, Kale finally understood what Eileen meant.

“I understand, Eileen,” he said softly, voice filled with determination. “I will keep moving forward, because I promised you I wouldn’t let our vow be in vain.”

With Kale’s awakening, that ancient world gradually revived within his mind. His figure appeared once again on that battlefield beneath the blood moon, fighting shoulder to shoulder with Eileen against thousands of enemies. Their blades clashed, sparks flying, hearts bound tightly together. Yet, none of it lasted—Eileen still fell bravely to protect him.

Kale remembered that moment clearly; Eileen’s face serene, as if she had foreseen the end. In her arms, he heard her whisper gently, “Kale, remember my smile. Don’t forget our vow.”

That night shattered Kale’s heart, and that vow became a lifelong burden.

“Kale! Are you alright?” A woman’s voice pulled him back from his memories. She looked at him anxiously, sensing the pain in his eyes.

Kale shook his head slightly, wiping away tears from the corner of his eyes, then inhaled deeply. “I’m fine. I just remembered something.”

The woman said nothing more but gently grasped Kale’s hand. At that moment, a warm strength flowed from her fingertips into his heart. Unlike the unbearable sorrow Eileen’s memory carried, this was a comforting power, as if telling Kale that no matter the past, he could still choose to move forward.

“Kale, you said no matter what happens, we would face it together,” the woman’s voice was steady yet tender, lighting a beacon that dispelled the shadows in Kale’s heart.

Kale looked deeply into her eyes; the confusion faded and was replaced by silent gratitude. He squeezed her hand gently, whispering, “Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

Allen stood nearby, watching the two with a slight smile. “You two… I’ve never seen people like you. No matter how dangerous the future, you still rely on each other.”

Kale smiled back at Allen. “Yes, we rely on each other because we have endured so much, lost so much, and gained so much. No matter the hardships ahead, we will face them together.”

---

At that moment, the stone wall beside the altar suddenly trembled. A surge of intense darkness burst forth, as if some force was awakening within. Kale’s gaze sharpened. “Darkness… has it finally come?”

The woman gripped her sword's hilt tightly. “We’re ready.”

Allen’s expression turned grave. “No matter what, we cannot retreat.”

Kale drew a deep breath, his eyes resolute. “Yes, we cannot retreat. Today, we fight not only for the glory of the Wolf Clan but to avenge all that has been lost.”

Suddenly, the wall shattered with a thunderous crash, and a massive shadow emerged—an embodiment of darkness, exuding a suffocating aura. Like a colossal black cloud, it enveloped the entire hall, pressing down with overwhelming force.

Without hesitation, Kale, the woman, and Allen surged forward to meet the dark foe. Though fear filled their hearts, they knew only through battle, only by confronting the darkness, could true light be attained.

At that moment, Kale felt once again the power Eileen had once bestowed—a vow transcending time, an unyielding resolve.

He raised his blade, eyes blazing with fearless light. “Let us go, to the very end of fate!”

They embarked on their final journey, facing the darkness awaiting them without a trace of retreat.