Chapter 97: 093, Space Wolf: There is no wolf on Fenris (7)
[You open your eyes.]
[You feel the tusks growing in your mouth.]
[Your gaze fixes on the ever-dismal sky, effortlessly catching sight of the swirling snowflakes.]
[You hear the sound of fur rubbing, the crunch of snow beneath your feet, and the crackling of flames.]
[You smell the unfamiliar scent of a human, along with the aroma of flesh and blood being roasted.]
[You leap up with a savage growl.]
[You bare your sharp claws at the figure before you and let out a threatening snarl.]
[On an immense bonfire, a Fenrisian mammoth, cleaved in half, is being carefully roasted.]
[A towering figure nearly four meters tall stands with his back to you, seemingly unconcerned by your threat.]
[You stare at his massive back and shoulder-length golden hair, hesitating.]
[You struggle to suppress the surging animal instincts within you.]
[Your animal instincts faintly sense the danger posed by this figure.]
[The towering figure's silhouette looms like a terrifying abyss, stopping you from attacking.]
[Your rationality begins to return.]
[Just as you hesitate on how to speak, suddenly, half of the roasted elephant leg arcs through the air, hurtling toward you like a massive cannonball.]
[You immediately react.]
[You catch the hot elephant leg and begin tearing into the food with your teeth.]
["Shape your thoughts with willpower... Do not let instincts control everything about you." A deep, volcanic voice cuts through the swirling snow and slowly reaches your ears.]
[You suddenly stop eating.]
[You can't help but widen your eyes.]
[You stare at the familiar face that is almost ubiquitous within Wolf's Fang Fortress, and you are struck with shock.]
[For a moment, you forget how to chew.]
[Even the burning hot elephant leg falls from your hand, landing on the snow with a sizzling sound as the fat melts.]
["Li... Great Wolf Lord!" You kneel on one knee, your voice hoarse.]
[The massive figure is dressed in somewhat tattered and ancient power armor.]
[A black wolf pelt cloak, seemingly weathered by endless years, hangs behind him.]
[The Great Wolf Lord Leman Russ's deep, weathered gaze falls upon you, his face lined with frost, yet his expression is gentle.]
["Little pup, how is Bjorn?" The Great Wolf Lord asks softly.]
[You blink instinctively upon hearing the question.]
[Since arriving at the Wolf's Fang Fortress, you have not seen Bjorn.]
[You only heard the legendary tales of the last of the Rus' bodyguards.]
[You tell the Great Wolf Lord what you know about Bjorn.]
[Upon hearing that Bjorn was entombed in an indomitable suit of armor and awakens once every thousand years to tell the young wolves of Leman Russ's legends, the Great Wolf Lord sighs softly.]
["He has endured much..." The Great Wolf Lord Leman Russ slowly sighs.]
[His deep gaze seems to look beyond the endless snow, seeing the distant giant mountain and the slumbering Bjorn deep within Wolf's Fang Fortress.]
[The Great Wolf Lord Leman Russ then casually inquires about your past.]
[You tell him your battle experiences without hesitation.]
["Perhaps only Astartes grown within the Chapter can perfectly combine courage and tactics... But personally, I value courage more, because courage can make up for a lack of experience..." The Great Wolf Lord Leman Russ gazes at you with deep, admiring eyes.]
["As a mortal, you possess unparalleled courage... this is worth greater admiration."]
[The Great Wolf Lord Leman Russ suddenly raises his unarmored hand and points to the elephant leg before you.]
["My time is limited... So, little pup, eat quickly."]
[You immediately pick up the cooling elephant leg and sit on the snow, chewing hungrily.]
[In the seventh week, the Great Wolf Lord Leman Russ leads you on a walk through the snow-covered wilderness.]
[Occasionally, he tells you stories of his home, Fenris.]
[But most of the time, he focuses on testing your will, relentlessly hammering at your spirit.]
[Especially when the scent of fresh blood and flesh draws you in, and your animal instincts are hard to suppress.]
[Then, you get a firsthand experience of the Great Wolf Lord Leman Russ's wrestling skills.]
[After enduring this a dozen times, your animal instincts seem to have fully become human instincts.]
[You no longer need to resist the animal urges, as it seems to be a part of your innate nature.]
[The Great Wolf Lord Leman Russ expresses more kindness toward you.]
[You once again enjoy the prey he roasted, learning from him the art of wrestling.]
[Not long after, a sudden blizzard engulfs the area around you.]
[The Great Wolf Lord Leman Russ, lamenting the lack of mead in his mouth, slowly rises.]
["My time is up, young pup..." The Great Wolf Lord's deep gaze locks onto a slowly forming subspace rift.]
["Although it is His whisper guiding me... I have also enjoyed a moment of peace, a piece of home..." The Great Wolf Lord Leman Russ turns his head, his golden hair swaying as he gazes down at you with a gentle expression.]
["Final advice, little pup, remember to constantly forge your soul to resist the corruption of Chaos, but never underestimate it, for its soft and harmless exterior may just be a façade..."]
["And also remember why you have come so far... You were never His toy, nor His puppet... Do you understand?"]
[You silently listen to his words and nod solemnly.]
[The Great Wolf Lord Leman Russ gives a faint smile, his sharp tusks barely visible.]
[Then, he seems to raise an eyebrow.]
["…Got it, old chatterbox." With that, the Great Wolf Lord Leman Russ murmurs softly.]
[Without a backward glance, he enters the subspace rift, his massive figure raising a bare hand in a farewell gesture.]
[The subspace rift gradually fades away, and the blizzard that surrounded you weakens.]
[If not for the nearby warmth from the fire and the remnants of food left behind,]
[You might have thought it was all just a strange dream.]
[You instinctively take a deep breath of the cold air.]
[You adjust your oil-smeared gray robe.]
[Your gaze sweeps past the countless scattered snowflakes, fixating on the distant towering mountain.]
["Here we go, the real show is about to begin..." you mutter to yourself.]
[You gather the remaining food and pick up a few fire-starting sticks.]
[You face the weakening snowstorm and step forward once again, onto your ultimate trial.]
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