The Golem Mage

Bloodline skills differed significantly from skill tomes or spell tomes, spells could be obtained with enough wealth or connections, as long as one had the means or the right contacts, however, certain spells held intrinsic value that couldn't be measured monetarily and could only be exchanged for something in equal value or it is gifted.

In contrast, bloodline skills were inherited, each Bloodline Mage awakened a range of spells related to their lineage, the extent of which depended on the purity of their bloodline.

They didn't need to undergo the conventional process of learning these spells; instead, the spells were etched directly into the bones or brains of the Bloodline carriers.

This is precisely what had occurred with Alec, through the devouring of numerous shadow wolf souls, the shadow wolf tattoo had ascended to the Tier 4 realm.

As a result, Alec finally obtained his first Devourer bloodline spell, permanently etched into his bones, Its placement made it effortless for him to cast the spell as if it had always been an innate part of him.

[> Low Bloodline Skill – Merge <]

Feeling something crack within him, Alec experienced an overwhelming urge to release a resounding howl, as sharp pain radiated throughout his body, his eyes were the first to change, with his iris morphing into a bright, luminous yellow.

His pupils dilated, adapting to darkness while emanating a feral glow from within, subsequently, his skin began to ripple and contort, sprouting coarse, dark fur across his body.

The transformation was excruciating, as Alec's form expanded, his body sprouted thick, black fur designed to meld with the shadows of the night and provide insulation.

"Ahh!" Alec cried out as the bones in his face began to elongate and reshape, his jaw jutting forward into a formidable muzzle.

His nose widened and flattened, turning a deep black and becoming moist, his sense of smell intensifying dramatically, his teeth grew into elongated canines, seemingly capable of effortlessly tearing through flesh.

His ears crept upward, sharpening to points and enveloped in the same dark fur, they twitched and rotated independently, sensitive to the faintest sounds from the distant combat between his golems and the Alpha shadow wolf pack.

Alec's fingers stretched and twisted, his nails thickening and curving into lethal glowing, dark claws.

His hands morphed into powerful paws, yet they retained a hint of human dexterity, enabling him to grasp and manipulate objects, his body surged in size, muscles swelling and stretching to fit his new, formidable beastly form.

In mere seconds, Alec's stature increased by several feet, as his physique now that of a formidable predator, designed for both strength and agility, the transformation swept down to his legs, which reformed to support the weight of his new body.

His feet lengthened, arches rising as his toes shifted into a digitigrade stance, priming him for a swift, animalistic stride, a long, prehensile tail unfurled, cloaked in the same dark fur.

Overcoming the agony to remain conscious and resist surrendering to the shadow wolf spirit clamouring for release within him, Alec couldn't contain a primal howl that pierced the sky.

It felt as though all the suppressed emotions he had been harbouring were liberated in that singular, soulful cry.

In that moment, he could hear the echo of the shadow wolf spirit's own howl within him.

His transformation culminated in the emergence of a towering, dark-furred werewolf, a nightmarish entity with eyes that glowed ominously, razor-sharp claws, and a maw bristling with lethal teeth's.

Alec could feel his senses heighten to an extraordinary degree as the primal instincts of his shadow wolf spirit merged with him, in his peripheral vision, he caught sight of the Alpha shadow wolf charging toward him, its jaws wide open, ready to strike at a momentarily distracted Alec.

If it was the previous exchanges, Alec would have attempted to evade the full force of the Alpha shadow wolf's attack, lacking confidence in his ability to withstand it. But now, he felt an inner instinct urging him to believe that he was a match for the Alpha.

Trusting his primal instincts, Alec positioned his hand and firmly grasped both jaws of the Alpha shadow wolf.

Bang!

The collision between Alec and the Alpha wolf sparked a flurry of power, enveloping them in crackling black lightning, as the Alpha wolf pushed forward, Alec's leg faltered under the force.

"Ahhhh!" Alec tapped into the excess Qi he felt surging through him, as his hand became coated in an invisible energy, sensing his growing strength, he released his grip on the Alpha's jaw with remarkable velocity.

The sudden release of his grip caught the Alpha wolf off guard, allowing Alec to swiftly transition into an arm lock he had prepared, gripping his hand tightly around the Alpha's neck, Alec exerted even greater strength, causing his legs to drive into the ground.

With a mighty heave, Alec threw the Alpha wolf away, unleashing another wave of destruction upon the forest.

Raising his right hand, Alec visualized flaming slashes like he was wielding the Changdao, which made his claws ignited into a vibrant red hue from the black it previously was.

And with a forceful swing from the upper right to the lower left, he unleashed four scorching slashes streaking towards the still unbalanced Alpha wolf.

Anticipating the attack, the Alpha wolf darted to the side, but Alec had already predicted its move.

Moving faster than ever before, he appeared right in front of the startled Alpha shadow wolf.

With a resounding bang, Alec executed a powerful kick that sent the Alpha wolf soaring through the air.

And in a blur of motion, Alec vanished from sight, only to reappear above the airborne Alpha wolf, the wolf struggled to keep up with Alec's new speed, unable to defend itself against the next devastating blow that drove it forcefully back into the ground.

Boom!

The Alpha's descent was even swifter than its ascent as it crashed heavily onto the unforgiving terrain.

Unyielding, Alec refused to relent, as he landed on the fallen Alpha, but the Alpha dissipated into shadows upon impact.

"I can see you now!" Alec proclaimed, his eyes locked onto the shuffling shadow that sought to escape within the depths of the ground.

With a swift dive, Alec plunged into the earth, but rather than breaking the solid earth, it seemed as if the ground transformed into a pool of shadows, concealing his entry as a lone streak of darkness followed closely behind the shadowy link of the Alpha wolf.

The two dark links, Alec and the Alpha wolf, pursued each other relentlessly throughout the subterranean realm.

Even those without a connection to the shadow element could now witness the spectacle of two shadowy figures darting and weaving beneath the earth.

Their chase continued until they finally collided and met.

In the next second after they met, Alec, in his immense and imposing werewolf form, emerged dragging the Alpha shadow wolf out of the ground.

The area surrounding them was enveloped in a pool of shadow, with swift, decisive movements, Alec plunged his flaming claws deep into the Alpha shadow wolf's body, extracting its heart.

The Alpha shadow wolf's eyes flickered until they finally dimmed and closed for the last time.

Overwhelmed by an instinct he couldn't comprehend, Alec dragged the wolf's heart to his mouth and devoured it with a savage intensity.

Once he finished, he plunged his claws back into the carcass of the Alpha wolf, this time aiming to extract its soul.

The Alpha, which had displayed no fear in the face of death, now exuded terror within its soul form, it writhed desperately, seeking escape, but within the unyielding grasp of werewolf Alec, its efforts were in vain.

"If consuming you elevates my wolf spirit to Tier 5, then Tier 5 demonic beasts won't pose much of a challenge again!" Alec proclaimed in his deep, guttural werewolf voice, as he though of how his new gains would be if he hunted Tier 5 demonic beast in the second level.

He lifted the soul towards his feral jaws and swallowed the Alpha shadow wolf's soul essence whole.

[> Ding!.]