Rising from the Ashes (Andrew) novel Chapter 3093

Juno thought for a moment and then said, "There have always been stories in the Wastelands about the Highland Tribe and the werewolves killing each other. But every version said the same thing: that the Highland Tribe and the werewolves were locked in a fight to the death, each trying to wipe out the other. I never imagined the Highland Tribe and the werewolves came from the same bloodline."

Among Dragonfang, Juno had spent the longest time in the Wastelands, so she knew more than most.

Othniel replied, "Actually, those stories were all wrong. In the beginning, the Highland Tribe and the werewolves were like brothers, not mortal enemies. The first ancestor of the Highland Tribe, Arcturus the Unbroken, and the first progenitor of the werewolves, Fenrir Marrock, were both slaves of the vampires.

"That was an age when darkness ruled the world, so ancient it is hard to imagine. Among all the vampire slaves, Arcturus and Fenrir were the strongest and most ferocious."

He continued, "At that time, aside from the three vampire progenitors and the supreme Vampire Queen, Lilith Bathory, no vampire existed who could stand against Fenrir or Arcturus. Not even princes or dark lords were their match.

"During the first great clash between the powers of the eastern and western continents, the eastern martial masters and ancient cultivators forced Lilith into slumber within a river of blood, where she remained dormant for 1000 years.

"Within the vampire ranks, the three progenitors also fell into slumber or disappeared. That was when Fenrir and Arcturus found their chance to rebel. For countless years, they and their companions had been enslaved by the vampires, living a life worse than death.

"This time, they led the other slaves in revolt, eventually fighting their way out of the vampire stronghold and gaining their freedom. Though Arcturus and Fenrir were the closest of friends, their personalities were vastly different."

He explained, "Arcturus the Unbroken was born with divine strength, yet he never obsessed over gains or losses and would risk everything for his friends. Fenrir, however, was filled with hatred and jealousy. He longed to possess the blood queen Lilith and dreamed of slaughtering all vampires. He wanted to exterminate all vampires so he could become the dark lord himself and enslave other races.

"That's where the seeds of division were planted. After escaping vampire slavery, the two initially stayed together and wandered the world. But gradually, Fenrir grew tired of that dull life and demanded that Arcturus join him in pursuing ultimate power."

Tobiah sighed before saying, "However, Arcturus only wanted to find a peaceful land to settle down and start a family. So, he refused Fenrir, they had a huge fight, and went their separate ways."

At this point, Othniel fell silent.

Andrew and his group had already figured out roughly how things developed afterward. Nonetheless, since it was so ancient and involved the origins of werewolves and vampires, they did not interrupt and waited for the Highland Tribe elders to continue.

Juno, completely absorbed in the story, chimed in instinctively, "That person must have been Fenrir, right?"

Tobiah glanced at her, his weathered face weary. "You're right, it was Fenrir. But by then, Fenrir was no longer the same Fenrir. After parting ways with our ancestor, he went back to find Lilith and willingly became her lapdog. He was obsessed with Lilith's beauty and would endure slavery, beatings, and abuse just to serve her.

"However, Lilith only tortured him and treated him like dirt. She never had any intention of giving him a chance or becoming his mate. Fenrir had been infected by Lilith, bitten, that is. It became the most terrifying devil under her command, waging war and killing everywhere, helping the Vampire Queen seize territory and capture slaves.

"Once, after Fenrir destroyed a primitive village, he was cursed by a shaman there. The shaman said he would suffer endless pain and torment for the rest of his life, and especially on full moons, he would transform into something inhuman, a monster.

"Fenrir didn't take it seriously, but when the first full moon arrived, his body began to undergo a transformation. That's how the world's first werewolf was born; savage, almost mindless, knowing only slaughter, no different from a wild beast."

Nyx said, "Chief, you mentioned that Fenrir came to find the Highland Tribe's ancestor, Arcturus the Unbroken. What happened between them after that?"