Baewolf dropped all pretense the moment Aegis turned his back.
Looking at the teary eyes of the third Phoenix descendant, he revealed a malicious grin.
"Hehe, finally... I have been waiting for this moment forever. After I consume you, my bloodline would be elevated to a higher rank. I will be more powerful than anyone in this world!"
He sighed dramatically. "But alas... That bastard took the other two prey right under my mouth."
It then looked at the way Aegis had gone and shook its head in loss.
"Hehe, it's not a problem, though. Once I eat you, I will head after that human meatball next. How far can he run?"
But just as he moved to accept its prize, the third Phoenix descendant let out a piercing, high-pitched scream.
"Papa, Save me!"
Baewolf broke into cackling laughter:
"Hahaha... No one's going to save you today, Phoenix. Today, you're mine."
Saying that, it pressed its massive, fiery paws on top of the little girl. The little girl, despite being a descendant of the Ancient Fire Phoenix, was just born. She was weak and powerless currently. Pinned by the monster's paws, she could only pray for her father and sisters' return.
Baewolf was finally about to sink its teeth into the neck of the trembling little girl, but just then it heard footsteps.
Step, step, step.
It turned around to see Aegis had returned along with his two other Phoenix descendants.
"Boy, why are you back again? Did you forget something?" it asked, flames momentarily cooling to show surprise.
Aegis's eyes were terrifyingly calm as he said, "Yes. I forgot one of my children here. I am here to take her back."
He was pointing to the little girl pinned under the Wolf's paws.
Baewolf's nostrils flared, and its flames burst higher in anger.
"What's the meaning of this? Are you finally going against your words? Do you have no integrity as a human?"
Aegis shook his head slowly.
"I have kept my word, Baewolf. The deal was completed the moment I handed you your share. What happens after that is no longer part of the deal. That means I can now do whatever I want."
"Y-you..." Baewolf was angered beyond belief. "I should have expected this of your kind, boy. But if you think you can take my prey from my mouth, then you're very wrong."
"I will kill you and eat all three Phoenixes."
Finished speaking, Baewolf lunged at Aegis like a blur of raging inferno. Its black furry face was twisted into a predatory smirk.
In counter, Aegis just raised his hand, and then internally muttered, "Waterball!"
Almost instantly, a large ball of condensed water formed above his palm, shimmering with an ethereal blue glow. .
And then, without delay, he threw it at the incoming Fiery Wolf.
Bang! Splash!
The condensed water projectile blasted the Wolf at point-blank range, right at its ugly face.
The impact and effect were immediate. The combination of blunt force and opposite elemental force (Water against Fire) was devastating.
"Awoooh!"
Baewolf howled as it was slammed into the molten wall, its flames diminishing completely, leaving behind a smoking, charred form that slid weakly to the floor.
"Ooo, ooh, Papa did it. Papa is super strong.."
The two Phoenix children clinging to Aegis cheered, while the third one, immediately freed from the Wolf's grip, scrambled to join her sisters.
"Mmh, Papa... I knew you would come back."
"I am sorry, little one. But I'm not your papa," Aegis said, touching her cheek.
The little girl still shook her head.
"No. The moment you shared your divine blood with us, you became our father. Mother told us that our father will be a great man."
"Wait... You have a mother?" Aegis raised an eyebrow, feeling he had stumbled upon something great.
"Yes. But unfortunately, she is not with us anymore," the girls replied sadly, their tiny faces drooping.
Aegis decided not to open up their wounds further. Instead, he went toward the Infernal Wolf's crash site.
Baewolf was still stuck to the wall, drenched in water, its body twisted at a weird angle. It looked at Aegis with seething hate.
"Baewolf, you speak so high and mighty about integrity, but you're the one who moved to devour the innocent. The condition you're in is just the result of your Karma."
Baewolf spat a mouthful of red blood. Its eyes showed only disdain.
"Heh, this Baewolf has survived the Sky Predators for years. Don't teach me how I should live my life. Once you find yourself in a helpless condition against those Creatures, you would understand why I did this. The path of the Devil will be your choice then."
After saying that, Baewolf closed its eyes. Forever.
The Fire Slime beside it broke into a heartbreaking cry, its molten body flickering weakly.
Aegis pondered over the Wolf's words, but then immediately shook his head in denial.
"You may be right, Baewolf. But I'll never let weakness consume me again. I'll be strong, I will protect my people. That's what a Great Lord does, right?"
He got no reply of course.
He then turned to the little Fire Slime, which was still sniveling because of its sole companion's death.
"Hey, are you going to mourn forever? If you want to stay alive, follow me. You'll have everything Baewolf had given you. No. You'll have a new life in my Island."
He extended his hand.
The Fire Slime's blobus fiery surface formed a question mark, as if asking: "Is it true?"
Aegis smiled and said, "Yes... I'm the Sea God's Heir. Everything is possible in my domain."
The Fire Slime immediately jumped onto his leg.
Ding!
[ New Follower Acquired: Fire Slime ]
"Hey, don't get clingy with my leg. I'm not fireproof like you."
The little girls joined in, feeling threatened for their 'father's' attention.
"Bad poo poo, stay away from Papa!"
"Yss. Papa is ours!"
Like this, the chapter of Baewolf was closed. He was a predator, he was a hunter, he was a survivor. But today, his luck had run out.