Timeline: TC1853.03.01 (Late afternoon)
Location: Seven Peaks Territory, Eastern Valley
From the Verdant Spire's sixth level, Raven watched the mutations approach through crystal walls that amplified her spiritual perception. Ten of them. Wolves, but wrong—too large, too coordinated, spiritual essence corruption visible in the way their forms rippled with unnatural energy.
The pack leader was massive. Three meters at the shoulder, fur that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it, eyes that glowed crimson with concentrated spiritual essence. The others ranged from slightly smaller to merely "normal" dire wolf size—which still meant they could kill an unprepared cultivator in seconds.
