"Your Highness," Ruan spoke softly, a touch of concern in his voice, "Is everything alright?"

The king's distant gaze shifted to Ruan, a flicker of frustration evident in his eyes. "Moon Goddess, oh, the moon goddess," he muttered, the words carrying a weight of disappointment. "You promised me a gift, yet where are you? You, who have always left me alone. If you intended to abandon me, why make such promises? I yearn to see you, Moon Goddess. Where is the gift you pledged?"

Ruan observed the king's distress, a sense of unease settling within him at the sight of his ruler so visibly disturbed. He approached cautiously, hesitant to intrude upon the king's reverie but equally concerned about the evident turmoil within him.

"What are you thinking, my king?" Ruan inquired as he approached.

The king, lost in contemplation, asked, "When did you arrive?"

"A while ago. You seemed spaced out. If anyone sought to end your life, you might not be here now."

Ruan said seriously.

"Who in this world wishes to kill me, Ruan?"

"Many harbor that desire, my king."

"Are you one of them?" The king laughed, teasingly.

"Once, maybe. Back when we were little. You excelled in everything, and Father always praised you as the good little prince. I, on the other hand, was not good at anything. I got angry, challenged you, and you always emerged victorious."

"You're still like that. Even now, you want to spar with me whenever you can."

"It's a habit. You know, habits are hard to change."

"Habit?" The king's curiosity was piqued.

"Why did you summon me this time?" Ruan inquired, steering the conversation.

"Prepare for war. We are going up against the demon general Ajira," declared the king, shifting the focus to the imminent conflict that awaited them.

The mention of war stirred a wave of frustration in Ruan's voice.

"What? Another war? How long has it been since we had a respite? We barely had two months of peace. It seems they are truly determined to eradicate the werewolf clan from this world. There's a conspiracy here. My king, you must investigate this matter. Our soldiers are exhausted. I can't simply announce that we're heading into yet another war."

"Ruan, don't delve into this matter," the king commanded, his voice carrying a tone of authority.

"My king—"

"Just go and prepare for the war. Await my orders," the king commanded firmly, shutting down any further discussion.

"Understood."

With a sense of palpable frustration lingering in the air, Ruan departed from the room. Anger simmered within him, a testament to the weight of concern and uncertainty that the impending conflict brought upon the kingdom.

"I know why you are doing this, Ruan. But what will we do now? I am the King of my clan. So I also have to think about all of you." The king, reflecting on Ruan's insights, realized the gravity of the situation. It isn't that suspicion didn't come into his thoughts, wondering why the shrine head singled out the werewolf clan for war. Determined to uncover the truth, he summoned Sura to his room. "Sura, send someone to investigate this matter," the king commanded. "Yes," Sura acknowledged before swiftly departing on the assigned task. As Sura left, the king's mind drifted to memories of his past, specifically the poignant moments with his brother during times of war. "Brother, brother, won't you play with me?" a younger version of king pleaded. "No, Thanatos. I can't play with you. How can you always want to play? You know why your name is Thanatos," the elder brother said. "Why?" the young Thanatos asked with curiosity. "Thanatos means death. You will be a skilled warrior, a ruler of the underworld for your enemies. That's why Father named you Thanatos." The elder brother explained well. "Now, what does your name mean, brother?" the little brother inquired. "My name means 'his horse.' I mean, my name signifies that I am dedicated to you, my adorable little brother. I am like your horse, always at your side," the elder brother replied. "Tasun means horse. You'll be my horse. Then you won't leave me alone like father, right?" Thanatos asked. "Yes," his brother affirmed. "Then why is my horse leaving me alone now? Why can't you stay with me?" the young Thanatos questioned. "I am older than you, so I must go to this war. When I return, I'll be your horse again," his brother reassured, leaving an imprint of both duty and brotherly love on the young Thanatos's heart.

In the solitude of the present, the king walked towards his bed, engaged in a conversation with the echoes of the past.

"You said you are my horse, who always stays with me. But you didn't keep your promise. When you came back, you were dead. You are a liar, brother. I won't believe you again," he murmured, the weight of betrayal echoing in his words.

A determination hardened in his gaze as he continued, "I will be death for my enemy. Yes, this time, I will avenge you, my favorite horse. I will kill Ajira, who took away my horse, my brother, and my father. I won't let him live in this world anymore."

With the weight of his resolve, the king succumbed to the embrace of sleep, the dreamscape becoming a canvas where vengeance and memories intertwined in the moonlit tapestry of the night.

As the morning light filtered through the curtains, Sura entered the king's room, bearing the results of the investigation. Handing over the report, Sura's expression conveyed a mix of urgency and frustration.

"There is indeed a mole in my territory. The goddess shrine head has conspired with the demon king, aiming to eradicate the entire werewolf clan. I need to change my plan," the king declared, his anger simmering beneath the surface.

Sura, gritting his teeth in solidarity, received the king's dismissal. "Now you can go," the king stated.

Sura left the room, leaving the king alone with his thoughts. The revelation that the shrine head had joined forces with the demon king kindled a furious fire within the ruler.

"The shrine head has joined hands with the demon king... Is he even the original shrine head? The shrine head can't even endure the sight of the demon. Then how can he join hands with the demon? Was that acting or did they replace the shrine head? But if current head is not the original shrine head then where is the true shrine head? This is a serious matter. I don't know if other clans are aware of this conspiracy. If they are all allying with the demon king, I can't afford to be impulsive. I need to remain calm and solve this problem. For now, I must go to war against the demon king's soldiers," the king murmured, his anger and resolve interwoven in the tapestry of his thoughts.

With a sense of urgency, the king headed to the army camp, rallying his soldiers for the impending war. His voice, a commanding presence, echoed across the camp as he instructed them to prepare for battle. The atmosphere buzzed with urgency as the troops readied themselves for the impending conflict. The king, adorned in his regal armor, led his soldiers towards the battlefield. Their path took them through the Moon Forest, a mystical shortcut shrouded in the ethereal glow of moonlight. As they ventured deeper into the woods, a disconcerting sight awaited them – the enemy soldiers, strategically positioned within the Moon Forest, anticipating the werewolf clan's approach. Upon spotting the ambush in the Moon Forest, the king swiftly assessed the situation. His soldiers stood at the ready, prepared for the impending clash. The moon's eerie radiance cast an otherworldly glow upon the scene, illuminating the tension that hung heavily in the air. A tense silence enveloped the forest as the two opposing forces locked eyes, the moonlight casting an eerie luminescence upon the scene. The king's gaze met that of the enemy soldiers, and in that charged moment, the stage was set for a battle that would resonate through the ancient trees of the Moon Forest. The king, undeterred by the adversary's presence, tightened his grip on his sword, signaling to his soldiers to be ready. The Moon Forest, witness to both serenity and strife, now stood as the backdrop to a clash that would determine the fate of the werewolf clan. The king's expression hardened with determination as he addressed his troops. "Prepare for battle! We will face the enemy in the heart of the Moon Forest." With the moon's spectral light as their witness, the soldiers readied themselves for the confrontation, bracing for the imminent clash against the waiting enemy soldiers amidst the enchanting yet treacherous landscape of the Moon Forest.

Tension crackled in the air as the werewolf king faced off against Ajira, the demon general. Their exchange was fraught with animosity, each word laced with disdain and anger. "I knew you would pass through here. I've been waiting for you, werewolf clan's king," Ajira taunted, a smirk playing on his lips. "I was expecting, Ajira. But your demon king is a coward, afraid to step onto the battlefield," the king retorted sharply. Ajira's face contorted with anger. "He doesn't need to confront a weakling like you," he spat. The king struggled to contain his fury, but his temper flared. "Yes, I know. He's hiding in the laps of his thousand women. Spare me your excuses," he retorted, his voice edged with sarcasm. In a fit of rage, the king, struggling to control his emotions, took drastic action. In a moment of intense anger, he made a shocking display, causing an abrupt and brutal act against one of his soldiers. The soldiers around him were aghast, witnessing an unexpected and harrowing sight that cut through the atmosphere with a chilling intensity. The king's actions left his troops stunned and unsure of their leader's state of mind amidst the brewing chaos of the battlefield.