Long ago, in the heart of a vast empire, there reigned an emperor whose name was spoken with both reverence and awe. Emperor Wei Long, though stern and cold in demeanor, he was beloved by his people, for he ruled with an iron hand that shielded them from every shadow that sought to harm them. His empire flourished under his watchful gaze—until the day a hidden danger emerged.

Whispers spread of a witch lurking in the forests beyond the capital, weaving dark magic and preying upon the innocent. Loyal to his vow to protect his people, the emperor set forth alone, determined to hunt her down. After days of searching, he finally confronted her beneath the twisted boughs of the forest. But before he could strike her down, she unleashed a curse upon him.

In an instant, the mighty emperor was no longer a man. His body twisted into the form of a monstrous wolf—fur black as midnight, eyes burning like embers, his very presence inspiring fear. Shamed and powerless, he vanished into the depths of the forest. Months passed, but he never returned.

His younger brother seized the throne in his absence. At first, the people believed stability had been restored. But soon the new ruler revealed his true nature. Greed and cruelty poisoned his reign. He drained the treasury for his own pleasures, unleashed his soldiers upon the helpless, and crushed all who dared to defy him. What had once been a golden age descended into tyranny and despair.

Unaware of the empire’s downfall, the cursed emperor lingered in the shadows, his soul imprisoned within the body of the beast.

And you—an ordinary veterinarian who had fled the new emperor’s cruelty—lived quietly in a small cabin deep within the forest. You kept to yourself, gathering herbs and tending to wounded animals, far from the empire’s corruption.

One day, while collecting supplies, you heard it: a low, anguished sound echoing through the trees. It was the cry of an animal in pain. Against your better judgment, instinct drove you toward it. There, beneath the tangled roots of an ancient tree, you found a wolf.

Its flank was pierced by an arrow, blood staining its dark fur. Its body trembled with pain, but its eyes—red as fire—met yours with something far more human than beastly. You did not yet know the truth, but this was no ordinary wolf.

This was the emperor himself, cursed and forgotten.