Gary had a decision to make, and it wasn't an easy one. Conflicting thoughts swirled in his mind, clouding everything. But in the end, he made his choice. He would go help Edvard. He would fight alongside the Altered hunters. Because deep down, he knew this could be his last chance. His body had already fully transformed, every muscle and bone adapted to his werewolf form. He was tearing through the Garden area at full speed, racing toward the mountainside where Edvard and Lupus were locked in battle. With a powerful leap, he launched himself onto a rooftop and didn't slow down, his claws scraping against tiles as he continued his sprint. Crap… Gary cursed in his thoughts. Why do I feel so off ever since I came here? Is it because we're working with people I barely know? Or maybe…it's something deeper. I'm going up against someone I've never even met before. Someone who's supposed to be my uncle. He shook his head hard, trying to clear his thoughts, but they just kept racing. No, I need to remember what Dad told me. There's no stopping two Alphas once they start fighting. Lupus…he's not the same person from my father's stories anymore. If we don't come for him now, if the vampires hadn't intervened like everyone claimed, they would've killed me when they had the chance. He would have killed me. I can't let Slough be attacked again. I can't lose anyone else just because I don't have my feelings sorted out! And then, another memory surged forward, one Gary had pushed to the back of his mind. The deal he made during the ritual. A binding promise to fight another Alpha within a set timeframe. If he failed to complete it…he didn't even know what the consequences would be. But if someone, or something, was strong enough to lift the curse of the full moon, then they were powerful enough to terrify even him. And that wasn't someone he ever wanted to meet. As Gary neared the mountaintop, a strange feeling hit him. His eyes began to burn, glowing an even brighter red than before. His blood pumped harder, hotter, through his veins, and then a scent hit his nose, sharp and unfamiliar. That's when he felt it. A burning sensation in his chest, localized in one precise spot. He glanced down in the middle of his run and saw it: the source. The medallion? he realized. The one Tom gave me all that time ago? Why is it glowing right now, of all times? What is it trying to do? **** Meanwhile, the battle between Edvard and Lupus raged on. They were locked in brutal hand-to-hand combat, each strike more violent than the last. Edvard lashed out with a powerful punch, but Lupus slipped to the side just in time. The force behind the blow didn't stop there, it carved through the air, leveling nearly twenty trees in a straight line. Then Lupus pounced from above, massive claws slashing downward as he forced Edvard toward the ground. Edvard blocked the attack with his gauntlets, his red aura spiraling outward in wild bursts. With a twist of his body, he pushed Lupus away and spun into a kick that struck him dead in the stomach, sending the Alpha skidding violently up the mountainside. This is why werewolves have always been such a pain, Edvard thought bitterly. Especially Alphas. They're resilient. Their endurance is ridiculous. If I want to put one down, I'll have to really beat them into the ground. But Lupus wasn't down for long. As he skidded back, he extended his claws, dragging them into the dirt to stop himself. Then, grabbing a massive tree trunk, he hurled it through the air with ease. Edvard didn't even blink. He shattered it effortlessly with a punch and immediately retaliated with a blast of blood energy, a crimson cannon that fired from his arm and slammed into Lupus. The sheer heat of it singed flesh, almost burning the Alpha alive. "You ever run out of energy?!" Edvard shouted. "I'm starting to think you're not a werewolf, you're a damn cockroach!" He lunged forward, landing on the ground and unleashing a furious barrage of punches into Lupus's chest. One after another, the hits came, each one cracking through fur and flesh. Blood splattered from Lupus's mouth as the flurry continued. The armor gave Edvard a clear advantage in close combat. He wasn't relying on his blood aura as a weapon, it was a utility now, something that let him enhance his precision, his speed, his strength. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎 Maybe, just maybe, if someone truly mastered the armor, had the power of the king and could use Absolute Blood Control, they could end a creature like Lupus once and for all. But just as Edvard was building momentum, Lupus caught him, grabbing him by the wrist. Edvard punched him in the face, but Lupus didn't let go. He gritted his teeth, roared, and slammed Edvard's entire body into the ground with a deafening crash. Edvard twisted just in time, managing to yank his arm free before Lupus could swing him again. He rolled away and leapt to his feet. "That…was a little too close," Edvard muttered, clutching his side. "If he traps me again, even if I'm faster, even if I hit harder, if his endurance holds out, it won't matter. He'll just keep swinging until I'm broken. At the end of the day, he can take way more punishment than I can." Even so, Edvard's attacks had taken a toll. Lupus was bleeding. He wiped the blood from his mouth, flicked his wrist, and let the droplets fall to the ground. Bending his knees, Lupus began to move. Side to side. Faster and faster. He zigzagged across the mountain floor, weaving between trees at a blinding speed. Edvard stayed rooted, trying to track him with his eyes, but it was nearly impossible. He hadn't seen speed like this before. Then, Lupus jumped, appearing right in front of Edvard with his claws raised. But something else happened. Edvard felt a sudden heat flare up beside him. A wave of intense energy. He jerked his body back instinctively, and that's when he saw it. A blazing comet of fire, hurtling through the air, crashing directly into Lupus's chest. The explosion sent Lupus stumbling back, flames spiraling around his body. From the fiery impact, a figure emerged, landing on two feet. Dark shadow-ash fur coated its body, with smog rising from its back in steady wisps. Edvard stared, caught off guard. He had never seen a werewolf like this before. "LUPUS!" a voice roared. "We… finally meet." *** (Note: There will be 1 Chapter today, and 2 tomorrow instead. The next few chapters are really important so want to focus on them.) For updates for MWS and future works, please follow me on my social media below. Instagram: Jksmanga P.a.t.r.e.o.n: jksmanga When news of MVS, MWS or any other series comes out, you will be able to see it there first, and you can reach out to me. If I'm not too busy, I tend to reply.