The van rumbled steadily down the open highway, one of the few vehicles daring enough to travel this early. The road ahead was nearly empty, and for good reason. News had already spread, Ruin City was locked down. Roads were barricaded, and communication had been cut off. No one was coming in or out. So it made sense that the highway was eerily quiet. With the hour still early, many hadn't even left their homes, let alone thought about work. The van, however, was headed toward Slough, and it wasn't just any group making the journey. Inside were the remaining Altered Hunters, silent survivors of a night they would never forget. They needed rest. Time to recover. Time to think. The metal shutter at the back of the van was closed, cloaking the cabin in a dim stillness. Each of them sat spaced apart, their bodies slouched with exhaustion, but their minds couldn't help circling back to what they'd just endured. They had escaped death, barely, and even in their fatigue, conversation stirred. In the very back of the van, Gary slept, still as a stone, his breathing slow and deep. "So… after everything… we still didn't take down Lupus or his people," Joy murmured. Her head was lowered between her knees, her voice cracking under the weight of loss. "Why did Cooper have to give up his life like that? And all the Altered Hunters... What even happens to us now?" Their numbers had been devastated. The once robust force of Altered Hunters was reduced to a handful. In the van sat Roland, a few surviving Three-Star hunters, Joy, Lou, Trixie, Blake, and Innu. Others, like Siaber, had likely made it out of the Garden on their own, but no one knew for sure. "You all did more than anyone could've asked," Edvard said gently, his voice steady despite the sadness etched in his features. "What we faced was far greater than expected. The Lupus Gang… they were far beyond what we anticipated. You could say we failed, but we struck a real blow. That counts for something." His words hung heavy in the air before he added, "But I need to be honest with you. As of today, the Altered Hunters will cease to exist." Pain rippled through the group. Expressions tightened. Some winced, others looked away. Deep down, most of them had already suspected it. How could they continue operating after everything that had happened? "What does that even mean?" Kai asked sharply. His voice carried a flicker of anger that pierced the stillness. "What about the people you answer to, the ones in the settlement? We held up our end. We delivered the armor to you. And you still failed. "Now Lupus knows we helped. That makes us targets. And with the Altered Hunters disbanded, are you saying you're not going to go after Lupus again?" Blackjack and Edvard exchanged a glance. The others couldn't see the whole picture, but after what they'd witnessed, what Edvard and Blackjack were truly capable of, they were starting to piece it together. "I doubt it," Edvard said at last. "The settlement… they won't act again. We simply don't have the numbers to commit. Today was our chance to eliminate the Alpha, and we missed it. It's no one's fault, but when you look at the broader picture, the Lupus Pack still has far too much strength. "We didn't even see all of the Ironfangs today. There are many of them still out there, scattered across the city. And don't forget about the Bookkeeper, we still don't know what he's capable of. And worst of all, they've got ties to the Dark Guild. One of the Kings. That's why we hoped to take them out quietly. "But now… with everything exposed, I think the settlement will back down." Kai laughed suddenly, a bitter sound that sliced through the van like a blade. "Don't give me that. That's not the whole truth, and you know it," he snapped. "One of your own, Kim, tried to kill me during this mission. You can ask Trixie. She'll back me up. "But maybe… maybe I should be thankful. Because it opened my eyes. What if we were never on your side to begin with? What if, in the eyes of the settlement, we were always just another enemy?" His voice deepened, tinged with a dark realization. "There are so many questions. But maybe the answer's simple. Why didn't you take us out when we were weak? It's because you knew how the story goes. Two Alphas, they're destined to clash. You didn't need to intervene. You just waited. You let us fight each other, so you could clean up whoever survived. "Only… there was one variable you didn't account for. The Howlers. Gary. We were stronger than you imagined. Too strong." He leaned forward, staring at Edvard. "You're no ordinary person from the settlement, not with that armor. Maybe the settlement has a huge force, maybe you could crush Lupus in a full-on war. And judging by Gary's confidence, I believe you'd win. "So why don't you? Why don't you just go all out?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂 He let the question hang in the air before answering it himself. "Because we're both your enemies. If you take down Lupus, we'll still be standing. And you're scared of that. Scared that we'll strike next. Because at the end of the day, we were never your allies. To you, we're just tools." Silence fell over the van like a heavy blanket. No one moved. No one spoke. In a way, their silence confirmed Kai's words more than any denial could. Just as Edvard opened his mouth to respond, a groggy voice broke through the tension. "Crap… ah… it's good to see… you're all here… alive." Gary had woken up. And just like that, the mood shifted. His simple words, warm and sincere, broke the tension like dawn breaking after a storm. **** For updates on MWS and all future works, follow me on my social media below. Instagram: @jksmanga *Patreon: patreon.com/jksmanga News about MVS, MWS, or any upcoming series will appear there first, and if I'm not too busy, I usually reply to messages.