The Alpha of the Sirius Clan and Zander of the Phoenix Clan stood across from each other, their blazing auras casting waves of oppressive energy across the battlefield. The sheer power radiating from the two was enough to distort the air, the clash between their energies cracking the earth beneath their feet and sending trees swaying violently, as though a storm were attempting to uproot them.
"So, what do they call you?" Zander asked with a mischievous grin, his tone carrying an edge of mockery.
The Alpha growled low, a guttural sound that rumbled like distant thunder. He refused to reply, his silver eyes fixed unwaveringly on Zander's cocky demeanor.
The tension thickened like an invisible barrier between them, each man standing firm as the pressure escalated toward its breaking point. The battlefield felt as though it was holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable explosion of violence.
And then, in the blink of an eye, both combatants vanished from their positions.
The ground erupted as a massive shockwave tore through the air, obliterating everything within a 50-kilometer radius. Trees splintered, rocks were pulverized, and the earth itself seemed to recoil from the sheer force of the impact. At the center of the devastation, Zander and the Alpha faced each other, their fists locked together in a collision of raw power.
The backlash of the clash forced both combatants backward—Zander staggered two steps while the Alpha was pushed back three, indicating Zander's superiority int he previous contest.
The wolf straitened his stance a little shocked that he had lost a contest of strength with a human. But he hid it not allowing in to show on his face. Looking at zander with a curious but arrogant gaze he spoke
"So, you're the one they call Zander", his voice deep and gravelly, tinged with bitterness.
Zander smirked. "So it speaks. For a second, I thought all mutts were mute."
The Alpha's eyes narrowed, the blueish light within them flaring. "You're just as brazen as the reports claimed. But not as bright."
"Oh?" Zander tilted his head mockingly, his grin widening. "And why do you say that?"
"If you were brighter, you wouldn't have fallen for this obvious trap."
"Really? And who would want to trap me? And more importantly—why?"
The Alpha's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Wouldn't you like to know? Unfortunately, I'm not authorized to say."
Zander chuckled, his stance relaxing slightly, though his eyes remained sharp. "So, the mutt before me has masters. Typical. Even after two thousand years of evolution, dogs are still dogs. Some things just never change."
The Alpha growled again, his mana flaring as his body seemed to twitch in irritation. "Your attempts at goading me are futile. I'm not revealing anything. My orders are simple: kill you. Nothing more, nothing less."
Zander casually pointed the tip of his sword toward the Alpha. "Kill me, huh? Well, I hate to break it to you, but this mutt's gonna need to try harder if he wants to take me down."
The Alpha's aura surged again, his claws extending as his human form shifted slightly. "You talk too much, Phoenix scum. Let's see if your blade is as sharp as your tongue."
Zander's grin transformed into a wolfish smirk as he shifted into a combat-ready stance. "Oh, my blade's sharp enough. But you are not worthy enough for me to draw it"
The wolf scowled at that his muscles tightening. They both took their stances, both battle ready, the two titans lunged at each other once more, their clash sending another earth-shattering shockwave across the battlefield.
The Sirius Alpha's claws gleamed with light, radiating an almost otherworldly energy as he struck out with such blistering speed that even the wind seemed unable to react. His movements blurred, a testament to the mastery he wielded as a King-stage Awakened. Zander, ever the seasoned warrior, sidestepped the attack with fluid ease, as though he had been expecting it all along.
Before the Alpha could recover, Zander responded with an overhead kick, the sheer force of which shattered the earth beneath them. The impact resounded like a thunderclap, sending tremors rippling outward. The Alpha raised his arms to block the kick, his clawed hands catching Zander's strike for what felt like mere microseconds—before the sickening sound of cracking bones echoed through the air. Zander's kick followed through, slamming into the side of the Alpha's face with punishing force and sending him flying like a ragdoll.
But Zander, though playful in demeanor, took no chances. Like a homing missile, he zoomed in on the airborne Alpha, his speed unmatched as he appeared above him in midair. With both arms raised, Zander struck down with overwhelming power, the sheer force of his attack causing the very air to scream in protest.
The Alpha, in a brilliant display of reaction time and reflexes, managed to cross both arms in defense—but it did little to stop the ferocious blow.
Boom!
The sound of the explosion reverberated through the battlefield, the earth caving inward as a massive crater was carved into the ground. At its center lay the Sirius Alpha, his humanoid from now blemished with dirt and debris.
Zander landed just beside the crater, his gait casual, his appearance almost lackadaisical—like a man who didn't consider this a challenge in the slightest. He swung his sword lazily, the edge glowing faintly with residual mana, his grin mocking.
"I was honestly expecting more from you," Zander said, his tone dripping with disdain. "I've heard stories about your clan—the horrors you wrought, the whispers of your strength—but if this pathetic show is all you have to offer, then I must say: the rumors are nothing but lies."
A shadow flew out of the crater, landing a few meters away from Zander.
The Alpha growled as he rose slowly, his movements deliberate, his silver eyes burning with fury. "You have no idea what you're talking about, boy. And you have no idea the kind of power I wield." He straightened, his voice gaining a venomous edge. "If it's a challenge you seek—if it's the face of power you wish to see—then I am more than happy to traumatize you before your eventual end."
Immediately after he finished speaking, blue-hued energy erupted from his body, encapsulating him in a cocoon of brilliance. His claws grew longer and sharper, white fur sprouted across every inch of his skin, and sickening crunches echoed as his form began to shift unnaturally. His muscles expanded grotesquely, his body twisting into an imposing, primal figure.
Before long, an eight-foot white wolf stood before Zander, its silver eyes gleaming with malice, its fur bristling as raw power radiated from it. The Alpha's transformation was complete—and now, he would show Zander what it meant to face the might of the Sirius Clan.
Zander stood unaffected, allowing the transformation to happen. He wasn't a fool, despite what some might think. How could one just stand there and allow their enemy to power up especially when it was an Alpha undergoing the change.
Zander knew the risks all too well. The power gap between a humanoid form of a wolf and a fully transformed werewolf was ludicrous. If the Alpha's strength in his human form could be rated at a 3, then his strength as a fully transformed werewolf would skyrocket to a 45. This exponential increase wasn't limited to physical strength—it extended to all areas, including the effectiveness of his domain and the potency of his attacks.
But Zander allowed the transformation to happen anyway. In fact, he had pushed the Alpha into it. He did this for two reasons.
The first was simple: he wanted a challenge. It had been far too long since he'd felt the true thrill of battle—the thrill of fighting with the knowledge that a single mistake could cost him his life. Zander relished the danger, the adrenaline, the raw intensity of combat against a worthy foe.
The second reason was equally straightforward: Zander suspected there were others lurking in the shadows. Whoever wanted him dead would likely become desperate enough to reveal themselves if he demonstrated the strength to kill an Alpha at its peak. Whatever their motivations, forcing their hand was crucial—and Zander was more than willing to use the Sirius Alpha to bait them out.
Standing casually, his sword still resting loosely in its sheath, Zander grinned as he watched the Alpha complete his transformation. "Well," he muttered under his breath, "this just got interesting."
The transformed Alpha let out a deafening roar, his aura surging forward with newfound strength, its oppressive presence threatening to crush Zander where he stood.
But Zander didn't flinch. Instead, flames spread all around him as his own aura expanded to meet the Alpha's. "Come on then, mutt," he said, his grin sharpening. "Let's see if you can finally give me a good fight."