Zander flexed his arms, the cracking sound of his bones ringing out as he stretched. Taking a battle-ready stance, he set his eyes on the alpha who had just finished his transformation. For a moment, his hand hovered toward the sword nestled against his back, but he hesitated. Instead, he chose to rely on the flames that flickered to life around him, their heat scorching the earth as they formed a protective aura. He was ready—exhilarated even. Facing an opponent of this caliber wasn't something he feared. It was something he craved.
Across from him, the Alpha stood tall, his hulking, eight-foot werewolf form radiating power. Raw energy coursed through his veins as he reveled in the primal sensation. It never got old—the overwhelming surge of strength that came from returning to his roots. Though such transformations were rare, every occasion had ended the same way: with his enemy reduced to nothing.
Wolves, as a whole, were average when it came to mana manipulation—, a sore spot but a weakness nonetheless. In compensation for that their physical stats were off the charts usually eclipsing their peers especially when transformed. Transformed wolves were titans, their speed, strength, and agility eclipsing that of most beings. And now, as he cleared his mind of distractions, the Alpha focused entirely on his target.
He stared down Zander—the human who had only spouted insults since the genesis of their encounter he felt his killing intent growing, he wanted nothing more than to rip him to shreds. He was sent here to kill anyway but before then he would remind this fool the gap between humans and them the true rulers of the world. He would show him no matter how hard an ant pushes against the mountain he could never topple it.
As his resolve solidified, his claws extended even further, his canines gleamed with sharper edges, and his feral focus reached a crescendo. All games and probes were abandoned—the hunt was on.
The Alpha bent low, muscles coiling like springs. And then—boom!
The ground beneath him cracked, the air snapped, and he exploded forward like a rocket, closing the distance between them in an instant. His claw, glowing with blue mana and radiating sheer destructive force, arced downward with the intent to cleave Zander in half.
Zander leaned back slightly, dodging with practiced ease, his movements graceful and precise. But just as he avoided the first strike, another claw was already upon him—this one sweeping in from the side as if it had always been there, lying in wait.
Caught in an unfavorable position, Zander twisted his body, hoping to dodge the attack by a hair breath and he succeeded, at least almost as a slight claw mark appeared on his face. Blood dripped from the flesh wound staining a portion of hs attire.
The Alpha didn't let up. He launched into a relentless onslaught, taking full advantage of his immense agility. Strikes came from every direction, so fast that they created sonic boom in thier wake. Afterimages lingered in the wake of his movements, creating a dizzying display of speed and ferocity.
Zander, despite the overwhelming pressure, maintained his composure. He dodged by the narrowest of margins, relying on his years of training and innate instincts. His experience allowed him to predict the trajectory of the wolf's attacks, adjusting his movements accordingly. But even for Zander, it was no easy feat. He pushed his perception to its limits, his mind racing to keep pace with the Alpha's blistering speed.
As the clash continued, Zander's analytical mind worked furiously to discern the Alpha's patterns. Despite the ferocity of the attacks, there were subtle rhythms—a foundation to the wolf's movements. Zander began to exploit these tendencies, subtly baiting the Alpha into predictable strikes. By exposing false openings and retreating at calculated moments, he led the wolf into a trap.
The Alpha, consumed by bloodlust, took the bait. Seeing what appeared to be an exposed side profile, he lashed out with razor-sharp claws, aiming for Zander's face.
This time, Zander didn't dodge. Instead, he ducked low, letting the claw sail harmlessly overhead. Seizing the opportunity, he countered with a devastating uppercut—a strike fueled by his mastery of flames. The blow landed squarely on the Alpha's jaw, the force reverberating like a thunderclap.
The Alpha staggered backward, his balance disrupted as he struggled to recover. Zander capitalized on the moment, creating distance between them and finally pulling himself out of the close-combat situation.
Stepping back, Zander decided it was time to take things seriously. He delved into his mastery of flames, drawing in ambient mana as the temperature around him skyrocketed. Rocks melted, the air grew suffocatingly hot, and the very ground seemed to shimmer under the oppressive heat.
White flames erupted around Zander's body, their brilliance blinding as they roared with lethal intent. His eyes took on a deep crimson hue, a stark contrast to the pale inferno enveloping him.
The Alpha felt it—a deep, primal sense of danger emanating from the white flames. For the first time since the beginning of the fight, unease crept into his mind. Whatever Zander was doing, it wasn't good—and it could very well spell his end.
Reacting on instinct, the Alpha lunged forward, faster than ever before, aiming to disrupt whatever Zander was preparing. His maw snapped open, teeth gleaming as he attempted to bite off Zander's head in one vicious chomp.
But Zander didn't move—he stood as though oblivious to the impending attack.
The Alpha's eyes gleamed with ferocity and elation, convinced he had finally caught his prey. But just as his jaws closed in, the ground beneath him softened. His hind legs sunk into the melting earth, throwing him off balance. His strike missed entirely, and for the briefest of moments, he struggled to recalibrate himself.
But in a high-level fight like this, a second's lapse in focus was catastrophic.
Zander didn't miss the opportunity. Wreathing his legs in white flames, he executed a perfectly timed, bone-shattering kick to the Alpha's head.
Crunch!
The sickening sound of the kick echoed across the battlefield as the Alpha was sent flying. He tumbled through the air, his form crashing into the ground several kilometers away, tearing through the earth as he landed.
Zander straightened, rolling his shoulders as he flexed his muscles. Bending his knees, he launched himself into the air with a sonic boom, his figure trailing flames as he sped toward the Alpha like a comet.
The wolf, still reeling from the blow, had no time to react as Zander slammed into him with overwhelming force. The impact obliterated the surrounding terrain, splitting the ground apart as if a natural disaster had struck. Dust rose into the sky like a mushroom cloud, blotting out the sun as the fight escalated to its most destructive heights.