"Wait, wait! Let us finish this hand. These brats played it dirty with this demonic ga!"
He clutched an as and a king of diamonds in his hand, eyes narrowed on the flop.
Eight dwarves sat with him, their chuckles grating at his ears.
'Laugh all you want. I refuse to believe I'll lose again with this hand.'
Even if he didn't hit any cards yet, the board offered him many options. An ace or a king would give him the highest possible pair, while a queen would give him a straight.
Under the werewolf's widening eyes, he slamd a gold coin on the table.
"I open with a gold coin. Fold if you care for your money!"
"Call."
"Let see your bluff."
Six folded, and two threw a shiny coin to match his bet. An additional dwarf burned a card and placed the turn, a six of diamond.
'No way I'll lose now. A king, an ace, a queen or any diamond, and I'll finally make them shut up.'
His eyes sparkled, and his soul surged with the desire to win as Soma's forehead's veins throbbed in anger.
"Three gold coins!"
Without hesitation, he raised the stakes, tripling his previous bet and smirking to incite the dwarfs to follow.
One folded, but the other smirked back and called.
"You'll regret throwing so much money. It's still ti to stop, though. If you check on the river, I'll check back."
"Dream on. This hand is mine!"
His retort reverberated as steam rose from Soma's furry head.
"I said, follow ! Everyone is waiting for our duel!"
"Wait! We'll end in a minute."
He waved his hand, telling him to step back, eyes glued to the dealer's hands.
'Co on!'
The dealer burned a card, then placed the river, a seven of diamond.
'Yes!'
His pupils constricted, and his smirk curled to reach his eyes.
There was no way he would lose with a flush.
"Are you making fun of ?!"
However, when everything went his way for the first ti in three days, Soma roared. Slamming his mighty hand on the door, he sent an air blast, shattering the table and his victory.
Amidst the flying shards, the dwarves tumbled from their seats and lost their cards in the chaotic ss.
Even if Soma's outburst didn't affect him physically, thunder rumbled in his mind, and his hands trembled.
"N-No."
His confidant smirk froze, and his head snapped to Soma. Lightning cracking in his narrowing eyes, he bit his lips.
"I was about to show them I could beco the best poker player... You ruined it!"
He pointed an accusing finger at the huffing werewolf, his rage hissing in his ears like water evaporating from a kettle.
"You'll pay for it!"
Fueled by petty anger and unbound frustration, the wind whipped against his clothes as he lunged at this hateful adversary.
BAM
Leg first, he collided with the werewolf's chest, forcing him five steps back and letting the moonlight bath his fur.
"Foolish human, I'm a tier six hybrid creature. But you dare to make wait in my territory?"
Soma munched on his lips, his fur growing with each passing second and his muscles swelling unnaturally.
From three ters tall, he shot to four and a half. His maw enlarged and split open to let sword-like fangs glint in the night as his claws extended into sharp daggers.
"Follow to the venue. We'll settle our account there."
The werewolf leader gestured for his guards to bring the dwarfs and lead the way, patting his chest.
'Did he not feel my kick?'
He frowned, the gravitas of the situation settling and his anger evaporating as he followed.
After a five-minute walk under the starry sky, he passed by intricately engraved columns depicting fierce wolves and stepped into an ancient coliseum.
Loud cheers erupted from the filled spectators' seats when they saw their transford leader.
"Witness a werewolf's power under the full moon!"
"You have no chance to win now. You should have acted three days ago!"
Amidst the excited population, he noticed a few figures draped in dark clothing. Face hidden, he failed to hear their hushed whispers but had an idea of their identity.
'Did the vampires send envoys?'
He tucked his fingers around his chin in interest.
However, he refocused on his adversary as his guttural voice reverberated through the arena.
"Dear citizens and new generation, today's duel is different. We won't use the ancestral arena to elect a new leader. Instead, we'll use it to protect our freedom and independence."
He smirked at Soma and raised his thumb at the crowd.
"Selene mandated this fool. Yes, you hear well; that Selene who created us. He is back after seven thousand years. But fear not! After killing him, we'll regroup with the vampires to resist the arrogant sun!"
The oldest generation of werewolves fell into a stupor, eyes wide and mouth gaping at the horrifying revelation. In contrast, the youngest acclaid their leader, convinced he would protect them and ignorant about Selene's real threat level.
Seizing the opportunity, he grinned at the public, gazing intently at the vampires.
"I may have forgotten to ntion a detail. Selene is no longer an arcanist... he is an archmage."
He whistled an innocent tune as everyone's face collapsed. Soma dashed to him and grabbed him by the collar, arms trembling and eyes spewing fire.
"Lies. He can't have progressed that fast."
"Let down before you regret it."
His eyes narrowed into slits, a steely glint flashing in them as his macuahuitl condensed from lightning sparks and solar rays.
"Or what? We were almost even three days ago. But under the full moon? You have no chance!" Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire
The werewolf's guttural snarl echoed in his ears as his hot breath filled his nostrils.
His brows twitched at the blatant belittling. Mana coursed through his circuits in response, alinting the core hidden in his puppet's chest with the solar elent.
"Or you'll burn your hair trying to fly too close to the sun."
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