Gary had never been the aggressor. Not really. Everything he had ever done started with sothing simple, he needed money to survive. That was it. That was all.
Now here he was, staring down his uncle in a life-or-death battle, both of them transford into monsters.
The entire situation boiled inside him. Why couldn't he have just lived a normal life? A life where he got to sit at a dinner table with his mom and dad. Where he actually t people like Lupus not on the battlefield, but as family.
Why had everything always been so complicated?
He pushed every twisted mory, every betrayal and hardship, into his limbs, his muscles, his heart, and he fought.
When he finally closed the distance, Gary launched himself into the air. Lupus was already gathering energy around both his claws, white-hot and deadly.
Flas burst from Gary's body, coiling around him as he spiraled forward, a teor cutting through the sky. Lupus slashed his arms outward, letting two blazing strikes rip through the air.
Gary crashed straight into them.
The force of the attack split around him, part of it slicing through the flas and cutting his skin, but the sheer montum carried him forward. He pushed through the pain, letting the fire and fury take over.
Instead of colliding head-on, Gary twisted midair and extended his hand, his claws locking tightly around Lupus's wrists, pinning them down with all his might.
"I've got you," Gary growled.
Lupus grinned. "Haha… You're strong, Gary. Stronger than your father ever was. I can't even imagine what you went through to get this far, this fast, the pain, the sacrifice. Just like ."
The two of them struggled, muscles tense, arms locked. Gary held firm, forcing Lupus's hands closed, but the older Alpha refused to give in.
"What I said before is still true, Gary!" Lupus shouted. "But we don't have to do this. Not now. Your father fought to find another way, to stop this endless cycle. Why should we be the ones to carry it on?!"
"You took Midwak!" Gary roared. "You planned to attack Slough! You forced Sin's hand and made everything worse!"
"I did no such thing!" Lupus snapped. "Everything I've done, it was for my pack, for my people! I had no part in taking Midwak. I didn't even want him dead! He was one of us once. He was family!"
Gary could see the desperation in his uncle's eyes, and for a mont, it ssed with him.
"This is my ho, Gary!" Lupus went on, voice rising. "They, those hunters, they were sent to wipe us out. You think I just stood by and did nothing? No. I prepared. I fought back. I protected my people. Just like you would."
Gary didn't know what to believe anymore.
He hadn't asked for power. He hadn't asked to be turned into a Ling. But to protect what mattered, to keep the people he loved safe, he had done everything he could. Could it really be that Lupus was the sa, just standing on the opposite side?
"No!" Gary shouted, voice cracking. "It's because of you that I lost people I cared about! And I nearly lost them again, here!"
At that mont, Lupus yanked one arm free, just for a second, Gary's grip slipped. And it was enough.
Lupus's claws extended, and he drove them straight through Gary's torso, the sharp nails bursting out from the other side.
The pain was instant. Gary gasped, his body locking up.
"This won't kill you," Lupus said firmly. "You're not that weak, Gary. I know that."
Lupus's eyes burned as he spoke, more grief than malice behind them.
"I never wanted you involved in this. From the start, I only aid to take back your father's skin from those cursed people. I couldn't let it fall into the wrong hands. If it did… they'd use it to make another Alpha. They wanted this. They wanted us to destroy each other."
He clenched his teeth, voice trembling.
"And of all the people to be turned… it had to be you. I didn't know, Gary. Not until the ss with Sin, I didn't know it was you!"
Lupus yanked his hand back, claws slick with blood, and raised it to strike again. But Gary moved fast—his hand shot up, catching the claws midair. They pierced through his palm, but he didn't flinch.
I don't even know what class Lupus is… Gary thought, gripping tightly. But whatever it is, it's not built for fighting in daylight. Just like mine. My energy's fading. I can't keep this up for much longer…
That wasn't even the worst part.
The worst part was the doubt creeping into him.
Was Lupus… telling the truth?
Was he the monster Gary thought he was, or just another Alpha trying to protect the people he loved?
"I care about my pack, Gary," Lupus said softly. "I care about my family. I care about your father. Don't make destroy the last of what I have left… with my own hands."
"Good job, kid!" a voice shouted from behind.
Gary couldn't see it, but everyone else could. Red aura crackled violently from Edvard's arm, pulsating in waves. It wasn't just aura, it was sothing else. Sothing no one had seen before. Sothing alien.
It's risky, Edvard thought, his heart pounding. But sotis, you have to take the risk.
The armor's power… it's too much. Even for . I've been holding back because I'm afraid. If I draw out all of it… I don't know if my body can survive.
He charged forward, boots tearing through the ground, streaks of energy trailing behind.
"Move!" Edvard roared.
Gary didn't hesitate. He broke away from Lupus, letting go, stumbling to the side as the pain in his shoulder and hand flared.
As he turned, he saw Edvard racing past,and caught a glimpse of Lupus's face.
He was smiling.
A genuine smile.
****
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