Howl!
A cacophonous wolf's howl shattered the battlefield's tense atmosphere the moment House Fenris members stormed onto the scene.
These half-bloods had forcefully invaded what was once an exclusive arena designated for Arthur and Saisha's grand confrontation. They immediately tapped into their half-blood powers before initiating the attack.
Sirius Fenris tapped into his bloodline transformation, a metamorphosis that ignited the dormant powers coursing through his veins. His clan members also followed his lead and activated their own bloodline transformations.
As the ethereal energy surged within Sirius, the very air around him grew thick with the ancestral might of the Fenris bloodline, an energy so potent that even ordinary Rankers in proximity could feel its crushing weight, choking the breath from their lungs.
The transformation began with a visceral rush, as Sirius harnessed the primal essence of his wolf-like lineage. His onyx-black hair cascaded down his back, extending to his waist like a raven's wing. His once-human stature grew taller, stretching to an imposing 8-foot figure that defied easy classification—it was neither purely human nor a complete beast.
In this altered state, his eyes underwent a radical transformation, irises now resembling those of a fierce and cunning wolf, gleaming with an unearthly intelligence. His fingers lengthened into claws, and wickedly sharp talons that mirrored a wolf's lethal precision. As the metamorphosis deepened, his entire physique underwent a remarkable change—muscles became denser, leaner, and honed to a predatory perfection.
A potent aura, wild and beastly, enveloped him like a wild tempest, announcing his newfound might to the world. His powers as a Grandmaster Ranker surged to an unprecedented zenith, as his bloodline's gifts elevated him to a higher level of existence than regular Rankers.
Though he couldn't quite achieve the complete transformation into a Heavenly Fenris, the godly progenitor from whom his bloodline descended, he stood on the very precipice of his Bloodline Genesis, an ultimate transformation.
Among the Fenris clan's most gifted half-bloods, Sirius was destined to attain Atavism, a state where his powers would unlock a complete Fenris transformation, a divine form that mirrored the legendary Heavenly Fenris itself. However, that prospect lay in his future, perhaps when he ascended to the revered rank of a Sage.
In a mere instant, his transformation was complete. Sirius Fenris had become a terrifying visage of his lineage, a fusion of human intellect and the primal might of Fenris blood.
With his newfound form, he advanced toward Arthur at astonishing speed, the Grandmaster of Edinburgh barely able to comprehend the unfolding spectacle before him. Even Arthur's opponent, Saisha Goren, stood baffled by the sudden and audacious intrusion of Sirius into the epic clash of Grandmasters.
"Aaaaargh!"
The air was rent with Arthur's agonized cry as Sirius's ferocious attack tore through his defensive artifact. Four cruel claw-like gashes marred Arthur's torso, testaments to the sheer potency of Sirius's strike. Miraculously, Arthur's life was spared by the protective armor he wore, but it bore the brunt of the devastating assault.
Sirius showed no hesitation, launching himself into close combat against the wounded Grandmaster. The force of his previous attack had sent Arthur soaring hundreds of meters away, but Sirius pursued him relentlessly.
Engaging the Duke of Edinburgh once more, Sirius launched a flurry of attacks, his bare hands a blur of vicious strikes. However, this time, Arthur displayed a newfound readiness for his opponent's moves. He expertly wielded his spear, not only deflecting Sirius's clawed strikes but also launching counterattacks with the spear's tip.
"I knew it!" Arthur's voice rang out amidst the chaos of their battle, dripping with scorn.
"Saisha you bastard, it seems you've abandoned your pretense. You dare seek aid from your half-blood allies. The Alliance will soon have a field day fucking you and Layos up."
Saisha, locked in combat with Arthur's words echoing in his mind, was momentarily at a loss. It took him a few heartbeats to grasp the implications of Arthur's revelation.
'This man... Does he know about our dealings with Demonmir? How could he possess such information?
No. wait. This surprise attack! There must be solid proof in Arthur's hands for him to act this way.
In that case, Arthur isn't acting impulsively with his attack on the Layos army base. He intends to use this evidence against me and, by extension, Layos, to justify his actions before the Anfang Alliance.
Damn it. I knew something was up with this bastard Arthur,' Saisha concluded, his thoughts racing as he realized the depth of the trap Arthur had set.
'Hmm? Hold on. Why is Arthur under attack from this half-blood? These roaches have been pushing their luck with those space-element runes. But why would they be here if Arthur had planned a surprise attack? Who tipped them off?'
Saisha's thoughts churned as he observed the battle between Arthur and Sirius, his brow furrowing with bewilderment.
'I… I just don't get it. My dealings with Demonmir are only on the primary level at this point. We certainly didn't establish any arrangement for him to send aid like this. What the fuck is going on here?'
A disconcerting feeling of coincidence gnawed at Saisha. Demonmir had never shown such an inclination to assist him without seeking something in return. Saisha was torn between two competing instincts: to intervene and rescue Arthur, clearing his name, or to align himself with the werewolf who had appeared out of nowhere and together quell Arthur's aggression.
Saisha was lost in a maze of uncertainty. His dealings with Demonmir were based on the condition that he provided Layos with a consistent supply of Hex Artifacts. How could Demonmir intervene and help him like this? As far as Saisha knew. Ottoman certainly wasn't so kind as to invest in him or Layos without getting anything in return first.
Saisha didn't know that Eren had taken preemptive steps to dismantle Demonmir's plans. Armed with the proof presented to Arthur by Nysa, Eren had deftly manipulated the Duke, prompting him to take action against Saisha and derail Demonmir's schemes, disrupting all three factions in one fell swoop.
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