Takeru's eyes widened.
"…My lord!"
Jackal let out a long, echoing howl.
It cut through the entire camp.
From the shadows—
More wolfbeasts emerged.
Their fur… stained red.
Their eyes filled with aggression.
Jackal smirked.
"…Good thing I prepared in advance."
Orun struggled to stay standing.
"…Jackal… stop this…"
Jackal didn't even look at him.
"Someone has to carry our purpose forward."
He raised his hand—then whistled sharply.
The red wolfbeasts lunged forward.
"Attack."
Chaos exploded.
Claws clashed.
Growls filled the air.
Wolfbeast against wolfbeast.
Takeru stepped forward immediately.
"Soldiers! Protect our people!"
His voice roared across the battlefield.
The loyal wolfbeasts moved to intercept the attackers.
Meanwhile—
Feina stood, fully recovered.
Takashi turned to her urgently.
"You need to get your people to the village. Now."
Feina nodded without hesitation.
"Everyone, follow me!"
The civilians gathered quickly and rushed away from the tents.
Fear filled their movements.
But they trusted her.
Jackal's eyes snapped toward them.
"…Don't let them escape."
The red wolfbeasts shifted direction—
And began chasing.
Takashi slammed his hand forward.
"Barrier Cement!"
The ground rose instantly—
A thick wall of cement blocked the path.
The red wolfbeasts crashed into it, snarling.
Jackal clicked his tongue.
"…Tch."
His eyes turned cold.
"Kill everyone who remains."
Saito stepped forward.
"Kaito!"
Kaito glanced back.
"Take Orun and the others. Get them to the village."
Kaito smirked slightly.
"…You don't have to tell me twice."
He vanished—
Reappearing in front of the charging red wolfbeasts.
Steel flashed.
He held them back alone.
Saito's gaze shifted forward.
"…Jackal."
Jackal looked at him.
A slow grin formed on his face.
"So… you finally decided to fight."
Saito tightened his grip.
"You wanted this."
A step forward.
"…Here I am."
Silence fell between them.
Then—
Auris erupted.
A violent pressure burst from Jackal, dark and heavy.
At the same time—
Saito's yellow Auris flared, sharp and steady.
The air trembled.
The ground beneath them cracked.
Two forces—
Colliding before the fight even began.
Saito stepped forward, eyes locked on Jackal.
"We could've ended this."
His voice was steady.
"But you chose this path."
Jackal let out a low laugh.
"This was always the path."
His eyes burned with intensity.
"We wolfbeasts will wipe out every human…"
"…and avenge our past."
Saito tightened his grip on his sword.
"…I hate people like you."
A step forward.
"Choosing pain… just to solve pain."
Jackal's grin widened.
"It's the only way."
In an instant—
He lunged.
Fast.
Sharp claws aimed straight for Saito's throat.
Saito shifted his body—
Dodged by a hair.
Wind cut past his face.
He countered immediately.
His sword flashed forward.
Clang!
Jackal blocked with his claws.
The impact echoed.
Then—
Jackal pushed off and leapt into the air.
His Auris flared violently around him.
Looking down at Saito—
Like a predator ready to strike again.
Jackal's Auris flared violently.
"Wolf Style: Claw Missile!"
He shot forward—
A blur of speed, claws tearing through the air like a projectile.
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he launched.
Saito didn't move.
His eyes stayed locked.
Calm. Focused.
He lowered his stance.
"Sword Style: Barrier Blade."
In an instant—
He spun.
Fast.
His blade carved a perfect circle around him, forming a rotating shield of steel and Auris.
Like a storm contained in a single point.
Then—
Impact.
BOOM!
The collision exploded outward.
A shockwave rippled across the ground.
Dust shot into the air.
The earth beneath them cracked and trembled.
For a moment—
Everything was swallowed by smoke.
At the center of the wolfbeast camp—
Chaos reigned.
Takeru moved through the battlefield like a shadow.
He stepped in—
Pierce.
His claw drove straight into a red wolfbeast's chest.
Before the body even dropped—
He leapt back.
Light on his feet.
His eyes scanned the battlefield.
Wolfbeasts fighting their own kind.
Blood. Dust. Noise.
"…This has gone too far," he muttered.
Not far away—
Takashi stood beside Orun.
He raised his hand.
"Barrier Cement."
The ground rose instantly—
A thick wall surrounded Orun, sealing him inside for protection.
But it didn't stop the attackers.
A group of red wolfbeasts charged straight toward him.
Takashi narrowed his eyes.
"Jail Cement!"
Cement burst from the ground—
Wrapping around their bodies mid-charge.
They struggled—
But couldn't move.
Still—more were coming.
Takashi turned his head slightly.
"Sir Kaito! What should we do?!"
Kaito moved like a blur among enemies.
A blade flashed—
One fell.
Another attacked—
He blocked without looking.
"…We hold them."
He sliced through another enemy cleanly.
"If we fall back…"
He stepped forward again.
"They'll reach Saito next."
Takashi nodded firmly.
"…Understood."
He raised both hands.
"Bullet Cement!"
The cement around him split—
Breaking into dozens of small fragments.
They hardened instantly—
Then shot forward like bullets.
Bang—Bang—Bang!
The red wolfbeasts were forced back under the barrage.
Jackal wiped the blood from his claw and smirked.
"Your precious village…"
His eyes burned.
"I'll burn it to the ground."
Saito didn't flinch.
"…Then defeat me first."
Jackal lunged again—
Claws slicing through the air.
Saito tilted his body—
Dodged just in time.
Jackal landed and grinned wider.
"We wolfbeasts are stronger than you."
Saito stepped forward.
"…Then prove it."
In the next second—
He leapt into the air.
"Sword Style: Wind Knives."
His blade cut through the air—
Once.
Twice.
Nothing visible followed.
But the pressure changed.
Jackal's instincts screamed.
He twisted his body—
Dodging mid-step—
Another shift—
Another—
Slice.
A thin line of blood appeared on his arm.
Then another on his leg.
Jackal landed and looked down.
"…Invisible, huh."
He let out a low laugh.
"Heh… good move."
He lifted his gaze again—
More serious now.
Saito rushed forward—
His blade clashed against Jackal's claws.
Clang!
They locked for a moment.
Auris surged between them.
Heavy. Violent.
The air itself felt like it was shaking.
Neither of them backed down.
Not far away—
Kaito moved through the battlefield.
A quick flash—
A red wolfbeast's throat was cut clean.
He didn't even look back.
His eyes shifted toward Saito's fight.
"…Can I make it in time?"
Takeru landed beside him, breathing heavily.
"Kaito… we've taken down most of them."
Kaito nodded slightly.
"…Then only one remains."
His gaze sharpened.
"Their leader."
At the village gate—
Feina arrived with the wolfbeast civilians.
They slowed to a stop.
In front of them—
Villagers were already waiting.
Watching.
The wolfbeasts hesitated.
Uncertain.
Uneasy.
Then—
Pyvi stepped forward with a gentle smile.
"…Welcome home."
A brief silence—
Then the villagers responded.
"Yes!"
They rushed forward—
Helping carry belongings.
Guiding them inside.
No hostility.
Only acceptance.
Feina watched quietly, surprised.
Pyvi turned to her.
"…Where are the others?"
Feina's expression softened—but worry remained.
"…They're still fighting."
Saito was sent flying.
His body crashed hard into a rock.
Boom.
Dust scattered around him.
Before he could recover—
Jackal was already there.
Claws aimed straight for his chest.
But—
Clang!
The attack was stopped.
Kaito stood in front of Saito, blade locked against Jackal's claws.
"…I'll take this one."
Jackal clicked his tongue and stepped back.
"…Tch."
His eyes narrowed.
"Silent Killer."
Kaito smirked slightly.
"…What's wrong?"
"Scared?"
Jackal's expression twisted.
Anger flared instantly.
He lunged again—
Faster this time.
Kaito didn't move until the last second—
Then slipped past him.
A flash of steel—
Slash.
Jackal's arm was cut.
Blood spilled.
Jackal jumped back, eyes widening slightly.
"…This one's dangerous."
For the first time—
He hesitated.
His gaze shifted across the battlefield.
His forces—
Falling.
One by one.
Takeru and the others were pushing them back.
"…Damn it…"
His jaw tightened.
"…I didn't expect this."