Corvin charged first. His Bloodmark flared fully and the golden glow thickening around his limbs as his body swelled with unnatural mass.
Muscles knotted and expanded beneath his skin, veins standing out like cords. Each step he took sank into the dirt, leaving deep impressions behind him.
"HAAAA!!!"
He raised his arms and roared, swinging down with all the strength his Bloodmark granted him.
The ground cracked where his fist landed.
The wolf he struck was smashed aside. Its body spun in the air before slamming into the dirt with a sickening thud.
Corvin laughed, loud and proud of himself. "Did you see that?"
Another wolf lunged for him. He swung again, but this time it was slower. Too slow.
The wolf clipped his shoulder and sent him stumbling sideways. Corvin cursed and barely kept his balance, the sudden weight of his enhanced body throwing off his footing.
Seeing his friends being attacked, Lucen moved next.
His Bloodmark ignited in a sharp flare of pale blue light that crawled across his arms like lightning trapped beneath the skin. His ether surged unevenly through him, spilling out in bursts rather than flowing cleanly.
He thrust his hand forward, trying to shape the energy into something offensive.
A jagged bolt snapped outward.
It missed.
BOOm!
The ether cracked against the ground several meters away from Corvin, scattering dirt and stones but hitting nothing.
Lucen froze, staring at his own hand in shock.
"I—I didn't mean—"
Then a wolf leapt at him.
Lucen screamed and threw his arm up instinctively. His ether flared again, this time exploding outward in a wild pulse that knocked the wolf aside but also sent Lucen staggering backward.
He fell hard onto his back, the air punched from his lungs.
Alaric hesitated for a second. But then his Bloodmark activated. He was certain that he could do better than the other two. After all, his father had said that he had an amazing Bloodmark that enhanced his strength and speed. He would be invincible!
A deep crimson glow spread across Alaric's chest and arms.
The air warped and rippled around him under dense ether pressure. His spine straightened and confidence surged back into his eyes.
He stepped forward and moved.
Alaric didn't need a weapon. He closed the distance in a blink of an eye, speed exploding from his legs as he struck with his bare hand.
His fist slammed into the nearest wolf's skull with a sharp crack, snapping its head sideways and sending its body skidding across the dirt.
Another wolf lunged.
Alaric turned faster than it could react, and drove his palm into its ribs. Ether detonated on impact and shattered the wolf's bone. The beast was hurled backward yelping.
For a moment, it looked effortless and impressive.
But the control of his power wasn't there.
His next strike came too wide. He overcommitted, momentum pulling him forward as a wolf twisted under his arm and raked claws across his side.
Pain flashed across his face.
"Argh! Damnation!" Alaric cursed and stumbled, barely catching himself before crashing into Lucen who was still laying on the ground.
Panic flickered through his eyes as he jumped up and lashed out again, red ether surging wildly around his hands.
The attack repelled the wolf but the discharge was sloppy and wasteful. The crimson glow flickered. His breathing grew harsh and uneven almost immediately.
The power was real. But it was burning him out just as fast.
They were strong. But they were clumsy.
They had power, but no way of using them. Ether burned through them too quickly, spilling out in wasteful surges. Every strike cost too much and every mistake fed their fear.
Dominic watched from behind them.
His expression stayed cold. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
So this was it. He was seeing raw Bloodmark power without understanding of how quickly ether betrayed those who relied on it blindly. Just like he did back then.
The next wave of wolves burst through the chaos ahead.
They slipped past gaps in the front line where guards had died. Where Riven, Mara, and Kel were already locked in combat.
The pack charged straight toward the noble kids who were still in chaos.
Corvin saw them too late. Three wolves from the chaos ahead came straight for him. Their eyes burning with corrupted hunger.
His golden glow flickered as his breath hitched.
His arm was bleeding. His shoulder throbbed where claws had torn into him earlier. His legs felt heavy and his swollen body now felt too slow to respond.
He knew that in his current state, he could not win.
"M–Mommy!" Corvin screamed, his voice breaking as tears streamed down his face.
He swung blindly and desperately.
His fist came down with brute force, cracking the ground and forcing one wolf back, but the strike was slow and desperate. The other two were already on him.
One wolf slammed into his side, sinking its fangs deep into his arm. The other wolf raked claws across his back, tearing through cloth and flesh.
"AARRGHHH!!!" Corvin shrieked and tried to thrash them away.
It wasn't enough.
They dragged him down.
More wolves piled on him, teeth and claws tearing in from every direction. His screams rose higher, shriller, until they broke into choking sobs.
Then even that sound was drowned beneath snarls and wet, tearing noises.
Lucen heard it. So did Alaric.
They turned at the same time.
Corvin was gone beneath the wolves. Only flashes of gold light remained, sputtering and fading then also collapsed.
Lucen froze in horror.
Alaric's face went white.
"No…" Lucen whispered.
Alaric staggered back a step, heart hammering violently in his chest. His instinct screamed at him to run, but his legs refused to move.
His gaze tore away from Corvin's fate and snapped toward Dominic.
"Help—!" Alaric shouted, desperation ripping through his voice. "Hey, you, he-!"
The words died in his throat.
Dominic was not fighting any wolves.
He was standing several steps behind them, sword resting loosely in his hand. Blood dripped from the blade's edge but he made no move to advance.
He was smiling.
Not wide or wild. Just a thin, cold grin that sent a chill straight through Alaric's spine.
Their eyes met.
Dominic's gaze was calm as if amused.
Alaric felt his blood turn to ice.
Behind him, Lucen screamed as another wolf lunged closer.
Ahead of them, the howls of the pack rose again.
And Dominic only tightened his grip on the sword, watching.
—