Midmorning light slanted through the gym's grimy windows casting long shadows that danced playfully across the ring as if mocking the night's savagery while the scent of Elena's herbal brew mingled with fresh bandages and lingering venom acridity. Alex tested his scars flexing fingers summoning tentative tendrils now steadier responsive coiling like loyal hounds awaiting command the backlash dulled to manageable hum. Crew bustled Rico inventorying scavenged wolf fangs for weapons Scarface drilling newbies Razor integrating his Vipers into watch rotations thirty strong pulsing with purpose Harbor's vein-deep loyalty.Elena beckoned to the ring's base her knife prying hidden panel with practiced ease revealing hollow iron heart etched runes glowing faint pulsing with caged darkness. "Core," she breathed voice reverent. Alex reached shadows leaping to it unbidden relic warming his palm unlocking flood: visions of ancient weavers binding night against elder tyranny Vinny's sacrifice hiding it here to starve Draven's grasp. Power stabilized veins clearing fully gifts sharpening—threads to whips sense to far-sight mend to forge.Lena watched awe softening her journalist edge. "Game-changer?" He nodded core humming synergy. "Train now control it."Montage blurred under her coaching: Alex wove shadow nets trapping thrown knives forged blades from darkness clashing Rico's wrench parried; far-sight scouted Skyline fringes spotting cloaked elder scout gliding fog-cloaked sigil-marked dagger drawn. Elena taught binds core-amplified pinning phantom foes; Lena sparred pushing intuition syncing their rhythms her dodges feeding his shields touches electric lingering.Spike interrupted midday scout report confirming: "Elder scout lone probes alleys Draven holds back testing." Crew armed shadows humming eager.Alex led intercept alley shadows thickening unnaturally elder woman veiled silver hair eyes milky with centuries landing silent dagger whispering void-curses. "Heir blood core yields." Clash ignited her voids sucking light Alex's shadows pushing back core pulsing whips lashing her weave straining.Lena flanked pipe cracking ribs elder hissing. "Fledgling loves reporter meddles." Shadows bound limbs core flaring elder banished in rift screeching. Trophy dagger left runes warning Council gathers.Crew cheered core secret safe power mastered tentatively. But Draven's laugh echoed visions: Pack was appetizer elders feast.Alex gripped core resolve iron. War dawned true.
