Maggy and Jason stalked back to where they first met. After hours of practice and a night's rest, Jason had gained a better grasp of Fsh Step. He estimated its range to be around a hundred feet. Off in the distance stood the beast that had crushed him before, the Alpha Brierhound.

  This was it—his rematch. The beast that had humiliated him, left him bleeding, gasping for breath. But that was then. Now, he was stronger. He had trained for this moment, and he refused to be beaten again.

  Two other Brierhounds lurked behind the Alpha. Jason turned to Maggy, grinning. "Let me take the Alpha. Can you handle the other two?"

  "Not a problem. These things are more pnt than beast, and my Spirit Bolt can tear them apart."

  "You take the first shot. Wipe one out, and I’ll get the Alpha’s attention."

  A fsh of ethereal light nced out from Maggy, striking the nearest Brierhound. A ghostly green shimmer spread through the creature before its eyes fred one st time. With a final, strangled howl, it colpsed to the ground, lifeless.

  Jason let out a low whistle. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

  The Alpha turned to Maggy, locking onto her with glowing, predatory eyes. Jason reacted instantly. A brilliant arc of fire streaked toward the Alpha, striking its fnk. With a furious roar, it spun and charged at him.

  The Alpha Brierhound barreled forward, tearing into the earth with each powerful stride. Its vines twisted and coiled like living serpents, eager to ensnare him. Jason tightened his grip on Undying Fme. This was his rematch. The creature had nearly broken him before—but not this time.

  With a burst of speed, Jason sprinted forward. The Alpha shed out with a thick vine, but Jason activated Fsh Step. His vision blurred for a split second before he reappeared behind the creature. The sudden shift nearly threw him off bance, but he recovered in time to ssh a fiery arc across the Alpha’s hindquarters. The beast howled as the fmes seared its flesh, but it spun back, enraged.

  The Alpha's vines shed out in rapid succession. Jason barely managed to block, each strike rattling his arms. One vine snaked around his ankle, yanking him off his feet. He smmed onto the ground, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. The Alpha loomed over him, its fangs bared.

  Jason’s vision blurred as the Alpha loomed closer, its fangs bared. His body ached, exhaustion creeping into his limbs. He rolled onto his feet, body screaming in protest. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself forward, activating Fsh Step.

  The Alpha spun, eyes fshing as it locked onto him again, surging forward without hesitation., its glowing eyes locked onto its prey. Jason gritted his teeth, pain fring through his limbs. He had to end this now.

  As the Alpha closed in, Jason raised Undying Fme and shouted, "Fme Crescent!" A scorching arc of fire sshed through the air, colliding with the Alpha’s chest. The beast roared but did not stop. Vines shed out like whips. Jason dodged one, parried another, but the third struck him hard across the ribs, sending him sprawling.

  Desperation drove him forward. Summoning every ounce of strength, he swung Undying Fme, pouring all his remaining mana into a final, devastating strike. The bde cut deep into the Alpha’s neck. Fmes erupted from the wound as the creature let out a bone-rattling howl.

  Everything went still.

  Then, with a heavy thud, the Alpha colpsed, smoke rising from its lifeless body.

  He looked down at the Alpha’s smoldering body, breath ragged. It had nearly killed him before—now, it y defeated at his feet.

  He clenched his fist, exhaling slowly. The tension in his muscles unwound, the exhaustion catching up to him. Not bad... I actually did it. A tired grin formed as he turned to Maggy.

  Maggy, standing victorious over her own sin opponent, rushed toward him. He gave her a weak thumbs-up, wincing at the pain in his ribs. "I think... that went better than st time."

  Maggy grinned, her relief evident. "That was insane. But we did it."

  Jason turned to his fallen adversary, pcing a hand on its massive body. The word came naturally. "Consume."

  Alpha Brierhound Consumed.

  Options avaible:

  Leader of the Pack — With a feral howl, send your party into a state of bloodlust, increasing their physical abilities and granting a significant boost to resilience.

  Chest Pte of the Alpha — Sturdy vines form perfectly to the wearer, providing excellent protection against piercing and sshing attacks. With a moderate amount of mana, the armor can self-repair.

  5 Razian Coins

  Jason carefully considered his choices. Leader of the Pack offered power, but it felt too primal for his style. The Constitution boost was tempting, but his focus shifted to his tattered clothes. The Chest Pte, sturdy and capable of self-repair, was too good to pass up.

  He made his decision.

  A low hum pulsed through Jason’s core as the fallen Alpha’s energy unraveled, reshaping itself into something new. A heartbeat ter, the vines coiled around his torso, shifting into pce. The vines slithered up his torso like living tendrils, tightening before solidifying into a rigid, protective weave. A faint pulse of energy coursed through him, and for a brief moment, Jason could feel the primal force of the Alpha within him.

  Jason stretched lightly, testing the armor’s flexibility. It moved with him, feeling almost like a second skin.

  Maggy smirked, giving Jason’s new armor an exaggerated once-over. “So, what’s next? Gonna start howling at the moon? Maybe challenge the other packs for dominance?”

  Jason flexed, striking a ridiculous pose. “Obviously. First order of business—establish my rule, then form an elite squad of fme-wielding werewolves.”

  Maggy snorted. “Right, and I’ll just casually summon an army of ghosts to haunt the competition. We’ll be unstoppable.”

  Jason chuckled, stretching out his arms. “Jokes aside, this armor’s pretty great. You think it comes in different colors, or am I stuck looking like I rolled around in a hedge?”

  “Nah, it’s got that ‘mysterious warrior’ vibe. Very brooding. You’ll be drowning in admirers.”

  Jason scoffed. “Yeah, because charred clothes and smelling like burnt dog really scream ‘eligible bachelor.’”

  Maggy patted his shoulder. “Embrace it. You’re officially part dog now.”

  Jason groaned. “Great. First, I get nearly eaten. Now, I’m stuck wearing my enemy.” He sniffed the air theatrically. “Think I’ll start chasing sticks too?”

  Maggy smirked, tossing a twig in his direction. “Only one way to find out.” Jason rolled his eyes but caught it mid-air. “I hate how instinctively I wanted to grab that.”