CHPT 454: The Order and His Chaos

Claude's first day back at the University of the Phoenix came to a close at breakneck speeds. It felt like only an hour ago he was being choked out by Ursula's father. Everything went by so fast. It felt so different. Smaller. Less important even. Ironic considering his next objective at the University was large. On a global scale.

The Slayers World Tournament. Maris, Isaac and Warren's ability to endure Tangents as a trio with no Healers or Tanks put them under the eyes of Prof. Raizen and Det. Mixus. Plus Claude and Ursula's visible growth and power. They were now considered valuable assets. First years ushered into the final exam for Second and Third years. Claude had other things to be worried about.

The Midnight Wardens malicious undertones. Ronin's return. Ursula's development and safety. The far future. And of course, Cassidy. The Wolfborn Bounty Hunter he planned to change into a Lupine in five days. If all went according to plan, he'd awaken as such right around the start of the Tournament.

The timeline looked solid if only a little packed. He'd manage. There was no choice. And the best way to do so was to train.

Even in his sleep.

***

He'd never felt so awake…

Well, that was an exaggeration. But the Astral Realm was a very electrifying place. The presence of the gods within radiated— permeated, like a physical smell. It never left. It put you in a constant state of adrenaline.

Even as Claude sat in the darkness, tearing away pieces of his recently slain FlameHorn to eat. With each rip, he'd hold out the piece of meat. Gil— who sat patiently next to him would spit a ball of green flame and cook it beyond its primal beauty.

Claude threw the piece up and caught it in his jaws.

"Fenrir was right….. spicy." Claude commented.

Gil swallowed down his own piece and nodded before burping up a cloud of smoke.

He looked at the Hound in the silence. Ever since he started the Order, they had changed in the Astral Realm. It wasn't new to awaken fully lucid and fully transformed. But now there was more. Some of the hairs on his fur were outlined with green energy. It gave him an odd glimmer. The energy collected and gave the form of a spine running along his back, like the beginnings of a skeletal form. And his face…..

That same energy shaped as a sword ran through the top of his Lupine snout. He could feel the heat but couldn't remove the blade. The same features shown on Gil. Claude only assume the Hounds copying of features was due to their connection.

That still didn't tell him what it wa—

The tree's moved. Claude sent out his Malevolence Tether and yanked himself across the darkened marsh. He landed in waterlogged long grass with Gil beside him, barbs quivering at the ready all down his back.

Shadows rose from beneath his fur like smoke as the Phantom Wolves moved to come out. He kept them in. They weren't fighting.

No smell of Undead. No new heat in the frigid air. No boulders falling from mountains.

Sometimes he forgot Fenrir was the offspring of a god of deceit and trickery.

"sO…rrr…jUMpyyy.." Fenrir growled as he stepped out of the woodland. The moonlight followed him and he bathed in its glow. Upon reaching Gold Rank, Claude could fight off the dominating pressure of Fenrir, but the accomplishment was met by witnessing the Monstrous gods horrific form in all its glory.

The only issue was, he didn't have one single form. He was an open book of nightmares made real. How fitting for a realm found in dreams.

It seemed this time Fenrir went for something more complex. He was the wind, collected in the darkness and given shape. His eyes were the stars in the night sky, from his mouth the river running through the marsh entrance began. The manipulation of depth and seamlessly intertwined optical illusions made him hard to look at.

"Just staying alert." Claude replied.

"gOOdD…alwAYs rEaDyyyy… oNLy yOU aReN'T!" Fenrir spat.

Claude assumed Fenrir knew about the tournament, "I'm working to get ready."

"aNnnd rrrrrR…. ThAT'S wHaT! BRinGs yOuuuuurrrr heReE..?" The winds blew and sullied Fenrir's clouded form causes him to split and wrap around the marsh trees.

"Partially."

"wHaT dO yOu WaNT…. BOY?!"

"A challenge." Claude replied flatly, "Something new. Something I can't complete as I am now."

"ANd yOu wIllL cOntInUE tO bUiLd tHe OrdErrr of ThE WoLf??" Fenrir questioned.

Claude nodded. Even if he questioned how he was supposed to add more to his Order when expanding his circle meant life or death.

Fenrir howled and began to disperse, "tHeN a ChAlLengE youuu….rrrr WILl ReCieVe. A SImPle sTaRrrT!!!!!"

The Marsh shook and the water soaked into the earth rose, swallowing up Claudes pawed hybrid feet all the way to his ankles. The smell of rot and wet wood spreads through the air as ogerish yells rippled the liquid surface in their base heavy intensity.

Claude used his Natural Vision and found three massive shapes rise from the shallow waters. Wide frames, thick bones and hunched shoulders. Water Trolls.

Shadows spilled from Claude's fur in the form of a black tornado. When it dissipated the Phantom Wolves surrounded him and Gil.

The challenge had started.