Baptized in Fire

With a thunderous dash, Raphael shot forward like a cannonball unleashed. In a blink, his hand gripped Luke's face, and with barely a pause, he veered to the side and seized Justin in the same brutal fashion. Clutching them both by the heads, he spun, once, twice, faster, gathering cyclone momentum before he hurled them into the sky like twin comets.

As their bodies ascended into the heavens, Raphael bent his knees and launched himself after them.

High above the battlefield, he reached Justin first. The werewolf's eyes widened in disbelief as Raphael coiled his arm back in a crisp karate stance. Then came the punch, a straight, air-tearing strike that cracked the sound barrier.

Justin crossed both arms in defense, but it was useless.

The impact shattered his limbs with a sickening CRACK and sent him hurtling toward the earth like a meteor. He smashed into the ground, the stone below splitting open, and his body bounced from the force, coughing blood before slamming back down again.

Raphael landed smoothly, then turned his golden gaze skyward. Luke was still airborne.

With a flash, Raphael vanished and reappeared beneath him.

A brutal side-kick rocketed into Luke's back, sending him even higher. Then Raphael appeared again, behind him mid-air, wrapped his arms around Luke's waist, and rotated into a diving suplex. Head first, they plummeted to the earth.

Just before impact, Raphael let go and backflipped away, landing light on his feet.

Luke struck the ground head-first with bone-crushing force, a spray of blood bursting from his face as the ground cracked beneath him.

On the ground, both alphas stirred, broken but not yet unconscious. Justin groaned, arms limp, blood spilling from his mouth.

(He broke my arms with one punch... What is this guy?)

Luke swayed like a drunk, vision blurred. (He almost crushed my skull... I can barely stand.)

Both men locked eyes.

We have to retreat.

But Raphael wasn't finished.

In a blur, he was beside Justin, seizing him by the head and lifting him off the ground like a toy. Justin thrashed, claws swinging, but his broken arms barely scratched Raphael's skin.

Luke stumbled forward to help but moved like a ghost, his concussion robbing him of control.

(Useless… I'm done for…) Justin thought, panic gripping him. (Think… THINK!)

His eyes locked on Raphael's cross.

"W-Wait!" he gasped. "You're a Christian, right?! If you kill me, you'll sin! You don't wanna go to hell, do you?!"

Raphael's grip tightened. His eyes blazed brighter.

Across the battlefield, Kane slowly stirred awake. He blinked groggily at the sight, his brother standing tall, his hand around Justin's skull.

Lancelot stirred too, barely conscious but aware enough to see what was happening.

Julia watched, hands over her mouth, heart pounding.

Then Luke collapsed completely, his body hitting the ground with a soft thud as unconsciousness claimed him.

Raphael spoke.

"That's not for you to decide."

His voice was like thunderclouds cracking open.

"I've been baptized twice… Once in water."

A flicker of childhood, a priest's gentle hand blessing him.

"…And once in flame."

A flash of memory. Bound. Screaming. Fire licking at his skin. Werewolves laughing.

"I carry the fire of the Holy Spirit until the day I stand before my Lord and Savior for judgment."

His grip began to tighten. Justin screamed.

"AAAAARGHHHH!!"

His eyes turned bloodshot. His skull creaked under the pressure. Blood dripped from his nose.

Julia turned away, shielding her eyes.

Kane and Lancelot both managed faint, battered smiles, pride in their brother's strength burning through the haze of pain.

Then...

THWACK!

A powerful kick slammed into Raphael's side, sending him skidding backward. Justin dropped like a sack of potatoes, out cold.

Raphael slid across the ground but landed on his feet, eyes sharp.

Across from him now stood a new figure.

A white-haired alpha werewolf with glacial blue eyes, white wolf ears twitching, and a snowy tail swaying lazily behind him.

Raphael slid into his stance, muscles taut, ready to strike.

Meanwhile, not far away...

"Where the hell is Lancelot?" Jack muttered, stepping outside with Joshua. "He better not bail on his own rehearsal dinner."

"Maybe he's just… stressed," Joshua replied, half-joking, half-worried.

Back on the battlefield, the werewolf tilted his head, watching Raphael.

(He looks tough… but I can take him. Karate, huh? Then I'll fight karate with karate.)

He dropped into a mirrored stance, calm and precise.

Jack and Joshua rounded a corner and froze.

They saw Raphael. They saw the destruction. They saw Zain.

"ZAIN!" Joshua shouted, heart leaping into his throat.

The white-haired wolf turned, eyes softening as he saw the familiar face.

(Damn, this just got crowded… No way I'm beating all of them.)

Zain smirked.

"Well, look at you. Still healthy, huh, Black Sheep? That's good."

Joshua's mouth opened. "Why are you doing thi..."

Before he could finish, Zain pulled a bomb from his pocket.

He lit the string.

"Lady in the back, this one's for you."

He hurled it at Julia.

Everyone froze.

The bomb spun through the air in slow motion, the sizzling fuse trailing smoke.

"NOOOOO!!" Raphael screamed, sprinting toward Julia, locking eyes with her in those final seconds.

She smiled.

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Acceptance in her gaze.

"JULIAAAA!!"

BOOOOM!

But there was no fire.

Just confetti.

Colorful paper exploded in the air like fireworks. Red. Blue. Pink. Gold.

Everyone froze in stunned silence, dumbfounded.

Even Julia blinked, the fake streamers tangled in her hair.

All eyes turned.

Zain was gone.

Vanished into the trees.

He was already deep in the forest, laughing like a child, Luke draped over one shoulder, Justin under the other.

"Damn," he chuckled to himself. "Would've killed to see their faces."