The Starving Wolf

Meanwhile at the Lockhart Family Palace

Somewhere in the grandeur of the Lockhart family palace, Lionel Lockhart his fingers caressing the strings of a violin. The room exuded an air of sophistication, a world where time seemed to stand still. The butler, Alvis, approached with a composed demeanor. "Master," he began, "the system is ready."

Lionel paused his violin melody, his piercing gaze on Alvis's as he considered the situation. "I see," he murmured, his voice carrying a weight of contemplation. With a graceful motion, he resumed playing his instrument, but this time, there was a solemn undercurrent to his tune.

"Alvis," Lionel said, "have you ever heard the words of Gamaliel Bradford? He wrote of a hunger, an insatiable yearning that stirs the soul." Lionel's words hung in the air, reverberating with a sense of profound significance.

As the haunting notes of the violin filled the room, Lionel Lockhart began to explain the essence of Bradford's poem, "The Hunger,"

In the midst of the intense battle, as William and Joseph faced off against the formidable Hell Brothers, a transformative moment occurred. William initiated a coded sequence within BEOWULF, his mechanized marvel. In a mesmerizing display of advanced technology, the mech began to undergo a remarkable metamorphosis.

BEOWULF's visage shifted dramatically, its sleek, the mech's head elongated and contorted, taking on the fierce appearance of a wolf. Its metallic limbs and body seamlessly merged with the essence of this primal creature.

As the transformation neared completion, the mech's hybrid form stood as a testament to the ingenuity of its design. as BEOWULF unleashed a resonant howl, a formidable half-wolf, half-mech was born, ready to face.

"The Starving Wolf," Lionel Lockhart intoned with a deep sense of purpose. He continued, "With our technology, we've successfully created a core capable of rivaling GENESIS itself." said Lionel.

Lionel continued "BEOWULF, in its berserk mode, undergoes a transformation, turning into a mechanical wolf, akin to the mythical werewolf of legend. In this state, its power and capabilities are pushed to the absolute limit, surpassing anything we've ever achieved before. However, it comes at a cost—the pilot becomes one with the machine, their consciousness submerged in the berserk fervor, leaving them in an unconscious state. "

In a blazing frenzy, BEOWULF, lunged forward with an unstoppable fury. The ground trembled beneath its mechanical paws as it closed the gap between itself and the Hell Brothers. With a thunderous crash, it collided with the younger brother's mech, its massive form overpowering its opponent. In a devastating assault, BEOWULF's immense strength and speed came into play, as it ruthlessly crushed the left arm of the Hell Brother's mech.

In the heat of battle, the elder brother of the Hell Brothers seethed with anger, his face contorted into a mask of rage. He unleashed a barrage of deadly missiles from his mech's arsenal, each one streaking toward BEOWULF with deadly precision.

But BEOWULF was not to be underestimated. In a display of unparalleled speed and strength, it intercepted the incoming missiles, its mechanical claws snatching the deadly projectiles from the air. With a powerful swing, BEOWULF hurled the missiles back at the elder brother's mech.

The missiles struck their target with a deafening explosion, tearing through armor plating and igniting a fiery inferno. The elder brother's mech was engulfed in flames, its form twisted and broken by the devastating impact. Half of the mech lay in ruins, a testament to BEOWULF's unrelenting power and the brutal turn of the battle.

Amidst the chaos of the battlefield, with BEOWULF on a relentless rampage against the elder brother of the Hell Brothers, Joseph knew he had to intervene. He carefully aimed GENESIS and fired, a precision shot that struck BEOWULF's mechanical frame with a resounding impact.

BEOWULF staggered, its berserk frenzy momentarily interrupted as it bore the hit from GENESIS. Joseph's voice came through the comms, a mixture of determination and urgency. "It's enough, BEOWULF."

But BEOWULF was not so easily deterred. With a fierce growl, it charged toward GENESIS, its monstrous form a mechanical fury. Joseph skillfully piloted GENESIS, evading the oncoming assault. The clash between the two mechs, one in a berserker rage and the other with precision and control, created a dramatic showdown on the battlefield.

For a tense and relentless ten minutes, Joseph struggled to contain BEOWULF's berserker rampage. The battlefield echoed with the clashing of steel and the roars of the mechs. It seemed like an eternity until, suddenly, BEOWULF's frenzied assault ceased. The mech's monstrous form began to shift and transform back into its normal mode.

As the dust settled and the mechanical whirlwind of battle subsided, William regained consciousness. His vision cleared, and he saw the aftermath of the intense skirmish. With a deep breath, he took control of BEOWULF once more, the berserker rage now subsided

Suddenly a huge earthquake are happened and it was caused from the massive mechanical worm. The situation became dire. William's frustration was evident as he exclaimed, "Tsk, it's come again!" The mechanical worm shattered the underground floor, creating a gaping hole that led to the outside world.

Realizing this could be their only chance to escape, William turned to Joseph and urged, "GENESIS, this is our opportunity to get out."

Joseph nodded, but he couldn't ignore the Hell Brothers' plight. Seeing them in dire straits, he made a quick decision. "You go first, I'll buy us some time," Joseph declared.

William was taken aback by Joseph's selflessness. "Huh?! At a time like this?" he questioned.

Without hesitation, Joseph turned away from William and rushed to aid the beleaguered Hell Brothers. "Come on, we've got to get out," he urged.

"Fine! I'll lure that worm away," William reluctantly agreed, understanding the urgency of the situation.

After William's valiant efforts to lure the mechanical worm away, Joseph successfully led the Hell Brothers to safety, putting a considerable distance between themselves and the doomed Fortress VW-982. William, in BEOWULF's invisible mode, managed to evade the relentless creature, which eventually returned underground. The entire fortress lay in ruins.

Eliza's relieved voice came over Joseph's comm system. "GENESIS, I'm so relieved you managed to get out. We'll pick you up later. Wait at the designated rendezvous point."

However, their conversation was unexpectedly interrupted by a message from TheValkyrieSisters. "The Silver Prism, it seems you managed to hack the terminal, but the mechanical worm's unexpected return resulted in the fortress's destruction. Nevertheless, we'll send the agreed-upon compensation later. Thank you, The Silver Prism."

BEOWULF, now visible, approached GENESIS, and William couldn't help but offer a sincere compliment. "Looks like you haven't changed at all, huh? I respect that," he said to Joseph with a hint of admiration in his voice.

As the Hell Brothers inquired about Joseph's origins, he revealed, "I'm from The Silver Prism."

The elder brother of the Hell Brothers nodded thoughtfully. "Ah, I see. It appears we're at a crossroads, not knowing where we should go. Joining them might be our best path."

The younger brother agreed with a firm nod, saying, "Yes, brother."

Meanwhile, William was eager to know about Jennifer. He asked Joseph, "Is Jennifer okay?"

Joseph reassured him with a smile, "Yes, she's doing fine. You'll get the chance to meet her."

William's excitement was palpable as he responded, "I can meet her?"

Joseph nodded and replied. "Sure. Just wait for The Silver Prism's motherbase arrive."

As The Silver Prism's motherbase ship arrived, it swiftly picked up Joseph, William, and the Hell Brothers. As Joseph disembarked from his mech, Erina rushed towards him and embraced him tightly, her worry and relief in her hug.

William, too, stepped out of his mech and warmly greeted Jennifer. A smile graced his face as he saw her again.

Eliza approached them, congratulating Joseph on his successful second operation. She informed them, "You did exceptionally well, Joseph. We've prepared guest rooms for the Hell Brothers, and we have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow."

Addressing William, Eliza inquired, "Could it be that you're BEOWULF?"

William confirmed, "Yes, that's me."

"Very well, then. We'll see you at tomorrow's meeting. You'll need to join our discussion," Eliza instructed.

Eliza issued her orders to Max, Kotu, and Lindsay, saying, "Max, Kotu, Lindsay, I need you to oversee the repairs on the Hell Brothers' mechs."

In unison, the three of them responded, "Yes, boss," and promptly began preparations to repair and restore the damaged mechs.

Erina turned to Joseph with a warm smile and asked, "Joseph, are you hungry?"

Before Joseph could respond, his stomach rumbled in agreement. "Yeah," he admitted with a chuckle.

"Great! Let's go eat. I'll make your favorite dish." Said Erina with excitement.

As everyone gathered in the cafeteria, Joseph couldn't contain his excitement. He knew Erina was about to whip up her famous Crab Omelette Fried Rice. He couldn't help but express his gratitude. "Thank you, Erina. You're the best."

Jennifer, on the other hand, approached William and the Hell Brothers. "What would you all like to eat?"

"Same as Joseph," replied William and the Hell Brothers in unison.

After done eating , under the night sky, Joseph and Erina gazed at the stars. Erina broke the silence with a wistful tone, her words carrying a sense of wonder. "Staring at the stars at night, it's beautiful, right, Joseph? I still remember that mysterious old man we met, Joseph. His words about how this world is an illusion... I wonder what the real stars look like."

As they sat together, Erina leaned on Joseph's side, sharing a moment of tranquility beneath the vast expanse of the night sky. "Perhaps... maybe by serving under The Silver Prism, I hope we can discover the truth about The ARTIFICIAL," Joseph pondered aloud.

Erina looked at Joseph with unwavering support in her eyes. "If that's what you believe, Joseph, then I will believe it with you. I'm always with you, Joseph. If the day comes when the world is against you, I'll still be at your side," she reassured him.

Joseph smiled warmly, touched by her words. "Thank you, Erina. You and Jennifer mean a lot to me."

Erina, overwhelmed by her emotions, leaned in and gently kissed Joseph. It was a tender and heartfelt moment, sealing their unspoken promise of unwavering support and companionship.

Joseph awoke the next morning with a heavy yawn, stretching his tired body. He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that Eliza hadn't sleepwalked into his room during the night, allowing him to enjoy a restful sleep.

Joseph awoke to the sound of the bathroom door sliding open. Carefully, he approached and was surprised to see Eliza coming out from the shower. He stood in silence, as he tried to comprehend the situation.

Eliza noticed Joseph was finally awake and greeted him with a cheerful, "Oh, you finally woke up. Good morning. Don't forget about our discussion later."

Joseph remained silent for a moment before and finally began "Are you sleepwalking again?" he asked, his confusion evident.

"No," Eliza replied, her tone playful.

Joseph pressed further, unable to contain his curiosity. "Then... how did you end up in my room?" he inquired.

Eliza chuckled softly, teasingly, as she kissed Joseph's cheek. "You don't have to know," she said and leave his room.

As Eliza left Joseph's room, Lindsay, Max, and Kotu happened to spot her and decided to pay a visit to Joseph's room.

With playful grins on their faces, Max and Kotu asked Joseph, "Whoa, she came out from your room? What were you two up to last night?"

Lindsay, always the voice of reason, chuckled and intervened, "Come on, guys, it's their personal business. Let's not pry."

Kotu couldn't help but persist, "Lindsay, I can't help it! It's the first time we've seen the boss like this."

Max nodded in agreement, adding, "Yeah, Lindsay, you know how strict and stoic she usually is."

Joseph, still slightly flustered by the unexpected morning encounter, sighed and decided to set the record straight. "Honestly, it's not what you think. She was just here when I woke up. I have no idea how she got in."

Lindsay couldn't help but chuckle at Joseph's innocent response. She teased him, "You know, Joseph, maybe our boss has a soft spot for you. You do have that innocent look about you."

Joseph blushed slightly at the suggestion, not entirely sure how to respond. "Well, I guess I'll take that as a compliment," he said with a shy smile.

His friends laughed, and Kotu added, "Who would've thought the boss had a softer side, huh?"

Joseph let out a sigh and said, "Come on, guys, I need to take a shower and have breakfast."

His friends grinned, teasing him a bit more, but they eventually left his room to give him some privacy. Joseph couldn't help but shake his head and smile as he prepared for the day ahead.

Suddenly, William paid a visit to Joseph's room and greeted him with a casual "Hey."

Joseph, still a bit groggy from just waking up, responded with a sigh, "Yes?"

William raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin forming on his face. "What's with the attitude? Can't I get a proper 'good morning'?"

Joseph sighed again but complied, saying, "Good morning."

"Much better," William chuckled. He then got more serious and said, "Listen, I need your advice. I've got this... feeling for your foster mother, Jennifer."

Joseph's eyes widened in surprise. "What?!" He quickly added, "Wait, does that mean you're going to be my father?"

William blushed furiously. "Shut up! It's not like that. I just want to know how to win her heart."

Joseph thought for a moment and said, "Well, I don't know exactly what type of guy Jennifer likes, but she always tells me to be true to myself, mature, and responsible. So maybe you should start by being genuine."

William nodded, taking in Joseph's advice. "Just like that?"

Joseph shrugged. "Yeah, why not? Or you could just ask her directly."

William chuckled nervously. "Asking her directly might be too... direct. But thanks, I'll keep that in mind."