After the Storm

A Shattered Evening

Yuki adjusted the strap of her bag as she stepped off the bus, exhaling a small sigh of exhaustion. Her first day at the convenience store had been tiring, but she was relieved to finally be earning something. Supporting Grandpa Ho Dieng and Hayato wasn't easy, especially with their financial struggles, but she was determined to do her part.

As she walked down the quiet street, she looked up at the night sky, where faint stars flickered between the city's glow.

Then, a strange scent reached her.

Smoke.

Yuki's heart skipped a beat. The dojo wasn't far now, and she could see a faint haze in the air. As she rounded the final corner, her breath caught in her throat.

The front entrance of the dojo was in ruins. The wooden gates had been shattered, debris scattered across the ground. The walls bore deep claw marks, and scorch marks littered the stone pathway leading inside. The place that had always been her safe haven was now eerily silent.

Her stomach clenched.

No. No, no, no.

She sprinted forward.

---

The Aftermath

Yuki nearly stumbled over a fallen beam as she entered. The sight before her was far worse than she imagined. Bloodstains on the floor. A massive crater in the center. The walls had gaping holes, and the scent of burnt wood lingered in the air.

And then she saw them.

Hayato was slumped against a broken pillar, his arm wrapped around his ribs. His torn clothes exposed deep gashes and bruises. Even in his half-human, half-wolf state, he looked weak—far too weak.

Remond was kneeling beside an unconscious Ho Dieng, his face set in a tight grimace. His arm was bent at an odd angle, and his whole body was covered in bruises and dirt, but his focus was entirely on checking Ho Dieng's pulse.

Yuki's vision blurred with panic. "Grandpa!"

Her legs moved before she could think, and she collapsed onto her knees beside Ho Dieng. She placed her hands on his chest, feeling for warmth.

He was breathing.

A shuddering gasp escaped her lips.

"Hey," Hayato rasped, drawing her attention. His golden eyes flickered weakly as he attempted a lopsided grin. "Relax… we won."

Won?

Yuki turned to him sharply, her voice cracking. "You're hurt, Remond is hurt, and Grandpa—" She swallowed hard, looking back at Ho Dieng's unconscious face. Her hands trembled. "Who did this?"

Remond didn't answer right away. He looked down at his hands, flexing them slightly, as if still processing everything himself.

"We were attacked," he finally muttered.

Yuki gritted her teeth, fists clenching. "I'm calling for help."

Her hands shook as she pulled out her phone.

---

Sirens in the Night

The wail of police sirens and ambulance horns shattered the silence minutes later. Red and blue lights flashed against the wreckage as uniformed officers stepped onto the scene.

Paramedics rushed inside, assessing the injured.

"This one has multiple broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder," one said while checking Remond.

"Stabilize him before transport," another medic instructed.

Two others knelt beside Ho Dieng. "Stable but unresponsive. We need to move him now."

Yuki stood frozen, her mind barely able to process the speed at which everything was happening.

The police officers began asking questions, marking down statements. Sid, who had arrived after watching the fight's ending from the surveillance room, explained what he could.

As the ambulance doors shut and the vehicles sped away, Yuki felt her knees grow weak. The destruction, the blood, the fear—it was too much.

She sank onto the dojo's front steps, unable to stop the overwhelming dread creeping up her spine.

---

The Next Morning: News Headlines

By dawn, the entire city was talking.

"Martial Arts Dojo Attacked – Was It a Gang War?"

"Three Injured in Late-Night Brawl – Authorities Investigating"

"Mysterious Fighters Leave Devastation in Their Wake"

Civilians speculated wildly, some claiming it was a gang attack, others whispering about supernatural elements. However, the police were left with more questions than answers.

Despite the severity of the damage, no clear evidence remained. Surveillance cameras that had recorded the incident had mysteriously gone blank during the fight, leaving authorities without any footage of what truly happened. Unbeknownst to them, Sid had already erased the recordings before they could retrieve them, ensuring that Hayato's wolf-like form and Remond's abilities remained a secret.

For now, their identities were safe—but it also meant no one knew who was responsible for the attack. And that uncertainty only made the rumors grow stronger.

---

In the Shadows of Axiom Syndicate

In a dimly lit office, Jaimy Henderson sat behind a sleek black desk, lazily twirling a stylus between his fingers. His cybernetic eye flickered, scanning multiple screens displaying last night's security footage. The fight at the dojo played on loop.

He brought his phone to his ear.

"Yes," he said smoothly. "It's confirmed. Remond was involved."

A woman's voice responded on the other end, her tone laced with intrigue. "And?"

Jaimy's lips curled slightly. "His abilities… they're evolving. He took down Lu Shueng and lived to tell the tale."

A pause. Then, a quiet chuckle. "How interesting."

Jaimy leaned back, watching the footage. "So? What's the plan?"

"Keep watching," the woman purred. "He might prove useful."

The call ended.

Jaimy set his phone down, his smirk widening.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."

---

Hospital Visit

By late afternoon, Sid and Innes arrived at the hospital.

Yuki was already in Hayato's room, anxiously seated beside his bed. The werewolf was lightly bandaged, his usual cocky demeanor dulled by exhaustion. Across the room, Remond lay stiffly in his own bed, his arm secured in a sling and his torso tightly wrapped in fresh bandages.

Sid let out a low whistle. "Damn. You guys look like you lost a fight with a freight train."

Hayato grinned weakly. "Feels like it."

Innes frowned at Remond. "You should be resting."

"I'm fine," Remond muttered.

"No, you're not," Yuki snapped.

Sid crossed his arms. "You guys are insane. You could've died."

"We didn't have a choice," Hayato admitted. "If we hadn't fought back, the dojo would've been gone, and Grandpa Ho Dieng—" He hesitated, looking at Yuki. "He would've been…"

Yuki swallowed hard. "I just wish I had been there."

Hayato shook his head. "No. I'm glad you weren't. This wasn't your fight."

She clenched her fists. Even so, the helplessness burned.

Just then, a doctor entered, flipping through a clipboard. "I have an update on Master Ho Dieng's condition."

Everyone tensed.

"He's stable," the doctor continued. "He suffered a concussion and several injuries, but no permanent damage. He's unconscious for now, but there's no immediate danger. He'll need time to recover."

A collective sigh of relief filled the room.

Yuki slumped back in her chair. "Thank god…"

Remond closed his eyes, exhaling. "That's all that matters."

Sid, however, remained tense. "This isn't over."

Hayato met his gaze. "No. It's not."

The battle had ended. But something far bigger was coming.

And none of them were ready for it.