Chapter 22: The Howling

The rooftop was shrouded in darkness, the distant city lights flickering below like dying embers. Electra crouched in the shadows, her sharp sai crackling faintly with electricity as she waited. Every muscle in her body was coiled, ready.

A gust of wind swept through, carrying the scent of rain and asphalt. Then—footsteps. Confident. Unhurried.

Brick had arrived.

The woman was a towering figure, her presence commanding even in the dim light. Clad in a leather jacket and combat boots, she moved with the confidence of someone who had never lost a fight. Her short-cropped hair barely shifted in the breeze, and her sharp eyes scanned the rooftop with a predator's instinct.

Electra smirked. *Good. Let's see how fast you are.*

She moved without sound, a whisper in the dark. Then—she struck.

With a flick of her wrist, Electra's sai slashed through the air, tearing clean through Brick's jacket and shirt. The sound of fabric ripping filled the night as shards of cloth fluttered to the rooftop. The edge of her sai crackled, electricity snapping dangerously close to Brick's skin.

Brick didn't flinch. Instead, she turned her head slightly, her lips curling into a knowing smirk.

"You always this dramatic, Electra?" she asked, rolling her shoulders. Her now-exposed arms revealed the taut, scarred muscles of a seasoned fighter.

Electra twirled her sai, sparks flickering along the steel. "Only when it's worth it."

Brick exhaled through her nose, amused. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, she lunged.

Electra barely dodged in time, twisting her body as Brick's fist shot past her. The sheer force of the punch cracked the rooftop tiles where she had been standing.

*Fast.* Faster than she expected.

Electra spun, aiming another slice at Brick's side, but this time Brick caught her wrist mid-swing. Electricity surged into her palm, but Brick gritted her teeth and held on, her grip like iron.

"You'll have to do better than that," Brick murmured.

Electra's smirk widened. "I was hoping you'd say that."

With a sharp kick to Brick's ribs, she broke free, flipping backward and landing gracefully. She adjusted her grip on her sai, watching as Brick cracked her knuckles.

"No more games," Brick said, eyes gleaming.

Electra nodded. "Agreed."

And then, they clashed.

The rooftop battle raged on, the night filled with the sharp clang of metal and the crackling sparks of Electra's electrified sai. I stood at a distance, my fists clenched as I watched the intense exchange unfold.

Brick was struggling.

Electra's speed was relentless, her sharp, calculated strikes cutting through the air with deadly precision. Brick barely managed to dodge, her leather jacket now completely shredded, exposing fresh cuts across her arms and torso.

I took a step forward. "Brick, do you need help?"

She turned her head slightly, eyes flashing with irritation. "No need, Su Yan," she growled. "I can handle this."

Electra smirked, twirling her sai. "You sure about that?"

Brick let out a frustrated grunt and rushed forward, throwing a powerful punch. Electra sidestepped effortlessly, her weapon slashing across Brick's side in a single, fluid motion. A deep cut formed instantly, blood splattering onto the rooftop.

Brick staggered, her breathing heavy. I could see her muscles tensing, veins pulsing as if something inside her was fighting to break free.

Then—it happened.

Brick threw her head back and let out a low, guttural growl that quickly turned into a chilling **howl.**

My breath caught in my throat.

Her body convulsed, muscles expanding, bones shifting in grotesque angles before realigning. Her fingers elongated into deadly claws, her teeth sharpening into vicious fangs. Fur sprouted from her skin, dark and thick, covering her entire body as she grew larger, more beastly.

Within seconds, Brick was no longer just a woman. She was a **werewolf.**

Electra took a cautious step back, her eyes narrowing. "Well, that's new."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. Brick's glowing yellow eyes locked onto Electra, her breathing ragged, her form radiating raw power.

Then, with terrifying speed, she lunged.

The fight had just taken a dangerous turn.

Brick's monstrous form loomed over Electra, her now-clawed hands flexing as she smirked, baring sharp fangs. Her golden eyes burned with feral excitement.

"Don't die on me now," Brick rumbled, her voice deeper, rougher. "The fun is just getting started."

Electra's grip tightened around her sai, the blades humming with electric energy. "Tch. I was just about to say the same thing."

Then, they clashed.

Brick lunged, swiping with inhuman speed, but Electra dodged, countering with a quick strike to Brick's ribs. Sparks flew as her blade cut through fur and flesh, but Brick barely flinched. Instead, she twisted, catching Electra's wrist mid-air.

For a moment, I thought Brick had her.

But Electra reacted instantly. She kicked off the ground, flipping over Brick's shoulder, and slammed the back of her sai against the werewolf's skull. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, but Brick simply growled and spun, her claws slicing dangerously close to Electra's face.

The rooftop shook under the force of their battle. Neither was holding back.

Electra's speed kept her just out of reach of Brick's devastating strikes, while Brick's newfound power allowed her to withstand Electra's deadly cuts.

Blow for blow. Dodge for dodge.

They moved like a violent dance, each attack met with a counter, neither gaining the upper hand.

A stalemate.

I clenched my fists, watching in awe. The sheer force behind each attack, the raw power and precision—they were evenly matched.

Brick wiped a trickle of blood from her lips and grinned. "You're not bad, Sai Lady."

Electra flicked her wrist, her sai crackling with renewed energy. "You're not bad yourself, wolf girl."

Their eyes locked.

The fight wasn't over. It had only just begun.

As I watched the intense battle between Brick and Electra, a sudden shift in the air sent a chill down my spine. My instincts flared—danger.

I spun just in time, narrowly avoiding a blade aimed straight for my back. The wind howled as the sharp edge cut through the space where I had stood just a moment ago. I landed a few feet away, my body tense, ready for a fight.

A slow, mocking chuckle echoed from the shadows.

"Hello, Tang Su Yan. Good to see you again."

Stepping into the dim rooftop light was **Viper**—his sleek, black armor hugging his frame, twin daggers glinting in his hands. His piercing eyes locked onto me with a familiar malice.

I exhaled sharply, a smirk forming on my lips. "It seems you weren't satisfied last time—when I killed you." I paused, tilting my head. "Or rather… your **clone.**"

Viper's grin twitched, his fingers tightening around his blades. "That wasn't **me.** But I remember every bit of the humiliation you caused me." His voice dripped with venom.

I kept my stance firm, my muscles coiled, prepared. "Then you should've stayed dead."

Viper's expression darkened. "I'll make you pay **ten times** for what you did."

Without another word, he lunged.

His daggers moved like fangs striking in the dark—fast, deadly, precise. But I am ready.

Viper's daggers clashed against my defenses as we moved in a brutal rhythm, exchanging strikes with deadly precision. We went full *mano y mano*, testing each other's strength, speed, and skill. Each blow was met with an equal counter, neither of us willing to back down.

I smirked, easily dodging a thrust aimed at my ribs before twisting and landing a sharp elbow strike to Viper's side. She grunted, staggering slightly, and I took the chance to laugh.

"Is this all you've got?" I taunted, rolling my shoulders. "I thought you were strong."

Viper's glare sharpened, her grip tightening around her daggers.

I stepped forward, keeping my stance relaxed, confident. "The last time we fought, I had to go all out to put you down." I scoffed. "But now? You're nothing but a pathetic, weak hybrid."

Her eyes burned with fury.

"You—" she seethed, her aura flaring with pure hatred.

I could feel the tension in the air shifting. My words had cut deeper than any blade, and I knew—this fight was about to get even more dangerous.

Viper let out a low growl. "You'll regret those words, Su Yan."

Then, with terrifying speed, she attacked.