Chapter 7: A knight vs a hound

The docks creaked beneath their feet, the scent of saltwater and rusted metal thick in the air.

The afternoon sky was rosy, followed by a gentle breeze.

Biscuit's grin was wide, his wolf-arm twitching at his side.

"A shape shifter and you are a wolf type," Arthur mused, hands in his trench coat pockets, "never expected the predator to become the hunted."

Biscuit chuckled, low and rough, "Nah, Demon Child. You see, you have already been hunted the moment you step foot outside that prison."

His good eye flicked to Arthur's mismatched gaze, then away, "I was told to kill you. And it would be stupid if I let this draw out!" Then, faster than Arthur expected, Biscuit's human hand snapped behind his back and immediately fire a gun at him.

For a second, Arthur's thought he was shot, but Galahad gauntlet proved otherwise.

The knight's gauntlet caught the bullet easily in mid-air between its fingers.

Biscuit's smirk faltered. Arthur's lips parted.

"Huh," Arthur muttered gripping where his heart was, "I know that I don't know much about you, but I wasn't expecting a reaction like that."

Biscuit emptied the clip.

Each shot met the same fate—caught, crushed, and dropped to the ground in a shower of sparks.

The last bullet clinked against the concrete, rolling to a stop at Arthur's feet.

Biscuit exhaled, tossing the gun aside, "Yeah, figured that was pointless. I need to ask, how many evolutions have you gone through?"

Arthur returned to his usual stance, "I have no clue on what you are talking about."

"Oh, now I see why they are scared of you." Biscuit's body twisted, "The moment your evolution begins, you will become a problem."

Bones cracked. Fur sprouted. His remaining human features melted away, leaving behind a hulking, nine-foot-tall wolf-beast, muscles coiled beneath a thick, matted pelt.

His claws scraped grooves into the concrete as he lowered into a crouch while he kept his eyes shut tight, "That's why I will be the one to end your story."

"My my, now that smart," Arthur admitted, "Now how much do you know?"

Biscuit's muzzle split into a grin, revealing rows of dagger-length fangs, "Oh, I know all about you, Demon Child." His ears twitched, nostrils flaring, "That's why I will honour you a quick but painful death."

Galahad materialized fully, armour gleaming under the sun. He thrust his right hand into his chest and pulled out a glowing blue energy sword, "My, you are full of surprises Galahad. Now then, bring him to me... alive."

Biscuit launched himself forward, moving like a hurricane, a blur of fangs and fur, using the dock's uneven terrain to his advantage.

He bounced off shipping containers, kicked off walls, flipped mid-air—all without opening his eyes once.

Galahad matched him blow for blow.

Every time Biscuit tried to flank Arthur, the knight was there catching a swipe with its forearm, deflecting a lunge with its blade.

Biscuit ducked under a horizontal slash, rolled, and kicked off a steel beam, aiming straight for Arthur's blind spot—only for Galahad to pivot mid-swing, backhanding him out of the air.

Biscuit skidded across the ground, laughing, "Damn, your ghost's got hands!"

Arthur smirked, "He's full of surprises."

Biscuit wiped blood from his muzzle, still grinning, "This was fun and all, but you should know that nothing in life is fair." His ears suddenly perked.

Multiple vans pulled up, and armed men poured out with assault rifles, "Hey boss, need some assistance."

Galahad dropped the sword and stood in front of Arthur, "S***, this isn't good." A drop of sweat run-down Arthur face.

Biscuit climbed to his feet, "YEAH, OPEN FIRE!"

Bullets rain straight towards Arthur, but Galahad stood as his last line of defence. Despite Galahad doing his best to deflect as many bullets as possible. Arthur received a graze on his cheek and right leg.

More and more sweat drop-down Arthur face as he tries to think of a way out.

Till suddenly a pillar of fire appeared in front of Arthur which halted the gun fire, "Which one of you decided to hurt my baby?" Arthur immediately recognised that voice.

Walking out of the pillar was Vanessa, "Vanessa!" Relief struck him, knowing that it was over.

Arthur then felt a hand on his shoulder, "Time to go bro." He looked and it was Bruce, "Bruce, how did you-" Without a second thought, he teleport the both of them away and allowing Vanessa to finish up.

---

The floor around her feet was burning.

Vanessa's transformation was instantaneous—her golden hair igniting into a blazing crimson, her emerald eyes shifting into molten gold.

The air around her rippled with heat, warping the very light that touched her.

Biscuit's remaining eye widened, "Oh, s***—Flamestar?!"

He didn't hesitate, "OPEN FIRE!"

Gunfire erupted.

Vanessa didn't dodge instead she welcome their bullets.

Every bullet dissolved mid-air as she began to absorb their kinetic energy, fuelling her flames. Her body glowed brighter, hotter—until she was less a woman and more a living supernova.

Then—

A shockwave of fire erupted from her, sending Biscuit and his men flying like ragdolls and vans tipping away. They crashed into shipping containers, crumpling to the ground, unconscious or groaning in pain, "My name is Flamestar, as the number tenth hero of this world. I hereby sentence each one of you to prison." With each step forward she took left a burnt print behind.

Biscuit didn't want to continue this and quickly got up on his feet and bolt away. Only for a spinning star of fire materializing in Vanessa's palm.

"You don't get to leave," she said softly.

She hurled it towards the air before homing in, spiralling through the air before slamming into Biscuit's back, sending him face-first into the concrete.

Before he could recover, Vanessa teleported beside him in a burst of flame, pressing a hand to his spine.

"Flame binds," she murmured.

Fiery shackles coiled around his wrists and ankles, searing just enough to brand his fur but not cripple him.

Sirens wailed in the distance.

---

Officer Morgan stepped out of his cruiser, whistling at the devastation, "Damn, Flamestar. You really went all out."

Vanessa dusted off her hands, her flames dimming, "You know how protective I am over my babies."

Morgan cuffed that begun to weaken his trigger Biscuit, who groaned in pain, "We've been after this guy for months. What was he even doing here?"

Vanessa's eyes narrowed, "That's what I'd like to know."

She knelt beside Biscuit, her voice dropping to a whisper only he could hear, "Who sent you?"

Biscuit spat blood, grinning, "Your luck ran out the moment that child enter your life. After my dance with him, must say he is not ready for the real hunters. That power of his won't protect him forever and once that day comes and you are holding his lifeless body. You'll only have yourself to blame for dragging him into this life."

Vanessa's fingers twitched—her flames flared for just a second—before she forced herself to stand, "Take him away." She said.

---

They reappeared within the living room of the penthouse after Bruce teleported Arthur away from danger.

"How did you guys-"

"Remember yesterday when mom made us dinner, one of the maids went to your room and attached a tracker in your coat." Bruce said, tapping the hidden device sewn into the lining of his shirt.

Arthur blinked, "Why the hell is there a tracker in my clothes?"

Cassie walked in, balancing a tray of tea, "All of us have them. It doesn't just track our location—it monitors our vitals, too."

Before Arthur could argue, a small pillar of fire appeared a few feet away from him and Vanessa stormed out, still in her Flamestar form.

"ARTHUR!"

She teleported from where she was standing to in front of Arthur and yanked him into a crushing hug, her flames licking harmlessly around them, "My sweet baby boy."

Arthur wheezed, "Can't… breathe…"

She finally released him, her flames receding as she shifted back to her normal appearance, "Now. Explain."

Duke and Annie joined, listening intently as Arthur laid out Biscuit's words—the mention of "evolution," the knowledge of his eyes, the deliberate attempt to kill him.

"Someone's spreading info about me," Arthur concluded, "And they're sending villains to kill me. He told me himself, and he is only one of the many who might come attacking when they have the chance."

Vanessa's lips thinned, "Interesting, I should consider buying you a smartwatch or any form of communication. Tighten security. And also, I believe that you should have someone with you next time."

"I wanted to ask about the evolution-"

A knock at the door.

Becky entered, carrying four sleek briefcases, "We will talk later." Vanessa said as she left to the elevator.

"Your uniforms," she said, setting them down on the desk. "Mission starts in one hour."

The team exchanged glances.

The real fight was about to begin.