Chapter 28 – The Beta Wolves’ First Test

Some time ago, just after Gray and his party had left the restaurant…

A new group approached the now-ruined building. Around forty men, looking like typical street thugs, followed behind eleven others who clearly held more authority. These eleven walked confidently at the front, each carrying an air of power and menace. Without hesitation, the group halted outside the restaurant. Four of the leaders entered, while the rest remained outside, watching like wolves ready to pounce.

Inside, the four men surveyed the wreckage.

Tables were shattered. Walls cracked. Blood splattered across the wooden surfaces. A man lay unconscious near the entrance, his arm twisted in a grotesque, unnatural way. This was the same thug who had tried to slap Gray before passing out in terror after witnessing his leader's brutal death.

Then they spotted the most gruesome sight of all—a headless corpse sprawled on the ground.

One of the men crouched next to the body. Blood was everywhere—soaking the floor, smeared along the wall, even clinging to strands of brain matter. A mop and bucket were tossed carelessly nearby, as if someone had begun to clean but abandoned the effort halfway.

"Tch… Looks like whoever did this tried to clean up the mess," the man muttered darkly, "but gave up halfway. What a coward."

He rifled through the corpse's clothes until he found what he was looking for: a triangular metallic object glowing faintly red.

"This bastard's dead, no doubt," he said, holding up the device for the others to see.

It was a special tracking artifact, crafted by the Greenwold noble family—known only to gang leaders. The device not only detected if its bearer was alive or dead, but it could also track the killer's location.

The artifact pulsed with crimson light.

"Dead. No mistake," the man confirmed grimly.

He twisted the device in a specific pattern. Suddenly, a glowing hologram appeared, displaying a digital map of the city. A red dot blinked steadily.

"There you are, you little shit…" the man growled. "Hiding out at the old Wolf Gang base, are you? Hah, idiot doesn't even know this device can track him."

He sneered. "Only gang leaders know how this works. Even normal members don't have a clue. That's why those two, Nil and Fil, didn't mention anything—they didn't know."

The four men exited the restaurant. One of them gestured at the unconscious man near the door.

"What about this guy? Do we finish him?"

"Forget him," the leader snapped. "We've got what we need."

With that, the entire group of forty began marching toward the warehouse that now served as Gray's new hideout.

Back at the warehouse…

Gray sat in a chair, legs crossed, exuding a terrifying calm. Behind him stood his three new subordinates—Bella, Nil, and Fil—like loyal shadows, awaiting his command.

Suddenly—

BOOM!CRACK!

The doors of the warehouse burst open. Dust flew, metal hinges screamed, and the door slammed into the walls.

A crowd of men stormed in… but froze the moment they saw what was inside.

There he was. A single man, seated calmly like a king on his throne, staring down at them with disinterest. Behind him, three figures stood still, watching with glowing eyes.

An unsettling silence blanketed the air.

"Halt!" a deep voice called out from behind the charging thugs.

They obeyed immediately, falling in line behind the eleven gang leaders now entering the warehouse.

One of the leaders, the one holding the triangular device, stepped forward and growled, "Which one of you bastards killed Jason?!"

Gray blinked, then frowned.

"Jason? Who the fuck is Jason?" he asked, his tone casual, even bored.

That response made the man boil with rage.

"You arrogant piece of shit… So it was you! You've got guts, I'll give you that. But this is your last chance—submit to the Greenwold Family, or die."

Gray sighed and stretched his arms behind his head.

"So that's it, huh? No dramatic speeches? No tragic backstories? Just straight to threats? Tch… boring."

Then he glanced back at Bella, Nil, and Fil.

"Alright, guys. Your test begins now."

All three tensed up, eyes sharpening like predators.

"You see that crowd?" Gray continued, lazily gesturing at the group ahead. "Your task is simple—kill them all. Oh, and one more thing: the more you kill, and if you eat them afterward, your power will grow."

Bella's eyes widened in horror.

"Eat them…? You mean, really eat them?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yes," Gray replied nonchalantly. "Their bones will snap like twigs. You'll be fine. Don't worry."

Bella's face twisted in discomfort. "I… I don't know if I can do that. I feel weird about it."

Gray shrugged. "Do whatever you want. Don't eat them if you don't want to. Just kill them."

"Yes, my Lord," she replied softly.

Nil and Fil said nothing. Their silence was enough. Their eyes were already glowing.

Meanwhile, the man with the triangular artifact screamed, "You've chosen death!"

He raised his hand. "Kill them all!"

The crowd surged forward, yelling war cries as they charged toward Gray and his beta wolves.

But the man who gave the order stayed back, confident in his strategy. He smiled to himself, already imagining how he would claim Jason's territory once this was over.

He looked at Gray, still sitting calmly in his chair, not even flinching.

Then—it began.

Bella, Nil, and Fil shifted.

Their bodies expanded. Black fur erupted across their limbs. Their eyes burned a chilling blue. Fangs extended. Claws grew. In seconds, three monstrous werewolves stood before the attacking gang.

The first enemy didn't even get to raise his weapon.

With a flash, Nil's claws slashed clean through his neck. The man's head rolled across the floor, his body collapsing like a ragdoll.

There was no pause.

Screams filled the warehouse.

Blood splattered the walls. Arms were ripped off. Heads flew. Organs spilled. The floor became slick with crimson as Nil and Fil tore through the attackers with savage precision. The gang members barely had time to react. Some tried to run. Most didn't even get the chance.

The air reeked of blood and death.

The man with the triangular device stood frozen. He wasn't still because of confidence anymore—he was petrified.

He watched, trembling, as all of his allies—some of the best fighters he had—were ripped to pieces.

And Gray?

Still seated. Still calm. Watching.

Between him and Gray stood only death—his gang slaughtered, limbs flung across the room, their blood forming puddles.

The noise faded. The violence ended.

And only Bella, Nil, and Fil stood, covered head to toe in gore.

Nil and Fil had devoured the corpses like animals at a feast. Bones crunched. Flesh vanished. Only blood remained on the ground.

Bella had refused to eat. She killed, but she did not feast.

The man with the device fell to his knees. His body trembled. His face had gone pale, his eyes locked on Gray with terror.

"P-please… I-I beg you… please, don't kill me…" he whispered, clapping his hands together in desperate prayer.

Behind Gray, Bella, Nil, and Fil stepped forward, their monstrous bodies towering over the broken man.

Gray finally stood up from his chair, brushing off his sleeves casually.

"Well, now we can talk like civilized people," he said, flashing a devilish smile.