Chapter 27 - my loyal friend is back

He was about to leave the temple when he noticed some movement.

Behind him… a low growl echoed in the silence.

He turned.

A pair of golden eyes gleamed in the darkness.

Teba stepped from the shadows — fur grayed by time, body intact.

Not a spirit. Real. Living. Awakened.

Ashur knelt.

"You came back?"

Teba licked his hand. Then barked once. Loud. Commanding.

The room trembled.

The ancient air shifted.

Ashur's eyes widened.

"They won't rise… because they forgave me. But you... you remember why we fought."

He hugged the hound tightly.

"Then we rise together."

Meanwhile – Earth Alliance Military Canine Division – Geneva

Project Cerberus was failing.

Despite training, despite tech—dogs refused to approach priest dummies.

They barked, growled, even fled.

Scientists were baffled.

Generals were furious.

"They know something we don't," said one handler. "They smell something ancient."

One general slammed the table.

"We can't win without them!"

Then, a broadcast alert pinged on the military server.

"Subject 017X – Teba – has been identified near Luxor."

"Target matching ancient genetic anomaly. Approaching classified subject: Ashur-Nehum."

Ashur stood at the gates of the coming war.

Teba by his side.

He looked up toward the stars.

"You asked your dogs to die for you. But you gave them no leader."

He placed his palm on Teba's head.

"You are more than memory. You are the first of the new pack."

And across the world, in bunkers and bases…

The dogs sat up.

Their ears twitched.

Their eyes focused.

As if someone had called them.

And they were ready to obey.