Chapter 18: The Rampage of the Red Wolf

Alpha Zephyr's voice echoed in Marcus's heart—primitive and bloody, like a command etched into his very soul. The streets of Elias were ablaze with war. Werewolves, their eyes glowing with dark red energy, were wreaking havoc upon the royal army and the members of the "Blood Bound." Marcus, who had been using his Bloody and Anomalous Qi until now, began to feel a new, terrifying power awakening within him.

He found himself in the thick of battle, where royal soldiers and Blood Bound warriors fought desperately against the savage wolves. Before him stood a massive werewolf, tearing a soldier apart with its razor-sharp claws. Alpha Zephyr's voice thundered in his mind: "This is the moment, Marcus. Show them your power."

Marcus closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and decided to release the werewolf energy within him. His veins bulged, muscles rapidly expanded, and the horrifying sound of bones cracking echoed through the air. His clothes shredded, and coarse, red-brown fur sprouted across his skin. His teeth sharpened, claws extended, and his eyes began to blaze like red embers. The Bloody Qi within him surged outward in a crimson aura.

Within moments, Marcus was no longer human. In his place stood a ten-foot-tall, monstrous red werewolf. His roar drowned out even the sounds of battle—a terrifying, primal cry that made both Elias's soldiers and the invading werewolves freeze in fear. It was unlike any werewolf's howl they had ever heard—it carried an ancient power, a terror never before felt.

The Red Wolf lunged at the werewolf in front of him. His speed was lightning-fast, and his strength, limitless. He grabbed the werewolf in a single move as if it were a child. The creature tried to scream in fear, but the Red Wolf's grip silenced it. Marcus—fully transformed but still conscious—ripped open the werewolf's chest. Its heart, still beating, pulsed in the Red Wolf's hand. Alpha Zephyr's voice guided him: "Eat it, Marcus. Make their power your own."

Without hesitation, the Red Wolf devoured the heart. As soon as he did, a wave of searing energy rushed through his body, making his Bloody and Anomalous Qi even more powerful. His eyes glowed an even deeper red, and a mysterious, otherworldly aura began to radiate from him.

The sight struck terror into the attacking werewolves. He was one of them—yet far more terrifying. A predator that hunted its own kind. Some tried to fight back, but against the Red Wolf's brutality and power, they were nothing.

One by one, he struck down every werewolf in his path. His speed, strength, and primal savagery shook the battlefield. He tore open their chests, claimed their hearts, and consumed them. With each heart, the Red Wolf grew stronger, his eyes burning brighter. He was no longer merely seeking revenge—he had become a force capable of reshaping the fate of Elyria's battlefield.

Even the royal army and Blood Bound warriors were struck with fear at the sight. They paused for a moment, watching the beast that was destroying their enemies with horrifying precision. They had never seen Marcus like this. His eyes, once human, now burned like pure red fire.

Once all the invading werewolves were slain and their hearts devoured by the Red Wolf, a dreadful silence fell upon the streets of Elias. Corpses lay scattered, the stench of blood thick in the air. The Red Wolf stood at the center of the city, steam rising from his massive body, and in his eyes burned an ancient, unstoppable power.

He raised his neck toward the sky and let out a fearsome, thunderous howl. The roar reached every corner of Elyria—Dracula's citadel, Emperor Draconis's palace, and even the throne of Werewolf Emperor Gregor. This was not merely a warning—it was a declaration: the Red Wolf had returned in full force, and he was here to change the fate of Elyria.