Howl.
A loud howl echoed as Akira stared at the werewolf leader, who had now absorbed all his magic and transformed into his ultimate form, or something like that. He looked bigger and began radiating energy. His once glowing yellow eyes had turned red.
"This absolute power… so this is the power of the so-called Destined One. But it's mine now! HAHAHAHAHA!" the werewolf leader gloated like a third-rate villain, laughing the moment his transformation was complete.
"Huh, sorry to burst your bubble, but all you really did was absorb my mana for a temporary boost," Akira said with a casual shrug in a light tone. "Actually, taking in that much power all at once might mess you up internally. You should probably get a check-up, I'm saying this for your own good."
He even wore a concerned expression, as if genuinely worried about the enemy's health.
"I know, brat," the werewolf leader growled, baring his teeth. "But who knows, maybe if I devour your body, I will get all of your power, permanently. And not just you... Maybe I'll start with your little friends over there. Watch as I tear them apart and eat them alive, just to see the look on your face."
He burst into a twisted laughter, gleeful and cruel, as though he wanted to savor Akira's despair before the end.
"That's a lot of tough talk coming from someone who only dared to attack a kid like me when my parents were away," Akira said with a smirk, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You threw traps, sacrificed your own underlings just to stall for time, and now you strut around like some big shot? No matter how many tricks you pull, you're still no match for me. You do know that, right?"
Despite his confident front, Akira was doing everything he could to stall. Ever since the anti-magic barrier had vanished, his mana had begun to regenerate at an incredible pace. But even with his superior recovery, it would still take a bit longer before he had enough to actually damage the werewolf leader in its current, supercharged state.
"I'm not foolish enough to face you when your parents are present, boy," the werewolf leader growled. "And I couldn't risk you escaping, not after all the trouble I went through. But now that I've absorbed all your mana, I have to admit… You would have had a chance to defeat me. Impressive, 'Destined One.' You hold power far beyond your years. But that's exactly why I can't let you live. If I let you grow any stronger, I'll never get my revenge."
His lips curled into a crazed grin. "I don't care about pride. I don't care about fairness. All I want is your death. Once that's done… my vengeance will be complete. HAHAHAHAHA!"
As Akira expected, the werewolf had launched into a full-blown monologue. But unlike before, this time Akira was counting on it, "That's right… Just keep on yapping. Show me how cool of a villain you are. Go ahead, hit me with all the cliché lines you've got. I'll be sure to clap when you're done."
"Who are you anyway? What grudge do you have against my family and what did you mean by 'Destined One'?" Akira asked, his voice calm but stern. He kept his gaze fixed on the werewolf leader, doing everything he could to stall for more time.
"Heh, I'm…" The werewolf leader began, then paused. His eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute… You didn't care about that when we first met. You're stalling, aren't you, you little brat?" he snarled, realization dawning. "Trying to buy time? Hoping for reinforcements? Hate to break it to you, but no one's coming to save you."
Akira chuckled, unfazed. "Sigh, Dude, do I look like I care about buying time? I'm not waiting to be rescued. And I'm not running away either. I'm going to beat you myself. You're not nearly as impressive as you think you are. I just don't want to kill a nameless villain. Think about it, wouldn't it be pathetic if history remembered my first big opponent as 'random werewolf leader'? You should at least give me a proper name before I crush you."
The werewolf leader threw his head back and laughed. "Hah! You really believe you can beat me after I've absorbed all your power? You're out of mana, boy!"
Akira smirked. "Haven't you heard the saying? 'In the hands of the incompetent, power brings nothing but ruin.'" His eyes gleamed. "If you'd attacked me with your whole pack while the barrier was up, you probably could've won. But you got greedy. Waiting to absorb my power will be the mistake that costs you everything."
And he meant it. Had they rushed him together while the barrier was still active, they would have stood a chance.
"I don't care anymore. Right now, the only thing I want is to kill you, and when I'm done, there won't be a single bone left of your body," the werewolf leader said, charging at Akira, no longer interested in continuing his monologue.
"Well, clearly conversation isn't my forte. I guess I just have to do it the normal way," Akira said as he raised his hand. A bright white magic circle formed in his palm, and a pulsating white light emerged from it.