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Chapter 3 - Chapter Three: Wolf's Recklessness, Bat's Strategy

The Crescent City Life Sciences Research Center was less a hospital than a white fortress nestled in the city's green lung. It housed the most advanced medical equipment, cutting-edge biotechnology, and... Crescent City's most extensive and sophisticated blood storage and research system. Among Elian's many enterprises, this was the most inconspicuous yet most crucial one.

At this moment, in a temporary command center on the top floor of an abandoned building several hundred meters from the research center, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the sea before a storm.

A holographic projection unfolded in the room's center, displaying the research center's three-dimensional structure down to every ventilation duct. Elian stood before the projection, his fingertips elegantly tracing through the air, red fiber-optic lines representing attack routes appearing as he moved.

"The Purifiers' target is the central blood bank in Area A and the gene editing laboratory in Area C," his voice, cold and clear, echoed in the empty room. "They have three infiltration routes. My plan is to have my people create the illusion of a compromised security system, actively luring them into the low-temperature storage in Area B. The temperature there can limit their mobility, and the complex pipe structure is perfect for dividing and encircling them. Rafe, your pack is responsible for sealing all exits on the perimeter, ensuring not a single 'rat' escapes."

This was a typical Elian-style plan: precise, complex, layer upon layer of traps, toying with enemies before achieving perfect victory at minimal cost. This was a plan for a chess master.

"Bullshit!"

Rafe roughly interrupted him. He was irritably cleaning a massive tactical knife, and upon hearing this, he suddenly stabbed it into a wooden crate in front of him with a dull thud.

"Let enemies into your own territory? By the time your 'perfect trap' is set, their poison might have already contaminated half the blood bank!" He stood up, walked to the holographic projection, and brutally swept away all of Elian's carefully designed attack routes with his large hand.

"My plan is simple." Rafe drew a straight line on the map with his finger, pointing directly at blood bank Area A. "Find them, then tear them apart. My 'Earth Walkers' will breach through the main entrance, drawing frontal fire. My elite team and I will air-drop through the western ventilation system, striking at their heart. Simple, direct, effective."

"In your words, reckless, stupid, hopeless," Elian didn't even glance at Rafe, simply redrawing his attack routes in the air, his tone flat as if stating fact. "Your plan will only trigger all their alarms, letting them destroy evidence and evacuate in the first moments, possibly even taking hostages. Your men will die in vain because of your arrogance."

"My warriors never fear sacrifice! That's called honor!" Rafe roared, stepping forward until he almost collided with Elian's chest. "Unlike certain cowards who only hide behind their schemes, lacking even the courage to face enemies directly!"

"Courage and stupidity are two different things," Elian finally turned his head, his gray-blue eyes showing not a ripple. "Rafe, put away that ridiculous tribal heroism. This isn't a gladiatorial arena—it's a battlefield. Every impulsive action will cost lives."

"My clansmen, I trust them! Unlike you, who only trust your cold calculations!"

They stood opposed, one burning like fire, one cold as frost. They represented two completely different survival philosophies and combat doctrines. Cooperation was doomed from the start.

Eventually, under strong persuasion from their respective lieutenants, they reached an extremely fragile compromise that could collapse at any moment: both would act simultaneously. Elian would execute his "lure into the trap" plan while Rafe led his assault team on standby at the perimeter. Should Elian lose control of any situation, they would immediately intervene.

Night fell like an enormous black velvet cloth, gently enveloping the entire research center.

The operation began.

Elian, like an elegant conductor, calmly coordinated his "Shadow Guard" through encrypted channels. They infiltrated the research center like shadows, modifying surveillance, setting traps, soundless and seeming to merge with darkness itself. Everything proceeded perfectly according to his script.

"Target spotted—twelve individuals, already entering Area B induction route," came a report through his earpiece.

The corner of Elian's mouth curved in an almost imperceptible smile.

However, at that moment, another crisis erupted!

"Alert! Alert! Area A central blood bank under physical intrusion!" Piercing alarms rang throughout the communication channel.

Elian's expression darkened for the first time. He immediately switched the surveillance feed to Area A, where another Purifier squad of at least ten had somehow infiltrated and was now using high-energy cutters to violently breach the blood bank's alloy door.

They had split their forces from the beginning! The Area B squad was merely bait to draw attention!

"Damn!"

"Elian, your 'perfect plan' went wrong," Rafe's mocking voice came through the channel. "Now it's my turn. Brothers, charge!"

Without waiting for Elian's response, Rafe cut the communication.

Through the window, Elian could see several agile figures burst from the perimeter darkness like arrows, crashing through the research center's glass curtain wall in an almost savage manner and charging inside. The werewolf tribe's combat style was always so direct and violent.

Elian closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. His worst-case scenario had occurred. His chessboard had been completely disrupted by a rampaging beast.

"Execute Plan B," he opened his eyes, his voice returning to its usual coldness. "Clear Area B decoys. Also, have all non-combat personnel immediately proceed to the emergency shelter on sublevel three."

At this moment, the research center's interior had descended into chaos.

Rafe's werewolf squad struck like wolves among sheep, clashing head-on with the Area A Purifiers. Werewolf claws collided with Purifier silver blades, producing harsh sounds. Gunshots, roars, and the crash of heavy objects rang out continuously.

Rafe led the charge, not even using weapons—his hands covered in hard keratin were the most lethal weapons. He punched a Purifier's breastplate into a concave dent, then snatched the opponent's gun and discarded it like trash.

However, the Purifiers were well-trained. They quickly formed battle formations, their specialized weapons continuously spraying silver powder and ultraviolet beams, preventing the werewolves from unleashing their full power.

Just as the battle reached a stalemate, one Purifier quietly broke away from combat, circling to the blood bank's other side. There, a gray-haired, gold-spectacled elderly professor was leading several researchers in an evacuation attempt. She was Dr. Anderson, the research center's director and one of the few humans Elian could call a "friend."

The Purifier raised his gun, aiming at the defenseless Dr. Anderson.

"Doctor, watch out!"

At the critical moment, a roar rang out. Rafe's figure appeared before Dr. Anderson as if teleporting across ten-plus meters. He couldn't attack in time, only spread his arms wide, using his massive body to shield the doctor and researchers behind her.

"Pfft!"

A silver-glowing bullet buried deep in his left shoulder.

Silver was highly toxic to werewolves. Intense burning pain instantly spread throughout his body, the wound emitting black smoke as muscle tissue was rapidly destroyed.

Rafe grunted but didn't retreat a single step. His amber eyes stared deadly at the Purifier, burning fury almost becoming tangible.

"Are you... alright?" Dr. Anderson asked behind him in a trembling voice.

"Shut up, stay behind me," Rafe's voice was hoarse with pain but still carried undeniable command.

This scene was clearly transmitted to Elian's eyes through a tiny camera in the corner.

His pupils contracted slightly.

He saw the werewolf he had always considered a "reckless beast" use the most primitive, direct method to protect his most important person at the most dangerous moment. It wasn't calculation or strategy, but an almost instinctive... protection.

Just as Elian's mind wavered, urgent calls came through his earpiece: "Master! Rafe's men are in danger! They pursued Purifier remnants into the gamma-ray sterilization room in Area C—high-energy UV lights are about to activate!"

Elian's gaze instantly sharpened. He immediately pulled up Area C surveillance, seeing Rafe's two young subordinates trapped in an all-metal room while dozens of UV lights overhead began flashing ominous warnings.

"Activate Area C emergency fire protocol! Full blackout in three seconds, sprinkler system active!" Elian commanded almost without thought.

"But Master, that will destroy some sensitive equipment in the laboratory!"

"Execute!"

"Yes!"

Three seconds later, Area C plunged into darkness. Immediately, fire sprinklers released cold mist accompanied by massive electrical short-circuit sounds, permanently extinguishing the deadly UV lights about to activate.

The two young werewolf warriors, still shaken, saw through their tactical goggles the extinguished lights overhead and heard Elian's cold voice commanding through the communication channel.

The battle ended in a bloody, chaotic manner some ten minutes later.

The Area B decoy squad was eliminated, but the Area A Purifier main force, after causing massive damage, successfully broke through with a virus-contaminated blood sample.

This was a battle with no victors.

In the research center corridors, the air was thick with the mixed scents of blood, gunpowder, and disinfectant.

Rafe leaned against a wall while a werewolf medic treated his shoulder wound. When the tweezers extracted the silver bullet, he didn't even frown.

At that moment, the two rescued young werewolves approached him with complex expressions: "Young Master... just now, it was that vampire who saved us."

Rafe's movements paused. He looked up to see Elian walking slowly from the other end of the corridor.

Still in an immaculate handmade suit, his steps elegant as if he'd just attended a boring social dinner rather than fierce combat. He walked up to Rafe, his gaze falling on the bloody wound before looking at Dr. Anderson standing safely behind him.

"It seems a beast's hide can occasionally be useful," Elian's tone was unreadable as mockery or otherwise.

"Better than some 'chess masters' who only hide behind the scenes, watching their subordinates die," Rafe coldly retorted.

Though their words remained sharp, the atmosphere between them had undergone a subtle change. Both had seen something in the other they'd never expected.

Elian said nothing more, crouching down to examine a dead Purifier's corpse. His movements were careful, even fastidiously avoiding the blood.

Suddenly, his movements stopped.

Inside the Purifier's uniform collar, he discovered a very concealed emblem embroidered with silver thread.

It was a pattern of sword and thorns, ancient and sinister.

Elian's brow furrowed deeply for the first time. This emblem—he seemed to have seen it centuries ago in some forbidden tome.

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