Bodies littered the ground and Gavin didn't have time to check if they were alive or dead. Bullets slammed into the stone column where he hid, and he quickly ducked behind it. He waited a moment and jumped to the side, arms ignited once again in flames. He threw out a few more fireballs towards the attacking forces as he made sure to keep his body moving, using the debris and smoke as cover.
As Gavin moved through the back side of the Grand Arena, he combined the different elements to conceal and hide his presence. He used wind magic to kick up the dust and ash that floated in the air and swirled them into a makeshift smokescreen. Then he continued to launch fireballs at the enemy soldiers as they scrambled to lock him down.
His arms felt that familiar burn of using so much magic in rapid succession and sweat began to bead down his face and neck. There are so many. Maybe I should have shifted at the start after all.
I tried to tell you, but you never want to listen until its too late. Veronica replied.
The enemy Magi worked together to throw up multiple barriers of stone and water. The spells of fire that Gavin launched at them impacted harmlessly against their defense. "I guess they aren't that weak after all." Gavin grumbled as he moved to another pillar.
Mana down to one hundred and seventy points. Veronica informed him as he peaked out from the cover, he was behind. Gavin ignored her words as he ducked again, avoiding the gunfire.
Trying as he did to keep moving, he eventually found himself surrounded and a hail of bullets came his way. Gavin grinned as he jumped into his shadow. The abyss swallowed him up as the bullets flew harmlessly over his previous location. The soldiers; confused where he went halted their gunfire as they scanned the room.
Gavin inhaled deeply as he focused more of his mana. Black tendrils of shadow swirled around his hands as he looked up through the window. Over a hundred soldiers now stormed into the arena, the wounded already carried out of harms way while he was safe in his shadow space.
Gavin clicked his tongue against his teeth in annoyance as he shot himself upward, tendrils of shadow following him as he reappeared. Several soldiers gasped in alarm and tried to raise their weapons, too slow, to bare down on him. Gavin threw the whip like tendrils at the men, lashing around their legs and throwing them high into the air.
Fireballs came down from above and impacted into each of them as Gavin whirled to the side to avoid another hail of bullets. Several squads of soldiers took aim and unleashed a barrage of fire down on Gavin's position. Fire balls, wind scythes, spears of earthen stone, and countless bullets pressed down on Gavin from all directions.
Out of nowhere, several walls of earthen stone erupted out of the ground on all sides as the bullets smacked into them harmlessly and fell to the floor. Gavin looked around panting from the physical and magical exertion so far and spotted Helena behind him, arms raised up and eyes glowing a vibrant bright red.
"I freaking knew it," Gavin said as he looked at her, his own eyes glowing red in response to another wolf nearby. He felt a strange surge of energy fill his body with her nearby. It's as if having another wolf nearby gives me energy, how strange.
She grinned bashfully, embarrassed at being caught like this, but didn't push the matter. "Shut up, wolf boy. We got bad guys to kill," she said as she grinned with a smile that showed off a set of sharp canines. She was positioned at his back as she kept watch around them while blocking the incoming bullets with her magic.
The air around them felt electrified as their mana grew in response to the other. Something ancient, powerful seemed to linger between them. Something unspoken, yet an instant familiar bond.
She lowered one stone wall as Gavin collected his mana and threw out a powerful gust of wind magic, and blew away many of their attackers. They stumbled backward and some landed in a lump of limbs as they were blasted back.
"I'll focus on defense, you take the attack," Helena shouted as she kept the walls of earth between them and the incoming rain of bullets. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as sweat beaded down the side of her face. She didn't have an unlimited amount of mana, but she would make do with what she had.
"Fine by me. These idiots are really pissing me off!" Gavin said in a lower gravely tone. He was beyond mad. The smell of rust, iron and death was heavy in the air. I don't know how many people have died, but even one life lost is too much. Rage began to take root in Gavin's heart and mind.
His body shook and trembled as he growled low. His fury was ignited at the thought of the innocent lives lost. For what? Pointless slaughter? Religious fanatics? I am done with these games. They want to attack an academy full of innocent lives, shifters and humans with impunity? Not while I am breathing, not when this is my home!
This was his home, albeit temporary. His territory and these fools just invaded the home of an alpha wolf. Gavin snarled low as his wolf surged to the surface, demanding retribution for this insult. Playtime is over.
Helena stared in shock at Gavin, her eyes wide. That low snarl sent a shock wave of primal power through the arena that Helena could feel in her soul. It set her wolf on edge as she felt the raw power and feral intensity of it. I should be afraid. His power, is on another level compared to the clan. Not even the elders held this presence.
Helena realized that something about Gavin's mana felt familiar in a way that she couldn't explain. There will be time for answers later, if we survive this!
She turned and grinned as she kept up the defensive walls for them both, rejuvenated by the energy Gavin was exerting unknown by himself.
Professor Jason, meanwhile, had already stepped out of his position. He was making targeted strikes against the enemy. All three of them were somehow able to keep the dozens of armed men at bay by using powerful magical abilities and working together to perform defensive and offensive strikes as if a well-built team.
Alert. Mana points at one hundred and fifty. Veronica's cool presence spoke in Gavin's mind as he continued to use magical abilities in rapid succession. By this point he had hoped to deliver more damage than was already inflicted in the battle.
Suddenly, a round made it past Helena's barrier and struck Gavin in the leg. The pain was blinding as he was reminded of the wound from the studio ambush. He cried out in agony and fury as the bullet tore through his skin, muscles and nerves, and exited through his thigh.
Instead of blacking out, it only enraged him more. Fire burned through his leg and blood as the bullet ripped through him. He howled and pressed his hand to his leg. As he applied pressure, blood poured from between his fingers, the liquid warm and sticky.
Recommending to cauterize the wound to prevent excessive blood loss. Veronica's voice filled his mind.
Yeah I'm aware.
He gritted his teeth as he applied a small amount of concentrated fire to sear the wound closed on both sides of his leg. He howled out in pain as the skin burned and closed itself. A crude display of field first aid to get him through the battle.
"Alright, fuck this shit," Gavin growled out low as he connected with Veronica. He was done playing games. He'd never admit it, but maybe Veronica had a point, and he should have shifted from the start. This ends, now!
He focused his mana and fully shifted into his were-wolf form. His mana exploded in a chaotic fury. Dark, crimson red blades of mana swirled protectively around Gavin and Helena. Dark clouds seemed to manifest in the air above them as black lightning appeared to crash onto the ground, leaving massive craters in their wake.
His body burned with a familiar sensation; his blood pumped furiously through his body as his inner mana filled every inch of him. Fur manifested over his body, black as the moonless night. His arms were extended at his side with the light reflecting off his razor-sharp claws.
The bones in his limbs crackled and elongated as he grew in height and muscle mass. His chest was thick and his back was broad as he rose to his full height. He stood over seven feet tall and towered above everyone else in the arena. He threw his head back and unleashed a howl to the heavens.
Hunters howl activated. Veronica's soothing voice filled his head as his howl filled the arena, and everything momentarily stopped at once. Helena froze mid strike, fear gripping her heart as she turned and saw Gavin's fearsome wolf body letting off the most terrifying howl she had ever heard.
It wasn't one of calling, or loss. It was a howl of hunting, and it sent shivers down her spine. As a wolf, she felt the wave of power and control run through her. Out of nowhere she felt the urge to shift and join him in this hunt, and her body responded as she pushed her fear aside as she shifted into her were-wolf form. Brilliant silver fur manifested over her body as she stepped up next to Gavin. She threw her head back and joined her baleful howl with his.
Together their howls blended in beautiful harmony as silence otherwise filled the arena.
No longer did these attackers face one angry and hurt wolf. Now they faced a pack of two, and together the wolves were going on the hunt.
Professor Jason glanced over at the students in shock and awe. Every fiber of his body was screaming at him to run. To abandon their mission and save his own neck. The sight of the two fearsome predators standing there amidst the army of enemies was something Jason would never forget.
"This is the stuff of legends." Professor Jason's words were of awe as he witnessed their combined fury.
Fire burned from the corpses of the enemy soldiers. Debris scattered across the arena as broken pillars of stone lay in piles on the ground. Smoke quickly filled the space as the black lightning from the boy's explosive transformation continued its strikes at the ground in a feral display of pure power.
Through his fear of their current situation, he felt another emotion stir in his chest.
Hope.
All the soldiers froze in place as the wolves let loose a heart-stopping howl. It was the most horrifying thing they had ever heard. Their hearts momentarily stopped; blood frozen in fear as some of them lost control of their bladders. Others turned around and decided to run and save their own lives, rather than face the two deadly animals.
Their squad commanders that hadn't run away began turning their firearms on their own comrades they deemed to be cowards. After a few shots rang out and bodies dropped, the rest of the men turned around to face the wolves once again.
"My name is Fenrir Cerberus Lykos! I am the Alpha of Prophecy, and you idiots just signed your wills." Gavin roared his words. Embracing his formal namesake and birthright with Helena by his side.
Silence, thick and heavy filled the arena.
Erza gasped from the rafters as she witnessed Gavin's transformation and rage. That name… It has power, ancient power. Erza could feel Gavin's emotions and pain through their bond. His howl connected with her. She shifted then and there. Her brown mana swirled around her in the rafters as she felt his strength and power. This is my mate, my partner.
Pride filled her heart mixed with worry as she witnessed how far he was willing to go to defend this school and these people.
Quick as the howls came, they stopped. Gavin, using his enhanced physical stats, took full advantage of the enemies fleeing and rushed the nearest one. He picked him up by the back of the neck with his left hand and shoved his right arm through the man's chest, his still-beating heart clutched in his fist.
The man let out a silent scream as he died. A black-skinned man with a high-powered rifle came charging at Gavin, rifle firing away. Gavin moved his right arm and placed the dead body of the mercenary between him and the marksman. His arm recoiled slightly as the bullets impacted the dead body of the man he was holding.
Gavin snarled in pain as his leg still burned from putting weight on it. His were-wolf healing was slowly kicking in as the nerves were knitting themselves back together. He flicked his arm and threw the body of the dead soldier towards the soldier. "Helena, take out the remaining soldiers before the howls effect wears off, you have thirty seconds," Gavin shouted his orders to the other wolf.
Unknown to them both, as an alpha, Gavin's orders were law to a wolf of lesser rank. Helena felt the primal compulsion inside the very core of her being to obey the commands of an alpha wolf. Without hesitating, she went on the attack. She used a combination of physical skills and magic as she began to slaughter every soldier she could reach. Her beautiful silver fur was quickly stained red by the blood of the soldiers as she made quick work of the weaker ones.
Professor Jason was providing magical support, throwing up barriers to block incoming fire and keeping an overall eye on the situation from the rear.
Gavin kept his focus on the two men who did not flee in terror. These two are strong, Gavin thought. His pulse quickened, and he flashed his canines with a broad smile as he stared them down. This was going to be fun.