Chapter 38: The Final Strike
Kazuki's aura flared, the crimson energy enveloping him like a cloak of raw power. Lady Arwen's smug smile had vanished, replaced by a mask of terror. Her dark magic pulsed around her hands, but it trembled, flickering like a candle in the wind.
"You... you shouldn't be able to control it!" she stammered, her eyes darting around as if searching for an escape. "That power should have consumed you!"
Kazuki took a step forward, his gaze locked onto her. "It almost did," he said, his voice even and calm. "But I control it now. And it's time to end this."
The Dire Wolves, still under his command, rose to their feet. Their eyes glowed a fierce gold, and they surrounded Lady Arwen, their low growls resonating through the clearing.
Lady Arwen's jaw clenched. "You think you've won? Fool! I still have the power of the Dark Covenant!"
She raised her hands, and the ground shook violently. Black tendrils erupted from the earth, writhing and snapping like serpents. The wolves snarled, lunging at the dark tendrils, tearing them apart, but more continued to emerge, coiling around Kazuki's legs, his arms, his neck.
"You will submit!" Lady Arwen screamed, her eyes blazing with dark energy. "Bow before the Dark Covenant!"
Kazuki gritted his teeth, struggling against the dark tendrils as they tightened around him. The crimson aura surged, clashing with the dark energy, sparks flying as the two forces collided.
\[Alpha Command detected external interference. Neutralizing...]
A surge of power shot through Kazuki, the crimson aura intensifying. The dark tendrils sizzled and disintegrated, falling to the ground as ashes. Kazuki straightened, his gaze icy cold.
"Your power is nothing compared to mine," Kazuki said, his voice dripping with authority. "And now, it's time to show you what true power is."
He raised his hand, and the air shimmered. The crimson aura coalesced into a massive, spectral wolf, its body composed entirely of raw energy. Its eyes blazed with golden fire as it let out a deafening roar, shaking the ground beneath them.
Lady Arwen's face paled. "N-No... That can't be..."
Kazuki stepped forward, the spectral wolf advancing with him. "This is the true form of Alpha Command," he said, his voice echoing with a power that seemed to come from the earth itself. "And it's the last thing you'll ever see."
The wolf lunged, its jaws snapping down on Lady Arwen. She screamed, raising her hands to defend herself, but the spectral wolf's power was too overwhelming. The dark magic around her shattered like glass, and the wolf's fangs sank into her, the crimson light engulfing her entire body.
Lady Arwen's scream echoed through the clearing as the wolf's energy surged through her, obliterating every trace of dark magic. The ground shook violently, and a burst of crimson light erupted, blinding everyone for a moment.
When the light faded, the clearing was silent. The wolves stood motionless, their eyes dull and glassy. Lady Arwen lay on the ground, her body motionless, her eyes staring blankly at the sky.
Kazuki exhaled, the crimson aura dissipating. His body trembled, and he sank to one knee, gasping for breath. Elara and Tara rushed forward, their faces etched with concern.
"Kazuki!" Elara knelt beside him, her hands on his shoulders. "Are you okay?"
Kazuki managed a weak smile. "Yeah... Just... a little tired."
Tara glanced at Lady Arwen's motionless body, her expression conflicted. "She's... gone."
Kazuki's eyes darkened. "She made her choice."
Elara squeezed his hand. "You did what you had to do."
Kazuki nodded, his gaze drifting to the night sky. The battle was over, but something in his heart told him that this was only the beginning. There would be more enemies, more challenges, more power to control.
And Kazuki was ready for them all.