Chapter one The Mission Failed
Deep within the forest, near a cave carved into the side of a towering cliff, a lone figure stood beside an ancient tree.He did not move.Tall. Unnatural. A wolf-shaped man covered in solid black fur, his massive frame rising far above any normal werewolf. From where he stood, he looked down at the glowing city far below—cold, distant, alive—while he remained as still as stone. To anyone watching, he could have been mistaken for a statue carved by the forest itself.Then the silence broke.Footsteps. Heavy. Fast.The noise grew louder, crashing through the trees until a group of werewolves emerged from the shadows. The moment they saw the towering figure, they froze."H–Hey… don't you—" one of them started, but his voice died instantly.The small werewolf took a step back, his body trembling."S–Sir… I—I didn't know you were going to be here," he stammered. "I was told you went to take out the other hunters."The tall figure did not turn.He did not respond.The smaller wolf swallowed hard, glancing nervously at the others. The rest of the pack stood frozen, afraid to breathe. Seconds passed. The forest itself seemed to hold its breath.Then—A sound.A deep, slow sniff.Every wolf stiffened.Without turning around, the towering figure finally spoke. His voice was heavy—low and powerful, rolling through the trees like distant thunder."Has the mission been completed?"The small wolf's ears flattened."N–No, sir," he answered, his voice shaking. "We… we failed. That's why we came back."The tall figure remained calm."Did you look around?" he asked. "Did you make sure no one followed you?""Yes, sir," the small wolf replied quickly. "We did exactly as you taught us.""Good."The single word carried weight. Authority."I'll handle the rest," the tall figure said. "You did well. You've done all you could."The pack relaxed slightly—but fear still lingered."Sir…" the small wolf hesitated. "Are you… are you going to kill them all?"The tall figure laughed. Hahaha It was loud. Deep. Cruel.The sound cracked through the forest like thunder, shaking the ground beneath them. Stones tumbled from the cliffside as the wolves flinched, some covering their ears."If they don't die," the figure said, his voice dark, "they will kill all of us."He turned slightly now, just enough for one glowing eye to catch the moonlight."Go. Rest.""Yes, sir," the pack said in unison."Be careful," the small wolf added quietly."Oh, don't worry about me," the tall figure replied. "I'm always careful."Without waiting for a response, he vanished into the forest.As he moved, a quiet sigh escaped him.I knew they wouldn't finish the mission.Minutes later, he reached the edge of the woods where a small wooden house stood alone. Two figures dressed in white stood nearby.On the left was a bald, middle-aged man. On the right, a man with long gray hair."Did those damn beasts really think we were easy to kill?" the bald man laughed. "I bet they won't try that again."Both men laughed loudly.Unseen, the towering wolf figure stood in the shadows, listening.A slow smile crept across his face.In a low, heavy whisper, he spoke:"I guess we'll see about that."