Nexus Bond

Band of Wolves Arc: Part 8 

The moonlight bathed the dense forest as Akira and Raz reached their destination.

Before them stood a massive cave, its entrance guarded by vigilant wolves.

"Bet Mel's in there," Raz muttered

"Now we just have to figure out how to get inside."

Akira crouched behind a large rock, watching a lone wolf pacing in front of the cave.

"How do we get past that one?" he whispered.

"Distract him or knock him out," Raz suggested.

"How?" Akira asked, frustration evident in his voice.

"See that boulder above him? Hit it with a small fireball—small, Akira—so it falls on his head," Raz said.

"What? Are you serious?" Akira protested.

"Just try it," Raz insisted.

Taking a deep breath, Akira formed a fireball at his fingertip. It started small, but as he launched it, the flame grew uncontrollably and missed its target entirely, instead hitting a nearby tree. The flames ignited instantly, burning in an eerie blue hue.

"Idiot!" Raz barked.

The wolf guarding the entrance turned to investigate the blazing tree. Before it could react, the weakened tree toppled, striking the wolf and knocking it unconscious.

"Ha! Problem solved," Akira grinned.

"You just announced our arrival, genius," Raz scolded.

"Whatever, let's head inside," Akira said, brushing off the criticism. He leapt into the darkness of the cave, the shadows swallowing him whole.

As he ventured two steps forward, a powerful punch landed on his chest, sending him hurtling back into the moonlit clearing.

Emerging from the cave was a massive white wolf with a crimson single eye—Eldric. Beside him was Mel, held firmly by the scruff of her neck.

The entire pack gathered, their glowing eyes fixated on the intruders. Mel squirmed, trying to reach Akira, but Eldric effortlessly lifted her higher, silencing her struggles.

"Mel!" Akira shouted, his voice thick with concern. "Let her go!"

Eldric's gaze shifted to Akira. "I will," he said, his voice calm yet commanding. "But you must do something for me first."

Akira staggered to his feet, determination replacing the pain etched on his face. "What do you want?"

"A duel. Hand-to-hand combat. No magic. No tricks like last time," Eldric growled.

"Akira, don't!" Mel pleaded, her voice trembling.

"What's the reward?" Akira asked, ignoring her protests.

"The life of this child," Eldric said, his voice echoing through the clearing.

"Fine. When do we start?"

"Now," Eldric declared. He tossed Mel to the other wolves and lunged at Akira with alarming speed.

Eldric's claws gleamed in the moonlight as he swiped at Akira, who barely managed to roll out of the way. The tree behind him exploded into splinters as Eldric's strike landed.

Akira didn't hesitate. He sprang forward, aiming a kick at Eldric's knee. The impact made the werewolf grunt, but it only seemed to enrage him. Eldric swung his massive arm, connecting with Akira's chest and sending him flying into another tree.

Gasping for air, Akira forced himself upright. His vision swam, but he shook it off. This was not the moment to falter.

"You're quicker than I thought," Eldric admitted, a note of respect in his growl.

"And you're slower than I expected," Akira retorted, a smirk tugging at his lips.

The fight continued, Akira darting and dodging while Eldric's powerful strikes tore through trees and earth. Though Akira landed punches and kicks with precision, Eldric shrugged them off with unnerving ease.

The pack watched in stunned silence. None had ever seen their leader struggle in combat, let alone against a human. Even Mel, despite her worry, couldn't tear her eyes away from the spectacle.

As the duel raged on, Eldric's claws finally caught Akira's arm, drawing blood. Akira cried out, stumbling back as crimson drops stained the earth.

"Humans and their emotions make them weak," Eldric sneered.

Akira met Eldric's gaze, anger blazing in his eyes. "If I were weak, I'd be dead by now. But I'm still standing. You're the weak one."

Eldric roared, charging at Akira with unmatched ferocity. This time, Akira sidestepped, and Eldric's momentum carried him to the edge of the cliff. The ground crumbled beneath the wolf's feet, and he began to fall.

With a desperate move, Akira grabbed Eldric's tail, using every ounce of his strength to haul him back to solid ground.

The pack gathered around the edge, their collective breath held.

Eldric pinned Akira to the ground, his fangs bared. "This is why I despise humans," he snarled.

"And yet, that's the only reason you're still alive," Akira spat back.

"Eldric!" Mel's voice cut through the tension. "You're the one who is weak ."

Eldric turned to her, his crimson eye narrowing. "What did you say?"

Mel stood firm, though tears streaked her face. "You killed your own pack, your own pups, all because someone convinced you that emotions make you weak."

Eldric laughed, a hollow sound. "So the old hag told you everything."

"Everything, except why you let her live," Mel said, her voice trembling but resolute.

The pack froze, confusion flickering in their eyes.

"I let her live because…" Eldric's voice faltered. His crimson eye dimmed as memories flooded his mind. A deep regret etched itself onto his face, and to everyone's shock, tears began to fall.

Under the moonlight, Eldric's voice cracked. "My ego... my mind... they were manipulated. I wasn't myself."

Suddenly, his gaze locked onto a single wolf among the crowd. With a snarl, Eldric lunged, dragging the wolf into the center of the gathering.

Mel gasped. She recognized him.

"Malice," she whispered.