The first collision shook the western region like lightning striking dry earth.
Energy from the silver-robed man's hand slammed into the ground and created long cracks. Dust swirled into the air. Several wolves were thrown backward.
But this time, they did not retreat.
Darius leaped first.
His body transformed mid-air. Bones stretched, muscles bulged, thick black fur covered his massive frame. When he landed, the ground trembled beneath his claws.
His roar deafened the ears.
Lucien appeared from the left like a living shadow. His movements were too fast for ordinary eyes to follow.
His sword gleamed, aimed directly at one of the Council members.
The silver-robed man raised his hand.
A burst of energy struck Lucien's sword.
A sharp clang echoed out.
Lucien was thrown back several steps, but he smiled faintly.
"So you've finally decided to act yourselves," he said coldly. "I thought the Council was too cowardly to come out from behind their desks."
The man narrowed his eyes.
"We only step forward when the world begins to lose its way."
"Funny," Lucien retorted. "Because the world's path has started to improve ever since you stopped controlling it."
On the other side, Rhydan charged at the second Council member.
His movements were wild, like a storm unleashed.
His silver claws sliced through the air, trying to tear his opponent's robe.
But the man moved quickly, leaping backward while unleashing a wave of energy.
Rhydan was hit square in the chest.
His body was thrown several meters before coming to a stop.
He stood up again.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Yet his eyes burned even brighter.
"Good," he muttered. "It's been a long time since I've fought something that truly wants to kill me."
Meanwhile, Alaric and Cassian worked like two sides of the same blade.
Alaric faced the frontal assault.
Cassian moved from the shadows.
Every time the Council member tried to launch a large attack, Cassian would appear behind them.
His sword struck with deadly precision.
But their enemy was no ordinary foe.
The energy the Council wielded was different.
Older.
Colder.
And far more dangerous.
In the middle of the chaos, Aurelia stood at the center of the protective circle.
Her resonance spread like an invisible web.
Wounded wolves were slowly pulled back into the energy circle she had created.
Every second she maintained it felt like holding back a flood with bare hands.
But she did not stop.
Her eyes were fixed on the old man standing in the middle of the three Council members.
Their leader.
The man's aura was like a bottomless chasm.
He had not yet made a real move.
Only watched.
As if all of this was just a small test.
Aurelia knew one thing.
As long as the man did not act, the battle had not truly begun.
Lucien appeared beside her.
"Your circle is starting to weaken," he said softly.
"I know."
"You can't maintain this while fighting."
"I know that too."
Lucien stared at her for a few moments.
Then he let out a short breath.
"I'll help you hold the circle."
Aurelia turned quickly.
"You're not a Resonant."
"No," he replied lightly. "But I'm stubborn enough."
He placed his hand on the ground next to Aurelia.
His Alpha energy flowed out.
Not to create resonance.
But to strengthen the foundation Aurelia had built.
The circle stabilized at once.
Aurelia looked at him for a moment.
"Thank you."
Lucien smiled faintly.
"Don't thank me too soon. I might regret it later."
On the front lines, Darius finally reached the first Council member.
His claws slammed into the ground right in front of the man.
Dust exploded into the air.
The man tried to leap back—
But it was too late.
Darius charged forward.
His massive claws swung like scythes.
The silver robe tore open.
Blood spurted out.
The man crashed hard to the ground.
But before Darius could finish him off.
A burst of energy struck his body from the side.
Darius was thrown back.
He slammed into a large boulder until it cracked.
The Council leader finally moved.
The old man slowly lowered his hand.
The aura around him made the air feel heavier.
"Alpha," he said calmly. "You are strong."
Darius stood up slowly.
Blood trickled from his shoulder.
"But not strong enough," the man continued.
Darius grinned.
"Do you want to test that?"
The old man raised an eyebrow.
Then in one swift movement—
He vanished.
And reappeared right in front of Darius.
The next collision sounded like two mountains crashing into each other.
Rhydan charged again from the side.
He saw Darius struggling.
Without hesitation, he joined the charge against the Council leader.
But the man did not even turn his head.
He raised his hand slightly.
A wave of energy struck Rhydan.
His body was thrown far away.
He rolled across the ground before stopping.
For a few seconds, he did not move.
Aurelia felt it.
One of the resonances in the circle almost faded out.
She turned sharply.
"Rhydan!"
The man finally moved.
He stood up slowly.
Laughing softly.
"Alright…" he muttered, wiping blood from his face. "Now I'm really angry."
He shifted fully.
A massive silver wolf emerged from the dust cloud.
And this time.
He held nothing back.
The battle turned into a storm.
Alaric and Cassian managed to bring down one of the Council members.
But two others still fought on.
Lucien was starting to tire from holding the circle.
Aurelia felt pressure from all directions.
And in the middle of it all.
The Council leader still stood.
Almost unharmed.
He finally looked at Aurelia.
"Interesting," he said softly. "Resonance that unites."
Aurelia stared back at him.
"This isn't about power."
"No," he replied. "It's about control."
He raised his hand toward the protective circle.
Silver-black energy formed in the air.
The attack was aimed directly at Aurelia.
Lucien moved quickly.
He leaped forward.
The attack struck him.
His body was thrown out of the circle.
"AURELIA!" Darius roared.
The protective circle cracked.
Aurelia's energy wavered.
But before the second attack could come.
Four Alpha auras burst forth at once.
Darius.
Lucien, who had risen again.
Alaric.
Cassian.
Even Rhydan.
They stood in front of Aurelia.
A protective line.
The Council leader watched them.
Then smiled faintly.
"Finally," he said softly.
"I see what you have built."
He lowered his hand.
"An impossible alliance."
Aurelia stepped forward from behind the Alphas.
"Not impossible," she said calmly.
"Inevitable."
The Council leader looked genuinely intrigued.
But deep in his eyes, there was something colder.
Calculation.
"If that's the case," he said slowly, "then let me test how strong this alliance truly is."
The ground began to shake.
Even greater energy gathered in the air.
Aurelia felt something wrong.
Very wrong.
The Council leader was not trying to defeat them.
He was trying to destroy the entire western region at once.
If the attack was unleashed.
No one would survive.
And for the first time since the battle began.
Aurelia realized that victory might require something more costly than strength.
A sacrifice.