The moment the Alpha Killers landed—
The earth cracked.
A shockwave blasted outward, sending leaves and dust spiraling through the air. The forest seemed to recoil, as if even nature recognized the unnatural power that had just entered its domain.
Two Alpha Killers.
Not one.
Two.
Dominic's massive wolf form stepped forward, shadow and silver energy rippling violently around him. His instincts were screaming.
This was different.
Each of these creatures felt stronger than the one they had fought before.
Faster.
Deadlier.
And worst of all—
Smarter.
Leila stood beside him in her Eclipse Form, her body glowing with intertwined silver and darkness. The First Bloodline surged within her like a rising storm.
Marcus muttered behind them.
"This is insane."
Kael's voice followed, strained but steady.
"No… this is strategy."
Dominic didn't take his eyes off the enemies.
"Explain."
Kael stepped forward slightly.
"They're testing you."
Malachar's voice echoed calmly from behind.
"Correct."
He stood at a distance, hands behind his back, watching like a man observing a game.
"If one Alpha Killer couldn't defeat you… then two should be enough to reveal your limits."
Dominic growled low.
"You're about to find out mine."
The Alpha Killers moved.
Not recklessly.
Not wildly.
In perfect synchronization.
One lunged from the left.
The other from the right.
Dominic reacted instantly, launching forward to intercept the first.
Their bodies collided with a thunderous impact, claws tearing into flesh and energy clashing violently.
At the same time—
The second Alpha Killer went straight for Leila.
"Leila!" Marcus shouted.
But she didn't retreat.
She stepped forward.
Her eyes flared with silver and shadow.
The First Bloodline surged outward as the creature's claws came down—
And stopped inches from her face.
The Alpha Killer froze.
Not completely.
But enough.
Leila's voice cut through the chaos.
"You don't want this."
The creature trembled.
Its silver veins flickered.
For a moment—
The wolf inside it fought back.
Malachar's smile faded slightly.
"Interesting."
But then—
The creature roared violently.
Its body snapped free from her influence.
"Control is not that easy," Malachar said calmly.
Leila staggered back slightly.
"It's resisting."
Dominic roared as he slammed the other Alpha Killer into the ground, but even as it hit—
It twisted mid-impact and drove its claws into his side.
Blood sprayed across the forest floor.
Marcus growled.
"We can't let them split!"
He turned to the pack.
"Support the Luna!"
Several elite warriors charged forward, surrounding Leila as the second Alpha Killer lunged again.
This time—
It didn't hesitate.
It moved faster than before.
Learning.
Adapting.
Leila raised her hand again, pushing the First Bloodline outward.
But this time—
Something changed.
The energy didn't just flow.
It commanded.
"Stop."
The word echoed.
Not just in the air.
In the minds of every wolf present.
The Alpha Killer froze again.
Completely.
Its body locked in place.
Its eyes flickered.
Marcus stared.
"…Did she just control it?"
Leila's breathing grew heavy.
"I didn't just purify it…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"I forced it to obey."
Dominic heard her.
Even mid-battle.
And something clicked.
"Leila!"
She turned toward him.
"Don't fight them individually!"
He slammed his opponent backward again.
"Control them!"
Leila's eyes widened.
She looked at the frozen Alpha Killer in front of her.
Then at the second one fighting Dominic.
The First Bloodline surged violently inside her.
It understood now.
This wasn't just balance.
This was authority.
Ancient.
Absolute.
She raised both hands.
Silver and obsidian energy exploded outward.
"Both of you…"
Her voice carried power that didn't belong to just one wolf.
"Kneel."
For a split second—
Nothing happened.
Then—
The impossible.
The second Alpha Killer, mid-attack against Dominic—
Dropped.
Both creatures slammed to the ground simultaneously.
The forest went silent.
Marcus blinked slowly.
"…No way."
Kael whispered.
"That's not purification."
Dominic stepped back, breathing heavily.
"That's domination."
Malachar's calm expression cracked.
Just slightly.
"…Eclipse Command."
Leila's body trembled under the weight of the power.
The Alpha Killers struggled against the invisible force binding them.
Their muscles twitched.
Their eyes flickered between rage and confusion.
"You were never meant to control them," Malachar said quietly.
Leila met his gaze.
"Maybe not."
Her voice steadied.
"But I can."
Dominic walked toward the kneeling Alpha Killers slowly.
Shadow energy still crackling around him.
"Call them off."
Malachar's lips curved into a faint smile again.
"You think this changes anything?"
Leila's power pushed harder.
The Alpha Killers growled in pain.
"It changes everything," she said.
Malachar studied her for a long moment.
Then he chuckled.
"Very well."
He turned slightly.
"Withdraw."
The command rippled through the forest.
The red eyes in the shadows began to disappear.
One by one.
The mutated wolves retreated.
Even the Alpha Killers stopped resisting.
Malachar began walking backward into the trees.
"But don't misunderstand, little Eclipse."
His voice echoed softly.
"You've only just unlocked that power."
He smiled faintly.
"And power without control…"
His eyes gleamed.
"…is the easiest thing to break."
Then he vanished.
The forest fell silent.
Leila's energy collapsed instantly.
The Alpha Killers dropped fully to the ground, unconscious.
She stumbled—
Dominic caught her before she fell.
Her breathing was uneven.
"That… took everything."
Dominic held her steady.
"You did more than that."
Marcus walked up slowly, staring at the fallen Alpha Killers.
"We just… won?"
Kael shook his head.
"No."
He looked toward the Iron Mountains.
"We just passed the first test."
Dominic followed his gaze.
The mountains loomed closer now.
Dark.
Waiting.
He tightened his hold on Leila slightly.
"Then we keep moving."
Leila nodded weakly.
"Yes."
Because now—
They weren't just fighting the Order anymore.
They were walking straight into its heart.