A sudden gust of wind rippled through the battlefield as the swirling vortex stabilized for a moment before collapsing in on itself. Out of the glowing rift stepped Arata, his expression calm but his eyes burning with intent. His boots crunched against the rubble as he surveyed the stunned Hex agents surrounding Elio.
Arata’s presence hit the agents like a shockwave. Guns were raised instantly, weapons clicking into position, but Arata showed no fear. Instead, he moved forward slowly, each step measured.
“You,” one of the Hex agents hissed, recognizing him. “Arata... You shouldn’t be here.”
Arata’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Funny. I was just about to say the same thing.”
The tension thickened as the agents tightened their circle around Elio, aiming their rifles at both brothers now. Arata’s gaze flicked to Elio, still unconscious and shackled. His fists clenched at the sight—his brother, broken and vulnerable, surrounded like prey.
Before anyone could make a move, a soft, ethereal hum filled the air. Angela materialized beside Arata, her radiant form shimmering faintly with angelic light. Her wings fluttered slightly, glowing as if charged with divine energy, and her serene presence added an almost surreal stillness to the scene.
The Hex agents faltered. They hadn’t expected this.
“Back off,” Arata said softly, though his words were laced with steel.
One agent took a step forward, gun still raised. “You know we can’t let you take him.”
Arata’s eyes darkened. “You can try.”
Angela's voice cut through the air, calm and clear. “Leave now, or none of you will walk away from this.”
The Hex agents exchanged nervous glances, unsure whether to press forward or retreat. The tension was unbearable, a razor’s edge from exploding into violence.
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Arata stepped closer to Elio, his brother's breathing shallow but steady. He knelt beside him, brushing a strand of hair from Elio’s bruised face.
“You’ll be okay,” Arata whispered. “I’ve got you.”
The agents twitched, but Angela’s quiet glow seemed to paralyze them, as if daring them to make a move.
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The scene froze in a delicate stalemate—Hex soldiers on edge, reporters whispering frantically into their mics, and the brothers reunited under impossible circumstances.
With a small smirk, Arata glanced up at the Hex agents. “Tell Hex I said hello.”
The air over the battlefield was tense, a mixture of smoke, dust, and fading energy crackling in the ruins of Newzland. As Arata knelt beside Elio’s unconscious form, hoisting his brother onto his back with ease, a familiar figure stirred amidst the wreckage.
Alex Firecarrie—Lion—pushed himself up from the ground with a groan, his muscles taut with anger. His fiery hair clung to his sweat-drenched face, and his sharp, golden eyes locked onto Arata. Seeing Arata smile—actually smile—while carrying Elio away sent a wave of rage crashing through Alex.
“That bastard,” Alex hissed under his breath. He staggered to his feet, the sharp sting of betrayal burning hotter with each second. “He thinks he can just waltz in here and rescue him?”
Alex clenched his fists, his lion-shaped ring gleaming ominously on his finger. Flames flickered along his fingertips as heat radiated from his body, the telltale signs of his transformation bubbling to the surface. The edges of his vision blurred with anger, and before he could think rationally, instinct took over.
Arata was taking Elio with him—after everything—as if Elio was worth saving. That thought burned deeper than any flame Alex could conjure.
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Without another word, Alex’s transformation ignited. Flames burst from his limbs, licking the ground beneath his feet as his body grew in size. Golden fur spread across his skin, his nails lengthening into claws, and a flowing mane of fiery hair surrounded his head like a crown of wrath. His teeth sharpened into fangs, and his pupils contracted into the vertical slits of a predator.
He let out a deafening roar, the sound reverberating through the city ruins and sending a blast of heat toward Arata.
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Behind Alex, two more figures emerged from the shadows—Carly and Lila. The two women exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions masked by the smoke and swirling dust. They could feel the tension in the air, and out of habit, their bodies reacted on their own.
Carly’s body shimmered as her sniper gear morphed into something more—feathers erupted along her limbs, and a large, powerful set of wings unfurled behind her. Her transformation into a vulture was graceful yet fierce, her sharp beak gleaming as she adjusted her stance.
Lila, standing beside her, exhaled deeply. The moment Carly transformed, Lila felt the same instinct kick in. Her form shifted almost without thought, her skin shimmering with iridescent scales. Long, sinuous appendages extended, forming into an eel-like shape, complete with a slender tail. Both women stood ready—not because they wanted to fight, but because it was second nature to them now.
Carly adjusted her stance, her wings spreading wide. “What is he doing...?” she muttered, watching Alex advance toward Arata.
Lila’s eel form coiled slightly, glistening under the light. “He’s lost it.”
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Alex, now fully transformed into his lion form, charged forward without hesitation, flames swirling around his massive figure. “ARATA!” he roared, the sheer force of his voice causing the ground beneath him to tremble.
Arata didn’t flinch. He stood slowly, Elio slung carefully over his shoulder, watching Alex’s approach with a calm, measured gaze. There was no panic in his expression—only a sense of inevitability.
The firestorm around Alex roared louder, but Carly and Lila made no move to join him. They stood still, uneasy, as Alex stormed forward with a fury they hadn’t seen in a long time.
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Angela appeared beside Arata, her serene form glowing faintly against the heat. Her expression remained calm, though there was a flicker of concern in her eyes.
“Do you need to transform?” she asked softly, her wings rustling as she glanced toward the enraged Alex.
Arata tilted his head slightly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I don’t need any transformation to deal with Alex.”
Angela arched an eyebrow. “I still sense high energy around us. You might want to reconsider.”
Arata let out a long sigh, shifting Elio’s weight slightly on his shoulder. “Fine, fine,” he muttered.
He reached down to his side, feeling the familiar weight of the Wolf Ring.
Arata slipped the Wolf Ring onto his finger, and as he did, a ripple of energy surged outward. His body responded instantly to the call of the ring, muscles tightening and senses sharpening. His pupils contracted into slits, his vision expanding as every detail in the battlefield snapped into perfect focus. The familiar rush of power surged through his veins, and for the first time in a long while, Arata felt truly connected to himself again.
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Dark, silver-gray fur spread across his arms, wrapping his body in a sleek coat. His ears elongated, and claws extended from his fingertips, gleaming under the dim light. A tail flicked behind him, swaying in time with the rhythmic beats of his heart. The air around him felt lighter, sharper—his awareness heightened to every movement, every sound.
Angela watched as the transformation settled over him, her gaze steady. “Feels better, doesn’t it?”
Arata rolled his neck, the movement fluid and controlled. He let out a low growl, not of anger, but of satisfaction. “You were right. I’d almost forgotten how good this feels but this…It feels different…”
Ahead, Alex snarled, his lion mane crackling with flames as he prepared to strike. Carly and Lila stood on the sidelines, watching in stunned silence.
Arata turned toward Alex, his glowing yellow eyes narrowing. “You always wanted to fight me, didn’t you?”
Alex bared his teeth. “You don’t get to walk in here like a hero, Arata.”
Arata gave a wolfish grin, his sharp canines glinting. “I’ve always been a lone wolf type.”
As the air crackled with tension, Arata and Alex squared off, the heat from the flames illuminating their fierce expressions. Arata could feel the familiar pulse of adrenaline coursing through him, an instinctive response to the challenge before him.
“So, you think you can just come back and take Elio from me?” Alex growled, his voice a low rumble. “You don’t get to walk in here like a hero after everything!”
Arata’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t about being a hero, Alex. Elio is my brother, and I’m not letting you keep him!”
Alex’s laughter was bitter and cold, flames flickering in his eyes. “Brother? What a joke! Just a few days ago, you didn’t even know he was your brother! You two were just friends, and now you’re suddenly concerned for him?”
“Things change,” Arata shot back, feeling the weight of Alex’s accusation but remaining resolute. “I may not have known him long, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care.”
“Care? You didn’t care enough to be there for him when it mattered!” Alex snarled, his form radiating fury. “You left him alone, abandoned him to this world, and now you want to swoop in like some savior!”
Arata took a step forward, grounding himself against the weight of Alex’s words. “I’m here now. I’ll do whatever it takes to save him from people like you!”
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Alex roared, flames erupting from his body as he charged. “I’ll show you what it means to fight a lion!”
Arata leapt aside, dodging the fiery onslaught, his wolf instincts kicking in as he countered with a swift kick that sent shockwaves through the air. The sound of impact rang out, but Alex barely staggered, his anger fueling him.
“You’ve gotten stronger,” Alex admitted, though his voice was tinged with venom. “But strength alone won’t save you. You think you’re still the lone wolf? I’ll make you wish you never came back!”
Arata’s heart raced as he launched into a flurry of strikes, his claws glinting under the fiery glow. “I’m not alone anymore, Alex. I have people fighting beside me!”
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Carly and Lila stood at the sidelines, exchanging glances filled with uncertainty. They could feel the energy crackling around them—an overwhelming mix of power, anger, and desperation.
“Do we jump in?” Carly asked, her vulture form poised and ready, wings spread wide.
Lila shook her head, her eel form rippling in the air. “Not yet. This isn’t our fight. We need to wait for the right moment.”
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As the battle raged on, Arata found himself weaving through Alex’s attacks, his movements fluid and precise. The fire around Alex was intense, but Arata had learned to harness the power of the wolf within him.
“You think you can protect him now?” Alex spat, his eyes blazing. “You didn’t even know he was your brother until recently! What gives you the right to step in now?”
Arata’s resolve hardened. “I’ve learned the truth, and it changes everything. Elio deserves a chance to fight back, and I’m here to make that happen.”
Arata stood firm, the fiery chaos of the battle swirling around him, but his focus was unwavering. He felt the weight of the moment pressing down on him, the urgency of Elio’s safety flooding his mind. The glimmer of hope he had when he first arrived now felt fragile as he glanced at Elio, who lay unconscious, surrounded by Hex's members.
“Angela!” Arata shouted, urgency in his voice. He turned to the ethereal presence that had guided him through this tumultuous journey. “I need you to protect Elio while I deal with Alex!”
Angela's shimmering form hovered beside him, her expression serious. “You know I will, but you need to be careful. The moment you engage Alex, he’ll unleash everything he has.”
“Then I’ll have to end this quickly,” Arata replied, determination hardening his resolve. “But I can’t leave Elio defenseless. I need you to make sure he’s safe.”
“Of course,” she said, her voice a melodic whisper amidst the chaos. “But you should also consider taking Alex’s Lion ring. It’s powerful, and I sense that it’s crying out for its true master.”
Arata took a deep breath, the air crackling with energy as he stepped toward Alex, who was still seething with rage. The flames around him danced violently, reflecting the fury in his eyes. “So, you’ve decided to fight after all,” Alex sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “You should have stayed out of this, Arata.”
“I’m not backing down,” Arata declared, a fierce glint in his eyes. “Not now, not ever. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Elio.”
“Our squad ended quite a long time ago, Arata,” he spat, his voice low and dangerous, each word a dagger aimed at Arata’s heart. “Now, there is no room for friendships and loyalty. All you will have is fights from us.”
The space between them narrowed, tension thickening the air. Arata could feel the heat radiating from Alex’s body, a living inferno ready to unleash its fury. But he stood resolute, the memories of their friendship flooding back, a bittersweet reminder of the bond they once shared.
“Friendship… Loyalty… What stupidity…” Under Arata’s visor, a smirk crept across his face, unsettlingly sinister. The air around him crackled with a palpable energy, a villainous aura radiating from his armor, cloaking him in shadows that twisted and writhed like living darkness.
Carly’s eyes widened in shock as she took a step back, her heart racing. “What in the… Is that Arata…?” she gasped, the realization hitting her like a cold wave. The boy they had once known was gone, replaced by something far more dangerous.
“This guy… He is totally different…” Lila whispered, her voice trembling with unease. The tension in the air grew thicker, wrapping around them like a vice. She could feel the malevolence rolling off him in waves, and it sent shivers down her spine. “He might be worse than Alex right now when it comes to that bad aura…”
“What did you say?” Alex shot back, his own confidence wavering as he took a step back, his eyes narrowing. He could feel the shift in the atmosphere, the way Arata’s presence darkened the battlefield, and it made his heart pound in his chest.
“Fuck… That’s why he meant that I needed to protect Elio…” Angela’s voice was low, almost a whisper, as she took in the unsettling transformation of her once-ally. She inhaled sharply, steadying herself against the onslaught of emotions swirling inside her. “Cuz this guy…” Her breath came out in shaky bursts, the memory of past battles flickering in her mind like ghostly shadows. “He is about to go crazy again, just like that time with Travis…”
The memory hung heavy in the air, a warning of the chaos Arata could unleash. Angela’s mind raced, her instincts screaming at her to act, to intervene before it was too late. The battlefield felt charged, alive with the impending clash of wills, and she could sense the danger radiating from both sides.
As Arata stepped forward, the smirk on his face twisted into something more menacing, a predator’s grin that spoke of power and intent. The glow of his armor seemed to flicker with an unnatural light, and the air thickened around him, distorting reality itself. It was a reminder of what he was capable of, a dark echo of his past that loomed over them like a specter.
“Do you really think your past loyalty will save you?” Arata taunted, his voice smooth and dangerous, each word laced with an intoxicating thrill. “You should know better than to underestimate a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Carly exchanged a worried glance with Lila, the weight of Arata’s transformation pressing down on them like a heavy fog. “This isn’t the Arata we know,” Carly murmured, her heart racing with apprehension. “What happened to him?”
“Oops… I had a slip of the tongue,” Arata drawled, his voice laced with mock innocence, the smirk beneath his visor deepening into a grin that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present. “So, shall we begin, Alex? I’m sure you’ve been raring to go for a bit now. I hope you can entertain me better than the last time we danced, when I smacked you down into the ground.”
The challenge hung in the air like a thunderclap, electrifying the atmosphere around them. Alex's eyes widened in disbelief, then narrowed into slits of pure fury. “What did you just say?!”
In that instant, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them locked in a dangerous standoff. The tension surged like a live wire, crackling and popping as both warriors summoned their powers. A fierce, radiant aura enveloped them, the lion’s fiery brilliance clashing against the wolf’s shadowy intensity, creating an explosion of energy that lit up the battlefield.
Carly and Lila exchanged anxious glances, their hearts racing as they felt the raw power emanating from both fighters. The air grew thick with anticipation, and the ground trembled beneath their feet as the wolf and the lion prepared for their inevitable clash.
“Show me what you’ve got, Arata,” Alex growled, his voice low and dangerous, the flames flickering around him as he readied himself for battle. “But don’t think for a second that I’ll go easy on you. I’ve got more to lose this time.”
Arata's grin widened, a feral glint in his eyes. “Good. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”