CHAPTER 158: Insurrection-27

CHAPTER 158: Insurrection-27

*Year 1902 – Red Hollow*

In those days, Red Hollow was a place lost among ancient forests, where mist covered the trees and the air smelled of iron and resin. There lived Bruno, son of the leader of the Lycan tribe. For as long as he could remember, his life had revolved around honor, the hunt, and legacy. He had been taught that one day he would be Bruno of the Lycans, the new alpha, the guardian of his people and of the ancient laws that maintained the balance between man and beast.

Despite the harshness of life, Bruno was happy. He knew every trail, every frozen river, and every face in his clan. He loved the feeling of running under the moon, free, his heart beating in time with theirs. There was purpose, there was pride. Everything seemed to have meaning.

But the world changed. Marius's army arrived in Red Hollow with promises of power, glory, a new era for their kind. Most of the tribe's warriors, seduced by the idea of being part of an army that would "unite all lycans under a single banner," knelt before him. Even Bruno's father did, believing it was the destiny of their race.

Bruno opposed. He believed his tribe should serve no one, that their strength was theirs alone. But his voice was drowned out by the roars of those who craved war. In a matter of days, Red Hollow was emptied. The campfires died out, the moon chants fell silent, and the nightly howls became distant echoes.

When Marius's army departed, Bruno stayed behind. Alone. Without a tribe, without a father, without purpose.
Since then, he wandered among ruins and forests, with the weight of a broken lineage on his shoulders.

That was the night he ceased to be Bruno of the Lycans and became simply Bruno, the warrior without a pack, the one who survived when everyone else chose to serve.

Bruno, in his lycan form, lunged again with a ferocity that was no longer contained at all. His claws clashed against the Über Lycan's defenses, over and over, until he finally broke its guard. With a quick motion, he slashed a deep gash across the monster's face, opening the skin from cheekbone to snout. Dark blood splattered the earth.

But the Über Lycan did not fall. With a guttural roar, it sank its claws into Bruno's abdomen, piercing muscle and skin, tearing a portion of his gut. The pain was unbearable, but Bruno didn't retreat. He let instinct guide him. With his jaw open in a silent howl, he launched at his enemy's neck and drove his fangs directly into the jugular.

The Über Lycan tried to wrench free, but it was too late. Bruno tore out a chunk of flesh and veins, and his opponent began to spit blood, falling to his knees before collapsing completely. His breathing became an agonizing gurgle.

Bruno pulled back, staggering, breathing with difficulty. His body began to shrink, and within seconds he returned to his human form, naked, covered in mud, blood, and sweat. He clutched his wounded abdomen, but still took a few steps towards the defeated body.

"I despise you," he spat through gritted teeth, with contained rage, all the history of his blood burning in his voice.

Without hesitation, he plunged his hand into the Über Lycan's torso, parting ribs and flesh, until he grasped something warm and pulsing. He pulled with force. The heart came out still beating, grotesque, covered in black blood.

Bruno squeezed it in his fist. The organ burst in a shower of blood and tissue.

The field fell silent.
The rival lay dead.
And Bruno, panting, wounded, believed he had finally won.

Bruno remained standing for only a few more seconds, breathing laboriously, convinced he had finally ended his torment. But then he felt something. A chill. A presence. He slowly turned his head.

Phoenix was there. Just a few meters away. Standing, calm, without a trace of exhaustion. His red eyes watched him with an almost cruel calm. In his hands, he held a polished silver bar, long and lethal.

Bruno barely had time to react.

Phoenix moved with lethal speed.

The silver bar pierced his chest with a wet sound, tearing through skin, muscle, bone, until it sank fully into his heart. The pain was instant, searing, like liquid fire burning from within. Bruno fell to his knees, spitting blood, as the metal burned like sacred lava inside his body.

"Actually," Phoenix said in a low voice, "the plan was simple."

He crouched slightly, looking him in the eyes as Bruno trembled.

"I just had to inject another subject with the Über Lycan serum... and let you kill him for me. I only had to wait for the right moment."

Bruno spat dark blood onto the ground.

"Son… of… a… bitch…"

Phoenix offered a bitter, almost emotionless, half-smile.

"You were a nuisance for far too long," he said. "But in the end… the alpha always wins."

He drew his Matilda. The metal glinted under the dim cemetery light. The barrel was pressed with precision against Bruno's forehead, trembling, defeated, dying as the silver devoured his heart from within.

"Last words."

Bruno lifted his head with difficulty, blood dripping from his chin, his eyes filled with a feverish glint. He began to laugh. A broken, hoarse laugh, but laden with contempt.

"Look at you…" he said between gasps. "The great Phoenix. The alpha wolf. The unstoppable monster…"

He spat blood to the side, never stopping his smile.

"But in the end… you're just a dog. A well-trained dog… that wags its tail when its mistress commands."

Phoenix didn't move. He didn't react. He just listened.

"Enid whistles… and you run. She looks at you… and you fall to your knees. You're strong, yes… but you have no will of your own. No pride. A weapon with borrowed feelings."

Bruno took a deep breath. Everything hurt, but he kept talking.

"You think you're free. But you're the most perfect slave she ever created."