A modified guard's mechanical arm slammed downward with a roaring gust of wind. Black magical energy condensed around its fist, forming a dark sphere that pulsed violently as it hurtled toward Ryan, who was trapped among the swarming test subjects.
Ella's pupils shrank.
In that instant, the golden energy around her body erupted, boiling violently. The werewolf bloodline she had deliberately suppressed until now burst free without restraint.
A sharp, piercing howl tore from her throat.
The sound echoed throughout the entire laboratory, carrying raw, primal fury. The surrounding test subjects clutched their heads in agony, stumbling backward under the sonic shock.
Even Dr. Kallen frowned instinctively.
The modified guards' movements faltered for a split second.
That single moment was enough.
Ella's body underwent a terrifying transformation.
Her frame rapidly grew taller. The black windbreaker that once fit her snugly was torn apart as silver-gray fur burst forth from beneath her skin, spreading wildly across her body. Her facial structure sharpened, fangs pushing past her lips. The cold clarity in her eyes was replaced by savage bloodlust, golden pupils blazing with feral light.
Her hands twisted into clawed limbs covered in dense fur, talons gleaming with lethal cold. Golden energy roared around her like burning flames, forcing the surrounding dark magic to retreat.
"This… is my true form," Ella growled, her voice deep and hoarse with beastly resonance."A pureblood werewolf."
She kicked off the ground.
Her body shot forward like an arrow released from its bow, leaving behind a streak of golden afterimage as she lunged straight toward the modified guard closest to Ryan.
The guard had only just resumed its attack posture when Ella slammed into its chest.
Boom!
Golden energy collided violently with black magic. The guard's several-hundred-kilogram body was sent flying like a broken kite, smashing heavily into the laboratory wall. A deep dent appeared instantly as debris and stone rained down.
The metal armor on its chest crumpled inward. The red electronic glow in its eyes flickered a few times—then went completely dark.
It was finished.
"What?!"The confident smile on Dr. Kallen's face froze, shock flooding his eyes. "A pureblood werewolf?! The Balance Council actually sent something like this?!"
He had sensed her werewolf lineage before—but never imagined its purity would be this high. A werewolf of this caliber far surpassed ordinary mid-tier enhanced beings.
Ryan stood frozen in disbelief.
Though the Eye of Truth had long revealed Ella's heritage, he had never seen her fully transformed. Standing there now, she was like a beast out of legend. The violent aura radiating from her made his heart tremble—yet beneath that fear was a profound sense of relief.
They finally had a chance.
The remaining three modified guards showed no hesitation. Red electronic light flashed coldly in their eyes as they charged together. Mechanical arms swung in alternating patterns, forming a dense killing net. Black magic surged relentlessly from their fists.
Ella smiled.
A bloodthirsty, feral smile.
Her speed now far exceeded theirs. She weaved effortlessly through the attack net, golden afterimages flickering nonstop. Every strike landed cleanly.
Crack. Clang.
Mechanical arms snapped one after another. Metal armor was torn open by her claws. Red circuitry and black machine oil scattered across the floor.
One guard seized an opening and attacked from behind, its mechanical arm crashing toward her spine.
Ella twisted sharply, as if she had eyes on her back.
At the same time, her newly formed tail lashed out like a steel whip.
Bang!
The guard's head was torn clean off. The red electronic eye rolled across the ground as the body collapsed lifelessly.
Less than a minute had passed.
Three of the four modified guards—Dr. Kallen's prized creations—were already destroyed. The last guard staggered backward, one mechanical arm broken, movements sluggish. Fear flickered unmistakably in its red-lit eyes.
"Useless! Absolute trash!"Dr. Kallen trembled with rage. His carefully crafted guards had proven utterly helpless before a pureblood werewolf.
He raised his arm violently. The strange symbol bracelet on his wrist glowed dark red.
"Activate self-destruction!" he screamed."If it dies, it takes her with it!"
The final guard's eyes flared crimson. Its body began to swell as black magic surged wildly.
Ella's expression sharpened.
"Get away!" she shouted toward Ryan.
Without hesitation, she charged forward, grabbed the guard at the brink of detonation, spun around, and sprinted toward the open area deep inside the lab.
BOOOOM—
A deafening explosion ripped through the laboratory. Black energy blasted outward, hurling lab benches and containment tanks into the air. Glass and metal fragments rained everywhere.
Ryan had already taken cover behind a reinforced metal table. Even so, the shockwave sent his blood surging and his ears ringing violently.
When the smoke finally began to clear, the lab lay in ruins.
Ryan staggered out, coughing, and looked toward the blast site.
Ella stood there.
Dust and dark residue clung to her silver-gray fur, but her posture remained tall and steady. Golden eyes glowed through the smoke—unharmed.
"Ella! Are you okay?" Ryan rushed over.
She shook her head. The golden energy slowly receded. Her fur faded, her form returning to human shape. The windbreaker was completely destroyed, revealing skin marked with fine wounds already healing rapidly.
"I'm fine," she said, her voice returning to its usual cold calm. "A pureblood werewolf won't be hurt by an explosion at that level."
She took a slow breath.
"The modified guards are basically cleared. Now's your best chance to find Mr. Linton."
Ryan nodded. He could tell Ella had consumed a lot of energy and needed time to recover. Meanwhile, Kallen would be completely focused on her.
"I'll be back as fast as I can," Ryan said. "Be careful."
He turned and sprinted deeper into the laboratory, activating the Eye of Truth.
Smoke and dark magic meant nothing to his vision. He scanned rapidly, searching for the chamber where the so-called "King of the Modified" was being cultivated.
The deeper sections were even more complex—intertwined pipes and cables everywhere. Green viscous fluid flowed across the floor, releasing a choking chemical stench. Ryan avoided the puddles carefully, scanning room after room.
All he found were equipment… and failed experiments.
Nothing.
Just as anxiety crept in, the Eye of Truth detected a powerful human soul fluctuation ahead—far stronger than any test subject.
A living human.
"I've got you," Ryan breathed, quickening his pace.
The room was sealed by a thick metal door carved with complex black runes. Dark magic pulsed heavily from it. There was no lock—pure magical control.
Ryan pushed. The door didn't budge.
He focused, scanning the rune array. The energy flow converged into a circular indentation on the handle.
The core.
Just as he began analyzing it—
Heavy footsteps echoed behind him.
Dr. Kallen's voice followed, dripping with malice.
"Little detective… did you really think eliminating my guards meant you'd save Linton?"
Ryan spun around.
Kallen stood there, holding a staff glowing dark red. The strange bracelet on his wrist was linked to it, radiating terrifying magic.
Behind him stood two massive figures—larger than the previous guards. Half machine, half flesh. The dark magic surrounding them was even denser.
"It seems," Kallen said coldly, raising the staff, "I'll have to show you my true trump cards."
"These are my Ultimate Modified Forms. They were meant for later—but you'll do nicely as their first sacrifice."
Ryan's face went pale.
He stepped back instinctively, gripping the magic disruptor tightly. His gaze flicked to the metal door.
The soul behind it was weakening fast.
He had to save Linton.
And survive what came next.
The staff rose higher.
Red electronic eyes locked onto him.
A new battle was about to begin.