The moment the talisman shattered—
Light erupted.
Not ordinary light.
It burned.
It screamed.
It purified.
The nearest creature howled as the glow slammed into its body, its skin blistering instantly, black smoke rising like something inside it was being forced out.
"GRAAAHH—!!"
Wira flinched.
"…what the hell is that?!"
"Don't just stand there!" Ayu snapped. "They're weakened—move!"
That was all he needed.
Wira lunged.
Fast.
Faster than before.
His claws tore through the nearest creature's chest, ripping it open before it could recover from the light. This time, he didn't hesitate.
Didn't question.
Didn't hold back.
Blood sprayed.
The creature collapsed.
Dead.
But the others—
They adapted.
The remaining beasts recoiled from the fading light, circling wider now, more cautious. Their glowing eyes flickered between Wira and Ayu.
Calculating.
Learning.
"Smart," Ayu muttered. "I hate that."
Two of them moved at once.
One from the left.
One from above.
Wira felt it.
Turned—
Blocked one strike—
But the second slammed into him mid-motion.
BOOM—!
He crashed into the ground, pain exploding through his ribs.
"Wira!" Ayu shouted.
"I'm fine—!" he growled, forcing himself up.
Not fine.
Definitely not fine.
But still moving.
Always moving.
Ayu stepped forward.
Her expression changed.
Focused.
Sharp.
Gone was the casual tone from before.
Now—
She looked dangerous.
She raised her hand.
Whispered something under her breath.
The air shifted.
Symbols—faint, golden, ancient—began to form around her arm, spiraling outward like living script.
Wira's eyes widened.
"…what is that?"
Ayu didn't look at him.
"Balinese don't just pray," she said.
"We bind."
She slammed her palm forward.
"Segel Barong!"
The symbols shot forward like chains of light.
One of the creatures tried to dodge—
Too slow.
The glowing script wrapped around its body instantly.
It screamed.
Not in pain—
In terror.
Its limbs locked.
Frozen.
Like something had overridden its existence.
Wira didn't waste the opening.
He moved.
One step.
Two.
Then—
SLASH.
The creature's head hit the ground.
Gone.
Wira turned back, breathing heavier now.
"…okay," he said. "That was useful."
Ayu smirked slightly.
"Try to keep up."
But the moment didn't last.
The remaining three creatures changed.
Their bodies convulsed.
Muscles expanding.
Bones cracking outward.
Growing larger.
More unstable.
More dangerous.
"…that's new," Wira muttered.
Ayu's expression darkened.
"They're forcing evolution."
"Can they do that?!"
"They shouldn't be able to."
That wasn't reassuring.
One of the creatures slammed its claws into the ground—
And launched forward like a missile.
Wira braced—
But this time, the impact sent him flying again.
Harder.
Faster.
Stronger.
He rolled across the street, barely catching himself.
"Damn it—"
They were adapting too fast.
Ayu clicked her tongue.
"I can't hold all of them."
"Then don't," Wira said, pushing himself up.
Ayu glanced at him.
"What?"
Wira stepped forward.
Blood dripping.
Eyes glowing brighter than before.
"I'll take the rest."
Ayu stared at him.
For a moment—
She saw it.
Not just a fighter.
Not just a survivor.
Something else.
Something heavier.
"…you're insane," she said.
"Yeah," Wira replied.
"Probably."
The creatures lunged again.
All at once.
Wira inhaled deeply.
That presence inside him—
Stirred.
Louder now.
Closer.
Not just watching anymore.
BOOM.
His heartbeat echoed.
The world slowed.
The monsters moved—
But he moved faster.
Claws collided.
Bodies shattered.
The street cracked under the force of every movement.
And for a brief moment—
Wira wasn't overwhelmed.
He dominated.
Ayu watched, eyes narrowing.
"…that's not normal werewolf movement," she murmured.
No.
It wasn't.
Because as Wira tore through the first of the remaining creatures—
A faint golden aura flickered behind him.
Not wild.
Not chaotic.
Structured.
Sacred.
Ancient.
Ayu's breath caught.
"…Barong."
The last two creatures hesitated.
Instinct.
Fear.
Recognition.
But it was too late.
Wira was already there.
And this time—
He didn't stop.