Chapter 3 - Wulmar

We see Maxwell carefully placing some corned beef onto a small plate, his movements deliberate as he carries it over to where Sensei Akuro is waiting. Sensei Akuro's eyes light up with excitement as Maxwell sets the plate down in front of him, eagerly devouring the food with gusto.

Maxwell lets out a sigh as he watches Sensei Akuro eat, his mouth working quickly as he consumes the meal. "Jeez... I know you love cat food, but eat slowly," Maxwell remarks, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

Sensei Akuro grins mischievously between mouthfuls. "As your sensei, I can do whatever I want!" he declares boldly.

Maxwell rolls his eyes at Sensei Akuro's antics and takes a seat at the nearby chair, pulling out his phone and scrolling through various apps.

"Say, boy..." Sensei Akuro's voice breaks the silence, drawing Maxwell's attention away from his phone. He looks up to see Sensei Akuro studying him intently. "When you transform into Wulmar... did you feel... pain?"

Maxwell pauses to consider the question, furrowing his brow in thought. "Well... no, I don't think I did," he replies slowly, recalling the sensations—or lack thereof—that accompanied his transformation.

Sensei Akuro nods thoughtfully, a hint of intrigue in his eyes. "Interesting..."

Maxwell returns to his phone, the conversation lingering in his mind as he browses through his apps. "So... when are we going to train?" he asks, breaking the silence once more.

Sensei Akuro chuckles softly, finishing the last of his meal. "I told you, tomorrow. For now, I'm just helping you adapt to the bracelet," he explains, his tone reassuring.

Maxwell's expression twists into a mixture of frustration and annoyance as Sensei Akuro pushes the plate towards him, demanding more food.

"But first..." Sensei Akuro begins, his eyes shining with anticipation.

Maxwell lets out an exasperated growl, his patience wearing thin. "More?" he grumbles, his irritation evident in his voice.

Sensei Akuro nods eagerly, his tail twitching with excitement. "More!" he declares enthusiastically, his hunger seemingly insatiable.

With a resigned sigh, Maxwell begrudgingly rises from his seat and heads back to the kitchen, determined to satisfy Sensei Akuro's voracious appetite.

--

Maxwell sat on the sofa, his brow furrowed in concentration as he listened to Sensei Akuro's words. Sensei Akuro, perched beside him, regarded him with a serious expression, the weight of their conversation hanging heavy in the air.

"First," Akuro began, his voice grave, "we have to awaken Wulmar..."

Maxwell nodded slowly, his gaze focused on Sensei Akuro. "Alright, what do we need to do?" he asked, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

Akuro shook his head, his expression troubled. "Before we do anything, I need to explain... Wulmar is not exactly the most friendly monster. If I, or if you, make him angry, we will probably end up destroying everything..."

Maxwell's eyes widened at Akuro's words, a sense of apprehension creeping over him as he processed the implications of what his mentor was saying. The thought of unleashing a destructive force that could potentially wreak havoc upon the world filled him with a sense of dread.

"So... what should we do?" Maxwell asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Akuro sighed heavily, his gaze fixed on Maxwell. "We need to proceed with caution," he replied solemnly. "We must learn to control Wulmar's power and harness it for good, rather than allowing it to consume us with its destructive force."

Maxwell closed his eyes as instructed by Sensei Akuro, focusing his thoughts and concentrating on maintaining his aura, trying to channel the power contained within the bracelet.

As he delved deeper into his mind, Maxwell's consciousness became enveloped in a swirling sea of red, chaotic energy—a reflection of the primal force that lay dormant within him, waiting to be unleashed.

Sensei Akuro observed Maxwell's concentration, his eyes narrowed in contemplation. "Then... what do you see?" he inquired, his voice gentle yet probing.

Maxwell hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words to describe the turbulent landscape of his mind. "The mind of Wulmar... it's... red... chaotic..." he murmured, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Sensei Akuro nodded in understanding, his expression thoughtful. "I see... Wulmar's power is formidable, but it must be controlled," he remarked solemnly. 

Akuro: Try to maintain his aura to your body...

Maxwell focused intently, following Sensei Akuro's instructions as he gradually allowed the chaotic aura of Wulmar to permeate his entire being. With each breath, he felt the raw power coursing through him, his form beginning to shift and warp as the transformation took hold.

As the transformation reached its peak, Maxwell opened his eyes to find himself towering over his surroundings, his body engulfed in a deep, white aura that pulsed with raw energy. His once-human hands had been replaced by massive, clawed appendages, his voice now deep and commanding, echoing with the power of Wulmar.

"Okay... what..." Maxwell murmured, his words reverberating with a newfound sense of authority and strength.

Sensei Akuro approached him cautiously, his eyes wide with awe as he beheld Maxwell's transformed state. "Mh, that was easier than I thought..." he remarked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

Maxwell glanced down at his towering form, his mind reeling with the realization of the power he now possessed. With each passing moment, he felt more connected to the primal force of Wulmar, his senses heightened and his awareness expanded beyond measure.

Maxwell slowly rose to his feet, his towering form causing him to inadvertently hit his head on the ceiling. He winced slightly at the impact, then reached up to gingerly caress his long, flowing black dreads, marveling at their length and texture.

As he made his way to the nearby mirror, Maxwell couldn't help but admire his transformed appearance, his eyes wide with wonder as he took in the sight of his imposing figure. "Wow, how do I see without my eyes...?!" he mused aloud, his voice tinged with amazement.

He reached up to touch his hair, running his fingers through the silky strands with a sense of awe. "God damn, I always wanted long locks!" he exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face.

Sensei Akuro chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Well, Wulmar isn't a destructor for nothing, aye," he remarked, joining Maxwell by the mirror.

Maxwell turned to face Akuro, his gaze shifting to his massive, muscled arm. He flexed it experimentally, feeling the raw power coursing through his veins. "How muscular is this guy?!" he wondered aloud, his voice filled with disbelief.

Akuro nodded in agreement, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Quite muscular indeed," he replied, a smirk playing on his lips.

As Maxwell continued to marvel at his transformed appearance, his attention was drawn to the sight of a long tail extending from his lower back. He turned to catch a glimpse of it in the mirror, his eyes widening in astonishment at the realization of the full extent of his transformation.

Maxwell chuckled at Akuro's remark, a mischievous glint in his eye. "It also changed my clothes... I don't have any... just this... black hakama bottoms," he explained, gesturing to the attire that now adorned his transformed body.

He flexed his massive pecs, a confident smirk spreading across his face. "Damn, the number of people I can make fluster with this..." he remarked, his voice filled with amusement.

Akuro shook his head, a playful smile playing on his lips. "I don't really think everyone wants a 10-foot monster that could probably level an entire town... but to each their own, I guess," he quipped, his tone light-hearted.

Maxwell clenched his fists, feeling the raw power coursing through his veins. "Not gonna lie... he's kinda cool," he admitted, a sense of exhilaration coursing through him at the realization of his newfound abilities.

Akuro chuckled at Maxwell's remark, but his amusement was short-lived as his eyes suddenly snapped open, glowing with an otherworldly intensity. His gaze fixated on Maxwell, but it wasn't Akuro who spoke next.

"Pathetic..." a deep, menacing voice resonated from Akuro's form, sending shivers down Maxwell's spine. It was Wulmar, the primal force that dwelled within him, speaking through Akuro.

Wulmar clenched his fist with anger, his towering presence casting a shadow over the room. Time seemed to stand still as the air crackled with tension, leaving only Wulmar and Akuro in a suspended moment of confrontation.

"Listen here, you fool..." Wulmar's voice rumbled with barely contained fury as he addressed Akuro directly. He squatted down, his massive form looming over the cat, his eyes blazing with an intense fire. "If you dare try to hurt my master... I promise to rip your skin off..."

Akuro met Wulmar's gaze with a steely resolve, his golden eyes locking onto Wulmar's with unwavering determination. In that fleeting moment, the air was thick with the weight of their unspoken threat, the tension between them palpable.

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, time resumed its normal flow, the world around them returning to its usual pace. Akuro's gaze shifted down to the floor, where Maxwell lay sleeping peacefully, unaware of the powerful exchange that had just transpired.

"This boy... he's more dangerous than I thought..." Akuro murmured to himself, a note of concern creeping into his voice. As he watched over Maxwell's slumbering form, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were treading on dangerous ground, with forces far beyond their control at play.