Chapter 36: Unseen No More
The sun had long set, and the streets of Jerusalem were bathed in the soft glow of lamplight as the group tried to move unnoticed. But it was becoming increasingly difficult. Their faces had already started circulating online after the incidents in Egypt and Rome, and whispers seemed to follow them wherever they went.
As they passed through the bustling market square, Nox pulled her hood lower over her face, her hunger gnawing at her every second. Rex stayed close to her, his own discomfort growing with each passing minute as the moon slowly crept into the sky.
Mara, quiet and contemplative, walked ahead, while Azaymos kept scanning their surroundings for any sign of trouble. It wasn't long before they realized something was wrong.
"They're watching us," Rex muttered under his breath, his keen senses picking up the growing attention around them. People were starting to point, whispering among themselves. Cameras and phones began to flash as tourists and locals alike started taking pictures.
"They recognize us," Nox hissed, her voice barely restrained. "We need to get out of here."
But it was too late. A sharp command echoed through the air, and the group turned to see a unit of armed soldiers moving through the crowded streets, their rifles trained on the group.
"This is the Israeli Defense Forces!" one of the soldiers shouted, his voice amplified by a megaphone. "You're surrounded! Lay down your weapons and surrender immediately!"
Azaymos's eyes narrowed as he glanced at his companions. "We're not surrendering."
---
Without warning, Rex let out a low, pained growl as the first light of the full moon broke through the clouds. His body trembled, the transformation already beginning. His eyes glowed with an eerie silver light, and the muscles in his arms and legs began to shift and contort.
"Not now," Rex groaned, his voice strained as the transformation started to take hold.
The soldiers moved closer, their guns raised. "Last warning! Surrender, or we will open fire!"
But Rex's control was slipping. His body was no longer his own as the full moon pulled him into his primal form. His skin rippled, fur beginning to sprout across his arms and neck. His bones cracked and reshaped themselves, and within moments, the massive figure of a werewolf stood where Rex had been moments before.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as people stared in horror at the creature now towering over them. Phones flashed, recording the impossible sight before them.
Without hesitation, the soldiers opened fire, bullets tearing through the air. But Rex's werewolf form was too fast, too powerful. With a deafening roar, he leapt into the fray, scattering the soldiers like leaves in a storm. His claws slashed through the air, sending their weapons flying.
Nox, still struggling to control her own hunger, moved quickly, her shadows swirling around her as she knocked the soldiers back with a wave of dark energy. The rest of the group joined the fight, each using their powers to hold off the army.
---
As the chaos unfolded, Azaymos felt the cold whisper of Ahmose in his mind. "Ah, the beauty of destruction. It's always so... inevitable, isn't it? First, the humans are curious, then they're afraid, and now they'll die. You should have seen this coming."
Azaymos gritted his teeth, trying to keep control of the situation. "We need to get out of here before more show up."
"Oh, let them come," Ahmose said with a dark laugh. "I've been dead for centuries, and even I know how this ends."
---
As the last of the soldiers fell back, retreating from the might of the group, a lone figure stepped forward. He wasn't a soldier, but a man with a camera—one of the reporters who had been filming the entire encounter. His camera shook in his hands as he pointed it at Rex, still in his towering werewolf form.
Rex, still riding the high of the fight, stalked toward the man, his silver eyes glowing in the moonlight. The reporter took a shaky step back, but Rex raised a clawed hand, gesturing for him to stay.
"I want you to record this," Rex said, his voice deep and guttural, though the edges of his words carried a strange, almost playful humor. "Tell the world what you saw here tonight."
The reporter swallowed hard, his camera still rolling. "W-What should I tell them?"
Rex leaned in, his massive form casting a long shadow over the trembling man. "Tell them... we are gods." He grinned, flashing his sharp fangs. "We've come to see the human world for ourselves."
The reporter's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. "G-Gods?"
Rex's grin widened. "That's right. And you humans—you love this kind of stuff, don't you? Power, immortality... all that." He stepped back, looking directly into the camera. "I'm looking for a student. Someone worthy of my power. Whoever I choose will become immortal. Doesn't that sound good? Eternal life."
He turned to Nox and the others, chuckling under his breath. "Let's make it easy for them to understand. Maybe they'll even help us from now on."
The reporter, barely able to keep his camera steady, nodded rapidly. "Y-Yes, of course! I'll tell them. The world will know."
Rex turned back to the camera, his voice carrying a commanding edge. "Good. And make sure you tell them not to stand in our way. We'll go where we want, and if anyone tries to stop us..." His grin turned dark, the light of the moon casting eerie shadows across his face. "Well, you saw what happened here tonight."
As the reporter stumbled back, disappearing into the shadows, Rex looked at Azaymos with a satisfied smirk. "I told you, didn't I? One day, people would start worshipping me. Looks like that day came faster than I thought."
Azaymos shook his head but couldn't suppress the faint smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. "Let's hope that works. We need them to stay out of our way."
Jerusalem—Breaking News
The footage was grainy, shot from a shaky phone camera, but the images were clear enough to send shockwaves through the world. In the video, Rex's towering werewolf form could be seen tearing through a group of soldiers, his roars echoing through the night. Nox's dark powers crackled in the background, sending shadows spinning through the streets as the armed forces tried desperately to contain the chaos.
A news anchor, his face pale with disbelief, stared at the screen as the video played on repeat.
"Reports are flooding in from Jerusalem tonight," the anchor said, his voice shaking slightly. "What you're seeing is not a scene from a movie... it's real. Eyewitnesses claim that these figures appeared out of nowhere—one of them transforming into what can only be described as a werewolf. Authorities are still trying to contain the situation, but the footage you're seeing has been spreading online for the last hour."
The camera cut to a clip of terrified civilians running through the streets, their screams filling the air as Rex and the others fought against the soldiers. The scene was pure chaos, and the anchor struggled to keep his composure as he spoke.
"Experts are baffled by what they're seeing, and there's no official statement from the Israeli government yet, but we are monitoring the situation closely. Stay tuned for more updates."
The camera feed was shaky, but the images were clear. Rex, still in his werewolf form, loomed over the trembling reporter, his voice deep and commanding as he declared himself a god. The footage of the battle, of Nox's shadows and Azaymos's dagger glowing with ancient power, had already gone viral, sending shockwaves across the globe.
The news anchor stared at the footage, his face pale with disbelief. "What you're seeing is real," he said, his voice trembling. "Eyewitnesses confirm that these... beings have declared themselves gods. And now... they're looking for a student. One person will be chosen to receive their power."
The camera cut to scenes of panic and awe, civilians reacting to the news in real-time. Some people were terrified, but others were already embracing the idea of these so-called gods walking among them.
A reporter on the ground interviewed one of the witnesses, a wide-eyed man who had seen the entire encounter. "They're not like anything I've ever seen," the man said, his voice shaking. "That... that werewolf said he's a god. And honestly... I believe him."
The camera returned to the anchor, who struggled to keep his composure. "This story is developing quickly, and we will bring you updates as they come. But for now... the world is watching."
---
Back in the streets, the group continued to battle their way through the soldiers. But as more reinforcements arrived, Azaymos knew they couldn't hold out much longer. He called out to the others, his voice urgent. "We need to go, now!"
Mara, still wielding the Chains of Ankhura, glanced around for an escape route. "This way!" she shouted, motioning to a narrow alley.
With one final push, the group retreated into the shadows of the alley, leaving behind the chaos of the battle. Rex, still in his werewolf form, was breathing heavily, the adrenaline of the transformation making it hard for him to focus.
Nox, barely holding herself together, glanced at him. "Can you change back?"
Rex growled softly, his glowing eyes still filled with rage. "Not yet."
Azaymos nodded. "We'll need to find somewhere safe to wait it out. But we can't stay here."
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End of Chapter 36