His bones began to crack and shift, making loud popping sounds. His spine elongated, and his muscles stretched and grew larger. Dark fur sprouted all over his body.
Rod's fingers lengthened, his nails transforming into sharp claws. His face reshaped, his jaw extending, and his teeth becoming sharp fangs.
His senses sharpened, allowing him to hear the smallest sounds and smell everything around him. The forest was alive with new and intense scents.
Rod's transformation was complete. He stood on powerful legs, much taller and stronger than before. The pain was gone, replaced by a surge of power and insatiable hunger. He strained against the ropes, but they held firm. Throwing back his head, he let out a deafening howl, announcing his new form as a lycan.
Eli watched with a mix of awe and fear.
Rod's eyes locked onto Eli, filled with wild hunger. Eli swallowed hard. "I'm not food, Rod," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
Rod roared and thrashed against the ropes, desperate to break free. The tree shook violently under the force of his struggle, but the bindings held tight. Eli took a step back, his heart pounding in his chest.
With a final, powerful surge, Rod snapped the ropes binding him to the tree. The thick cords fell away, and Rod lunged at Eli with a feral snarl.
"Uh oh," Eli muttered, eyes wide. "This can't be good."
Eli barely had time to react, diving to the side as Rod's claws slashed through the air where he had just been standing.
And then the real fight began. Rod moved quickly and fiercely, driven by primal instincts. He swung his claws at Eli, who dodged and blocked with all his strength.
Despite his human appearance, Eli fought with the grace and precision of an angelic warrior. His reflexes were lightning-fast, and his strikes were powerful and accurate.
"Rod, buddy, you really need to work on your anger issues," Eli quipped, ducking under another swipe. "Ever tried yoga?"
Eli knew he had to outmaneuver Rod, using his agility and skill to his advantage. He darted around the clearing, using the trees for cover and striking whenever he saw an opening. Rod's roars echoed in the night, a mix of frustration and rage as Eli's strikes landed, but Rod was relentless, his fury driving him forward.
"Come on, Rod! Remember who you are!" Eli shouted, hoping to reach the man inside the beast. "You're stronger than this!"
Rod's claws tore through the air, narrowly missing Eli's face. In response, Eli delivered a swift kick to Rod's side, sending him stumbling back. But Rod recovered quickly, charging at Eli with renewed ferocity. The ground shook with the force of their clash, leaves and dirt flying up around them.
Eli's movements were a blur as he dodged and struck, his angelic strength and speed giving him an edge. He landed a series of rapid punches and kicks, each blow precise and powerful. Rod roared in pain and anger, his eyes blazing with fury.
The two fighters continued their battle, the clash reverberating through the forest. Eli was breathing heavily, his muscles aching from the effort. He knew he couldn't keep going like this; he needed a plan.
As Rod charged at him once more, Eli spotted a thick vine hanging from a nearby tree. He dodged Rod's attack and grabbed the vine, swinging himself up and over Rod's head. Rod spun around, confusion flashing in his eyes, giving Eli the chance he desperately needed.
Eli landed behind Rod and quickly looped the vine around his neck, pulling it tight. Rod thrashed and clawed at the vine, but Eli held on with all his strength. The vine tightened, and Rod's movements grew frantic. Eli knew he had to act fast.
Using the vine still wrapped around Rod's neck, Eli pulled the end toward a nearby tree. In a final desperate effort, he looped the vine around the tree and tied it. Rod was restrained once again. He roared in fury, but the vine held firm.
Eli collapsed to the ground, exhausted but relieved. He looked up at Rod, who was still struggling against the vine. "Stay strong, Rod," Eli whispered, his voice hoarse. "We'll get through this. And maybe next time, we can skip the whole 'trying to eat me' part, okay?"
Rod's eyes flickered with recognition, and for a moment, Eli thought he saw a glimmer of the man inside the beast. "Come on, Rod," Eli said softly. "Fight it. I know you can."
Rod's struggles began to slow, his breathing heavy and labored. Eli took a deep breath, gathering his strength. "Rod, listen to me. You have to control it. Remember who you are. You're not just a beast. You're a soul from heaven."
Rod's eyes met Eli's, and for a moment, the wildness seemed to fade. Eli stood and stepped closer, his voice steady and calm. "You can do this, Rod. I believe in you."
Rod's body trembled, the tension slowly easing from his muscles. Eli kept talking, his words a lifeline. "Think of the people you care about. Think of why you need to control this. You're stronger than the beast inside you."
Finally, Rod's struggles ceased, exhausted. Eli let out a sigh of relief, his own body shaking with fatigue. "We did it, Rod. You did it."
Eli stood, determination replacing his earlier exhaustion. "We'll get through this together. One step at a time."
For a moment, it seemed like Rod was calming down. His breathing slowed, and the wild look in his eyes began to fade. Eli allowed himself a small sigh of relief, thinking the worst was over.
But suddenly, Rod's body tensed again. With a powerful surge, he snapped the vine that held him. Eli's eyes widened in shock. "Oh no, not again!"
Rod lunged at Eli with renewed ferocity, his claws slashing through the air. Eli rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. He sprang to his feet, ready for another round.
"Rod, you really need to work on your timing," Eli said, trying to keep the mood light despite the danger. "You're going to give me a heart attack. You scare me too much."
Rod roared and charged at Eli, his movements wild and unpredictable. Eli ducked under a swipe and delivered a powerful punch to Rod's midsection, sending him stumbling back. But Rod quickly recovered, charging at Eli again.
As Rod approached, Eli sidestepped and grabbed Rod's arm, using his momentum to throw him into a nearby tree. The impact was so strong that the tree shook, leaves raining down around them.
"Take that, Rod. You need to come to your senses."
But Rod slowly got up, his body trembling, his eyes still filled with rage.
Eli knew he had to think fast. He couldn't keep dodging forever. He needed a plan to subdue Rod without hurting him.
Eli spotted a sturdy branch a few feet away, partly covered by leaves. He quickly ran to it, his heart racing. He bent down and picked it up, feeling its weight in his hands.
Eli shook his head in frustration. "I can't think of any other way, Rod," he muttered.
As Rod approached, Eli ran toward him, then, at the last moment, he planted his foot against the trunk of a nearby tree, using it to propel himself high into the air.
With the branch and the force of his descent, Eli struck Rod's head. The branch connected with a solid thud, snapping in two upon impact. Rod staggered, momentarily dazed.
Seizing the opportunity, Eli quickly moved behind Rod. He grabbed another piece of rope and tied Rod's feet together, then wrapped another length of rope around Rod's hands, securing them behind his back.
He connected the ropes and pulled, forcing Rod into a prone position with his feet stretched backward near his hands, which were tied behind him. Rod struggled, but the blow to his head had left him disoriented.
Eli worked quickly, tightening the ropes to limit Rod's movements. He knew he had to act fast before Rod regained his full strength.
"Rod, listen to me!" Eli shouted, urgency filling his voice. "You have to fight this! Remember who you are!"
Rod's struggles began to weaken, his roars turning into pained growls. Eli could see the conflict in Rod's eyes, the human side fighting to regain control.