I Became A Zompirewolf



Meanwhile, on the other side of the courtroom...

The courtroom fell into a tense silence as the Priest slowly rose to his feet, his laughter echoing through the air. His charred form, battered and broken, seemed to exude an aura of malice.

"This isn't the end for me," the Priest sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "It's the end for all of you."

"Did the thought of looming defeat screw your brain?" Ashton scoffed. But he noticed something weird.

The Priest's twisted grin widened as he brandished an odd-looking whistle, its design imbued with ancient symbols and etchings. He raised it to his lips and blew with eerie precision, releasing a haunting melody that echoed through the courtroom.

"This is the end of you... bastard." the Priest mumbled and resumed laughing like a maniac. 

Ashton and the mercenaries watched in confusion, their brows furrowed as they tried to comprehend the meaning behind the Priest's words. The Emperor, however, gasped in horror, his eyes widening in realisation.

"No, it can't be..." the Emperor whispered, his voice filled with fear and disbelief. "He's summoned it... the hidden weapon of our empire."

As the truth sank in, the ministers and courtiers exchanged horrified glances. Only the court members knew what the whistle was used for and were paralysed with fear. 

Suddenly, the ground trembled, and the very foundation of the room shook under the weight of an approaching menace.

From the depths of the empire's hidden chambers, a colossal creature emerged, its presence filling the room with an overwhelming aura of power. Its name was Krathos, the Behemoth, a true embodiment of terror.

Krathos stood at a towering height of 100 feet, its muscular frame covered in thick, dark scales that shimmered with an otherworldly iridescence. Its eyes burned with an intense crimson glow, filled with an insatiable hunger and a thirst for destruction.

The Behemoth's limbs were like pillars of strength, each ending in massive, razor-sharp claws that could easily rend stone and steel. Its body was adorned with sharp, bony protrusions, adding to its intimidating visage. 

Its back was lined with spikes that jutted like a row of jagged blades, ready to impale anything unfortunate to cross its path.

Krathos possessed a mouth filled with rows of dagger-like teeth, capable of tearing through the toughest armours. Its roar reverberated through the courtroom, a chilling sound that sent shivers down the spines of all who heard it.

As the Behemoth loomed over the battlefield, its presence consumed the air. The room felt suffocating as if the very walls themselves cowered in fear of the monstrous creature.

The Emperor's face paled as he recognised the immense danger that stood before them. The mercenaries and courtiers gasped in disbelief, their eyes widening at the sight of the colossal monstrosity.

The Emperor's voice quivered as he addressed the room, his words laced with urgency. "Everyone, we must flee! This creature is beyond our control. It will bring ruin upon us all."

"How could you..." Theron mumbled.

The control of Krathos was given to the council as a power to unleash if the Emperor ever turned rogue. However, never in his entire life had Theron wished for a day when he would come across the horrifying creature. 

Everyone around them rushed outside in panic. It didn't matter if one was a soldier working under the Priest or a mercenary; everyone ran for their lives. 

However, there was something else going on inside Ashton's head. A legendary creature had presented itself before him. There was no way he was letting the chance go. 

Moreover, he knew if he didn't capture the Priest, he wouldn't be able to uncover the identities of the remaining cultists. All things considered, backing out now wasn't an option. 

"Your Highness, take your people and leave," Ashton whispered coldly. "Someone needs to hold back that monstrosity for everyone to survive."

"No, as the Emperor, it should be my-"

Before the Emperor could finish speaking, Ashton grabbed the man by his collar and pulled him closer. "Your people need you more than you need your honour! Don't be a fool, and get going! We'll deal with this mess!"

People were shocked as it was the first time anyone had behaved so crudely in front of the Emperor. But they agreed with what Ashton said. The Emperor needed to survive, or the entire empire would collapse, and no one would stand against the Xyrans from dominating the whole galaxy.

The Emperor hesitated, torn between his duty as a leader and his own survival. But as Ashton's words sank in, he realised their truth. The safety of his people outweighed his personal honour. With a nod, he rallied his loyal courtiers and soldiers, urging them to retreat to safety. 

"Don't you dare die here, Sir Ashton!" the Emperor roared as he headed for the exit. "I still need to repay you for your servitude towards the empire!"

"Just go..." Ashton scoffed. 

As the Emperor and his entourage made their way towards the exit, the crowd parted, allowing them a clear path. Whispers filled the air, a mix of admiration for Ashton's selflessness and concern for what lay ahead.

However, once the Emperor left, Ashton turned his attention towards Anna. Anna knew what he was about to say and beat him to it.

"No, Ashton," Anna said firmly, her voice unwavering. "I won't abandon you. We've faced countless battles side by side, and this is no different. I'm staying right here."

"You know... I can't allow that." Ashton mumbled and nodded. 

Suddenly, Raven appeared out of nowhere and struck Anna in the back of the head, knocking her out. Shinon knelt down, caressing her cheek.

"You can throw a tantrum when I'm back... but for now, sleep in peace," Ashton mumbled, planting a kiss on her lips before gesturing at Sven to take her. 

The loyal summon wasted no time and gently lifted Anna's unconscious body and got on Ember's back along with the rest of the summons. 

"Keep her safe. That's an order." Ashton instructed his summons, all of whom bowed, accepting their master's command before flying away.

Flintmace, standing by Ashton's side, cracked his knuckles and grinned, undeterred by the overwhelming odds. 

"Well, now this is a challenge worthy of our skills, Master Vulcan. Let's show this monstrosity what we're made of!" 

"Very well then," Vulcan's eyes gleamed with fiery determination as he gripped his axe tightly. "Ashton, consider it a joint exercise and learn all you can."

"Of course," Ashton smiled, revealing his Xyran form for the first time in years. "It'll be an honour to fight alongside my masters."