The entire room shivered, and even the Unlocked were-users were affected by the cold. Some of them couldn't even move.
"Madame. The Fang Wars is over. I was just about to free these men." Sting bowed.
"That's why I am here. My final test is about to start. If I succeed, I'd be counted as one of the Ranked Heroes. I am tasked with a difficult mission. I am to eliminate the forces of Ceasar who refused to join the Tyrant Empress. And I need a team to help me. Rome has quite an army. So if I were to go in and kill the Prodigal Might that stole Octarion Caesar's data, I need a large army to create the distraction."
"These are the strongest Alphas that we have. There was another particularly strong Alpha that managed to force Specter to retreat."
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"I just need one. My family has perfected the plague that General Seeker and Doctor Charles sent over. I plan to mix it with Amir's Virus."
"The Plague?" Blast asked.
"Oh? Did you forget, Blast? This was the first time General Seeker did something crazy. He attacked the forces of the first Pioneer ever to die by Unlocked hands. Feltrick Ung-Glaive was performing malicious research in Malay-Pangea. Seeker's accounts reveal that this bioweapon would later be used on the Earth and helped identify those who have the natural potential to be Unlocked. Feltrick was killed by Seeker, and they took over his labs in Malay-Pangea. That was also the first time General Harker rose to prominence."
"Forgive my ignorance. I was not paying attention to the news back then."
"Back then, we were just a group of Assassins. In any case, we learned recently that this plague being researched was under the orders of a Pioneer called Feyor. Seeker took control of the data, and Doctor Charles improved it as it was the foundations for his Path."
"But Madame... Mixing the two should be impossible!"
"No. Doctor Charles has already developed it. Mixing the rotting technology of this plague and Amir's hyperactive and hungry cells, we have a virus that has both. In short, we have the virus to start a zombie apocalypse."
"I'm not sure if I should be praising Charles or condemning him for his mad science." Sting laughed.
"I was tasked to find a way to kill the enemy Caesars. The Prodigal Might is an Emperor who chose the WGP over his family. But when Octarion served the Tyrant Empress, this group called this Emperor and allied with them. So I may be fighting several Emperors as my final test. I just need one werewolf. How many Alphas are there?"
"This should be all of them. So when Amir left, we concentrated our efforts in capturing them, sensing that the Fang Wars would be over soon."
"I think there should be sub-alphas in India. It's a very chaotic system in the army. We became alphas after a grueling process. But we all were caught when Master Amir left. We thought we were doomed to. But since we're allies, this should be fun." The actor was the first to resist the cold.
"And you are?"
"Andreas Erruduas, at your service, Madame." The actor bowed.
"You'll do. Since you have resisted the wolf and maintained humans, you would be the perfect experiment to create zombies."
"It is an honor serving one so beautiful."
"Alright, Sting. Free them all." The cold began to disappear, and all the equipment that was freezing the wolves all stopped functioning.
"Now, dear boys. You are all free. We will be holding a meeting once Masters Greydon and Typical arrive. Amir should also join us. As for you, just keep your desires to yourself."
"We won't be able to help it. We seek the strong. It's part of the whole wolf thing. It will be a blessing if we find someone who likes them back like Needa and Esmeralda there." One of the wolves chuckled.
"Likes them back? Blast?!" Sting turned around, and Blast was shaken off his strange gaze.
"You-Young Master."
Sting facepalmed.
But as the frost wavered, the heat of the werewolves began to rise. And four particular wolves couldn't control their emotions.
Roselia had both power and beauty, and the wolves were restless.
"Fools!" Sting and Andreas shouted together.
,m The emotions of these wolves caused the angelic Roselia to burn with anger.
Terrifying ice entered the room.
All of the wolves, save for the actor was, frozen.
Blast and One were barely able to resist it but were trembling in the cold.
"Ma-Madame... They are our... allies." Sting endured the frost. But he was looking at the surrounding wolves. Such power was too much for Inhumans!
The actor was so scared. He had managed to escape the coldness by using his Unlocking to create a Realm that blocked the attack. But never before was he so afraid of death.
"Only my husband, Lowengren, can look at me like that. So let this be their warning."
"Warning?" Sting was confused. He thought the wolves were all dead.
"The frost will wear out, and they are not dead. My sisters interfered, and their wolf bodies will save them from this level of frost. In any case, I'll take Andreas and head east. First, I will create a zombie army enough to attack Rome. Once I'm done with this test, I will head to Egypt to meet my future husband."
"Madam, you are seriously considering accepting the wager that your older sister had with Lowengren and Alean? Those two are the devil incarnate! We can talk to Seeker to cancel the price for that wager that Madam Rosa wagged against the two of them! I also know that this Lowengren is-"
"At first, I hated it. But the remarkable deeds of Lowengren amaze me. The number of men worthy of me draws smaller by the second. I shall snatch this Lowengren for myself. If there is a way for me to defeat 'queen' Alean, it would be to make this Lowengren my slave." Roselia walked out.
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Andreas quietly followed and left, glancing at his wolf allies.
"You guys need more training." He shook his head as he left.
Sting sighed as he could not go against Roselia's wishes. She was stubborn and even colder than her older sister, Rosa.
Two younger girls entered the room as Roselia left.
"Sister... you almost killed our precious allies!" One complained.
"Yeah! You almost hurt Sting, too! Sorry, Sting." The other apologized.
"Madame Rosemary. Madame Roselyn." Sting greeted the twins.
"Sorry about my sister. The truth is, she has a crush on Lowengren!" Rosemary chuckled.
"ROSEMARY!"
Rosemary laughed and took one step forward when the entire space she was standing on turned into a huge block of ice.
"Too slow, sister!" Rosemary chuckled.
"Anyway, Sting. Please prepare a ship. While my sister will be headed for Egypt, we will be going with Lioncourt to attack." Roselyn explained.
"Lioncourt? Will you finally take part in the war?"
"Yes. My family has already accepted the leadership of the Unlocked industries. But they demand favorable marriage arrangements for the future."
"Oh? Are you thinking about going after General Seeker?" Sting was worried.
"Relax, we're not that crazy! I want Cliff."
"I want Cliff too. But if Rosemary gets him, I can settle with Jake. I've been reading those romantic novels about him and Kristine... ugh. I want to sink my lips and freeze that Jake so that he can't escape my embrace. If Kristine doesn't take him, I will!"
"I see that... romantic passions run deep in your family." Sting was amazed.
"Oh, you should see our sister's altar of Lowengren. She crafted it with her powers and even hugs in her sleep. She would shout strange things like, 'Lie to me! Tell me I'm ugly!' Yeah, sis is a sicko."
FLASH!
The entire space around Roselyn froze as the scream of an angry Roselia could be heard from afar.
But yet again, Roselia missed.
"Too slow, sis!" Roselyn laughed as she stood on top of the block of ice.
"Anyway, we have no plans of taking the Ranked Hero tests. I think we won't pass it anyway. So instead of fighting our way, we want you to help us travel with Lioncourt's team. Serge Embers is also a dreamy guy. Wait! Maybe I should just build a harem of strong men!"
"What?"
"Great idea, Sis! Me too!"
"Let's see who makes a better harem, then?"
"Oh yeah? I call dibs on Amir's son!"
"Ew... You can have that mangy, wild, uncontrollable, unpredictable... muscular... magnificent specimen of a man..."
"...We should leave. One, Blast. Let's go. Erm... Madams, the best way is to head to the EAA and teleport with the Void Assassins. Since they will be performing a joint operation, you should go there. I'll inform them of your coming. Also, if I may be bold to request, could you unfreeze these wolves?"
"Alright. That sounds like a plan!" The twins began to defrost the wolves as they listed out their dream harem. Not even Meryl was spared in the list.
Back in South America....
Unlocked Industries began to issue more orders and were shipping out more resources all over the world. Their 'living metal' became very popular, and many countries, including the WGP were buying them.
But this was just cover for the Unlocked was preparing to seek and destroy the Underwater fortress of Lanterk.
Seeker watched as the group began to make preparations in their building.
Alean challenged the Covenant to a fight and all gladly accepted.
But as Seeker watched, he could not help but feel a bubbling desire which had never appeared for a long, long time.
"What's wrong with me?" Seeker frowned. Finally, he could not contain it.
"Kristine. Don't join them. Come with me." Seeker ordered.
Everyone froze at those words.
Meryl's jaw dropped.
"Nutterballs!" Lynd exclaimed.
Jake was still bounded in various bindings and began to rage as he heard those words.
"M-me?" Kristine was so unsure that she asked again.
"Yes. I have to apologize to you. And clear things out." Seeker reasoned.
"Al-alright. Danny. Dara. Sorry guys." Kristine gave an apologetic bow and began to run towards Seeker.
Deep in the subconscious of Seeker, a horrified Zeraphine was trembling.
"Oh boy... Here's trouble. Since Seeker met the Tyrant Empress, he had been actively using Jake's power so that no other outside force could affect his emotions. Little did he know that your power to manipulate Seeker's emotions so that he would avoid Kristine is now not affecting him." Shakstress laughed.
"No... Seeker will choose me! He will!" Zeraphine declared.
"Your still a child, Zeraphine. It's your fault for doing this. You purged all emotions that Seeker had towards Kristine and kept bombarding him with thoughts of you together. But now, he is so confused because of the explosion of emotions he is dealing with right now."
Zeraphine did her best and began to use her soul. But to no avail. The attacks that used to influence Seeker were no longer working.
"Stop it. You're just wasting precious energy. Zeraphine. Let love choose. If you believe you are the girl in his heart, then let him go. He needs this if he has to Overcome. You have been causing an imbalance in his heart. Choosing between you and her is necessary for his growth." Shakstress advised.
Zeraphine helplessly watched as Kristine moved towards Seeker. Her eyes could not hide the joy exploding in her heart.