Chapter 1390: The Last Moments
The last twenty-four hours had felt strange for Gary, stranger than anything he’d gone through before.
Time felt like it was slipping between his fingers. Moving too fast, as if moments were blurring past him before he could catch his breath. And yet, at the very same time, everything felt slow, unbearably so. Every second dragged on, heavy and suffocating, like he was stuck watching a ticking clock before something inevitable.
It was a surreal experience, a conflicting sense of urgency and helplessness. The weight of the situation wasn’t affecting him physically, not yet, but mentally? It was eating away at him from the inside.
To clear his head and get a better sense of the situation, Gary had gone to the highest point in Slough, a hotel located in Cipen. He now stood on the rooftop, overlooking the city below. The cold breeze swept through the open air, ruffling his hair, but he hardly noticed.
Several core members of the Howlers had joined him. Olivia, Innu, Austin, Tom, and Xin were also present, each wearing a tense expression. This wasn’t just a meeting. It was a countdown.
Above them, the sky was dark, the stars dimmed by the glow of the city. But far higher, three figures could be seen moving through the sky. Crawley, Frank, and Sadie, each capable of flight, were scouting the entire city from above. They had been circling for a while now and would report back the moment anything seemed off.
“Having flying Altered sure is useful,” Innu commented, his hands in his pockets as he looked up. “Lucky we didn’t end up going against a gang made up of nothing but birds. That’d be a freakin’ nightmare.”
Despite the tension, his joke earned a few chuckles, just enough to cut through the anxiety in the air.
Gary wasn’t laughing, though. He had more pressing thoughts in mind.
“Have we covered all our tracks?” Gary asked, his eyes still watching the skyline.
Tom stood near the edge of the rooftop, holding a large tablet in his hands. The screen displayed a digital map of the city, with various colored dots spread across it.
“Pretty much,” Tom replied, zooming in and out with quick finger movements. “I’ve got the positioning of all our people marked. From what I can see, the Howlers have the area locked down. If anyone makes a move, we’ll know where and when.”
Lines traced across the screen, highlighting ranges of vision, territory overlap, and alert zones. It was a massive leap from where they’d started, back when they were caught off guard by the Phoenix Gang. They’d learned a lot since then.
And Tom, he was proving just how useful technology could be in times .
Gary couldn’t help but wonder: Did Kai do all of this in his head? Did he memorize people’s positions, plan the city’s layout, and make judgment calls without the help of tech? The very thought made Gary appreciate the edge they had now.
Turning to the two he needed most at this moment, Gary’s voice became more serious.
“Austin. Innu. I need a favor from both of you.”
The two perked up instantly.
“We can still move quickly throughout the city,” Gary explained. “There are Werewolves that won’t be able to fight, those we’ve already hidden away. As for the ones like us, who can fight… we can still move around before midnight. We still have time.”
He looked each of them in the eye.
“If there’s going to be an attack tonight, we need to know about it before it starts. As the two strongest non-Werewolf members of the group, I’m going to be relying on you a lot.”
Both Austin and Innu nodded without hesitation.
“There’s one direct route they’d take if they’re coming from the direction of the Ruin City,” Gary continued. “We’ve already set up lookouts, but I’ve told them not to go too far. If Lupus is really leading them… he’d kill them in an instant.”
“And honestly, I don’t think my heart could take sending people to their deaths like that.”
Innu stepped forward and casually placed a hand on Gary’s shoulder.
“So you’re fine sending us off to our deaths, huh?” he said, smirking.
Austin clenched his fist, about ready to sprint over and plant a kick in his side, but Innu quickly threw both hands in the air, surrendering with a grin.
“Relax. I’m just messing around.”
“It’s fine,” Austin said with a calm nod. “We’ll scout the road up ahead. Don’t worry about a thing.”
With that, the two of them headed off. Austin jumped onto his large motorcycle while Innu climbed onto the back. The engine roared to life, and they disappeared down the street within moments.
Gary stood at the edge of the rooftop, watching them ride off.
The sky above was pitch black now, completely engulfed in darkness. On any other day, Gary would’ve welcomed the night. His powers grew stronger under the moonlight. Nighttime gave him an edge in fights. It was something he once looked forward to.
Tonight, he just wanted the sun to rise and for all of this to be over.
Down below, the city was eerily quiet. Streets that once bustled were now empty. It wasn’t just coincidence.
There had been a massive shift across Slough.
Gary and the Howlers had gone public. They urged the citizens to take shelter, moving them to safety zones across the city. After the chaos caused by the Phoenix Group, the people listened.
They trusted Gary now.
It helped that news of similar attacks in other cities had spread, and fear was already in the air. The people were expecting something terrible. They were just hoping to survive it.
On the road, Austin and Innu sped out of the city, heading toward the highway. There were no cars. No lights. Nothing but silence and open asphalt.
“Why am I never the one driving?!” Innu shouted over the roar of the bike.
“Because,” Austin replied without looking back, “when it’s a life-or-death situation, I’d rather have my life in the hands of someone who knows how to ride.”
“…Fair point,” Innu admitted.
They rode for several more minutes, the night air whipping past them. Eventually, Austin pulled the bike to the side, skidding across the road before coming to a full stop.
Innu hopped off, staring into the distance.
“You’re seeing what I’m seeing, right?” he said quietly.
“I am,” Austin confirmed. His voice was low, tense.
They both stared at the fleet of vehicles heading there way.
“It looks like… Lupus is on his way.”
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